AN IMPROVED KNIFE OR OPENER FOR PRE- SERVED FOOD TINS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Ernest Knox, C.E., of Forest Hill, in the County
of Kent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED KNIFE OR OPENER FOR PRE-
SERVED FOOD TINS."
Sealed the 5th December 1876, and dated the 24th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Ernest Knox at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th June 1876.
EDWARD ERNEST KNOX, C.E., of Forest Hill, in the County of Kent.
IMPROVED KNIFE OR OPENER FOR PRESERVED FOOD TINS."
"AN
My Invention relates to an improved knife or opener for tin cans containing pre-
served meats and other food, and it consists in providing the knife or opener with
a gauge or guide so disposed relatively to the blade as to enable the tin to be
opened by cutting round the sides at a short distance below the top whilst the tin
is standing in an upright position.
By the improved knife or opener of my Invention a clear cut is made without
any inwardly projecting jagged edges, so that by inverting the tin the contents
may be turned out entire as from a mould, and the tin being kept upright during
the operation of cutting the liquid portion (if any) of the contents is not spilled,
as when it is necessary to lay the tin on the side in order to cut it.
The knife or opener consists of a blade fixed to a suitable handle, and provided
with a fixed jaw to serve as a fulcrum for the tool much as in ordinary, and in
addition I provide a lateral gauge or guide parallel with the blade, with an interval
between equal to the distance the cut is to be made below the top of the tin.
The gauge or guide bears upon the top of the tin and limits the distance of the
cut from the top, and the knife edge being bevelled on the side nearest the said
guide tends to prevent the cut approaching nearer the top of the tin. The gauge
or guide may or may not be a fixture and in one piece with the handle and the
fulcrum of the knife.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Edward Ernest Knox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd Decem-
ber 1876.
EDWARD ERNEST KNOX, C.E., of Forest Hill, in the County of Kent.
IMPROVED KNIFE OR OPENER FOR PRESERVED FOOD TINS."
"AN
My Invention relates to an improved knife or opener for tin cans containing pre-
served meats and other food, and it consists in providing the knife or opener with
a guide so disposed relatively to the blade as to enable the tin to be opened by
cutting round the sides at a short distance below the top whilst the tin is standing
in an upright position.
By the improved knife or opener of my Invention a clean cut is made without
any inwardly projecting jagged edges, so that by inverting the tin the contents may
be turned out entire as from a mould, and the tin being kept upright during the
operation of cutting the liquid portion (if any) of the contents is not spilled, as
when it is necessary to lay the tin on its side in order to cut it.
The knife or opener consists of a blade fixed to a suitable handle and provided
with a fixed jaw to serve as a fulcrum for the tool, much as in the ordinary opener,
and in addition I provide a lateral gauge or guide parallel with the blade, with an
interval between equal to the distance the cut is to be made below the top of the tin.
The gauge or guide bears upon the top of the tin and limits the distance of the
cut from the top of the tin; the knife edge being bevelled on the side nearest the
said guide tends to prevent the eut approaching nearer the top of the tin.
gauge or guide may or may not be a fixture and in one piece with the handle and
the fulcrum of the knife.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
The
Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 an under side view, and Figure 3 an end
view of a knife or opener provided with the guide of my Invention.
A is the cutting blade firmly fixed opposite to the jaw or fulcrum B near one side
thereof, as usual in such knives. C is the guide of my Invention, consisting of a
flange or lip formed with or fixed to the jaw B at the opposite side to that at
which the blade A is situate. The guide C is parallel to the blade A, and the
space between them is equal to the distance the cut is to be made from the edge of
the tin. The cutting edge of the blade A is bevelled on one side only, that nearest
the guide C, as shown at a.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part, recited Letters Patent is, providing a knife or opener for pre-
served food tins with a guide or gauge parallel with the cutting blade, substantially
as and for the purpose shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Ernest Knox, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.