Improved Sheet-metal Clamp for Making Joints or Connections in Boxes of Card-board or the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Sheet-metal Clamp for Making Joints or Connections in
Boxes of Card-board or the like.
1
I, JOSEF TEMLER, of Warsaw, in the Empire of Russia, and of 30 to 34,
Tabernacle Street, in the County of London, Manufacturer, 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: —
illus-
A metal clamp for making joints in boxes of cardboard or the like as
trated in plan in Fig. 1, and in elevation in Fig. 2 of the accompanying draw-
ings, is well known. It consists of a strip or band of sheet metal, a, from the
surface of which project groups of spikes or points b, these points being
usually formed by driving a suitable punch into the band or strip, whereby a
hole is produced and the metal driven through by the punch is formed into a
group of (generally four) spikes, the groups of points or spikes being arranged
in two straight parallel rows.
To make the joint or connection a piece of suitable length is cut off of the
band of clamps (made in long lengths) and so placed on the parts p, p' Fig. 3
of the box to be connected that the clamp lies half on each of the parts, the
spikes being turned towards the parts to be joined. A blow on the clamp then
forces the spikes into the card-board and the clamp thus being fixed on the two
pieces of board, unites them.
'
Now the object of the present invention is to increase the strength of the
joints made by means of sheet-metal clamps of the kind hereinabove referred to,
i.e. having groups of spikes.
This improvement is based on the consideration that a joint will be stronger
in proportion as the clamp employed in making it has more groups of spikes
for a given unit of length.
This improvement theretore consists in this, that contrary to the arrangement
illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the groups of spikes or points are arranged along
the outline of suitable geometrical figures, so as to increase the number of such
groups.
Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings illustrate such an improved clamp in which the
groups of spikes b are arranged in circles, the band or strip a being correspond-
ingly scolloped in segments of circles.
Fig. 6 shows the improved clamp with the groups of spikes arranged in
ellipses, the minor axes of the ellipses being parallel to the length of the strip.
Fig. 7 shows one with groups of spikes forming ellipses whose major axes are
parallel with the length of the strip. In both these cases the edges of the strip
is scolloped in segments of ellipses.
Fig. 8 shows the groups of spikes arranged in squares the diagonals of which
are parallel to the length of the strip, the edges of the latter being cut into angles
accordingly.
The groups of spikes may also be arranged on the outline of polygonal
figures.
Compared with a clamp of the same length and with the same distance

page_text: between the groups of spikes, the latter being arranged in two straight rows as
shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the number of groups in the improved clamp is:
1. In the form shown in Fig. 4, as double the diameter of a circle is to the
periphery;
2. In the form shown in Fig. 6, as twice the minor axis is to the periphery:
3. In the form shown in Fig. 7, as twice the major axis of an ellipse to its
periphery, and,
4. In the form shown in Fig. 8, as the diagonal of a square is to two sides of
the same.
Similar proportions in the number of groups will be found in all clamps in
which the groups of spikes are arranged on the outlines of any geometrical
figure.
Such improved clamp-strip presents, as shown in Figs. 4, 6, 7 and 8 of the
drawings, the appearance of a chain whose links are joined at the narrow edge
and are of circular, elliptical, square, or polygonal, shapes respectively.
According to the length of the joint to be produced with the improved clamp
strip, pieces of suitable length are cut off from the length of strip, but always
so as to consist of entire links only. The meeting edge between two links in all
cases is the point where the strip is to be severed. Thereby the improved clamp,
compared with that represented in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, presents the
following further advantages:
In the form of clamp hitherto in use as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the point
where the strip is severed leaves a broad edge, the piece cut off has at each side
a sharp edge, and the severed part has a burr. This burr and especially the
sharp edges, of the strip not only make the joints rough, but, particularly if they
project slightly over the cardboard, form points by which persons with soft fingers
may readily injure themselves. With joints made with this improved clamp
this is impossible as the line of severance is short and the angles made by such
cut with the edges are so blunt as to appear rounded.
The manner of using the improved clamps is the same as that practiced with
those previously known. The clamp is so placed on the two parts to be joined
thereby, as to rest on each with half its width, and is fixed by a blow upon the
same. Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings show joints in which the parts to be con-
nected are in the same plane. In the one an improved clamp consisting of
several links is used, in the other such a clamp consisting of a single link.
Figs. 11 and 12 show a corner joint made with a clamp consisting of one link,
and one with several links respectively.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
In a clamp such as described having groups of spikes or points, for making
joints in cardboard and the like, the following improvements.
1. The arrangement of the groups of spikes or points b, on the outlines of
geometrical figures for the purpose of increasing the holding power of the joint
made with such clamp by increasing the number of groups of spikes in a given
length of clamp-strip.
2. Scolloping the edge of the clamp-strip so as to correspond with the geome-
trical figures in which the clamp-spikes or points are arranged for the purpose
of rounding or narrowing the ends of the clamps cut from such clamp strip.
Dated the 17th day of December 1898.
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.