Sept. 20, 1960 O. M. CRAWFORD FOLDING SCISSORS Filed Sept. 12, 1958 INVENTOR. 05/5 M. cena/mea,

United States Patent() FOLDING SCISSORS Obie M. Crawford, Rte. 3, Wenatchee, Wash.

Filed Sept. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 760,736

2 `Claims. (Cl. 30-255) This invention relates to a novel and improved folding scissors.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple, compact, and safe scissors of the character indicated, wherein the points of the blades are protectively guarded by portions of the scissors, while the scissors are folded, so as to preclude catching in and damaging the interiors of containers for the scissors, as when the scissors are being carried in a pocket or purse.

Another object is to incorporate in the scissors a spring detent means, So designed as to cause the scissors handles to automatically, yet releasably lock in the closed or collapsed positions rthereof, in such a way that the locking `action takes place when the handles move into positions protectively enclosing the blade tips.

Another object `is to so form the handles as to cause them to intert snugly, `in a manner such as to provide a very flat, compact article in the folded positions of the scissors.

Another object of importance is to provide, in a foldable Scissors of the character stated, means whereby the handles will move into a rigid relationship relative to the associated blades, when the handles Vare extended for use.

'Another object of importance is Ito provide a scissors of the character stated which will be capable of manufacture at a comparatively low cost, considering the benefits to be obtained from the use thereof.

Still another object of importance is to provide a Scissorsv as stated so designed as to prevent the blades from being accidentally opened, whenever the handles are in their collapsed, blade-enclosing positions.

Other objects will appear from the following description, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view scissors of the present invention, one of the handle Shanks being shown partially in section, the Scissors being in open and, use position;

'Figure 2 is a view like Figure l showing the scissors collapsed or partially folded;

Figure 3 is a view like Figure 2 showing the scissors are completely folded;

Figure 4 is an edge elevational View of the scissors as seen from the left of Figure l;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, detail sectional View taken substantially on line 5 5 of vFigure 3; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged, detail, fragmentary elevation of one of the handles, as seen from line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the scissors comprising the present yinvention include levers 10, 12 having loop handle sections 14 and 16, respectively, on one end thereof.

The levers 10, 12 have blade sections 18, 20, respectively, on their outer ends, and are pivoted in crossed relationship by a screw pivot pin 22.

The inner ends of the levers 10, 12, that is, the ends between the loop handles of the scissors and the pivot pin 22, have laterally outwardly extending lugs 24, 26 respectively, thereon which are thickened in respect to the blades 18, 20. This is shown to particular advantage in Figures 4 and 6. The lugs 24, 26 are bifurcated, and dene slots therebetween, and in addition, have complementary, beveled inner surfaces 28, 30 respectively (See Figures l and 2). Surfaces 2S, 30 are adapted to move into contact, when the scissors are closed, as in Figures 2 and 3.

The levers 10 and 12 further comprise handle sections 14, 16, these include Shanks 32, 34 respectively, the inner ends of which extend into the slots of the bifurcated portions 24, 26 respectively. The Shanks are pivotally connected to the portions 24, 26 by means of hinge pins 36, so that the shanks may swing between use positions in which they are longitudinally aligned, approximately, with their associated blades (as in Figure l), and collapsed positions in which fthe Shanks extend alongside the closed blades, as in Figure 3.

The inner ends 38, `4t) of the respective Shanks 32, 34 are cut off squarely to provide abutments adapted to er1- gage at against the inner end Walls of the slots of the bifurcated portions 24, 26. The end surfaces 38, 40 abut in this manner against the slot end walls when the shanks are extended to their use positions shown .in Figure l.

Designated at 42 are elongated leaf springs, disposed in shallow recesses 43 formed in and extending longitudinally of the respective inner edge surfaces of the Shanks 32, 34. The springs 42 have distal ends 44 that are widened so as to bear against the thickened pon- tions 24, 26 at both sides of the slots of said portions. The

other ends of the springs are anchored Iixedly to the Shanks by means of rivets 46.

Designated at 48, Sil are handle loops integrally formed upon the outer ends of the Shanks 32, 34. yThe loops 48, 5t), for a part of their circumferences, are comparatively thick. These portions of the circumferences are the portions that are disposed extensions of the Shanks 32, 34. The outer portions of the finger-receivring loops, however, are of a reduced thickness, dening in one face thereof recesses 52, 54, so that the loops may intert snugly with each other in the manner shownin,

Figure 5 when'the scissors are in their collapsed, Figure 3 positions.

It is important to note -that the lengths of the recesses 52, 54 has a bearing on the adaptability of the loops t0 protectively enclose the blades when the scissors are folded. The length of the recesses occupies a majority of the circumference of each loop, and `at one end of the recesses there are walls 56, 58 of loops 48, 50 respectively, which walls Iare obliquely formed in respect t0 the length of the shanks and of the associated blades when the scissors are collapsed. This is shown in Figure 2, in which it will be seen that when handle section 16 is in its fully collapsed position, wall 5S closely parallels and extends beyond the tip 19 of the adjacent blade 1t). When handle section 14 is in its fully collapsed position, as in Figure 3, its wall 56 is in forwardly convergent relation to the wall 58, with the wall 56 extending in closely spaced, parallel relation to the outer longitudinal edge of the blade 12.

By reason of this arrangement, when the loops are collapsed, the reduced-thickness portions thereof receive between them, in a space 66 (Figure 5), the closed levers 10, 12. The blades extend through the space 60 at locations intermediate the ends of the levers and the pivot pin 22. Then, at the outer ends of the loops, the walls 56, 58 form a generally triangular recess or notch 61 (see Figure 3), that receives a pointed terminal portion 62 of the scissors defined by the tips 19, 21 of the closedblades. Y In this way, the blades are protectively enclosed in such a manner as Ito insure against their penetrating any adjacent surface. may be safely carried Vin ones pocket or purse.

- It is important to notev that the springs have a releas-` able locking function.V When the levers are extended'and handle sections are in their completely collapsed positionsV The spring pressure of the free ends shown in Figure 3. of the springs against the lugs 24, 26 is such as to create a frictional engagement therebetween, adapted to retain the handle sections in their collapsed positions. Retention-ofthe handle sections in the collapsed positions 4is further aided by maintenance of the hinge connections between the handle sections and blades in a condition preventing undue loosenessV therebetween. In other words, there is, at all times, a strong frictional engagement between the side walls of the slots of the lugs, and the opposite surfaces of the handle Shanks.

. It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily conlined to the speciiic use or uses thereof described above, since it may be` utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specic construction illustrated and described, Vsince such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor changes in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A folding scissors comprising a pair of levers having .blade sections and handle sections, said blade sections comprising blades and stubs on the inward ends of the blades, said stubs having laterally outwardly extending Vlugs thereon formed with laterally outwardly opening closed slots, said handle sections comprising elongated Shanks having lateral loop handles on their outward ends andhaving laterally outwardly extending lugs on their The compactly folded scissors, thus,v

l inward ends engaged in said slots, pins pivoting the lugs of the Shanks in the slots, said levers being crossed and pivoted together at a point intermediate said blades, the laterally inward sides of said Shanks having longitudinal grooves, leaf springs within and extending along said grooves, and means fixing the outward ends of the springs in place, the Iinward ends being free and bearing against the adjacent sides of the blade'section lugs across the slots thereof. Y i i i Y 2. A folding scissorscomprising a pair of levers having blade sections and handle sections, said blade sections comprising blades stubs on the inward ends Vof the blades, said stubs havinglaterally voutwardly' extending lugs thereon formed withlaterally outwardly opening closed slots, said handle sections comprising elongated Shanks having lateral loop handles on their outward ends and having laterally outwardly extending lugs on their inward ends engaged in said slots, pins pivoting the lugs of the Shanks in the slots, saidV levers being crossed and pivoted together at a point intermediate said blades, the" laterally inward sides of said Shanks having longitudinal grooves, leaf springsvwithin and extending along said g grooves, and means xing the outward ends of the springs in place, the inward ends -being free and bearing against the adjacent sides of the blade section lugs across the slots thereof, said` slots having closed ends, the inward sidesV of the shanks being in stop engagement with the closed ends of said slots in the open portion of the levers, fthe shank lugs having peripheral edges which are spaced from the closed ends of the slots to enable the handle sections to be swung relative to the blade sections into registry with each otherwith the blade sections swungV finto registry with each other.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS