A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING OR FASTENING METAL PLATES TO BEAMS, RAFTERS, AND OTHER PLACES; FOR ROOFING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Fox, of Limehouse, in- the County of Mid-
dlesex, Zinc Worker, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING OR FASTENING METAL PLATES TO BEAMS,
RAFTERS, AND OTHER PLACES; FOR ROOFING AND OTHER PURPOSES "
Sealed the 16th March 1866, and dated the 19th September 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert, Fox at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
September 1865.
I, ROBERT Fox, of Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, Zinc Worker,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING OR FASTENING METAL PLATES TO BEAMS,
RAPTERS, AND OTHER PLACES, FOR ROOFING AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
-
My Invention consists in forming a groove or slit in the beam, rafter, or
other article to which I desire to secure the metal plates. At certain points
in this groove I insert metal staples, the tops of which lie flush, or nearly so,
with the surface of the groove. Then according to the shape of the surface of,
say a rafter, I form a metal plate to correspond in shape therewith, and which
I lay thereon. This plate has slots cut in it at those parts where the staples are
inserted, and one end of the slots is adjusted to and corresponds with; the said

page_text: staples. The upper metal plate is made to correspond in shape with the
lower, and has secured on its under side, either by solder, rivets, or otherwise,
prongs or catches set laterally, which correspond in number with the staples.
Now to secure the metal plates, I place the top plate on the lower, and which
latter has been previously laid on the groove in the beam, rafter, or other
appliance. The prongs drop through the slots in the lower plate, and into
the groove in the rafter, then by pushing the top plate forwards, or in the
direction of the staples, the prongs or catches enter the staples in the groove,.
and the plates are perfectly secure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Fox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
March 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
Fox, of Limehouse, in the County of Middlesex, Zinc Worker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Robert Fox, Her special licence that I, the said Robert Fox, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said Robert
Fox, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING OR FASTENING METAL PLATES TO BEAMS,
RAFTERS, AND OTHER PLACES, FOR ROOFING AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Fox, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great. Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
• NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Fox, do, hereby declare, the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
.

page_text: say:
My Invention consists in forming a groove or slit in the beam, rafter, or
other article to which I desire to secure the metal plates. At certain points
in this groove I insert metal staples, the tops of which lie flush, or nearly so
with the surface of the groove. Then, according to the shape of the surface
of, say a rafter, I form a metal plate to correspond in shape therewith, and
which I lay thereon. This plate has slots cut in it at those parts where the
staples are inserted, and one end of the slots is adjusted to and corresponds with
the said staples. The upper metal plate is made to correspond in shape with
the lower, and bas secured on its under side, either by solder, rivet, or other-
wise, prongs or catches set laterally, which correspond in number with the
staples.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a view in plan, and Figure 2
in end view of so much of a rafter as will be necessary to show how my
Invention may be carried into effect. a is the groove or slit formed in the
rafter, and 6 is a staple inserted therein. Figure 3 is a view in plan, and
Figure 4, in end view of the rafter as before, with the addition of the slotted
metal plate laid on and over the groove. c is the metal plate, and d is the
slot formed therein. Figure 5 is a view in plan; Figure 6 is an end view;
and Figure 7 is a view in longitudinal section, showing the rafter with the
metal fastening complete. e is the upper metal plate, and f, f, are the prongs
or catches of, by preference, the shape shown secured, by solder or otherwise,
to the under side of the plate e, as shown.
Now to secure the metal plates to the rafter I place the top plate e on the
lower plate c, and which latter has been previously laid on the groove a
formed in the beam, rafter, or other appliance. The prongs f, f, drop through
the slots d, d, in the lower plate c, and into the groovè a in the rafter, then
by pushing the top plate e forwards, or in the direction of the staples 6, and,
as indicated by the arrow, the prongs or catches f, f, enter the staples b in the
groove, and the plates are perfectly secure.
To render the description as simple as possible, I have only shown one
staple slot and prong; it will, however, be understood that each plate may be
secured to its rafter or beam by as many as, are desired.
When the fastening
is complete the external surface of the metal is perfectly even, and the parts
are firmly held together by the under lock fastening herein-before described.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my "New or
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Securing or Fastening Metal Plates

page_text: to Beams, Rafters, and other Places for Roofing and other Purposes," the
forming of rafters or beams, with grooves for containing staples to receive
prongs or catches secured to the under side of plates, substantially in manner
and for the purposes herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, said. Robert Fox, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six...
Witness,
EDW. G. BREWER,
89, Chancery Lane,
London, W.C.
ROBERT FOX. (L.S.).