Improvements in or relating to Expanded Metal Structures.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Expanded Metal Structures.
I, SYDNEY ELLIOTT PAGE, of 28, New Bridge Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has been
communicated to me from abroad by the International Metal Lath Company, of
82, Cotton Exchange Building, New York, in the United States of America.
This invention relates to so-called expanded metal structures, by which is
meant sheet metal that has been slitted or cut and then stretched in such a
manner as to expand and open the cuts or slits, so as to form an open work
structure suitable not only for mortar-holding laths, but also for gratings,
screens, and a variety of uses.
In this class of structures some difficulty has been encountered in evenly and
regularly expanding the slitted sheets, and in some cases the metal has been vorn
in the process of opening and stretching it, so that it has been necessary either
to take inconvenient and expensive precautions in the stretching or expanding
process, or to limit the stretching or expansion to a comparatively small degree.
The object of the present invention is to so improve these structures that they
may combine great strength and regularity of design with a large degree of
expansion of the metal and consequent economy of material in a structure that
can be manufactured in a simple, reliable, cheap and perfectly certain manner.
For the purposes of definition and clearness of description "slats" will be used
to mean the relatively long and narrow strips formed by and between two
neighboring slits, and ribs will be used to mean the relatively long and
narrow portions of material left between neighboring series of slats.
drawings the slats are markeds and the ribs r.
"
In the
The present invention consists in part in a peculiar arrangement of the ribs
by which they may be made to lie nearly at right angles to or greatly inclined to
the general plane of the structure. A part of the invention lies in a peculiar
alternating arrangement of the slats at their juncture with the ribs. Another
part of the invention lies in the flattening of portions of the slats, so that they
lie in a plane parallel with the general plane of the whole structure.
The several features will be now fully explained and illustrated by the draw-
ings, wherein
Figure 1 is a portion of a sheet cut or slitted to form one form of the new
structure.
Figure 2 is a face elevation of a portion of one form of the finish structure
produced from such a sheet.
Figure 3 is a cross section of Figure 2 on the plane 3-3.
Figure 4 shows a portion of a sheet slightly different from Figure 1
Figure 5 shows a modification of the expanded metal structure produced from
the sheet shown in Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a cross-section of the same on plane 6—6.

page_text: Figure 7 shows one form of flattened structure wherein the slats lie parallel
with the face or general plane of the structure.
Figures 8, 9, and 10, are cross-sections on the planes 8-8. 9-9, and 10-10,
of Figure 7.
Figure 11 shows another form of flattened structure, and
Figure 12 a cross-section of the same on the plane 12-12 of Figure 11.
In Figure 1 the slits between neighboring slats s are preferably parallel, but
on opposite sides of each rib r they incline oppositely to the rib. Furthermore,
ends of the slits instead of being symmetrically placed on two sides of each rib r
are alternately placed, so that the end of a slit on one side is not opposite, but
directly between two of the slit-ends on the other side of the rib, as is shown by
the short dotted line on one of the ribs in Figure 1.
be held
From the sheet shown in Figure 1, at least two forms of slatted or expanded
structures may be produced, as shown respectively in Figures 2 and 3, and in
Figures 5 and 6. The form shown in Figures 2 and 3 may be expanded in
several ways. For instance, if the rib r at the left hand of Figure
immovable and the next rib r be raised upwards and forwards, the series of
slats s between these two ribs will be opened just as seen at the left-hand of
Figures 2 and 3 (excepting that Figure 1 would have to be inverted to correspond
exactly with Figure 2). Similarly, the third rib in Figure 1 may be forced
In the structure
upwards opening and expanding the second series of slats s.
so produced, and as shown in Figures 2 and 3. the slats are all turned on edge,
and so are the ribs r. This forms a very stiff, strong structure. The alterna-
tion of the slats and slits at the two sides of each rib add to the stiffness, because
the shortest distance from the end of one slit across the rib to another slit is
As it is along
considerably longer than if the slits were opposite each other.
such a line that the metal tends to tear or crack if too greatly strained, a
naximum of strength for a given width of rib is obtained. The same relation
obtains in Figures 5 and 6, but the ribs r, instead of being turned, as in Figures 2
and 3, are grooved and the slats s are therefore arranged somewhat differently,
as clearly shown. No novelty is claimed for the grooving of the ribs, the impor-
tant novel feature being the alternate arrangement of the slats on the two sides
of each rib.
Figure 4 differs from Fig. 1 in the fact that the slits of all the slatted portions
slant in the same direction. This will result in structures that differ only
slightly in appearance from Figures 2 and 3, in the one particular that all the
succeeding sections and slats are exactly alike when the structure is expanded.
instead of alternate sections being different as in Figures 2 and 3. If grooved
and expanded somewhat like Figures 5 and 6, the difference is immaterial, but
may be readily seen and examined by cutting two sheets of paper in the manners
shown in Figures 1 and 4 respectively, and grooving and expanding them.
Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 show the same structure as Figures 5 and 6, excepting
that the slats are flattened or turned over, so as to lie parallel with the face er
general plane of the structure. As each slat starts from its rib, it first turns and
lies on edge, as seen on the section line 10-10, and then turns entirely so as to
lie parallel with the face of the structure. Figures 11 and 12 show the same flat-
tening produced by turning or twisting each slat in a reverse manner to that of
Figures 7 to 10. Thus in Figure 11 the observer sees the same face of the metal
turned towards him in the slats and in the ribs, whereas, in Figure 7, the other
side of the slats is turned towards him. Figures 7 to 12 show the structures
produced from such a sheet as Figure 1, but the sheet shown in Figure 4 may, of
course, be treated in the same way. Such flattened structures afford a parti-
cularly strong grip or hold for cement or plaster when used for lathing in
walls, etc.
It has not been thought necessary to show all the variations of structure that
may be produced in which the several parts of the invention may he variously

page_text: The marked advantages of this invention, both in the strength and in the
simplicity and regularity of the structure will need no further explanation.
Dated this 16th dor of December 1899
SYDNEY ELLIOTT PAGE.
28, New Bridge Street, London.
Improvements in or relating to Expanded Metal Structures.
I, SYDNEY ELLIOTT PAGE, of 28, New Bridge Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by the International Metal Lath Company, of
82, Cotton Exchange Building, New York, in the United States of America,) and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to so-called expanded metal structures, by which is
meant sheet metal that has been slitted or cut and then stretched in such a
manner as to expand and open the cuts or slits, so as to form an open work
structure suitable not only for mortar-holding laths, but also for gratings,
screens, and a variety of uses.
In this class of structures some difficulty has been encountered in evenly and
regularly expanding the slitted sheets, and in some cases the metal has been torn
in the process of opening and stretching it, so that it has been necessary either
to take inconvenient and expensive precautions in the stretching or expanding
process, or to limit the stretching or expansion to a comparatively small degree.
The object of the present invention is to so improve these structures that they
may combine great strength and regularity of design with a large degree of
expansion of the metal and consequent economy of material in a structure that
can be manufactured in a simple, reliable, cheap and perfectly certain manner.
For the purposes of definition and clearness of description "slats" will be used
to mean the relatively long and narrow strips formed by and between two
neighboring slits. and "ribs" will be used to mean the relatively long and
In the
narrow portions of material left between neighboring series of slats.
drawings the slats are markeds and the ribs r.
The present invention consists in part in a peculiar arrangement of the ribs
by which they may be made to lie nearly at right angles to or greatly inclined to
the general plane of the structure. A part of the invention lies in a peculiar
alternating arrangement of the slats at their juncture with the ribs.
Another
part of the invention lies in the flattening of portions of the slats, so that they
lie in a plane parallel with the general plane of the whole structure.
The several features will now be fully explained: they are illustrated on the
drawings left with the Provisional Specification. wherein:-
Fig. 1 is a portion of a sheet cut or slitted to form one form of the new
structure.
Fig. 2 is a face elevation of a portion of one form of the finished structure
produced from such a sheet.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of Fig. 2 on the plane 3—3.
Fig. 4 shows a portion of a sheet slightly different from Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 shows a modification of the expanded metal structure produced from
the sheet shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the same on plane 6--6.

page_text: Fig. 7 shows one form of flattened structure wherein the slats lie parallel
with the face or general plane of the structure.
Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are cross-sections on the planes 8-8, 9-9, and 10-10,
of Fig. 7.
Fig. 11 shows another form of flattened structure, and
Fig. 12 a cross-section of the same on the plane 12-12 of Fig. 11.
In Fig. 1 the slits between neighboring slats s are preferably parallel, but
on opposite sides of each rib r they incline oppositely to the rib. Furthermore,
ends of the slits instead of being symmetrically placed on two sides of each rib r
are alternately placed, so that the end of a slit on one side is not opposite, but
directly between two of the slit-ends on the other side of the rib, as is shown by
the short dotted line on one of the ribs in Fig. 1.
From the sheet shown in Fig. 1, at least two forms of slatted or expanded
structures may be produced, as shown respectively in Figs. 2 and 3, and in
Figs. 5 and 6. The form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 may be expanded in
several ways. For instance, if the rib r at the left hand of Fig. 1 be held
immovable and the next rib r be raised upwards and forwards, the series of
slats between these two ribs will be opened just as seen at the left-hand of
Figs. 2 and 3 (excepting that Fig. 1 would have to be inverted to correspond
exactly with Fig. 2). Similarly, the third rib in Fig. 1 may be forced
In the structure
upwards opening and expanding the second series of slats s.
so produced, and as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the slats are all turned on edge,
and so are the ribs r. This forms a very stiff, strong structure. The alterua-
tion of the slats and slits at the two sides of each rib add to the stiffness, because
the shortest distance from the end of one slit across the rib to another slit is
considerably longer than if the slits were opposite each other. As it is along
such a line that the metal tends to tear or crack if too greatly strained, a
maximum of strength for a given width of rib is obtained. The same relation
obtains in Figs. 5 and 6, but the ribs r. instead of being turned, as in Figs. 2
and 3, are grooved and the slats s are therefore arranged somewhat differently,
as clearly shown. No novelty is claimed for the grooving of the ribs, the impor-
tant novel feature being the alternate arrangement of the slats on the two sides
of each rib.
Fig. 4 differs from Fig. 1 in the fact that the slits of all the slatted portions
slant in the same direction. This will result in structures that differ only
slightly in appearance from Figs. 2 and 3, in the one particular that all the
succeeding sections and slats are exactly alike when the structure is expanded.
instead of alternate sections being different as in Figures 2 and 3. If grooved
and expanded somewhat like Figs. 5 and 6, the difference is immaterial, but
may be readily seen and examined by cutting two sheets of paper in the manners
shown in Figs. 1 and 4 respectively, and grooving and expanding them.
Figs. 7. 8. 9, and 10 show the same structure as Figs. 5 and 6, excepting
that the slats s are flattened or turned over, so as to lie parallel with the face or
general plane of the structure. As each slat starts from its rib, it first turns and
lies on edge, as seen on the section line 10-10, and then turns entirely so as to
lie parallel with the face of the structure. Figs. 11 and 12 show the same flat-
tening produced by turning or twisting each slat in a reverse manner to that of
Figs. 7 to 10. Thus in Fig. 11 the observer sees the same face of the metal
turned towards him in the slats and in the ribs, whereas. in Fig. 7, the other
side of the slats is turned towards him. Figs. to 12 show the structures
produced from such a sheet as Fig. 1. but the sheet shown in Fig. 4 may, of
course. be treated in the same way. Such flattened structures afford a parti-
cularly strong grip or hold for cement or plaster when used for lathing in
walls, and the like purposes.
It has not been thought necessary to show all the variations of structure that
may be produced in which the several parts of the invention may be variously
associated.

page_text: The marked advantages of this invention, both in the strength and in the
simplicity and regularity of the structure will need no further explanation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An expanded metal structure of the type having ribs with slats extending
across between the ribs, and characterised by the ribs lying on edge in a plane
greatly inclined to the plane of the whole structure and the slats extending at
approximately right angles to the length of the ribs, substantially as described.
2. An expanded metal structure of the type having ribs with slats extending
across between the ribs, and characterised by the slats joining the respective
ribs alternately on the two sides of the rib. substantially as described.
3. An expanded metal structure of the type having ribs with slats extending
across between the ribs, and characterised by the slats being flattened or turned
so as to lie parallel to the general plane of the structure, substantially as
described.
4. An expanded metal structure of the type having ribs with slats extending
across between the ribs, and characterised by the general form of construction
shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
5. An expanded metal structure of the type having ribs with slats extending
across between the ribs, and characterised by the general form of construction
shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
6. An expanded metal structure of the type having ribs with slats extending
across between the ribs, and characterised by the general form of constructions
shown in Figs. 7. 8, 9, and 10.
7. An expanded metal structure of the type having ribs with slats extending
across between the ribs, and characterised by the general form of construction
shown in Figs. 11 and 12.
Dated this 15th day of Sentember 1900.
SYDNEY E. PAGE, A.M.I.C.E.,
28, New Bridge Street, London, EC