Improvements in Copings for Fences and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Copings for Fences and the like.
I JACOB THEODORE SHIMER of South Bethlehem in the County of Northampton
and State of Pennsylvania 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:
The essential object of this invention is to obviate the use of the ordinary
stone and wooden basings or copings now employed to support fences and the like
and substitute in lieu thereof an extremely cheap and light metallic coping, which
will not only be more durable and rigid than the old styles of coping, but which
will also be more pleasing and neater in appearance, as will more fully hereinafter
appear. The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and com-
bination of parts, that will fully hereinafter appear, and be particularly pointed
out in the claim appended.
Figure 1 of the drawings represents a side elevation of my improved coping
employed to support a fence;
Figure 2, a transverse sectional view of the same;
Fig. 3, an enlarged side elevation of one section of the coping; and
Fig. 4, a detail horizontal sectional view showing another manner of attaching
the side plates to their supports.
In the drawings, a designates the metallic posts or supports of the coping, which
consists of plates of the same width as the coping and sufficiently long to extend
into the earth far enough firmly to anchor the same. The lower buried portions
may be provided with slots or openings a¹, if desired, to assist in firmly anchoring
them, and they may also be embedded in cement or other plastic compound if it
is desired to establish them more firmly. The edges of each post above the
surface of the ground are provided with integral flanges a², which are set at right
angles to the plate and are in line with its edges, as shown. These flanges project
from both sides of the plates and afford means of attachment for the metallic side
plates and the top plates of the coping. The coping-plates are secured to the
flanges of the supports by screws, as shown in Fig. 3, or by keys, as shown in
Fig. 2, or by lugs formed on the inner sides of the plates and adapted to embrace
the flanges on the supports, as shown in Fig. 4. The supports are placed at
suitable intervals along the line of the fonce, preferably at the joints of the side
and top plates, as shown. The lower edges of the side plates are preferably about
on a level with the surface of the ground, and the top plates may be beveled off
or inclined in order to shed the water readily and prevent its collecting on top
of the coping.
These plates may be ornamented in any suitable manner.
This coping may be used for other purposes than supporting fences, as
evident, without departing from the invention.
In fact, it may be employed by
itself where an ornamental and durable border is desired

page_text: For instance, it may be employed as borders for cemetery-lots or ornamental
walks, and for analogous purposes.
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
In a metallic fonce-coping, the combination of the posts a, provided with
oppositely-projecting flanges a² and adapted to be inserted in the ground, and the
side and top plates bb, secured to the portions of the said flanges projecting
above the surface of the ground, substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of August 1890.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.