An Improved Joiners' Cramp or Floor-dog.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Joiners' Cramp or Floor-dog.
I WILLIAM BARNES of 5 Britannia Road, Northam, in the County of Hampshire
Joiner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved joiners cramp or floor-dog by means of
which floor boarding is laid and worked with great facility, and for all similar
purposes.
My invention consists of the construction and combination of parts of a machine
or tool hereinafter described.
First, I take and provide two iron plates, these plates are made and connected
together in such a manner as to form a recess in which a toothed rack, which I.
provide, can slide backwards and forwards.
At one end of the rack and forming one and the same part is a tee piece at right
angles to the rack.
Within the recess before mentioned a handle bar is also fitted the bottom part of
which is of circular form and in which teeth are cut corresponding in size, and pitch
to the teeth provided in the rack.
The handle bar works upon a centre pin or bearing passing through the side plates
forming the recess, and situated in such a position as to allow the teeth on the handle
bar to work in the teeth on the rack; when the handle bar is moved backwards and
forwards its motion is imparted to the rack by means of the toothed gearing.
To the machine or tool is also fitted an ordinary screw cramp (which I will call an
auxiliary cramp) placed at right angles to the handle bar.
I will describe the action of my cramp or floor-dog in relation to its work in laying
floor boards.
First the auxiliary cramp is screwed to the joist, then the handle bar is moved in a
direction from the person using it, with the result that the rack, and consequently the
tee piece at the end of same, hereinbefore mentioned, is propelled forward against the
edge of the floor board that is being laid thereby prossing this board against the one
already laid and fastened.
«
While nailing the floor board the purchase is automatically taken by a pall,"
hinged on the lower part of handlebar, which works in teeth cut in the top of the side
plates forming the recess.
The parts of my invention described as made of iron, can also if preferred be made
of steel, brass, or other metal, or alloy, or a combination of same.
Dated this 8th day of February 1890.
HERBERT P. BLAKE,
20, Laura Place, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Joiners' Cramp or Floor-dog.
I WILLIAM BARNES of 5 Britannia Road, Nortbam, in the County of Hampshire,
Joiner, 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 an improved joiners cramp, or floor-dog, by means of
which floor boarding is laid and worked with great facility, and for all similar
purposes.
My invention consists of the construction and combination of parts of a machine
L

page_text: First I take and provide two iron plates these plates are made and connected
together in such a manner-as to form a recess in which a toothed rack which I provide
can slide backwards and forwards.
At one end of the rack and forming one and the same part is a tee piece at right
angles to the rack.
Within the recess before mentioned a handle bar is also fitted the bottom part of
which is of circular form, and in which teeth are cut corresponding in size and pitch
to the teeth provided in the rack.
The handlebar works upon a centre pin or bearing passing through the side plates
forming the recess and situated in such a position as to allow the teeth on the handle-
bar to work in the teeth on the rack, when the handlebar is moved backwards and
forwards its motion is imparted to the rack by means of the toothed gearing.
To the machine, or tool, is also fitted an ordinary screw cramp (which I will call an
auxiliary cramp) placed at right angles to the handlebar.
I will describe the action of my cramp, or floor-dog, in relation to its work in laying
floor boards.
First the auxiliary cramp is screwed to the joist, then the handlebar is moved in a
direction from the person using it, with the result that the rack and consequently the
tee piece at the end of same, herein before mentioned, is propelled forward against the
edge of the floor board that is being laid, thereby jamming this board against the one
already laid and fastened.
While nailing the floor board, the purchase is automatically taken by a pawl, hinged
on the lower part of handlebar which works in teeth cut in the top of the side plates
forming the recess.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1. is a side elevation of my improved joiners
cramp, or floor-dog. Fig. 2. a plan on top of Fig. 1. Fig. 3. a section at right
angles to Fig. 1. on line A. B. and Fig. 4. an end view at right angles to Fig. 1.
C, is the auxiliary cramp which is first screwed to the joist D. when using the floor
dog for the purpose of working floor boards K. E, is the rack which is actuated by
the lever handlebar F. by means of the teeth e, provided on the bottom of same
working in corresponding teeth e¹, in the rack, the handlebar can be of any desired
length.
The movement of the handlebar F, in the direction as shewn by the arrow G,
results in the rack E, and consequently the tee piece H, being propelled against the
boards K, that are being laid, and the latter consequently against the boards already
laid, and fastened thus the edges of the boards are brought close together, and those
that are being laid are temporarily secured until nailed or otherwise fastened.
The strain on the handlebar F, is taken by the pawl I, during the operation of
nailing the boards, the latter engages automatically with the teeth M, cut on the side
plates N.
To take the pressure or purchase of the machine off the boards it is only necessary
to release the pawl L, which is done by pushing the lever handle F, slightly, and
lifting it (the pawl) clear of the teeth .M, by means of the chain P, or similar
arrangement..
It will be readily understood that my invention as described can be used for various
purposes, other, than a cramp, or floor-dog for working floor boards, and that other
similar methods of construction of same, than that herein particularly described, can
be adopted while still preserving the principle of the design, and the parts of my
invention described as made of iron can also if preferred be made of steel, brass, or
other metal or alloy.
.
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 I claim is:―
1st. The improved joiners cramp, or floor dog, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2nd. The arrangement and combination of the lever handlebar, rack, and corre-
sponding parts, as substantially described.

page_text: 3rd. The locking arrangement as effected by means of the pawl L, and corre-
sponding teeth M.
4th. The particular application and method or similar thereto, of instantly, and
easily bringing floor boards together, and temporarily securing them in position,
while being fastened, in inanner hereinbefore described and set forth in the accom-
panying drawing.
Dated this 29th day of October 1890
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
20, Laura Place, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.