To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHRISTIAN FOX and ELISHA G. HESTON, of the Gap, in the County of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements hi Insulators for Telegraph-Wires, of which the following is a specification:

The accompanying drawings show the arrangement and construction of the same, in which--

Figure 1 is a sectional view to show the relative position. Fig. 2 shows the upper face of the annular base, with the cut across to receive the wire. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same.

This invention relates to a class of sectional insulators of glass, so arranged as to protect and secure the wire. The object is chiefly to prevent the access of water, which rusts and reduces the conducting quality of the wire, and yet so as to be convenient to put up, durable, and on or to which the wire is easily applied, stretched, and firmly held in place.

Figure 1 shows a wooden spindle or cylindrical support, A, with a collar, a, or shouldered flange. This support is continued above said flange or shoulder, (shown by E,) and terminates with a screw-thread cut upon it, marked D. The annular glass base or section B of the insulator sits upon the flange or collar a of the support, with the portion F in its eye or annular opening, so as to set around the same. There is a central raised portion, f, with rounded sides, from the outer flat surface F, on which the cap C rests. A groove, G, is cut across the upper face, for the reception of the wire. This groove is deepened on the sides, to cause the wire to curve slightly as the cap C is screwed down upon it. We also

show a continuous groove, not only across the face, but carried down obliquely and centrally around the other portion of the outer surface of B or its vertical circumference, for the reception of a gum ring, G', laid into it and drawn over the front part of the upper face, so as to form an elastic cushion for the stretched wire, with a view to arrest the vibrations of the wire, and prevent strain or chafing, should such prove to be important; otherwise, the gum may be dispensed with, and outer groove. The arms are perforated for the reception of the cylindrical supports A, adapted, as shown, for the glass annular base and cap, with a screw combination, which cap can be partly in place, allowing space to insert the wire under it into the groove, when it is stretched and the cap screwed down, so as to bend the wire over the convex base of the slot or groove G, and tend to bind and hold it firmly in place.

We are aware that numerous devices have been invented with the same object in view, but we are not aware of any substantially the same in construction and application; therefore,

What we claim, and desire to secure, is--

The combination of the nut-like cap C with its sheltering base, to cover, clamp, and protect the annular slotted insulator G B when the latter rests upon the shoulder a, and the former receives the screw end D of a vertical shaft or support, A, the whole arranged in the manner shown, for the purpose set forth.

CHRISTIAN FOX.

ELISHA G. HESTON.

Witnesses:

NEWTON CLARKE,

WILLIAM M. HESTON.