IMPROVEMENTS IN FILES, AND IN HANDLES FOR HOLDING THE SAME
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FILES, AND IN HANDLES FOR HOLDING THE SAME."-A communication from
abroad by Alfred Weed, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America.
Sealed the 12th April 1867, and dated the 20th February 1867.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 20th February 1867, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FILES, AND IN HANDLES FOR HOLDING THE SAME," and, have. petitioned Her
Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her
Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn, declaration that
it bas been communicated to me from, abroad by Alfred Weed, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America..

page_text: the handles being split in the manner described and severe wounds. being
inflicted.
In Figure 6 will be seen a file made in accordance with this Invention, it
having neither a tang or a sufficient extension beyond the teeth to serve of
itself as a handle. In this file the teeth may be cut quite to its rear or to its
butt, or a space of from one-half inch to an inch may be left uncut according
to the size of the file. At the extreme rear end a notch may be formed to fit
around the screw which clamps the file between the jaws to prevent lateral
movements of the rear part of the file in the jaws, and a cross groove may
also be formed in the surface of the file near the extreme rear end, into which
a rib on one of the clamping jaws may be made to fit.
In Figure 1, a represents an ordinary handle, into which is driven a spindle b,
the latter being formed integral with the shoulder c and fixed jaw d, at the
outer end of which the rib e may be formed; the loose jaw f is provided with
a screw g, on which works the nut h. By means of the said nut the loose
jaw can be drawn towards the fixed jaw and thus clamp any file that may be.
inserted between the jaws; the rear end of the loose jaw abuts against the
front face of the shoulder c, and is thus prevented from turning on the screw
as a pivot, which being located near the rear of the jaws gives space in front
for entering the rear end of the file. In both the fixed and loose jaws longi-
tudinal central grooves are made, preferably corresponding to each other, and
of the right angular form shown, the said grooves being adapted, as seen in
Figures 3, 4, and 5, to firmly hold any file of the form of section shown in
said Figures, while flat and "half round" files are held firmly between the
parallel faces of the jaws. With three of these handles, one large, one
medium, and one small one, a machinist may make use of a large assortment
of files.
Having thus fully described the said improvements as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently
and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
A file when made to be grasped in adjustable jaws, substantially as
described.
Also, a bandle adapted for holding such files when provided with one
fixed jaw and one moveable jaw operated by a screw and nut, substantia!,
as described.
Also, providing the jaws of such a handle with longitudinal grooves, sub-
stantially as described.
Also, providing one or both of the said jaws with cross ribs to fit corre-
sponding depressions in files, substantially as described.

page_text: And providing files at their rear ends with either grooves or notches
arranged and operating to steady them in their position in clamping jaws,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
GEORGE HAZELTINE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.