US759608A - Clamp for holding plate-glass. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAY 10, 1904.

S. W. HARPER.

CLAMP FOR HOLDING PLATE GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT UEEmE.

CLAMP FOR HOLDING PLATE-GLASS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. '759,608, dated May 10, 1904.

Application filed September 28,1908- Serial No. 174,910. (No model.)

To all w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL HARPER, a citizen of the United States of America, resid ing at Carnegie, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps for Holding Plate-Glass, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in clamps for holding plate-glass, and it relates more particularly to that form of clamp which is employed for the joints between plate-glass of show-win (lows, show-cases, and the like; and the primary object of the present invention is to provide means for the secure clamping and holding of the plates, while at the same time permitting the movement of the plates in the clamp to such an extent as to prevent the breaking of the plates in event of any undue strain being brought to bear on said plates.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a main clamp embodying two arms integral with each other and extending at substantially right angles to each other and each of which arms are recessed on their inner faces and receive in said recessed faces a movable slide which engages with the glass to hold the latter firmly under normal conditions,

but which permits the glass to move under abnormal condition. A connecting-bolt is affixed at its one end to the main clamp and at its other end receives the inside clamp or fastener adapted to engage the inner faces of the glass plates and which is held firmly thereagainst by a nut threaded onto the shank of the connecting-bolt or by other approved securing means.

The construction and details entering into my invention will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out inthe claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of the outside main clamp or fastener, the movable slides, and the securing means therefor, the parts being shown disassembled. Fig. 2 is a detached detail perspective view of the connecting-bolt and the inside fastener or clamp. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the outside fastener or main clamp, showing in dotted lines the manner in which the movable slide may move on its pivot or fulcrum. Fig. i is a horizontal sectional view of the outside fastener or main clamp and themovable slide locked in position, one arm of the clamp being broken away. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of two glass plates, showing my improved fastener in position thereon in plan view. Fig. 6 is a disassembled plan View of the parts, 5 showing a modified form of construction. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a part of the outside fastener or main clamp.

My improved clamp involves a main memher or outside fastening comprising a body portion 1, with two right-angular-extending arms 2 to embrace glass plates 3, placed at right angles to each other, as seen in Fig. 5. Although I have herein shown a form of c011- struction in which the two arms are at direct right angles to each other to conform -to glass plates so placed, yet I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to this particnlar shape or construction, as it will be evident that these arms may have any desired angle as may be desired or required, according to the position in which they are to be used. These arms are provided on their inner faces with recesses or pockets 4, extending for the major portion of the length of the arms,-but closed at the ends, and each arm is provided with openings 5 6, preferably threaded, to receive securing-screws for a purpose as will more presently appear. In 9 connection with this main member or outside fastening I employ on each arm 2 a movable slide 7, provided with a longitudinal slot 8, and on its face which engages the glass pro vided near one end with a projection 10, adapted to seat in a recess provided therefor in the glass plate, as seen in Fig. 5. The outer face (or face adjacent the glass plate) is also beveled or countersunk around the slot 8, as shown at 9, thereby to receive the head I00 of the screw 11, which passes through the slot8 and engages in opening 5. In case I desire to lock the movable slide or slide member 7 rigid with the arm 2 I push the slide or slide member back against the stop or shoulder 12 of the body portion 1 and employ an additional screw 14 to lock the slide or slide member rigid with the arm, as seen in Fig. 4c of the drawings. However, it is frequently desirable to provide for a slight movement of the glass in order to prevent the breaking of the same, and especially is this true in connection with the windows of buildings, such as show-windows, and more particularly windows in newly-erected buildings, where, owing to the settling of the building, it is a frequent occurrence for the plate-glass to be cracked by the pressure brought thereagainst by the settling of the building. It is for this purpose that I provide the movable slide members 7, which are fixed to the glass plate only by their projection 10, and conse quently the plate 3 may move vertically in either direction, the screw 11 actingas a fulcrum for the movable slide member, the latter, however, still retaining its grip on the glass plate. The extent of this swinging movement that may be imparted to the movable slide member is fully illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, wherein the movable slide member is shown in the dotted position at right angles to the arm 2. It isfor the purpose of decreasing the friction between the movable slide member 7 and the arm 2 that 1 recess the latter, as it will be observed that the only point of friction between these two members is the small surface on the one face of the arms 2 and a corresponding width of surface on the engaging face of the movable slide member. The main member or outside fastener is bound to the glass plates 3 by an inside fastener embodying a body portion 15 and two angularly-disposed arms 16, the angle of which arms with respect to the body portion depends on the angle at which the glass plates are set that are to be held. The body 15 has an opening therethrough to receive the shank 17 of the connecting-bolt 18, the latter being provided with an oblong head 19 to be, received in the groove 20, provided therefor in the body 1 of the main member or outside fastener. This bolt, as in the usual practice, is flattened adjacent the head, whereby to occupy but comparatively small space, being of a width, however, to retain the required strength. The shank 17 is threaded to receive the securing-nut 21, that holds the inside fastener in firm engagement with the glass plates 3.

I prefer to construct the oblong head 19 with an expanded head 19, which seats in a countersink 20 in the body 1, and I also provide a countersink 20 at the lower end of groove 20, and after member 19 is slipped into groove 20 extending end 19 of member 19 is then riveted in countersink 20, so as to securely fasten the connecting-bolt to the outside fastener in such a manner as to permit lateral movement of the bolt, but prevent vertical movement thereof, and thereby prevent the disconnection of the inside and outside fasteners in event of vertical movement of the plate-glass occurring. \Vhile I prefer to rivet the connection as above described, it will be evident that a nut could be placed on end 19, which would fasten the connecting-bolt to the body, and thus prevent vertical movement of the members independently.

In Fig. 6 I show a slightly-modified form of construction, in which the connecting-bolt 18 is formed integral with the body 1 of the main member or outside fastener, the body 15 of the inside fastener having its arm 16 provided with projections 17 to be seated in the inner face of the glass plates 3. The nut 21 holds the inside fastener in this form up against the glass plates in the same manner as in the prior-describedconstruction. \Vhile shown integral, yet it will be observed that .by riveting the end of the bolt to the body, as

in the construction shown in Fig. 1, the lateral movementof the bolt will be attained, but same will be held against vertical movement as securely as though formed integral. This form of fastener holds the plates rigid, and plates 1 may be secured to the inner faces of the arm 2, or the inner faces of the arms may engage direct with the plate-glass, and said inner faces or the slides 4, if the latter be employed, may or may not be provided with projections 10 to engage in the outer face of the glass plates 8. Generally, however, I will employ these projections on the main member or outside fastener and also on the inside fastener in this form of construction, though the projections may be omitted on the inside fastener.

I desire to call particular attention to the construction embodying the movable member or slide, wherein by the hollowing out or recessing of the arms 2 the friction between these arms and the movable member or slide is reduced to a minimum, so that in case any undue strain is brought to bear on the glass the latter. will be permitted to move sufficiently .to be relieved from such strain, and thereby prevented from breaking under the strain. Then, as in the case recited relative to new buildings settling, it will be observed that after the building has settled the movable member or slide being adjustable it may be moved back on the arm 2 and permanently fastened, as seen in Fig. 4:.

WVhile I have herein shown and described a practical embodiment of my invention as it has been practiced by me, yet it will be evident that in construction various changes may be made in minor parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A clamp for plate-glass, comprising an outside fastener having singularly-disposed arms, movable slide members connected to said arms, and means for rigidly securing the slide members to the arms, in combination with an inside fastener, and means for connecting the inside fastener to the outside fastener.

2. In a clamp for plate-glass, a fastener embodying arms disposed at an angle to each other, slide members adapted to engage the plate -glass and movably connected to said arms, and meansfor securing the slide members rigid with the arms.

3. A clamp for plate-glass, comprising a main member or outside fastener having angularly-disposed arms, recessed on their inner faces, movable slide members pivoted to the recessed faces and engaging only the unrecessed portions of the recessed faces, said slide members extending beyond the outer ends of the arms, and studs carried by said slide members, an inside clamp member or fastener, and means for connecting the outside fastener to the inside fastener.

4. A clamp for plateglass, comprising a main member having singularly-disposed arms provided with recesses on their inner faces, slide members secured to the recessed faces of said arms and in frictional engagement with the unrecessed portions only of said recessed faces, studs carried by said slide members near their outer ends, an inside fastener, and means for connecting the inside fastener to the main member.

5. A clamp for plate-glass comprising an outside fastener having angularly-disposed arms recessed on their inner faces, slide members secured to the arms and having frictional contact only with the portions of the inner faces of the arms surrounding the recesses, studs carried by said slide members to engage the plate-glass, means for locking the slide members rigid with the arms, an inside fastener, and means for connecting the inside fastener and the outside fastener together.

6. A clamp for plate-glass comprising an outside fastener having angularly-disposed arms, slide members adapted to engage the glass and movably connected to the arms, means for securing the slide members rigid with the arms, an inside fastener, and a conmeeting-bolt securing the two fasteners, and movable laterally independently of the outside fastener but held against vertical movement independent of said fastener.

7. A clamp for plate-glass comprising an outside fastener having angularly-disposed arms provided with recessed inner faces, slot ted slide members secured to the recessed faces of said arms and frictionally engaging only the portions of the faces surrounding the recesses, said slide members adapted to engage With the plate-glass, an inside fastener, and means for connecting the inside fastener to the outside fastener.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL W. HARPER.

Witnesses:

H. (J. EVERT, A. M. WILsoN.

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