Purposes, and in Devices and Tools therefor.
Year: 1885

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by Luther Stieringer and Jonathan H. Vail, both
Electricians, and both residing in the City, County, and State of New York,
in the United States of America.]
Purposes, and in Devices and Tools therefor.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of
23 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENT IN WIRE INTERIORS
FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT AND OTHER. PURPOSES AND IN DEVICES AND TOOLS THEREFOR
A communication to me from abroad by Luther Stieringer and Jonathan H. Vail,
both electricians and both residing in the City, County and State of New York in
the United States of America to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce simple and efficient devices and
appliances for securing and supporting the conducting wires used in the wiring of
houses, vessels, and other interiors for electric light or other purposes.
Heretofore the simplest manner of running and supporting wires has been to
secure them at intervals by metal staples but these are objectionable for many
reasons.
They are liable to be driven against metal and to form a source of trouble in
producing leaks to ground or cross connections: the metal staples are subject to
oxidation and when oxidized injure the insulating covering of the wire; and from
careless driving of the staples the insulation is liable to be abraded.
These objections are overcome by this invention by the use of staples or hooks
of insulating material, which are inserted into the supporting wood work of the
structure, or a wood moulding or other suitable insulating backing supplied for the
purpose.
These insulating staples or hooks embrace the wires at short intervals and hold
themselves in place, although glue or cement may be employed, the ends of the
staples or hooks being dipped before being inserted. Or wedges of wood may be
used, which will be driven in next to the points of the hooks or staples, but these
are not necessary. The staples or hooks are made of tough wood, of gelatinized
or vulcanized fibre of whalebone, horn or other suitable insulating material.

page_text: Strips of the material are preferably cut into proper short lengths and are bent
into shape after being steamed or moistened if this is necessary, or the staples or
hooks may be formed by cutting into shape instead of bending. Or if the
material used is sufficiently flexible, straight stripes may be provided, which will
be bent into staple form when inserted in the tool that is used for driving them.
For doing the work tools are used for making holes and for driving the staples
or hooks.
The tool for making the holes has two parallel steel blades placed the right
distance apart, to make two holes for the ends of the staples.
If hooks are used instead of staples this tool will have but one blade. These
blades are made removable for convenient and cheap renewal.
This tool preferably has a heavy loose head for driving so that no mallet or
hammer will be required, but this may be omitted.
The tool for driving the staples or hooks has a hollow head with grooves to
receive a staple or hook and a spring retracted follower which when driven
forward forces the staple or hook into the holes or hole formed to receive it and
upon the wire. This tool also has preferably a loose heavy head' for driving, but
the heavy loose head may be omitted and the follower be pressed forward by
hand or driven by a mallet.
The insulating staples or hooks can be used for securing wires to wood work
where the wires are to be concealed, or where they are left exposed.
The invention also includes the production of mouldings or insulating backings
of wood, strawboard, paper, or other suitable insulating material having two
parallel open grooves for carrying and separating the wires, and adapted for use
more especially in ships and other structures where there is considerable moisture
which when allowed to collect around the wires injuriously affects them.
These open grooves are constructed to shed water and also so that moisture will
run out of them. The wires are laid in these grooves and secured in any suitable
way, but preferably by the insulating staples or hooks before described.

page_text: Purposes, and in Devices and Tools therefor.
I BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of
23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by
Luther Stieringer and Jonathan H. Vail, both electricians, and both residing in the
City County and State of 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 :-
The object of this invention is to produce simple and efficient devices and
appliances for securing and supporting the conducting wires used in the wiring of
houses, vessels and other interiors for electric light or other purposes.
Heretofore the simplest manner of running and supporting wires has been to
secure them at intervals by metal staples but these are objectionable for many
reasons.
They are liable to be driven against metal and to form a source of trouble in
producing leaks to ground or cross connections: the metal staples are subject to
oxidation and when oxidized injure the insulating covering of the wire, and from
careless driving of the staples the insulation is liable to be abraded.
This invention which is designed to overcome the objections stated and other
difficulties is shown in the drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are views of staples
and hooks of insulating material, and Figure 3 is a section of a side wall moulding
for supporting conductors.
The objections before referred to are overcome by this invention by the use of
staples A or hooks B of insulating material, which are inserted into the supporting
wood-work of the structure or a wood moulding or other suitable insulating
backing supplied for the purpose.
These insulating staples or hooks embrace the wires C at short intervals and
hold themselves in place, although glue or cement may be employed, the ends of
the staples or hooks being dipped before being inserted. Or wedges of wood may
be used which will be driven in next to the points of the hooks or staples, but these
are not necessary. The staples or hooks are made of tough wood, of gelatinized
or vulcanized fibre of whalebone horn or other suitable insulating material.
Strips of the material are preferably cut into proper short lengths and are bent
into shape after being steamed or moistened if this is necessary, or the staples or
hooks may be formed by cutting into shape instead of binding. Or if the material
used is sufficiently flexible, straight strips may be provided which will be bent into
staple form when inserted in the tool that is used for driving them.
For doing the work tools are used for making holes and for driving the staples
or hooks. The tool for making the holes has two parallel steel blades placed the
right distance apart, to make two holes for the ends of the staples. If hooks are
used instead of staples, this tool will have but one blade. These blades are made
removable for convenient and cheap renewal.

page_text: This tool preferably has a heavy loose head for driving so that no mallet or
hammer will be required but this may be omitted.
The tool for driving the staples or hooks has a hollow head with grooves to
receive a staple or book and a spring retracted follower which when driven
forward forces the staple or hook into the holes or hole formed to receive it and
upon the wire. This tool also has preferably a loose heavy head for driving, but
the heavy loose head may be omitted and the follower be pressed forward by hand
or driven by a mallet.
The insulating staple or books can be used for securing wires to wood-work
where the wires are to be concealed or where they are left exposed.
The invention also includes the production of side wall mouldings D, (Figure 3)
or insulating backings of wood, strawboard, paper or other suitable insulating
material having two parallel open grooves E, E¹ for carrying and separating the
wires and adapted for use more especially in ships and other structures where
there is considerable moisture which when allowed to collect around the wires
injuriously affects them.
These open grooves E, E¹ are constructed to shed water and also so that moisture
will run out of them. The wires are laid in these grooves and secured in any
suitable way, but preferably by the insulating staples or hooks before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The securing of conducting wires to a backing, moulding or support of
insulating material by staples or hooks constructed of insulating material such as
herein before described.
2. The side wall moulding for electrical conductors having two parallel grooves
constructed to shed water and to permit moisture to run out of them substantially
as herein described.