CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS EMPLOYED FOR CUTTING GRASS, PRUNING, AND OTHER ANALAGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaiah Whitehouse, of Bridgtown, Cannock, in the
County of Stafford, Edge Tool Maker, for an Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS EMPLOYED FOR CUTTING GRASS, PRUNING,
AND OTHER ANALAGOUS PURPOSES,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaiah Whitehouse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th January 1881.
ISAIAH WHITEHOUSE, of Bridgtown, Cannock, in the County of Stafford, Edge
Tool Maker. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS EMPLOYED FOR CUTTING
GRASS, PRUNING, AND OTHER ANALAGOUS PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to improvements in tools for cutting grass, trimming lawns,
pruning and trimming trees, and such like purposes.
The effect of this Invention is, by the means hereinafter described,' to 'simplify
the construction and add to the durability and increase their efficiency; as relates
to the pruning and trimming tools, the handle or shaft can be elongated so that
one tool can be employed for low trees and also for trees of any reasonable
height.
For cutting grass I employ three blades, in form somewhat corresponding to those
hitherto employed, one of the blades is permanently affixed to the handle termi-
nating in a plate somewhat circular, and provided with two holes near to the
outer edge; the other two blades are constructed somewhat similar, having two holes
each, the inner for pinning to the first named blade a forked lever arranged
lengthwise upon the handle, the said forks being pinned to the exterior boles of
the blades; a second lever is connected to the handle horizontally at a convenient
distance and pinned to the extreme end of the forked lever; by means of these
levers motion is imparted, the two blades being closed and opened by the outward
and returned movement controlled by a slot with pin; the part of the first
named blade carries a roller near to its connection to the handle, this rotates upon
the ground, receives the weight, facilitating the same when applied to its purpose.
For pruning or trimming trees I employ but two blades and dispense with the

page_text: forked lever, one of the blades is curved; this one enters and is connected to the
handle; the second, or cutting blade, works upon the surface of the first, regulated
by a pin arranged thereon. The cutting blade carries a lever following in line the
handle, one end being pinned to the said blade the other to the horizontal lever
affixed to the handle for the purposes above described; this tool is chiefly applicable
to low trees, but for trees that are high I employ a screwed socket to the handle,
and to each tool an extra length of handle, and an extra lever which can be applied
by a pin with facility when required.
The garden tool or shears in principle is identical, differing only by the shape
of the blades which are those hitherto used..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Isaiah Whitehouse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th July
1881.
ISAIAH WHITEHOUSE, of Bridgtown, Cannock, in the County of Stafford, Edge
Tool Maker. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS TOOLS EMPLOYED IN CUTTING GRASS,
PRUNING, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to improvements in tool for eutting grass, trimming lawns,
prunning and trimming trees, and such like purposes.
The object of this Invention is by the means herein after described to simplify
the construction and to the durability and increase their efficiency; as relates to
the prunning and trimming tools, the handle or shaft can be elongated, so that one
tool can be employed for low trees, and also for trees of any reasonable height.
For cutting grass I employ two blades constructed of sheet or plate steel in form
somewhat corresponding to those hitherto employed; one of the blades is permanently
affixed to the handle terminating in a plate somewhat circular, and provided with
two holes near to the outer edge; the other blade is constructed somewhat similar,
having two holes each, the inner for pinning to the first named blade a forked
lever arranged lengthwise upon the handle, the said forks being pinned to the
exterior holes of the blades; a second lever is connected to the handle horizontally
at a convenient distance, and pinned to the extreme end of the forked lever; by
means of these levers motion is imparted, the two blades being closed and opened
by the outward and return movement controlled by a slot with pin; the under part
of the first named blade carries a roller near to its connection to the handle, this
rotates upon the ground, receives the weight, facilitating the same when applied to
its purpose.
For pruning or trimming trees I employ but two blades, of plate steel by
preference, and dispense with the forked lever; one of the blades is curved,.this one
enters and is connected to the handle; the second or cutting blade works upon the
surface of the first, regulated by a pin arranged thereon. The cutting blade carries
a lever following in line the handle, one end being pinned to the said blade, the

page_text: other to the horizontal lever affixed to the handle for the purposes above described.
This tool is chiefly applicable to low trees, but for trees that are high I employ
a screwed socket to the handle, and to each tool an extra length of handle and an
extra lever, which can be applied by a pin with facility when so required.
The garden tool or shears in principle is identical, differing only by the shape of
the blades which are those hitherto used.
The before going being the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe in
detail how the same may be carried out in practical effect, and for that purpose I
have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof marked with
figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation,
the same letters of reference being used to denote like or corresponding parts
throughout the various views of the Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of fruit pruner for trees; Fig. 2, a rod and parts
for same when required to be elongated; Fig. 3, ordinary shears for trimming
purposes to be connected when required by removing the pruning blades; Fig. 4
is a view in elevation of the ordinary garden shears; Fig. 5, a view in elevation,
differing only from Fig. 4 by the bend, of flat blades employed for cutting grass and
trimming lawns; Fig. 6, a view in elevation of hedge trimmer and grass or lawn
trimmer when the blades take the angle of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a view in elevation of
fancy pruners for shrubs and lopping purposes; Fig. 8, a side view elevation of
same.
Fig. 1. A is the handle or shaft; B is a curved blade temporarily connected to A
by means herein after explained; B¹ is the cutting blade provided with a
projection B forming a lever, having a hole B³ for receiving by means of a simple
bend or hook the vertical lever C (the blades work upon the pin U as hitherto);
the lower end of C is also bent as a hook, and connected to the plate D by passing
through a hole D¹; this plate is secured to the lever E, and takes an horizontal
position, being connected to A by a hole, which is passed upon a screwed pin and
held by the nut D2, screwed correspondingly, and fed thereon by E conjointly with C
(which takes the line of A by passing through the loop D³); the blade B¹ is actuated
and controlled but limited by the upturned stud F.
This tool is chiefly applicable for low trees, but for trees that are high I employ
the extra handle or shaft with its parts, as illustrated by Fig. 2. A¹ is the handle
or shaft for elongating, Fig. 1, having at its highest part. a metallic tube G and
holes G¹ directly opposite each other; the lower part of A, Fig. 1, is fitted into this
tube, and a metallic pin G2 passed through the hole in A and G¹, and thus securely
held; H is a connecting plate; C¹, the extra lever. By taking off the screwed
nut D, E can be released from A and C, and H substituted with C¹ thereto; finally,
E can be adjusted to A¹ and C¹, identical in position, as previous, to A and C in
Fig. 1.
This tool is also applicable for cutting or trimming tall bushes and the like, the
cutting blades for this purpose differing from those above described, the which
I illustrate at Fig. 3; B is a blade, the lower part of which terminates in a line B
with hole (B in Fig. 1 being identical for the purpose of changing when required,
being affixed or held by the pin V passing through the said holes) B, and other
parts correspond and are described in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4. A, A, are the handles, B is the lower blade, B¹ the upper (pinned as
hitherto). I dispense with the check or seat, previously used for controlling and
preventing strain, by constructing these tools of sheet or plate steel, thus main-
taining a uniform strength and appearance throughout. Immediately below the
pin UI bend B upwards and B' downwards sufficiently, so that when the tool
is closed or shut the interior edges or parts at U¹ meet upon a level, and no stud
or stop is required; this is further illustrated in the side view adjoining.
Fig. 5 is described by Fig. 4.
Fig. 6. A is the handle or shaft; B is the lower blade; B', the upper blade with
projection B2 provided with a hole B³, through which passes a screwed pin, and
upon which is adjusted one end of the vertical lever C, and secured by a nut

page_text: screwed, correspondingly (the said blades working upon the pin U); D is a plate
connected to the lever E and D¹ and shaft A at D, and to which is affixed the
lower part of C by means as before described; the lower part of B¹ is hollowed or
stolted at I, and a pin or stud J upon the surface of B regulates or controls the
same.
The blades for ordinary use, such as trimming, are constructed straight, as Fig. 4,
but when employed for cutting grass or such like purpose the said blades are bent
to the angle of Fig. 5, or approaching thereto, and in addition a roller of the ordinary
kind may be arranged to the under part to facilitate its work.
Figs. 7 and 8. A, A, are the handles; B, the curved blade; B', the cutting blade ;
U is the pin; U¹, parts of blades where the edges meet, the description given of
Fig. 4.
Having now described and ascertained the nature, object, and purposes of my
Invention, and shewn how the same may be carried out into practical effect,
nevertheless I do not confine myself to the precise details herein given; what I
claim as my Invention, and desire to be secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The construction and manufacture of tools. made or formed from sheet or
plate steel (by preference), substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described and shewn.
2. The general construction, combination, and arrangement of parts together
forming my improvements in tools employed for cutting grass, pruning, and other
analogous purposes, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn on the
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof; I, the said Isaiah Whitehouse, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
T
Witness,
THOMAS KENDRICK.
ISAIAH WHITEHOUSE. (L.S.)