Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1899
Specification Accepted, 4th May. 1989
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
My invention relates to a paper knife, or envelope opener, and its object is to
improve and cheapen the construction of such knives and at the same time adapt
them for the use hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the knife with a blank from which a cover or sheath
for the knife handle is formed; and
Figure 2 is a similar view of the knife complete with the handle cover secured
in place.
Figure 3 is a cross section on line x, x of Figure 1 drawn to an enlarged scale.
My improved paper knife is made from a single bar, strip, or rod of steel, brass or
other suitable metal, one end of which is flattened by dies, rollers or in any other
convenient way, to form the blade a, the end of which will preferably be pointed. The blade
and handle portion are integral, the latter, which is indicated by b, being returned or
formed into a long loop wider at its outer than at its inner end, as clearly shown in
the drawings particularly in figure 1. The free end of the handle will preferably be
curved inwardly against the base of the blade, as shewn at c and it may be hollowed
out so as to conform to the base and seat itself securely thereon. d, represents the
sheath, or handle cover, which is formed from a blank, such as shown in Figure 1,
preferably of sheet metal. One end of said blank is wider than the other and this is
necessary to adapt it to the shape of the handle of the knife.
This enveloping sheath, or handle cover, in addition to providing means for securing
the free end of the handle tightly against the base of the blade, also affords space
whereon to place an advertisement, as indicated in figure 2.
Besides these uses, the
cover improves the finish and adds to the convenience in handling the knife. Its
edges may be secured together by solder, but I prefer to clamp it about the handle

page_text: and secure its edges by a lock seam, as shown in the sectional detail drawings. It is
obvious that the cover d cannot be slipped over the end of the handle and the spring
of the metal of said handle is sufficient to prevent it working off over the blade.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign Correspondent. I declare that what I claim is :-
First. A paper knife formed from a single piece of metal, flattened at one end
thereof to form the blade and looped at the other end to form the handle portion,
substantially as described.
Second. A paper knife formed from a single piece of metal, flattened at one end
thereof to form the blade and doubled or looped at the other, end to form the handle,
in combination with a handle cover or sheath, substantially as described.
Third. A paper knife formed from a single piece of metal, flattened at one end
thereof to form the blade and looped or doubled at the other to form the handle, in
combination with a cover or sheath, composed of a sheet of metal doubled longitu-
dinally about the handle of the knife, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of March 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.