Improvements in the Construction of Clamps, Fasteners, or Clutch-nails.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Clamps, Fasteners, or
Clutch-nails.
We, HUGH DE HAVEN, of 68 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York, and
JAMES EDWIN MCMURRAY, of corner of 4th and Oak Streets, Quincy, Illinois,
both in the United States of America, Manufacturers, 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 improvements in clamps, fasteners, or clutch-nails that
are adapted to be applied to the corners or edges of wooden boxes, packing
crates, and other similar articles in order to secure and strengthen them, the said
clamps being also adaptable for use in repairing split or cracked wooden articles
and for a variety of other analogous purposes.
Our invention more particularly refers to the formation of the barbs or prongs
and to the shape of the ends of the clamps.
In order that our invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect we have shewn in the accompanying drawings perspective views and cross
sections of various examples of our improved clamps.
These clamps are produced from blanks of suitable shape and dimensions that
are cut or stamped with the requisite shaped prongs or barbs in a die-press the
barbs or prongs being bent up at or about right angles to the blank either
simultaneously with the stamping operation or subsequently thereto.
In Figures 1 and 2 the barbs or prongs are made with their outer edges a
straight and their inner edges a' at an inclination so that when applying the clamp
to a box or other article those barbs or prongs that are in the same horizontal
plane will as they enter the wood have a tendency to separate or flare and thus
give additional retaining or holding power to the clamp by reason of what may be
termed a rivetting action which is thus produced.
Figures 3 and 4 show a modification of this form in which the apex b of the
barb or prong is inclined on each side and the base inclined on only one side as
at 61 while the portion between the apex and the base is made with parallel
sides. This form is particularly useful for hard wood the increased size at the
base constituting a shoulder that greatly adds to the strength of the barb or prong
as well as tending to produce the rivetting action above stated.
In Figures 5 and 6 the apex c of the barb or prong is inclined on each side
and the remaining portion c¹ has parallel edges thereby giving extra security or
retaining power to the clamp.
In Figures 7 and 8 the barb or prong is inclined on each side d for its whole
length and is suitable for hard woods the comparatively large base adding
considerably to the strength of the barb as in the construction illustrated in
Figure 3.
The extremities of the clamps are as shewn in Figures 1, 3 and 5 formed with
teeth or serrations & standing out at or about right angles and projecting in the
same direction as the prongs and capable of entering the article to which the
clamp is applied so as to ensure that said clamp shall lie perfectly flat at its ends
and present a smooth edge which will not be liable to get inadvertently raised,
nor injure the hands of persons manipulating the boxes or other articles to which
the clamps are applied.
Or the extremities of the clamps may be curved as shewn at i in Figure 7 when
a similar but less effective result would be obtained.

page_text: Figure 9 shews a fragmentary section of the corner or edge of a box illustrating
the manner in which the clamps or fasteners are applied thereto. If desired the
clamps may be formed with holes j as shewn at Figure 7 to permit of nails being
used in combination therewith.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A clamp, fastener, or clutch-nail in which the barbs or prongs are shaped to
one or other of the forms hereinbefore described with reference to the several
figures of the accompanying drawings.
2. A clamp, fastener, or clutch-nail having teeth or serrations such as hat its
ends and barbs or prongs of the shape herein described and shewn with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.