To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ROBERTSON, of Carbondale, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved Telegraph-Bracket and Insulator; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved bracket and insulator. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same taken on the plane of the line c c, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new form of insulator to be applied to telegraph-posts or other supports, and to a new bracket for holding the same.  The invention consists in the use of a tubular slotted insulator provided with projecting lugs at the ends, and fitted into a bracket so as to be entirely held therein, the lugs entering recesses provided in the sides of the bracket, as hereinafter more fully described.

A in the drawing represents the insulator of tubular form, and with a slot, a, in it that extends from end to end, either straight or obliquely.  The insulator is made of glass or other non-conducting material.  At its ends are projecting lugs or ears b b formed on it.  B is the bracket, made of wood or other material, as thick as the insulator is long between the lugs.  It has one or more apertures through it for the insulators to be held in, one aperture for every insulator, as large in diameter as the same, except at the ends, where the aperture is or may he enlarged to form cavities g or sockets, in which the lugs will be contained.  To every such aperture in the bracket leads a slit, d, from front or back. The insulator is fitted through the bracket with its lugs b in the slit d, and when through is turned so as to bring the slot in line with the slit d for the admission of the wire. When that has been applied the insulator is once more turned to bring the slot out of line with the slit, as in Fig. 1, so as to have the wire entirely inclosed.  Staples c c may be driven over the ears b into the countersunk parts or sockets g of the bracket to prevent the insulator from turning spontaneously.  The wire may be further fastened by a short wire drawn through a hole, f, in the bracket, and twisted with its ends

around the main wire.

I am aware that tabular insulators have already been in use, but they were not slotted, and the wire could therefore only be introduced by being parted and then again united. This was impracticable, and a cumbersome process.

In actual work the advantages and simplicity of my plan are obvious.  The bracket once nailed or otherwise fastened to the post, the wire can be repaired, renewed, or removed without trouble, the slit in the bracket allowing the wire to drop into the insulator-hole at once when the slit is in line.

The insulator can at any time be put on without disturbing the wire by means of the slot in it, and then pushed into the hole in the bracket, all that is necessary being to keep the lugs opposite the slit in the bracket and then pushing it in till the lugs clear the bracket; then, by turning the insulator slightly round and putting the small staples over the lugs, (which latter can be done with perfect ease,) the insulator is secured in its place, and the wire effectually prevented from getting out.

To retain the telegraph-wire in its place all that is necessary is to pass a wire through the small hole f under the insulator, and fasten it by twisting it to the main wire at each side, and the main wire is effectually retained the whole process being exceedingly simple, but perfectly effective.

There is no risk of the insulator being broken or disconnected, or of the wire becoming disconnected, and any unskilled workman could do all that is necessary in repairing and fixing the line.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

1. The tubular insulator A, provided with the slot a and projecting lugs b b, substantially as herein set forth and described.

2. The sockets g, formed at the ends of the apertures through the bracket to receive and protect the lugs b b, as set forth.

3. The tubular insulator A, constructed with slot a and projecting lugs b b, combined, as described, with a bracket, B, having slit d, for the purpose specified.

JOHN ROBERTSON.

Witnesses: 

S. S. BENEDICT,

S. D. BAKER.