To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANNIBAL W. RAPPLEYE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Insulators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a device for readily seeming an electric conducting wire to a glass insulator without twisting the wire and to enable the fastening device to secure the wire, no matter what portion of the insulator is contiguous to the wire.

I will first describe the embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings and then point out the invention in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of embodiment of my invention.  Fig. 2 is a rear view of same.   Fig. 3 is a plan view of same before the neck-wire has been turned so as to bring the clamp or lever in line with the line-wire. Fig. 4 is a plan view of same when locked.  Fig. 5 is a side elevation of another form of embodiment of my invention. Fig. G is a plan view of same.

A is a glass insulator provided with the internal thread for securing it to the ordinary threaded support.  This insulator has two grooves B and C extending entirely around it.  The wire to be secured to the insulator is adapted to rest in the upper of these grooves, (groove B,) and is clamped in place by the clamp D.  In the lower groove C rests a wire or band e.  As shown, it is a band with its ends secured together and is provided with eyes e, in which rest the ends of the lever F. The ends of the clamp D rest in eyes f, formed on the lever F, as shown.  When the clamp is brought over the insulator contiguous to the groove B and the lever pushed downward, the clamp is forced against the glass insulator, and if the wire be in said groove it is clamped in said groove by said clamp.  To release the wire the lever is pushed upward, releasing the clamp, which may then be swung free from said wire. It often occurs that in screwing the glass insulator upon its support its final position is such that the wire is not in proper position with reference to the clamp to be clamped by it. Such condition is shown in Fig. 3, in which, as in the other figures, G is the wire. My invention is especially applicable to such conditions.

The band or wire F is of slightly-greater diameter than the glass insulator at the groove, so that it may be moved around, the upper and lower walls of the groove preventing it moving up and down. 

With this construction, under the conditions shown in Fig. 3, the band or wire may be turned until the clamp does come into the proper position with reference to the wire to clamp said wire, as shown in Fig. 4.

When I use the term "wire" or "band" as applied to the lever and clamp support F, I do not intend to limit myself to any specific construction of such part, it being only necessary that it form a support for the clamp and lever and be of such size as to be held in the groove from vertical movement, but can be moved around the groove.

I do not intend to limit myself in reference to which groove B or C receives the clamp and lever support and which the wire to be clamped.

Instead of using a groove for the reception of the clamp-support F, I can, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, support the same upon the neck of the insulator either above or below the wire-groove.  Such modification is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In this construction, as shown in those figures, the support rests on its lower side against the upper wall of the groove B, and on the upper side against a bead or projection 100, thus confining the support against vertical movement when in position. The support in this construction is a resilient band, which does not extend entirely around the insulator, thus admitting of its being readily attached to and removed from the insulator.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is--

1. In combination, an insulator having grooves, in one of which the wire to be clamped is adapted to rest, a clamp adapted to clamp said wire in position, a lever adapted to act on said clamp and a supporting device for the clamp and lever to which said lever is pivotally attached, said supporting device resting in the other groove, and being of such size that it is movable around said insulator.

2. In combination, an insulator having a groove extending around the outer surface in which the wire to be clamped is adapted to rest, a clamp adapted to clamp said wire in position, a lever adapted to act on said clamp, and a supporting device for the clamp and lever, to which said lever is pivotally attached, said supporting device supported upon the insulator independent of the wire-groove and capable of movement around said insulator.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

   HANNIBAL W. RAPPLEYE.

Witnesses:

MINNIE F. ELLIS,

CAROL H. DESHONG.