Improvements in Grip-couplings applicable to Studs or the like, and also for Connecting the Ends of Chains, Ropes, Slings, and other Analogous Purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 18th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Grip-couplings applicable to Studs or the like, and
also for Connecting the Ends of Chains, Ropes, Slings, and other
Analogous Purposes.
We, WILLIAM COATES, of Marlborough Street, Gainsborough, in the County of
Lincoln, Clerk, and WALTER HORNE, of Gordon Street, Gainsborough, in the County
of Lincoln, Electrician, 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 object of our invention is to provide a simple and efficient form of coupling
consisting of a socket and stem so arranged that the said stem when pressed into the
socket is held there securely by grips or jaws, the socket being so arranged that by
turning the parts to a certain position the stem is automatically released from the
socket. This form of grip-coupling is applicable to shirt studs, solitaires, or may be
used for connecting the ends of chains, ropes, slings, or for other analogous purposes.
We will now describe our invention as applied to a stud with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
Fig. 1 shows the cap or socket a being a plan and b a sectional elevation. In the
underside of the cap is a circular opening or hole c which develops into an elliptical
or oval cavity d the minor axis of which exactly coincides with the diameter of the
circular hole so that in the direction of the major axis, of the ellipse ridges or steps e e
are formed as shown by the shaded portions in Fig. 3.
Fig. 2 shows the stem consisting of two arms having grips or jaws ff at their ex-
tremities with a curved outline on their outer surface and being square on the under-
side to engage with the ridges or steps in the socket.
The arms which carry the grips may be made of spring steel or other flexible
material, or they may be rigid in themselves and jointed at the ends opposite the
jaws and be forced apart by a spring or other suitable device.
In order to engage the parts the grips or jaws on the arms of the stem are pressed
into the circular hole e in the socket, and the curved outline of the said grips causes
them to move towards each other until they will pass into and through the circular
hole c and on reaching the elliptical cavity d the arms expand to their normal posi-
tion, and the underside of the grips or jaws f f engage with the ridges or steps in the
socket thus holding the stem securely in the socket.
When it is required to release the stem from the socket the parts are turned so
that the points of the grips are in line with the minor axis of the ellipse as shown in
Fig. 4 and the points of the grips sliding against the sides of the ellipse the arms are
by this means forced together so that the distance from the extremity of the point
of the one grip to the extremity of the point of the other is reduced to the diameter
of the circular hole c and the stem may then be withdrawn from the socket.
Fig. 5 shows the application of the grip coupling to a chain or rope sling the
method of engagement being precisely similar to that described above. The chain
or rope may be attached to the coupling in the manner shown on drawing or in any
other convenient inanner.

page_text: 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 :-
A grip coupling consisting of a stem composed of two movable arms having jaws or
grips at their outer extremities, and a socket having a circular hole through which
the said jaws pass into an oval or elliptical cavity causing the stem and socket to
engage with each other and release as and for the purpose substantially described.
Dated this Fourteenth day of February 1898.