US2588501A

US2588501A - Stretching tool

Info

Publication number: US2588501A
Application number: US690655A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel R Dummer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-08-15
Filing date: 1946-08-15
Publication date: 1952-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 1969-03-11

Description

March 1952 s. R. DUMMER 2,588,501

STRETCHING TOOL Filed Aug. 15, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

5A MUEL R. HUMMER 67 5 A TTORNEY I Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stretching tools and has particular relation to a tool for stretching screen wire netting over framed openings.

An object of the invention is to provide a tool adapted to conveniently and quickly stretch and hold over'a framed opening, without distortion and at the desired tension, screen wire netting which has previously been cut to a required size.

Another object is to provide a tool of the character outlined and which, when applied, will hold the overlying edge portion of the screen netting closely adjacent to the frame leaving the operator free to employ both hands in tacking or otherwise securing the screen netting. in place.

A further object is to provide a tool having the advantages above outlined and which is easily adjusted and which when supplying tension to the screen netting to be fastened to a frame will not be loosened or freed from its adjusted position by a shock or jar or the like and which will retain itself in the position desired.

An additional object is to provide a stretching tool having the advantages indicated and which may be inexpensively manufactured as by diecasting or the like, whereby assembly is permitted without the necessity for expensive machining operations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the. following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown; However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the tool of the invention is substantially full size, and as employed in holding a screen netting in place over a framed opening;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the tool alone;

- Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the tool;

Fig. 4 is a vertical central sectional view through the jaw forming a part of the tool;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the pressure plate employed: and

Fig. 6 is an isometric View, looking from the rear of the pressure plate of Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the tool of the invention comprises a body generally designated I and including an elon ated platelike body. I I, laterally enlarged at its forward end and carrying a pair of outwardly directed parallel side portions or ears I2 and I3. These portions or ears I2 and I3 are spaced from the bodv I I toward the extreme forward end of the latter whereby openings or notches H! are provided for the'entrance of wire screen or wire netting I over the upper forward portion of the plate-like body II.

The ears I2 and I3 provide for the pivotal mounting of a clamping jaw I6 shown as formed 'of a single piece of metal and including parallel side walls I1 and I3, a handle or finger portion I9, and a, rounded cam-like gripping'portion 20. This jaw I6 is located between the ears I2 and I3 and has its side walls I1 and H3 in parallel relation with said ears. Rivets or equivalent means 2! pass through the ears I2 and I3 and the walls I! and i8 and pivotally mount the jaw It on the body ID.

with the described construction it will be understood that when the jaw I6 is rocked from the position of Fig. 1, by lifting up on the handle or finger portion IS, the gripping portion 20 will move rearwardly and upwardly away from the forward or jaw portion 22 of the body I I. Therefore, when a screen, or a portion of a screen, is located over said jaw portion 22 and the jaw I6 rocked in the opposite direction by pressing downwardly on the handle or finger portion I9 a portion of the screen will be clamped against the jaw 22 by the clamping portion 20 of the jaw I6. This clamping portion 20 is on a radius the center of which is rearwardly of the pivots 2| when screen is clamped and when the clamp is released. Thus, the clamp does not move through a dead center and is easily flipped up to released position and is easily moved down to clamping" position.

Slidable longitudinally on the body II is a pressure plate generally designated 23. Such pressure plate comprises a forward plate-like portion 24 having a pair of short prongs or projections 25 on its forward face and also in its forward face is a V-shaped notch or groove 26. Toward its upper end plate 24 is provided with a T-shaped recessZ'I, the horizontal portion of which is of the width of the body II and the vertical portion of which is of a width equal to that portion of the body II located between the pair of notches 28'. g

7 On the rear side of the plate 24 is a housing or extension 29 having a socket 30 opening through its upper and lower or bottom side and having a slot 3| in its rear wall and communicating with the said socket through the upper edge of said wall. The pressure plate 23 is as embled to the body I I by first inserting the shank 33 of the adjusting screw 34 into the tapped hole in the thickened portion or boss 32 until the reduced diameter 35 projects far enough through to be slipped into the slot 3| of the pressure plate 23. then the pressure plate is pushed up through the notches 28 in body II and a few turns of the adjusting screw 34 will push the pressure plate forward alon the bodv II. When this has been accomplished, the lateral edges of the body II are located in the extremes-of the cross portion of 3 the inverted T-shaped slot 21 so that the pressure plate 23 is adjustable along or longitudinally of the body I I but will not rock relative thereto.

On its other or rear end, the body II is provided with a thickened portion or boss 32 having a tapped hole therethrough and through which is threaded the shank 33 of the adjusting screw, generally designated 34, having a head in the form of a wing nut, as shown at 35. Towards its inner end the shank 33 is provided with a reduced diameter portion 36 located in the slot 3| in the rear wall of the housing-like portion 29 of the pressure plate and beyond said reduced diameter portion said screw shank includes a head 31 the same diameter as the shank 33.

Clearly, as the adjusting screw 34 is rotated it will be fed through the tapped hole in the thick ened portion or boss 32. With this construction, it will be apparent that when the pressure plate 23 is attached to the adjusting screw 34 and that by rotating such screw in one direction the pressure plate wil lbe moved forward along the body II and that by rotation of said screw in the opposite direction the pressure plate will be moved rearwardly along said body I I.

When using the tool of the invention, as for example, to adjust the tool to stretch the Wire screen or netting I over the bar 38 of the frame (shown in section), the adjusting screw 34 is rotated to draw the pressure plate 23 rearwardly on the body II to the required distance. Then the tool is disposed on the frame with the pressure plate against the outer edge of the frame 38 and with the forward portion of the body I I projecting over said frame member so as to receive an edge portion of the screen I5 over the jaw portion 22.

Then the clamping jaw I6 is rocked downwardly on the pivots H as to the position of Fig. 1, clamping a portion of the screen against the jaw 22. Now the operator rotates the adjusting screw 34 in a direction to advance the pressure plate along the body I I. As the plate contacts the frame the prongs 25 will first enter the frame member. Then as turning of the screw continues, the pressure plate being unable to advance, the body II and parts thereon is drawn outwardly or rearwardly over the frame piece 38 drawing the clamped edge of the screen over such frame piece. When the screen is adjusted to the desired tension, turning of the adjusting screw 34 is discontinued.

and the operator has both hands free to tack or otherwise fasten the edge of the screen netting to the frame member 38. A shock or jolt will not cause the tool to jump up or come loose from its position as the spikes or prongs 25 are embedded in the frame member and in addition, the face of the pressure plate 24 is flat against the frame member and the pressure is considerably below the upper surface of the latter along which the pull, occasioned by the tension of the screen netting, is exerted. When the screen netting has been tacked in place, clamp I6 is released and the entire tool moved to a new position.

The V-shaped notch or groove 26 in the face of the pressure plate 24 provides for the mounting of the tool on an external corner of a frame which is being screened to square up the screen mesh or remove wrinkles. In such instance, the external corner of the frame is received in the notch or groove 23 to prevent side-slipping of the tool and the tool is operated by rotating the screw 34 as previously described. When the tool is used on the side of the frame, the operator forces the prongs 25 into the frame as he turns the screw and after that is done the operation of the tool is concerned solely with the drawing rearwardly of the body II and the clamp carried thereby. When the device is applied to the external corner of the frame, the sole operation is the rearward or outward movement of the body I I and the clamp carried thereby.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the stretching in place of wire screen or screen netting, both old and new, and particularly when that material has been cut to required size, it will be understood that the tool may be used for stretching canvas, heavy fabrics, green animal skins, etc. As the tool provides means for stretching pre-cut wire screening over a frame, it will be understood that the trimming of excess screening from the frame is avoided. The present tool consists of four parts, all of which are of rugged construction and which lend themselves to manufacturing by die-casting methods.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

In a hand tool for stretching wire screening and the like over a frame opening and holding the screening in place and in stretched condition while it is being tacked to the frame, a pressure plate having a vertical frame-engaging face and a horizontal way therethrough downwardly of its upper edge, an elongated body extending through and slidably guided in said way against all but longitudinal movements relative to said plate having a horizontal frame-engaging lower surface at right angles to said face of said plate, the upper surface of the inner end portion of said body plane and flat and comprising a jaw, a second jaw, means pivoting said second jaw on the forward portion of said body for swinging movement to and from clamping relation with the first mentioned jaw, said second jaw having a smooth rounded bottom clamping portion eccentric to its pivot, the outer end portion of said body extending downwardly in substantially parallel relation with said vertical frame-engaging face of said pressure plate, a horizontal screw threaded through said body portion and connected with said pressure plate for turning movement relative thereto whereby turning of said screw causes relative movement of said pressure plate and said body in the direction of the length of the latter, and prong means on said vertical frame-engaging face of said pressure plate below said way for digging into the edge of a frame member to anchor the clamp thereto.

SAMUEL R. DUMMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 324,673 Ehrenfeld Aug. 18, 1885 348,833 Eckerson Sept. 7, 1886 598,413 Evans Feb. 1, 1898 827,257 Murrell July 31, 1906 1,053,978 Ellsworth Feb. 25, 1913 1,239,479 Hanson Sept. 11, 1915 1,466,523 Donoho Aug. 28, 1923 1,514,149 Frizzell Nov. 4, 1924 2,108,638 Benedict Feb. 15. 1938