US1377540A - Fence-clamp - Google Patents

Description

J. B. WOUDSON.

' FENCE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23. 1920.

1,377,540. Patented May 10,1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOE-IN B. WOODSON, OF FAYETTE, MISSOURI.

FENCE-CLAMP.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. WooDsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fayette, in the county of Howard and State ofMissouri, have invented a new and useful F ence-Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fence clamps and has for its object the provision of a device that may be inexpensively manufactured and that will be highly efficient for the purpose of holding the strands of a wire fence in spaced relation during the stretching thereof, so that the entire fence may be placed under tension at one operation and each strand have an equal proportionate amount of strain.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in stretching woven wire fencing it being a further object of the invention to provide means whereby the lower strand of the fence may be temporarily anchored to the lower extremity of the clamp during the application of the clamp to the fence fabric, so that an operator may have no diliiculty in stretching the fabric to its full height. With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly pointed out and claimed.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the device;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. at is a perspective view of one of the clamping members;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on'line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of clamp;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the clamping members used with the de vice as depicted in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the links used for connecting the stretching medium to the clamp.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference the numeral 1 designates a body member. in the form of an ordinary channel bar.

Bars 2 and 3 are secured to the outer face Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921 Application filed April 23, 1920. Serial No. 376,034.

of the member 1 at each side thereof by means of rivets l or like fastening devices. The bars 3 being wider than the bars 2 and both extending practically the full length of the bar 1, form a groove 5 at both sides of the bar.

Clamping members 6 are preferably formed of sheet metal, stamped to shape and consisting of a body portion having a lower face 7 and an upper face 8, the upper face being provided with a lip 9 which is adapted to overlie the lower edge of the next clamping member. Opposite sides of the body are provided with flanges 10 which rest in the grooves 5. A bar 11 is secured to the lower end of the body 1 and serves as an abutment for a series of clamping members 6 which are arranged in the grooves 5. The members 6 being located one above the other and reach nearly to the top of the guide ways, enough space being left to permit of separation of the blocks for the reception of the fence wires.

A bar 12 extends across the upper end of the body 1, closing the upper end of the guide ways 5 and is secured to the body by bolts 13. A screw bolt 14 provided with a hand hold 15 is threaded through the bar 12, the end of the bolt being adapted to bear against the topmost clamping member 6 and force the series of blocks into gripping engagement with the fence wires, pressure at the end of the series of members 6 being taken care of by the cross bar 11.

In order that the lower strand of woven wire fencing material may be held near the bottom of the clamp while the remaining strands are properly positioned between the clamping members 6, so that the fence will be of the proper height, the bar 1 is provided near the bottom thereof with a perforation 16, and the lowermost of the clamping members, designated by the member 17, has an opening 18 registering with the perforation 16. A pin 19 inserted through the openings 16 and 18, prevents movement of the block. A plate 20 is bolted to the cross bar 11 and has a lip 21 which overlaps the block 11 and retains the wire in place for clamping. When it is desired to attach the clamp to fence fabric, the lower strand is placed'under the block 17 and the pin 19 inserted in the openings 16 and 18. This holds the lower strand and prevents the lower block 17 from moving upwardly against the other clamping members, which would interfere with the insertion of the balance of the strands to be clamped, thus permitting an operator to arrange the clamp on the fence giving each strand its proper spacing. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a slight modification in which the clamping member 22 may be formed of a solid block and'be provided with grooves 23 for engagement with the bars 3, a lip 24 is formed on the block and serving the same purpose as the lip 9 of the block 6.

Links 25 and 26 are shaped to fit the clamp bar and are provided with hooks 27 which engage a link 28. The link 28 serving as means for attaching the stretcher to the clamp for applying tension to the fence. In operating the device after the strands of wire have been arranged, as previously described the pin 19 is removed and the screw bolt 14: manipulated to clamp the wires between the faces 7 and 8 of adjacent clampin r members. Iiaving thus described the invention what I claim is:

1. A fence clamp comprising a body por-' tion; a plurality of clamping elements slidable in one direction on the body to grip the strands of a fence, meehanismfor moving all of the clamping elements in said direction;-and means for holding one of the clamping elements against movement in an opposite direction, thereby to maintain said element engaged with one strand of a fence while the other clamping elements are being adjusted to other strands of the fence, the folding means being releasable thereby to render said clamping element responsive to the action of said mechanism, along with the remaining clamping elements.

2. A fence clamp comprising a body portion, strips secured to opposite longitudinal edges of the body, the strips being provided with opposed longitudinal grooves, a plurality of gripping members mounted for sliding movement in said grooves, each gripping member comprising a hollow body portion having oppositely extended flanges, a lower face and an upper face, the upper face having a lip for engaging the body of the adjacent gripping member, the flanges being engaged in the grooves, and means for 7 moving the said members into gripping relation. 7

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature inthe presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN B. \VOODSON.

lVitnesses:

RICHARD K. BRIDGES, J. D. BLACKWELL.

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