Cutting device

Application filed February 27, 1925. Serial No. 11,997.

' This invention relates to improvements in cutlery more particularly to pocket knives * and with special reference to types carrying thin interchangeable blades in holders capa5 ble of being folded within casings which constitute handles.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a blade bolder adapted to engage an ordinary safety razor blade to hold the 10 same securely, means being provided whereby the blade may be readily released at will.

Another purpose is to produce means for positively locking the holder with reference to the handle, whereby the blade may be held 15 rigidly extended in various positions of angularity relative to the handle.

A further feature is in the provision of means whereby the knife may be used as a cigar clipper, twine cutter, and manicure im20 plement in a convenient manner as well as for general and ordinary, purposes.

It is a still further aim to provide a neat appearing and serviceable implement, capable of being cheaply constructed and adapt25 ed to be compactly folded when not in use into a compact form.

¹ These and like other objects, which will become manifest as the description proceeds r are attained by the novel construction and s 39 arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a 35 preferred embodiment of the device,, shown in an extended or operative position.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same when in a closed position.

Figure 3 is a front edge view thereof. ’

Figure 4 is a rear edge view.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side view illustrating the manner of releasing the blade, one side of the handle being removed to show the locking device.

Figure 6 is a side view showing the blade and holder locked at an angle to the handle. Figure 7 is a side view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modification in construction.

Figure 8 is a side view of the same when 56 locked in a position to that shown in Fig. 6.

Figure 9 is an end view of the holder shown in Fig. 8, drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of a further modification of the device, shown in an unlocked angular position. 55 . Figure 11 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 11—11 of Fig. 10, but showing the holder locked to the handle.

In Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawing eo the numeral 15 designates in general a handle composed of a single flat piece of metal bent lengthwise to produce a deep channel shaped casing having parallel spaced sides 16 united by the curved integral partial back 65 17 and closed at the outer arcuate end by flanging the edges uniformly inward to constitute walls 18, the other edges being spaced as shown to provide a clear space 19.

A holder 20 having a thickened shank 21 70 fitting the Space 19 is pivoted in the open arcuate end of the handle on a pin 22, the. inner extending end 23 of the shank having a semi-circular profile in which is formed a series of curved notches 24, 25 and 26 re- 75 spectively, their purpose appearing later.

The shank 21, on the part opposite the curved element, is reduced in thickness presenting an angularly disposed undercut shoulder 27, and extending straight but from so the shoulder is the bottom or main plate 28 of the blade holder, the same having a prong or finger grip 2 at its outer end for convenience in opening the knife.

Fixed on the plate 28 are a pair of short 85 studs 30 adapted to engage in openings as usually found in safety razor blades 31 to position the same properly, and pivoted on a pin 32, adjacent the outer end of the plate, is a clamp plate 33 suited to swing over the 90 ' blade 31, its free end being cut to the angle of the edge 27 and bevelled, as at 34, to engage in the undercut portion of the shank, thus clamping the blade firmly in position.

The rear end and back edges of the plates 95 28 and 33 are inturned to make contact, and are smoothly finished throughout.

At a point near the'bevelled end of the cover plate 33 is a notch 35 in the rear edge and on the bottom plate 28 is a correspond- 100

1,782,001 ing detent 36 adapted to spring into the notch and retain the cover plate in a closed position.

In order to facilitate release of the cover 5 plate, and consequently the blade 31, an extending lug 37 is provided and is conveniently arranged adjacent the end of the blade and to which pressure may be applied upwardly in overcoming the detent 36.

Pivoted on a pin 38, between the sides 16 of the handle, is a cam 39 adapted to engage in any of the recesses 24,25 and 26, positively locking the holder 20 in any of its adjusted positions.

Integral, with the cam is a lever 40, its inner surface being serrated in the manner of a file as at 41, and having its end 42 shaped as a nail cleaner, one of the purposes of the lever being that of a manicure implement.

Near the free end of the lever are a pair of opposed outstanding lugs 43, these lugs smoothly engaging in recesses 44 formed in the back of the holder and serving to confine the lever when depressed, it being understood 25 that the lever at such time is disposed level with the rear edge of the handle between its sides.

Formed through the sides 16 of the handle are openings 45 rounded on their outer edges 30 and smoothly finished, the openings being adapted to receive the end of a cigar, which may be clipped by manipulating the blade in an obvious manner.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7, 8 35 and 9, the handle 50 is made in a similar manner from sheet metal folded into a channel shape and engaging a blade holder by a pivot 52, said holder consisting of a relatively heavy bottom plate 53 carrying thin headed 40 studs 54 engageable in slotted openings 55 in a spring cover plate 56, the longitudinal edges of which are bent to rest upon the plate 53, at one side and upon the cutter blade 57 along the other side, holding it in firm con45 tact with the bottom plate 53, it being understood that the blade 57 is provided with openings to permit the studs to pass through freely.

, A spring lever 58 is pivoted by a pin 59 to 50 the handle 50, the lever having fixed in its free outer end a pin 60 to pass freely through either of the perforations 61 or 62, in one side of the handle and engage in corresponding openings 63 and 64 in the pivoted shank 55 portion of the bottom plate.

Openings 65, similar to the openings 45, are formed in the handle sides for the purpose described and a notch 66 in the bottom wall of the channel provides a convenient ⁶⁰ means to cut twine or other similar article when the device is in required closed position.

In operation, the spring lever 58 is raised sufficiently to clear the pin 60 from whichever opening in the blade holder it may be in, 55 and then turned on its pivot to engage the other opening, the holder being thus held im- movably in either a closed or open position thereby.

A similar arrangement of parts is indicated in Figs. 10 and 11, in which a holder 70 of like construction has pivoted in it a blade holder 71 by a pin 72, the same carrying a blade 73 by any preferred means.

The shank of the blade holder has fixed in it a double ended, round'headed pin 74 adapt- 75 ed to snap into openings 75 in the casing handle, the sides springing to permit such entry and release.

A notch 76 in the back of the handle permits the blade and holder to serve as a con- go venient protected twine cutter while in closed position.

While certain preferred embodiments of this device have been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in the 85 form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.