A Novel or Improved Device for use in Raising Bricks, Tiles, and the like during Building Operations.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Novel or Improved Device for use in Raising Bricks, Tiles, and the
like during Building Operations.
I, GEORGE PHOENIX EDWARDS (commonly known as George Phoenix), of 5,
Clarendon Street, Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Artist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
When bricks are required to be raised in large quantities at a time, during
building operations, they are usually raised in large baskets or metal vessels,
by means of a steam crane or other mechanical power; but for ordinary building
operations, in which the bricks are raised by hand, a sling is frequently employed
for the purpose which consists of a short length of rope fastened together at its
ends and formed with a loop which is passed around the bricks.
The bricks are
liable, however, more especially in windy weather, to knock against the scaffold
as they are being pulled up, and are thus liable to be knocked out of the sling and
seriously endanger the workmen below.
Now, the main object of this invention is a novel or improved device to be
used in substitution for a sling, and within which the bricks are securely held
notwithstanding that the device or the bricks therein may strike violently against
portions of the scaffold as they are being pulled up.
The novel or improved device consists of a metallic frame of which portions
are hinged so that they may be opened out for the reception and removal of the
bricks. The construction may be varied to some extent, but in its main features
this frame consists conveniently as follows: Two bars of metal, preferably of
a broad and flat form, cross one another at right angles and form the bottom of
the frame. Upright bars, also of a broad flat section, stand up vertically from
three of the ends of these bottom bars, being conveniently formed by bending
up lengths of metal therefrom; and a similar bar is hinged to the fourth of these
ends so that it can be turned down or raised up as desired. On the outer end
of this last mentioned bar, and also on the outer end of the bar which stands up
from the opposite end of the same bottom bar, are hinged short bars each of which
has a slotted hole formed therethrough. The other two vertical bars are cranked in
towards one another at their upper ends each for half the distance which is
between them, when the appliance is closed up, and the inner ends of these
cranked-in portions are bent up to form ears, and a hole is formed through each car.
To close up the frame, the first mentioned hinged bar is raised up into a vertical
position, the two ears aforesaid are closed against one another by springing towards
one another the two vertical bars which carry them, and the short hinged lengths
of bars are then closed down with their slots passing over the pair of ears.
pair of ears are thus held together; and the two short hinged bars are prevented
The

page_text: from rising by passing the hook of the lifting tackle through the holes formed
through the ears, and thus when the frame is being lifted by the hook it cannot
come open.
If the appliance is closed and it is desired to fill it with bricks, the hook is first
detached from the ears, the short hinged bars are then lifted up and the hinged
vertical bar is opened down. The two vertical bars of the frame which carry the
ears spring open somewhat when the ears are released. A vertical row of bricks
is placed between the two vertical bars which carry the ears, and against the
vertical bar which is opposite to the first mentioned hinged bar, and then a second
vertical row of bricks is placed against these, and finally the appliance is again
closed up. The division between the two vertical rows of bricks is up the middle
of the portion of the framing formed by one of the bottom bars and the two vertical
bars which stand up therefrom and are cranked in at their upper ends and formed
with ears, and the outer sides of the two vertical rows of bricks are held in place
by the other two vertical bars. The widths of the vertical members of the frame
are such as to ensure that the bricks cannot twist under any circumstances suffi-
ciently to clear the ends of any of them from the two vertical members of the
frame which carry the ears, and thus no matter to what extent the appliance may
swing, and itself or the bricks knock against the scaffold, the bricks cannot be
detached from the appliance.
According to a modification of the invention, in lieu of hinging two short lengths
of bar to the upper ends of two of the vertical members, a bar with a slotted hole
through the middle thereof may be hinged to one of such vertical members
(which may be either the member which is opposite to the hinged vertical member,
or may be the hinged vertical member itself) and be formed with an additional
hole through its outer end which passes over a properly shaped upper end of the
opposite vertical bar. Thus, when such hinged and slotted bar is turned down so
as to pass its slot over the ears aforesaid and the hole through its outer end over
the shaped portion of the opposite vertical bar, and the hook has been engaged
with the ears, the hinged slotted bar cannot be raised again, and the frame cannot
therefore be opened until the hook has been again disconnected from the cars.
An appliance such as above described may be used also for lifting tiles and the
like, such as slates, during building operations, being in such cases adapted of
course in size to suit the size of the articles; and it will usually be found cou-
venient to adapt the appliance to take in one vertical row only of such articles.
Dated this 12th day of inact 1800
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
A Novel or Improved Device for use in Raising Bricks, Tiles, and the
like during Building Operations.
I, GEORGE PHOENIX EDWARDS (commonly known as George Phoenix), of 5,
Clarendon Street, Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Artist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
When bricks are required to be raised in large quantities at a time, during
building operations, they are usually raised in large baskets or metal vessels,
by means of a steam crane or other mechanical power; but for ordinary building

page_text: operations, in which the bricks are raised by hand, a sling is frequently employed
for the purpose which consists of a short length of rope fastened together at its
ends and formed with a loop which is passed around the bricks. The bricks are
liable, however, more especially in windy weather, to knock against the scaffold
as they are being pulled up, and are thus liable to be knocked out of the sling and
seriously endanger the workmen below.
Now, the main object of this invention is a novel or improved device to be
used in substitution for a sling, and within which the bricks are securely held
notwithstanding that the device, or the bricks therein, may strike violently against
portions of the scaffold as they are being pulled up.
The novel or improved device consists, in its most approved form, of a metallic
frame of which portions are hinged so that they may be opened out for the
reception and removal of the bricks.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will describe a practical
application of the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which
Figure 1 is a view shewing the appliance to be opened out for the reception of
the bricks; and Figure 2 is a similar view, but shews the appliance to be filled
with bricks and closed up, and the hook of the lifting tackle, by means of which
it is to be raised, to be engaged therewith. Two bars of metal a b, preferably of a
broad and flat section, as shewn, cross one another at right angles and are riveted
together to form the bottom of the frame. Upright bars a¹ a¹, also of a broad and
flat section (and, preferably, in the same piece of metal with the bar a) stand up
vertically from the ends of the bottom bar a, and a similar bar 61 stands up from
one end of the bar b. To the other end of the bar bis hinged a bar 2, of corre-
sponding section. This bar may, therefore, be turned down or raised up as desired.
To the upper or outer end of the bar 2 is hinged a short bar 3, which has a
slotted hole c formed therethrough. The two vertical bars a¹ have portions a
of the upper ends thereof bent in towards each other, and the inner ends of the
portions are bent up to form ears a³ which bear flatways against each other.
Each ear has a hole d formed therethrough, and the hook f of the lifting tackle
is passed through the holes to raise the appliance. From the upper end of the
bar bis cranked or bent in a portion 6 which is of such length as to pass beneath
the bars and, to extend, preferably, for some distance beyond.
The por-
tions a and b are secured together by means of rivets, such as the rivet e, one
of which is passed through each portion and through the portion ; and the
upper ends of the ears a³ are, preferably, riveted together by a rivet g. In order
to close up the appliance, it is only necessary to raise the bar 62 into its vertical
position, and then close down the portion with its slot passing over the ears a³;
and when the hook f of the lifting tackle is passed through the holes d in the
ears a³, it will securely fasten up the appliance so that it cannot come open, though
subjected to knocks as it is being raised.
If the appliance is closed, and it is desired to fill it with bricks, the hook is first
detached from the ears, the short bar raised clear of the ears, and the hinged
bar 62 turned down. Two vertical rows of bricks AA are now placed within the
frame, with their ends against the bar and their outer sides against the
bars a' a', after which the bar 62 is again closed up and the portion engaged with
the ears a3. The division between the two vertical rows of bricks is covered by
the bars b, b, 63, 63 and 6, and the bricks cannot move sideways, or twist suffi-
ciently to bring the ends of any of them clear of the bars 61 and 62. It will, there-
fore, be seen that no matter to what extent the appliance may swing, and itself or
the bricks knock against the scaffold, the bricks cannot become detached from the
appliance. The purpose of carrying the portion 6 beyond the portions a³ is to
strengthen the appliance against the pull of the lifting tackle.
An appliance such as above described, may be used also for lifting tiles and
the like, such as slates, during building operations, being in such cases adapted,
of course, in size to suit the size of the articles; and it will usually be found
convenient to adapt the appliance to take in one vertical row only of such articles.

page_text: I have described my improved appliance as made in the way I have found most
convenient, but it may, of course, be modified in detail considerably, for instance:
-the portions a² a² may be formed in the manner shewn in the drawings, and the
vertical bars b¹ 63 be each formed with a hinged portion similar to the portion 63,
in which case, to close the appliance, both such portions are closed down over the
ears a³, such portions being fastened by means of the hook of the lifting tackle
which is passed through the ears a³. Again, the portions a² a2 may be formed
as shewn upon the drawings, and the vertical bar 61 be formed with an upward
projection from its outer end, and the hinged portion 63 be extended in length,
and have, in addition to the slotted hole which passes over the ears a³, a hole
through its outer end which passes over the projection of the bar 6' as it is closed
down, and thus prevents such bar from moving outwards. The hinged bar which
closes over the ears a³ and projection of the bar 61 is fastened down by passing the
hook of the lifting tackle through the ears a³. Besides the above modifications,
it will be obvious that the appliance may be considerably altered in detail
without departing from the nature of the invention.
A special feature of the invention consists in fastening the appliance, to prevent
the removal of the bricks tiles or the like, by means of the hook of the lifting
tackle, which ensures that after the appliance has been closed up it will be securely
fastened, as it cannot be raised until such is the case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An appliance for use in raising bricks, tiles or the like, during building
operations, which consists of a receptacle having a side thereof which may be
readily opened for the reception and removal sideways of the bricks, tiles or the
like, and when closed is securely fastened so that it cannot come open if knocked
against the scaffold, substantially as described.
2. An appliance for use in raising bricks, tiles or the like, during building
operations, which consists of a receptacle which may be opened for the reception
and removal of the bricks, tiles or the like, and when closed is fastened by the
hook of the lifting tackle, substantially as described.
3. An appliance for use in raising bricks, tiles or the like, during building
operations, which consists of an open frame of which a portion is capable of being
opened out for the reception and removal of the bricks, tiles or the like, and when
closed in and fastened securely prevents the bricks, tiles or the like contained
therein from becoming accidentally removed therefrom, substantially as described.
4. An appliance for use in raising bricks, tiles or the like during building
operations, which consists of an open frame having members of a broad flat form,
a portion of the frame being capable of being opened out for the reception and
removal of the bricks, tiles or the like, and of being closed and fastened in such
manner as to securely prevent the bricks, tiles or the like from becoming
accidently removed from the appliance, substantially as described.
5. An appliance for use in raising bricks, tiles or the like, during building
operations, which consists of an open frame having a portion thereof hinged in a
manner which allows it to be opened out for the reception and removal of the
bricks, tiles or the like, and which when closed in and fastened securely prevents
the bricks, tiles or the like from becoming accidentally removed from the appli-
ance, substantially as described.
6. An appliance for use in raising bricks, tiles or the like, during building
operations, which consists of an open frame having a vertical member, forming one
side, hinged to a bottom member thereof, the said vertical member having a
member hinged to its upper end which has a hole therethrough to allow it to be
passed down over an upward projection of the frame through which the lifting
hook may be passed, substantially as described.
7. An appliance for use in raising bricks, tiles or the like during building

page_text: operations, constructed substantially as described and shewn, by way of example,
by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 13th day of May 1899
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.