Improvements in Spatulas.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 20th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spatulas.
I, CLARENCE WOODBURY Fox, of Saugus County of Essex, State of Massa-
chusetts, United States of America, Merchant 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 :-
Spatulas for druggists use, in mixing compounds, pigments and the like have so
far as I am aware been composed of a broad thin flexible blade of steel, provided
with a suitable handle.
It frequently happens that the materials to be compounded act on the steel blade
and while injuring it, the compound itself is also injured by the chemical action
which takes place, and not infrequently is said compound discoloured.
Spatula blades have also been made of horn, but while such a blade can be used
in some instances where a steel blade cannot many instances occur where a horn
blade cannot be used, and furthermore a horn blade does not possess the required
flexibility and is easily warped by changes in temperature, so that it is but
little used.
Spatula blades have also been made of hard rubber, but as the blade must be
very thin, in order to be sufficiently flexible, it is very easily broken.
This invention has for its object to construct a spatula which may be used
without injuring the compound, and also without injury to the blade, which latter
possesses all the desirable qualities of a steel blade.
In accordance with this invention the blade of the spatula is made of rubber,
provided with a broad thin steel core, to which is attached a handle, or said core
may be suitably extended or formed to constitute the handle, or may form a
substantial part thereof.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 shows in plan view a spatula embodying this invention.
Figure 2 a longitudinal section of the spatula shown in Figure 1.
The blade of rubber is made quite broad and thin, and of suitable length, and
is provided with a broad thin steel core b.
The core 6, is extended at one end as at ¹, to form a substantial part of the
handle, to each side of which suitably shaped pieces of horn, wood, or other suitable
material are attached.
In lieu however of this particular form of handle it is obvious that any suitable
handle may be provided.
As a preferable way of manufacturing the blade the steel core is covered with
rubber, and the latter vulcanized thereon yet in lieu of using rubber any well known
or suitable equivalent may be employed.
By making the blade of rubber with a steel core, as shown, it will be seen
that it may be used without harm in mixing any compound, owing to the well
known qualities of the rubber to resist chemical action and furthermore the
steel core gives it the proper flexibility or spring like action, while greatly

page_text: increasing the durability of the blade, for without such core it would be easily
broken.
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 :-
The spatula herein described composed of a blade of rubber having a broad
thin steel core, and a handle, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of September 1892.
CLARENCE WOODBURY FOX.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.