Improvements in Vices.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vices.
I, WILLIAM THOMPSON, of 486 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Suffolk County,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Last Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to a vice or clamp composed of two jaws, suitably
connected together for operation whereby after the jaws are set substantially to
the work or article to be held between them, they can be easily closed tightly upon
the same, and as easily opened, leaving the article free to be removed therefrom,
so that in the use of the vice a large number of articles of the same size, such as
boot or shoe lasts can easily, conveniently and quickly be placed in the jaws and
held firmly for operation thereon, and as easily and quickly released therefrom one
after the other, with but a slight movement of the jaws, and without disturbing or
altering the general set of the jaws to their work, all substantially as hereinafter
fully described;
The invention also relates to a vice or clamp, having two jaws suitably adjusted
and connected together for operation, and so constructed and arranged that one of
the jaws can be easily and quickly moved into position in relation to the other jaw,
when an article is placed between, so as to be set close to the article the jaws being
then pressed closely and tightly upon the article, to hold it firmly between them,
all substantially as hereinafter fully described;
In the accompanying sheets of drawings is illustrated a vice constructed and
arranged for operation in accordance with this invention, in which
Figure 1 is a side view in elevation ;
Figure 1 is a similar view to Figure 1 but with the jaws and other parts as
moved into position to tightly clamp between them the work to be operated upon;
Figure 2 is a plan view;
Figure 3 is a central vertical section from front to rear;
Figure 4 is a detail section on line 4-4 Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a detail cross section on line 5-5 Figure 3;
Figures 6 and 7 represent in perspective respectively two detail parts of the
vice, one above and separated from the other;
Figure 8 is a cross section on line 8-8 Figure 1^;
Figure 9 is a detail side view of two jaws and their bars showing other parts in
connection therewith and
Figure 10 is a detail vertical section of Figure 9.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.
In the drawings A and B represent two jaws, one B of which is formed by the
continuation of an upright bar C and the other A adapted to elide to and fro on a
right angular horizontal portion or head D of another upright har E, which latter
bar is secured to the floor at F or to any suitable support, to hold it and the whole
in an upright position convenient for use.
The bar C of the jaw B is pivoted at a to the upright bar E for it to swing
thereon, for its jaw B to move to and from the other jaw A.
Pivoted to the lower end of each jaw bar is a toggle joint lever G which
consists of links pivoted at their outer ends at band d, respectively to each side
of the bars C, E, and connected at their adjacent ends by a cross rod or pivot H
as shown more particularly in Figure 8.

page_text: Pivoted to this cross rod H is a bar or rod J which extends downward and at its
lower end is pivotedly connected to a cross rod or pivot K of an angular shaped lever
or treadle L pivoted ate by its forked arms M to each side of the bar E as shown in
Figure 8 in cross section.,
Freely disposed in a longitudinal vertical opening N in the treadle lever I. and
pivoted to its cross rod or pivot K, is another lever P having a backward extending
arm or portion Q as shown in Figures 1 and 14.
Ris a spiral spring extending freely into and held in a socket in each of the
said bars E, C, and connected to each bar so that its tension will pull the lower
end, of the bar C towards the other bar E, and in such movement cause the
jaw B by the swinging of the bar on its pivot a to open or move back from the
other jaw A.
The jaw A is arranged to slide to and fro on a block S likewise arranged to
move to and fro on the horizontal arm D of the bar E, which block has a lip or
flange T on each side projecting down over the sides of the arm, as shown in
Figures 4 and 5, the jaw A is moreover provided with a backward extension U
having a lip or flange V on each side projecting down over the sides of the block S,
as shown in Figure 5 in section, to hold the jaw laterally in position thereon, an.
yet allow it to freely move longitudinally to and fro on the block as desired.
At the front of the jaw A an arm W of the jaw projects downwardly through a
longitudinal slot y in the front of the block S into a longitudinal groove or
chamber A in the upper part of the horizontal arm or head D, the arm W having
opposite horizontal lateral extensions & on its end, the upward faces or surfaces m
of which incline downward from the front as shown in Figures 3 and 5.
B is a lever pivoted at t to a lug n of the block S, and disposed in the arm
chamber A' and extending forward therein for its forked end to straddle the arm
above its lateral extensions and rest by such ends upon the upper inclined faces m
of such extensions, the under faces or edges u of its forked ends being also bevelled
or cut away somes hat as shown in Figure 3.
C' is a block having its under side a curved longitudinally and on each side is a
flange Figures 4 and 7 extending below and in line with the curve and bevelled
on its inner side or surface, and adapted by such curve and flanges to lay freely in
a corresponding longitudinally curved open socket y in the upper side of the
lever B and the flanges laying over correspondingly bevelled corners or sides of
the lever, the flanges preventing sideways movement of the block in its socket.
The upper edges or corners of this block are cut away leaving faces a' Figures 3,
4 and 7 at angles to the sides of the block, and arranged to lay against the under
bevelled inner surfaces of the two sides of the horizontal arm D which sides are
closer together than the chamber portion of the arm, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.
The curved socket y in the lever B' allows free movement of the block when in
use for it to adjust itself to its work. This lever B and block C¹ are shown in
perspective in Figures 6 and 7 respectively.
"
Through a hole in the thicker or raised portion of the block S, a screw D
freely passes, having a flanged head which is arranged at certain times to abut
against the end gl of the portion e¹, this screw screwing into the back of the
extension U of the jaw A as shown in Figure 2, by which the jaw A is secured to
the block S, and by the turning in or out of this screw, the jaw A is adjusted as
desired to its position on the block
On top of the block. is pivoted a lever E' at A' which has a straight edge.m
and a curved or rounded continuation or extension n' of the edge, and in the
operation of the lever its straight edge bears first against the end of the jaw
extension and then by its rounded portion against the. edge and grooved or
hollowed out bearing surface in such end as shown more particularly in plan
in Figure-2.
The operating arm of the lever E is prevented from.movement backward too
far by its abutment against the thicker portion at '.
F¹ is a screw, screwing horizontally through the raised portion e' and to project

page_text: therefrom toward the jaw extension U as shown in Figure 2, as desire to top and
regulate the backward movement of the jaw on its rest block S.
In the operation of the vice the parts being in the positions shown in the figures,
if desirous of holding in the vice any article that is much thinner than the space
between the two jaws shown in Figure 1, place the article between the two jaws
against the jaw B, and then move toward it, by hand, the jaw A; press the end G',
of the treadle L firmly down, thereby straightening out the toggle G which is then
held in such position by its central joint H passing below its dead centre, the
swinging of the lower end f of the jaw bar C outward presses its jaw B firmly
against the article between it and the jaw A, holding it tight between then.
As the jaw B is moved forward the jaw A only moves back slightly when it
becomes fixed, for in such movement the upper bevelled surfaces m of the arm W
move under the forkel end of the lever B' and raising such end presses the lever
block C against the under bevelled sides 6' of the horizontal arm D of the jaw
bar E and wedges it therein so tightly that the jaw A becomes rigid, fixed and
immovable on its supporting block S and on the arm D and thus enables the two
jaws to be pressed together to hold the article firmly between them.
In the downward movement of the treadle lever L the arm or extension Q of
the lever P 13 moved down and backward to bear against the jaw bar E at H', as
shown in Figures 1, and 14, in dotted lines, the front end a of the lever remaining
substantially as in its original position as shown in Figure 1 in dotted lines.
When desirous of removing the article the lever P is pressed down and as its
arm Qbears against the side of the jaw bar E it acts as a fulcrum in the down-
ward movement of the outer end of the lever to raise the treadle and toggle joint,
sufficiently for its central joint H to be above it, dead centre, which allows the
spiral spring R to act and to pull the lower end of the jaw bar C toward the other
bar E swinging the bar C on its pivot, the toggle lever-rising at the same time and:
the jaw B opening from the other jaw A sufficiently to release the article so that it
can be easily taken from the vice."
Another article can be put in of the same size and the vice operated as before
and held therein, and released therefrom, and so on without altering the general
adjustment of the jaws.
Pressing down the lever P raises the treadle lever L and thus the central joint H
of the toggle lever from its position of dead centre or lock for in moving down the
end a² of the lever Pits fulcrum end Q bearing against the side of the bar E moves
upward thereon, and in such movement the pivot K of the lever is moved outward,
and thus the lever L is moved or swung outward on its pivot e, or laterally from
the bar E, and consequently from the position of the pivot K being at the right
of a vertical line with the pivot e and such pivot K travelling in a circular line of
which the pivot e is its centre, it must necessarily and does move upward, con-
sequently raising the central joint of the toggle lever sufficiently above its dead
centre or position of lock, to allow the spring R to act upon the jaw bar Cas
described to loosen the grip of the jaws on the article placed between them for it
to he removed therefrom.
The jaws after once being generally set for their work are always in position to
properly receive the same sized article without having to alter any adjustment of
the parts, and by the toggle lever and operating lever the jaws can be forced to
firmly hold the work between them as described.
To alter the vice, to receive a larger article, for instance, press the lever E' back
and its end m' then pressing against the end of the jaw extension U moves it
forward and the lateral bearing surfaces h of the jaw arm W forward from their
bite and hold upon the end of the lever B allowing it to fall sufficiently to
release the pressure of its block C' upon the the arm D, so that the block S carrying
the jaw A can be easily moved back by hand.
Then place the article to be held between the jaws and operate the jaw and
treadle lever as before when the article will be held firmly in the vice.
.

page_text: To release the article, operate the lever P as before when it is free to be
removed..
d is a screw which screws into the bar E, having a handle e for operating it,
the bar C abutting against it to hold it from farther backward movement when
desired.
To get more or less bite or hold upon the article in the jaws, turn in or out the
screw which will allow the arm C'of the jaw B to come nearer to or be farther
from the jaw bar E and thus raise or lower the central joint H of the toggle lever
so that in the movement of the treadle lever the arm of the jaw will be moved
outward correspondingly; this screw d also serves as a stop or rest for the jaw
bar B in its opening movement, so that such movement will be no more than is
necessary to release the work this saving time in operating the vice.
Thus with a slight and easy movement of the jaw along its support the vice can be
quickly and conveniently adjusted to receive the work or article to be placed therein.
The lever to push the jaw forward and thus relieve it of its lock with its support,
has its operating edge made curved or rounded longitudinally as shown and the
groove in the jaw head correspondingly curved or substantially so as to allow the
first contact of the lever on the jaw head as it is moved to release the jaw to be at
its shortest fulcrum as at J' to get the most power at the start where the most
power is required to unlock the jaw, which is very important in operating the vice
quickly and immediately the jaw starts, the lever follows up at ouce and then
operating on its long fulcrum moves the jaw the required distance very quickly
saving time in operation; the movement of the jaw however is short and only
sufficient for it to free its shouldered arm of pressure on the chamber lever, leaving
the jaw and its block support free to be moved back by hand upon its support arm
as desired, to again close it upon the article to be held in the vice, when the
chamber lever and its block are in position to again lock the jaw from backward
movement in the use of the vice.
The pivot or point K of connection to the treadle lever of the toggle lever is at
an angle between the pivote and operating end G of the treadle lever, and
preferably below a straight line between the two, as shown in the drawings, by
which an increased power is given to the treadle lever, as it is operated, which is
quite an advantage in clamping the work between the jaws.
The projecting arm Q of the intermediate lever can be arranged at other
points on the lever to abut against other parts or a shoulder to throw off the toggle
lever, for instance it can be arranged on its under,side so as to abut against the
floor or any suitable part.
As the inside or bearing faces of the jaws when they are opened from each other,
are not parallel with each other, being more or less at an angle, the jaws for some
work would not fit and hold it as firmly as desired, as in such work to get the
proper hold thereon, they should when clamping upon the article between them
have their faces substantially parallel to make a long bite upon the work, and for
such the jaws can have the attachments shown in Figures 9 and 10.
In these views the jaws A, B, and their bars E, C, are shown as straight and
are connected together by a screw J, which extend freely through the bars C
and screws into a nut K secured in the other bar E, the screw being arranged in
any of the usual ways at a to turn ficely in its socket in the bars C, but prevented
from longitudinal movement therein.
This screw J¹ takes the place of and serves as the pivot a to the jaws in the
other views.
The end of the jaw C fits into a socket y' in an iron piece A' which makes
the upper end of the jaw, being secured to the bar by screws or in any suitable
manner.
Pivoted at M' to this head A' is a plate N' which extends across the inner face
of the head and has two side aims P¹ which extend down, one each side of the jaw
bar and at their lower ends they are pivoted at Q' to arms R¹ one each side,

page_text: which are pivoted at S¹ to the jaw bar and at their other ends are pivoted at T¹
to links U which at their other ends are pivoted at V₁ to the other jaw bar E.
As the two jaw bars more from or toward each other, through the lever and
links R', and U, the plate N vill be swung upon its pivot M¹ accordingly, so that
its face will always maintain a parallel line with the face or the holding part W
of the jaw bar A, so that such parallelism being always maintained, the bite of the
jaws will be along the length of the plate N¹ on the jaw B and holding face W' of
the other jaw A which adapts the vice for work, such as carpenters' work, which
generally requires parallel surfaces to hold the work.
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. In combination, two jaws pivoted together, a toggle lever connected to said'
jaws, a treadle lever pivoted to a suitable support and connected to the toggle
lever, the point of connection on said treadle lever being at an angle or outside:
of a straight line between the pivot of the treadle lever and its operating end.
2. In combination, two jaws pivoted together, a toggle lever connected to said"
jaws, a treadle lever pivoted to a suitable support and connected to the toggle-
lever, the point of connection on said treadle lever being at a point below a straight.
line between the pivot of the treadle lever and its operating end.
3. In combination, two jaws pivoted together, a toggle lever connected to said
jaws, a treadle lever pivoted to one of said jaws and connected to the toggle lever,
a lever pivoted to said lever having an arni or extension arranged to bear against
a support and connected to said toggle lever.
4. In combination, two jaws, a screw rod secured to one of said jaws and
screwing into the other jaw, a toggle lever connected to said jaws, a treadle lever
pivoted to one of said jaws and connected to the toggle lever, a lever pivoted to
said treadle lever having an arm or extension arranged to bear against a support,.
and connected to said toggle lever.
5. In combination, two jaws pivoted together, a toggle lever connected to said
jaws, a treadle lever pivoted to one of said jaws and connected to the toggle lever,,
a lever pivoted to the treadle lever having an arm or extension arranged to bear
against a support and connected to the toggle lever, and a spring connected to the
two jaws.
6. In combination, two jaws, pivoted together, a toggle lever connected to said
jaws, à treadle lever pivoted to one of said jaws and connected to the toggle lever,
a lever pivoted to the treadle lever having an arm or extension arranged to bear
against a support and connected to said toggle lever, and a screw in one jaw
arranged to bear against the other jaw.
7. In combination, two jaws pivoted together, a toggle lever connected to said
jaws, a treadle lever pivoted to one of said jaws and connected to the toggle lever;
a lever pivoted to the treadle lever having an arm or extension arranged to bear
against a support and connected to said toggle lever, a screw in one jaw arranged
to bear against the other jaw, and a spring connected to said jaws.
8. In combination, two jaws pivoted together, a toggle lever connected to said
jaws, a treadle lever pivoted to one of said jaws, a rod pivotally connecting the
treadle lever and the toggle lever, and a lever pivoted to said treadle lever
having an arm or extension arranged to bear against a support and connected to
said toggle lever.
9. In a vice, in combination, two jaws, one jaw suitably arranged to be moved
back and forth upon a support, a block on said support arranged to move back and
forth thereon, the other jaw arranged to move back and forth on said block,
a shouldered arm to this latter jaw, a lever pivoted to the block and adapted to
engage with the shouldered arm and the support, to lock and hold the jaw in.
position, and means for unlocking said jaw.

page_text: 10. In a vice, in combination, two jaws, one jaw pivoted to an upright bar,
a horizontal arm or head projecting backward from said bar, a longitudinal groove
or chamber in its upper side, a block arranged to slide back and forth on said head,
a lever in said groove pivoted to said block, the other jaw arranged to be moved
back and forth on said block, a downward extension of said latter jaw into said
groove or chamber arranged to engage with said lever, and a block in said lever
arranged to bear against the under sides or shoulders of the sides of the groove or
chamber.
11. In a vice, in combination, two jaws, one jaw movably secured to a support,
a horizontal arm or head projecting backward from said support, a longitudinal
groove or chamber in its upper side, a block arranged to slide back and forth on
said head, a lever in said groove pivoted to said block, the other jaw arranged to
be moved back and forth on said block a downward extension of said jaw into the
groove or chamber, arranged to engage with said lever and a block in said lever
arranged to bear against the under sides or shoulders of the sides of the groove or
chamber.
12. In a vice, in combination, two jaws, one pivoted to an upright bar,
a horizontal arm or head projecting backward from said upright, a longitudinal
groove or chamber in its upper side, a block arranged to slide back and forth on
said head, a lever pivoted thereto in said groove, having a forked end, the other
jaw arranged to be moved back and forth on said block, a downward extension of
said jaw having lateral extensions on its lower end arranged to bear against the
under side of the forked end of said lever, and a block in said lever arranged to
bear against the under sides or shoulders of the sides of the groove or chamber.
13. In a vice, in combination, two jaws, one pivoted to a support, a horizontal
arm or head projecting backward from said support, a longitudinal groove or
chamber in its upper side having under bevelled sides, a block arranged to slide
back and forth on said horizontal arm, a lever pivoted thereto in said groove
having a forked end, the other jaw arranged to be moved back and forth on said
block, a downward T shaped projection to said latter jaw, arranged to engage
with the forked end of said lever, a curved recess in the upper side of said lever,
a block having its upper, edges bevelled to fit the under bevelled sides of the two
sides of the groove or chamber.
14. In a vice, in combination, two jaws, one pivoted to a support, a horizontal
arm or head projecting backward from said support, a longitudinal groove or
chamber in its upper side having under bevelled sides, a block arranged to slide
back and forth on said horizontal arm, a lever in said groove or chamber pivoted
to said block, the other jaw arranged to be moved back and forth on said block,
a downward extension of said latter jaw into said groove or chamber arranged to
engage with said lever, a curved recess in the upper side of said lever, a block
having its under side bevelled to fit the under bevelled sides of the two sides of
the groove or chamber.
15. In a vice, in combination, two jaws, one pivoted to an upright bar,
a horizontal arm projecting backward from said upright bar, a longitudinal
groove or chamber in its under side having under bevelled sides, a block arranged
to slide back and forth on said horizontal arm, a lever pivoted thereto in said
groove having a forked end, the other jaw arranged to be moved back and forth
on said block, a downward T shaped projection to said latter jaw, having the
upper surfaces of its T portion bevelled or inclined, and arranged to engage with
said lever, a curved recess in the upper side of said lever, a block having its under
side rounded to fit said curve in the lever, and its upper edges bevelled to fit the
under bevelled sides of the groove or chamber.
16. In a vice, in combination, a jaw arranged to move back and forth on
a suitable support, and adjustably attached thereto, a hollowed or inwardly
curved bearing surface in the end or edge of said jaw, a lever pivoted to said
support having a straight edge and a curved or rounded continuation or extension

page_text: thereof and adapted in its operation to bear first by its straight edge upon the
end or edge of the jaw, and then by its rounded edge against said edge and
hollowed portion.
Dated this 24th day of March 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.