Improvements in Spikes and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spikes and the like.
I, THOMAS MCCHERRY, of 695 Grand Street, Brooklyn, Kings County,
New York, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in spikes, and fastening devices of an
analogous character, and has for its object to provide a spike having a key
adapted to be secured therein, and engage with the timber for its entire length,
and thereby securely lock the spike in position at two or more of its sides, and
render it impossible to withdraw the spike without first withdrawing the key.
Heretofore in constructing spikes and keying devices therefor it has been the
custom to cut away or remove so much of the spike in order to accommodate the
keying device whereby the spike was locked upon one of its sides only that
the spike became so weakened in consequence thereof as to render the same
unfit for the purposes for which it was designed. Now, by means of my
invention I am enabled to obviate these defects and overcome the disadvantages
incident thereto.
My invention resides in the novel details of construction, and the combination,
connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, and
particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification wherein like
letters of reference indicate like parts-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved spike.
Figure 2 is a side view of the key for locking said spike in the timber.
Figure 3 is a section thereof taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a side view, partly in section showing the spike driven into the
timber to secure a rail, and the key in position in said spike to lock the
same; and
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing
the position of the key in relation to the spike.
In said drawings A designates a spike of the ordinary construction which is here
provided upon its side with a groove B, made wide at its back and contracted at
the front, and extending diagonally across the body of the spike from a point at
the back of the head to a point on the opposite side of the spike about midway
of the distance from head to point. This groove is made perfectly straight except
near its lower end where it is curved as shown at C, and D is a key having a
shank triangular in cross-section, and provided at its lower end with a point, and
at its upper end with a head E', the underside of the projecting portion of which is
tapered towards the edge, as shown in Figure 2.
The operation is as follows:
After the spike has been driven fully home in the timber the head thereof will
remain projecting above the same, and expose the mouth of the groove B at the
back thereof, thereupon the point of the key D is inserted in said mouth and the
key driven downwardly into the spike. When the point of the key strikes
the curved portion C of the groove B the same will be deflected, and the key
caused to change its course and enter the timber at substantially right angles to
the body of the spike, and when said key has been driven completely home it will
assume the position illustrated by Figure 4, and thereby securely lock the spike
in position.

page_text: It will be observed that by making the groove B wide at its back, and contracted
at the front, and the key triangular in cross-section it will be impossible for the
key to ride out of the same when being driven in, and that the portion of the key
which projects lengthwise beyond the edge of the groove forms a cutting edge
which will firmly imbed itself in the timber contiguous to the side of the spike
wherein the groove is situated, and the lower projecting end of the key imbed itself
in the timber in the side contiguous to the lower end of the groove, and thereby
lock the spike to its position.
I do not, however, wish to limit or confine myself to a triangular key, and a
groove formed to accommodate the same as the key may be made of different
forins in cross-section, and a groove formed to extend diagonally across the side of
the spike to accommodate the same which will permit of a portion of the key to
project lengthwise out of the groove beyond the limits of the spike, and a portion
thereof to project transversely beyond the limits of the spike, and into the timber
contiguous to the spike.
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. The combination of a spike having a groove in the side thereof extending
diagonally across the same, and a key adapted, when inserted in said groove, to
project longitudinally for its entire length, and transversely for a portion of its
length beyond the outline of the spike, the projecting portions thereof engaging
with the timber contiguous to the spike to lock said spike in position, substantially
as specified.
2. The combination of a spike having a suitable retaining groove in the side
thereof extending diagonally across the same, and a key conforming in outline to
said groove, and adapted when inserted thercin to project longitudinally for its
entire length, and transversely for a portion of its length beyond the outline of the
spike to engage with the timber contiguous to the spike to lock said spike in
position, substantially as specified.
3. The combination of a spike having a retaining groove in the side thereof
made wide at its back and contracted at the front, extending from a point at the
back of the head diagonally across the side and terminating at the side of the
spike about midway of its length opposite to where its entrance is situated, and
provided near its terminal with a curved portion to deflect the course of the key,
and a key having a triangular shank adapted, when inserted in said groove, to
project longitudinally for its entire length, and transversely for a portion of its
length beyond the outline of the spike and into the timber contiguous thereto,
whereby to lock said spike in position, substantially as specified.
4. The combination of the spike A having arranged in the side thereof and
extending diagonally across the same the retaining groove B provided near its
lower end with the curved portion C, and the key D having a triangular shank
and the head E, and adapted, when inserted in the retaining groove aforesaid, to
project longitudinally for its entire length, and transversely for a portion of its
length beyond the outline of the body of the spike into the timber surrounding
said body of the spike to hold the spike in position, substantially as specified.
Dated this 15th day of January 1896.
THOMAS MCCHERRY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..