Improvements in Sickles or Reaping Knives.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application,
Jan.
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sickles or Reaping Knives.
I, AUSTIN HOLSOPPLE, citizen of the United States of America, resident of
Geistown, in the County of Cambria, and State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America, Teacher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to corn knives or cutters and the object thereof, is to
provide an improved device of this class which is simple in construction and
operation, and which is adapted for cutting corn for fodder.
The invention is fully disclosed on the following specification.
In the practice of my invention I provide a handle which is preferably of wood,
and also preferably about two feet long, although this length may be varied as will
be understood, to suit the circumstances of the case, and the handle is provided
with a blade, which is preferably from fourteen to eighteen inches in length, and
from one and one-half to two inches wide at the handle and which is from one and
one eighth to one and one-quarter inches in width at about two inches from the
point.
The blade should also be somewhat thinner at and near the point than at the
handle, and should taper from the edge to the back, and the back of the blade
should be curved at the point. The blade is set into the handle and secured
therein by rivets or otherwise.
It will also be observed that the blade is set at an inclination to the handle, and
the angle between said blade and handle being an obtuse angle, and by reason
of this inclination of the blade, the operation thereof is facilitated to a great
extent.
It will be understood that in operation, the corn is grasped in one hand, and the
cutter operated with the other, and in this operation of the cutter, the blade is
placed around the stalks of corn near the bottom thereof, and by a quick upward
movement the stalks are cut off.
As usually constructed, corn cutting knives are provided with a back piece or
flange, but it will be observed that the sides of the blade of my improved cutter
are smooth and even, as a back piece or flange with this form of cutter would
interfere with the operation thereof.
My improved cutter is less likely to become dulled than those which are usually
employed and in the use thereof, the operator is not required to stoop so much as
is necessary when an ordinary cutting knife or sickle is employed. The corn may
also be cut off much nearer to the ground than usual, and thus a great saving is
effected where the corn is short, and more fodder is obtained, and many other
changes will readily suggest themselves especially when the corn is planted close
together, and is intended for fodder purposes only, and much more thereof, can be
harvested with my improved cutter than with an ordinary cutting knife and the
danger of injury to the operator is also much less than when a knife is used with
which it is necessary to strike downwardly in order to cut off the stalk.
Dated this 10th day of January 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Sickles or Reaping Knives.
I, AUSTIN HOLSOPPLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of
Geistown, in the County of Cambria, and State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America, Teacher, 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 corn knives or cutters and the object thereof, is to
provide an improved device of this class which is simple in construction and
operation, and which is adapted for cutting corn for fodder.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a side view of my improved corn cutter, and,
Fig. 2, a back view thereof.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a handle A, which is preferably of
wood, and also preferably about two feet long, although this length may be varied,
as will be understood, to suit the circumstances of the case, and the handle A, is
provided with a blade B, which is preferably from fourteen to eighteen inches in
length, and from one and one-half to two inches wide at the handle and which
is from one and one-eighth to one and one-quarter inches in width at about two
inches from the point.
The blade should also be somewhat thinner at and near the point than at the
handle, and should taper from the edge to the back, and the back of the blade
should be curved at the point as shown at b.
The blade is set into the handle as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and secured therein,
by rivets or otherwise.
It will also be observed that the blade is set at an inclination to the handle,
and the angle between said blade and handle being an obtuse angle, and by
reason of this inclination of the blade, the operation thereof is facilitated to a
great extent.
It will be understood that in operation, the corn is grasped in one hand, and
the cutter operated with the other, and in this operation of the cutter, the blade:
is placed around the stalks of corn near the bottom thereof, and by a quick
upward movement the stalks are cut off.
As usually constructed, corn cutting knives, are provided with a back piece or
flange, but it will be observed that the sides of the blade of my improved cutter
are smooth and even, as a back piece or flange with this form of cutter would
interfere with the operation thereof.
My improved cutter is less likely to become dulled than those which are usually.
employed, and in the use thereof, the operator is not required to stoop so much
as is necessary when an ordinary cutting knife or sickle is employed. The corn
may also be cut off much nearer to the ground than usual, and thus a great 4
saving is effected where the corn is short, and more fodder is obtained, and
many other changes will readily suggest themselves especially when the corn is
planted close together, and is intended for fodder purposes only, and much more
thereof, can be harvested with my improved cutter than with an ordinary cutting
knife, and the danger of injury to the operator is also much less than when a 4
knife: is used, with which it is necessary to strike downwardly in order to cut off
the stalk.

page_text: 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 corn cutter, comprising a handle, and a straight blade, secured in one end
thereof, substantially as shown and described.
2. A corn cutter, comprising a handle, and a straight blade, secured in one end
thereof, said blade being set in the handle at an inclination thereto, the angle.
between the blade and handle being greater than a right angle, substantially as.
shown and described.
3. A corn cutter, comprising a handle, and a straight blade, secured on one end
thereof, said blade being set in the handle at an inclination thereof, the angle.
between the blade and handle being greater than a right angle, and said blade
being tapered in cross section from the edge to the back and pointed, substantially
as shown and described.
Dated this 27th day of July 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.