US1662264A - Fly swatter - Google Patents

Description

Mrch 13, 1928. 1,662,264

E. L. HENDERSON FLY SWATTER Filed July 8, 1927 vf gll Patented Mar, 13, 1928 a I i UNITED STATES htfihztit PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN L. HENDERSON, 0F WAUSAU, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR- TO VIILSON-HUBD COM- PANY, OF WAUSAU, WISCONSIN,

A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

FLY SWAT TE R.

Application filed July 3, 1927. Serial No. 2043M.

This invention relates to an improvement in fly swatters and has for its object to provide a device of this character which is of extremely simple and durable construction, reliable and effective in operation, and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

One type of fly swatter which has been extensively used over a long period consists of a wire handle provided at its outer end with arms to which a striking member, usually wire mesh, is secured by a sheet metal casing. The problem of fastening the sheet metal 'casing in such manner as to secure thesame to the striking member and to the handle and to maintain the assembly of these parts has been a more or less troublesome one and various expedients have been resorted to in an attempt to satisfactorily solve the problem. In some instances rivets, eye-lets, or similar fastening means have been employed to aid in the proper fastening of the sheet metal casing, striking member and handle in assembly but the disadvantage of this expedient resides in the fact that it adds another operation to the process of manufacture as well as another set of elements to the device, consequently increasing the expense. As devices of this kind find a wide use as advertising specialties it is essential that their cost be-kept down to the very mini mum. I

In an attempt to eliminate the rivets or other fastening means it has been proposed to form the sheet metal casing with a plurality of over-lapping portions which are crimped or pressed into engagement with each other and into engagement with the striking member and handle. The solution which thcpresent invention provides for the problem is along this latter line butdiifers from anything that has been done heretofore in the material simplification of the manufacturing process and in the elimination of any waste of the metal used to form the sheet metal casing. Along with these advantages the present invention provides a positive interlock between the assembled parts.

In carrying out the present invention a striking member is provided and may be of wire mesh with the exposed edges thereof, bound with tape or the like. The lower corners of the striking member are folded over to provide pockets which receive diverging arms formed at the upper end of the wire handle. A sheet metal casing covers the lower portion of the striking member and the diverging arms of the handle, This sheet metal casing is constructed of a single piece of metal and is so shaped that two such sheet metal asings may be cut without waste from a rectangular or square blank. The sheet metal casing is folded transversely and has its folded portion crimped around one of the arms and the portions of the striking member embracing such arm. One of the ends of the casing is extended around the other arm and laps over the other end of the casing, both of these ends being crimped into permanent engagement with each. other and intocrimping engagement with the portions of the striking member and with thearm of the handle with which they are associated.

The crimped casingprovides positive stops cooperable with the diverging arms of the handle toafford a positive interlock and this is had in a construction which is adapted to a simplified and comparatively inexpensive manufacturing process;

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, ar-

angement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully describedand particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing a fly swatter embodyingthe present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevationalview of the opposite side of the swatter from thatshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section on line 3.3 of Figure 2; and, I

Figure 4 is a plan view showing how the sheet metal casing is struck from the blank.v

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that in the present embodiment of the invention the fly swatter comprises a wire handle designated generally at 1 and having a looped or double gripping portion 2, a shank portion 3 wherein the strands of the wire handle are inter-twisted and diverging arms i.

A striking member 5 is provided and is shown as comprising a suitably shaped piece of wire mesh which hasits exposed edges taped or bound as indicated at 6. The lower corners of the wire mesh striking member 5 are folded over as at 7 to define pockets which receive the diverging arms tof the handle.

A sheet metal casing designated generally at is provided and serves to cover the lower portion of the striking member. the il'olded corners 7 thereof and also the diverging arms 4 ot the handle and to secure and maintain these parts in assembly. This sheet metal casing S is constructed of a single piece of metal and is so shaped and folded as to be adapted to be struck from the blank with a minimum of waste. and yet the very construction that makes possible the practical elimination of waste also simplifies the assembling operation and insures the security of the parts in proper position and relation with respect to each other during the life of the swatter. As shown in Figure 4. two sheet, metal casings 8 may be struck from a single rectangular blank. For the sake of clearness in illustration. Figure -1- shows one of the casings struck from the blank in full lines and the other in dotted lines. Each sheet metal :asiug is of substantially triangular form although the corners ot' the blank are preferably cut away and each casing has an extension 9. which. in the blank. is an extension of a portion of the base of the triangle. After being cut :1 av from the blank the sheet metal casing 8 is folded transversely along its transverse median line a. the fold a providing a bight portion 10 from which side sections 11 and 12 of the casing extend.

In the assembly. the bightportion 10 em braces one of the arms- .4; of the handle and the portions of the striking member associated with such arm I and the two side sections 11 and 12 of the casing lie on the opposite sides of the lower portion of the flexible member. The end of the casing on which the extension 0 is formed is extended around the other arm of the handle and around the portions of the striking member associated with such other arm and over-laps the end portion ll of the other end of the casing. After the sheet metal casing has been assembled in this manner with the striking member and the handle. it is crimped inwardly around the arms of the handle as indicated at 13. 1st. 15 and 16 (see Fig. 25). these crimps providing positive stops or shoulders coaeting with the diverging arms to prevent. loosening or (lisass'anbly of the parts and acting to firmly and securely hold the striking member. handle and casing in assembly. Thus. not only are the arms of the handle retained in the pockets formed by folding over the lower corners of the strile ing member but the casing itself is maintained in proper position. This advantage is had with a single piece of sheet metal cas ing which has a single set of over-lapping ends. In other words. at one side of the swatter there is a closed bight 1t) and atone side only is there the over-lapping of the ends. As shown in Figure 1. the central portion of the blank is cut out at i) to provide the opening which accommtalates the shank of the handle.

In this way the swatter not only has a Ft!- cure fastening of its parts and a generally durable construction without the use of rivets or other fastening devices but waste in the production of the sheet metal casing is minimized. The general durability of the swatter is greatly enhanced by forming the. closed bight or gripping portion at one side of the s *at'ter and having but a single set ot' over-lapping ends at the other side of the swatter.

The faces ot the side sections ol the single piece casing are adapted to receive advertising matter.

The invention claimed is:

l. A 'lly swatter comprising a handle having arms, a striking member having portions engaged with the arms and a single piece sheet metal casing covering the arm and the lower end of the striking member. said casing having an intermediate bight portion ot closed forlnatioi'i which embraces and secures a portion of the striking member to one of said arms and having a single set of oven lapping ends for securing the striking men1- her to the other arm.

2. A sheet metal casing for use in securing a striking member of a fly swatter to a handle and tannprising a single piece of metal of substantially triangular form adapted to be struck with a minimum of waste from a blank and having an (Kit-Tish) from a portion of the bare ol' the triangle. said casing being bent along the altitude of the triangle to provide a bight-like grip 'iing portion. the extension of the base portion of the triangle and the remaining portion of the base being shaped to provide a gripping arrangement.

In witness whereof. I hereunto allix my signature.

EDWIN L. llllNDllltSt )N.

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