Improvements in Nails, Spikes, Bolts, Screws, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Nails, Spikes, Bolts, Screws, and the like.
I, CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON LANCASTER, of 32, Knoyle Street, New Cross, in the
County of London, Designer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention consists of improvements in nails, spikes, bolts, screws, and the
like, my object being to provide a nail, spike, bolt, screw, or other like article
which when driven in position, is so securely held that, no matter how great a
stress is applied to it, it is practically impossible for it to be withdrawn accident-
ally. My invention is thus specially useful for packing cases which are subject
to rough usage, or it may be used for flooring or general purposes; where
employed for heavy packing cases, however, it will be found possible to dispense
altogether with the iron tie-bands that are now usually employed for taking the
strain off the nails.
For the purposes of this Specification, I will describe my invention in connec-
tion with an ordinary iron nail. I may drill or otherwise form a hole through
the head of the nail extending down through the centre of the nail for a distance,
say, of about an inch or an inch and a half, but the distance will depend to some
extent upon the size of the nail. The hole is then forked in two directions, lead-
ing out to two opposite sides of the nail. The central hole is thus made to
terminate in a sharp ridge, the sides of which slope away to the orifice on either
side.
I provide also a metal staple or split pin, somewhat of the shape of a cotter pin,
its two members lying close together and slightly bevelled off or sharpened at
their feet, so that they will readily separate upon being forced down upon a thin
edge, and said pin is rather longer than the central hole of the nail, though it
is sufficiently small to be easily introduced within the same.
Instead of forming a hole centrally through a portion of the nail, spike or
equivalent, I may for some purposes, form a groove upon the outside of same,
said groove terminating, as in the case of the central hole, in two outwardly
directed channels.
The manner of applying my invention is as follows. The uail, spike, screw 01
the like being driven home, the staple or split pin is inserted in the hole or groove
formed within the same, and tapped or hammered down, when the two feet will
become separated by the tapered ridge, the two sides of which will cause the feet
to curl or bend up slightly as they are forced outwardly into the wood or other
material into which the nail, spike, screw or the like may have been driven. In
this manner a very firm hold is obtained and it will be found that any attempt
to forcibly remove the nail, spike, screw or the like will only result in the pro-
jecting feet holding still faster, the tendency being for the staple or pin to be drawn
further into the hollow of the nail or equivalent.
In cases where it may be desired to withdraw the nail, spike, screw or the
like, I may make the staple or pin of fusible metal, which upon the application, say,
of a red hot iron, would soften and no longer resist the power applied for this
purpose.

page_text: It is obvious that I may in some cases use only a single instead of a split or
double pin, the hole or groove continuing outwardly on one side only of the mail
or equivalent, sufficient hold being given by the pin for various kinds of purposes.
In conclusion I would state that I do not wish to confine myself to any parti-
cular shape or proportion in any part of my aforesaid invention.
Dated this 4th day of May 1897
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
7 and 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
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I, CHRISTOPHER JOINSON LANCASTER, of 32 Knoyle Street, New Cross in the
County of London, Designer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner it is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
•
The object of my invention is to provide a uail, spike, bolt, screw or like article
which, after being driven or placed in position is so securely held by means of
an accompanying device that no matter how great a force may be applied, it is
practically impossible for it to be withdrawn accidentally.
My invention is thus specially useful in making or closing down packing cases
or securing metal work to wood or for flooring, timber erections and general
purposes, and is particularly applicable to Railway and like spikes for securing
Railway chairs, bridge rails and the like to sleepers, ties or baulks, and when
employed in the construction of heavy packing cases, it may be found possible in
many instances to dispense with the metal tie-bands now used for taking the
strain off the nails.
In the following description of my invention, I shall refer to the accompany-
ing sheet of drawings, whereon,
Figure 1 is a section of a railway or similar spike prepared in accordance with
my present Specification.
Figures 2 and 3 show respectively an ordinary screw and a carriage screw or bolt
fitted with my device after being driven into position.
Figure 4 represents the staple, cotter or split pin for use with the spike
shown in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a sectional view showing a spike furnished with my device, and
connecting or holding down a metal bar to a baulk of timber.
I will now describe my invention as applied to a railway or heavy spike, but
it will be seen that, practically, the same construction would apply to nails,
screws, bolts and similar driven fastenings. I drill or otherwise form a vertical
hole or channel B through the head of the spike A, Figure 1, preferably at or
near the centre thereof and extending downwards a convenient distance, and at
a point, say C, I stamp or otherwise form two holes ] 1) extending from two
opposite points on the outside into the body of the spike and communicating with
the lower end of channel B. Said holes D D are preferably wedge shaped as
shown, but may be of any other suitable form, meeting at such an angle as to
present a ridge E or an edged projecting portion being provided, falling as nearly
as possible within the centre line of channel B of which the said ridge or pro-
jecting portion E forms the lower termination. It would, however, in some cases,
be possible to carry out the principle of my invention without actually having a
ridge E, but causing the holes D D to meet in line with one another at their

page_text: junction with the bottom of channel 13. I provide also a metallic staple, cotter
or split pin as shown by Figure 4 having its two members or legs lying close
together and being bevelled off or sharpened at their ends or feet so that they
will readily separate when forced against a ridge or raised edge, or in some cases,
event a flat surface, the feet being previously slightly splayed out if desired.
The cotter or staple, Figure 4, is made of sufficient length in each leg to pass
through the entire length of the channel B and project beyond the side holes 1) D
as far as may be considered necessary.
My invention is used as follows. The spike is first passed say, through a hole
in a metal plate H, Figure 5, and then driven home, say into a baulk J, and when
in position, the staple or cotter K is inserted in the hole or channel B and tapped
or hammered down, when the feet F F will become separated by the ridge E, or
where there may be no such ridge by being forced upon the flat termination of
the channel B, and become diverted through the side holes D D, the said feet, as
they continue to be forced outwardly, bending or curling up within the timber
or other material into which they are being driven. In this manner a very firm
hold is obtained, and it will be found that any ordinary attempt to withdraw
the spike will only result in the projecting feet holding faster, the tendency being
for the staple or pin K to be drawn further into the hollow of the spike, screw,
or nail.
In cases where it is necessary to withdraw the spike or nail, I may make the
staple K of fusible metal, which upon heat or a red hot iron being applied would
soften and no longer resist the power applied to withdraw the spike or nail.
It will be seen that my invention can be readily adapted to screws and bolts
as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and in some cases I may find it desirable to form
the channel as a groove in one side of the spike, only the said groove terminating.
in two lateral holes or grooves for the purpose described.
It is obvious that I may in some cases use only a single instead of a split or
double pin, the hole or groove continuing outwardly on one side only of the nail
or equivalent, sufficient hold being given by the pin for various kinds of purposes.
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:
1. A spike, screw, bolt or. nail having a hole, cliannel or groove such as B,
throughout a portion of its length, terminating in two opposite holes such as D) D
leading outwardly, (or one only) in combination with a staple, cotter, split or
other pin of greater length than the channel B, (such as shown by Figure 4)
having its feet or extremities bevelled, the said staple, cotter or pin, being forced
through the channel after the spike or the like has been driven home so that the
legs project beyond the spike or the like and penetrate the timber or other material
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
2. The improvements in nails, spikes, bolts, screws and the like, substantially
as hereinbefore described with,reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of August 1897.
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
7 and 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.