US721681A - Flooring-clamp. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAR. 8, 1903.

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PATENTA OFFICE.

\VILLAM HARVEY EARLYVOF'HAYS, KANSAS.

FLOORING-CLAMP.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,681, dated Marchy 3, 1903 Application filed March 4, 1902.

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Be it known that I, WILLIAM HARVEY EARLY, a citizen of the United States, resid- Fig. 3 v construction and operation of one of the ing at Hays, in the county of Ellis and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Flooring-Clamp, of which the following is a specification. i n

This invention relates to implements employed by mechanics to assist in laying Hooring, siding, and forsimilar purposes, and has for'its object the production of a device of greater simplicity of construction and of in` creased utility, whereby `its efficiency and scope lare greatly increased.

The invention consists in certain novel featuresof the construction,`as hereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective vview ofthe device applied to portions of ooring. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionon the lineoc of Fig. 1. is a sectional detail illustrating the gripping-jaws.

In this invention Lis comprised a supporting-frame 5, adapted to be clamped to the joist (represented at' 6) contiguous to the vflooring, which is represented at 7. The frame 5 will preferably be of malleable iron and will conformto the joist and will project down a short distance on each side, as shown. The

side members of the frame 5 extend horizontally beyond the tbp'mernber, with the upper surface of the extensions flush with the top of thejoist, as shown at 5% At its rearV end the frame 5 is provided with recesses 8, in which clamp-pawls 9 are disposed, the pawls being pivotedin lugs`29 on the sides of the frame and adapted to beheld with their inner ends 10 normally pressed inward by springs l1, as shown in Fig. 3, The inner ends 10 of the pawls are serrated, as shown in Fig. 1, and are adapted to engage the joist from opposite sides `and effectually prevent any rearward movement of the device. l Y

Only one of the clamping means is shown in the drawings but it will be understood that two of theclamps willpreferably be'em# ployed, but as both clam ps are precisely alike only one has been illustrated. By this simple means any rearward strain upon the frame 5 Seria-1 No. 96,662. (No model.)

and effectually prevent any rearward movement, and thus form an immovable abutment against which the resistance of the clamping means will be expended. l

Projecting from the side members of the frame near the inner end are two spurs or trnnnions 12 and 13, oppositely disposed and adapted to form the fu'lcrum-point 15 of a lever 16. The lower end of the leveris adapted to engage either one of the trunnions 12 or l3, so that the lever can be disposed upon either side of the frame, as indicated in Fig. 1, wherein the level' is shown engaged with the trunnion l2 in full lines and in position Avided witha groove 18 in its outer edge,

adapted to engage the tongue 19 of the adjacent section of the flooring 7.

The clamp-jaw is formed equal-sided, so as to operate oni'either side ofthe joist, 'as required, and whenvin operation one of the laterally-extended sides will rest upon one or the other of the upper edge 5a of the frame 5, according to which one of the trunnions 12 or 18 the lever 16 may be for. the time being engaged. Thus the jaw rests upon one of the projections 5',`no matter on which side ofy the casing 5 the lever 6 may be mounted, and the` jaw thereby rendered interchangeablefrom side to side of the joist. This ability to readily ychange the clamp-head from side to side of the joist is a very important advantage and is lone ofthe features of the present invention. It frequently happens that`it :is necessary to bring pressure to bear near the end of the Hoor-board or vata `buttjoint, and when that occurs it is necessary that the jaw be located on the side of the joist next the joint, and this cannot be done ifthe device isarranged to operate on one'side of thejoist only. Then, again,it frequently happens that it is necessary to bring pressure'to bear upon the floor-board near a wall or partition, and here, again, the ability to reverse the position of the lever and clamp-jaw is very important, as otherwise the jaw could will cause the pawls to firmlyengage the joist y ICO not be actuated nearer to the required point of pressure than the distance to the next j oist, generally sixteen inches.

The 4frame 5 will preferably be provided with a bail 2l to assist in transporting the device.

This makes a very simple, cheap, and convenient implement, one which can be veryreadily applied and operated and easily adjusted to every locality where it may be required and which is capable of use in situations and under conditions not attainable by prior devices of the same class.

The size of the casing 5 and other parts may be valied to suit the circumstances, and the dimensions of the parts may be altered and modified in minor details Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

By the lateral extension of the clamp-jaw it rests constantly upon the extension 5 and is supported thereby, and the part 5 being flush with the upper surface of the joist the operative edge of the jaw is at all times in proper position to engage the tongue in the floor-board and will automatically engage the tongue, While at the same time the jaw operating in contact with the uniform surface of the metal part 5 its consequent uniformity of action is assured. This is an important feature of the invention and adds materially to the elciency of the device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a flooring-clamp, the combination of a frame adapted to engage the joist, oppositely-disposed trunnions projecting therefrom, a lever adapted to removably engage said trunnions alternately, and a clampingjaw pivotally disposed upon said lever and adapted to engage the adjacent floor-board, whereby the said lever and jaw are adapted to engage alternate sides of the joist, substantially as described.

2. In a flooring-clamp, a frame adapted toengage the joist, and with its sides horizontally extended and ush with the upper surface of the joist, oppositely-projecting trunnions upon said casing, a lever adapted to pivotally engage said trunnions alternately, a clamp-jaw pivotally engaging said lever and having laterally-extended sides adapted to engage said casing extensions, substantially as described.

3. In a flooringclamp,the combination with a frame adapted to engage the joist and having means to prevent it from sliding rear- Wardly thereon, of a lever carrying a clamp said lever being adapted to be interchangeably connected with opposte sides of the frame, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that-I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto alixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HARVEY EARLY.

itnessesz LEE MONROE, THos. GARTLAND.

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