US74128A

US74128A - smith

Info

Publication number: US74128A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1868-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1885-02-04

Description

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WARREN PORTLOCK. OF PLEASANT GROVE, ANDPJOHN .I-I. SMITH, OF roonnssonouen, IOWA.

Letters Patent No- 74,128,, dated February 4,,18, 8.

IMPROVEMENT In FLOOR-CLAMPS.

TO ALL WHOM IT- MAY-. CONCERN:

Be it known that we, WARREN Ponnoox, of Pleasant Grove, in the county of 'Des Moines, and JOHN H- SMITB, 9f T o ough, in the county of Louisafand State ofIowa, have invented Improvements in the Construotion of Floor-Clamps; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters marked thereon.

The nature-oi: our invention consists, first, in constructing floor-clamps in such a manner that the distance. betweenthe shanks can be changed, according to the width of thejoist; second, that they can be adjusted, removed, or transferred almost instantly; third, in constructing floor-clamps so as to obtain closerjoihts between the floorings; fourth, in constructing floor-clamps so as to lie-applicable at places of small space.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will now proceed to describe its construction and operation. v

We construct a wooden lever, A, and adjust to one end two iron shanks, B B, bolted thereon in such a manner that by loosening the nut of the bolt the shanks may be let apart to suit the width of the joist. On the lower end of these shanks we adjust two catching-jaws, E, insuch a manner as will allowthem to swing on the shanks. The front ends of these jaws arelsharpcned, so. as to alldw thcm t o penetrate the-wood and obtain a secure hold. The rear ends of these jaws have a projectingknee, on which the spring J, wound around thesrnall projection of the shanks, presses insnch a manner as to throw the front of the catching-jaws always against the wood between thejaws. In using this tool for the purpose of laying flooring, the shanks obtain a vertical positicn on each side of the joist G, the springs I pressing thejaws E against it, and into which theypenetratc and obtain secure hold. By pulling the lever A towards the operator, the power or fulcrum is against the hearing L, which are thus pressed close to each other. The back brace C, hinged to and between the shanks, holds the lever in position until the flooring is permanently fastened. This back brace is made. with a knee or stub-joint, which will bond by giving it a slight pressure on the under side, .and thus allow the 1ever;-to come back. D D are two small lovers, connected with the jaws E. By passing the hand down the main lever A, the small levers D D can be pressed'together, and thejaws E are thus pressed open and out of the joist, and easily transferred to thenextjoist. To keep the jaws open, a how, 0, is attached over the small levers D, which allows them to come but a certaindistance apart, and consequently prevents the springI from pressing the front of the jaws entirely together. In a,similar manner sidings, ceilings, boat-bottoms can be pressed together and held in place until fastened.

When the cud-of back brace or prop is set on the joist to hold the lever permanent against the flooring, the resisting'elasticity-of the flooring causes the end of the prop or back brace-toenter the joist, which allows the chimp or lever to come back an equal distance, and hence no really close joint can be produced; but by pro riding the back brace with a knee or stub-joint, G, we reduce its length bybending it at the knee, and, after pressing the flooring as close as possible, we adjust the back brace and straighten it; thus the amount which penetrates the joist is obtained in the length of the back brace, andhenco the flooring is kept as close as before setting the back brace. In removing a prop or back brace without ajknee or stub-joint penetrated intothe jo described, i u y requires considerable strength and time for its removahwhilst aeback brace, with knee or stub-joint, can be removed quickly and easily by bending it, thus withdrawing the'point in the manner it entered the joist.

Claims.

We claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters'Pistent- 1. The back brace G, provided with a knee or stub-joint, constructed substantially the manner and for the purpose as set forth; v j

g 2. The small levers D D,-constructed and operating together substantially in the manner as above shown and specified. I r p WARREN PORTLOCK,

JOHN H. SMITH. Witnesses:

E. Knnrcmunn, Gnonen ZIER.