Improvements in Twisted Metal Bands for Box Straps and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: .Date of Application, 4th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 6th May,
1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Twisted Metal Bands for Box Straps and
the like.
I, JOHN ATKENS BOWLER, Mechanic, a citizen of the United States, residing
at No. 319 West 118 Street, in the City, County and State of New York, U.S.A.,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention aud in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object to produce a twisted metallic band having the
general appearance of two wires twisted together and adapted to be used for all
purposes that twisted wires are, or can be applied to. It consists of a strip of
metal made by means of suitably formed rollers or otherwise with a thin central
longitudinal web and beaded or thickened edges twisted in such a manner that the
two beaded or thickened edges will appear as two pieces of wire twisted together,
combined and connected together by a thin central web integral therewith.
For industrial purposes my improved twisted band has many advantages over
twisted wires of equal weight per given length, in that it is more rigid, has greater
tensile strength will not stretch so readily and is less expensive to manufacture.
As a box strap, one of the principal uses for which it is well adapted, the central
web will be made sufficiently thin to admit of nails being driven through it without
punching or previously forming the nail holes, so that the nails may be driven
through the web between the thickened edges anywhere throughout its length, and
also close to its ends, thereby forcing and holding the extreme ends of the band in
close contact with the box or other article to which it is applied.
In the accompanying drawings, to which I will now refer,
Fig. 1 represents a piece of twisted metal band made according to my invention;
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the strip of metal from which it is formed;
Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 represent a few modifications, by transverse sectional views
in the shape of strips of metal adapted to be used in making my twisted band, and
Fig. 7 represents part of a case or box to which is applied the twisted band as a
box strap.
In the manufacture of this article the metal is formed into long strips or ribbons
having the characteristic form shown in Fig. 2, that is a thin central web b and two
thickened or beaded edges a a integral therewith, the cross-section of said edges
being circular as shown, so that when said strip or ribbon is twisted as shown in
Fig. 1, it is, in general appearance like two round wires twisted together. Instead
of making the edges circular in section, they may be square, as shown at cc, Fig. 3,
or elliptical as shown at Figs. 4 and 5; or the web may join the beaded edges with
easy curves as shown at Fig. 6, instead of with sharp corners as shown in the other
views.
These few modifications in the shape of the band are given merely to indicate
that any form of section may be adopted in the twisted band, the section being a
matter of taste and somewhat governed by the use to which it is to be applied.
Of the many uses to which this twisted band may be put, I may mention:-For
purposes of ornamentation, and to make wire fences, for which purpose it is well
adapted, being strong, light and easily applied.
The application to a box, g, Fig. 7 for binding the same will be readily under-
stood, the nails h being driven directly through the web b without previously
puncturing the same, and by reason of the band being one piece of metal, that is,
the beaded edges and central web integral, the nails may be driven through the
band close to its ends and have a firm hold therein, as well as protecting the extreme
ends by forcing them in the wood.

page_text: It will be observed that bands made as hereinbefore described have an uniform
appearance throughout and on both sides, because the beads or thickened edges
extend equally beyond both faces of the central web. It is evident that if the
beads, made either solid or hollow, project only on one side of the strip leaving the
other side flat and plain, that the strip, when twisted, will for many purposes be as
useful as if it had the beads on both sides.
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 twisted solid metal band consisting of an unbroken central web and beaded
edges.
2. A twisted metal band having beaded or thickened edges projecting on both
sides of a thin central unbroken web and integral therewith.
3. A twisted metal band consisting of two cylindrical or wire edges and a thin
central unbroken web connecting said edges and integral therewith.
Dated this 15th day of March 1893.
JOHN ATKENS BOWLER.