IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRIVING AND DRAWING TACKS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRIVING AND DRAWING TACKS." A com-
munication from abroad by George Joseph Capewell, of Cheshire, Connecticut,
United States of America, Manufacturer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRIVING AND
DRAWING TACKS." [A communication from abroad by George Joseph Capewell, of
Cheshire, Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
This Invention relates to improved devices or apparatus for drawing and driving
tacks.
The first part of the said Invention relates to the combination with a bifurcated
jaw of a single jaw, which is preferably pivotted between the bifurcations of the
former, the said bifurcated jaw being arranged to pass under the head of the tack
on both sides of the shank thereof, and being provided with wedge-like points that
aid in prying up the tack. I prefer to construct the bifurcated jaw by first
stamping out two corresponding plates of sheet-metal, which have tangs that enter
the handle or stock side by side, and are secured thereto in the same manner as
that in which a single tang is inserted in a socket. At the point at which the
tangs join the main plates, the latter are bent away from each other, so that their
operating ends are parallel with each other, and have a space between them
sufficient to receive a tack-shank. Through these plates a pin is passed which
holds them together, and also serves as a pivot for the single jaw. The latter is
provided with a curved tail or rearward extension that serves as a fulcrum in
extracting the tacks. The said jaw is also provided with a curved point which is
forced against the tack-shank by the pressure on the said fulcrum. The single
D

page_text: jaw may, however, in some cases be fixed and the bifurcated one pivotted, in which
case the curved tail or extension must be formed upon the latter.
The second part of my Invention relates to the peculiar construction and
operation of a tack-driver, which has a reciprocating driving plunger provided
with a handle, a guide-tube in which the said plunger works, and an inclined
supplementary tube or tubes through which the tacks are supplied to the said
guide-tube. The said guide tube and supplementary tubes are cast or otherwise
formed in two longitudinal sections, which are held together by elastic bands or
other means which will permit them to yield without becoming displaced. When
a tack catches in the tube by reason of its sidelong presentation, unusual size, or
distorted shape, this yielding will allow it to be dislodged. Suitable stops or
overlapping pieces are employed to prevent the sections from slipping longitudinally
over each other.
The third part of this Invention relates to the combination of these two imple-
ments in one by attaching the jaws of the tack-drawer to the end of the handle
opposite to the tack-driving mechanism.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th November 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Laké, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRIVING AND
DRAWING TACKS." A communication from abroad by George Joseph Capewell, of
Cheshire, Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer.
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus or devices for driving and
drawing tacks, which devices I term tack-drivers and tack-drawers, the former
being of that class in which a plunger forces the tacks through a guide-tube, and
the latter of that class in which a fixed jaw and a pivoted jaw are caused to seize
the tacks and withdraw them.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a complete implement embodying the
said Invention.
Figure 2 is an interior view of one of the tube-sections detached.
Figure 3 is a detail view of the plunger and handle with the tack-drawing
devices attached to the latter.
Figure 4 is a detail view of the plates which constitute the bifurcated jaw, and
Figure 5 is a detail view of the single jaw.
A designates the plunger, B the main tube, and C two feed-tubes which receive
the tacks and supply them to the main tube below the plunger. These feed tubes
are formed with the said main tube, the whole casting being in two longitudinal
sections, the dividing line of which passes through the centres of all three tubes.
These sections are held together by elastic bands D, D, arranged respectively above
and below the feed tubes. These feed-tubes communicate at their lower or inner
ends with the interior of the main tube B, the aperture in each instance being of
such a size as to allow the passage of a tack. Each feed-tube also has an internal
taper from the outer to the inner or lower end, so that a tack dropped into the
said tube will naturally tend to take a point-foremost position as it descends.
The plunger A is provided with a handle A', and an operating head a. A little
above the head a there is a cylindrical enlargement or shoulder a', which prevents
the plunger from being entirely withdrawn from the main tube B, as the said
shoulder engages with an internal flange b at the upper end of the said tube.
The tack-driver is operated by withdrawing the plunger until its lower end is
above the guide-tubes, and preferably near the upper end of the main tube, then
dropping a tack into one of the feed-tubes, then applying the implement at the
proper place for tacking, and finally driving the plunger down against the head of
the tack with a sudden percussion. This drives the tack out of the main tube and
into the carpet and floor.
The elastic bands D, D, allow the tubes to yield so as to permit the passage of
tacks of different sizes. They also hold the tube B against the head of the tack,
causing the sections of the said tube to grasp it with a firm though yielding
pressure. This compels the tack to retain a properly centred position while it is
driven through the said tube. The sectional construction of the tubes allows their
interior to be easily inspected and freed from any obstruction.
The sections of the main tube have overlapping pieces E formed upon them to
prevent them from slipping longitudinally past each other. Collars or flanges ou
each side of the bands D may be used for the same purpose.
F and G designate respectively the single and the bifurcated jaws which I
employ for withdrawing tacks. The latter consists of two parallel plates g, g,

page_text: which are socketed into the end of the handle A' opposite to the plunger. Each
of the said plates is provided with a curved point g¹, and their operating ends
though parallel are bent sufficiently apart to allow the single jaw F to be pivoted
betwen them. This single jaw has a curved tail or rearward extension F¹, and its
operating end is bent into a point f'. All of these three plates are preferably
stamped or otherwise cut out of sheet metal of suitable thickness.
The bifurcated jaw G passes under the head of the tack on both sides of its
shank, and then a downward pressure on the curved tail F1 (which affords a rocker-
like fulcrum) causes the point f¹ to bite upon the shanks of the tack, and the
points g', gl, as well as the point f¹, to pry the said tack up out of the floor. The
points g', g, have a wedge-like action in prying up the tack. The implement
produced is very simple and light, and the parts if injured are easily replaced. The
breaking or bending of one plate g will not render the other useless. The pivot
pin of the jaw F serves also as a brace for these plates g. If preferred the single
jaw may be made stationary, and a bifurcated one be pivoted thereto. The pivoted
jaw has the fulcrum extension or tail in all cases.
By combining in one implement the tack-driver and tack-drawer, as shewn, the
same handle is made to do double duty; they may however be attached to separate
handles and operated independently if desired.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. The combination of the main tube, formed in sections and held together
by elastic pressure, with the plunger operating in the said tube, as above set forth
and for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination of the sectional main tube and the sectional feed tube
or tubes formed with the same with the elastic bands and the plunger, substantially
as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination with the plunger of the main tube formed in longitudinal
sections, which have overlapping pieces and elastic bands applied, substantially as
above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The combination of the plates g, g, forming the bifurcated jaw G with
the single jaw F, one of the said jaws being pivoted to the other jaw, and provided
with a curved rearward extension or tail which acts as a fulcrum, substantially as
above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The handle A¹ in combination with the tack-drawing jaws, constructed
as above described, and attached to one end of the said handle, and with the tack-
driving plunger attached to the other end of the same, substantially as above set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)