US2053378A

US2053378A - Seaming tool

Info

Publication number: US2053378A
Application number: US3774A
Authority: US
Inventors: Schlicht Carl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-01-28
Filing date: 1935-01-28
Publication date: 1936-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 1953-09-08

Description

Sept. 8, 1936. c. SCHLICHT 2,053,378

SEAMING TOOL Filed Jan. 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 8, 1936.

C. SCHLICHT SEAMING TOOL ESheets-Shee'b 2 FiledJan. 2a, 193s Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved seaming tool.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide an efficient seaming tool for clenching and seaming sheets of metal during the building of metal roofing, whereby the sheets at the seam are not forced together with a sharp angular bend, but are bent and clenched with a gradually rounding turn or fold, so as to prevent cracking of the coating on heavily coated sheet metal and any breaking of the metal along the fold.

Another object of this invention is to provide a seaming tool comprising jaw means which can be modified or changed, so that this tool is especially adapted for forming a gradually rounded seam, and can also be readily arranged so that it is adapted for use in forming the customary seam having the ordinary angular line of fold.

Another object is to provide a seaming tool wherein the jaw means is adjustable, so that the curvature or the flatness of the seams can be varied as desired.

A further object is to provide such a seaming tool which is durable and is economically constructed, and which can be readily manipulated for performing different bending operations.

These and other objects and advantages are attained with this invention, as will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the invention is shown in its preferred form of construction, it being understood that various other forms and modifications may be resorted to for carrying out the objects and purpose of this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the tool in position when the first or initial bending operation of the seam has been completed.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing the tool with the detachable jaw element in position, after the second or final bending operation of the sheet metal is completed.

45 Fig. 3 is an end elevational view showing the two adjoining sheets of metal placed together ready for the seaming operation.

Fig. 4 is a partial end elevation showing the inclusion of shims at the larger jaw, whereby the two jaws may be set apart and the thickness of the seam can be varied.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, with the handles in section, taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken along line 6-'-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of the detachable jaw element or shoe.

Fig. 8 is a partial elevational view showing how the tool is used for making the seam of more angular fold.

Briefly, this seaming tool comprises a set of differently shaped and arranged jaw members which are provided with arched portions or with an auxiliary and detachable jaw element having an arched face portion, whereby this tool is particularly adapted for forming a gradually rounded bend or fold of the sheet metal at the seam, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3; and is also adapted to be used in forming the customary angular or sharper bend of the sheet metal at the seam, as indicated in Fig. 8.

In the drawings my invention is illustrated in its preferred form of construction comprising a head member iii which, for the sake of economy and simplicity, is preferably constructed from a pair of leaf hinges having a leaf ll of one secured to a leaf i2 of the other, by means of rivets or the like. A pair of jaw members 83 and I4, which are substantially angle-shaped, have each an angle portion secured to the free leaves H and I2 of the leaf hinges.

The jaw members are preferably connected to the hinge leaves in such a manner that they can be readily removed therefrom, for example by using screw elements i5 for connecting the jaw flange [3' to the leaf i i, and using bolts l6 for connecting the flange M of jaw 14 to leaf l2 of the hinge.

A pair of handles H and i8 are attached to the jaw members 13 and I4, and this is preferably accomplished by using pipe shaped handles, the handle l1 being extended thru the hinge leaf l I and jaw flange l3, and being secured to jaw l3 by means of a bolt i9; while the handle I8 is secured to jaw flange M by means of a bolt 20. For reinforcement, an angle-shaped supporting bracket 2! is secured to jaw flange l4, preferably by having an angle portion 2| placed between hinge leaf l2 and jaw portion M with the bolts l8 extending therethrough. The handle l8 extends thru the upper angle portion of said supporting bracket 2!, and the supporting bracket preferably has its top plate extended far enough laterally from the handle, so that one foot can be set thereon to assist the hands in more forcefully operating the tool.

The jaw member l3 has its angle portion l3 secured to leaf H in such a manner that its operative jaw portion or flange 23 depends downwardly from the head member ID, substantially beneath the hinge pin III"; while jaw member M has its angle portion M secured to hinge leaf E2 in such a manner that its operative jaw portion or flange 24 extends along the lower face of head member It, a slight distance therebelow, and toward the depending jaw portion 23, while the tool is in its operative position, substantially as indicated in the drawings. 7

With this form of construction the depending jaw portion 23 serves as a stationary holding jaw during the initial or first bending operation, while the jaw portion 24 is active and operated intilting the outer lip 25 of the sheet metal around the curled edge or bead 25 on the companion sheet of metal, from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1.

For performing the second or final bending operation the tool is reversed or turned from the position shown in Fig. 1 to substantially the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 8, whereupon the larger jaw 24 becomes stationary or the holding jaw bearing against the back of the seam, and the smaller or depending jaw .23 becomes the movable or active jaw for producing this final closing bend, as. shown partly accomplished in Fig. 8 and fully completed in Fig. 2.

In orderto produce a gradually rounded curve or bend at the seam, jaw 23 is provided with an arched or curved inner face portion 23, while jaw 24 is also provided with an arched or curved upper face portion 2 5'; and likewise the head member Ill is preferably also provided with a nether arched face portion 3%]. With this construction the sheet metal will be forced to follow a gradually rounding curve or bend.

For; more positively and evenly forming the second bend on the curved seam, it is found desirable to provide an auxiliary jaw or shoe 3! which is detachably mounted on jaw 24. It is provided with an upstanding jaw flange or portion 32 which has a somewhat arched inward face 33 adapted to correspond and cooperate with the arched face 23' of the jaw l3 and the arched face 30' of head member Ill, so as to provide a better holding and forming jaw as indicated in Fig. 2, to rest stationary against the seam while jaw I3 is swung and operated in performing the second or final bend of the seam, from the bend of the metal shown in Fig. 1 to the bend of the metal shown in Fig. 2. Said shoe has end portions 34 with lower lips 35 extending around the ends of jaw portion 24 and engaging therebeneath; while a spring 36 in each end of the shoe has a hook 3'! at its end adapted to clasp behind flange M" of the jaw, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5, so that the shoe will be firmly but removably held on the jaw.

It should be noted that jaw flanges 23 and 32 are closest together at their lower ends, whereby the .seam or fold is gradually curved and fully rounded at the upper part, while it is forced closely together at the bottom, thereby avoiding any cracking of the heaviest coating on the heaviest sheet metal in use.

. The'jaws are also made adjustable on this tool, which is readily accomplished by making the holes 38 oblong in jaws M and in bracket plates 26, through which bolts l6 extend, (see Figs. 2 and 6), wherebyjaw M can be adjusted up or down with respect to jaw l3 and to head member ID. Shims 39 of the desired thickness may be interposed between hinge leaf l2 and jaw flange I 4' (see Fig. 4) whereby the distance or space between the jaws I3 and M can be varied, and

likewise the curved seam can be made flatter or rounder to suit the particular occasion.

This tool is thus especially adapted for producing the gradual and smoothly rounded bend on companion sheets of metal which have been previously curved or bent at their adjoning edges, substantially in the manner indicated in the drawings; but it is equally as well adapted for use, without the addition of shoe 33, for producing the diiferent bends of the seam when the sheet metal has been previously bent or arranged in the more angular form, as indicated in Fig. 8.

I claim: r

1. A tool for seaming sheet metal for roofing, said tool comprising a pair of jaw members each of which has a comparatively broad plate-like lower jaw, means hingedly connecting said jaw members at theirupper portions, handle means on said jaw members for operating them, the lower jaw of one jaw member depending from said hingedly connected upper portions, and the lower jaw of the other jaw member extending inwardly, underneath the hinge means, toward said depending jaw, adapted to have its inner end swung upwardly along the adjacent face of the depending jaw to perform one bending operation on the seam, while the depending jaw serves as the holding jaw, and upon reversal of the tool the depending jaw being swingable toward the inner end of the inwardly extending jaw to perform a different bending operation on the seam, while the last said jaw serves as the holding jaw. 2. A seaming tool comprising a head member having a nether bending face, a pair of angleshaped jaw members, each having an upper portion hingedly connected to said head member, one of said jaw members having a lower jaw depending from said head member and having an inner bending face, and the other jaw member having a lower jaw extending inwardly beneath the head member toward the depending jaw and having an upper bending face, at least one of said bending faces having an arched portion thereon, for providing a gradually rounded'bend at the seam.

3. A seaming tool comprising a head member providing a head plate having a hinge portion extending from each side thereof, a pair of angular jaw members'one of which has one angle portion connected to said hinge portion so that its other angle portion depends therefrom, the second jaw member having the upper end of its angle portion secured to the other hinged portion so that its second angle portion extends from said upper portion, along the adjacent lower face of the head member and toward said depending jaw portion, with its free end adapted to be swung upwards along the adjacent face of said depending jaw portion, close to the head member, thereby adapting the jaw members for use for two different bending operations by using the seaming tool in reversed positions on the seam.

4. A seaming tool comprising a pair of leaf hinges having a leaf of one hinge secured upon a leaf of the other and providing a head member,

a pair of angle members providing jaws, one having an upper angle portion secured to one of the free leaves of the head member so that its other angle portiondepends therefrom, the other angle member having an angle portionsecured to I reversed positions on the same for performing two different bending operations.

5. A seaming tool comprising a pair of jaw members and means whereby they are hingedly connected, one jaw member having a jaw extending outwardly and downwardly from the connecting means, and the other jaw member having a jaw extending along underneath the connecting means and toward the depending jaw, adapting the tool for performing a certain seaming operation, and a shoe detachably mountable on the second mentioned jaw and having an upturned flange to cooperate with the depending jaw adapting the tool for performing a succeeding seaming operation.

6. A seaming tool comprising a head member having a curved portion on its nether face, a pair of angle-shaped jaws each having one angle portion hingedly connected to said head member, the first jaw having its second angle portion depending outwardly from the head member, and the second jaw having its second angle portion extending along underneath the head member toward the depending jaw portion, both of said jaw portions having arched portions thereon to cooperate with the curved portion on the head member for providing a gradually rounded bend on a seam.

'7. A seaming tool comprising a head member having an arched portion on its nether face, a pair of jaw members hingedly connected to said head member, one jaw member having a depending jaw with an arched face portion thereon, the second jaw member having a jaw extending along beneath the head member toward said depending jaw and having an arched upper portion to cooperate with the arched portions on the other jaw and head member, for providing a grad ually rounded bend on a seam of sheet metal.

8. The subject matter of claim '7 and including a shoe detaohably mountable on the second mentioned jaw and having an upturned jaw portion with an arched face to cooperate with the depending jaw for providing a gradually rounded bend on the sheet metal seam.

9. A seaming tool comprising a head member, a pair of jaw members hingedly connected to said head member, one jaw member having a depending jaw, the second jaw member having a jaw extending along beneath the head member toward said depending jaw, each of said jaws having an arched portion and cooperating with the head member for providing a gradually rounded seam, and means for adjusting the jaws to modify the distance between them and to adjust the position of one jaw vertically on said head memher and relative to the other jaw, whereby to vary the size and roundness of the seam.

10. A seaming tool comprising a head member, a pair of jaw members hingedly connected to said head member, one jaw member having a depending jaw, the second jaw member having a jaw extending along beneath the head member toward said depending jaw, a handle connected to each of said jaws, and a reinforcing bracket connected to one jaw member and to its handle and including an extension projecting from the lower part of said handle providing a foot-rest to aid in operating the tool.

11. A seaming tool comprising a head member having a hinge portion extending from each side thereof, a pair of angular jaw members one of which has one angle portion connected to said hinge portion so that its other angle portion depends therefrom the second jaw member having the upper end of its angle portion secured to the other hinge portion so that its second angle portion extends. along below the head member and toward said depending jaw portion, a handle connected to each jaw member, and a reinforcing member securing together one jaw member and its handle and being provided with means which extends outwardly from the handle to provide a foot-rest to aid in operating the tool.

CARL SCI-ILICH'T.