An Improved Floor and Lining Cramp.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Floor and Lining Cramp.
We, WILLIAM REECE, of Colombo Street, Christchurch (Canterbury), Merchant,
and CHARLES LLEWELLYN DAVIES, of Kirwee (Canterbury), Manager Selwyn
County Water Races, both in the Colony of New Zealand, 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 this invention is to provide a simple, effective and inexpensive
cramp for cramping up flooring or lining boards, and one that is compact, exceed-
ingly light yet strong and durable, occupying but very small space and not liable
to get out of order.
The cramp consists of a metal shoe provided with means for gripping the joist
or stud and having a sliding toothed plunger which is operated by means of a
lever pivoted to said shoe and having a toothed boss which engages the teeth of
the sliding plunger.
After the required pressure is put upon the plunger it can be retained in
position to enable the hold on lever to be released whilst the flooring or lining
is nailed.
Referring to the annexed drawings illustrating our invention.
Fig. 1. is a plan of the improved Hooring and lining cramp in position upon a
floor joist against a cramping block at edge of flooring.
Fig. 2. is a side elevation of same.
Fig. 3. is a longitudinal section more clearly showing the toothed plunger and
toothed boss on lever.
Fig. 4. is a sectional end view showing screw handle and disc for securing
the toothed plunger in desired position.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures. A is
the flanged shoe provided with a projecting ribbed flange (a) on one side to
which the grip arm (b) is pivotally connected; and a ribbed flange (c) on the
opposite side having a spike (d) of steel (or other suitable hard metal) having a
chisel edge, set at an angle to secure a downward grip.
A sliding toothed plunger B is placed within the shoe A and a lever C having
oothed bess (e) pivotally connected to the sides of shoe A by the pin or bolt (f)
the teeth of said boss engaging the teeth of the sliding plunger B; the said
toothed plunger being provided with a flange (g) at outer end which lies against
he cramping block (h).
A small handle 1) is screwed into a boss (i) which has a cavity on its inner
side in which a hard metal retaining disc (j) is placed.
For cramping up flooring boards the cramp is first placed in position, as
shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, with the flange (9) of plunger against the cramping
lock (h) and the grip arm (b) pressed against the side of floor joist E and
ausing the spike () to grip the other side of joist, the lever being turned over
owards the flooring.
To operate the cramp the lever is now pulled in the direction indicated by the
larts, when the toothed boss (e) on lever C causes the plunger B to slide forward,
hus pressing against the cramping block. When sufficient pressure is obtained,

page_text: the screw handle D is turned in a forward direction when the screwed end presses
against the disc (j) and thus jams it against the side of plunger B, thereby
firmly securing said plunger in position, and enabling the pressure upon the lever
to be released when the flooring can be nailed down.
For cramping up lining boards the cramp is of course placed upon the wall
stud in a vertical position and secured and operated in a similar manner as above
described. The cramp may be constructed of any suitable hard metal, the toothed
boss of lever and the toothed plunger being preferably of steel. The length of the
lever may be varied according to requirements
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
(1). The herein described floor and lining cramp, substantially as set forth and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(2). In a floor and lining cramp: the combination with a flanged shoe such as A, 1
of a sliding toothed plunger such as B operated by a lever having toothed boss such
as (e), pivotally connected to said shoe; a grip arm such as (b) pivoted to said
shoe and means of securing said plunger in position substantially as herein
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(3). The combination in a floor and lining cramp of a flanged shoe A having
a projecting ribbed flange (a) on one side to which a grip arm (b) is pivotally
connected and a ribbed flange (c) on opposite side having spike (d); a sliding
toothed plunger B; a lever Chaving toothed boss (e) pivotally connected to shoe A
by means of pin or bolt (f), said boss engaging the toothed plunger B;
and a
retaining disc (j) operated by a handle D, all substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of September One thousand eight hundred and ninety seven.
WILLIAM REECE.
CHARLES
LLEWELLYN DAVIES.