To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. RANSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Batavia, in the county of Clermont and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insulators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved insulator by means of which a wire may be quickly and securely fastened thereto and my invention consists in the combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1, is a perspective view of an insulator embodying my invention, shown in position to receive the wire; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the same in securing position. Figs. 3 and 4 similar views of a modified form of insulation, and Figs. 5 and 6 similar views of another modified 
form of insulator. shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the body or head A of the insulator is provided with a receiving slot or groove B and transverse locking slots or grooves C. At either side sloping surfaces D connect the outer portions of groove B with grooves C. By this construction it will be seen that when the wire E is placed in groove B and the insulator turned in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the wire will be bent in the middle and the portions on either side of the bend will rise up on surfaces D and snap into grooves C as indicated in Fig. 2. This will securely fasten the wire and the engagement of the wire in grooves C will prevent the insulator from turning back to its original position. To further secure the wire, against vertical removal, the sides of grooves C may be notched or cut out at c and c1. An annular groove a for anchoring or securing the ends of the wire and a lug a1, for engagement by a wrench to assist in turning, are also provided. Any of the usual means which permit of rotation may be employed for securing the insulator to the cross arms of the poles or other support.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of construction in which openings are provided for the reception of a pin F which is driven across slot B above wire E after the latter is placed in position. It will be seen that when the insulator is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, the wire will be bent around pin F and snap into grooves C as indicated in Fig. 4, thus 

securely fastening the wire and preventing vertical removal.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have illustrated another modified form of construction. Here a receiving groove B1 and a locking groove C1 are provided on opposite sides of a post or head G. A sloping surface D1 serves to direct the wire E into groove C1 when the insulator is turned. The edges of abutments H and the back of post A may be 

grooved or notched at h and g respectively to insure against vertical removal of the wire.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred construction for carrying my invention into effect, these may be varied with out departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the exact constructions set forth, but,

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An insulator comprising a shiftable body provided with means for receiving the wire when in one position and means for bending and automatically interlocking with the wire when shifted to a different position, substantially as specified.

2. An insulator comprising a rotatable body provided with means for receiving the wire when in one position and means for bending and automatically interlocking with the wire when rotated to a different position, substantially as specified.

3. An insulator comprising a rotatable body provided with a groove adapted to receive the wire when in one position, a groove adapted to interlock with the wire when shifted to a different position, the relation of said grooves being such that the wire is bent when the body is shifted and a directing surface adapted to automatically direct the wire into the interlocking groove as the body is shifted, substantially as specified.

4. An insulator comprising a rotatable body provided with a groove adapted to receive the wire when in one position; a groove adapted to interlock with the wire when rotated to a different position, the relation of said grooves being such that the wire is bent when the body is rotated and a directing surface adapted to automatically direct the wire into the interlocking groove as the body is rotated, substantially as specified.

5. An insulator comprising a body rotatable A provided with receiving groove B, interlocking grooves C, so related as to cause a bend in the wire and directing surfaces B adapted to automatically direct the wire into grooves C as the body is rotated, substantially as specified.

6. An insulator comprising a body rotatable A provided with receiving groove B, Interlocking grooves C so related as to cause a bend in the wire; directing surfaces D adapted to automatically direct the wire into grooves C as the body is rotated, and pin F adapted to be inserted in the body above the wire in groove B, substantially as specified.

7. An insulator comprising a body A provided with receiving groove B; interlocking grooves C; and directing surfaces B, substantially as specified.

        JOSEPH W. RANSON.

Witnesses:

ANNA WALSH,

BRAYTON G. RICHARDS.