US1764238A - Nutcracker - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1930. ASHLEMAN 1,764,238

NUTCRACKER F iled Dec 27, 1928 Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES ADOLPH E. ASHLEMAN, OF WAOO, TEXAS nurcmcxnn Application filed December 27, 1928. Serial No. 328,722.

This invention aims to provide a simple 'ClGVlCB for cracklng nuts, the constructlon being such that nuts of different slzes can be cracked readily with the same tool. An-

other object of the'invention is to provide a nut cracker which may be manufactured cheaply out of cheap metal.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the to utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a tool constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation wherein the tool is viewed edgewise;

Figure 3 is an elevation which shows the opposite side of the tool from that appearing in Figure 1.

The tool forming the subject matter of this application is so constructed that it may be made cheaply out of sheet metal, and still have the necessary strength. The tool is made up of a pair of crossed levers, pivotally connected at their point of crossing. The bodies of the levers are shown, respectively, at 1 and at 2, and are of simple plate-like construction. The body members 1 are connected by a pivot element 3 which may be a. bolt and nut or any other element suitable for the purpose in view.

The body 1 has a trough-shaped handle 4 and the body 2 has a trough-shaped handle 5. The body 1 has a laterally projecting lug 7 through which is removably extended a U-shaped expansion spring 8 including arms having their ends engaged within the trough- shaped handles 4 and 5, as shown in dotted line in Figure 3. In order that the spring 8' may be inserted conveniently through the lug 7 and then be engaged conveniently with the handles 4 and 5, the handles are cut away, as at 9, upon the same side of the tool,at the place where they join the respective bodies 1 2. It is importantforthe handles 4:-5"t0 be cutaway at a bevel at 9, since, in this way, the requisite amount of space will be provided, as

indicated by the dotted line at '20 in Figure 3, and. at the same time, the handles will not be appreciably weakenedat the places where they are joined to the respective bodies 12.

The body 2hasa transverse en'd jawv 10,

the body 1 has a transverse end jaw 11, the 6 body 2 has an outer side jaw'12, thebody 1 hasan outer side jaw 14, the body 2 hasan nner side jaw 15, and the body '1 has an inner side jaw 16. The jaws 1011'form one cooperating pair, the jaws 14-15 form another cooperating pair, and the jaws 12-16 form another cooperating pair. The jaws -10111 are spaced, apart more widely than are the jaws 1216, and less widely than are the jaws 1415. This enables the tool to operate on nuts of many different sizes with a minimum amount of swinging movement in the handles it- 5; The working surfaces of the jaws, preferably are roughened to hold the nuts that are to be cracked.

In forming the jaws, the bodies 1 and 2 i are provided with projections 17, the ends of which are turned at right angles, and when the projections 17 are turned outwardly, bends 18 are created, which bring the geometrical centers of the working surfaces of the jaws very near to the median plane of the tool, the median plane of the tool beingmarked by the numeral 19 in Figure 2, in order to avoid any misunderstanding as to What is meant by that term. In the practical manufacture of the tool, some or all of the jaws on one body may engage, as shown at 21, with the other body to limit the amount that the jaws open, responsive to the spring 8.

As shown at 22, the projections 17 on the body 1 overlap the corresponding projections on the body 2, and, thus, the projections reinforce and strengthen each other.

Although the tool has been described as a nut cracker, there is nothing to prevent the operator from using it as a Wrench, if he Wishes to do so. It is to be noted, moreover, that the body portions 1 and 2 have cooperating holes 6 Whichenable the article to be used as a cutter. 1

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is V 1. A tool of the class described, comprising pivotally connected heads having'c'oop erating jaws, and handles joined to the heads, the handles being trough-shaped in cross section, one head having a laterally projecting lug, and a U-shaped spring engaged removably through the lug, the spring comprising arms received at their ends in the trough-shaped handles, the handles being cut away on a bevel on the same side of the tool at the place of juncture between the handles and the heads, thereby to render the lug accessible, and to facilitate the insertion of the spring through the lug.

2. A tool of the class described, comprising pivotally connected bodies having cooperating handles, the bodies being provided with projections, the ends of which are turned-at right angles, in opposite directions, to form jaws, there being bends at the places where the projections are turned, the bends serving to bring the geometrical centers of the working surfaces of the jaws close to the median plane of the tool.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my slgnature. 7

- ADOLPH E. ASHLEMAN.

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