Improvements in Spikes for Barbed and other Wire and like Fencing.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 9th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spikes for Barbed and other Wire and like
Fencing.
1, RICHARD OSBORNE, of Old Post Office, Trench, near Wellington, in the
County of Salop; Butcher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to spikes or staples for carrying and connecting barbed and
other wire and like fencing to their posts or standards, and has for its object, a
spike or staple from which the fencing wire is easily and readily detached, without
the "drawing" of the spike, that is to say, according to my invention, barbed or
like wire or other fencing can be instantaneously detached from the posts or
standards, without first "drawing" the spikes or staples, in order to clear country
for hunting purposes, and the fencing can be afterwards replaced without
trouble.
Fixed barbed wire fencings are fraught with danger to hunting parties, and are
a source of considerable trouble should the same require to be removed from their
standards, as special instruments have to be employed for "drawing" the staples in
order to free the fence.
According to one form of my invention, I make the staple alike unto a long taper
spike, with a nose end coming in line with the point, so that the direction of impact,
when driving, shall be lignable with the leading point. This flat spike-like staple
is broadened out at a short distance from its nose end, and is gapped with..an
inverted-T shaped piercing, with the stem part forming the gate or lead, and the
bead or cross end forming the "keep" for the wire, within a part of which keep or
head a taper-edged wedge is driven, after the wire has been sprung into the gap
and then passed into one end of the keep or keep-slot.
Assuming that the staple is carried by or driven into a standard, then bring the
wire over the gate or lead to the gap and loose the same, when by its own weight,
it will fall into position within the keep-slot, from which it is prevented from rising
or coming out by a wedge or cottar.
In carrying out another form of my invention, an inverted T-shaped piercing is
formed within the centre of the broad part of the spike, and provided with an
oblique gate or passage, so that the wire, when passed into the gap through the gate,
may be kept there without employing a cottar or key. Or instead of a T-shaped
gap, I.may employ a lead of a star-figure, with either a zig-zag or oblique lead,
so that when the wire is sprung in, it is self-retained within the keep.
In a further form of my invention, I provide the spike with an inverted T-shaped
gap as before, whilst the key cottar or closure is made in the form of a jointed.or
gravitating pawl, the free end of which is adapted to turn into and fill up the gate
(which is made slightly curved to receive it) and be there retained by its own
weight.
To release the wire from the staple, the pawl-like closure to the gate has only to
be lifted clear of the same, when the fencing wire can be readily removed.
The pawl may be hung below the line of the keep slot or gap, or it may be hung
from a joint above, so that in the latter case, it swings vertically, whilst a lower
back part comes against a stop formed upon the staple.

page_text: As a still further arrangement the connection part may be in the form of a loose
hanger, jointed to and swung from a part near the end of the staple, and provided
with an inverted T or hook-shaped piercing, with the entrance or gate to the same
adapted to come upon the underside of the front or nose end of the staple by the
setting back of the body part of the hanger.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1895.
RICHARD OSBORNE,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spikes for Barbed and other Wire and like
Fencing.
I, RICHARD OSBORNE, of Old Post. Office, Trench, near Wellington, in the
County of Salop, Butcher, 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 :-
My invention relates to spikes or staples for carrying and connecting barbed and
other wire and like fencings to their posts or standards, and has for its object, a
spike or staple from which the fencing wire is easily and readily detached, without
the "drawing" of the spike that is to say, according to my invention, barbed or
like wire or other fencing can be instantaneously detached from the posts or
standards, without first "drawing" the spikes or staples, in order to clear country
for hunting purposes, and the fencing cal be afterwards replaced without
trouble.
Fixed barbed wire fencings are fraught with danger to hunting parties, and are
a source of considerable trouble should the same require to be removed from their
standards, as special instruments have to be employed for "drawing" the staples
in order to free the fence.
According to one form of my invention, I make the staple alike unto a long taper
spike, with a nose end coming in line with the point, so that the direction of impact
when driving, shall be lignable with the leading point. This flat spike-like staple
is broadened out at a short distance from its nose end, and is gapped with an
inverted-shaped piercing, with the stem part forming the gate or lead, and the
head or cross end forming the "keep" for the wire, within a part of which keep or
head a wedge is driven after the wire has been sprung into the gap and then passed
into one end of the keep or keep-slot.
Assuming that the staple is carried by or driven into a standard, then bring the
wire over the gate or lead to the gap and loose the same, when by its own weight,
it will fall into position within the keep slot, from which it is prevented from rising
or coming out by a wedge or cottar.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents such a spike.
Figure 2 represents the same in use, with the cottardriven home, and the fencing
wire locked with its keep slot thereby. The said cottar is shown in cross section,
and so also is the wire.
Figure 3 is a front edge view and Figure 4 is a plan of the spike with cottar and
wire in position.
a is the body of the staple, a' the nose, a² the point, a³ the keep gap and at the
gate leading to the said gap. bis the cottar or wedge and c is the fencing wire.
Figure represents a spike having an L-shaped gap and lead.
C
Figure 4B represents such a staple as in Figure 1 provided with a forked cottar,
which is introduced into the gate.

page_text: represents the cottar separately.
a is the staple, a³ the gap, at the gate, 6 the cottar and 6 the gap therein to
prevent the said cottar moving laterally when in position.
In a further form of my invention, I provide the spike with an inverted T or
5Lshaped gap as before, whilst the key, cottar or closure is made in the form of a
jointed or gravitating pawl, the free end of which is adapted to turn into aud fill
up the gate (which is inade slightly curved to receive it) and be there retained by
its own weight.
To release the wire from the staple, the pawl-like closure to the gate has only to
be lifted clear of the same when the fencing wire can be readily removed.
Figure 5 represents such an arrangement of spike, with the returned blocking
end of the spike shown in section.
Figure 6 represents the spike with the pawl turned back and Figure 6ª is a
topside plan of Figure 5.
In Figures 5, 6 and 6ª, a is the body of the staple, a' the nose, a² the spike end,
a³ the gap, a' the lead or gate, curved to a radius struck from the centre b', upon
which the pawl b, turns. 62 is a returned end of the pawl which fits within the
gate a, and forms a closure to the gap a³.
In carrying out another form of my invention, an inverted T or other shaped
piercing is formed within the centre of the broad part of the spike, and provided
with an oblique gate or passage, so that the wire, when passed into the gap through
the gate, may be kept there without employing a cottar or key as represented in
Figure 7. Or instead of a T or like shaped gap,
figure, with either a zig-zag or oblique lead, as represented in Figures 8 and 9 so
may employ a keep of a star-
that when the wire is sprung in, it is self-retained within the keep.
In each of the said Figures 7, 8 and 9, a is the body part of the spike,
a the nose, a the spike end, as the gap, and a the inclined (or zig-zag) lead
thereto.
As a still further arrangement the connection part may be in the form of a loose
hanger, jointed to and swung from a part ne ir the end of the staple, and provided
with an inverted T or hook-shaped piercing, with the entrance or gate to the same
adapted to come upon the underside of the front or nose end of the staple by the
setting back of the body part of the hanger.
Figure 10 represents an elevation of a fencing spike so provided, and Figure 11
is a section of the same upon the dotted lines - Figure 10.
In Figures 10 and 11, a is the body of the staple or spike and bis the
loose hanger, pivoted to the spike at 6, and having a gap 62, with a gate or
entrance 6, and with the edge, abutting against the underside aº, of the
staple a.
By the pull of the wire, the gate to the gap within which it lies is closed by the
edge of the hanger coming upon the opposed edge of the spike, and when the wire
8 required to be introduced and removed, then it is only necessary to turn the same
back into the position represented in dotted lines.
Figure 12 represents a modification of the arrangement shown in Figure 10.
In this view a is the body of the spike, a³ the gap, b a hanging stop pawl jointed
t b', and with the front edge b³, coming against a stop a*..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
on, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
laim is :-
First. A fencing-wire spike or staple, having a gap or opening formed within it,
ith a gate or lead directed to or from the said gap, by which wire is introduced or
ithdrawn, substantially as described and set forth in Figures 1 to 4ª.
Secondly. In fencing wire spikes or staples, the combination with a spike or
referred to in the proceeding claim, of a loose wedge or cottar for fixing the fencing
staple
ire within the gap, substantially as described and set forth in Figures 1 to 4^.
Thirdly. In fencing wire spikes or staples closing the entrance to the gap or

page_text: opening through the medium of a closure, or a hinged closure, stop or pawl,
substantially as described and set forth in Figures 5, 6, 6^ and 12.
Fourthly. The improvements in fencing wire staples and spikes substantially as
and for the purpose described and set forth in Figures 7, 8 and 9 and the general
construction, arrangement and combination of the parts described and set forth in
Figures 10 and 11.
Dated this 8th day of October 1805
RICHARD OSBORNE,
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.