US2094166A - Fence wire stretcher - Google Patents

Description

FENCE WIRE STRETCHER Filed Nov. 3, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A iiorneys Sept. 28, 1937. E. BOCKENHAUER 2,094,166

FENCE WIRE STRETCHER Filed Nov. 3, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Attorneys v Sept. 28, 1937. E. BOCKENHAUER FENCE WIRE STRETCHER Filed Nov. 5, 1956 s sheets s'neet s Inventor A iiorneys Patented Sept. 28-, 1937 omrso starts rarest orrics Edward Bockenhauer, Waterman, 111. v Application November 3, 1936, Serial No. 109,013

numerous forms and types of tools.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to implements and tools now frequently referred to in the trade as fence wire pullers, stretchers, and the like, and it ohviously has reference to a device which is attachable to a'fence Wire so that it may be drawn taut and satisfactorily nailed or otherwise anchored to the post.

Needless to say, I am aware that the art to which the invention relates is characterized by It follows, therefore, that the present invention relates to a tool possessed of distinctively new mechanical characteristics and expressly designed so that the harder the clamp is pulled, the tighter it grips the wire.

Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a clamp unit composed of a pair of companion grips pivotally attached together at one end and having their intermediate portions fashioned to securely maintain the wire therebetween, the free ends of said members having associated therewith chain accommodation means providing the desired progressive take-up and clamping action.

Although novelty is predicated upon the central formation of the co-acting clamping surfaces between the companion or complemental gripping units, the chief novelty resides in the free end construction of said units, wherein one unit is provided with a self-adapting roller and attaching links which, when associated with the pull chain provides the desired friction grip tightening action.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a tool or implement constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the manner in which it is connected with the wire and block and tackle power appliance.

Figure 2 is a View on an enlarged scale which may be designated as a top plan view, that is, a view looking down on top of the structure seen in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a proportionately enlarged side elevational View disclosing the jaw formation and illustrating the inserted position of the free end of the fencewire.

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged cross sectional views taken on the planes of the lines t4 and 5--5 respectively of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional View which may Reference is had as a matter of convenience, to

the enlarged showing of the tool illustrated in Figure 3. Here, and as before indicated, the major part of the structure is made up of a pair of complemental lever-type frictional gripping jaws 8 and 9 to accommodate and receive the strand or length of fence wire ii]. In side elevational View these parts 8 and 9 represent compound curves. Moreover, each lever is of onepiece formation and includes a plate portion and a reinforcing rib i i. The left hand end portions of the levers are pivotally joined together as indicated at Hand one lever is offset as denoted at E3 in Figure 7 to permit this connection to be satisfactorily made. The jaw unit a includes longitudinally spaced wire gripping surfaces [4 and i5, and an intervening downwardly bowed central portion it which functions as an adapter for the convexed correspondingly curved portion l'i constituting the central portion or part of the jaw unit 8. The latter unit 8 also includes the surfaces Ma and lta, which match with the gripping surfaces l4 and IE to securely maintain the wire therebetween. The wire is held against sidewise displacement through the instrumentality of a pair of spaced parallel upstanding flanges l8 formed on the unit 9 and bridging the clearance pocket Hi.

It will be observed that the free swingable end portions of the jaw units 8 and 9 are directed laterally in diverging relationship. The ends I9 of the unit 9 terminate in an offset terminal 20 suitably positioned to accommodate a pair of links 2 l The links are disposed in spaced parallel order and pivotally attached to said terminal 20 as indicated at the point 22. Between the free swingable ends of the links is an idling roller 23 for cooperation with the pull chain 24. One link of the chain 2 3 is releasably engageable with the eye 25 formed on the free end of the laterally directed end portion 25 of the lever 8. The numeral 2i designates a slot in the eye which allows the chain links to be releasably connected therewith. The hook 28 on the free end of the chain is engageable with the conventional block and tackle assembly 29 which is in turn connected with a suitable cable leading to a winding and reeling device or suitable Windlass (not shown). By inserting the fence wire between the jaw units 8 and 9, it is firmly held between the cooperating surfaces M, Ma, l5 and l5a. The wire bridges the gap formed by the receding central curved portion [6 and is forced down into this by the convexed clamping member IT. The result is that these co-acting features unquestionably grip the wire with requisite certainty to guard against accidental slippage.

The flanges l8 serve to not only accommodate and hold in place swingable lever unit or jaw 8, but they also facilitate threading and placing the fence wire in place. The laterally directed free ends I9 and 26 disposed in diverging relationship, allow the links and roller means to cooperate with the chain 24 and the eye 25 in producing the desired progressive take-up action. Consequently, the tighter the chain is pulled, the tighter the jaws 8 and 9 are clamped against the wire. It follows therefore, that the wire can be safely and tautly stretched to permit it to be nailed or otherwise anchored on the fence post.

Novelty apparently resides in the serpentine curvature of the jaw members 8 and 9. That is to say,byusing a compound curve in the longitudinal formation of these parts, the desired co-acting clamping surfaces are provided therebetween to insure effective binding of the wire. The stabilizing flanges 18 also contribute their proportionate share to the feature of strength and durability and safe maintenance of the wire. The cardinal feature of the invention however resides in the free end formation of the lever-like jaw and the chain and pulley arrangement co-operable therewith. The so-called pulley, made up of the parts 2| and 23 forms a sort of a floating abutment which exerts the desired cam action to effectively bind the jaws together.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed will be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

A clamp for stretching fence wire comprising a pair of complemental clamping jaws, respectively, pivotally connected together at corresponding ends and provided intermediate their ends with concave and convex mating portions, respectively, for gripping the wire therebetween, a pair of side flanges, respectively, on the jaw having the concave portion, for guiding the wire into position over the latter and the other jaw into closing position, said jaws having divergent.

free ends, a pair of opposed links pivotally connected at one end to the free ends of one jaw, a pulley mounted between the other ends of said links, and a pull chain secured to the free end of the other jaw and extended between said links for engagement with said pulley, said links being shorter than the distance between the free ends of the jaws in the closed position of the latter. EDWARD BOCKENHAUER.

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