IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR BANDS, AND THE MODES OR METHODS OF APPLYING THE SAME
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William McNabb, of 6, Cambridge Terrace,
London Road, Clapton, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR BANDS, AND THE
MODES OR METHODS OF APPLYING THE SAME."
Sealed the 10th December 1869, and dated the 17th June 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William M*Nabb at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 17th June 1869.
I, WILLIAM M°NABB, of 6, Cambridge Terrace, London Road,
Clapton, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FASTENERS FOR BANDS,
AND THE MODES OR METHODS OF APPLYING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of fasteners
or fastenings for band, and in the modes or methods of applying
fasteners to bands or hoops, and relates chiefly to means of fastening or
securing together two pieces of overlaping material, or the two ends
of a band which overlap each other, such being generally intended to be

page_text: employed for surrounding and securing bodies or articles together in
bulk, such as bales or bundles which have been subjected to considerable
compression, and which require to be bound or hooped so as to retain
them in their compressed state, the bands or hoops to which the said
fasteners are applied being capable of receiving a permanent "set" or
bend, or a biteing thereinto through, by means of, or consequent upon the
strain put upon or communicated to the bands or hoops being angularly
checked at one or more points through the application of one or other of
the forms of the fastener or clip, as herein-after mentioned, as by the
use of the said fastener or clip no previous preparation of the hoops or
bands either by bending, splitting, twisting, or piercing (or punching) is
necessary; and moreover the fasteners may, after having been applied to
the bands or hoops by being driven thereonto at the side or over the
ends of the hoops, may be left until the expansion of the bale secures
the fastener in its place, and after the bale has been transported to its
destination and opened, and the fastener having donc its work once may
be again used. The disposition of the edges, bars, or ribs within or
forming part of the fastener over or between which the two thicknesses
of band are made to pass from the bending or straining surfaces, and by
which the "set" or the gripping action or bending or holding together
of the ends or other parts of the bands or hoops is prouduced and their
slipping or withdrawing is prevented through the angular strain to
which the band or hoop is subjected. For some purposes I make the
fastener by bending a plate, or it may be made of maleable cast iron
somewhat of an S section with a slot or opening forming jaws, slightly
tapered, sufficiently wide to receive between them two thicknesses of the
hoop or band. The side of one or both of these jaws is formed with a
projection of such a curved and angular shape as to facilitate the driving
on (side ways of the fastener on to the two thicknesses of band, and
whilst being so driven on will cant round and throw an angular strain
upon the band between the jaws and the end of the projecting piece, the
edge of which also aids in preventing the ends of the loop from slipping
through the slot or jaws. In order to prevent the fastener or clip from
being easily nocked off the band a small projection or lip sloaping
inwards may be formed upon the inner edge of one of the jaws, and
behind which the outer edge of band would pass when the fastener
has been driven home. I produce the same effect of angular gripping
and securely holding of the two thicknesses of the hoop or band together
by employing a fastener or clip consisting of a straight plate with

page_text: rectangular projections upon each end, these projections being slotted to
admit the two thicknesses of band or hoop to pass through them, and the
portions of the hoop are canted by a taper wedgeing action between the
plate and the bands, so that when the bale or contents within the hoops
are allowed to expand freely the ends of the hoop cannot be withdrawn.
Instead of the two ends of the hoop passing through the slots the wedge
may be made to pass in that direction by turning the clip at right angles
to its former position and by forming projections upon the sides of the
plate and passing the hoops between the plate and the taper wedge piece
an angular gripping action is produced as before.
Another modification in the shape or configuration of the fastener or
clip is by forming it of an S shape with canting and biteing edges set
angularly, so that the two ends, which are slotted for the purpose of
admitting the two thicknesses of band, are received between them, a
projecting plate being formed on a portion thereof affects the gripping
action upon the band when the fastener is driven on.
Instead of either of the foregoing external forms being given to the
fastner or clip it may be made of a staple form or shape with the jaws
or slots for receiving the two thicknesses of hoop or band in each leg of
the staple, and an internal prong or wedge-like projection from the
crown of the staple producing the necessary canting or angular gripping
action by the legs of the staple being driven over, and the point of the
tongue or wedge being at the same time driven between the two thick-
nesses of the band or hoop.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William M'Nabb in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th December 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
M'NABB, of 6, Cambridge Terrace, London Road, Clapton, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William M°Nabb; Her special licence

page_text: that I, the said William M°Nabb, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William M°Nabb, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FASTENERS FOR BANDS, AND THE MODES OR METHODS OF APPLYING THE
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
MoNabb, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
BAME,
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William M.Nabb, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and the accompanying two Sheets of
Drawings:-
:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of fasteners
or fastenings for bands, and in the modes or methods of applying
fasteners to metal bands or hoops, and relates chiefly to the means of
fastening or securing together two pieces of overlapping metal or
material, or the two ends of a metallic band which overlap each other,
such being generally employed for surrounding and securing bodies or
articles together in bulk, such as bales or bundles which have been
subjected to considerable compression, and which require to be bound
or "hooped about" so as to retain them in their compressed state. The
bands or hoops to which the said fasteners are applied are capable of
receiving a permanent "set" or bend, or a biting thereinto, through, or
by means of, or consequent upon the strain put upon or communicated
to the bands or hoops being checked at one or more points through the
application of one or other of the forms of the fastener or clip, as herein-
after mentioned. By the use of a certain modifications of the said fastener
or clip, no previous preparation of the hoops or bands, either by
bending, spitting, twisting, piercing, or punching, is necessary; and
moreover the fasteners constructed in accordance with this Invention

page_text: may in every case after having been applied to the bands or hoops, by
being driven thereonto at the side, over the ends of the hoops, be left
there until the expansion of the bale secures the fastener in its place by
canting it, and causing it to grip, and so by frictional contact and
angular strain the ends of the metallic band are firmly held and secured
from slipping past each other. After the bale has been transported to
its destination and opened, the fastener having done its work once may
be again used.
In fasteners intended for holding or securing the plain or unbent ends
of hoops together by or where the hoop ends are plain and simply overlap
face to face the disposition of the edges, bars, or ribs within or forming
part of the fastener, and over or between which the two thicknesses of
band are made to pass), form the bending or holding surfaces, and by
which a "set" or gripping action, or bending, or holding together of
the ends (or other parts), of the bands or hoops is produced, and their
slipping or withdrawing is prevented through the angular strain to
which the band or hoop is subjected at the part where the two thicknesses
of the band pass through the fastener.
For some purposes I prefer to make the fasteners by cutting and
bending them from plate iron, or they may be made of malleable cast
iron, somewhat of an S shape or of S section, either with a slot or
opening forming jaws slightly tapered, sufficiently wide to receive
between them two thicknesses of the hoop or band, or they may be plain
without a slot, and be applied or fixed on differently. The side of one
or both of the jaws of the fastener is formed with a projection of such a
curved and angular shape as to facilitate the driving (side ways) on to the
hoop ends of the fastener (on to the two thicknesses of band), and whilst
being so driven on it will cant round and throw an angular strain upon
the band between the jaws, and thereby grip and hold, and the end of
the projecting piece may be so formed that the edge also aids in pre-
venting the ends of the hoop from slipping through the slot or jaws of
the fastener.
Another modification in the shape or configuration of the fastener or
clip suitable for fixing the plain but overlapping ends of a hoop or band
is by forming it, as before mentioned, of an S shape with canting and
biting edges set angularly, so that the two ends which are slotted for
the purpose of admitting the two thicknesses of band are received
between them, a projecting plate being formed on a portion thereof

page_text: effects the gripping action upon the band when the fastener is driven
on.
Instead of either of the foregoing modifications in the external forms
being given to the fastener or clip, it may be made of a staple form or
shape with the jaws or slots for receiving the two ends of the hoop or
band, one in each leg of the staple, and an internal prong or wedge like
projection from the crown of the staple producing the necessary bending
or angular. gripping action by the legs of the staple being driven over,
and the point of the tongue or wedge being at the same time driven
between the two ends forming the thicknesses of the band or hoop
overlapping or crossing one over the other.
For some purposes, and in certain cases, I prefer to bend the ends
of each hoop and cause them to pass and overlap one over the other so
that where the fastener is applied in the intermediate or middle portion
of the two ends, where they cross, there are but two thicknesses, whilst
on each side of the fastener there are three thicknesses of the hoop
which exceed the width of the opening or passage in or through the
fastener, and so they cannot pass; and upon the strain coming on the
band, the ends are drawn together and become wedged in the fastener
which has previously been slid on or driven on at the side of the hoop or
band. Again I find it convenient and economical in baling many kinds
of goods and merchandise to hoop or band them with hoop iron and turn
back the ends short, as, for instance, the lower one by having its extreme
end turned up and backward short, whilst the upper one is turned down
and back short, and in other cases the relative positions of the turned
ends may be reversed so as to permit of their bent or hooked ends being
slipped one into the other, side ways, with a space in the thickness
thereof or between them, that when under the latter arrangement they
have been interlocked, the two pieces of the band are in the same direct
line. Between and upon, or between and partly around this interlocking
the fastener is applied, as herein-after described, for the purpose of
preventing the "opening out" or straining of the ends, and their
separation and "straightening out," when, by the expansion of the
contents of the bale, the greatest strain is brought upon the ends of the
hoop or band. By this arrangement one or more parts of the fastener
being inserted between the hooked parts of the hoop ends two or more
-thicknesses. thereof are clipped, nipped, or held together by the fastener
when applied at or driven on from the side of the hoop or band, and the
"

page_text: fastener may either embrace the bottom and pass through or between
two thicknesses of hoop and then over or embrace the top face or side
of the top, and so by its S shape hold the bent ends together, being
first applied and fitted to the one end, it is then slid into the other, and
upon the bale expanding the fastening becomes perfect.
For the purpose of clipping or holding two or more thicknesses of
hoop iron or metallic banding employed for bales, bundles, and packages
of goods or materials, where the ends are bent back, and they overlap
each other, so that the thickness is greater between the two extremes
of the overlapping, I apply a clip formed somewhat like a chain link,
having the centre part or portion of one side removed, so that it can be
slipped over first one edge, and then by drawing it back be slipped over the
other edge of the overlapping portions of the hoop ends; and I perfer
to apply this fastener beneath the hoop, and between it and the bale with
its side upward, and such fastener cannot be slipped or slid on
longitudinally:
open
The several modifications in the shape or configuration of the fasteners,
herein-before described, are mere variations to adapt them to the mode
in which the two ends of the hoop or band are caused to overlap, or are
formed and combined together; or they are designed to so embrace, clip,
or combine together two or more thicknesses of hoop or band, according
to the manner in which the two ends of the hoop are bent or otherwise
formed, and brought or combined together for the purpose of being fastened
or secured. In the several modifications of the fastening instruments or
apparatus herein described I have made such variations in their form
and mode of application (whilst dedicating or devoting them to one
purpose that of fastening the ends of metallic hoops or bands together,
and by varying the modes of forming and combining the ends of
hoops so adapted the fasteners thereto for the purpose of insuring the
requisite security and strength. Where the ends simply overlap each
other and there are but two thicknesses of material the form or de-
scription of fastener, according to the present Invention, which is adapted
thereto is applied at one side thereof and driven on, so as to grip them
and bind them together, and as it were form a kink, by which the one
end of the band cannot be pulled off or from the other or by the longi-
tudinal strain. Where the ends are turned back and overlapped so as
to form four thicknesses of material, at parts of the overlapping, I have
designed and provided to meet such an arrangement of material an

page_text: instrument or instruments which vary in form, in accordance with the
mode in which the ends are bent and disposed, as will be seen on
reference to the several Figures in the Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed. Moreover, when the two ends of the hoop are so bent as to
form short loops, leaving a space at the overlapping ends where there
are but two thicknesses of material, I have devised forms of instruments
or apparatus by which the ends may be fastened and secured, whether
the loops be formed both inward, or face to face, or both outward and
back to back, or one one way, and the other the opposite way, as herein-
after described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheets of Drawings.
Furthermore, when the two ends of a hoop or band are bent short they
may either be bent so as to come close together when interlocked and
form four close lying thicknesses of metal, or they may be similarly bent
with a short hook bend but be less close, so that when the two hooked
ends are interlocked the fastener or fastening instrument may be inserted
between the parts. I am aware that clips or flattened rings have been
applied for the purpose of securing the ends of hoops or bands for bales,
and such "improved bale goods fasteners" are slid longitudinally along
the hoops, as in Lampson's Patent, No. but such fasteners do not
readily permit of "sampling," or partially unbaling for examination
of the contents; and moreover two flat metal loops are required in
accordance with the said Invention for each band or hoop. I am also
aware that the ends of "bale hoops" or bands have heretofore been bent
backward, and the loops formed thereby have been secured or fastened
by means of a "spear" inserted into and passed through them, but the
looped or bent ends at each band are placed side by side, the width
occupied at their crossing being double the width of the hoop or band,
whilst the ends are not in the same longitudinal straight line but are at
an angle, so that the strain upon the two ends of the same hoop tends
to twist or strain unequally the " spear or rod by which the several
hoops or bands are fastened.
""
'
In the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings I have shewn several
modifications in the form as well as in the mode of applying the fasteners
or fastenings suitable for and adapted to the several modes of combining
together the two ends of a metallic band or hoop intended for the
purpose of baling goods or materials; the modes or methods of bringing
together, crossing over, or joining the two ends of such hoops or bands
being shewn in several views numbered 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. &c. respectively

page_text: whilst the fasteners or fastenings adapted thereto, and intended to be
applied for the purpose of holding or securing them together, are
severally lettered with roman capital letters, and where the same form
of fastener may be applied to more than one mode of combining the
hoop ends a compound of a letter and numeral is employed to indicate
the application. Thus the fastener A may be applied to the modes
Nos. 1, 2, and others of combining the hoop ends;. in like manner also
the fasteners B and O may be applied to Nos. 1, 2, and others, whilst D
is adapted to, say, Nos. 2, 3, and 4, as is also the fastener E, F being
more particularly adapted to Number 4. So also the fasteners G, H, I,
J, and K, are specially adapted to Number 5, wherein the hooked ends
are not closed together, so as to admit of a single thickness only between
them, but are left sufficiently wide to enable one or more portions of the
fastener to be inserted between the hooked or bent ends. In like manner
the fastener N (of an S shape or form) is more particularly adapted to
No. 6 joint or hoop ends, which joint although somewhat similar in
appearance to No. 5, so far as the mere hooking over and combination
(when the ends are brought together) is concerned, the mode or method
of applying the same is different. The fastener is first put on at the side
of one of the hooked ends of the band, and the other hooked end made
to pass beyond the fastener, and is then slipped in at the side of the
fastener, then the hooked end draws into and interlocks so soon as the
expansion of the bale takes place, whilst in No. 5 the transverse or
"lateral sliding-in "of the one hooked end within the other is effected
before the fastener is applied, and the fastener is applied before the
internal strain due to the expansion of the bale is permitted to act or
operate upon the metallic hoop or band. It will be observed that in
every case the fastener or fastening is applied to or at one side of the
hoop or band, instead of being slipped over the end or ends longi-
tudinally, or along the hoop or band on to the joint, or over the ends,
like the sliding loops of leather used with leather straps; as in the latter
case such hoops have to be "slid on" or "threaded" on " to or over the
end of the band or hoop before the joint is made or the crossing of the
ends effected. In the application of the link form or fastener, which
has a portion of one side removed, it is applied first on the one edge of
the hoop and drawn over at the joint, and after thus getting the two or
more thicknesses between the jaw at one end of the fastener it is then
drawn back so as to bring the other edge of each portion of the hoop

page_text: within the opposite jaw and thus clamps them together (as it were), and
any sliding of the hoop ends over one another only serves to secure the
fastener more firmly in its place; the opening out of the ends being
prevented by the jaws of the link, and the central inner portion of the
link, between which and the inner points of the jaws the two or more
thicknesses of the band ends are held. In No. 1, where the ends are not
prepared or bent, but simply overlap in the same longitudinal straight
line, one beneath the other, the effect of applying the fastener suited
therefor is to not only press the two surfaces together firmly, but also to
angularly strain or produce a bending action, by which the slipping
over one another of the hoop ends is prevented. In No. 2 the ends of the
hoops or band are turned outwards from the bearing force of each, so that
the backs of the bends come together, and the points of the loops come
alternately on the top and the bottom sides of the fastener, when it is
applied as shewn. In No. 3 each end is bent towards the other or
inwards towards the interior of the joint or. overlapping, and there is a
plain and nearly straight portion of the joint at the overlapping where
there are but two thicknesses of hoop. In No. 4 the hooked ends are
bent back so closely upon the hoop as to admit only one thickness
being introduced therewith, and the limit to which the bale or other
goods or materials confined by the hoops or bands is that of the slight
difference in length between the points of the hooked ends and the
"play"
or freedom allowed for permitting the one hook to be slid
sideways into the other, and the fastener or fastening is applied to the
joint before the external pressure is removed from the bale. In No. 5
the hooked ends are not bent back so closely as in No. 4, but are pur-
posely left wider for receiving some portion or portions of one or other of
the fasteners in manner herein described and set forth. In No. 6 the
hooked ends are bent wide, as in No. 5, but the hoops are left slightly
longer to enable the S-shaped fastener to be applied first to the one
hooked end and then to the other.
I prefer to employ wrought-iron plate for the fasteners A, &c., whilst
C, D, &c. may be forged or bent out of wrought-iron rods, or from bar
iron; the fasteners B, E, and F may be of malleable cast iron, and G, H,
and I may be cut out of plate iron and bent and stamped out cold, whilst
J, K, and L can be of malleable cast iron, and M, &c. may be stamped
out of sheet iron or steel.

page_text: Having now described my said Invention of improvements in
fasteners for bands, and the modes or methods of applying the same,
as herein set forth and illustrated in the two Sheets of Drawings here-
unto annexed, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is,-
First. The improvements in fasteners or fastenings for bands, and the
modes or methods of applying the same, as herein described and set
forth.
Secondly. The modes of jointing and fastening metal "bale hoops" or
bands, as illustrated by Figures No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and as herein
described in connection with the said several Figures.
And, thirdly. The modes or methods of jointing and securing the ends
of "bale hoops" or bands, illustrated by Figures No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6,
and the several letters shewn on Sheets 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and as herein-before described by the textual references to the
said several Figures.
In witness whereof, I, the said William M°Nabb, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
WILLIAM MCNABB. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN COLLINS.