Im- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WRENCHES FOR TURNING PIPES, BARS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Theodore Griffin, of No. 77; Upper
Thames Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of “Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WRENCHES FOR TURNING PIPES, BARS,
AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."-A communication from abroad by
Jonathan Austin, of Fulton Street, New York, in the United States
of America.
Sealed the 14th July 1874, and dated the 16th January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Theodore Griffin
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th January 1874.
I, JAMES THEOdore Griffin, of No. 77, Upper Thames Street, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WRENCHES FOR TURNING PIPES,
BARS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as follows :—
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of
wrenches for turning pipes, bars, and other similar articles, and consists

page_text: of a curved extension piece on the handle portion. To the extension
piece is pivotted a curved dog claw with a serrated face, the serrations of
which, with other serrations on the face of the curved extension piece,
form the jaws or teeth for gripping the article to be turned, the bite
taking place while the tool is moved in one direction only.
The end of the extension piece is forked, and in this fork a spring is
arranged pressing against a lip on the claw end, the lip being double to
act as reinforcing clips to resist the upward strain.
The serrations or teeth on the curved claw are arranged upon different
angled surfaces to ensure the bite taking place at two points in the
diameter of any article within the compass of the opening, the third
biting point being from the teeth of the extension piece.
-
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 1
filed by the said James Theodore Griffin in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
THEODORE GRIFFIN, of No. 77, Upper Thames Street, in the City of
London, send greeting.
2
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Theodore Griffin, 2
Her special licence, that I, the said James Theodore Griffin, my
'executors administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Theodore Griffin, 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 3
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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF
WRENCHES FOR TURNING PIPES, BARS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," com-

page_text: municated to me from abroad by Jonathan Austin, of Fulton Street,
New York, in the United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Theodore Griffin, my exe-
cutors 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Theodore Griffin, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of
wrenches for turning pipes, bars, and other similar articles, and consists
of a curved extension piece on the handle portion. To the extension
piece is pivotted a curved dog claw with a serrated face, the serrations of
which, with other serrations on the face of the curved extension piece
form the jaws or teeth for gripping the article to be turned, the bite
taking place while the tool is moved in one direction only.
The end of the extension piece is forked, and in this fork a spring is
arranged pressing against a lip on the claw end, the lip being double to
act as a reinforcing clip to resist the upward strain.
Serrations or teeth on the curved claw are arranged upon different
angled surfaces to ensure the bite taking place at two points in the.
diameter of any article within the compass of the opening, the third
biting point being upon the teeth of the extension piece.
A hammer head, may be arranged upon the extension piece or close
thereto if desired, as will be understood hereafter.
The improved wrench or pipe spanner is shown in Figure 1. a is the
curved extension piece of the handle b, and formed with an opening,
between which the curved loosely pinned claw c is arranged so that it is
free to open out from the handle portion or butt d to pass it over a pipo
(as in Figure 2) a rod or other round or comparitively round article which
has to be screwed up or unscrewed, the claw biting the article by its

page_text: sharp serrated teeth e, e, in conjunction with the sharp serrated teeth
ff, upon the inner face of the extension piece a; g is a curved spring
plate jammed or rivetted to the bottom of the opening, and so that its
free end h, which bears against a rounded end or tail piece i of the jaw
c, may cause the required grip of the article; j is a step on or in the 5
extension piece a to limit the extent to which the jaw c can be opened,
the rounded edges of the extension piece being borne upon or against
by lips k, k.
Figure 3 shows the improved pipe or rod wrench with a hammer head
Z projecting from the extension piece a, and with a chisel or screw- 1
driver m at the end of the handle b, whereby the tool can be used for
other purposes besides that of turning pipes or rods.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, claim is made,—
Firstly. To the apparatus or wrench constructed as described, and 1
shown in Figures 1 and 2, by which pipes, bars, and other similar articles
can be turned.
And Secondly. To the combination tool, pipe, or bar turner, hammer
and screw driver, as described with reference to Figure 3 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Theodore Griffin, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
2