Improvements in Plumbers' Clamps.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 14th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Plumbers' Clamps.
I, JOSEPH HOWELL ASH, of 35 Dean Street, Brooklyn, in the County of Kings
and State of New York, United States of America, Coppersmith, 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:
This invention relates to plumbers' clamps for holding and supporting a pipe,
cock, or fitting during the process of wiping a joint.
The object of the invention is to provide a clamp that will be efficient,
convenient of operation, light, simple, and capable of being packed in a small space,
so as to be readily carried in the plumber's bag without materially increasing the
bulk or adding to the weight of the tools usually carried when jobbing.
The invention consists of a clamp composed of two members, which are adapted
to be pivotally connected together and grip the pipe between them, the free ends
of the said members being constructed to be fastened in a proper relation and form
a support for the clamp.
The improvement further cousists of the novel features and the peculiar con-
struction and combination of the parts, which will be hereinafter more fully
described and claimed, and which are shown in the annexed drawings, in which :
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a modification in which the members of the clamp
are detachably connected together and showing the foot of the members apertured
to receive a spike or pin.
Fig. 3 is a further modification showing the pivotal connection of the members of
the clamp between the gripping-jaws and the feet.
Usually there will be three clamps to a set-two to support the main pipe and one
to support the branch pipe. Obviously the number of clamps to a set may be
varied. The invention residing in the construction of the clamp, the following
description will be restricted to a single clamp.
The clamp comprises, essentially, two members A and B, which are similarly
constructed, being rights and lefts, and which are adapted to be pivotally connected
together.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the members are represented as being pivotally connected
together at one end, the free ends forming feet. The jaws a and bare located
between the ends, being formed by deflecting the members in opposite directions as
shown. The feet may be provided with prongs C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,
which are adapted to be driven into a plank to secure the clamp, or they may be
apertured, as shown in Fig. 2, to receive a nail or pin to secure the clamp in case
it be set up on the ground.
The pivotal connection between the members A and B may be permanent, as
shown in Fig. 1, or detachable, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The fatter form is

page_text: preferred because it admits of the clamp being packed in a small space and because
the members can be separated and placed the one on the other.
In Fig. 3 the pivotal connection of the members is placed between the jaws a
and b and the feet. The operation of this form of clamp is substantially the same
as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, although the form is, somewhat changed. Of course
to clamp the jaws on the pipe the footed ends of the members are separated, whereas
in the form of clamp shown in Figs. 1 and 2 they are brought together.
To use the invention the pipe E is placed between the jaws of the clamp, and if
the form be that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the footed ends of the members are brought
together to grip the pipe firmly. If the feet are provided with prongs the latter
are driven into a plank or board, thereby securing the clamp in a fixed position.
In the event of a board not being at hand the clamp can be set up on the ground
and a long nail or wooden pin can be driven through the aperture in the feet of
the members. Should the form of clamp be that shown in Fig. 3, the footed ends
of the members are separated to clamp the jaws on the pipe, the clamp being secured
in precisely the same manner as above specified.
The clamp is composed of strips of metal wide and thick enough to possess the
strength required, and yet not be cumbersome or weighty. Strips of plate-steel
have been found best for the purpose.
It will be observed that the footed ends of the members are separated or spread
apart, thereby obtaining a firm footing for the clamp. This is an essential feature
in the organization of the clamp.
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 plumber's clamp composed of the members which are constructed to be
pivotally connected together, and having jaws to receive the pipe or fitting to be
held, and having the footed ends spread and constructed to be fastened and form a
support for the clamp substantially as specified.
2. A plumber's clamp composed of the members which are constructed to be
detachably connected together by a pivotal joint, and having jaws to receive the
pipe or fitting to be held, and having the footed ends spread and constructed to be
fastened and form a support for the clamp, substantially as specified.
3. The hereinbefore specified plumber's clamp, composed of two members which
are adapted to be pivotally connected together at one end, and having the
opposite ends of the said members footed and provided with prongs, which are
adapted to be driven into a plank to secure the said ends and fasten the clamp
in a fixed position, and having jaws formed in the said members near the pivotal
connection substantially as set forth.
Dated this 13th day of October 1892.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.