Improvements in the Construction of Carving-fork Guards.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application. 23rd July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 24th May, 1891)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Carving-fork Guards.
I, FRANK CHAPLIN ASKHAM of Broad Lane Works Sheffield in the County of
York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to
he as
follows:-
This invention refers particularly to the construction of the guard, and also to the
method of connecting it to the shank and the application of the spring used to retain
it in its open and closed positions; the object being to dispense with the use of a
separate pin or axis upon which such guards usually turn, to do away with the
vee spring, and the hole or recess in which the said spring and the butt of the
guard are placed.
:
In one arrangement I propose to make the guard by punching it out of sheet
steel, in the form of or nearly resembling an elongated letter A, the cross har form-
ing the axis upon which the guard turns instead of the crossbar reaching across
from one leg to the other, the centre may be omitted thus leaving a short projection
from each leg instead of a complete bar, or 1 may attach the complete bar, or the two
short projecting bits to the legs if desirable.
The cross bar, or its equivalent may be square, oval, or of other shape suitable for
enabling the spring to retain it in its open or closed position.
A transverse groove is made in the top side or back of the shank of the fork to
receive the crossbar of the guard before described, and a flat spring approximating to
the length and width of the shank is secured thereon, the free end passing over
the transverse groove before mentioned, and resting upon the crossbar of the
guard.
I make the edges of the flat spring to overhang the sides of the shank, in a suitable
position to act as a stop, and prevent the possibility of the guard being forced back
beyond its proper position.
Instead of forming the groove by cutting it out of the shank, in some cases I may
make it in the spring itself and in forks that are cut or punched out of sheet steel,
I may bend the shank so as to form a groove.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Carving-fork Guards.
I, FRANK CHAPLIN ASKHAM, of Broad Lane Works, Sheffield in the County of
York, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention refers particularly to the guard of carving forks and to the spring
which retains the guard in its open or closed position including also the method of
connecting the guard to the shank of the fork; the object of the invention is to
dispense with vee spring so commonly used in guard forks, and with the hole or recess
in which the said spring and the butt of the guard are placed, as well as the use of a
separate pin or axis upon which such guards usually turn and which requires a hole
boring through the shank.
My invention is clearly illustrated in the annexed sheet of drawings, in which
similar letters indicate similar parts in any of the figures.

page_text: Fig. 1, represents a plan, and side view of a carving fork, the guard and spring
being made according to my invention.
Fig. 2, shows similar views of a fork, the guard and spring being modified in
construction.
Fig. 3, two views of the spring used in Fig. 2.
In the construction of a fork-guard such as is shown in Fig. 1, I punca the
guard Gout of sheet steel; it consists of two side pieces joined at the point, and
connected by a crossbar C, which also forms the axis upon which the guard turns, but
if preferred the crossbar or axis C, may consist of a projection from each side piece
not reaching to the centre.
The crossbar, or projections which form the axis C, may be of any suitable cross
section, that will enable the spring S, to retain it in it open or closed position, such for
example as square.
The spring S, is made with a hook H, at its free end the inside being squared to
correspond with and receive the axis C, but being slightly elongated to allow the
axis to turn round when being raised or lowered, and I prefer to raise the
acting part of the spring slightly from the shank A, of the fork to prevent
rusting.
The guard is so shaped that the axis is prevented bearing upon the flats when
either open or closed, it is therefore under a slight pressure of the spring which
prevents the guard shaking loosely about; when closed the point of the guard rests
upon the prongs B. I make this form of guard with two extensions or legs E,
which act as a rest, and two lugs L which project inwardly, act as stops
and by coming in contact with the shank A, prevent the guard being forced
hackwards.
In a fork constructed as shown in Fig. 21 make the guard without the legs E,
the axis C being at the extremity, and an elongated opening J, to permit the hooked
end of the spring to be passed through.
The spring is of the configuration shown in Fig. 3, the hooked end H being
made Tshaped, and the faces F, forming the stop or limit of the opening movement
of the guard.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A fork guard that is held upon the shank of the fork, by a hooked spring
engaging with a crossbar formed on the guard; the lower part of the guard forining
a rest, or legs, and also having projections to stop the guard in its raised position,
substantially as hereinbefore described, and shown in Fig. 1.
2. A fork guard that is held upon the shank of the fork, by a hooked spring, the
hook being of T shaped configuration, and shown in Fig. 3, which being passed
through an opening formed in the guard, engages with the lower part thereof, and
also forms the stop for the guard in its raised position, substantially as heroinbefore
described, and as shown in Fig. 2.
Dated the 22nd day of April 1890.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.