Improvements in Nails.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Nails.
I, ALFRED EDWARD APPLETON, of Trinity Walk, Tewkesbury, in the County of
Gloucester, Builder, 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 nails and has special reference to the type of nail
employed for the purpose of fixing corrugated metal to the roofs of structures and
for other kindred purposes.
The type of nail referred to comprises a shank having either an enlarged head
made of lead or provided with a flexible flange, disc or washer of a hollow conoidal
shape on its under surface or of a concave-convex form adapted when the nail is
driven to adjust itself to the ridge of the corrugated metal and expand or flatten
out somewhat around the part into which the shank of the nail has entered and
thereby form a weather-tight joint.
The chief disadvantage of nails of this type is that it is practically impossible
to withdraw them in such a condition that they may be used again.
Now the object of the present invention is to improve the construction of the
type of nail herein before described in such a manner that it can be withdrawn by
means of nippers, bifurcated hammerhead, or other form of lever.
For this purpose my invention consists in providing nails of the said type
with a double head or with a head projecting above the flange, disc or washer
which is the characteristic feature of the said nail.
In order that my invention may be fully understood reference is made to the
accompanying drawing in which,
Figure 1 is an elevation and,
Figure 2 a central vertical section of a nail of the type and for the purpose
herein before described, constructed in accordance with this invention.
A represents the stem or shank of the nail, B the concavo-convex disc or washer,
C the ordinary head of the nail all of which are and may be constructed in the
well known manner.
D represents the additional head which by preference is formed with a neck D'
so as to facilitate engagement by a hammerhead or other convenient lever when
it is desired to withdraw the nail.
The shank and both heads each form an integral part of the nail and may all
be formed in one operation by stamping according to any of the well known
processes and the whole galvanized or dipped into molten zinc or tin as is well
understood.
Instead of the usual head C a shoulder or projection of any suitable construc-
tion may be formed on the shank of the nail against which the disc or washer B
may abut.
A nail constructed in accordance with my invention may be used and with-
drawn, time after time. which is a valuable consideration not only from a point
of economy, but also in sparsely populated districts where corrugated iron struc-

page_text: tures are largely in vogue and are frequently taken down and removed to another
place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A nail of the character specified provided with an additional head sub-
stantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
' :
2. A nail comprising a shank A, a head or shoulder C thereon, a disc or washer
such as B abutting against the latter and a head above the said disc or washer
substantially as described, and illustrated by way of application in the accom-
panying drawing.
'
3. The improved nail constructed substantially as and for the purpose described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 14th day of October 1898
BOULT & WÅDE,
Agents for the; Applicant..