Year: 1887

page_text: I, GEORGE HOWARD HOLLIDGE of Tacoma, Washington Territory United States of
America Superintendent of Tacoma Light and Water Company 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 :―
The object of my invention is to provide Tongs for holding pipes, whilst being
screwed or otherwise manipulated and which tongs will seize & automatically hold
backnuts connectors &c. without injury to the articles so held, such as denting, buck-
ling, or stripping them of their outside coating, which is a common disadvantage
inseparable from those tongs, pliers, &c. commonly in use. My tongs are so adapted
that they will take pipes, connectors, backnuts and any such like articles of six or
more sizes. Furthermore two pairs of my tongs can be used in place of several other
tools. It will also be seen, that, as more force is applied to the articles to be screwed
or otherwise manipulated, so will the gripping or biting power of the Tongs be pro-
portionately increased, and the articles so gripped will be automatically held without
strain to the hand, thereby accomplishing the work with better results, in quicker time,
with less tools, less labour, and great saving in material.
I now shall proceed to describe my invention reference being had to the drawings
hereunto annexed, and the figures and letters of reference marked thereon, similar
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts on all the figures alike.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved Tongs.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail side elevation of the Handle A of Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 is a detail side elevation of the handle C of Figures 1 and 2.
The handle A is made of Metal of the ordinary shape, either round or flat, and
tapers from its end to a suitable distance, where it is widened out in such a manner
that the slot and the curved grip iron B may be formed. The slot is of such a
width, that it will allow the thumb screw to work freely therein as shewn. The
grip iron B of the handle A is suitably curved, so that it will fit nicely round the
article to be held, its inside surface being either roughened, or formed into small
teeth, e, in order to increase the gripping or holding power.

page_text: The handle C, which is somewhat shorter than the handle A, has formed at its larger
end, a side projection a, which fits over the handle A, as shewn more clearly in
Figure 2, and is held in place by (but free to move on) the screw or pin c which
passes through the hole and is of such a diameter that it can slide longitudinally in
the slot, and have its position adjusted by means of the thumb screw .
It will be noticed, that the roughened or toothed end of the handle C, is somewhat
curved, in order that it may fit closer round the article held. To adjust the Tongs
that they may take the maximum and minimum size of pipe or other article the space
is proportionately increased or decreased by screwing the screw in or out, thereby
regulating the travel of screw pin c.
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 :-
1st. Pipe Tongs which can be adjusted and hold firmly several sizes of pipes back-
nuts and connectors whilst being screwed or otherwise manipulated substantially as
and in the manner hereinbefore set forth, fully illustrated and described.
2nd. Adjustable Tongs which when placed in position automatically grip secure and
hold any article without strain to the hand, or injury to the face of the articles so held,
substantially as, and in the manner hereinbefore described, set forth, and fully
illustrated in the drawings annexed.
HORN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.