US613841A - Picture-hanger - Google Patents

Description

Patented Nov. 8, I898.

S. LORD.

PICTURE HANGER.

(Application filed Apr. 16, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

SIMEON LORD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PICTURE-HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,841, dated November 8, 1898.

Application filed April 16, 1898- Serial No. 677,808. (No model.)

and it consists of an improved construction of drum and its adjuncts adapted to be attached to the back of a picture or frame and having the free ends of the supporting-cord connected thereto, provision being made for r 5 enabling the height of the picture or frame to be readily adjusted without necessitating taking down the same, the exertion of a slight force upon said frame being sufficient to effeet the desired adjustment.

It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 represents an elevation of the rear 2 5 of a frame having attached thereto a hanger embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents, on an enlarged scale, a sectional view of the hanger employed, the section being taken on line ac to, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of Fig. 2, a portion of the latter being shown in section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a 3 5 frame, the same having attached thereto the eyes or guides B, through which pass the extremities O and D, respectively, of the cord E, by means of which latter the picture or frame is supported from the desired point.

F designates a bracket or hanger attached to the rear portion of the frame, in which is mounted the stationary pin or stud G, upon which rotates the drum H, the rotation thereof in one direction being effected by means of the coil or other spring L, which has one extremity thereof deflected, as indicated at K, so as to engage theshoulders J of the stud or stem G, while the other extremity M of said spring is deflected so as to engage the recess N of the ringor cylinder P, upon which latter the portions 0 and D of the cord E are wound. The cylinder P constitutes the drum proper and is held between the ratchet-plate Q and the outer plate X, to which latter the extremi ties of the cord E are in the present instance attached. The ratchet-plate Q has in the periphery thereof recesses R of anovel construction, from which latter extend the outwardlyinclined or rectilinear surfaces S, from which latter extend the rectilinear surfaces T,which meet the slightly-inclined wall T of the contiguous recess R.

U designates the nose of the pawl V,which latter has the inclined side U adapted to contact with the wall T said pawl having projecting from the nose thereof the member W,which rests upon the inclined edge or surface 8 of the ratchet-plate Q.

The operation is as follows: It will be apparent that by reason of the manner of the attachment and construction of the spring L the tendency of the latter will be to cause the drum H to move in the direction of the arrow a, while the tendency of the weight of the picture or frame will be to cause the drum H to move in the direction of the arrow 1), (best seen in Fig. 1,)' wherefrom it will be evident that the normal tendency of the weight of the picture or frame will be to cause the nose U of the pawl V to engage its contiguous recess R and be interlocked therewith,

whereby rotation of the drum is prevented and the picture held in the desired position. When it is desired to adjust the height of the picture or frame, the same is slightly raised, whereupon the nose U of the pawl V rides out of the recess R upon either of the surfaces T or S, since the drum is rotated by the spring therein in the direction of the arrow a, whereupon it will be evident that if it is desired to lower the frame the same is pulled downwardly, whereupon the drum will be rotated in the direction of the arrow 6, and the nose U of the pawl will ride from the surfaces S and T between a pair of recesses R onto the next inclined surface S, and so on until the picture is at the desired height, at which point the picture is held stationary and the rotation of the drum ceases and the nose U engages the juxtaposed recess B, it being of course apparent that the nose U readily leaves the recess S by reason of the contact of the inclined wall T with the side U of said nose.

If it is desired to raise the picture or frame, it will beapparent that on lifting the same the weight thereof being removed from the cord or connection E the spring L will tend to rotate the drum H in the direction of the arrow a; but when the cord is sufficiently shortened and the desired height is reached the rotation ceases and the weight of the frame will cause the nose of the pawl to interlock with the adjacent recess as before.

It will thus be seen that by my invention I provide a simple and inexpensive appliance whereby the height of a picture or frame can be readily adjusted according to requirements, the invention being especially useful in its application to heavy frames or pictures in which the adjustment thereof is ordinarily attended with more or less difliculty.

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

In a picture-hanger, the combination of a frame having guides thereon, through which are passed the extremities of a cord or other connection adapted to support the picture, a drum rotatably mounted on a stationary stem or stud supported by said frame, a coil or other spring common to said drum and stem and a ratchet-plate attached to said drum having in the edges thereof recesses R each of which is provided with the inclined wall T from which extend the rectilinear surface T and the inclined surface S, in combination with the pawl V pivotally supported the latter having the nose U adapted to enter said recesses R and an inclined forwardly-projecting portion WV, adapted to rest upon said surface S, the rear wall U of said nose being inclined and adapted to contact with said side wall T SIMEQN LORD.

Vitnesses:

JOHN A. Wrnnnnsnnm, E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS.

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