US779562A - Intrenching-tool. - Google Patents

Description

No. 779,562. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905. 0. M. RANSOM.

INTRBNGHING TOOL.

' APPLIOATIOH FILED JAN. 21, 1903.

WITNESSES INVENTUH lb. HTTUHNEY No. 779,562. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905.

G. M. R ANSD M.

INTRENGHING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1003.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

\MTNESSES INyENmH Mil-s: I /O HTTUHNEY No. 779,562. PATENTED JAN. 10, 1905. G. M. RANSOM.

INTRENUHING TOOL.

APPLIOATION rum) JAN. 21, 1903.

asuszTs-snzm av WITNESSES", f If INVENTEJFI if4 LE5 Inn/$0 HTTBHNE" Patented January 10, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

(.HARLES M. RANSOM, OF, BUFFALO. NEW YORK.

lNTRENCHlNG-TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 779,562, dated January 10, 1905.

Application filed January 21, 1903. Serial No. 139.908.

To all whom it may concern.

Be itknown that I. CHARLES M. Ransom. a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo. in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Intrcnching-Tools; and I do hereby declare the following to he a fulhclear, and exact description of the invention. such as willenahlc others skilled in them-t to which it appcrtains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in intrenching-tools for soldiers use. and more particularly to that class which are intended to he carried upon and employed with the gun of the soldier.

The object of my invention is to equip each soldier who carries a gun with a combinationtool adapted for various uses--such as throwing up intrenchments, removing or leveling obstacles, &c.-snch tool when id le to he removably seated in a recess in the butt of the gun and when in use to be adapted for operative engagement with the gun. which then serves as a handle.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction of the intrenching-tool.

To this end my invention consists. broadly. of an intrenching-tool carried upon and operated with a gun and specifically of certain details of construction, all of which will be fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings,Figurcl isaside view of the stock of a gun with my improved intrenchingtool seated therein. Fig. 2 isaside view of the stock with the intrenchingtool removed.

Fig. 3 is adetached detail of the holding- 5 spring. Fig. 4 is a view of the intrenchingtool detached, presenting the face opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view ofthcrmir end of the gun-stmzk. showing the socket or opening for the shank of the intrenching-tool closed by a plate. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the socket open and ready for thcinsertion of the shank of the int-ronchlng-tool. Fig. 8 is a perspectivc view of the socket member and buttplate detached from the gun-stock.

Fig. 9 is l a fragmentary view of the stock with the intrenching-tool in operative engagement therewith. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal enlarged section of Fig. 9, taken on the line .I' :r. Fig. 11 illustrates my improved intrenching-tool removably attached to the bayonet of a gun.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the preferred form of my im proved intrenching-tool, which is fully illustrated in Figs. 1. 4, and 5, has a substantially trowelshaped body 1 forefl'ective use in loosening and throwing up earth to form intrenchments. One side edge of the tool is formed with a row of teeth 2 to be utilized as a saw, the opposite edgeB being in the form of a blade for cutting purposes. The cutting edge 3 is extended rearwardly and curved back toward the median line to form the lateral hook 4 for engaging and pulling down overhead obstructions. A notch 5 is formed in the transverse edge wall of the hook 4 and preferably at the inner side of the book. which is intended for engagement with wire fences or the like obstructions to sever and remove the same.

6 is the rectangular shank of the tool for holding engagement with the stock or butt of the gun, by means of which the intrcnchingtool may be utilized. the gun serving as a handle. Across one side of the shank 6 (see Fig. 1) is the transverse shoulder 7 for engagement with the locking device in the stock or butt of the gun. The socket 8 (see Fig. 5) in the shank 6 is for the reception of the bayonet 9. (see Fig. 11,) which may, if desired, serve as a handle in lieu of the gun. The socket is preferably formed by two grooved flanges, which tig tcnd laterally from the shank. as shown in mg. a.

10 is a recess (see Fig. 2) in one side of the stock or butt 11. corresponding in configuration with the intrcnching-tool and in which such tool is removably seated when notin use. The spring 12 (see Figs. and 3) is secured at one end of the floor of the recess ll), its other or free end being provided with the shoulder 13 for holding engagement with the intrvnching-tool. (See Fig. l.) The thumb-piece l-l opposite the shoulder 13 is manipulated in disl engaging the intrcnching-tnol.

When the intrenching-tool is placed in its recess 10, its outer point is lirst inserted in the groove in, formed in the side wall of said recess, (see Fig. [0,) which provides an overhanging llnngc that, together with the springcutch i2 13, serves to hold such tool securely against accidental displacement. 'l his groove 1 is preferably formed at the forward extremity of the recess so as to engage or receive the point of the tool, as shown, and the springtensioncd locking-catch near the opposlte end to catch over the edge of the hook t.

In the end of the stock or butt is cut a rectangulnr recess, into which is fitted and se- 2 cured a socket member and locking device for receiving and holdlng the inlrenchlng-tool n operative position. Said socket member IS in the form of a box. which is rigidly attached Figs. 6, 7 S, and 10 clearly illustrate its construction, of 5 which 15 isa metal butt-plate or end piece; screwed upon and covering the end of the i to the butt-plate of the gun.

gun-stock.

16 is a rectangular socket member or box, which is attached to and forms a part of the butt-plate l5 and rests within the recess in the stock. This socket 16 opens out through the butt-plate 15, as at 17. (See Fig. 7.) One of the side walls 18 of the socket 16 has the opening 19, and in the lugs 20 20, extending from the socket, is pivoted the locking-plate :21, adapted to close the opening 17 in the absence of the intrenching-tool and to he swung away from such opening to permit of the insertion of the shank 6 ot' the intrenching-tool.

On the inner face of the plate 21 is a rectangular lug 22, against one side of which the leaf-spring 23 has contact to hold the plate 21 in the plane of the end piece 15 to close the socket l6. (Shown in Figs. 6 and 8.)

When the plate 21 has been thrown into the position shown in Figs. t and 10, the shank 6 of the intrenching-tool is thrust within the socket 16 until the shoulder T has passed the farther edge of such plate, when the leafspring 23 will force the plate 1 against the shank and in locking engagement with the shoulder T. The play of the plate 21 under the pressure of the spring is permitted by reason of the slot 24, in which the carrying-trunnhm 2.3 of the plate 21 has play sutlicicnt for the purpose. A pin 26 on the plate 21 engages with a groove 27 (see Fig. 1H) when the plate swings outwardly to limit its outward movement.

In the manner hereinhet'orc described the intrenching-tool is held firmly in the stock or butt of the gun, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and can be easily removed when desired and l deposited in its cnrrying-recess in the sidcoi' the stock or butt.

My improved inlrcnching-tool, with the gun serving as the handle, is extremely useful in the hands of a soldier in throwing up intrenchmvnts and breastworks, in cutting, sawing. pulling down or aside any and all obstructions which impede his progress through forests underbrush, jungles, or barbed-wire troehas. It is also equally serviceable in the hands of a hunter in a variety of ways. When the stock of the gun is too long for effective service, the bayonet can be substituted therefore, and in the absence of the bayonet E a stout stick or bar can be inserted in the 7 socket in the shank to serve as an emergencyhundle to render the tool efl'cctive.

One of the advantages is that the shank of the intrenching-tool is exteriorly formed for l insertion into a socket and interiorly formed for the reception of a bayonet or the like, 1 thereby adapting the device for both interior 1 or exterior attachment.

i I claim-- 1. The combination with an intrenching tool having a shank provided with a shoulder, of a gun having. socket to receive said shank, and a pivoted spring-plate normally closing the socket and adapted to be pressed back by the entrance of the shank into the socket and to lock against the shoulder.

2. An intrenching-tool having a trowelshaped body provided with opposite cutting and sawing edges and it lateral hook.

3. The combination with the butt. of a gun g provided with a recess in its side, a socket in its end and a pivoted spring-pressed plate in i the outer end of the socket, of an intrenchiug-tool removably carried in the recess in the side of the butt and provided withashank for insertion within the socket in the butt, such shank having a shoulder for locking engagement with the pivoted spring-pressed plate.

4. An intrenching-tool having it hook and a wire-cutting notch at the inner side of said book.

5. An intrenching-tool having a trowelshnped hod ,v and a shank extending therefrom and having laterally extending grooved flanges constituting a socket.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

C. B. BUTLER, W. 'l. Mum-1n.

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