IMPROVE- MENTS IN METALLIC FENCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Middleton Justice, of 14, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN METALLIC FENCES." A communication from abroad by the Wash-
burn and Moen Manufacturing Company, of Worcester, in the State of
Massachussets, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Middleton Justice at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1879.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC FENCES." A commiuni-
cation from abroad by the Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company, of
Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to barbed fences made of flat metal strips twisted, with
barbs attached to said strips, and to the construction of said barbs and the mode of
attaching and firmly securing them to the said sheet metal strips in the manner
hereinafter more fully set forth and described.
A. flat metal strip is employed of any dimensions suitable for making fences, and
to this strip the barbs are secured or attached, said barbs being preferably made of
a single piece of sheet metal cut to form a body; two or more prongs or points
projecting in opposite directions at the side of said points are lips also projecting
from the body of the barb. The barb thus constructed is laid upon the flat strip,
over the edges of which the lips of the barb are clinched, so as to hold the barb
thereon. The lips of the barb may be upon the same side of the points or upon
opposite sides; or two sets of lips may be used, one set upon either side of the
points. Or the barb may be made of one double pointed uncut piece of metal,
which is wrapped around the fence strip, so as to leave the points projecting in
opposite directions. In all the above cases however the entire barb and lips (if
any) are of one piece or sheet of metal.
As one modification of this Invention the barb may be made without lips, but
having simply shoulders on opposite sides of each point. In this case a fastener of
sheet metal is provided to hold the barb to the strip, said fastener being cut with

page_text: side lips, which are clenched over the edges of the strip and over the shoulders of
the barb, the points of which project between the lips of the fastener.
The barbs being placed upon the strips, the strips themselves are secured by any
desired method (though staples with an arrow head or trowel shaped opening to
receive the strip are considered most preferable) to, say, every other post, the strips
between said posts are then twisted until all the slack is taken up and the barbs
point in all directions, the strips in their twisted condition are then firmly secured
to the central post; the said twist not only prevents any lateral motion of the
barbs upon the strips but also takes up the expansion and permits of the con-
traction of the metal due to heat and cold without the "sagging" and straining so
generally found in metal fences.
The strips may be twisted by any suitable means, but a "twister" formed with
an arrow head or trowel shaped opening and suitable handles is considered the most
desirable for this purpose.
It has heretofore been proposed to use metal strips for fencing, but not fitted with
the improved barbs, as hereinbefore described.

page_text: $
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Philip Middleton Justice in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
November 1879.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 14, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC FENCES." A communi-
cation from abroad by the Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company, of
Worcester, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to barbed fences made of flat metal strips, twisted with barbs
attached to said strips, and to the construction of said barbs, and to the mode of
attaching and firmly securing them to the said sheet metal strips in the manner
hereinafter more fully set forth and described, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings which form part of this Specification, and in which similar
letters represent corresponding parts of the Invention throughout all the Figures
thereof.
As
A flat metal strip or band is employed of any dimensions suitable for making
fences, and to this strip the barbs are secured or attached, as at A, Fig. I., in which
the top strip is shown in its twisted condition, the second strip being shown before
twisting. The barbs may be made of a single piece of sheet metal cut to form a
body B, and two or more prongs or points C projecting in opposite directions
therefrom, while at either side of said points are lips D also projecting from the
body of the bark, as shewn in Fig. II.; or the lips of the barb may be, but two in
number, and both be placed upon the same side of the points, as shown in Fig. III.,
or upon opposite sides, as shown in Fig. IV. (or the barb may be made of one
double pointed strip of metal, which may be wrapped around the fence strip A, so
as to leave the points projecting in opposite directions). Barbs constructed as
herein before described are laid upon the flap strip A, over the edge of which the
lips D are clinched (by any suitable means), so as to hold or fasten the barb
securely to the said strip. In all the above cases however the entire barb and lips
(if any) have been described as made in and of one piece or sheet of metal.
one modification of this Invention the barb may be made without lips, but having
simply shoulders, as shown at "a," Fig. V., on opposite sides of each point. In this
case a fastener of sheet metal is provided, see Fig. VI., to hold the barb to the
strip; said fastener being cut with side lips D, which are clinched over the edges
of the strip A. and also over the shoulders "of the barb, the points of which
project between the lips of the fastener as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. VI.
The barbs being placed upon the strips the strips themselves are drawn tight and
secured by any desired method (though staples with an arrow-head or trowel
shaped opening to receive the strip, such as described by me in my application
for Letters Patent, No. 2529, and dated the 24th day of June 1879, are considered
most preferable) to, say, every other post; the strips between said posts are then
twisted until all the remaining slack is taken up and the barbs point in various
directions, the strips in their twisted condition are then firmly secured to the
central post; the said twist not only prevents any lateral motion of the barbs upon
the strips, but also takes up the expansion and permits of the contraction of the
metal due to heat and cold without the "sagging" or straining so generally found
in metal fences.
a
The strips may be twisted by any suitable means, but a "twister" formed with
an arrow head or trowel shaped opening and suitable handles (such as described
by me in the application for Letters Patent before referred to) is considered the
most desirable for this purpose. It has heretofore been proposed to use metal
strips for fencing, but not fitted with the improved barbs, as herein-before
described.

page_text: Having set forth the nature of the Invention of my foreign correspondents, and
the manner in which the same may be carried into effect, I would state that it is
evident that instead of the metal strip, a square, triangular, or other shaped metal
bar or rail may be employed (although the metal strips are considered preferable),
upon which the improved barb may be secured or clinched, substantially as set
forth.
What therefore I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, the improve-
ment in metallic fences hereinbefore described, consisting of constructing the
improved fence barb with points and lips, substantially as set forth, said barbs to
be used in combination with the bands, bars, strips, or rails of such fences.
Also the improvement in metallic fences, hereinbefore set forth, consisting of
forming the said fence of a metal strip or band fitted with the improved fence barb,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Middleton Justice, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord 1879.
PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE. (L.S.)