IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOORING CRAMPS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Bardsley, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOORING
CRAMPS."
Sealed the 7th October 1876, and dated the 8th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Bardsley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th July 1876.
JOHN BARDSLEY, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOORING CRAMPS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to the construction of "flooring cramps" einployed for forcing
the flooring planks firmly together and holding them in that position whilst the
nails are being driven in, and consists of a particular arrangement of parts whereby
the cramp is enabled to grip the joist at once without any screwing or fixing, and
the cramp can be used either at the right or left-hand side of the joist as desired.
From the lower side of a plate, which rests on the joist, projects a boss, and at a
suitable distance from this are two pins or pegs (also projecting downwards), and
so fixed in slots that they can be adjusted to fit any particular width of joist so
that when the plate is placed upon a joist the boss is on one side thereof and the
two pins or pegs on the other. Through the centre of the boss runs a vertical pin,
and the upper end of this carries a fork or bearing which is thus capable of swivel-
ling on its vertical axis. Through the lower part of this fork or bearing works
a slide, the forward end of which has a T head, and acts as the cramp in forcing
up the plank. Above this a long lever is hinged which is connected above its
fulcrum by means of a link (or links) to a pin fixed in the slide between the lever
and the head. The handle being in a vertical position the crank can be carried
thereby and the plate placed at the desired part of the joist with the plank just
in front of the T head. The lever being then brought down over the floor the
cramp is thrust forward by a link, and at the same time the thrust not being in a
direct line with the joist (but at one side of it) the plate will be caused to cant a
little to one side and cause the joist to be gripped tightly between the boss and
one of the pins, and the further depression of the lever will force the plank home,
and (as the three centre pins then come into a straight line) will hold it in that
position without any further trouble till the nails have been driven in.
Price Gdl

page_text: It will be observed also that as all the working mechanism is at the side of the
joist the width of the latter is left all clear for driving the nails. By the mere
turning round of the lever the cramp can be reversed so as to work either at the
right or to the left-hand.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Bardsley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th January
1877.
JOHN BARDSLEY, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLOORING CRAMPS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to the construction of "flooring cramps" employed for
forcing the flooring planks firmly together and holding them in that position
whilst the nails are being driven in, and consists of a particular arrangement of
parts whereby the cramp is enabled to grip the joist at once without any screwing
or fixing, and the cramp can be used either at the right or left-hand side of the
joist as desired.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood
I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof.
In the annexed Drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 a front view, and
Fig. 3 a plan view of my improved flooring cramp.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the lever pressed down and the cramp holding
the plank firmly in its position.
Figs. 5 and 6 are side elevation and underneath view of a slight modification of
the same.
From the lower side of a plate a, a, which rests on the joist b; b, projects a
boss c, c, and at a suitable distance from this are two pins or pegs d, d, (also
projecting downwards), and so fixed in slots (see Fig. 3) that they can be adjusted
to fit any particular width of joist, so that when the plate a, a, is placed upon a
joist b, b, the boss c, c, is on one side thereof, and the two pins or pegs d, d, on
the other. Through the centre of the boss c, c, runs a vertical pin, and the upper
end of this carries a fork or bearing e, e, which is thus capable of swivelling on its
vertical axis.. Through the lower part of this fork or bearing works a slide f, f,
the forward end of which has a T head, and acts as the cramp in forcing up the
'plank g, g. Above this a long lever h, h, is hinged, which is connected above its
fulcrum i, i, by means of a link (or links) k, l, to a pin l, l, fixed in the slide f, f
between the lever h, h, and the T head. The handle * being in a vertical position
the cramp can be carried thereby and the plate a, a, placed at the desired part of
the joist b, b, with the plank g, g, just in front of the T head (see Fig. 1). The
iever h, k, being then brought down over the floor; the crank f, f, is thrust forward
by the link k, l, and at the same time the thrust not being in a direct line with
the joist (but at one side of it) the plate a, a, will be caused to cant a little to one
side and cause the joist b, b, to be gripped tightly between the boss c, c, and one
of the pins d, d, and the further depression of the lever will force the plank g, g,
home, and (as the three centre pins i, 1, and 1x then come into a straight line)
will hold it in that position, as seen at Fig. 4, without any further trouble till
the nails have been driven in.
It will be observed also that as all the working mechanism is at the side of the
joist b, b, the width of the latter is left all clear for driving the nails. By the mere
turning round of the lever h, h, the cramp can be reversed so as to work either to
the right or to the left hand.

page_text: In the modification shown at Figs. 5 and 6 a block c³, c¹, and two claws d³, d³,
are substituted for the boss c, c, and pegs 'd, d.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention the particular
construction of flooring cramp, as herein-before described and illustrated by the
Drawing annexed, or any mere modification or imitation thereof, constructed and
operating in substantially the same or a similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Bardsley, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
TATT
JOHN BARDSLEY. (L.S.)