Improvements in Scissors, Shears, and other such like Instruments.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Scissors, Shears, and other such like Instruments..
JOHN WHITEHEAD 42 Anglesey Street Lozells, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick. I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in scissors, shears, and other such like
instruments, the improvements consist in fixing or attaching a flat, or other shaped
spring, between the joints, of the two blades, of the scissors, shears, or such like
instruments, whereby its action will be to force or press, the cutting edges, all
along the two blades together, thus constantly producing a sharpening effect, and
keeping a keen edge upon them, in consequence of the two blades, rubbing or
grinding together.
Therefore a great saving is effected in cost of frequent grinding or sharpening.
Instead of a flat steel, or other metal spring, I may slightly bend it into various
shapes, so as to give it a yeilding power, and strength as may be required, however
in all cases, I should fix or place the spring between the joints, of the blades.
either by rivetting, soldering or any other means, so as to produce the desired
effect of forcing or pressing the two cutting edges of the blades together as before
described.
That is to say, the power or pressure of the spring, pushes, or forces, that part
of the joint nearest the loops, of the scissors or shears apart, thereby forcing the
blades together, for the purpose of maintaining a keen cutting edge without
grinding or sharpening.
A further great advantage over ordinary scissors and shears, is that the spring
renders them more easy for cutting out, or any other purpose, for instead of
having to press or force the blades together by hand, the pressure of the spring
accomplishes this effect without further aid.
In some cases I may use a wire spring of suitable shape and strength, instead of
flat or other shaped spring, but should in all cases fix the spring suitably between
the joints, and in some instances I may use more than one spring.
Dated this 21st day of October 1893.
JOHN WHITEHEAD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Scissors, Shears, and other such like Instruments.
I, JOHN WHITEHEAD of No. 42 Anglesey Street, Lozells, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Art Metal Worker, 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 relates to the improvements in scissors, shears and other cutting
instruments and consists in making the said articles in a manner whereby the
cutting edges of the blades are pressed or held together by the pressure of a spring
operating in the manner hereinafter described, independently of the pin or pivot by
which the two cutting blades are connected together.
It will be apparent that by my invention many difficulties in cutting various
fabrics or materials caused by their slipping between the blades will be entirely
obviated.

page_text: By my invention the cutting blades being constantly pressed together the
keenness of their edges will be maintained and any fray or burr upon the edges
will be removed by the grinding together of the same.
I will describe my invention by reference to the accompanying drawings the
letters of reference indicating similar parts throughout.
Figures 1 and 2 represent a pair of scissors made in accordance with my invention
having a steel or other metallic spring C, or its equivalent, placed between the
joints of the blades A and B and attached by a rivet E or two rivets E and E' (or
may attach the spring by soldering, brazing or other suitable means).
Figure 4 shows the form of spring I preferably use, I do not confine myself to
this particular shape but may vary the same as circumstances require and adapted
to the different form of cutting instrument to which it is employed.
Figure 3 shows the blade A having the spring C attached thereto by the rivets E
and E¹.
Figures 5 and 6 represent a pair of garden shears having a spring, similar to
Figure 4, attached to one of the blades.
It will be obvious that by opening and closing the blades, the blade A will be
forced against the blade B by the lateral pressure of the spring C thus keeping
the two cutting edges constantly grinding together and maintaining the keenness
of their edges.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in scissors, sbears and other similar cutting instruments,
whereby the cutting edges of the blades are pressed together by the lateral
pressure, a spring placed between the joints substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1894.
WILLIAM HENRY BARACLOUGH,
36, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant...