IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET KNIVES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET KNIVES."-A communi-
cation from abroad by William Sausser, of Hannibal, in the State of
Missouri, United States of America.
Sealed the 16th April 1867, and dated the 9th November 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th November 1866.
1, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET KNIVES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a novel manner of securing the blades of pocket
knives to the case or handle so that the blade can be easily removed from the
handle without taking it to pieces and another blade may be inserted in its
place.
The Invention consists in arranging a slot or bayonet joint in the shank
of the blade so that the blade can be inserted in or removed from the handle
by sliding it on or off the usual pin o or pivot upon which it turns without
[Price 8d.]

page_text: any change in the handle or pivot. The shank of the blades, or that part of
the same which is between the pivot and the back spring (when the blade is
shut) may be so diminished that the pressure of the back spring upon the shank
may be relieved when the knife is shut, so that the blade may be removed
from the handle or case without using the spring holder. The spring holder
is an independent lever provided with a fulcrum pin, for which a groove or
recess is arranged in the back spring. A hook at the end of the holder fits
into a notch in the end of the back spring, and by pressing upon the opposite
end of the spring holder the end of the back spring will be raised and the
shank of the blade relieved from its pressure, thus permitting the removal of
the blade. To secure the blade perfectly in its place or position in the
handle a small projection is provided at the inside of the back spring, which
in connection with a shoulder on the blade and the slight outward inclination
of the slot secures the blade in position when closed or opened.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lanc, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said
William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others. from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POCKET KNIVES," being a communication to
me from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to a novel manner of securing the blades of pocket
knives to the case or handle so that the blade can be easily removed from the
handle without taking it to pieces and another blade may be inserted in its
place.
This Invention will prove to be very valuable for surgeons, gardeners, and
all parties who may find use for different kinds of blades. All that is required
to one whole set of blades is one case or handle; whichever blade is needed is
placed into the handle and held securely by the back spring and a pin to
take it out again it may be necessary to apply the improved spring holder,
but the knife may also be so constructed as to allow of the easy removal of
any of the blades without the aid of any other instrument.
The Invention consists in so arranging a slot or bayonet joint in the shank
of the blade that the blade can be inserted in or removed from the handle by
sliding it on or off the usual pin or pivot upon which it turns without any
change in the handle or pivot.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved
knife, one side of the case or handle being removed; Fig. 2 is a similar view
to Fig. 1, .the blades being in a different position; Fig. 3 is a side view of
the improved single spring holder, and Figure 4 is a top view of the double
spring holder.
A represents the case or handle of the knife; B is the large and C the
small blade; D is the back spring. The slot a in the shank of the blades
through which the pivot b or passes is of an angular or curved shape, as seen
in Figures 1 and 2. When the blade is to be inserted the pivot b enters at
the end of the slot, and the blade is then pressed first towards the back spring
and then nearly parallel with it. The blade B in Fig. 2 is in the position of
having just been inserted. The shank of the blades or that part of the same
which is between the pivot and the back spring (when the blade is shut) may
be so diminished that the pressure of the back spring upon the shauk may be
relieved when the knife is shut, so that the blade may be removed from the
handle or case without using the spring holder; this is shewn by the blade C

page_text: 1.
in Fig. 1. The spring holder E, which is shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, is
an independent lever provided with a fulcrum pin for which an appropriate
groove or recess is provided in the back spring. The hook cor. hooks c¹, c,
(Figure 3) fit into a notch in the, end of the back spring (Figure 1) and by
pressing, upon the opposite end e of the. spring holder the end of the back
spring will be raised and the shank of the blade relieved from its pressure,
thus permitting the removal of the blade. To secure the blade perfectly in its
place or position in the handle a small projection f is provided at the inside
of the back spring, which in connection with the shoulder g on the blade, and
the slight outward inclination of the slot a secures the blade in position when
closed or opened.
I do not wish to confine myself to the particular. form and construction of
the different parts, as herein shewn. The principle of the Invention may be
carried out by employing a slot of different shape in the blade and different
arrangements of the different parts.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated to
me as aforesaid, and having explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as
aforesaid,
First, constructing pocket knives in the manner herein set forth, so that the
blades may be easily removed and replaced without taking to pieces the case
or handle or any part thereof.
:
Second, I claim providing the knife blades A or B with slots a as and for
the purpose herein shown and described.
Third, I claim the spring holder E made and operating as herein shewn
and described.
Fourth, I claim the mode of constructing and operating the back spring D
for the purpose herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Ninth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
'J. W. MOFFATT,
GG, Chancery Lane,
TV.
AT
NEWTON.
(L.D.)