An Improved System of Jointing for Joining up Boxes and for the like Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved System of Jointing for Joining up Boxes and for the like
Purposes.
We, CILARLES D'ESPINE, and EDOUARD ACHIARD, of 52, Quai de la Marne, Paris,
in the Republic of France, Manufacturing Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to an improved system of joining up planks and
boards of all kinds, replacing, gluing, screwing, nailing and the like, and is
more particularly applicable in the manufacture of boxes, but also for making
all the joints arising in carpentry, cabinet-making and the like.
The system of joining which forms the object of the present invention is very
simply carried out, it being only necessary to have at disposal a small mechanical
saw, which 1or that matter is indispensable in the manufacture of boxes or in
carpentry.
In case two suitable planks are to be joined so as to form between them a
right angle, if the ends of these planks are prepared to form a mitre joint
at 45° on each of the faces of the joint, two little saw cuts or grooves are made
forming between them an angle of 90° and an angle of 45° with the plane of the
joint. Of course the width and depth of these grooves will vary according to
the dimensions of the planks or boards to be joined but in any case they must
not affect the solidity of the joint.
The forming of the grooves in each of the faces of the joint being thus com-
pleted, the parts to be joined are brought together. The four grooves thus
placed in juxtaposition form an interstice in the form of a cross, which extends
across the width of the planks or boards. In order to complete the joint it is
then sufficient to force into this free space or interstice a key the section of which
which also has the form of a cross exactly corresponding with the interstice
formed by the juxtaposed grooves. When the key has thus been put in its
place, it is impossible to separate the two planks or boards and their joint will
be perfect and of great solidity (very firm).
If a box be considered it will be easily seen that the system of joining herein-
before described may be utilised for the four lateral faces forming the frame of
the box; for this purpose four keys will be necessary, and they will correspond
to the four vertical corner joints. If desired the said joining might also be
employed for the other joints of the box. In this latter case it is necessary that
the keys be a little shorter than the lengths of the joints so that none of the
keys oppose the passage of a key perpendicular to each of its ends.
A box may thus be obtained hermetically closed by the use of twelve keys,
four by four, perpendicular to one another.
It is understood that the method of joining hereinbefore described may also
be employed for the faces and bottom of a box, the lid being fixed on in any
suitable way (nailed, screwed, fitted by means of grooves, etcetera), in order to
facilitate the opening.
The said system of joining may also be employed for connecting planks or

page_text: boards end to end or even for very easily and solidly joining two boards on the
flat. In this latter case the joining serves also as a protection against the
warping of the joined planks. In order to join the planks or boards at right
angles, it is not necessary that the mitre faces shall be at 45°, this angle may
vary and in any case this improved method of joining is applicable. The joint
may also be made with boards at right angles without mitre faces. This arrange-
ment may of course be employed for making boxes or cases.
A modification of the key joint hereinbefore described consists in the separa-
tion of the two arms of the cross shaped key, these two parts being driven into
two grooves made for the purpose at different points of the same board and
forming between them an angle of about 90°.
This improved system of joining is applicable to any kind of material em-
ployed for the manufacture of articles to be joined, it is applicable for joining
planks of any thickness, and the keys may be of any suitable sizes and made of
any sufficiently resistant material, such as wood, metal, ebonite, celluloid, or
the like. In ordinary practice in making boxes and making carpentry joints
these keys are preferably of metal (iron, steel, copper or the like).
Dated this 22nd day of December 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicants.
An Improved System of Jointing for Joining up Boxes and for the like
Purposes,
We, CHARLES D'ESPINE and EDOUARD ACHARD, of 52, Quai de la Marne, Paris,
in the Republic of France, Manufacturing Engineers, 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 present invention relates to an improved system of joining up planks and
boards of all kinds, replacing, gluing, screwing, nailing and the like and is
more particularly applicable in the manufacture of boxes but also for making
all the joints arising in carpentry, cabinet-making and the like.
This improved system of joining up or assembling is shown in the accom-
panying drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows two planks ready to be joined at right angles.
Figure 2 shows these planks joined.
Figure 3 is an isometrical view of a box or case.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 are respectively a longitudinal-transverse and horizontal
section of a box or case made by this improved method of joining.
Figures 7 and 8 show the application of this system of joining for connecting.
any two suitable planks;
Figure 9 shows another mode of application of this system of joining.
Figure 10 is a modification.
The system of joining which forms the object of the present invention is very
simply carried out it being only necessary to have at disposal a small mechanical
which for that matter is indispensable in the manufacture of boxes or in
carpentry.
saw,
In case two suitable planks are to be joined so as to form between them a
right angle, if the ends of these planks are prepared to form a mitre joint
at 45° as shown in Figure 1 on each of the faces A and B of the joint two little

page_text: saw cuts or grooves e d are made forming between them an angle of 90° and an
angle of 450 with the plane of the joint. Of course the width and depth of
these grooves c&d will vary according to the dimensions of the planks or boards
to be joined but in any case they must not affect the solidity of the joint.
The forming of the grooves in each of the faces A and B of the joint being
thus completed, the parts. to be joined are brought together as shown in Figure 2.
The four grooves c d d thus placed in juxtaposition form an interstice in the
form of a cross, which extends across the width of the planks or boards. In order
to complete the joint it is then sufficient to force into this free space or inter-
stice a key D, the section of which also has the form of a cross exactly corre-
sponding with the interstice formed by the juxtaposed grooves. When the key D
has thus been put in its place it is impossible to separate the two planks or
boards and their joint will be perfect and of great solidity (very firm).
If the box shown isometrically in Figure 3 be considered it will be easily seen
that the system of joining herein before described may be utilized for the four
lateral faces forming the frame of the box; for this purpose 4 keys D will be
necessary and they will correspond to the corners 1-4, 2-3, 5-7, 6-8. If
desired the said joining might also be employed for the joints corresponding to
the corners 1-6, 2-5, 3-7 and 4-8 as well as for the joints corresponding to
the corners 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8. In this case it is necessary that the keys D
be a little shorter than the lengths of the joints so that none of the keys oppose
the passage of a key perpendicular to each of its ends.
A box may thus be obtained hermetically closed by the use of 12 keys D.
four by four, perpendicular to one another.
It is understood that the method of joining herein before described may also
be employed for the faces and bottom of a box, the lid being fixed on in any
suitable way (nailed, screwed, fitted by means of grooves etcetera) in order to
facilitate the opening.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings show in detail a box all the faces of which
are joined in the manner herein before described, by means of twelve keys D.
The said system of joining may also be employed for connecting planks or
boards end to end as shown in Figure 7 or even for very easily and solidly
joining two boards on the flat as shown in Figure 8. In this latter case the
joining serves also as a protection against the warping of the joined planks.
In order to join the planks or boards at right angles it is not necessary that
the mitre faces shall be at 45°, this angle may vary and in any case this improved
method of joining is applicable.
Figure 9 shows the application of this method of joining to boards connected
at right angles but without mitre faces. This arrangement may of course be
employed for making boxes or cases.
A modification of the key joint hereinbefore described is shown in Figure 10.
This modification consists in the separation of the two arms of the cross shaped
key D, these two parts D being driven into two grooves made for the purpose
at different points of the same board and forming between them an angle of
about 90°.
This improved system of joining is applicable to any kind of material employed
for the manufacture of articles to be joined, it is applicable for joining planks
of any thickness, and the keys D and D¹ may be of any suitable sizes and made
of any sufficiently resistant material such as wood, metal, ebonite, celluloid or
the like. In ordinary practice in making boxes and making carpentry joints
these keys are preferably of metal (iron, steel, copper or the like).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. For the joining of pieces of wood or other material intended for the manu-
facture of boxes or other purposes, the application and use of a cross-shaped

page_text: key made of metal or other hard material in combination with grooves formed
for the purpose along the entire length of the joints substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.
2. For the joining of pieces of wood or other material the application and
combined use of two half keys made of metal or other hard material, in com-
bination with grooves formed for the purpose obliquely in two different parts
of the same piece, forming between them a suitable angle and arranged along
the whole length of the joints, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of September 1900
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicants.