US61229A - Improvement in pocket-knives - Google Patents

Description

AM. PHOTO-LITRO. C0, NX (DSBURNE'S PROCESS.)

ROYAL B. MILLIKEN, OF SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT.

l Letters Patent No. 61,229, dated January 15, 1867; antedatc' January 5, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT 1N rocKET-Kmvrs.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known, that I, RoYAL B. MILLIKEN, of Springfield, in the county of Windsor, and State of Vermont, have invented a certain new and useful improvement, being a Combined Pen or Pocket-Knife and Miniature Photograph Case, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings of the same, which form part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a side view of a pen or pocket-knife with one side of the handle turned upon its hinge so as to exhibit the photographs. l

Figure 2 represents a similar view of the opposite side of the knife.

Figure 3 represents an edge view of thc knife.

Figure 4 represents asimilar view with the side of the handle containing the photographs sprung out, so as to allow it to be opened like a blade; and i Figure 5 represents a cross-section of the knife, showing the recess in the handle to receive the photographs.

My invention consists in combining with the handle of a pocket' or pen-knife a miniature photograph case, and in such a constructionv of the handle as to conceal the photograph when the handle is closed, andY to exhibit it to View by opening the handle in the same manner as the blade of the knife. In the accompanying drawings the knife represented is of the common form and construction, except that one side of the handle is made to open and close like a blade.

A represents the back or spring of the knife, B the blade, and C the handle, consisting of the ,two side pieces, each being composed of an outside piece, a, and an inside plate, c, riveted to each other in the usual manner. Instead of securing each side of the handle permanently to each other andthe spring back, I connect one side of the handle only at one end by the rivet which 4secures the blade or blades, as shown in figs. 1 and 2, leaving the other end free to be opened out by turning upon the rivet e as a hinge. The plate c, which forms a part of this side of the handle, should be made of spring steel, and the rivet e, which secures the handle, should be made strong and with a raised head, as shown in gs. 3 and 4, for the purpose of allowing the movable side of the handle to have a certain amount of lateral motion, also at its disconnected end, without affecting or weakening its connection with the rivet e. In ordersto hold the disconnected end of the handle in place when closed, and make it appear as if it was permanently secured in the usual manner, I make a hole, z', fig. 1, in the end of the plate c, into which a rivet head, j, tits, and into which it is closely held -by the power of the springplate c, so as to hold the plate snugly against the back of-the knife, as in g. 3; and'this rivet head is a projec'tion of the rivet, which secures the opposite side of the handle, and need project onlya suicient distance to fit into the hole t', the thickness of the plate c, so that the lateral motion of the handle to disconnect it from the rivet head or allowit to pass over it in closing the handle will be too small to affect its connection with the rivet e by which it issecured. rlhis hinged side of the handle forms the casein which the miniature photographs are secured, as shown'in figs. 1 and 5, and for this purpose the plate c is provided with openings, D, circular or oval, and corresponding therewith; recesses are made in the side piece, c, of the handle siliciently deep to receive the thickness of the photograph and the thin covering of glass, which, when placed snugly in the recess, are securely held in place by wire-spring rings, s, resting against the glass covering and the edge of the opening, D, in the plate, which forms a shoulder `for that purpose. '.llhus it will be seen that, ,While the handle of the knife is nia-de to serve the purpose of a photograph-case, wherein `the `miniature pictures ofloved `ones may bc conveniently placed and carrie-d, the knife may be used as such without attracting special attention, or it maylbecome a popular instrument of curiosity. The style and finish of the inside of the handle which forms the case may be varied to suit the views of the maker and the cost ofthe knife. The case is finished with the knife, and may be supplied with particular photographic objects, or the cases may be left so that they can be supplied at pleasure. In opening the case to exhibit the' photographs it is only necessary tovpress the ond outward just far enough so that `the rivet-head j will clear.. the hole 1f and then turn the case upon its hinge c, so as to open it in the arc of a circle; and in closing the case the end must be pressed outward, so as to allowthc rvet-head, j, to rest against the plate c, and in turning thc case so as to be in symmetry with the opposite side of the handle, the rivet-head will enter the hole i and the spring of the plate c will cause it to 'it snugly against thc back of the knife, as in g. 3. Various modiiications Vmay be made in the construction of mms 2 the knife so as to adapt it to the purpose of a miniature photograph-case, but as these will appear obvious to those skilled` in the manufacture of the article, I deem it unnecessary to describe such changes of construction and arrangement as may embody the same invention. It is obvious also that thc photographs may be secured in the outside of the handle of the knife, instead of ou the inside, and the spirit of the invention preserved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, is-

Alknife-handle in two parts, connected one to the other and to the blade, and otherwise constructed substantially as described. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set vmy hand and seal this 6th day of March, 1866.

ROYAL B. MILLIKEN. [SEAL] Witnesses:

J. W. BARNAGLO, JNO. JOHNSON.

Images