Improvements in "Wire-stretcher.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1894-Accepted, 25th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in "Wire-stretcher.".
1, JOHN L. CRAIN, Gentleman, resident of Ava, County of Jackson, State of
Illinois, United States of America, 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 an improved wire-stretcher, and consists in the novel
construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully herein-
after described and designated in the claims.
The object of my invention is to provide an improved wire-stretcher which shall
be very simple in construction, effective of use and of low cost.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the stretcher, with a part broken away.
Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an auxiliary device used in carrying out the
invention.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a wire fence, and illustrating the
operation of my invention.
1 indicates the body of the stretcher, which is preferably made of suitable size
of malleable iron, or cast steel, in order to have the requisite strength.
I will preface my description by stating that the device is to be used as a lever
in stretching the wire, having the sufficient length to exert the proper power.
The body 1 at a point intermediate of its length is provided with a widened
portion 2, in the upper face of which is formed a depression 3 having a smooth
flat inner surface and an integral projection 4, which has a free inner end and
overhangs a portion of said surface, and forins an open slot or recess 5 beneath said
projection.
The free end, or rather the outer end of the body 1, is provided with a sharp or
attenuated point 6, so as to be readily driven into the wooden posts of the fence
during use, and said body from the widened portion outward, tapers or is
inclined.
7 indicates a grip-lever, which has its rear end extended a sufficient distance
rearward to be within easy reach of the operator and provided with a vertical
handle 8, which is preferably formed by bending upward a portion of the lever
until it occupies a position at a right angle to the body of said lever.
The forward and outer end of the grip lever is bent downward and outward, and.
is provided with a gripping jaw 9 having flat and smooth upper and lower faces,
and a rounded or curved free outer end or edge 10, which projects into and engages
the slot 5 beneath the projection 4.
The grip-lever 7 is pivotally connected to the body 1 at a point intermediate of
its length, by means of a suitable rivet or bolt 11, so that the gripping jaw 9 is
loosely mounted upon the flat surface of the depression 3, and is adapted to be drawn
around as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.
The free outer edge 10 of the gripping jaw 9 is constructed to form a sort of
cam; that is, it is not concentric with relation to the center of the pivot upon which
the grip lever works.
It is eccentric with relation to the base 12 of the slot or recess 5.
13 indicates the inner end of the body 1, which may be formed as here shown,
comparatively short and provided with an exterior screw-thread, or it may be
extended a sufficient distance to form a proper handle or lever, as no invention
would be required to so extend it.

page_text: Or I may connect an ordinary piece of gas pipe 14 with this shank by means of
a threaded coupling 15, in order to extend the length of the shank a sufficient
distance. In other cases, an ordinary piece of gas pipe of sufficient size and length
may be loosely placed with its bore in engagement with said shank, and in such
case the threads upon said shank would of course be omitted.
16 indicates a stay or brace used in carrying out the invention.
It is preferably made of round iron with two parallel arms 17 at one end and an
eye 18 at the opposite end.
The outer ends of the arms 17 are free and provided with sharpened points 19,
by means of which said arms may be readily pushed into the earth during use.
The operation is as follows:-
One end of the wire 20 having been made fast by means of a staple 21, or other
device in common use for such purpose, the pointed end 6 of the body 1 is driven
into a post 22 of the fence, or placed against said post and the free portion of the
wire 20 to be stretched is placed within the slot or recess 5 and the grip lever 7 is
swung around until it lies more or less parallel to the shank of the said body,
thereby gripping the wire between the eccentric edge of the grip-jaw and the
base 12 of said slot, and then the entire device is used as a lever with the post 22
as a fulcrum, to properly stretch said wire, said wire being firmly gripped between
the eccentric edge 10 of said grip-jaw and the base of said slot in the body of the
stretcher.
The overhanging projection 24 prevents the wire from slipping out laterally
during the stretching operation.
In the meanwhile, the stay or brace 16 has been placed in position with its eye 18
cated upon the shank of the stretcher adjacent the inner end thereof, with its
ody inclined and with its arms 19 resting in contact with the ground.
As soon as the operator has properly stretched the wire, the same will be held
automatically stretched, by means of the brace 16 engaging the ground.
All that he need do will be to push the sharpened arms 17 into the earth a
sufficient distance to hold said brace in the position shown in Fig. 5, and he may
then leave the stretcher in this position and walk back along the fence and secure
the wire so stretched to the different posts by means of the staples 21, or other
fastenings, and he may then return and release the wire from the stretcher, and
repeat the operation as often as desired.
I am aware that prior to my invention wire-stretchers had been constructed in
the form of a lever having a sharpened end and arranged to stretch a wire by
clamping same between a fixed jaw and a movable jaw carried by the stretcher,
and I do not broadly claim such.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The combination of a wire stretching device constructed in the form of a lever
and provided with a movable clamping jaw to hold and stretch a wire, and an
anchor 16 having two integral, parallel arms 17 pointed at their outer ends, and a
circular eye 18 at the opposite end which loosely encircles and holds said lever,
substantially as herein specified.
Dated this 21st day of Anril 1894.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.