IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR MAKING ATTACHMENTS TO, OR CONNECTING ROPES OR CORDS TOGETHER, OR TO OTHER OBJECTS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Daniel Sprague of Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, in
the County of Surrey for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES
FOR MAKING ATTACHMENTS TO, OR CONNECTING ROPES OR CORDS TOGETHER,
OR TO OTHER OBJECTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Daniel Sprague at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st July 1883.
JOHN DANIEL SPRAGUE of Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood in the County of
Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR MAKING ATTACHMENTS TO, OR
CONNECTING ROPES OR CORDS TOGETHER, OR TO OTHER OBJECTS,"
This invention has for its object the construction of appliances whereby many
kinds of cords or ropes may be joined or connected together, or to other objects or
articles, and is specially applicable to ropes or cords made of wire.
The invention consists in making the appliances of several different forms,
according to the purposes for which they are to be used. Where only two cords
have to be connected together the appliance or connector consists of a round piece
of metal having a very broad slot through its centre extending about one third of
its whole length. If the cords to be connected are of equal diameter a hole is
formed in the centre of each end of the connector, in the line of its axis, and these
holes are made taper, the largest part of the hole terminating in the slot before
mentioned. To connect the cords all that is necessary is to pass one of the cords
either into the slot and out through the hole, or through the hole and out at the
slot. The extremities of the strands of the cord are then untwisted and turned
back, in, and towards the centre, for a distance of about twice the diameter of the
cord. If the cord be of hemp or other fibrous material it will be necessary to
temporarily secure the strands so turned back by tying or some slight cement, but
if of wire they may be bent back closely enough to dispense with tying. On
pulling the opposite end of the cord, the thickened end will be drawn into the
taper hole, and the greater force, short of a breaking strain, that is applied, the
Price 1

page_text: tighter will the cord be jammed in the hole. The other cord having been passed
through the hole in the opposite end and treated the same way, the two cords
become connected through the intervention of the appliance or connector, in a
neat and most efficient manner. Where several cords have to be connected
together it is only necessary to have a suitable number of holes formed in the ends
of the connector, and they may then be joined with very little more trouble than
where there are only two..
Where cords have to be fastened to articles like eyes, eyelets, links, or hooks,
for instance, the connector may be made part of the article, a taper hole being
formed through the part serving as the connector, and the cord secured as before."
For attaching cords to sash weights and such like articles the connector need be
only a piece of metal of such size and form as will hang within the usual slotted
hole in the weight, the said piece of metal or connector having a taper hole formed
therein as before described, and the cord to be attached being treated in the
manner before mentioned, a very excellent attachment is secured.
A special advantage of these forms of connectors is that so little cord is taken
up in making the connection, besides the facility afforded.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Daniel Sprague in the Patent Office on the 21st January
1884.
JOHN DANIEL SPRAGUE, formerly of Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, in the
County of Surrey, but now of 20 Parliament Street, in the City of Westminster
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR MAKING ATTACHMENTS TO, OR CONNECTING
ROPES OR CORDS TOGETHER, OR TO OTHER OBJECTS"
"
This invention has for its object the construction of appliances whereby many
kinds of cords or ropes may be joined or connected together, or to other objects, or
articles, and is specially applicable to ropes or cords made of wire.
The invention consists in making the appliances of several different forms
according to the purposes for which they are to be used. Where, only two cords
have to be connected together, the appliance or connector consists of a round piece
of metal having a very broad slot through its centre, extending about one third of
its whole length. If the cords to be connected are of equal diameter, a hole is
formed in the centre of each end of the connector in the line of its axis, and these
holes are made taper, the largest part of the hole terminating in the slot before
mentioned. To connect the cords all that is necessary is to pass one of the cords
either into the slot and out through the hole, or through the hole and out at the
slot. The extremities of the strands of the cord are then untwisted and turned
back, in, and towards the centre for a distance about twice the diameter of the
cord. If the cord be of hemp or other. fibrous material it will be necessary to
temporarily secure the strands so turned back by tying, or by some slight cement,
but if of wire they may be bent back closely enough to dispense with tying On
pulling the opposite end of the cord, the thickened end will be drawn into the
taper hole, and the greater the force applied the tighter will the cord be jammed in
the hole. The other cord having been passed through the hole in the opposite
end and treated the same way, the two cords become connected through the
intervention of the appliance, or connector, in a neat and most efficient manner.
Where several cords have to be connected together, it is only necessary to have a
suitable number of holes formed in the ends of the connector, and they may then
be joined with very little more trouble than where there are only two.
When cords have to be fastened to articles like eyes, eyelets, links, or hooks for
instance, the connector may be made part of the article, a taper hole being formed
through the part serving as the connector, and the cord secured as before.
For attaching cords to sash weights and such like articles the connector need be
only a piece of metal of such size and form as will hang within the usual slotted
hole in the weight, the said piece of metal or connector having a taper hole
formed therein as before described, and the cord to be attached being treated in the
manner before mentioned, a very excellent attachment is secured.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood drawings are
attached hereto of which the following is a description, similar letters referring to
the same parts in each view. Fig 1 is an elevation of a connector for joining two
ropes or cords together. Fig 2 is a sectional elevation of the same. Fig 3 is a
section through A. B Fig 1,-and Fig 4 is a plan of both top and bottom of the
appliance. In Fig 1C is the connector with its slot D, and E, E in Figs 2, 3
and 4 are the taper holes into which the end of the rope is jammed. Fig 5 is an
elevation of the form of a connector for attaching one rope at the top end and two
ropes at the bottom. Fig 6 is a sectional elevation of Fig 5. Fig 7 is a plan of
the top of Fig 5. Fig 8 is a section through F, G, Fig 6.-Fig 9 is a section

page_text: through H, I of Fig 5, and Fig 10 is a plan of the bottom of Fig 5.-Fig 11 is an
elevation of a connector for joining one rope at its top end and three ropes at the
bottom end. Fig 12 is a sectional elevation of the same. Fig 13 is a section
through J, K, of Fig 11, and Fig 14 is a plan of the bottom of Fig Il. Connectors
for joining one rope to three or more cords may be made with the holes in a line
as in Figs 5 and 6.-Fig 15 shows a sectional elevation of a connector adapted for
joining a rope or cord to a hook, and Fig 16 a similar view of a connector
applicable to an eye. Fig 17 shows a section of two connectors joined together by
a swivel at L.-Fig 18 shows a connector formed with a pair of links cast together,
the upper one being in perspective elevation and the lower one in sectional
elevation. In Fig 19 is seen a connector M adapted for attaching a cord to a sash
weight, N being the cord inserted in the connector previous to being drawn tight.
therein. Fig 20 exhibits the manner in which the strands of the rope N are
untwisted and the ends O, O turned upwards and inwards before being drawn into
the taper hole. In the event of the whole being somewhat too large for the cord
or rope, the strands, or some of them may be turned both upwards and inwards and
then downwards; thus swelling the size of the rope at the necessary spot.
A special advantage of these forms of connectors is that so little cord is taken up
in making the connection, besides the facility afforded, and at the same time
connectors such as are shown in Figs 1, 5 and 11 are cast or formed in one piece.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this invention
and the manner in which the same is, or may be used, or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise
details or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this
invention; but wliat I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the
invention secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,
The construction of connectors, or appliances for connecting ropes or cords
together, or to other objects, as herein described and shown on the drawings:
In witness whereof 'I the said John Daniel Sprague have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty first day of January in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty four.