Improvements in Metal Laths.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1895-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
Improvements in Metal Laths.
J, DAWSON BROWN HILTON, of 480 Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn, in the State of
New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which
form a part of this Specification
This invention relates to a metal lath, so constructed that a given size of sheet
metal will produce a lath of increased area without distorting, expanding or thinning
out the metal. Thus the manufacture of the lath is greatly cheapened, while at the
same time, its weight is reduced, and its strength is not impaired.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1A, is a diagram, showing the lines of the cuts in the blank;
Fig. 1, a plan of my improved metal lath, before it is spread ;
Fig. 2, is a cross section on line 2, 2. of Fig. 3;
Fig. 3, is a plan, partly in section, of the completed lath;
Fig. 4, a perspective view of the same, looking at the bottom of Fig. 3; and
Fig. 5, is a plan of modification.
My improved metal lath, when completed, is composed of longitudinal sections
or strips, as provided, with laterally projecting lugs or tongues (a), the tongues
of adjoining strips breaking line (Fig. 3). These tongues a', of adjoining strips are
connected by the flanged, inclined sections or diagonal arms a², which have been
drawn from a straight, into their inclined position, by a lateral pull on the lath
body, to bend the flanges.
In this way, the width of the lath body is greater than the width of the work.
piece, and consequently a great saving of material is effected.
To produce my improved lath, I proceed as follows:
A blank or work piece A, (Fig. 1A) is provided with parallel rows of longitudinal
slits 6, the slits in one row, breaking line with those of the adjoining rows. The
sol d sections, or tongues a¹, remaining between the slits b, are severed at their
sides by the transverse cuts 62, which, however, do not extend to the longitudinal
slits of the next row. The punches that form the slits also upset the metal along
the longitudinal lines b', parallel to such slits, such an upsetting action being
rendered possible by the transverse slits. In this way, depending flanges a³, are
formed along the edges of longitudinal and unbroken strips a, that connect the
roots of the tongues a¹.
Depending flanges a³, are also formed along the edges of the arms a³, that
connect the tips of such tongues. The transverse slits 62, shall be of such length
as to cut through the first flange a', and also through the body of the arms a²,
but not through the second flange a', which is left intact. The work after leaving
the punches is in condition illustrated in Figs. 1, and 2, where the longitudinal
strips a, tongues a¹, arms a², and flanges a³, a', are clearly illustrated.
It will be noticed that by the process thus far described, the joint between the
arms a', and tongues a', has been considerably weakened, consisting only of one of
the flanges a, while the other flanges and the body of the arms are cut through. In
this condition the work piece is placed in a suitabie stretching machine, that
exerts a lateral pull on the same, that is, a pull at right angles to the longitudinal
axis of the work piece. This pull will at once produce a lateral distension of the
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page_text: lath body, which is caused by a tilting of arms a², upon their junction with
the tongues.
During this junction, the joints between tongues and arms will open
and the flange a', at the end of the tongue will bend at both sides of the tongue,
in line with the opened joints. In this way, the arms a², which had heretofore been
parallel with the strip a, will form a zig-zag line; and consequently, the width of
the lath will be increased to an extent equal to the deflection of the arms from
their straight position. After the lath has been thus distended, the pull is
discontinued, and the lath is completed (Fig. 3). The lath thus formed will
permanently retain its shape, because flanges a, being bent, and being sufficiently
stiff, will retain their newly acquired form.
It will be seen that the lateral pull on the lath body, while bending the flanges a*,
has not a tendency to tear such flanges, because the strain is exerted at right angles
to the plane of such flanges. Thus the completed lath body, while widened, is not
unduly weakened nor is the metal distorted at the joints. The flanges, besides
constituting the connecting links between the tongued strips and the bent arms, have
the additional function of serving as mortar retaining projections.
The main strips a, may be grooved (Fig. 2) to increase the stiffness of the lath, and
if desired, the flanges a³, may be dispensed with. The flanges at, are, however,
indispensable as forming the connection between tongues and arms.
The design of the lath is open to various modifications. Thus, to Fig. 5, two rows
of inclined arms a', are interposed between every pair of strips. Other modifications
will readily suggest themselves, the underlying principles being in all cases, the
formation of an open-work, metal lath, with flanged arms that have been turned
sideways, so as to bend the flange, to assume an inclined position with relation to
the axis of the lath.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is―
1. A metal lath, composed of strips and inclined connecting arms, having flanges
that are bent at the junction with the strips, substantially as specified.
2. A metal lath, composed of tongued strips and inclined connecting arms
having open joints and flanges that are bent in line with the open joints, substantially
as specified.
3. A metal lath, composed of tongued strips and of inclined and doubly flanged
arms connecting the strips, the body of the inclined arms and one of the flanges
being severed at the junction with the tongues, substantially as specified.
4. A metal lath, composed of tongued strips, inclined and doubly flanged arnis
connecting the strips, one of the flanges being severed and the other flange being
bent at the junction with the tongues, substantially as specified.
Dated this 11th day of November 1895.
J. P. BAYLY,
18 Fulham Place, Paddington, London, W., Agent for Applicant.