US390759A

US390759A - Oyster-knife

Info

Publication number: US390759A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1888-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 1905-10-09

Description

(No Model.)

0. B.-DB LAMARRB.

OYSTER KNIFE.

' Patented Oct. 9, 1888.

. "Nrrn rATns IATENI rete CHARLES BOUGOURD DE LAMARRE, OF BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI.

OYSTER-KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.390,'759, dated @etober 9, 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES BOUGOURD DE LAMARRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Biloxi, in the county of Harrison and State of Mississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oyster'Kuives, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in oyster-knives, the main object being to provide means for the prevention of the wound ing of the hands of the opener; and it consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of an oystenknife embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view, but at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section more fully showing the engagement of the detentring and the slide-rods.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the handle, preferably of wood,which is hollow and provided at its smaller end with a ferrule or sleeve, '13, having a central knifeblade opening and the slide-rod openings 1) b, which are diametrically opposite and equally distant from the knife blade opening. In the outer or larger end of the handle engages the screwplug O, to the outer surface of which is fixed the rounded piece of gutta-percha to prevent corns or bruises forming on the hand of the opener. The said plug has a central-tapped opening which engages the tapped end of the tang d of the blade 1). The said blade is secured firmlyin the openingorslot in the ferrule, and is thus held firmly at two points, so as to be perfectly stifl on the handle.

E is a strong coiled spring within the handle resting against the plug 0 and against a ring or loop, 6, surrounding the tang, so as to force said ring or loop outward. The spring and hollow of the handle decrease in diameter toward the inner end of the handle, so as to preserve the strength of the latter.

F is the sliding guard-block surrounding the blade and having the lipsff, with inner diverging surfaces to ride on the edge of the oyster-shell and prevent the blade slipping therefrom. The said block has the sides f squared and flattened, so that it can be used like a small hammer when necessary to break the edges of the oyster-shell in the well-known manner. The said block is connected with the ring e by the slide-rods G G on each side of the blade, which rods are provided on their outer sides with the transverse detent-notches H is a movable ring lying in a circumferential groove in the handle within easy reach of the thumb of the opener when grasping the handle. The said ring has upon its inner surface the catches h ii, that pass through transverse slots h h in the handle and stand in position to engage the notches g in the corresponding bars G.

If is a knob or projection on the outside of the ring, by means of which the opener can, with his thumb, move the said catches to engage with or disengage from saidnotches.

The manner of using the knife is as follows: The oyster is taken in the left hand and the knife in the right and the lips of the guard block placed over the edge of the shell at the proper place. The knife is then driven in between the shells, compressing the spring and driving the guard-block inward on the blade, which becomes uncovered. The catches are then engaged, in the manner described, in the notches in the sliding rods to hold the guardblock back until the opener separates the shells .and removes the oyster. The opener then re leases the catches, and the guard-block is driven outward to the end of the blade.

When the edges of the shells are very irregular,the block may be used as a hammer to break them off; but this is rarely necessary,

Having described by invention, I claim 1. An oyster-knife comprising a hollow handle, a rigid blade secured in the handle and projecting from the end of the same, a guard-block surrounding the blade and sliding on the same, and a spring secured within the handle and connected to the guard-block, the said spring keeping the guardblock normally projected to the end of the blade, but allowing it to slide toward the handle when the knife is applied to an oyster, substantially as described.

2. In an oyster-knife, the combination of the hollow handle, the blade secured thereto, the guard-block, the ring e within the handle the slide-rods connecting the guard-block and ring 6, and the spring within the handle bearing against the ring 6, substantially as specified.

3. In an oysterknife, the eombination,with the hollow handle, the screw-plug in its larger end, and the spring resting on said plug, of the blade, the guard block, the ring 0, and the slide-rods connecting said ring and guard block, substantially as specified.

4. In an oyster-knife, the combination, with the sliding guard-block and slide-bars attaehed thereto, of a detent attached to the handle, operated by the thumb of the opener, and engaging the slide-rods in order to pre vent the guard-block from sliding outward, substantially as specified.

(HARLES BOUGOURI) DE LAlllAllRll.

\Vitnesses:

E. GLENNAN, D. MoDoNALo.