US2399522A - Scabbard - Google Patents

Description

April J. TYSON 2,3,

S CABBARD F'iied Sept. 17, 1945 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 V f 2,399,522 j 1 T SCABBARD" I I Jay Tyson, Cleveland, Ohio "Application September 17, 1943,; Serial No. 502,760

' lClaim. (c1. 22 9-5) This invention, as indicated, relates to scabbards. More particularly, it comprises a scabbard adapted to receive a knive or other cutting implement. It is of particular advantage when usedby butchers in packing plants where rigid inspection to secure sanitary conditions is in force. The invention includes means for suspending the scabbard from the belt of the operator and is so constructed that the entire device may be subjected to cleansing and sterilizing operations without injury.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a scabbard of light weight, and so constructed as to be maintained in a sanitary condition with a minimum of effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scabbard particularly adapted for use by butchers conducting slaughtering operations, which will provide a sanitary receptacle for holding the butchering knife without injury to the cutting edge thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scabbard ada ted to receive a knife in a position which will protect the edge from injury and protect the user from danger of accidentally striking the cutting edge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Scabbard formed of transparent plastic material with curved surfaces, whereby the same may be readily inspected and maintained in sanitary condition at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scabbard having structural elements so disposed as to permit ready access thereto by suitable cleaning facilities and permitting inspection of all parts thereof so that the same may be maintained in dependable sanitary condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scabbard and a free swinging supporting structure therefor which involves a minimum number of parts and which is made of material peculiarly adapted to being readily cleansed and inspected to maintain the same in perfect sanitary condition.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain structures embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting,

however, but several of various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a scabbard structure embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the structure shown in Figure l, as seen from the right hand side;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a scabbard supported on the belt of a user, with a knife partially inserted therein; and

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the body portion of the scabbard as seen from the lower end thereof.

As is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the scabbard comprises a body portion I and a supporting portion 2, this supporting portion having at its upper end a terminal loop section 3. The scabbard may be formed of different types of material, but the advantages from a sanitary standpoint of a transparent synthetic material are very great in connection with an article of this type, and the preferred material comprises Plexiglas. The material used is preferably of heavy gauge, approximately one eighth of an inch in thickness, and the body portion is formed of a sheet of this material with the blank so shaped that by folding the side portions 4, 5, toward each other, the body portion will present a slightly tapered partially covered section 6 over its major extent and an uncovered area I the side margins 8 of which merge with the covered portion 6. The folding of the side portions, as is shown in Figure 2, is preferably along a line inclined upwardly so as to provide an upper portion 9 of greater width than the width of the lower end.

At the point of merger of the partially covered section with the side walls 8, a guard bar I l is provided. The guard bar, it will be noted, is spaced adjacent the front portion of the scabbard and is securely held therein by means of screws 12 engaged in screw-threaded sockets [3, formed in each end of the guard bar which is preferably of cylindrical shape. The screws l2 bear against the flattened side portions M of the body member and in the event of injury to the guard bar permit ready replacement thereof. The ends of the guard bar preferably fit firmly, against the inner walls of the flattened side portions of the body, and the cylindrical guard bar is spaced above the upper edges of the folded side portions 4 and 5 heretofore referred to.

These upper edges l5 of the side portions are preferably beveled on a 45 angle and the free edges of the folded side portions below such beveled top edges are inclined toward each other so as to provide a slot of gradually decreasing width, the edges at the closest point of approach ll near the lower end of the body being of a width approximately one eighth of an inch, corresponding to the thickness of the material used in forming such body. The side portions have curved lower ends 18 preferably formed on a short radius of curvature. i

The slot, asabovedescribed, permits a thorough cleansing of the body portion of the scabbard by means of a wire-handled brush or mop,

3. The loop section 3 may be formed in various ways, but as illustrated comprises a narrow strip of plastic material preferably of the same gauge as the remaining portion of the structure and folded so as to provide an open loop of a suitable size to receive the belt of the operator, the loop terminating above the position of the rings 26 heretofore described and being held firmly against the rearward wall by means of a rivet 29 or other suitable fastening. e

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the strucor the like, and the entire device may be inserted in a cleansing bath of hot water or sterilizing liquid. By reason of the folded side members presenting no sharp corners and curved surfaces both inside and outside of the structure, the device presents no irregularities to which foreign matter may cling and thus bring about an unsanitary condition while the device is in use. The open bottom of the structure permits all such foreign matter to fall freely through the scabbard instead of lodging at an intermediate point.

The scabbard may be suspended in various Ways from the body or belt of the operator, but the supporting structure illustrated has been found very advantageous. The supporting structure, as stated, is formed of two sections. A flat plate 2 having a base portion 2| of greater width than its upper portion 22 is attached at its lower end by means of rings 23 engaged through holes 24 in the member 2 and through holes 25 in the upper portion 1 of the body portion of the scabbard. These rings provide free movement of the supporting member 2 with reference to the body portion of the scabbard, and further freedom of movement is provided by a similar means of connection of the supporting member 2 with the loop section 3, This connection comprises rings 26 engaged through holes 21 in the upper portion 22 of the supporting member and corresponding holes 28 in the lower portion of the loop section ture herein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such v statedmeans be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

A scabbard for receiving knives and the like comprising an elongated body member formed of transparent plastic material with folded side portions providing a receptacle with a back wall, side walls and a front wall area provided by extensions of the folded side walls, with their front edges in spaced relation to provide a central slot of progressively increasing width to a point spaced from the top edge thereof, a plastic cylindrical guard bar extending parallel to the top edge and transversely of said scabbard secured to the side Walls above the foldedside portions thereof and spaced from the rear wall of the Scabbard a distance sufiicient to permit the free insertion of the blade between said guard bar and said rear Wall but to prevent the passage of the knife handle therebetween, and means for supporting said Scabbard, comprising a plurality of plates serially and loosely connected to each other and to the upper edge of the body portion by means of pairs of spaced rings, the uppermost of said plates having a loop for attachment to the body of a person.

JAY TYSON.

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