Improvements in Bread-cutters.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bread-cutters.
I, GEORGE WASHINGTON LANGDON, of Mercer, in the County of Mercer, and State
of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The invention relates to improvements in bread-cutters.
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive bread
cutter adapted to be readily adjusted to regulate the size of the slices and capable of
preventing the crumbs falling from it.
The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement
of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and
pointed out in the claims hereto appended.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bread-cutter constructed in accordance with the
invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a side elevation.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the base of a bread-cutter,
which base is constructed preferably, of an oblong block of wood and is provided
with a metal band 2, that extends around three sides of the base and projects a
sufficient distance above the same to prevent crumbs falling from the base, and is
provided with slots 3, that are oppositely arranged and register with a slight
groove 4 extending transversely across the base about midway the length of the
same to receive the edge of a knife and enable the same to cut entirely through
a loaf of bread.
The knife is guided in its vertical movements by a wire frame which consists
of a pair of vertical wires 5, and 6, that are similar and have their lower ends 7,
bent horizontally and secured to the sides of the base. The pairs of wires are
prevented spreading by staples 8 that straddle the wires just above their bends.
The upper ends of the wires are suitably secured in a handle 9 that is provided
at its ends with ferrules to strengthen it at the points where it receives the wires
and it affords a ready and convenient means for carrying the bread cutter. The
wires are provided with oppositoly-arranged bends 10, that are arranged just below
the handle to enable the knife to be readily inserted between the wires that are
arranged sufficiently apart to allow the knife to be readily moved vertically and
the said knife 11, is provided near its outer end with a stud 16 that projects upon
opposite sides and is adapted to engage the sides of the frame and prevent the
knife being accidentally withdrawn from between the wires. The edges of the
band 2 are provided upon opposite sides of the base with series of registering per-
forations 12 that are designed to receive the ends of a wire guide 13 that may be
adjusted to and from the frame to regulate the thickness of a slice. The wire 13
is provided with a vertical bend 14 that is adapted to engage the bread and stop
the same, and a horizontal bend 15 that lies upon the base and prevents the bend 14
being pushed from its vertical position while arranging the loaf below the knife, and
the said bend 15 also enables the adjacent end of the wire guide to be readily with-
drawn from the perforations of the band.
From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings the construction,
operation and advantages of the invention will readily be understood, and the cutter is
designed to be provided at one end with a ring to enable it to be hung up when not
in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination in a bread-cutter, of the base, the band secured around the

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sides of the base and projecting above the same and provided with a series of
registering perforations on each side of the base and the guard having its ends
arranged to engage the perforations to regulate the thickness of a slice, substantially
as described.
2. The combination in a bread-cutter, with the knife provided at the end of the
blade with a stud 16 projecting from both sides of the same, of the base, the wire
frame forming a guide for the knife and consisting of the similar pairs of vertical
wires having their lower ends secured to the base and provided near their upper
ends with outward bends forming openings to enable the knife to be readily
inserted and the transverse handle receiving the upper ends of the wires, substantially
as described.
3. In a bread-cutter, the combination of the base, the band projecting above the
base and provided with registering perforations on each side, the wire-frame secured
to the base and having the handle connected thereto and the wire guard with the
ends adapted to engage the perforations and provided with a vertical bend 14 and
a horizontal bend or loop 15 substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.