US1585177A - Adjustable clothesline prop - Google Patents

Description

May 18 1926. 1,585,177

L. E. WENTWORTH ADJUSTABLE CLOTHESLINE PROP Filed Dec. 28, 1921 El vwzntoz ,6 Lillian B .Wentwurth 61 Woman,

Patented May 18, 192.6.

U N i t F. I.

LILLIAN E. WENTWO'IRTH, OF ROGKPORT, MAINE.

ADJUSTABLE CLOTIEZESLIEE PROP.

Application filed December 528, 1.921.

readily folded or compacted to occupy a small space when not inuse to facilitate storill age or transportation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be extended to the length desired according to the height of the clothes line and the tension of said line.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this character wherein a single pole or prop may be used to support one or two lines in spaced relation to each other.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a prop of this character including a single main or base support and a plurality of upper or clothes line supports, the clothes line supports being movable in unison and upon the base or main support, means being provided for holding the upper ends of the clothes line supports in spaced relation to each other.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improvedconstruction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more particularly described, fully claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an adjustable clothes line prop constructed in accordance With an embodiment of the i11- vention;

Figure 2 folded;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the clothes line engaging members.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a main standard or support which may be constructed of any desired material, the extrcn'iity of the end 6 of said support being provided with a rubber tip or ferrule 7 to prevent slipping of the device when in use. The main or base support 5 may be made in any size desired. The upper end 8 of the main or base support 5 is provided with a collar or guide member 9, said member being secured to the support and projecting beyond one face thereof. In connection with the base support, an extension support 10 and auxiliary support 11 are provided, the'extension support 10 having a collar or is an elevation of the device Serial No. 525,450.

guide 19 secured to its end 13, said guide being adapted to receive the main or base standard 5, while the guide or collar 9 of the main standard is intended to receive the portion of the extension support 10 above the collar or guide 12. In this way, the main support 5 and the extension support 10 are slidable one upon the other and are prevented from disengagement by means of said collars or guides. These 001* lars perform another function, namely, that of stops to limit the adjusting movement of the prop or pole so as to prevent accidental disengagement of the clothes line extension support 10 from the main support 5. The upperend 1 1 of the support 10 is provided with a clothes line engaging member 15 consisting of a strip of material having its ends engaged with the end 14 of the support and its intermediate portion recessed to provide a socket for the clothes line the purpose being to prevent slipping of the prop on the clothes line and to also prevent disengagement of the prop from the line. Projecting from one side of the end portion 1 1 of the extension support 10 is a lug 16, while projccting below the lug 16 is a second lug 17 the purpose of which will be hereinafter described- In connection with the extension support 10., an auxiliary support 11 is used, as above stated, the auxiliary support 11 having its end portion 18 beveled and hinged to the end portion 13 of the extension support 10 above the collar 12 of said'support. The auxiliary support 11 is intended to extend outwardly so that the upper end portion 19 is disposed in spaced relation to the end portion lt of the extension support 10. The extremity of the end portion 19 is provided with a clothes line engaging member 20, similar in construction to the clothes line engaging member 16. Disposed below the extremity of the end portion 19 is a hook 21, which when the device is folded is intended to engage the lug 16 of the extension support 10, while pivoted to the side of the aruriliary support 11, below the hook 21, is a brace 22, the outer or free end of the brace having a hook 28 adapted to engage the lug 17 of the extension support 10, whereby the end portions 1& and 19 of the extension support 10-and auxiliary support 11 are held in spaced relation to each other. Assuming the clothes prop being in its folded position and it is desired to use the same, it is only necessary to extend the extension support 10 longitudinally of the base or main support the distance desired. It is of course obvious that set screws 9 and 12 are provided for the collars or guides 9 and 12 respectively to hold the extension sup port in the desired adjusted position so that danger of the extension support 10 accidentally slipping is prevented. The hook 21 is then disengaged from the lug 16 so as to permit the auxiliary support 11 to swing outwardly, whereupon the brace is extended toward the extension support 10 and engaged with the lug 17 to hold the auxiliary support 11 in its extended position. The prop or pole may then be disposed beneath the line and the clothes line engaged one with each of the members and 520 and the base member positioned accordingly beneath the line.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that this invention provides a novel form of clothes line pole or prop possessing a number of advantages which. facilitate the work of the person using the clothes line. Among these advantages is the fact that the pole may be adjusted any length desired and that one pole may be used for two lines. in ad dition to this, there is no danger of the wind accidentally disengaging the pole from the line, in view of the rubber tip 7 and the fact that the lines are disposed within the members 15 and 20. All of these features are possessed by a device that is simple in construction and compact in form.

What is claimed is 1. A portable clothes line prop comprising, in combination, a main support, an extension support slidably engaged therewith, means carried by said supports for holding the same against relative movement, an auxiliary support hingedly connected to the inner end portion of the extension support and having a beveled end contormingly engaging against the extension support when the auxiliary support is swung outwardly, abrace pivotally connected with the outer end portion of the auxiliary support, the outer end portion of the extension support having an outstanding lug, said brace having a hoot: engageable with the lug to hold the auxiliary support in its outward position, the outer extremities of both the extension support and the auxiliary support being provided with line engaging means.

2. A portable clothes line prop comprising, in combination, a main support, an em tension support slidably engaged therewith, means carried by said supports for holding the same against relative movement, an auxiliary support hingedly connected to the inner end portion of the extension support and having a beveled end con formingly engaging against the extension support when the auxiliary support is swung (nitwardly, coacting means carried b y the outer end portions of the auxiliary support and the extension support for holding the auxiliary support in its outwardly disposed position, and line engaging means carried by the outer tremities of both the extension support and the auxiliary support.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature.

LILLIAN E. VVENTWORTIL

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