US699685A - Curtain-stretcher. - Google Patents

Description

Patented May I3, [902.

H. E. HOWARD.

CURTAIN STRETCHER.

(Application filed Dec. 23, 1901.)

(No Model.)

TTED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

HARRY E. HOlVARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CURTAlN-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,685, at ay 13, 902- Application filed December 23,1901. Serial No. 86,883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known-that I,I-IARP.Y E. Howauma citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates'to improvements in the side bars and attaching-pins of curtainstretcher frames or devices commonly used for drying washed lace and other fabric curtains, so that they will dry quickly and without shrinkage or distortion.

The object of my improvements is to provide a curtain-stretcher side bar having an open slot extending longitudinally therethrough, so formed that it may be cheaply manufactured, possess maximum strength and durability, and furnish a suitable bearing for the attaching-pins used in conjunction therewith; also to provide an adjustable pin adapted to engage and securely hold the curtain and so formed that it will transmit the strain or tension exerted upon it by the stretched curtain directly against the front wall of the slotted portion of the bar, such strain being first distributed uniformly on the base of the pin instead of on one side or edge of such base, as in other devices of a similar character.

A further object is to provide an attachingpin having its point so formed that it will present an acute angle at the portion engaging the fabric of the curtain, whereby it will prevent the latter from slipping off the point of the pin through the movement of the curtain by the wind or otherwise and will resist the tendency of the pin to bend down or outwardly, to which vertical pins are liable.

An additional object is to furnish a pin which may be readily grasped by the fingers in moving it back and forth in the slot, thus permitting quick and easy movement or adjustment without twisting the base in the slot and without danger of pricking the fingers.

Another object is to provide a pin which will bear frictionally against the bar when not in use, so that it will not slide out of position, but when subjected to slight strain may be laterally adjusted.

Having the aforegoing special objects and others of economy and general utilityin mind, I have designed the device shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which Figure l is a perspective View of a curtain stretcher side bar (in part) provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred form of my improved attaching-pin, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of pin.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A rcpreseuts a section of a wood side bar of a stretcherframe which is provided with an open vertical slota extendinglongitudinally therethrough near one edge, which is rabbeted to form an extension at onits lower side and an overhanging flange e ch the upper side of said edge. The slot-opening a extends between the extension and the flange. It will be noted that the slot a is parallel with the front edge of the bar, thus bringing it at right angles to the line of strain, which is horizontal, as indicated by the broken line a: w in Fig. 2.

The attaching-pin, which forms a part of this invention, is formed of a single piece of Wire bent to form a base B of rectangular contour, also bent to form a cross-bar or portion 1), extending inwardly to the center of the base, a portion b extending outwardly and downwardly and a portion 11 bent upwardly and inwardly at an acute angle with the part b and terminating in a sharp point.

The several bends necessary to form the parts 2), b and b are at such angles that when-the curtain is placed over the part b and stretched to the opposite side bar the strain will be exerted on a plane substantially horizontal to the centerof the base of the pin, thus distributing the tension as near as may be equally throughout such base, and thereby causing the latter to bear uniformly against the front wall of the slot. The maintenance of the tension in a horizontal plane is provided in part by the shape of the 'pin and in part by the extension a, on the upper side of which bears the outer or hook porparts I) and b to frictionally engage the lower edge of the flange a as shown in Fig. 3; but

' when pull is exerted on the outer portion of the pin this bend will become flattened sufficiently to permit the lateral adjustment of the pin in the slot.

In the modified form of pin shown in Fig. 4 I extend the part b entirely across the center of the base of the pin and bend it back upon itself for half of its length before forming the part b but in other respects the pin is'the same as shown in the other figures. This modified form adds somewhat to the strength of the device and serves to more effectually distribute the strain equally on the base of the pin.

In devices of the kind herein described heretofore patented, so far as I am aware, the form and arrangement of the slots or grooves in the bars and the form and arrangement of the attaching-pins have been such that the strain has been exerted on one side wall of the slot and usuallyin aplane across the grain of the wood, as indicated by broken lines 3/ 'y and 2' .2 in Fig. 2, thus making easy the breaking of said Wall or walls. In some of wall of the slot.

pins is made before the curtain is attached, it is important to have the pins remain in their adjusted positions until the curtain is hooked thereby, and this I provide by the frictional engagement between the parts If and a in the manner described.

While I do not claim that the strain on the pin will be distributed with exact uniformity throughout its base, such will be the effect,in a substantial degree, of the construction and arrangement set forth.

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

1. In a curtain-stretcher, a bar having an open vertical slot extending longitudinally therethrough, an attaching-pin formed of a single piece of wire bent to form a base portion adapted to slidingly fit said slot in the bar, bent to form an upwardly-projecting hump between the point and the base, said hump adapted to frictionally engage one of the walls of the slot, and said pin also bent to form an acute-angled hook, the angle of which is substantially in the same plane as the center of the base portion, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. In a curtain-stretcher, a stretcher-bar having a narrow vertical slot extending therethrough near one edge, and with an extension. on the lower side of said edge and a stretcher-pin having a base fitting said slot, and provided with a bend adapted to engage the portion of the bar overhanging said slot, and having a hook portion adapted to engage an extension on the lower side of the edge of the bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY E. HOWARD. lVitnesses:

F. BENJAMIN, W. B. J UDD.

Images