OR IMPROVED HAND SHEARS FOR CUTTING CLOTH AND OTHER FABRICS AND THIN METALS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Nunan of 166 Fleet Street in the City of
London for an Invention of NEW OR IMPROVED HAND SHEARS FOR CUTTING
CLOTH AND OTHER FABRICS AND THIN METALS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Nunan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th December 1882.
EDWARD NUNAN of 166 Fleet Street in the City of London "NEW OR
IMPROVED [HAND] SHEARS FOR CUTTING CLOTH AND OTHER FABRICS AND THIN
METALS
"
This Invention relates to a new or improved construction of shears for cutting
cloth and other fabrics and thin metals and consists essentially in having one jaw
or blade a fixture so to speak to rest upon the cutting board and the other blade
movable from a pin nearly or directly under the position occupied by the ball of
the thumb when held in a proper manner for cutting.
The fixed blade is held rigidly to its frame by two pins provided with screw nuts
capable of being removed if desired when the blades require sharpening or for
other causes.
The frame has an extension piece from the hole in which the fingers of the
person cutting are inserted and this extension, which is curved carries at its forward
end by a pivot pin, a lever in which is a toggle fitting loosely in a hole provided
for it. The opposite end of the toggle fits a corresponding hole in the movable
blade which ensures a true and reliable cutting action of the blades for their full
length with a gradually increasing quickness and pressure as the points of the
blades approach until they finally touch cach other. By this means the cloth or
fabric either in single, double, or in three fold ply is severed with certainty at
the points of the blades instead of the cloth forcing the blades open and puckering
up as with the present construction of such shears.
The movable blade in my shears is guided in its up and down action by the
toggle and by the bearing which it has against the frame of the fixed blade.

page_text: The lever which is jointed to the curved extension has the thumb aperture in it
and under it is a stop piece to sit upon the top of the finger guard plate.
The lower surface of my fixed blade is flat and can rest upon the cutting board
for its full length but a roller or runner can be fitted just behind the rear of the
fixed blade to the frame if desired to assist the hand in manipulating the shears
when cutting curves or irregular shaped pieces.
The toggle is preferably shaped with two rounded heads on the opposite sides of
which flanges are formed to find a bearing against the blade on one side and the
lever on the other whereby I obtain a locking action without screws or nuts. The
toggle may however be a link if necessary.
In some cases a spring may be fitted between the blades to give a rising action
to the movable blade.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Nunan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th June
1883.
NEW OR
EDWARD NUNAN of 166 Fleet Street in the city of London
IMPROVED HAND SHEARS FOR CUTTING CLOTH AND OTHER FABRICS AND THIN
METALS
This invention relates to a new or improved construction of hand shears for
cutting cloth and other fabrics and thin metals or other material and consists.
essentially in having one jaw or blade A as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed
drawings a fixture so to speak to the stock D to rest. upon the cutting board and
the other blade B moveable from a pin C nearly or directly under the position
occupied by the ball of the thumb when held in a proper manner for cutting. The
fixed blade A is held rigidly to the stock or lower handle D by two pins EE
provided with screw nuts capable of being removed if desired when the blades A B
require sharpening or for other causes. The stock has an extended arm F which
carries at its forward end by à pivot pin G a lever or upper handle H in which is a
toggle I fitting loosely in a socket provided for it, the opposite end of the toggle I
fits in a corresponding socket in the moveable blade B which ensures a true and
reliable cutting power of the blades A, B, for their full length.
The moveable blade B in my shears is moved in its up and down action by the
toggle I and guided by the bearing which it has against a guide rib formed on the
stock D.
The lever H which is jointed to the arm F has the thumb aperture J in it.
In some shears I dispense with the lower finger aperture and form the top lever
into a handle to be extended to any required leverage.
The lower surface of my fixed blade is flat and can rest upon the cutting board
for its full length but a roller or runner can be fitted at the rear of the stock if
desired to assist the hand in manipulating the shears when cutting curves or
irregular shaped pieces. I also extend the lower blade past the upper one
at the points to allow said blade to freely pass under the material being cut.
The toggle I as shown in Figures 1 and 2 connecting the lever or upper handle H
with the upper blade B is fitted in sockets running throughout the entire thickness
of the said upper handle and of the said upper blade and is so arranged that its
points of bearing in the upper blade and in the upper handle or lever come nearly
in line with the point of connection of the lever and of the extended arm F as the
shears cut towards their points, thereby giving great cutting power at the point of
the shears or in other words by the construction of said toggle I in the manner
described, and shown in the drawings I distribute the cutting power of my shears
throughout the entire length of the blades, thus making them cut as freely at the
points as at the heel.
The said toggle I as shown separately in Figure 3 is preferably shaped with two
heads M N on opposite sides to each other to find bearings against the blade B on
one side, and the lever H on the other, whereby a locking action is obtained when
the loose blade is put in place, (without screws or nuts) to facilitate the taking
apart of said shears for grinding or other purposes.
In some cases I insert a spring R to give action to the moveable blade B
Having now described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the.
same is to be performed I declare that I claim.
The new or improved hand shears for cutting cloth and other fabrics and thin

page_text: metals or other material which allows the severed parts to pass without buckling
under the hand operating the same.
Secondly The toggle its construction and adjustment in the manner and for the
purposes described
In witness whereof I the said Edward Nunan have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One. thousand
oight hundred and eighty three
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