Improvements in Fork Guards.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th June, 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
. PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fork Guards.
We, THOMAS PORTER LOCKWOOD, of Arundel Street, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Manufacturer, and ARTHUR BENJAMIN BALL, Rufford Road, Sheffield
aforesaid, Cutler, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is for an improvement in the guards of carving forks, and
relates more particularly to the method and means of retaining the guard in its
open position, and in releasing the same.
We make an elongated vertical slot through the body of the fork, and we secure
the butt end of the guard in the back part of the slot by passing a pin through it
in the usual manner. The front part of the butt is prepared with a lateral shoulder
to form a catch by which it is retained in its upright position.
In the front portion of the slot we pivot a retainer or pawl, having a short pro-
jecting arm or edge arranged to engage with the shoulder of the guard when the
guard is raised, and a long arm which passes through the slot in the body of the
fork and extends backwards, and is preferably of a curved form.
When the guard is down the projecting edge of the retainer rests against the
butt of the guard above the shoulder, and the long arm is held closely underneath
the body of the fork.
On taking up the fork, by a slight upward movement the guard is thrown into
its vertical position, and the retainer by the gravity of its long arm follows round
the butt until its projecting edge falls below the shoulder beforementioned; the
guard being inclined forward instantly engages with the retainer and is held in this
position.
When the fork is placed on the table the long arm of the retainer is moved
towards the handle and its edge is disengaged from the shoulder, allowing the guard
to fall into its closed position.
Dated 1
1000
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fork Guards.
We THOMAS PORTER LOCKWOOD of Arundel Street, Sheffield in the County
of York, Manufacturer, and ARTHUR BENJAMIN BALL, Rufford Road, Sheffield
aforesaid, Cutler, 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 is for an improvement in the guards of carving forks, and relates
particularly to the mears for retaining the guard in its open, or elevated position,
and for releasing it from such position.
The invention is shown in the annexed sheet of drawings, in which similar letters
of reference indicate similar parts in either of the figures.
Fig. 1, represents the guard closed, part of the shank being cut away to show
the details.
Fig. 2, represents the guard open or elevated.
In carrying the invention into practice, we make an elongated vertical slot A,
through the body or shank of the fork B, and we secure the butt end of the

page_text: guard G, in the back part of the slot A, by passing a pin through it in the usual
way.
The front of the butt end of guard is made with a shoulder S, to form a catch
by means of which it is retained in its open or elevated position.
In the front part of the slot A, we pivot a retainer or catch piece R, provided
with a short end C. formed and arranged so that it will pass under the shoulder S,
of the guard, when the guard is raised as shown in Fig. 2, and also with a long
end or arm D, which passes through the beforementioned slot and extends back-
wards as shown, being made preferably of a curved form and enlarged at the end,
so that when the fork is raised from the table, its tendency will be to hang in a
vertical position.
When the guard (i, is down, the end C, of the retainer rests against the butt of
the guard above the said shoulder S, and the long arm D, is held closely under-
neath the body and handle of the fork.
On taking up the fork, a slight upward movement of the hand will cause the
guard to assume its elevated position, and the retainer by the gravity of its long
arm causes its hurt end to engage under the shoulder of the guard, and thus hold
it in position.
When the fork is placed upon the table, the long arm of the retainer is moved
back towards the handle, disengaging the short end from under the shoulder, and
permitting the guard to fall into its closed position as seen in Fig. 1.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same may be carried into practice, we declare that
what we claim, is :-
A fork guard having a shoulder S, formed in the front of its butt end, in com-
bination with a pirotted retainer R, the short end of which is arranged to engage
with the said shoulder when the guard is raised, substantially as hereinbefor<
described and illustrated.
Dated the Torn day of June 1891.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicants.