IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET SCISSORS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick William Schäfer, of Golden Square, London,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET
SCISSORS"
Sealed the 1st September 1877, and dated the 17th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick William Schäfer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th March 1877.
FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHÄFER, of Golden Square, London, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET SCISSORS."
Many devices have been proposed for bringing a pair of scissors into a small
compass, so as to be carried in the pocket without inconvenience from bulk or fear
of injury from the blades.
These objects have been more or less successfully attained by folding the several
parts, the one upon the other, but always leaving much to be desired in respect of
facility of expanding the scissors for use, and in the durability of their hinged
joints.
•
I propose to combine the blades of my improved pocket scissors with their
handles, upon an entirely different principle, that is to say, I purpose sliding the
blades in and out instead of folding them over.
I propose to set each of the crossed blades upon a stem or handle, so that these
parallel handles will be sufficiently apart to receive the folded blades between them,
and that the blades may slide up and down, in or upon these stems or handles, each
handle having a catch to keep the blades in position when pushed out for use.
When it is desired to contract the scissors, the blades will be freed from the
catches which hold them fixed for work, and be drawn down between their handles,
which will thus form a casing for them.
The bows, through which pass the finger and the thumb, will be placed at the
most convenient part of the stems or handles, and be fixed or moveable thereon as
may be preferred.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick William Schäfer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th September 1877.
FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHÄFER, of Golden Square, London, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET SCISSORS."
Many devices have been proposed for bringing a pair of scissors into a small
compass, so as to be carried in the pocket without inconvenience from bulk or fear
of injury from the blades.
These objects have been more or less successfully attained by folding the several
parts the one upon the other, but always leaving much to be desired in respect of
facility of expanding the scissors for use, and in the durability of their hinged
joints.
I combine the blades of my improved pocket scissors with their handles upon an
entirely different principle, that is to say, I slide the blades in and out instead of
folding them over.
I set each of the crossed blades upon a stem or handle, so that these parallel
handles will be sufficiently apart to receive the closed blades between them, and
that the blades may slide up and down, in or upon these stems or handles, each
handle having a catch to keep the blades in position when pushed out for use.
When it is desired to contract the scissors, the blades will be freed from the
catches, which hold them fixed for work, and be drawn down between the handles,
which will thus form a casing for them.
The bows, through which pass the finger and thumb, I may place at the most
convenient part of the stems or handles, and they may be fixed or moveable
thereon as may be preferred.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing Figure 1 is an elevation or front view
of a pair of scissors embodying my Invention, as they appear when closed;
Figure 2, being a similar view, but shewing the bows open; and Figure 3 represents
the scissors as they are when ready for use.
Similar letters of reference denote
similar parts in each of the Figures respectively.
A, A, are the handles or levers, in the upper part of which are the openings B, B,
and in the lower end, the dowell or steady pin C.
D, D, are the bows, secured on to the handles A, A, by the pins d, d, and upon
which are the stops E, E.
F, F, are the scissors or blades, the lower ends G, G, of which slide within or
upon the handles A, A.
H, H, are two studs secured near the upper ends of the slides G, G, and so
arranged as to spring into the openings B, B, when the scissors F are pushed out,
whereby they are secured in their proper position.
These scissors are opened for use, as shown at Fig. 3, by simply sliding out the
scissors or blades Falong the handles A, until the studs H. enter the openings B,
and by pivoting the bows D upon the pins d to the position shown, Figs. 2
and 3.
In sliding the blades F to the position shown, Figs. 1 and 2, the studs H, of
themselves, come out of the openings B, and the stops E arrest the bows D when
turned on their pins d, to the position shown, Fig, 1.
I would here observe that the parallel stems or handles A may be round, flat, or
of any suitable form, and that I may make the blades or scissors F to slide up and
down thereupon, otherwise than in grooves as shown on the Drawing, and may use
any suitable catch in lieu of stud H and opening B, to keep the blades in position
when pushed out. As aforesaid, the bows D, D, may be fixed or moveable, and I
may substitute for the pins d and stops E any hinge which I may find more suit-
able, or in lieu of folding them over, or pivoting them as shown on the Drawing, I
may make them to slide in and out, or otherwise close to reduce the bulk of the
scissors.

page_text: I may also place them at the ends of the handles, or in other convenient
position.
I have shown the ends of the handles A. setting into each other by socket and
pin C, but I may make the ends of the handles flat to come against each other liko
two plates, and I may keep the handles from moving laterally when opening or
closing the blades for cutting, or in sliding them in and out, by any means which
I may find suitable.
My improved pocket scissors may be made wholly of steel, or the handles and
bows and their fittings may be of any other metal or material.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, I claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, the manufacture of scissors,
so that the blades may slide in or upon their handles, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick William Schäfer, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.