SECURING THE STRINGS OF TARPAULINS OR COVERINGS OF RAILWAY AND OTHER WAGONS, WINDOW VENETIAN-BLIND CORDS, SHIP SAILS LAUNDRY CLOTHS DRYING ROPES, OR ANY SUCH PURPOSE to
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 28th Sept., 1888
1. HENRY WILLIAMS of Gowan-Brae Crosshill Glasgow Renfrewshire, Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for SECURING THE STRINGS OF
TARPAULINS OR COVERINGS OF RAILWAY AND OTHER WAGONS, WINDOW
VENETIAN-BLIND CORDS, SHIP SAILS LAUNDRY CLOTHS DRYING ROPES, OR ANY
SUCH PURPOSE to be as follows:-
OR
This invention relates to improvements in a mechanical device for the instantaneous
fastening or loosening of the String, Cords, or Ropes, refered to, and whereby the very
minimum of unskilled labour and time will be employed, in securing or releasing the
Tarpaulins or Coverings, Blind Cords, Ship Sails, or Laundry drying lines and such-
and at the same time giving the very maximum of efficiency and security.
In carrying this invention into practice I fix my improved fastener to either the
framing or body of a Railway Wagon, or other Vehicle, or where most conveniant to
suite its employment, so as the cords or cord to be secured can easily be drawn and
attached thereto, by merely lapping the cord into the fastener, which fastener I design
of a clout nail appearance with a double flanged head, preferably about three
inches in diameter and made in malleable cast iron or steel, and arround this head in
its external cercumferance I arrange a V shaped slot or groove which slot is to receive
and fasten the cords or cord lapped therin.
Another modification of the same device, consists of forming it of two conical or
mushroom shaped washers of the same diameter three inches as before prefered.
The conical side of each washer facing each other, with a thin flat washer preferably
not more than three quarters of an inch on its outside diameter, fixed in between the
two conical shaped washers at their center and there rivited or screwed firmly together
as of one piece or casting, and thus by their conical shape so fixed, form the required
V shaped slot or groove in the circumferance to receive and fasten the cords or cord-

page_text: in this case of construction I would either extend, the center rivit or screw on one
side of the fastener so as to form a spike or nail for securing same to its intended
structure or, I would form two lugs or projecting parts, one on each opposite side
of one of the conical shaped washers, so as to enable such to be secured to its structure
by screws or bolts or nails or their equivelant.
A further modification, consists in the fastener being constructed, "in appearance
alike a three pronged fork," of a center pin or spike with a prong on each opposite
side of it, whereby the slots between the main center pin or spike and the prongs will
be of a shape to receive and fasten the cords or cord.
Dated this 1st day of December 1887.

page_text: I, HENRY WILLIAMS of Gowan Brae Crosshill Glasgow Renfrewshire, Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for SECURING THE STRINGS OF
TARPAULINS OR COVERINGS OF RAILWAY AND OTHER WAGONS, SHIP-SAILS,
LAUNDRY CLOTHES DRYING ROPES, OR ANY SUCH LIKE PURPOSE, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to, improvements in a mechanical device for the instantaneous
fastening or loosening of the Strings, Cords, or Ropes of Tarpaulins or coverings of
Railway and other Wagons, Ship-sails, Laundry cloths drying Ropes, or any such
like purpose, and whereby the very minimum of unskilled labour and time will be
employed in securing or releasing the Tarpaulins or coverings, Ship-sails, Laundry
drying Lines, and such like purposes, and at the same time giving the very maximime
of efficency and security.
According to my invention 1 fix my improved fastener to either the framing or
body of a Railway Wagon, or other Vehicle, or where most conveniant to suite its
employment, so that the cord or cords to be secured can easily be drawn and attached
thereto, by merely lapping the cord or Rope into the fastener, which fastener I design
of a clout nail appearance with a double flanged head preferably about three
inches in diameter, and preferably made of malleable cast iron or steel, and
around this head in its external circumferance I arrange a V shaped slot or groove,
which slot or groove is to receive and fasten the cord or cords lapped therein.
Another modification of the same device consists in forming it of two conical
mushroom shaped washers of the same diameter three inches, as before mentioned.
The conical side of each washer facing each other, with a thin flat washer or mid-
feather, preferable not more than three quarters of an inch on its outside diametre,
fixed in between the two conical shaped washers, at their center, and there rivited or
secured firmly togeather as of one piece or casting, and thus by their conical shape
so fixed, forms the required V shaped slot or groove in the circumferance of the
complete fastener, to receive and fasten the cord or cords. In this construction of
fastener I would either extend the center rivit or screw on one side of the fastener so
as to form a spike or nail for securing same to its intended structure, or I would form
two or more lugs or projecting parts, one on each opposite side of circumference of
one of the conical shaped washers, so as to enable such to be secured to its structure
by screws, or bolts, or nails or their equivelant.
A further modification, consists in the fastener being constructed "in appearance
like a three pronged fork," of a center pin or spike with a prong on each opposite side
of it, whereby the slots between the main center pin or spike and the prongs will be
of a V shaped to receive and fasten the cord or cords.
In order to enable others skilled in the art and uses to which my invention relates,
and to understand the manufacture and adaptation, and to carry my improvements.

page_text: into effect or practice, I have hereunto appended an explanetory sheet of drawings,
in which the same referance letters are used to indecate the same or equivolant parts
in all the figures as shown:-Figure 1 is a Front Face View, and Figure 2 is a
transverse vertical section taken on line I--I of Figure 1, showing one arrangement
of my improved Fastener as intended generally for the securing of Tarpaulin Sheet
strings of Railway Wagons or Vehicles. Figure 3 is a plan view, and figure 4 is a
side view of a modified arrangement of my Fastener, as also generally intended for
securing the Tarpaulin Sheet Strings of Railway Vehicles. Figure 5 is a Front Face
View, and Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line I - - I of figure 5,
of my modified form or arrangement of my Fastener as I intend generally for
securing Ship or Boat-sail cords, Laundry drying cords, Ropes, and such like cords
or Ropes.
Referring to the arrangement of my improved String, Cord or Rope fastener shown
in Figures 1 and 2, I employ a pair of flanges, shields, or washer like parts A and A¹
cast to form a V channel or groove in their complete circumferance, so as to grip or
secure the cord or Rope e in its entire lap, within the V channel or groove C. C.
Between these flanges A. A', in the center I arrange a space or midfeather B, which
I continue on one side so as to form the square spike or nail part of the Fastener B¹,
which is cast or formed square, or its equivalent form, and on the opposite or Front
face side, I arrange a continuation of the spike B2, this to form, and indeed be used
as a hammer driving mark or surface, so as to avoid all damage being done to the
fastener itself, when being driven into its intended place of fixing. On the face side
shown in figure 1, 1 cast or otherwise mark the words, Sheet String Fastener, or
other suitable words, as shown which are intended to immediately convey to the
Railway employees or others the uses of the Appliance. Thus it will be seen the
complete fastener as shown in figures 1 and 2, is a rigid construction, being cast or
formed all in one piece, and having its spike part B formed square Longitudinal
Ways, so as to give possitive rigidity in its fixings, and so prevent its rotation or
turning when being used. In the arrangement of my cord, string, or Rope Fastener
shown in figures 3 and 4, I arrange a device similar in appearance to a three pronged
fork. A being the main center stem or prong, with a projecting flang or rib on one
side only A3, having a serrated or friction gripping edge or surface, and having on
each of the two opposite sides of its main stem A, and at right angles to the pro-
jecting flange or rib A³, wings or prongs A¹, A¹, cast or otherwise rigidly secured
thereto, so as to form a tapering V or claw space . C to grip the rope or string
when being lapped or twisted therein. One part of the main center stem or prong A,
I extend longitudinally so as to form a square spike B', for driving into its place of
fixing preferably up to the shoulders A2, formed by the two outer prongs A', A.
Thus when the Cord, String, or Rope, is pulled tightly once through the both
V spaces C. Cand round or over the projecting rib or flange A³ the cord, string, or
Rope will by this very simple means of self gripping be securely fastened in its
intended place and position-B2 is the part of complete casting or organ left projecting
beyond the side prongs to act as the hammer mark or spot for driving the complete
fastener into its position of fixing. Referring to the arrangement of my cord, Rope,
or string fastener shown in figures 5 and 6, in this form or modification, I arrange
the whole of the four parts, comprising two conical or mushroom shaped washers A. A'
secured together by a suitable rivit B3 or other fastening, between which washers A. A¹
I arrange a flat faced washer or midfeather B to determine the narrowest part or
space C between the two connical shaped Washers A. A¹. Thus when complete these
parts form a pulley shaped structure or organ, with a V shaped groove or space C. C.
in its outer circumference and thereby I provide the very same means, and device, as
shown in Figures 1 and 2, for fastening the cord, string, or Rope c'intended to be
secured In this modification I arrange on the back washer A¹, two or three pro-
jections D in each of which I form a small hole to receive a screw, nail, or bolt for
fixing the complete fastener into its intended fixing. Or I may if desired extend the
center rivit or screw B³ so as to form a square spike or other suitable fixings for same,
as shown at B in figures 1 to 4.
.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The construction or arrangements and combinations of the part or parts of
Fasteners or such organ, for securing Railway Tarpaulin Sheet Strings, Boat or
Ship-sail Ropes or Strings, Laundry drying Ropes, and such like purposes, sub-
stantially as and for the advantages herein described and distinguished in referance to
and shown in Figures 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, respectively of the accompanying
drawings.
Second. A Fastener or such organ for securing Railway Wagon Tarpaulin Sheet
Strings, Boat or Ship Sail Ropes or Strings, Laundry drying Ropes, and strings or
Ropes used for such purposes, consisting of a device formed like a double flanged or
pulley shaped head, mounted or otherwise rigidly cast or secured to its spike or organ
for fixing with a V shaped groove or equivalent rigid gripping space formed in the
head, to receive such cords, strings, or Ropes, wherein the fastener pertakes of a
single rigid body, or combination of parts to form such body, constructed substantially
as and in the manner herein described and destinguished in reference to and shown
in Figures 1 and 2, and 5 and 6, respectively of the accompanying drawings.
Third. A Fastener or Organ for securing Railway Wagon Tarpaulin Sheet Strings,
Boat or Ship Sail Ropes or Strings, Laundry drying Ropes, and Strings or Ropes
used for such purposes, consisting of a device formed of a main central prong Stem
or Spike, with a square or eqivalent fixing part and having two prongs Wings or
Fangs fixed or cast respectively on its diametrical opposite sides so as to provide a
duplex tapering or claw gripping space for the cords or Ropes and either with or
without a projecting flange or Rib with serated teeth or friction gripping edge,
constructed substantially as and in the manner herein described in reference to and
shown in Figures 3 and 4, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Fifteenth day of August 1888.