Improvements in Composing Sticks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 11th May, 1895
Communicated from abroad by NATHANIEL SHAW PERKINS, of New London,
Connecticut, U.S.A., Gentleman.]
Improvements in Composing Sticks.
I, REGINALD WALTER BARKER of Monument Chambers, King William Street,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent 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:―
My invention relates to improvements in composing sticks, and the objects of my
improvement are simplicity and economy in construction and efficiency in use.
the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a plan view of my composing stick.
transverse section of the same, on the line - Fig. 1.
In
Figure 2 is an enlarged
Figure 3 is a reverse plan view of the slide with one side in horizontal section
aud with one washer and screw removed in order to better show the eccentric, and
Figure 4 is a plan view on the same scale as Fig. 1, of the blank, from which the
slide is made.
My invention is in the nature of an improvement upon the invention patented
April 9th 1890 No. 5418, in which is employed a compressible slide in connection
with means for forcing the same upon opposite edges of the stick. In said Patent
the slide was compressible by being composed by two parts which slid one upon the
other. In my improvements, I make the ends of the slide yielding so that they
may be compressed without any sliding movement, and whereby I am enabled to
construct the slide of one piece of sheet metal.
The body of the stick A is or may be of any ordinary construction. I construct
the slide B preferably from a single piece of sheet metal cut from the blank
shown in Fig. 4, and bent into the form shown. 5 designates the top or body of
the slide, from the inner edge of which the flange 6 is turned down to form the face
of the slide against which the type is placed. At each end of the slide, and
consequently upon opposite edges of the stick or body A, wings or flanges are
turned down to form the front end 8 and rear end 7, the lower edge of each of said
ends being turned under, as at 8 a, Fig. 2, to take in under the body of the stick as
shown. These ends being formed of sheet metal are simply flexible, thereby
forming a compressed slide. A lug 9 is turned down from or formed upon the
inside of the end 7, upon which to pivot the link 10, by means of the screw 11.
On the inside of the top or body 5, I secure a fulcrum block 12, in any proper
manner, as for example, by means of the screw 13, and upon this fulcrum block
I pivot the operating lever 14, said lever being provided on its under side with an
eccentric 15, which eccentric is received by one end of the link 10. The link and
lever may be held upon the fulcrum block 12 in any suitable manner, as for
example, by means of the washer 16 and holding screw 17, which washer and screw
are omitted from Fig. 3 in order to better illustrate the other parts.
The top or body of the stick 5 is formed from the middle portion of the blank,
Fig. 4, and the facing flange or slide 6 is formed from the wing 6, while the front
end is formed from the wing 8 and the rear end from the wing 7, the parts being
bent up substantially on the broken lines 20, 21, and 18, while the flanges 8 are
bent over substantially on the broken lines 19 of said Fig. 4. The lug 9 is cut out
from the body of the wing 7, as at 9 in Fig. 4. The eccentric and link are so

page_text: adjusted that when the lever handle 14 is turned into the position shown in the
drawings, the yielding ends of the slide B are brought forcibly against the opposite
edges of the stick A so as to hold the same firmly in the position set. By throwing
the lever bandle 14 backward, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1, the eccentric
is thrown into such à position as to release the ends 7 and 8 of the slide and permit
them to swing outwardly sufficiently to slide along easily to any desired point upon
the stick when they may be again fastened by returning the lever to its former
position. It should be noted that the front end 8 of the slide B is so formed
(see Fig. 2) as to press only on the bottom portion of the body or stick so as not to
deflect the vertical flange that extends along one edge thereof.
While prefer to employ the eccentric and link for drawing the ends of the
slide together, it is evident that my flexible slide may be used in connection with
any ordinary means for forcing its ends together. It is also evident that the ends
could be forced together if only one of them was flexible. Furthermore, my.
specific means for drawing the ends of the slide together are not necessarily limited
to the particular slide shown.
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. The combination with the body of a composing stick, of the slide having a
flexible end and means for forcing its ends against the opposite side edges of the
stick, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination with the body of a composing stick, of the sheet metal slide
made in one piece, and means for deflecting the end pieces of said slide for binding
them upon the opposite edges of the stick, substantially as described and for the
purposes specified.
3. The combination of the body of the composing stick, with the compressible
slide B having a fulcrum block, the operating lever having the eccentric 15, and a
link 10 for connecting said eccentric and lever with two portions of said slide,
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of December 1894.
REGINALD W. BARKER.