Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1887
Specification Accepted, 20th Jan., 1888
Dewitt P. Cowl, of 21 Seventh Street, S.E. Washington City, District of Columbia,
United States of America, Gentleman) :-
:-
Figures 1 and 3, are perspective views of the improved nail-set.
Figures 2 and 4, are sectional views thereof.
The invention relates to that class of implements known as "nail-sets"; and it
consists more particularly in the novel construction of the lower concaved end, which
will be hereinafter more fully described.
In the accompanying drawings, the letter, A, indicates the handle or body portion
of the implement, which may be constructed of any suitable material.
B, denotes the point of the same, which is preferably formed tapering, having a
shallow concavity, C, located therein, and a conical or pyramidal point, D figures
1 and 2 preferably projecting slightly beyond the concavity.
The outer edge of this concavity is preferably beveled, as shown at, E, in the accom-
panying drawings. The concavity in the driving end is made shallow for the purpose
of forming a strong biting edge, for should the concavity be deep, the edge would
weaken so much that it would be liable to split or break when engaging hard metal.
In the operation of counter-sinking the head of a nail or tack, the point first enters
said head, and the sharpened edge of the concavity, which has been made so by the
beveling of its outer edge also enters the head, thus distributing the shock of the
blow over the center and body of the nail head, which thus prevents it from being
split or disfigured, obviating the great difficulty experienced with tools now in use
employing sharp points.
From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings, it will be readily seen that the invention is simple, strong in construction,
and exceedingly efficient and satisfactory in its operation.
It will further be seen that the invention is well adapted for straightening nails
which have been driven crookedly, by placing the concave point against the head of

page_text: the nail and forcing it to its desired position by means of suitable power applied to
the opposite end of the implement. The concave end biting in the head of the nail
prevents it from slipping.
I would have it distinctly understood that I reserve to myself the right to make
such changes and modifications as would suggest themselves to an ordinary mechanic,
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
For instance, the conical or pyramidal point, which I have shown projecting slightly
beyond the edge of the concavity, would be just as efficient and would accomplish the
same result if it extended only to the edge of the concavity, which construction I may
prefer to adopt; or if it should be desired, the conical or pyramidal point may be
entirely dispensed with, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, of the accompanying drawings.
Having thus fully described the invention, communicated to me, what I claim as
new and desire to secure by letters patent, is:
1. A nail-set, the driving end of which is formed with a continuous biting-edge, to
engage a nail head, substantially as set forth.
2. A nail-set, having a concavity in its pointed end, in combination with a conical
or pyramidal point located in said cavity.
3. A nail-set, having a concavity in its pointed end, the outer edge of said concavity
being beveled, in combination with a conical or pyramidal point located in said
concavity.
Dated this 12th day of Doombar 1887