Improved Means of Securing Knives, Forks, and the like to Interchangeable Handles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 19th May, 1894
COME LEIE STEIFICATION.
Improved Means of Securing Knives, Forks, and the like to
Interchangeable Handles.
I, GEORGE SNOWDEN of 601 Queen's Road, Sheffield, Ivory Carver and
Fluter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in securing the blades of table knives and
the like implements to their handles and is more particularly applicable to table
cutlery having detachable or interchangeable handles and blades. Its principal
object is to obviate the use of springs or other perishable parts, while also
obtaining greater firmness in use.
In carrying out my invention I use a metallic bolster or ferrule provided or
formed with an extension piece or tube to receive the tang end of blade as is well
understood; but before fixing it into the handle fit to and pass over outside of
the extension piece close up to the bolster a metallic ring leaving this ring free to
revolve but so secured by the handle that no longitudinal movement is possible:
the hole through centre of this ring is circular with one or more internal slots or
openings to permit suitable projections upon the tang of the blade to pass through:
around the hole and between these slots on portions of one face, I form inclined
planes or screw like wedges, so that by partially revolving the ring in one direction
the wedge or wedges enter into corresponding notches formed in the tang of the
blade thereby drawing all firm and close up to the bolster and handle, even though
slight variations may exist in the various. To release the blade it is only
necessary to revolve the ring in the opposite direction until the internal slots again
coincide with position of projections on blade tang, when the blade can be easily
withdrawn.
To further provide against wear or variations of the several parts, I employ and
introduce between the locking ring before described and either the bolster or the
end of handle a dished metallic spring washer as a compensator.
In order that my invention may be better understood I will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanyings; wherein
Fig. 1. represents a metallic locking ring having two slots and two wedge faces,
with edge section through line a. b.
Fig. 2. plan and edge view of a dished metallic spring compensating washer.
Fig. 3. edge view of a bolster with its extension tube and enlarged parts to
receive locking ring and washer. Fig. 4. side view of the same in section on
line c. d.
Fig. 5. side view of the bolster and tang end of a knife blade.
Fig. 6. shows on a reduced scale a knife and handle complete and secured
together.
In carrying out my invention, I make preferably from steel a locking ring A.
Fig. 1. the external edge of which may be either circular, oval, or any other shape
to match the design of handle in connection with which it is intended to be
employed: said outer edge being milled or otherwise ornamented to provide a
better hold upon it in giving to it the necessary rotating motion, having cut out slots
internally to permit of the projecting parts on the tang of blade D, Fig. 5 passing
through, I then cut in one of the faces inclined planes W, being approximately
portions of a screw having their greatest depth where they intersect the slots; on
being tempered if necessary the said ring is then to be placed upon the extension
tube of the bolster C, Figs. 3 & 4 which at its root is made of a size corresponding

page_text: to the hole in the ring A, and also has a square or oblong portion to receive the
compensating spring washer B, Fig. 2, this washer having been formed in the usual
way and bent or dished in one direction to give it elasticity. The several
parts A, B, C all being in their respective positions the extension piece is inserted
and secured to the handle F, Fig. 6 in any convenient manner: the tang portion of
a knife, fork, or the like having been formed with suitable projections including the
side notches E, E', Fig. 5, is then to be pushed through the jaws of the bolster C
and so into the handle until close to the shoulder, when by partially revolving the
ring A, the inclined planes W. will enter into the notches E, E', and by virtue of
their screw or wedge formation will draw to and hold the shoulder of the blade
firmly against the bottom of the jaws of the bolster C. By partially revolving the
ring A in the opposite direction the blade will be released and may be withdrawn
or changed as required.
The proportions and configuration of the several parts may be varied and adapted
to different sorts or designs of cutlery without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
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 application formation and use of ring A and washer B to
table cutlery and the like for the purpose of securing handle and blade together,
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 12th day of February 1001