Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 25th Oct., 1887
I GEORGE HENRY BOULTON of the City of Toronto in the County of York and
province of Ontario Dominion of Canada Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates first to the construction of certain members of an iron fence
whereby it can be put together or set up in a much less time than iron fences as now
constructed.
My invention relates to certain improvements in the brackets or supporting
ornaments of iron fences whereby they may be more easily adapted to inclined grades,
also in the elanıp or clip connecting the ornament frames and securing their sides bare
to the rail whereby they are more strongly fastened together, and are also adapted to
inclined grades equally well with the supporting ornament of the picket.
My invention relates further to a picket having a separable head and a peculiar
fastening by which the head is secured to the end of the rod and the ornament of the
picket at the same time these fastenings enabling the builder to keep the angles of
the picket heads in line.
My invention further relates to a picket having an ornament cast with an inner
angle on its loop, end and a corresponding notch made in the rod into which the loop
bar is fitted, so as to hold the rod from longitudinal displacement either by gravity or
otherwise.
My invention further relates to the line post in the fence which is constructed in
such manner as to form a short section of the fence the pickets of said post being
placed in line with the rail pickets while the base of the post has its greatest width
transversely to the line of the fence.
My invention further relates to the construction of the bases of the posts whereby
they are more easily adjusted to a level in the bottom of the posthole and stand more
firmly therein when planted.
My invention relates further to the manner of securing the upper section of the line

page_text: or connecting post to its base whereby it may be readily adjusted upon the latter after
it is set in bringing it into line with the other parts of the fence.
My invention relates further to the manner of securing the bands or girdles in place
upon the upright bars or pickets of the post.
My invention relates to certain improvements in the brackets or supporting ornaments
of iron fences also in the clamp or clip connecting the bottom of the ornament frames
and securing their side base to the rail whereby they are more strongly fastened
together and are also adapted to inclined grades.
My invention further relates to the line post in the fence which is constructed in
such manner as to form a section of said fence.
In iron fences having wrought rods with malleable ornaments as heretofore
constructed the clamps connecting the pickets to each other are slipped on over the
end of the rail the picket being first placed in position. This process of setting
up fences is necessarily slow and tedious after the parts are set up and connected
in adjusting them to line if by accident any portion is broken or a defective part is
to be replaced the picket clamps or clips connecting them must be all slipped off
over the rail again in order to get to the defective piece to remove it so that a
great amount of work must be done to get the fence completed.
In my mode of construction the picket clamp both it and the pickets which it
connects are all put on and fastened in their place without the necessity of slipping
any part over the end of the rail all of them being placed upon the rail and secured
from the front side of the same the picket or clamp or clip requiring but a slight
movement (in line with the rail) to fasten them securely together. Both the pickets
and clamps are constructed with a single supporting book having an angle at the
bearing point which rests upon the rail this point being central in the piece so that
they can be readily inclined to either side in running the fence upon a sloping or
inclined grade.
Three sheets of drawings are herewith annexed.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of piece of the top rail and pickets of my improved
fence with a part of the line post to which it is connected. Fig. 2 is a front elevation
of one of the upper ornaments shewing its separable picket head detached. Fig. 3
is a view from the underside of the rail and ornaments connected therewith seen in
Fig. 1 the post har being removed from its clamp. Fig. 4 is also an underview of the
ornament shewn in Fig. 2. The spear heads are not shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 5
is a top view of the clamp which connects the ornaments. Fig. 6 is a front and
Fig. 7 a side view of the same. Fig. 8 is a view from the underside of the base
of the spear head to shew the manner in which it is connected with the rod and
ornament. Fig. 9 is an edge view of one of the pickets shewn in Fig. 1 with a cross
section of the rail. The head is detached. The means for supporting the ornament
upon the rod is also shewn. Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. 9 with the point of support
removed and with the spear head shewn in vertical section. Fig. 11 shows a vertical
transverse section of the ornament and the means of its support upon the rod the
head being removed. Fig. 12 shows a cross section of the rail and a side view of
the connecting clamp attached. Fig. 13 is a front view of two of the pickets seen
in Fig. 1 with heads removed set upon a piece of inclined rail. A detached clamp
or clip is also shewn hung upon the rail near one of the ornaments to shew the manner
of connecting the latter. Fig. 14 is a side view of the line post. Fig. 15 is a front
view of the same. Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of one of the post pickets in cross
section and the pin or key securing it in the girdle. Detached views in cross section
and elevation of the key are also seen in this figure. Fig. 17 is a side elevation of
a buckle clamp which connects the brace with the middle picket of the post enlarged.
Fig. 18 is a top view of the same enlarged. Fig. 19 is a top view of the two sections
of the foot clamp of the line post seen in Figs. 14 and 15 enlarged. Fig. 20 is a
side view of the same bolted together. Fig. 21 is a top view of the base of the line
post.
In Fig. 1 a represents a square upright rod or bar of a post to which the rail, B,
is connected at the end by the buckle clamp c.

page_text: A', A, are the pickets attached to the rail by hooks on the rear of the ornaments.
These hang over the upturned flange of the rail. The side bars a¹ of the ornaments
are connected by an interposed clamp or clip which also has a hook on the rear side
at the top end that hangs over the top flange of the rail B. In setting up the fence
after the rail is connected with the post and before tightening the buckle clamp c, by
by which this connection is made the bar a' of the ornament on the first picket
placed is slipped under the hook of the plate k of the clamp (which latter will be
hereinafter more fully described) by which it is held. The clamp is then tightened
upon the picket and rail connecting both to the post bar. The same operation applies
when two or more rails are used the bolt and nut i extending from the front to rear
through the buckle-clamp being used to secure the parts together. A clamp for this
purpose is in use although the one herein shewn is new. After the first picket is
secured on the side next the post the connecting clamp b is then hooked on, as seen on
the right end of the rail in Figs. 1. 2 and 3 and slipped up towards the bar a¹ of the
ornament until the end of the lower and longer luge is behind the bar a¹ which holds
the clamp level preventing its opposite side from springing inward toward the rail as
is the case with the clamps or clips heretofore used which require a cold chisel
to be used to raise the disconnected side lugs enough to let the bar of the next
picket ornament pass under it. The next or second picket is now hooked onto
the rail flange, and its bar a¹ pushed over the end of lug e and under lug d on
the opposite side-The parallelism of the side bars of both ornaments and clamp
is by this means preserved until the whole are pushed together when it will be
seen by reference to the figure that the lugs and e straddle the bar a¹ of the
ornament and as the lugs incline outward from each other or from the same
vertical line the bar a¹ is tightened as it reaches the side bar of the clamp thus
firmly securing the several members together.
The side bars of the ornament and the clamp being vertical and parallel they
are specially adapted to being inclined as seen in Fig. 13. I desire that this feature
of my invention be distinctly understood as the merits of the improvement in practice
as compared to the picket and clip connections are plainly distinguishable. Instead
of the distortion and irregularity from the necessary displacement of the lines of
ornamentation in the fences heretofore made when run upon an inclined grade in my
improvement the regularity and parallelism of these lines are preserved irrespective
of the inclination of the rail in either direction. As the hook on both the picket and
clamp is made with an angle bearing upon the top of the rail it allows of their lower
ends being swung either to the right or left in placing then to suit the inclination
given to the rail. It will be readily seen that neither a picket nor a clamp can be
adapted to an inclined rail if it has both an upper and an under bearing hook or lug
as any inclination of either piece will be arrested by the locking of the bearing
upon the rail. I therefore desire that the feature of the single angular bearing of
both picket and clamp on the top of the rail be understood as a distinctive element of
my invention. The upper lugs d as well as the lower ones e, are inclined downward
toward toward either side so as to preserve uniformity in the relation of the parts.
To strengthen the lower portion of the limbs e unite in angle opposite the top bearing C.
A sufficient space is left between them to allow the piece to be set to any required
angle on the rail face.
The buckle clamp e Figs. 1 and 3 consists primarily of two pieces and k¹. The
plate on the front has a slot : in its post and through which a curved hook, h, cast
on the rear plate k extends in the form of a fixed buckle tongue. By this means the
two pieces are connected on the inside of the post bar A the rear plate k, is hollowed
out to fit the rail end.
The post ends of the clamp are hooked together before connecting its opposite end
with the rail and picket thus obviating the necessity of a second bolt. The plate has
a hook d', on its rail end which catches firnily over a raised flange on the frame bar a'
of the ornament and holds it securely against the face of the rail. The ornament
is made in two parts as seen in Figs. 2. 4. 8. 9. 10. 11 and 13.
In order to strengthen the connection of the ornament with its spear head D the
:

page_text: rod or bar extends far enough above the ornament to give it a firm hold in the
hole S in the head to prevent the latter from turning a tang on the top and front.
side of the ornament extends into a seat, S¹, cast in one side of the hole S. This also
enables the workman when setting up the fence to get the angles of the spear heads
or other top ornaments in line when the head is driven on it is firmly fastened. The
ornaments are made with angles and on one or more of the bars of the
ornament which are in contact with the rod. By preference these angles are made on
the loop end as seen in Fig. 9 though they may be made on one of the other bars
crossing the rod as seen in Fig. 11 a notch M is made in the picket rod (by preference
on the rear side) and the angle of the bar of the ornament rests in this notch. In
Fig. 1 the loop is seen resting upon alternate sides to show that it may not be confined
in its application to one side only. This mode of fastening obviates the necessity of
any other fastening to secure the ornament and rod together.
The angular bars can be set into the notches so as to prevent any danger of
longitudinal displacement.
Much trouble has been experienced in setting the base of a post in which the bottom
plate is in horizontal line as any irregularity or variation from a level in the bottom
of the post hole prevented the proper adjustment of the post to a perpendicular without
the removal of more or less dirt therefrom. To avoid this I construct the bottom
plate of my post base P (see Figs. 14 and 15) with a raised angle p in the middle
and a corresponding hollow or depression on the underside so as to leave an open
space under that part, into which any loose dirt may be shifted in adjusting the post
to its proper position when the hole is filled around and over this bottom plate it
secures it firmly in its place. The two upright standards of the base are not unlike
those now in use diverging downward and connected by the bottom plate as shown.
In securing the bottom ends of the line post seen in Figs. 14 and 15. to its base the
base clamp H Figs. 19 and 20 is used. This consists of the two flanged sections shown
each the counterpart of the other. They have three square sockets t, t, t, in them.
These sockets do not extend through them downward further than the lower flange.
In these are set the three upright bars,,, Fig. 15. and the plates are then clamped
together the bolts pressing transaersely through them. The base is then attached and
secured by the bolts 5.5 which are inserted through the oblong holes S" (see Fig. 14)
and the holes of similar shape in the top of the base p.
It will be seen that the object of making the holes S oblong is to provide for lateral
adjustment so that the line post may be brought into line with the rest of the fence.
The constructing of the parts H and with oblong holes extending across the fence
or transversely to the picket lines provides for all the adjustment required.
The clamp H is divided vertically and longitudinally, so that one half of the sockets t
and one half of the oblong holes S are in each piece as will be seen by reference to
the enlarged view Fig. 19. The pickets in the line post are set to correspond with the
fence pickets on the rail all being in line therewith. By this arrangement there is a
saving of rail pickets as will be noticed of at least one sixth in the length of a panel.
A buckle clamp G (seen in figures 14 and 15 and in the enlarged views 17 and 18)
is used to connect the top end of a side brace 7 with the middle picket of the line post
the brace y extending from the rear angle of the top plate f of the base P.
is made adjustable by the clamping nuts 6 and 7. The buckle clamp G is like the
one (c) seen in Figs. 1 and 2 with respect to its self connecting end formed by the
tongue H hooking into the loop r the rear end however differs in having grooves cast
diagonally in it and a countersink for the end of the brace q these grooves forming
the hole J when the two sections 1 and 2 are bolted together see Fig. 18). A bolt 4
is used to fasten the sections of the clamp together.
Where it
The girdles of the line post are secured in their places by a key which is driven
at the angle of the hole formed for the picket this key is of novel shape being made
round and slightly tapering with a V shaped groove cut from end to end on one side.
By reference to Fig. 16 it will be seen that the groove 3 straddles the picket angle so
that when the key is driven as seen in Fig. 16 it forces the two forward sides against
the girdle frame and securely fastens it.

page_text: I am aware that keys have been used to fasten bands and girdles upon pickets but
these have been always driven on one side of the picket instead of at the angle and in
many cases the girdle is broken out and spoiled thereby, whereas in my mode of
keying the pieces by driving it at the angle and in having the key formed with a
groove in it to straddle the angle of the picket bar this danger is obviated.
The key pl may be round or otherwise shaped. By preference I use a round key
grooved as shewn in the detached views Fig. 16 the key is shewn in cross section and
elevation the latter shewing the groove in dotted line.
I claim as my Invention
1 A clamp for connecting the rail picket and post together in two vertically
divisible sections with self connecting devices at one end and a hook on the front
section at the other end for catching over the side bar of the ornament of the picket
whereby the latter is held in connection with the rail to the post when bolted together
as specified.
2 In a fence picket constructed with a wrought iron rod and malleable ornaments
thereon as shown an ornament having a separable spear head with a hole in the base
end for the picket rod and having a key seat or groove cast in one side of said hole
for the insertion of a tang formed upon the top of the ornament and extending above
the latter whereby the head is firmly fastened upon the picket and prevented from
turning as set forth.
3 In iron fences having wrought rods and malleable ornaments a clamp for
connecting the rail and end picket with the post in two sections having self connecting
devices at the post end and a hook at the opposite or rail end cast upon the front
plate for connecting with the ornament of the picket whereby said ornament is
clamped to the rail prevented from the lateral displacement and at the same time
allowed sufficient movement to incline the picket when adjusting it to the grade.
4 The buckle clamp c having its sections and self connecting at the post and
by means of the loop, 2, and hook h, and having an inwardly bent hook d' on the rail
end of the plate for catching over the bar, a, of ornament a securing it to the rail
and preventing the picket from lateral displacement or the rail from being withdrawn
from its fastenings as shown and described.
5 A clamp for connecting the ornaments of an iron fence having a bearing hook
provided with an angle on the underside of the same where it rests upon the rail having
parallel sides and lateral lugs extending from either side of its frame bars the upper
arms or lugs extending from, the front and the lower and larger lugs extending from
the rear side of said frame bars and diverging from their point of union with the body
of the clamp to their ends so as to straddle the side bar of the ornament frames and
hold it tightly when connected together as shewn and specified.
6 In iron fences constructed with wrought rods and malleable ornaments a bracket
or supporting ornament for the picket having its bearing hook formed with an angle
on the under side of the same when it rests upon the rail to allow the lower end of the
picket to be swung to the right or left to suit the inclination of the rails substantially
as bereinbefore specified.
7 In iron fences constructed with wrought rods and malleable ornaments having a
single bearing hook vertically central therewith extending rearward from the top end
and having an angle on its under side for a bearing upon the top of the rail to allow
it to be placed in its position in front of the rail and to adapt in connection with the
pickets to be inclined either to the right or left to suit the rail when the latter is
inclined substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
A clamp or clip for connecting the pickets of iron fences having a hook extending
from the rear side at the top end vertically central with the body thereof said hook
being formed with an angle on its underside as described and having lateral extending
lines or lugs from either side for clamping the picket ornament on both its front and
rear sides whereby it may be more securely fastened and greater strength given to the
connections and allowed to be inclined in either direction to suit any inclination rail
substantially as shewn and specified.

page_text: The clamp or clip & having parallel sides and hooks i with an angle c on its under
side the lateral limbs d, extending from its front sides near the middle line thereof and
the lateral limbs e, extending from its rear sides at the lower end and connected
centrally forming the angle said limbs e being extended beyond the limbs d, for
catching under the side bar of the ornament frame in guiding the latter into its place
between the lugs d and e and to prevent the clamp from tilting during the operation
of connecting the pickets therewith as heroinbefore set forth.
10 A clamp or clip for connecting the ornaments of pickets in iron fences with the
rail having a single bearing hook and having front and rear lugs extending from its
side bars and diverging laterally from each other each pair of lugs connected across
the body of the clamp for the purpose of strengthening the same and with reference to
the front upper limbs of connecting the lines of ornamentation at the middle of the
ornament and clamp.
11 A foot plate for line posts divided vertically and longitudinally in the centre
and having the sockets t, t, for inserting the pickets therein and the oblong transverse
holes S for adjusting the post upon its base P, when attaching it thereto substantially
as shewn and specified.
12 A buckle clamp G for connecting the top end of the brace to the post in an iron
fence, having self connecting devices and h at one end and an inclined hole J
formed by a groove cast in the inside surface of each section at the opposite end for
securing the upper end of the brace rod and connecting the same with the post bar
when clamped in place and secured by the bolt 4 as shewn and specified.
1
T
E
لبعد
1
T
A n 1007
GEORGE HENRY BOULTON.
Signed in the presence of ERNEST LANGTRY.