Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
A communication from HENRY H. ROCKWELL, Manufacturer, of Milwaukee,
County of Milwaukee, State of Wisconsin, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 111 Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The main objects of this invention are, in the construction of door and panel work,
to employ dowel in place of the ordinary mortise and tenon joints, and to provide
for this purpose a wooden dowel pin, which can be readily driven and will retain
sufficient glue distributed over surface to hold it in place.
It consists essentially of a wooden dowel pin having sharp longitudinal ribs
adapted to embed themselves in the wood into which the pin is driven, shallow
grooves between the ribs adapted to retain glue distributed around the pin
approximately its entire length, and a longitudinal vent groove of sufficient depth
and size to allow the escape of air and surplus glue when the pin is driven home
into the blind holes in the parts to be joined, and of certain peculiarities in the
construction of the joint of which such a dowel pin constitutes a part, hereinafter
particularly described.
In the accompanying drawing like letters designate the same parts in the several
figures.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dowel pin embodying this invention;
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same; and
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a dowel pin showing the method of joining parts
in which the grain of one part runs transverse to that of the other part.
My correspondent is aware that it has been proposed to make doors and similar
panel work with dowel instead of the ordinary mortise and tenon joints, but in
order to produce strong, durable joints a number of things are necessary; first, that
the dowel pins should fit snugly in the holes of both parts to be joined; second,
that sufficient glue to hold them firmly in place shall be distributed over their
surface when driven into such holes; and third, that a vent be provided for the
escape of air and surplus glue, so that the pins may be driven home into the blind
holes in the parts to be joined. Heretofore these several requisites have not been
provided for as contemplated by the improvements.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2. A represents a dowel embodying this invention
preferably made of hard wood and having sharp longitudinal ribs adapted to imbed
themselves in the wood into which the pin is driven, shallow grooves or creases
between the ribs adapted to hold glue, distributed around the pin approximately its
The holes for the reception
entire length, and a deep longitudinal vent groove a.
of the pin are bored according to the texture of the wood and the direction of the
grain a little smaller than the largest diameter of the pin and the sharp edges of
the projecting ribs imbed themselves in the wood into which it is driven, but a
sufficient quantity of glue is distributed and retained in the creases or shallow
grooves between the ribs or beads to produce a strong glue joint throughout the
entire length of the pin, or the greater portion thereof. The deep vent groove a,
in one side of the pin affords an exit for air and surplus glue from the blind holes
into which the pin is driven, thus facilitating the driving of the pin and permitting

page_text: it to be driven completely home. It is obvious that if the furrows or creases
between the ribs or beads are made of sufficient size or depth to afford an exit for
the air and surplus glue, in driving the pin they would not serve the purpose for
which they are designed, to retain glue distributed over the surface of the pin
throughout its length in contact with the contiguous or adjacent surface of the
holes in which it is inserted. One or more. vent grooves of greater depth than the
creases between the ribs are therefore indispensable in connection with the glue
retaining creases or shallow grooves above described.
Referring to Fig. 3 B and C represent two parts to be joined, the grain of the
part B running at right angles to the grain of part C, and the holes in part B being
bored length wise while the holes in part C are bored crosswise of the grain. It has
been found by experience that if the holes for dowel pins of the construction herein-
before described, are bored of the same size in. two parts, a perfect, strong joint will
not be produced, but the pin while it fits tightly in that part. in which. the hole is
bored crosswise of the grain, will fit loosely in that part in which it is bored parallel
with the grain. Therefore in the manufacture of doors and other similar articles.
the boles are made somewhat smaller in the rails or those parts such as B, in which
they are bored lengthwise of the grain, and larger in the stiles or those parts such
as C, in which they are bored crosswise of the grain, the wood being more elastic
and compressible crosswise of the grain. In this way the dowel pin is held with
equal firmness in both parts, and a strong durable joint is produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A wooden dowel pin having longitudinal ribs forming edges adapted to imbed
themselves in the wood into which the pin is driven, shallow grooves or creases
between the ribs adapted to retain glue distributed around the pin approximately
its entire length and a longitudinal vent groove of greater depth than the glue
retaining creases or grooves between the ribs or beads substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. A dowel joint comprising two adjoining parts, one having a hole bored
crosswise of its grain and the other a smaller hole lengthwise of its grain, and a
dowel pin of uniform diameter from end to end driven into the holes in and joining
said parts and having longitudinal ribs forming edges adapted to imbed themselves
in the wood into which the pin is driven shallow glue retaining creases or grooves
between said ribs and a longitudinal vent groove substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 21st day of October 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.