Improvements in Staples.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 26th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Staples.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of 23 Southampton Buildings in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from abroad by Luther Stieringer of the City, County and
State of New York, in the United States of America, Electrician, to be as follows:―
Heretofore in the wiring of buildings and other structures for electric lighting and
other purposes where the wires are run along the wall or other surface it has been
customary to employ, for securing the wire to such surface, double pointed metal
staples which are driven in over the wires so that their curved heads fit upon the
wire and hold the same in place.
With this arrangement difficulty has arisen because the metal of the staple is
liable to come into contact with the wire, sometimes by the abrasion of the insulating
covering of the wire by the staple, and also when the insulation becomes deteriorated
in use by exposure or otherwise. Such contact of the metal staple with the wire is
likely to result in leakage and ground connections.
The object of the present invention is to so form and construct staples for the
purpose above mentioned that the metal of which they are made cannot at any time
come in contact with the wire, which staples can without injury be readily driven
and will make their own holes like an ordinary metal staple. This is accomplished
by constructing an open sided metal staple with a saddle of insulating material
attached to the staple in such manner as to come under its head and therefore when
the staple is in place to be interposed between said head and the wire, such saddle
being so effectively secured to the staple that it will not be detached therefrom in
driving the staple and will remain a permanent part of the staple while in use. The
saddle is made sufficiently wide togive a good bearing surface on the wire and to
prevent any abrasion of the wire. The said saddle may be secured to the staple in
many different ways such as by a suitable cement, by forming the staple or saddle
with engaging projections for holding the same and in other ways. It is preferred
in addition to cover the whole of the staple and saddle with a coating of japan or
other suitable varnish or enamel which preserves the metal from oxidation where
exposed, prevents the material of the saddle from absorbing moisture and also helps
to secure the insulating saddle to the staple.
In Patent No. 4771 of 1885 staples are described made entirely of an insulating
material, but while such staples avoid the difficulties arising from the use of metal
staples, they have proved expensive to manufacture, cannot be readily driven and
require that incisions should be previously made in the backing especially when such
backing is of hard wood.
The desideratum which the present invention supplies, is a staple which will possess
the advantages of the staple of said Patent and can be driven like an ordinary metal
staple.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Staples.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from abroad by Luther Stieringer, of the City, County
and State of New York, in the United States of America, Electrician, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Heretofore in the wiring of buildings and other structures for electric lighting and
other purposes where the wires are run along the wall or other surface, it has been
customary to employ, for securing the wire to such surface, double pointed metal
staples, which are driven in over the wires so that their curved heads fit upon the
wire and hold the same in place. With this arrangement difficulty has arisen
because the metal of the staple is liable to come into contact with the wire, sometimes
by the abrasion of the insulating covering of the wire by the staple, and also when
the insulation becomes deteriorated in use by exposure or otherwise. Such contact
of the metal staple with the wire is likely to result in leakage and ground
connections.
The object of the present invention is to so form and construct staples for the
purpose above mentioned, that the metal of which they are made cannot at any time
come in contact with the wire, which staples can without injury be readily driven
and will make their own holes like an ordinary metal staple. This is accomplished
by constructing an open sided metal staple with a saddle of insulating material
attached to the staple in such manner as to come under its head and therefore when
the staple is in place to be interposed between said head and the wire, such saddle
being so effectively secured to the staple that it will not be detached therefrom in
driving the staple and will remain a permanent part of the staple while in use.
saddle is made sufficiently wide to give a good bearing surface on the wire and to
prevent any abrasion of the wire. The said saddle may be secured to the staple in
many different ways, such as by a suitable cement, by forming the staple or saddle
with engaging projections for holding the same, and in other ways.
The
It is preferred in addition, to cover the whole of the staple and saddle with a
coating of japan or other suitable varnish or enamel, which preserves the metal
from oxidation where exposed, prevents the material of the saddle from absorbing
moisture, and also helps to secure the insulating saddle to the staple.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing :-
Figures 1 and 2 are front and side elevations showing a form of the invention in
which the saddle is merely cemented to the staple.
Figures 3 and 4 show another form in which the saddle is held by internal
projections on the staple.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate still another form in which the parts are united by
means of a groove in the top of the saddle.
Figures 7 and 8 show a form in which the staple is bent around the saddle.
Figures 9 to 12 illustrate a modification in which the staple is passed through a
hole in the saddle, Figure 9 being a vertical transverse section, Figure 10 a top view
before the staple is bent, Figure 11 a cross section of Figure 10, and Figure 12 a
vertical section of the staple on a plane at right angles to that of Figure 9.
Figure 13 illustrates a staple covered with japan.
Figure 14 shows still another mode of securing the saddle to the staple.
Figures 15 and 16 illustrate the manner of making this form and Figure 17 shows
a modified way of using the staple.
In all cases the saddle a is made of a suitable insulating material, such as wood
or vulcanized or gelatinized fibre, and the staple 6 is made of a suitable metal and
is open on one side so as to be adapted to be driven over the wire into the backing

page_text: of wood or other material to which the wire is to be secured. In Figures 1 and 2
the saddle a, which is bent or otherwise formed into the shape shown, is secured
beneath the head of the staple by means of a suitable glue or cement applied between
the saddle and the staple. The saddle is preferably formed as shown with sharply
tapering extremities, which enter the holes formed. in driving the staples in so as to:
completely surround the wire and prevent any possibility of its coming in contact
with the metal of the staple. The wire c is covered with the usual coating of insu-
lating material d, and being laid upon the wall or other surface e, a suitable number
of the staples 6 provided with the insulating saddles a, are driven in over the wire
and hold the same in place.
In the form shown in Figures 3 and 4, the staple 6 is formed with internal
shoulders or projections at f and the curved saddle a is held between such shoulders
and the curved head... If desired the saddle may be additionally secured by means of
cement or glue. The shoulders fare preferably situated a sufficient distance from
the head of the staple to cause the extremities of the saddle to enter beneath the
surface e, so as to entirely protect the wire.
In Figures 5 and 6 the curved saddle is provided on its outer side with a groove g
in which the staple fits, and in which it may be secured as before by suitable
cement or otherwise. In Figures 7 and 8 the staple is formed of suitable metal and
its head is bent around the saddle a to hold the same, the securing cement being added
if desired.
In the form shown in Figures 9 to 12, the saddle is first formed as a straight block
of material, which can be bent, such as a suitable wood or prepared fibre, and with
an aperture extending through it at h. Through this aporture is passed the staple
which is then in a straight form as shown in Figure 10, the sharp ends of the staple
projecting from the extremities of the saddle. The whole is then bent into the
form indicated in Figures 9 to 12, and driven over the wire in the manner already
described.
Figures 15 and 16 show the saddle formed originally as a rectangular piece, slotted
at its ends, as in Figure 15, or perforated near the ends, as in Figure 16. The
staple is forced over this with its ends passing through the slots or perforations,
and the saddle bends under the head of the staple, the resulting structure being as
shown in Figure 14 with the ends of the saddle extending out at the sides of the
staple.
As shown in Figure 17, there may be placed under the wire a strip or block k
of suitable insulating material, through which the staple passes, and by means of which
the wire is completely encircled by external insulation. The strip or block k also
raises the wire off of the surface e, any desired elevation being obtained by increasing
the thickness of the strip or block.
It will be seen that in all the forms of the invention, the saddle forms a wide insu-
lating surface secured beneath the head of the metal staple, such surface coming in
contact with the insulation preventing the abrasion of the same by the staple, and
preventing the staple from ever coming in contact with the wire. In some cases it
is preferred to immerse the whole structure in a bath of japan or other suitable varnish
or enamel, so as to provide it with a coating of that material. This is illustrated in
Figure 13 which shows the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6,
although it is evident that the japan coating is as readily applicable to the other
forms illustrated. The heavy black line i indicates the coating of japan varnish which
covers the surfaces of the staple and the insulating saddle protecting them from
moisture and assisting in securing the parts together.
In Patent No. 4771 of 1885 staples are described made entirely of an insulating
material, but while such staples avoid the difficulties arising from the use of metal
staples, they have proved expensive to manufacture, cannot be readily driven, and
require that incisions should be previously made in the backing, especially when such
backing is of a hard wood. The desideratum which the present invention supplies,
is a staple which will possess the advantages of the staple of said patent and can be
driven like an ordinary metal staple.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is
An open sided metal staple adapted to be driven and provided with a saddle of
insulating material secured thereto and forming a permanent part thereof, so as to
present a broad body of insulation between the metal head of the staple and the
object over which it is driven, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 26th day of September 1850.
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Ken moz Su
Θυμιόπισει του
B. J. B. MILLS..
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.