Improvements in Wire or Spoke Grips, Chiefly Applicable to the Fixing or Adjusting of the Spokes of the Wheels of Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wire or Spoke Grips, Chiefly Applicable to the
Fixing or Adjusting of the Spokes of the Wheels of Velocipedes.
We GEORGE BUTLER, of 1 Lombard Street Birmingham Cycle Fittings Manu-
facturer and LLEWLLEYN AUGUSTUS PARROCK of 52 Alma Street Aston, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of our said invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention "The Tenax" has for its object the construction and employment of
apparatus for the purpose of more effectually gripping the wire spokes of the wheels
of velocipedes, when fixing, adjusting or trueing of the said spokes or the rim may be
required.
We will describe our invention thus; a spoke grip as above set forth which will
be the chief purpose to which we shall devote our attention, consists substantially of
the following parts.
Two jaws of unequal length work upon a pin or common centre; at one end
opening to receive the spoke, and when closed the longer overhangs the shorter; the
under surface of which is serrated or grooved to receive the spoke. The short jaw is
recessed at or near the top interiorly and the longer jaw has an aperture passing from the
inner to the outer side slightly tapered: a bent lever passes through this aperture working
upon a pin therein and into the recess of the shorter jaw, working upon a pin there also,
the effect of any pressure upon the lever in an inward direction tends to close or bring the
lower jaw in contact with the upper jaw and the wire or spoke upon which it has been
arranged is gripped in a firm manner for the purpose required and is retained during
the pressure.
Or by another mode we construct the jaws as above set forth but in place of the
lever we employ a rod, one end of which works in the recess in the shorter jaw upon
a pin the same as the lever, but the other end of the rod passing through the aperture
is screwed and a wing nut, by preference, fed thereon, which being moved in the
proper direction brings the jaws in contact and its purpose can be effected with greater
facility:
We may by preference construct the jaws of the same length and parallel, working
upon a pin at the lower end, but instead of the one jaw being recessed both have
apertures opposite each other, the rod is screwed at one end, the other end terminates
with a thumb plate, and when passed through the apertures the wing nut is applied to
the screwed end and fed up until the jaws are closed upon the wire or spoke and a
sufficient pressure is obtained :-One advantage is that when the grip is applied to the
wire or spoke the thumb plate assists materially in the winding up of the spoke or
otherwise when adjustment is required.
And in order that this our said invention may be more thoroughly understood, we
have prepared the accompanying sheet of drawings to which reference can be made by
the various figures and letters (that is to say) ;-
Fig. 1 is a side view elevation of a wire or spoke grip according to our invention.
Fig. 2 is a front view of same.
Fig. 3 is a back view.
Fig. 4 is a side view elevation.
Fig. 5 is a front view of same.
Fig. 6 is a back view.
Fig. 7 is a side view elevation.
Fig. 8 is a back view.
The same letters of reference unon the several figures indicate like or corresponding

page_text: In Figs. 1. 2. 3 a is the larger jaw overhanging 6 the shorter. c the pin or centre
upon which they work. d is the serrated surface or V grooved for gripping the wire
or spoke; e, is the recess, and f the aperture. g is the lever with slot g' allowing g
to fall and working upon the pin h and causing 6 to rise and close and also upon the
pin i.
In Figs. 4. 5. 6 we depart only from the above by substituting the rod j in place of
the lever g which by preference we intend to employ; this rod also works upon the
pin i and in the recess e but passes through fand being screwed at k receives the wing
nut l, which when actuated brings the jaws a and b together gripping the wire or the
spoke as arranged.
In Figs. 7. 8. we construct the jaws parallel and of the same length each marked a
working upon c both jaws having apertures ff. d is the Vishaped slot. jis the rod
passing through ff and screwed at the end the other end being the thumb plate m
and l.is the wing nut m assisting in winding or closing the jaws a a with ease, when
the wire or spoke is applied.
The above being our said invention we wish to say that we do not confine ourselves
to the precise details or arrangement of parts as shown on the accompanying, sheet of
drawings but that we hold ourselves at liberty to alter or modify the same without
departing essentially from our said invention."
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-
1st. The construction of the jaws a, b, actuated. by the lever g working upon the
pins in the aperture f and recess e Figs. 1. 2. 3.
2nd. The construction of the jaws a b actuated by the wing nut / upon the screwed
rodj passing through f and into e working upon the pin i, Figs. 4. 5. 6.
3rd. The construction of the jaws a a actuated by the wing nut 7 fed upon the
screwed rod j assisted by mj passing through the apertures ff; Figs. 7. 8.
4th. The general construction, combination and arrangement of parts. substantially
for the purposes, as herein before set forth and described and shown on the accom-
panying sheet of drawings, the whole forming "Improvements in wire or spoke
grips chiefly applicable to the fixing or adjusting of the spokes of the wheels of
velocipedes.
"
Dated 6th December 1889.
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent for Applicants.