US548103A - Wire-tightening implement - Google Patents

Description

J. M. WEST.

WIRE 'TIGHTBNING IMPLEMENT.

(No Model.)

No. 548,103. Patented Oct. 15,1895.

mzziwr PATENT EEicE,

JAMES M. WEST, OF RICE, TEXAS.

WIRE-TIGHTENING IMPLEMENT.

Application filed April 2, 1895. Serial No. 644,177. (lt'o model.)

QPECIFIC-A-TION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,103, dated October 15, 1895.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES M. WEST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rice, in the county of Navarro and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wire-Tightening Implements, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improved hand implement for tightening or taking up slack in fence-wires strung on fence-posts by forming loops or twists of the required dimensions in the wires.

To accomplish this object my invention consists, essentially, in a wire-tightening implement composed of two handles pivoted together and provided with jaws having flat opposing faces, each formed with a plurality of transverse approximately parallel grooves of different length, the grooves in the fiat face of one jaw registering with the grooves in the fiat face of the other jaw, and each jaw having its sides converging to apoint at its outer extremity, one side being convex and the other side concave, the construction being such that the plurality of grooves, in connection with the peculiar form of the jaws, renders it possible to form loops of different dimensions in the fence-wires, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The invention'is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wiretightening implement or tool constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of one of the jaws. Fig. 3 is a plan view looking at the inside of one of thejaws; and Fig 4 is adetail view of a loop made by the implement or tool.-

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention Iwill now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein the numerals 1 and 2 indicate two handles, formed integral at one end portion with jaws 3 and 4 and at the other end portions with oppositely-proj ecting lever portions 5 and 6, which facilitate the rotation of the implement in acting on a fencewire to form a loop therein, as will hereinafter appear.

The handles 1 and 2 are provided, in proximity to thejaws 3 and 4,With orifices through which a pivot-pin 9 passes for the purpose of pivotally connecting the handles in a manner similar to ordinary wire-tightening implements of the type to which my invention relates.

The jaws 3 andd are each constructed with rounded sides 10 and 12, which converge from the base or inner end portion 13 of the jaw to the pointed outer end or extremity 14:. The opposing faces of the two jaws are perfectly flat, so that when the jaws are closed the flat face of one is adapted to bear squarely against the fiat face of the other. The flat faces of the jaws are each formed with a plurality of grooves 15, 16, and 17, which gradually diminish in length toward the pointed end or extremity of the jaw. The grooves are concave throughout theirlength, and the grooves 15, 16, and 17 in the fiat faceof one jaw register, respectively, with the grooves 15, 16, and 17 in the flat face of the other jaw, in such manner that if the two jaws are placed upon a fence-wire, so that the latter lies coincident with the grooves 15, and the two jaws are closed by properly operating the handles 1 and 2, the wire will be firmly gripped, and then, by axially rotating the implement through the medium of the portions 5 and 6,

the fence-wire will be coiled around the exterior of the two jaws; The implement is drawn in a direction to remove it from the coiled portions of the wires, and the gripped part of the wire will be drawn outward, so that a loop is formed with a twisted neck, thereby tightening the fence-wire and taking up slack that may exist therein.

The grooves in the flat faces of the two jaws are made of different length, and the rounded sides 10 and 12 of the jaws converge toward the pointed ends or extremities 14, for the purpose of rendering it possible to form loops of varying dimensions or diameters in the fence-wires. If the fence-wire is first gripped in the grooves 15 a comparatively-large loop will be formed. If the wire is gripped in the grooves 16 a loop of smaller size will be formed, and if the wire is gripped in the grooves 17 a loop of still smaller size will be formed.

By the peculiar construction of parts described and shown I am enabled to form loops of varying dimensions or diameters with an implement or tool of very simple construction, and without the presence of spiral jaws having spiral grooves, as heretofore employed in wire-tightening implements.

In order to avoid the employment of spirally-grooved spiral jaws, as heretofore employed, I form the rounded opposite side surfaces 10 and 12 of each jaw on different radii, and construct the side surface 12 so that it is convex, while the side surface 10 is concave. The radius of the curved side 12 is greater than the radius of the curved side 10, so that practically a spiral form is given to a jaw of a very simple construction.

The improved implement or tool described and shown is particularly designed for tightening or taking up slack in fence-wires strung on fence-posts, but it will also be found useful for connecting or splicing the ends of broken or other wires.

By the employment of myimproved implement the twisting of' the wire into the form of a loop can be stopped at any point, because it is not necessary to twist the wire more than once around the two jaws. I find that this is advantageous in that it does not damage the wire, and that consequently the latter is not liable to break at the twisted point if the Wire should ever require to be restretched.

The improved implement is susceptible of making three loops of different dimensions, thereby taking up different amounts of slack.

In connecting the ends of two wires, one Wire can be laid in one groove and one in another groove, and then by rotating the implement the two ends of the wires will be twisted together.

A suitable ring or other fastening device may be provided to hold the handles in gripping position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A wire tightening implement composed of two handle portions pivoted together and terminating in jaws converging to a point at their outer extremities, and having fiat opposing faces, the outer portions on one side of said jaws being convex and the opposite side portions being concave, and a plurality of transverse grooves arranged upon the fiat faces of the jaws, the grooves in one face registering with those in the opposite face, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. V

J ALWIES M. WEST. Witnesses:

A. O. HERVEY, G. R. THORNTON.

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