IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL TIES OR BANDS FOR SECURING BALES OF COTTON OR OTHER SUBSTANCE
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL TIES OR BANDS FOR SECURING BALES OF
COTTON OR OTHER SUBSTANCE." -A communication from abroad by
Joseph Wild Branch and Joseph Crookes, both of St. Louis,
Missouri, United States of America, Merchants.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 23rd March 1868.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL TIES OR BANDS FOR SECURING
BALES OF COTTON OR OTHER SUBSTANCE," a communication, to be as
follows:-
A button or fastening by which the ends of the hoop or band
are fastened is securely rivetted to one end of the hoop, whose other
end is pierced with any convenient number of elongated holes or
slots with semicircular ends, into one of which slots the button is to
be inserted when the two ends of the hoop are drawn together around

page_text: the bale. The longitudinal axial line of these slots coincides with the
longitudinal axial line of the hoop. The button or fastening has a
head formed on the end of a shank, and by means of the latter it is
rivetted to the band or hoop. The rivet end of the shank is square
or angular, the object of this formation being to secure it to the hoop
end in a certain fixed relative position, which object is accomplished by
punching a hole of the same form in the band for the reception of the
shank, the said hole being formed at such an angle as will cause the
button to stand in the desired diagonal position with reference to the
axis of the hoop. The angle of inclination which the sides of the slot
form with the sides of the hoop should be such that an axial line
which longitudinally bisects the head of the button will form an angle
of about thirty degrees, with the axial line of the hoop. The square
or angular corners of the shank will retain the head of the button in
the proper position with reference to the axis of the hoop after it has
been riveted thereto. The length and width of the head should be
such as to allow the same to casily drop through the hole or slot when
brought squarely over it. The button being secured to the. hoop end
in an angular position, and the hole or slot into which it is hooked
being formed in the other end of the hoop parallel with its sides, it is
or button
necessary to twist the two ends laterally in order to couple
them together around the bale. After the two ends have been coupled
together in this manner, they are allowed to resume a parallel position,
and in doing this the edge of the slot enters a cavity in the side of the
shank. This cavity is triangular in plan, and is formed in the base of
the shank and in the contiguous portion of the head of the button. The
formation of the said cavity allows the flange or head to project beyond
the edge of the slot and overlap the hoop end, after the two ends have
been buttoned together as above described. The two ends are thus
kept from parting asunder vertically while they are in position on the
bale. While the two ends of the band are in this position on the bale
the line which forms the inner face of the cavity in the button will be
parallel with the edge of the hoop. The shoulder of the button against
which the strain of the hoop is taken, from one end to the other, should
be curved or rounded and fitted to the end of the slot or aperture in
the hoop. These parts are made curved for the purpose of preventing
any shearing or splitting of the hoop, which might happen were the
apertures and the shoulder or bearing part of the button made angular.
A projecting lip in front of the shoulder or bearing overlaps the band

page_text: end when the two ends are coupled, and this lip and the button head
or lock plate thoroughly and effectually keep the two ends from shearing
off or parting asunder when locked together in this manner, and the
full tensile strength of the hoop or band is consequently obtained. In
securing the button to the end of the hoop a burr or washer may be
used on which to rivet down the shank. In constructing the button
with the recess and flange as above described, a shelf is formed on that
end of the said button which when the two ends are together will rest
against the bottom side of the end of the hoop to which the button is
rivetted. This shelf strengthens the shank by keeping it up closely to
its work, thereby relieving it from a shearing strain.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd September 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirt
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL TIES OR BANDS FOR SECURING BALES OF COTTON
OR OTHER SUBSTANCE," upon the condition (amongst others), that I,
the said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said

page_text: Invention, and in what manner the same was 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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 statement, reference being
had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, forming a part of this
Snocification.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one of my improved
fastenings showing the two ends of the hoop secured by the same.
Figure 2 is a perspective elevation of one of the said fastenings or
buttons.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the button or fastening taken on
the line x, y, Figure 6.
Figure 4 is a plan of the perforated end of the hoop.
Figure 5 is a plan of the fastening and the end of the hoop to
which it is permanently fixed.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the said button or fastening.
Figure 7 is a plan of both ends of the hoop as they appear when
secured together by the button or fastening. The dotted lines in this
figure illustrate the method of coupling the two ends of the band
together.
A and B are the two ends of the hoop or band, and C is the button
or fastening by which the said ends are fastened together around the
bale. The said button or fastening is securely rivetted to the hoop
end B, and the end A is pierced with any number (say from one to
twenty) holes a, into one of which the button is inserted when the
two ends are drawn together around the bale. The holes or mortises
a are elongated slots with semicircular or segmental ends, as most
clearly shown in Figures 4 and 7. The longitudinal axial line x, y,
of these mortises coincides with the longitudinal axial line x, y, of
the hoop, as shown in Figure 4. The button or fastening C consists
of a head c and a shank c¹ by means of which it is rivetted to the

page_text: band or hoop. The rivet end of the shank c¹ is square or angular, as
shown in Figure 2, the object of this formation being to secure it to the
hoop end B in a certain fixed relative position, which object is then
accomplished by punching the hole designed for its reception in the
end B of the same form and section that it presents, and in whatever
direction is desired with reference to the axis of the hoop. The hole
punched in the end B for the shank c¹ is placed diagonally across
it, as represented by the dotted lines c in Figures 5 and 7. The
angle of inclination which the sides of the said mortise form with
the sides of the hoop should be such that the axial line x, y, which
longitudinally bisects the head c of the button will form an angle of,
say, thirty degrees (more or less) with the axial line x, y, of the
hoop. The square or angular corners of the shank c¹ will retain the
head of the button in the proper direction with reference to the axis
of the hoop after it shall have been rivetted thereto. The length and
width of the head c should be such as to allow the said head to easily
drop through the hole or mortise a when brought squarely over it.
The button C being secured to the hoop end B in an angular position,
and the holes or mortises a into which they are hooked being formed
in the piece A parallel with its sides, it becomes necessary to twist
the two ends laterally, as represented by the dotted lines A' in Figure 7,
in order to couple or button the said two ends together around the
bale. After the two ends have been coupled together in this manner
they are allowed to assume a parallel position, as shown in Figure 7,
and in doing this the edge of the mortise a will enter the cavity m,
which is most clearly shown in Figure 2, and which is prepared in
the side of the shank c¹ for its reception. This cavity m is triangular
in plan and is formed in the base of the shank c' and in the continuous
portion of the head c, and is of sufficient thickness for the accommodation
of the hoop end A. The formation of the said cavity or recess allows
the flange or lock plate o to project beyond the line o¹, o', shown in
Figures 3, 5, and 7, and this flange or lock plate overlaps the hoop
end A. after the two ends shall have been connected together as above
described, and secures them from parting asunder vertically while they
are in position on the bale. While the two ends of the band are in
position on the bale, the line o¹, o', which forms the inner face of the
recess m will be parallel with the edge of the hoop, as shown in
Figures 5 and 7. The shoulder against which the strain of the hoop
is taken from one end to the other should be curved or rounded and

page_text: fitted to the end of the mortise a. These parts are made in this form
for the purpose of preventing any shearing or splitting of the hoop,
which would result were the mortises and the bearings of the button
made angular. The projecting lip in front of the shoulder c* overlaps
the end A contiguous to the end of the mortise a, as shown in Figure 1,
when the two ends are coupled, and this lip and the lock plate o
thoroughly and effectually prevent the two ends from shearing off or
parting asunder when locked in this manner, and consequently the
full tensile strength of the hoop or band is thus obtained. In securing
the button C to the end B it would be proper to use a burr or washer
c on which to rivet down the shank c'. In constructing the tie or
fastening C with the recess m and flange o as above described, a shelf
o' is formed on that end of the said fastening which when the parts
are together will rest against the bottom side of the hoop B, and aid
and strengthen the shank c¹ by keeping it up closely to its work and
preventing the piece C from assuming the position shown by dotted
lines C in Figure 1, thereby producing a tensile strain upon the said
shank c and releiving it from a shearing strain.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondents, and shown how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,
the button or fastening C when constructed with a square shank c¹, a
locking plate o, and recess m, and combined with the band ends A, B,
substantially in the manner herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-eight.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, (L.S.)
Witness,
THOS. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.