Improvements in Apparatus for Gripping or Holding the Uppers of Boots and Shoes while being Lasted, applicable also for Gripping or Holding other Articles or Materials.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1898-Accepted, 25th June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Gripping or Holding the Uppers of
Boots and Shoes while being Lasted, applicable also for Gripping
or Holding other Articles or Materials.
I, ALBERT EDWARD STIRCKLER, of 26, Billing Road, Northampton, in the
County of Northampton, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
to be as follows;-
-
My invention has for its object to provide improved apparatus for gripping or
holding the uppers of boots and shoes while being lasted, applicable also for
gripping or holding other articles or materials, for example the apparatus may
be applied for gripping or holding fabrics in tentering and finishing machines
or as vices or like gripping devices for holding articles.
Apparatus constructed according to my invention consists of a combination
comprising a fixed or stationary jaw and a movable jaw between which the
material or article can be securely held, a lever handle for operating the movable
jaw, a blade or bow spring connecting the movable jaw to the operating lever
handle, and a helical or equivalent spring acting in combination with the blade
or bow spring to securely grip or hold the material or article between the jaws.
The movable jaw which may be arranged to slide longitudinally on the fixed
or stationary jaw is connected to one end of the blade or bow spring, the opposite
end of which spring is connected to the operating lever handle by a stud or pin
capable of sliding longitudinally in or on the operating lever to suit articles or
materials of various thicknesses. The operating lever handle is pivoted to the
fixed or stationary jaw at a point situated (when the jaws are in action) between
the opposite ends of the blade or bow spring. Interposed on the operating lever
between the fulcrum thereof and the end of the blade or bow spring connected
to the said lever handle, is a helical or equivalent spring the power of which in
combination with that of the blade or bow spring is exerted on the movable jaw
to draw it towards the fixed or stationary jaw the said helical or like spring being
more or less compressed according to the thickness of the article placed between
the jaws or the extent of resistance to pressure of the jaws on the article. To
adjust the power of the helical spring one end thereof may bear on a nut screwed
onto the operating lever so that by means of this nut the spring may be more
or less compressed.
1907
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Gripping or Holding the Uppers of
Boots and Shoes while being Lasted, applicable also for Gripping
or Holding other Articles or Materials.
I, ALBERT EDWARD STIRCKLER, of 26, Billing Road, Northampton, in the
County of Northampton, Engineer, 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;-
My invention has for its object to provide an improved gripping apparatus
intended more particularly for gripping or holding the uppers of boots and shoes
while being lasted but which is applicable also for gripping or holding other
articles or materials, for example, the apparatus may be applied for gripping or
holding fabrics in tentering and finishing machines or as vices or like gripping
devices for holding articles.
Apparatus constructed according to my invention consists of a combination
comprising a fixed or stationary jaw and a movable jaw between which the
material or article can be securely held, a lever handle for operating the movable
jaw, a blade or bow spring connecting the movable jaw to the operating lever
handle, and a helical spring acting in combination with the blade or bow spring
to securely grip or hold the material or article between the jaws. Figure 1 is a
side elevation and Figure 2 a plan of a gripping apparatus constructed according
to my invention the parts being in the closed positions. Figure 3 is a side eleva-
tion of the said gripping apparatus with the parts in the open positions and
Figure is a detail shewing a modification. A is the stationary jaw of the
gripping device on which is arranged to slide longitudinally the movable jaw B
which is connected at c to one end of a blade or bow spring C the opposite end of
which spring is connected to the stem or shank of the operating lever handle D,
by a stud or pin d, capable of sliding longitudinally in a slot in the stem or
shank of the said operating lever. The operating lever handle is pivoted at b to
lugs or ears 6 projecting from the fixed or stationary jaw, B at a point situated
(when the jaws are in action) between the opposite ends c and d of the blade or
bow spring C. Interposed between the pin on which the lever D turns and
the end at d of the blade or bow spring C is a helical spring E the said spring
surrounding the shank or stem of the lever handle and bearing at one end on the
end d of the blade spring, and at its other end on a shoulder d² on the shank or
stem of the lever handle. When the lever handle D is turned into the position
shewn in Figures 1 and 2 the movable jaw B is forced towards the fixed jaw A
the blade or bow spring C being opened out or flattened more or less according to
the thickness of the article gripped between the jaws and the helical spring E
being at the same time more or less compressed according to the thickness of the
article placed between the jaws whereby the pressure of both springs C and E is
exerted on the movable jaw B to securely hold the material placed between the
jaws A and B.
On the shank or stem of the lever handle D there may be screwed a nut D¹ as
shewn in Figure 4 against which nut one end of the helical spring E bears so
that by screwing this nut along the stem or shank the power of the spring may be
regulated as required.
The point of connection c of the bow or blade spring C to the movable jaw B,
is situated out of line with the centre b'on which the lever D turns so that when
the lever D is turned to its full extent to grip an article between the jaws the said
jaws cannot accidentally separate to release the article from the grip of the jaws.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:-
1st. A gripping apparatus comprising a stationary jaw, and a movable jaw
slidable thereon, a lever handle hinged or pivoted to the stationary jaw, a blade
or bow spring connected at one end to the movable jaw and at its other end to
a connection slidable on the stem or shank of the lever handle; a helical spring
bearing at one end on the slidable connection to which the blade spring is
attached the opposite end of the said helical spring bearing on a shoulder on
the shank or stem of the lever handle the whole being combined so that by the
movement of the lever handle in one direction the combined power of the blade
or bow spring, and the helical spring, is exerted on the movable jaw so as to
firmly hold an article placed between the stationary and fixed jaws, substantially
as herein before described.
2nd. A gripping apparatus comprising a stationary jaw and a movable jaw
slidable thereon, a lever handle hinged or pivoted to the stationary jaw, a blade
or bow spring connected at one end to the movable jaw and at its other end to a
connection slidable on the lever handle, a helical spring surrounding the stem or
shank of the lever handle and bearing at one end against the slidable connection
to which the blade spring is attached and at its opposite end on a nut screwed
on to the shank or stem of the lever handle, the said nut being capable of being
screwed along the said stem or shank so as to compress more or less the helical
spring to regulate the power thereof substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 24th day of Ver. 1900
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.