US724817A - Tent-wall clasp. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED APR. 7, 1903.

No. 724,817. v

' E." COVERT.

TENT WALL CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30,1902.

N0 MODEL.

5 Y INViNTOR. j BY ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ENOCH COVERT, OF FARMER, NEW YORK.

TENT-WALL CLAS P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,817, dated April 7, 1903.

Application filed August 30, 1902. Serial No. 121,589. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENOOHCOVERT, of Farmer, in the county of Seneca, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tent-Wall Clasps, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the hook-and'eye type of fastening devices, and is especially useful as a tentwall clasp for detachably locking the wings r flaps of tents in position.

The primary object of these improvements is to simplify the operation of interlocking and detaching the parts and at the same time to prevent the accidental separation of the interlocked sections when in use.

To this end the invention consists in the combination and formation of a tent-wall clasp, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively top plan and side elevation of my improved clasp shown in its extended position. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively face and side views of the parts of the clasp in the position assumed when detaching one from the other. 7

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

In carrying out the objects of my invention I employ two separate members 1 and 2, each of which is formed from a single piece of wire, the member 1 forming the eye-section of the clasp and the member 2 comprising the hook-section. The member 1 consists of lengthwise and transverse bars 3, 4, and 5, united to each other and forming a continuous open frame, the transverse bar 4 constituting the main draft-bar, with which the hook-section interlocks, and is disposed substantially parallel with the other transverse bar 5. These bars 4 and 5 are of sufficient length to give a broad bearing upon the article to which it is secured. The lengthwise bars 3 are united at their opposite ends to the corresponding ends of the bars 4 and 5, and their intermediate portions are depressed inwardly at 6 for forming. loops 7 at their junctions with the bart4 to receive the hooks of the other member 2. By thus depressing portions of the bars 3 inwardly suitable inclined shoulders 8' are formed between the bars 4 and 5, which prevent undue lengthwise movement of the parts 1 and 2 one upon the other when they are assembled in the manner seen in Figs. 1 and 2 and also serve to compress the springjaws or hooks of the member 2 when the parts are rocked to the position seen in Figs. 3 and 4 in the act of disconnecting said parts. In the formation of this eye member 1 from the wire of which the transverse bar 4 is substantially the central portion, the opposite ends of the wire are bent inthe form shown and described and meet at substantially the central portion of the bar 5 and are then soldered or otherwise secured together to form a substantially integral open frame which may be stamped from solid metal, if desired.

The book member 2 consists of a transverse attaching-bar 10 and lengthwise spring-arms 11, each havinga hook-shaped free end 12, adapted to interlock with the opposite ends of the draft-bar 4. These arms 11 are separated by their own tension a distance substantially equal to the length of the bar 4, so that the hooks are normally seated in the loops v7 and permit the members to freely swing backwardly upon each other a limited distance without much friction or liability of becoming disconnected; but the free ends or hooks are preferably bent laterally from each other at the opposite side of the bar 4 for forming cam-faces 13 and terminate in inwardly-curved extremities 14, approaching, but separated from, each other, and form inclined or curved arms 15. It is thus apparent that the free ends of the hooks lie in planes intersecting the planes of the arms 11, to which they are united, and that the junction of the cam-faces 13 and 15 extend outwardly beyond the outer faces of said arms. Therefore when the members 1 and 2 are rocked forwardly to the position seen in Figs. 3 and 4 the cam-faces 13 ride upon the inclined shoulders 8, which act to compress the arms 11 and 12 against their normal outward tension until the high points between the cams 13 and 15 are passed, whereupon the outward spring of the arms causes the inclined faces 15 t0 press against the inner walls of the loops 7 and to thereby forcibly and automatically separate the members 1 and 2 from each other. In a similar manner when assembling or interlocking the members the cam-faces 15 are brought into engagement with the inner faces of the loops 7 and under pressure by the operator, and by simply pressing the two members together fiatwise the inner faces of said loops operate to compress the arms 11 and 12, and as soon as the high points between the cams 13 and 15 are passed the outward spring of said arms causes the cams 13 to ride upon the inner faces of the loops, and thereby automatically completes the work of locking the two members together, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The separation between the ends of the arms 12 is suflicient to permit the action just described without liability of contact or friction of said end walls, and although I have described this member 2 as being formed from a single piece of wire it is apparent that it maybe formed from a solid piece of metal if this proves to be more expeditious or economical.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A device of the type set forth comprising separate members, one of said members having a transverse draft bar and a bar formed integral with each end thereof, the other member comprising a transverse bar, and a pair of spring-arms, formed integral therewith, said arms having their free ends bent upon themselves to form hooks adapted to interlock with the opposite ends of the said draft-bar, said hook portions being bent outwardly and then inwardly and having their free ends lying adjacent each other.

2. The combination of a member comprising end and side bars, and a second member comprising an end, and resilient side arms formed integral therewith, said side arms extending between the side bars of the first member and having their free ends bent to overlie one of the end bars thereof, said bentover portions being curved outwardly beyond the underlying portions of the arms, then inwardly, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of August, 1902.

. ENOOI-I COVERT.

Witnesses:

O. G. WHEELER, D. 0. WHEELER.

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