IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL WIRE PROTECTORS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Oscar Cottrell, of Fanwood, in the County of
Union and State of New Jersey, one of the United States of America for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL WIRE PROTECTORS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Oscar Cottrell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th June 1883.
JOSEPH OSCAR COTTRELL, of Fanwood, in the County of Union and State of
New Jersey, one of the United States of America, "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL
WIRE PROTECTORS,"
In one form of the invention I employ two parts or analogous pieces of cheap
and non-conducting material, one lying upon the other against the wall of the
apartment or against the ceiling, or wherever the wires are to be led along, and I
forin grooves on the outer face of the piece which lies next to the wall or ceiling.
This piece may be fastened to the wall in advance of the application of the
wires; then the wires are laid in the several grooves and temporarily held by any
convenient means.
According to one part of the invention I employ double pointed pegs of wood
which are introduced by any convenient device, as a pair of pliers, and by turning
them partially around in the grooves, cause their pointed ends to lock with the
wood or other yielding material of what are termed boards, and thus hold the wires
until the covering board is applied
The second board or covering board, fits over the first board, and being suitably
fastened, the whole is complete.
In what I esteem the most perfect development of the invention, the outer or
covering board is narrower than the innerinost, and is recessed a little into the
outer face of the inner board. A tight joint is made between the outer and the
innermost boards, which has the effect to protect the wires from any access of
moisture under ordinary conditions. A strip of rubber is inserted in a groove
formed in one of the parts to better attain absolute tightness.
Assuming the boards to be applied upon one face of a vertical wall, as the sides
..:

page_text: of an apartment, the greatest liability to moisture under any ordinary conditions is
from water trickling down from above.
Whenever a wire is to be removed and another added in any groove, first the
covering board is taken off, then the several cross-pegs may be removed and
replaced by seizing each in succession by suitable pliers and giving it a partially
turning motion. Then the wires may be readily examined and if necessary taken
When the wires are
out and repaired and returned or new ones substituted.
properly attended to, the transverse pegs are again applied in the same place or
preferably each in a new place where it will hold very firmly, and the covering
board applied as before.
According to another form of the invention, the front face of the board nearest
to the wall being grooved as before, I omit the transverse pegs or other temporary
fastenings and effect the entire covering and protecting by means of strips of wood
or other suitable material, each of a width just sufficient to fit tightly in the
groove. After placing one or more wires in each groove and applying such strip,
I press it into the groove and hold it by suitable fastenings. I have devised a
transverse button turning on a central pivot-screw, and capable of being turned
When the strips are in
out of the way at will, to allow the strips to be removed.
place the buttons may be turned into positions transverse to the strips, then one
end of each button will engage with one strip and the other end with another strip,
and both will be held by the single fastening.
By the removal of one or more of the strips I can examine the wires or exchange
them or add new ones without disturbing the board or the other wires.
I can use other material than wood; papier-maché may serve well for some of
the parts. I use the term "board" to indicate a sufficiently firm non-conducting
structure of sufficient dimensions capable of being conveniently applied and
secured.
It will be understood that when more than one wire is enclosed in a groove
they should be effectually insulated by a coating of gutta-percha or other suitable
means; also, that when strong currents are carried as are required for electric
lights, all the wires enclosed together in any groove should have the currents
traveling in the same direction.
The grooves should be a half inch or more apart.
Modifications may be made in the details. The exterior of the several parts
may be plain or may be variously decorated. For some reasons it may be
preferable, where a single covering board is used, to protect the wires in more than
one groove and make the centre line of each board considerably thicker than the
edges.
Parts of the invention may be used without the whole.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed .by
the said Joseph Oscar Cottrell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th December 1883.
JOSEPH OSCAR COTTRELL, of Fanwood, in the County of Union and State of
New Jersey, one of the United States of America IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL
WIRE PROTECTORS,
In one form of the invention I employ two boards or analogous pieces of cheap
and non-conducting material, one lying upon the other against the wall of the
apartment or against the ceiling or wherever the wires are to be led along, and I
form grooves on the outer face of the piece which lies next to the wall or ceiling.
This piece may be fastened to the wall in advance of the application of the wires;
then the wires are laid in the several grooves and temporarily held by any
convenient means.
According to one part of the invention I employ double pointed pegs of wood
which are introduced by any convenient device, as a pair of pliers, and by turning
them partially around in the grooves, cause their pointed ends to lock with the
wood or other yielding material of what I have termed boards, and thus hold the
wires until the covering board is applied.
The second board or covering board fits over the first board, and being suitably
fastened, the whole is complete.
In what I esteem the most perfect development of the invention the outer or
covering board is narrower than the innermost, and is recessed a little into the
outer face of the inner board. A tight joint is made between the outer and the
innermost boards, particularly at the top, which has the effect to protect the wires
from the access of moisture under all ordinary conditions. A strip of rubber is
inserted in the groove formed in one of the parts to better attain absolute tightness.
Assuming the boards to be applied upon one face of a vertical wall, as the sides of
an apartment, the greatest liability to moisture under any ordinary conditions is
from water trickling down from above.
Whenever a wire is to be removed and another added in any groove, first the
covering board is taken off, then the several cross-pegs may be removed by seizing
each in succession by suitable pliers and giving it a partial turning motion. Then
the wires may be readily examined and if necessary taken out, repaired and
returned or new ones substituted. When the wires are properly attended to the
transverse pegs are again applied in the same places, or preferably in new places
where they will hold very firmly, and the covering board is applied as before
My invention as thus carried out prevents the wires from being injured
mechanically, and also protects them from moisture; and what is especially
important, it prevents the electricity in the wires from injuring the building
or its occupants.
According to another form of the invention the front face of the board nearest
to the wall being grooved as Iefore, I omit the transverse pegs or other temporary
fastenings and effect the entire covering and protecting by means of strips of wood
or other suitable material, each of a width just sufficient to fit tightly in the
groove. After placing one or more wires in each groove and applying such strip, I
press it into the groove and hold it by suitable fastenings. I have devised a
transverse button turning on a central pivot-screw and capable of being turned
into positions transverse to the strips, then one end of each button will engage
with one strip, and the other end with another strip and both will be held by the
single fastening.

page_text: By the removal of one or more of the strips I can examine the wires or
exchange them, or add new ones without disturbing the board or the other
wires.
I can use other material than wood; papier-maché may serve well for some of
the parts. I use the term board to indicate a sufficiently firm non-conducting
structure of sufficient dimensions capable of being conveniently applied and
Becured.
It will be understood that when more than one wire is enclosed in a groove
they should be effectually insulated by a coating of gutta-percha or other suitable
means. Also that when strong currents are carried as are required for electric
lights, all the wires enclosed together in any groove should have the currents
travelling in the same direction. The grooves should be a half-inch or more
apart.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what
I consider the best means of carrying out the invention in two forms. Figures 1
to 8 inclusive represent the first form.
Fig. 1 is a general front view showing a considerable length of the structure.
The succeeding figures are on a larger scale.
Fig. 2 is a front view of a short portion showing the wires as extending out
beyond the end.
Fig. 3 is a cross-section corresponding to fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a face view of the back-board or bottom-board with the front board
removed.
Fig. 5 is a corresponding cross-section.
Fig. 6 is a face view of the front or covering board.
Fig. 7 is a corresponding cross-section.
Fig. 8 shows one of the details. This is on a scale still larger than the
others.
Figures 9 to 11 inclusive represent what I term the second form of the
invention.
Fig. 9 is a face view showing a considerable length in use. Figs. 10 and 11 are
on a larger scale.
Fig. 10 is a front view of a short length with one of the confining buttons
turned to allow the covering strips to be removed to allow access to the wires.
Fig. 11 is a cross-section corresponding to fig. 10
Fig. 12 is a cross-section showing a modification of the first form of the
invention.
B is
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Referring to figures 1 to 8, A is the wall of the building or apartment.
the foundation board secured by screws or other fastenings B' to the wall A.
A wide space along the centre of the front face of the board B is sunk slightly, as
indicated by b. In this space are formed grooves 61, 62, 63, 64, each adapted to
receive one or more wires m. The edges of the sunk portion bare peculiarly
beveled. The upper edge is beveled under; the lower edge is beveled flaring in
a plane nearly but not quite parallel to the upper edge. The bevel on the lower
edge is the greater, as indicated by the dotted lines in figure 7, which show the
plane of these bevels extended.
In preparing the lumber the board B may be first treated in one or more
machines to produce the broad and shallow depression b extending nearly across
the whole face, taking care to give the bevels to its edges as described. Then by
one or more subsequent operations the several grooves b' b² b³ 6 are formed in the
bottom of the sunk space b.
D is the covering board. It is plane on its back and is of a width on the
back just equal to that of the sunk space b. It is secured by screws or other
fastenings C.
In applying the parts together, the fastenings C at the lower edge being set up
tightly, serve, by the greater inclination of the lower edge than of the upper, to

page_text: force the covering board upward and to produce a close and water-tight joint at
the upper edge. There may be additional fastenings C at or near the upper edge,
but I propose to dispense with them in ordinary cases, and depend upon the
locking at the upper edge due to the form of the parts.
It is important to make the breadth of the covering board D exactly equal to,
or very slightly in excess of, the width of the sunk space b. In applying D the
upper and lower edges fit tightly against the corresponding surfaces at the edges
of b.
A further provision for the exclusion of all moisture accidentally trickling down
from above, as by a leakage of water from any source above, is the introduction of
a thin strip d of rubber, leather or analogous yielding material. This is compressed
when the fastenings C are tightened and forms a water-tight joint between the
parts B and D.
EE are strips of rubber or analogous water proof elastic material fitted in saw-
kerfs in the main board B and allowed to project a little. When the covering
board D is applied and properly pressed home it forms a tight joint along all three
lines by compressing the rubber strip d and also both the rubber strips E E. The
lowermost rubber E is important in preventing the access of moisture in that
direction by capillary attraction or otherwise when the protector is used on a
perpendicular wall. It is obviously important when the device is used in the
horizontal position and water is allowed by any chance to seek access in that
direction
The wires m are secured temporarily in their respective grooves, before the
application of the covering board D, by means of small pegs G of hard wood
analogous to shoe-pegs, but pointed at each end. These pegs G are made of a
length a little greater than the width of the several grooves b¹, b², etc. As fast
as each groove b₁ or be receives its wire or wires, the pegs G are inserted by suitable
pliers or other convenient means, and twisted around so that the points cut into
the sides of the groove and serve as reliable anchors to hold the wires. They serve
to keep the wires in their several grooves independently of and additional to the
covering board D. It is important that the pegs G be of non-conducting material.
I find wood ordinarily suited for the purpose, and by using hard wood for the
pegs G and a softer wood for the board B there is little difficulty in engaging them
in the manner indicated.
Whenever a wire is to be removed or another added in any groove, the several
pegs G may be removed and replaced by seizing each in succession with suitable
pliers and giving them a slight turning motion.
Referring to figures 9, 10 and 11, Å is the wall, B the foundation board, and
B¹ the fastening screws as before. D1 etc. are narrow covering strips, each
matched to the width of its respective groove, of a width sufficient to fit tightly
therein and of a thickness or dimension in the direction of the depth to cause it
to lie with its front face protruded beyond the front surface of the board when
it is pressed home in its proper groove upon one or more wires m previously placed
in such groove.
F are wood screws inserted in the board B and having buttons or cross-
pieces FF' fitted loosely, one button F¹ on each screw F. In one position each
button stands cross-wise of the length of the length of the board and presses on
the front face of all of the covering strips D' D'. When thus turned a tightening
of the screw F by a screw-driver or other suitable means holds the button and
consequently the strips very firmly. But when the buttons F' are turned each a
quarter revolution, they are of no effect. In this position of the parts shown in
the upper half of figure 10, the strips D1 D2 may be easily removed for repairs or
the exchange of the wires m, or for any other purpose.
When the proper repairs or exchanges of the wires have been made, the same
strips D D which had been before employed, or a new one may be introduced
into each groove b¹ 62, and on again turning the buttons F' into the proper cross-
positions and tightening the screws F all is again firmly held.

page_text: In figure 12, which shows a modification of what I call the first form, the
thickness of the covering strip D is great at the centre and is decreased towards
each edge. This form guards greatly against splitting the covering board D by
any too great compression of the screws. In this figure several wires are shown
as enclosed in the single groove. The saine plan may be carried out in what
I have termed the second form of the invention, that shown in figures 9 to 11,
inclusive.
It will be understood that when several wires are placed together in a single
groove they should be insulated from each other by a coating of gutta-percha or
other non-conductor. Wires in which the currents are traversing in the same
direction should be thus enclosed together.
With either form the
Parts of the invention may be used without the whole.
bottom board or foundation board B can be used in various positions; I can fasten
it flat-wise on the floor or ceiling; I can mount it on brackets or other supporting
means along the wall if desired. I prefer to secure it by screws directly against
a perpendicular wall A. In the first form the rubber d may be omitted and the
rubber E depended on to make a sufficient defence against moisture. Instead of
putting the strips of rubber E in the back-board B they may be put in the front
board D and form an equally tight joint by pressing their protruding edges
back ward against the back-board B. All the strips of rubber may be omitted and
the device used with some success.
The locking by means of the bevels in the first form may be omitted and the
covering board may enter by square edges, or both may be beveled flaring.
The strips D1 D2 etc. in the second form of the device may be made more
water-tight by strips of rubber inserted either in the strips D¹ D2, or in the
grooves.
My protector in either of these forms possesses the advantage over any other
known to me that the wires may be examined at any time by removing or partially
I can also
removing the covering board or strips without disturbing the wires.
easily apply the covering board or strips without disturbing the wires. It is casy
to put up the boards with the wires correctly placed because the inner board can
be first set in position and either temporarily or permanently held and the wires
placed in their proper grooves afterwards.
I claim as my invention:
First The main board B having grooves on its front as 61, 62, held by
fastenings B', and the covering board D held by separate fastenings C, combined
and adapted to serve relatively to each other and to the wires m as herein
specified.
Second: The covering board D beveled substantially as shown, in combination
with the fastenings C and with the board B having the broad shallow recess or
groove b, and narrow grooves b1, b2, and with the wires m arranged in such groove,
substantially as herein specified.
Third: The soft strip or packing d, in combination with the boards B and D
and fastenings C, as herein specified, when the board B is formed with an under-
cut bevel at the upper edge and with an open or reverse bevel of a different
obliquity at the lower edge, as set forth.
Fourth-The soft strips or packings E, in combination with the grooved
board B, wires m, covering board D and fastenings C, as herein specified.
Fifth The double-pointed pegs G arranged as shown in the grooves 61 b²,
in combination with the wires m, boards B and D and fastenings C, as herein
specified.
Sixth: The buttons F' and pivots F, in combination with each other and
with a series of wires m, separately removable strips as D¹ D², and with the

page_text: board B having grooves as 61 62, arranged for joint operation substantially as and
for the purposes herein specified.
In Witness Whereof, I, the said Joseph Oscar Cottrell, have hereunto set my
band and seal this 15th day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.
Witnesses:
THOMAS DREW STETSON
Patent Solicitor, New York.
WILLIAM. CLARK. DEY.
JOSEPH OSCAR COTTRELL (L.S.)