Improvements in Cord Cutters and in Combination Implements or Pocket Tools.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1890–Accepted, 8th Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cord Cutters and in Combination Implements or
Pocket Tools.
A communication from abroad by ABBOT AUGUSTUS Low, of Brooklyn, New York,
United States of America, Gentleman.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 :-
The object of the invention is mainly the production of a simple, compact and
durable implement constructed of a single rigid piece of metal without movable parts
and adapted to a variety of common uses and requirements, a device adapted especially
for use as a handy combination tool to be carried in the pocket.
The invention consists in the several special features in construction, combination
and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth,-the implement consisting essentially
of a single piece of metal so shaped that it may be used either as a hook, envelope
or paper cutter, cord cutter, measure, rule, straight edge, finger nail cleaner, file or
screw driver, and for various other incidental uses.
Obviously some of these functions may be unprovided for in the implement
without affecting its utility in regard to the remaining functions, and I therefore
do not limit myself to an implement embodying in every case all the features
enumerated.
When designed especially for cutting cord and analogous uses, in which a rigid
cutting blade ready for instant use is desired, or as a permanent attachment to a
counter or other suitable article of furniture, to obviate the delay and inconvenience
incidental to the use of a pocket knife for the purpose of severing cord &c. it is
preferably modified in form after the manner shown in Figures 7 to 13 inclusive.
The object of the invention in this particular connection is the isolation and
protection of the cutting edge from unintentional contact with extraneous objects;
and the invention consists in so arranging the blade that it constitutes one side of an
elongated slot formed in the plate or holder, said elongated slot being created with
a lateral opening, upon the side opposite the blade for the admission of the cord or
other article to be cut. An incidental feature consists in the provision of means
by which access may be had to the blade for the purpose of sharpening the
latter.
The invention also consists in forming and combining with the button hook a
modification of the special construction of cord cutting device described above,
shaped from and in the portion of the metallic blank which constitutes the handle of
the button hook during use, the essential feature of such special construction being
the employment of a comparatively long interior cutting edge which is isolated and
protected by a guard arm by which a slot is formed for the reception of the cord or
other article to be cut or severed, the said slot having a comparatively narrow
lateral entrance, and allowing the cutting edge to be drawn longitudinally back and
forth across the cord to be severed.
In connection with the above named construction the invention also includes the
formation of one end of the handle of the device in the shape of a wedge, to facilitate
its insertion underneath cords or other fastenings bound tightly around an object, the
end being introduced between the cord and object to be unfastened until the narrow
entrance of the cutter slot is brought into coincidence with the cord, when the device
may be readily turned so as to bring the cord against the interior cutting edge and
the cord severed by raising the button hook shank portion of the device, which latter
s thereby caused to act as a lever of the second order.
•

page_text: Another feature of the invention consists in forming the combined implement with
a pointed projection adapted to be used as a scriber, or as a brad or puncturing device,
and in protecting the pointed projection and limiting the degree of penetration
thereof by means of an adjoining shoulder into which the end of the implement
formed.
While the protection afforded to the cutting edge by the guard herein before
referred to is ample under ordinary circumstances of use it is found that in certain
contingencies small articles are liable to obtrude themselves in the cutter slot through
its mouth or entrance, causing inconvenience and annoyance, and in some cases injury
to the blade or the intruding article.
All danger of such accidental contact with the cutting blade is obviated, and at the
same time the simplicity of construction of the device and its effectiveness and
convenience in use maintained by automatically closing the entrance to the slot in
front of the cutting blade by spring pressure, and the means for thus utilizing the
elasticity of a spring may obviously be varied in detail without deviating from the
spirit and intent of the invention in this respect, as will be seen by reference to
Figures 22 to 26 of the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings,—Figure 1 is an elevation of what may be called the upper side
of the combination implement; Figure 2 an elevation of the reverse or lower side ;
Figure 3 an elevation of the front edge; Figure 4 a similar view of the rear edge;.
Figure 5 a transverse section upon the plane of line x-x Figure 1; Figure 6 a
transverse section upon the plane of line y-y Figure 1.
The implement A is formed from a blank of suitable metal. At one extremity it
is formed with a hook H adapted for use as a button fastener, lace tightener or any
of the analogous uses to which such devices are applied.
The other extremity of the implement is chamfered off to form an edge S adapted
to engage the nicks in screw heads so that the implement may be used as a screw
driver or as a screw holder in cases in which the nut may be tightened upon the
screw. This end of the implement is also formed with a finger nail cleaner N
projecting outward a short distance beyond the screw engaging edge S. The screw
edge S and nail cleaner N are situated at the lower end of what may be designated
as the handle a' of the implement, this part of the latter being preferably thicker
and wider than the shank of the hook H.
The front edge a' of the implement is straight and its underside is flat, so that it
may be conveniently used as a straight edge for severing paper evenly by tearing,
as for checks &c., or as a ruling edge for marking &c.
The implement is formed with a measuring scale m immediately adjoining the
front straight edge a', its uses in conjunction there with being obvious.
The portion of the implement corresponding to the shank of the hook H, is
bevelled to an edge at front (as shown in Figure 5) constituting a cutter a² adapted
to the opening of letter envelopes and other paper wrappers, as well as for use as a
paper cutter generally.
The underside of the implement is cross-cut or otherwise suitably roughened to
form a file F for finger nails &c. The roughened surface F also tends to hold the
implement more firmly in position when it is used as a straight edge or rule.
The body of the implement is formed with a recess R preferably inclined with
relation to its length and having its inner edges sharpened to constitute a cord
cutter. The cutting edges which preferably do not extend to the mount of the
recess R are made to converge so that the cord will be gradually severed as it is
forced to the bottom of the recess.
The pocket implement thus produced is available in innumerable circumstances of
daily occurrence, besides affording convenient and effective means for performing
the functions specified. Being made of a single piece of metal it is strong, durable,
cheap to manufacture, and cannot possibly get out of order by ordinary and
legitimate use.
Figure 7 is a side view and Figure 8 an edge view of the implement with the
blade made removable; Figure 9 a transverse section upon the plane of line a—x

page_text: Figure 7. Figure 10 is a side view of the implement with the front side wall of the
elongated cutting slot made removable in order to give access to the blade; Figure 11
a similar view showing the front side wall of the cutting slot removed; and
Figure 12 a top view of an implement adapted for use as a stationary cutter.
In these Figures the plate A which constitutes the holder, frame or handle for the
blade B, may be of any preferred form and construction, according to the circumstances
under which the implement is designed to be used.
The blade B may be an independent piece of metal secured to the plate A by
screws b, b (as indicated in Figures 7 and 8), or by any other suitable means of
fastening; or the said blade B may be formed directly in the metal of the plate A
itself, as indicated in Figures 10 and 11. In the latter case the front side wall A¹ is
removable from the plate A in order that the cutting edge b¹ may be conveniently
sharpened when desirable. As will be seen by the drawings the blade B is set within
the plate A, its cutting edge b' constituting one side of the elongated cutting slot
which is bounded upon the opposite side by one or more extension pieces A' A¹
projecting from the body of the plate A, and preferably extending parallel to the
blade.
In the outer side wall of the cutting slot C formed by the extension or extensions A¹
a transverse opening at is formed through which a cord or similar article may be
passed into the cutting slot C.
The elongated form of the cutting slot C allows the cutting edge 6¹ to be drawn
back and forth across the article to be severed when the device is used in the form of
a hand implement, or where the stationary form of cutter is employed it permits of
the cord or other article to be severed being passed back and forth against the said
cutting edge b¹.
The blade B is preferably made wedge-shaped in cross section as shown in Figure 9
so as to project the cutting edge b¹ into the centre of the cutting slot.
In order to admit of the sharpening of the cutting edge 6¹ without removing the
blade B the outer wall A¹ may be made practically in one piece (as shown in
Figures 10 and 11) which is adapted to be removed temporarily from the plate A,
being secured to the latter by screws a¹ or equivalent means of attachment.
Figures 13 and 14 are respectively elevations of opposite sides of another modified
form of the combination implement; Figure 15 an edge elevation of the same;
Figure 16 an elevation of the hook end of the device; Figure 17 a transverse section
upon the plane of line a.-x, Figure 13; Figure 18 an elevation of the wedge-shaped
extremity of the device; Figure 19 an isometrical perspective of the implement
illustrating the operation of severing a cord; Figure 20 a view illustrating the intro-
duction of the wedge-shaped end of the device underneath a cord tightly surrounding
a bundle; and Figure 21 a sectional view of the implement illustrating the position
of the cutting edge against the binding cord when the device is inserted underneath
the latter, as shown in Figure 20, and then turned one quarter around, or at right
angles to the bundle.
The implement A is formed of a single piece or blank of any suitable metal. At
one extremity it is formed with a hook H adapted for use as a button fastener,
lace tightener or any of the analogous uses to which such devices are applied.
The other extremity of the implement is formed into a wedge W adapted to be
inserted underneath a cord or other fastening, as illustrated in Figure 20. When
thus used the end W is passed underneath the cord C until the latter coincides with
the entrance s to the cutter slot S₁ when the implement is turned so as to occupy
substantially the position indicated in Figure 21, thus bringing the knife edge K¹
against the cord in position to sever the latter.
The act of severing the cord C is performed either by raising the hook end of the
implement by the shank has a handle so that the end W acts as a fulcrum against
the package, or by reciprocating the implement under the cord and then sawing the
latter in two.
The use of the knife K' as a cutting blade for a free or loose cord is illustrated in
Figure 19.

page_text: The knife edge K¹ is formed in the body of what may be designated as the handle a
of the button hook. It is preferably straight and is protected by a parallel guard G,
consisting of a strip or projection of the blank A, by which means the cord slot S¹ is
created, a suitable lateral opening s¹ being formed for the admission of the cord.
A projection of the wedge W is formed with a point or brad B¹ which is utilized
as a scriber or as a means for starting a small perforation or hole in wood or other
substance for various purposes, such as starting a hole for screws, tacks, nails &c., or
for perforating thin substances.
The point of the brad is in a measure protected and prevented from penetrating too
far by the adjoining edge w of the wedge W, which acts as a shoulder or guard to
ward off unintentional or undesirable contact with the brad.
Figures 22 and 23 represent the guard itself as made elastic to bend inward to
permit of the entrance of the cord as shown in Figure 23, its resilience when pressure
is removed returning it to its normal position as in Figure 22.
Figure 24 shows the guard in the form of a spring which opens outward to admit
the cord; and Figures 25 and 26 represent the guard as rigid as heretofore
constructed and the entrance to the cutter slot closed by a flat spring attached to the
device.
It will be seen that in any case what may be practically designated as an auto-
matically closing gate is attained by which the cutter slot is effectually closed and
guarded.
The cutting blade C₁ is formed or inserted in the body of the plate P¹ and is
protected by the guard G which extends in a substantially parallel line in front, and
creates the cutter slot S2. Thus far the cutting device is substantially the same in
construction as those hereinbefore referred to.
Provision for closing the slot S automatically may either be made by making the
guard G itself elastic, as shown in Figures 22, 23 and 24, or an independent
spring G¹ may be employed and the guard remain rigid as heretofore, as illustrated
in Figures 25 and 26.
When the spring gate G¹ is made independent and attached to the plate P¹ I
curve the side walls of the entrances as shown in Figure 25 to facilitate the
entrance of the cord.
An incidental feature of the invention consists in forming the entrances to the
cutter slot S beyond the cutter blade as shown in Figures 22 and 23 so as to
obviate all danger of contact between the end of the said spring guard when
depressed and the cutting edge, and to also avoid the immediate contact with the
blade of the cord or other object introduced, a sort of ante-chamber or intermediate
lock being created when the spring gate is open as shown in Figure 23 which bars
contact with the cutting edge until the gate has returned to its normal position.
It will thus be seen that I guard the cutter C¹ under all conditions, even when the
cutter slot is open, so that it is practically impossible for foreign matters to reach the
blade by accident.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me and in what manner the same is to be performed
I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A combined implement consisting of a single piece of metal formed into the
hook H, shank h, handle a, and straight edge a¹, for the purpose and substantially in
the manner described.
a,
2. A combined implement consisting of a single piece of metal formed with the
handle
hook H and intervening shank h the back of which shank is formed with
the straight paper cutting edge a², substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
3. A combined implement consisting of a single piece of metal formed with the
hook H, shank h, handle a and screw driver S for the purpose and substantially in the
manner described.
4. A combined implement consisting of a single piece of metal formed into

page_text: the hook H, shank h, handle a and finger nail cleaner N, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose described.
5. A combined implement consisting of a single piece of metal formed into the
hook H, shank h, handle a, straight edge a¹ and measuring scale m, for the purpose
and substantially in the manner described.
6. A combined implement consisting of a single piece of metal formed into the
hook H, shank h, handle a, and the cord cutter R, the latter being formed directly in
the handle a, for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.
7. A combined implement consisting of a single piece of metal formed into the
hook H, shank h, handle a and file F for the purpose and substantially in the manner
described.
8. A combined implement consisting of a single piece of metal formed into the
hook H, shank h, handle a, screw driver S, finger nail cleaner N, cord cutter R,
straight edge a', measure m, cutter a² and file F, for the purpose and substantially in
the manner described.
9. In a cutting implement substantially such as described, the combination with
the cutting blade B, of the plate A formed with the elongated slot C, opening a*
and removable extension A¹³, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
10. A cutting implement provided with a blade the cutting edge of which con-
stitutes one side of an elongated slot, the opposite side of said slot being formed with
a transverse opening, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
11. In a cutting instrument substantially such as described, the combination with
the plate A formed with the elongated slot C, side walls A and opening at, of the
movable blade B, for the purpose and substantially in the manner described.
12. A combined instrument consisting of a single piece of metal formed into and
with the hook H, shank h, handle a, cutting edge K', slot S', parallel guard G
and entrance, and wedge shaped extremity W, substantially in the manner and for
the purpose described.
13. A combined implement consisting of a single piece of metal formed into and
with the hook H, shank h, handle a, cutting edge K', parallel guard G, slot S¹, lateral
entrance s and wedge shaped extremity W, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose described.
14. A combined implement consisting of a single piece of metal formed into and
with the hook H, shank h, handle a, cutting edge K₁, parallel guard G, slot S¹,
entrance s, brad B¹, shoulder wo and wedge W, substantially in the manner and for
the purpose described.
15. In a cutting implement substantially such as described the plate P' formed
with the rigid interior cutting edge C¹ and slot S2 having an automatically closed
entrance, and the guard G¹, the whole combined and arranged substantially in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
16. In a cutting implement substantially such as described, the plate P¹ formed
with the rigid interior cutting edge C³, slot S2 and flexible guard G¹ for auto-
matically closing the said slot S2, the whole combined and arranged substantially in
the manner and for the purpose set forth.
17. In a cutting implement substantially such as described, the plate P¹ formed
with the rigid interior cutting edge C¹, slot S2, provided with the automatically
closing entrance situated beyond the cutting blade C, and the guard G¹, the whole
combined and arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.
Dated this 11th day of January 1800