Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 20th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 20th Jan., 1888
I, JOSEPH WILLIAM REED of South Watt Street, Workington, in the County of
Cumberland, Tailor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and efficient apparatus for cutting
button holes and the like, which may quickly and readily be adjusted so as to cut any
length of slit.
In carrying out the invention I provide the apparatus in the form of scissors, having
one of the jaws provided with a cutting blade, which is made of a length, equal to the
longest hole it is required to cut.
In some cases it is the practice to form an eye at the end of the button hole, for
instance in coats and other garments, and for the purpose of forming this eye I provide
a hollow cutter at the end of the blade. The other jaw is provided with a movable
bed piece, and forms the cutting bed of the apparatus. It is preferably arranged so
that its length shall be the same as that of the cutting blade and cutter. The bed
piece can be made to slide in suitable guides, and can be fixed in any one position by
means of a pin or screw. Attached to one of the jaws I provide an adjustable stop
for the purpose hereafter described, which can be adjusted by means of a set screw, or
in other convenient manner.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The material to be operated upon is placed upon the cutting bed, and is then cut by
the blade. If the whole of the bed is under the blade, it is evident that the button
hole which is cut, will be the same length as the blade and cutter, but if the bed is
shifted so that only a portion of it forms a cutting bed, then the length of the button-
hole will be reduced. In this manner the length of the button hole may be altered
at pleasure, the cutting bed being fixed in any desired position by means of the set
screw. The portion of the blade which does not cut on to the bed, having no surface
on which to cut, does not injure the material in any way, the latter merely falls down
by the removal of the bed, free of the blade. It is preferable to chamfer or bevel off
the bed guides in such parts as found necessary so as to facilitate the material falling.
Line S71

page_text: If it is not required to use the cutter, the bed can be moved in the direction which
leaves it free from operation, and plain button holes can thus be cut of any length in
the same manner as above described. For the purpose of facilitating the cutting of
the material, the cutting bed may be provided with a groove on its surface to corres-
pond in position and shape with the blade and cutter.
The distance of the button hole from the edge of the material is regulated by the
adjustable stop above mentioned, and by fixing the stop in any one position, each hole
is cut an equal distance therefrom. In long pieces of material it may be convenient
to provide means for cutting the button holes at equal distances apart. For this purpose I
provide if necessary an adjustable distance bracket fixed to the apparatus in any
convenient way.
It is made of a shape so that it will hold any button hole, a fixed
distance from the cutting blade, and a series of holes can therefore be formed all of
equal distances apart. The bracket being adjustable, the distance of the button holes
may be varied at pleasure.
It is obvious that the apparatus may be made in a form, other than that above
described, for instance by arranging that either the blade or bed shall have a straight
instead of a radial movement. The apparatus made in this manner could conveniently
he actuated by the hand, or provided with a treadle movement for the foot.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus Applicable for Cutting Button Holes.
I, JOSEPH WILLIAM REED, of South Watt Street, Workington, in the County of
Cumberland, Tailor, 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 :—
The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and efficient apparatus for cutting
button holes and the like, which may quickly and readily be adjusted so as to cut any
length of slit.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is an end view, and
Figure 2 a side view of the improvement.
In carrying out the invention I provide the apparatus in the form of scissors, having
one of the jaws A provided with a cutting blade B, which is made of a length, equal
to the longest hole it is required to cut.
In some cases it is the practice to form an eye at the end of the button hole, for
instance in coats and other garments and for the purpose of forming this eye I provide
a hollow cutter Cat the end of the blade B. The other jaw D is provided with a
movable bed piece, E, which forms the cutting bed of the apparatus. It is preferably
arranged so that its length shall be the same as that of the cutting blade B and
cutter C conjointly. The bed piece can be made to slide by means of suitable guiding
flanges on jaw D, and can be fixed in any one position by means of a pin or screw
working in slot G. Attached preferably to jaw A by suitable flanges, I provide an
adjustable stop El for the purpose hereafter described, which can be adjusted longi-
tudinally on jaw A, by means of a set screw I in slot J, or in other convenient manner.
M is a spring as in ordinary shears, pliers, etcetera, for holding the jaws open when
not in use.
The mode of action is as follows:
The material to be operated upon is placed upon the cutting bed E, and is then cut
by the blade. If the whole of the bed E is under the blade, it is evident that the
button hole which is cut, will be the same length as the blade B and cutter C, but if
the bed is shifted so that only a portion of it forms a cutting bed, then the length of
the button-hole will be reduced. In this manner the length of the button hole may
be altered at pleasure, the cutting bed being fixed in any desired position by means of
the set screw F. The portion of the blade B, which does not cut on to the bed E,
having no surface on which to cut, does not injure the material in any way, the latter
merely falls down by the removal of the bed, free of the blade. It is preferable to
chamfer or bevel off the bed guides as shown at K, in such parts as found necessary
so as to facilitate the material falling. If it is not required to use the hollow cutter C,
the bed can be moved in the direction which leaves it free from operation, and plain
button holes can thus be cut of any length not greater than that of blade B, in the
same manner as above described. For the purpose of facilitating the cutting of the

page_text: material, the cutting bed may he provided with a groove L on its surface to correspond
in position and shape with the blade B and cutter C.
The distance of the button hole from the edge of the material is regulated by the
adjustable stop H, and by fixing the stop H in any one position, each hole is cut an
equal distance therefrom. In long pieces of material it may be convenient to provide
means for cutting the button holes at equal distances apart. For this purpose I
provide, if necessary, an adjustable distance bracket fixed to the side of the apparatus
in any convenient way. It is made of a shape so that it will hold, any button hole, a
fixed distance from the cutting blade, and a series of holes can therefore be formed all
of equal distances apart. The bracket being adjustable, the distance of the button
holes inay be varied at pleasure.
It is obvious that the apparatus may be made in a form, other than that above
described, for instance by arranging that either the blade or bed shall have a straight
instead of a radial movement. The apparatus made in this manner could conveniently
be actuated by the hand, or provided with a treadle movement. for the foot.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The implement for cutting button holes, substantially as above described and
illustrated.
2nd. The combination of a blade B with or without a cutter C on one jaw, and a
bed piece E on the other jaw, the one being movable on its jaw longitudinally relatively
to the other, whereby cuts of very different length can be made.
3rd. In combination with a button hole cutting machine having a knife or cutter
and cutting bed, a stop H adjustable longitudinally on the jaw, substantially as and for
the purposes described.