Top of Site > Company Information > Patents for Clamps > Reno Vise Company

Table of Contents

1. 266 887
2. 296 622

Patents issued to Thomas Reno, used by Reno Vise Company, et al.

I have found two patents issued before 1889.

266 887

This patent was issued to Thomas Reno, who then assigned half to the Detroit Tool Company.

I do not yet know the relation of the Detroit Tool Company to the Detroit Machine Screw Company. I do not know of any clamp using this patent.

Illustration of Patent

There is one figure, showing the clamp in side view, with some portions sectioned. Quoting from the patent:

A and A' represent the two jaws.

B and B' are the ratchet-bars, on which the ratchets are formed in opposite directions. b and b' are their screw-cut ends or tangs, b preferably constructed with a right-hand, and b' with a left-hand screw.

C and C' are the handles. The handle C is provided at c with a nut adapted to engage the screw-cut tang of the ratchet-bar. The handle C' is also provided with an elongated nut at c', passing through the jaw A' and provided with the head c ².

D and D' are spring-pawls, adapted to engage with the ratchet-bars.

d is a link pivoted in the jaw A, and connecting the two spring-pawls in such a manner that they may both be operated by one thumb-piece d'.

Description of Patent

It is the object of my invention to provide a hand screw-clamp which shall dispense with the wooden screws, and in which the jaws shall be operated by means of ratchet-bars having screw-cut tangs and engaging handles, in connection with a set of suitable spring-pawls.

By diminishing the size of the orifices required in the jaws, as is done with my invention, the jaws may be made smaller than when made for wooden screws, and still have the same strength.

296 622

The Reno Vise Company used this design, after Thomas Reno applied for the patent. This may be the first use of metal screws, and thus the start of the composite clamps. Further research may settle the question.

Note that, after granting of this patent, the Detroit Machine Screw Works used it.

Illustration of Patent

Quoting from the patent:

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention, showing parts in section. Figure 2 is a separate view of one of the nuts. Figure 3 is a separate view of the thimble.

In the drawings, A and A' represent the jaws; B and B', metallic screws provided with suitable handles, b and b'. To receive the handle I prefer to square the end of the screw shaft, as shown at B2, or otherwise shape the end of said shaft so that it will not be liable to turn in the handle.

Description of Patent

The specifications will be quoted in full, as they present the many considerations in replacing wooden screws with metal screws.

It is evident that in operation a drawing force will be exerted upon the screw B', whereby there will be more or less liability to draw the screw shaft from the handle b'. To prevent this, however, I prefer to screw-cut the end of the shaft, and to provide it with a suitable nut, as shown at E. On the other hand, on the screw B a forcing pressure is exerted, and consequently a tendency to draw the shaft of the screw from the handle b does not need to be guarded against, so that the handle may be suitable located upon the shaft of the screw in any proper manner.

It will be seen that by employing metallic screws instead of the ordinary wooden ones, much smaller screws can be used, requiring less action to obtain a tight grip, while at the same time a tighter grip may be obtained without any liability of twisting off the handle or shaft, and without the liability of stripping the threads.

By manufacturing hand-screws in this manner, furthermore, longer screws can be employed for the same length of jaw than where wooden screws are employed, thus providing for a wider opening of the jaws, with less danger of stripping the threads or of twisting off the screw - a common occurrence with the old-fashioned hand-screw. In larger sizes, too, in consequence of having finer screw-threads than is common with ordinary wooden screw, when greater power is required to obtain a severe grip, it can be obtained much more readily.

While I do not wish to limit myself to any particular kind of screw-thread, instead, however, of constructing the screws and jaws with the V-thread, I prefer to construct said parts with a ratchet-thread - i.e., with a thread having a square face, as shown - as this construction of th thread is much better.

Instead of providing the jaws with ordinary wooden screw-threads to receive the screw, I may locate in the jaws suitable metallic nuts, C and C', without departing from the principle of my invention. These nuts may be secured in the jaws in any suitable manner. A suitable socket may be provided in the jaws to receive said nuts, which may then be riveted into place; but I prefer to provide said nuts with ribs c, and to force the nuts into place by pressure, said ribs running parallel with the grain of the wood, which construction will prevent the necessity of rivets to hold the nuts in place. I do not, however, limit myself to any particular method of securing the nuts in the jaws. By providing the nuts with the ribs c they will be prevented from turning in the jaws.

D is a thimble adapted to receive the end of the screw B, the end of said screw being preferably reamed down to fit the thimble, the thimble being sufficiently deep to give the proper length, in order that the screw may work freely in the sockets of the thimble. By the employment of this thimble there is no liability of wearing upon the wood, as would otherwise be the case. The thimble might, however, be omitted without departing from the principle of my invention. Moreover, the various parts which are constructed of metal may readily be made in duplicates - i.e., the nuts C and C' are duplicates of each other. The thimble D may also be manufactured in duplicates of any desired number, and each of the screws B and B', so that each like part is interchangeable - a fact of considerable importance in the manufacture of the device, and should any repairs be necessary.

A hand-screw thus constructed is more durable, more easily operated, and provides for a firmer grip than has hitherto been th case with hand-screws of this nature as commonly manufactured.

last revised and validated

Copyright © 1996- Wooden Clamp Journal