AN IMPROVED FASTENING OR DETAINER, TO BE EMPLOYED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLOTHES PEGS,' OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Sands, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Ironfounder, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED FASTENING
OR DETAINER, TO BE EMPLOYED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLOTHES PEGS,' OR FOR
OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."-A communication.
Sealed the 20th April 1855, and dated the 10th February 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Sands at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
February 1855.
I, ALEXANDER SANDS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Iron-
founder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
FASTENING OR DETAINER, TO BE EMPLOYED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLOTHES PEGS,' OR
FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
is
This Invention consists of two small pieces of wood, say, for example, two
and a half inches long by about half an inch broad; the backs of each I
make perfectly plain, and the fronts I make of a peculiar and particular
confirmation, the one exactly similar to the other. Nearly half way up
the thickest portion of the pieces of wood, and above this I taper the inside
of the wood off to the upper edge; the lower half I then thin down (in the
direction of the breadth), in such a manner as would be taken out by a
gouge." These pieces of wood are now placed with their irregular sides

page_text: opposite to each other, of course the thickest or broadest parts being the
only portions which would touch, supposing both pieces of wood to be placed
vertically. In the thickest parts and nearly half way up is inserted a
brass or copper wire inch, on which each piece of wood would play freely,
and between the upper tapered portions is inserted a spring (secured in its
position); this spring always has a tendency to distend the upper portions
of the two pieces of wood, and consequently to bring the lower parts into
contact; it will be evident that by compressing the plain backs the tapered
sides are closed upon the spring, and the lower gouge half opened; by
this means it will be understood that the "clip" may be made to hold or
release any rope, line, cord, or article for which it may be employed to hold
or detain.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Sands in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th August 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
SANDS, of Liverpool, Ironfounder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Alexander Sands, Her especial license that I, the said Alexander Sands, my.
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alex-
ander Sands, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
FASTENING OR DETAINER, TO BE EMPLOYED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CLOTHES PEGS' OR
FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," which has been communicated to me by a
foreigner residing abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Alexander Sands, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Sands, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment, and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
This improved fastening or detainer consists of two small pieces of wood, say,
for example, two and a half inches long by about half an inch broad; the backs
of each I make perfectly plain, and the fronts I make of a peculiar and par-
ticular conformation, the one exactly similar to the other; nearly half way up is
the thickest portion of the pieces of wood, and above this I taper the wood off
to the upper edge; the lower half I then thin them down (in the direction of
the breadth), in such a manner as would be taken out by a "gouge;" these
pieces of wood are now placed with their irregular sides opposite to each other,
the thickest or broadest parts being the only parts which would touch, sup-
posing both pieces of wood to be placed vertically. In the thickest parts and
nearly half way up is inserted. a brass or copper wire hinge, upon which
each piece of wood would play freely, and between the upper tapered portions
is inserted a spring (secured in its position); this spring always has a tendency
to distend the upper portions of the two pieces of wood, and consequently to
bring the lower parts into contact; it will now be evident that by com-
pressing the plain backs the tapered sides are closed in upon the spring, and
the lower "gouged" half opened; by this means it will be understood that the
clip" may be made to hold or release any rope, line, cord, or article, for
which it may be employed to hold or retain.
68
.
In order that this Invention may be better understood, I have attached
hereunto a Sheet of Drawing made about full size, (when used as a substitute
for "clothes pegs)."
Fig, 1 represents a side elevation of my improved "detainer," shewing the
metal spring and upper parts of the wood distended, the lower ends being
closed; Fig. 2 represents a sectional view taken through the metal hinge and
spring, and shewing them affixed to one side of the "clip" or "detainer;"
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but shewing the "clip" open, and the
tapered ends closed upon the metallic spring. In Fig. 1, a, a, are the pieces
of wood, the lower parts of which are "gouged," and hold or detain the rope,
cord, &c.; 6 is the hinge formed of copper or other wire, and upon which
the pieces a, a, work freely; c is the metallic spring which keeps the tapered
ends distended when not in use. In Fig. 3 the tapered ends are shewn
pressing upon the spring c, which is compressed, and the lower ends open or
distended in a position ready to clip or hold any article upon the release of the
soring c

page_text: Having now particularly described the said. Invention, I wish it to be
distinctly understood that I claim the novel application, employment, and use
of two pieces of wood, or other similar material, moving upon a hinge or
common centre, and actuated by means of a spring, whether helical, spiral,
flat, or otherwise, as herein-before described and set forth, and fully illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing, or any modification or variation of the same,
acting as a fastening or detainer employed as a substitute for "clothes pegs,"
or for other similar purposes."
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Sands, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.