US238854A - Bramble-cutting device - Google Patents

Description

:(ModeL) H. M; OLEMENTS'.

Bramble Cutting Device,

No. 238,854. I Patented March 15, I881.

N PEI'E!ZS, PHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C,

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAMILTON M. GLEMENTS, OF VERONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRAMBLE-CUTTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,854, dated March 15, 1881.

Application filed June 26,1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAMILTON M. CLEM- ENTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Verona, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved device for cutting down brambles, shrubs, and weeds.

With the devices heretofore generally used for these purposes great delay, pain, and annoyance have been caused to the operator by the brambles and poisonous vegetation falling upon him, becoming entangled in his clothing, and laceratin g and poisoning his person.

The object of this invention is to provide a device with which the labor can be performed easily and speedily, and in operating which the user will always be the length of the handle (several feet) away fromthe brambles which are being cut, thus preventing them from falling upon him. The operator is further protected by the action of the device causing the brambles to fall away from him when cut 0%. I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the complete device when closed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the complete device when open, with the top of the point removed, so as to show a sectional view horizontally through the point at the place where the cutting-knives are fastened to said point, and Fig. 3 is an edge view.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in each view.

The shaft A is provided with a V-shaped head, B, which terminates at its outer end or apex in a sharp point, B, which is curved upward, as shown, so that it can be readily slipped along the surface-ground. The base or inner end of the head B extends outward from the sides of. the shaft, so that it will furnish a strong and substantial support for the knives hereinafter described. The base of the head has formed in it thevhorizontal. slot B within which are bolted the knives, as hereinafter explained. The slot I? maybe formed by having the upper portion, B made in a separate plate and neatly fitted in rabbets formed in the head.

0 G are pivoted blades, having their ends placed in the slot B and turning on pivots or bolts 6. When the head is thrust into a cluster of brambles the blades will close in against the shaft. The pivotal ends, being entirely concealed in the slot in the head, will not catch on the brambles. The head will crowd the brambles apart and the cutter can easily be thrust any distance into the cluster.

The knife D is made V-shaped, with its base placedin the slot B and its point or apex extended outward and along the shaft A, so that it presents inclined cutting-edges on opposite sides thereof. It is fixed rigidly in its place.

If the shaft be thrustinto a thicket of brambles'and then drawn back, the blades 0 0 will open, as shown in Fig. 2, and they will cut all before them to the initial position.

It will be seen that by reason of the peculiar sh ape of the head B it can be readily thrust into the thicket, whether it be pushed along on the surface of the ground or at any given point above the surface. The wide base of and slot'in the head give perfect protection to the ends of the knives when the device is being thrust into the thicket.

The operator, drawing the device toward him and stepping back, will always be, while cutting, the length of the handle from the cut and falling brambles. The drawingof the device toward the operator also draws the butt or ground ends of the brambles toward him, causing the tops to fall away from him, thus always having the length of the handle between him and the brambles or poisonous vegetation, and they falling away from him completely prevents them from becoming entangled in his clothing or lacerating or poisoning his person.

In the bramble-scythe now generally in usev the cutting-blade is entirely on one side of the handle or snead, which causes wrenching and twisting of the person of the operator, rapidly exhausting him. In my device there being a shaped head B, having slot B and the blades G 0, having their ends pivoted in the slot B and opening laterally on opposite sides of the shaft, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with the shaft having a pointed head and the blades pivoted to the head, of the fixed knife having opposite inclined cutting-edges, arranged to operate substantially as described and shown.

4. The improved bramble-cutter, composed of a shaft terminating in a pointed head, lateral blades pivoted to the head and opening automatically, and the fixed blade having" cutting-edges on opposite sides of the shaft, all arranged to operate substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 0 presence of two witnesses.

HAMILTON M. (ELEMENTS.

Witnesses:

J. A. McOoNNELL, JOHN W. MCDADE.

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