US316334A

US316334A - Island

Info

Publication number: US316334A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1885-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 1902-04-21

Description

N0 Model.)

T. OOYLE.

FORK.

Patented Apr 21, 18.85.

: villi"!!! IllIIlI/flllllfflI/llllllfll ?ffflf4 4 44 WITNEEEEEI JNVINTUE N PETERS Phnlo Lnhogmphcr ashmgmn D C Nrra 5 'rars s THOMAS COYLE, or ArPonAUc, nnonn ISLAND.

FORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,33%, dated April 21, 1885.

(No mtdcl.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS COYLE, of Apponaug, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Forks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of forks for culinary or table use which are provided with an attachment for removing any substance from the prongs without grasping such substance with the hands or with any other separate implement; and the object of my invention is to produce a fork of this class in which the sliding attachment shall be so disposed as to render the implement as compact and neat in appearance and as convenient to use and clean as an ordinary fork.

To the above purposes my invention consists in the provision of a fork provided with a spring-slide having its rod Working within the handle or shank and extending outward between the prongs of the fork, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved fork. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view, partly in elevation, of a modified form of the fork.

In the said drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, A designates a hollow handle, the lower end of which is closed by a cap, a, and one side of which is formed with an elongated slot, a.

B designates the shank of the fork, which is also hollow, and is formed upon or secured to the upper end of the handle A, and which terminates at its outer end in two or more prongs, b.

O designates a rod, which extends loosely through the shank B, and carries at its outer end a slide or head, a, which surrounds the prongs of the fork. At its lower end the rod 0 carries a knob, c, which extends through the slot ct of the handle A.

d designates a coiled spring, which is placed Within the handle A, one end being secured to the plug a and the other end to the inner end of the rod 0, and said spring acts contractively to hold the rod Odow'nward within of the shank and a collar, 0', which is formed.

upon the inner end of the rod 0. This rod 0 works within the shank, and has the slide 0 surrounding the prongs, as before, and also the knob c, which extends through the slot 1). The spring d acts expansively to hold the rod down into the shank.

It is optional as to what material shall be used in the construction of myimproved fork, horn, wood, bone, or metal being suitable for the purpose.

When a substance is being impaled upon the prongs, the slide is not moved, but is held out of the way by its spring; but when the substance is to be removed from theprongs, instead of grasping the substance and pulling it off by the fingers-an unpleasant feeling and appearing operation-the slide is pushed along upon the prongs by pressure applied to the knob and knocks the substance off of the prongs. Upon releasing the knob the spring will automatically retract the slide. The slot limits the movements of the rod and slide, and is of such length as to permit of the effective action of the slide upon the prongs.

It will thus be seen that the working parts of the attachment are almost wholly concealed within the handle or shank, so that the implement is neat and compact in appearance, convenient to use, and easy to clean, instead of being clumsy in appearance and difficult to clean,owing to the exposed position ofparts, as is the case with previous forms of forks of this class.

I do not wish to be understood as confining ICO myself to precise details of construction, as 2. The combination, with the ,hollow hanmy invention contemplates numerous variadle having the recessed-end, of the slotted tions in such particulars. shank having the prongs, the rod and spring Having thus described my invention, I claim located within the shank, and the slide mount- 15 5 asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent ed upon the rod and working between the 1. As an improved article of manufacture, prongs, as set forth.

a fork having a spring-slide working between its prongs, and the stem of said slide project- THOMAS GOYLE ing from within the handle or shank of the Witnesses:

1o fork and working between its prongs, as de- J. A. MILLER, Jr.,

scribed. i M. F. BLIGH.