US1705523A - Line holder - Google Patents

Description

March 1929- A. HOFBAUER 1, 5, 3

LINE HOLDER Filed July 28, 1927 Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

UNITED stares ANTHONY HOFIBAUER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

LINE HOLDER.

Application filed July 28,

vide a device of this kind which may be attached to a clothes pole or other object atm elevated point and through which is passed a clothes line to be stretched, also whereinprovisionis made for automatically clamping or holding the clothes lineafter being drawn taut so as to make it unnecessary to wind, tie or otherwise fasten the clothes line to the pole or other object at such point. With the above and other objects to appear hereinafter, my invention consists in the novel features of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two clothes poles,between which a clothes line is stretched and held taut by means of my improved line holder.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionthrough the device, the holding member thereof being partlyshown in elevation Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line Fig. 4 is atop plan or edge view of the device.

In the drawings, the numeral 5 designates two spaced clothes poles, to one of which one end of a clothes line, designated by the nu-.

, meral 6, is fastened. To the other clothes pole, my-improved device considered as a whole and designatedby the numeral 7, is

i applied. It will, however, be apparent that this invention may be used in connection with hooks orother' line supports appliedto build- 'ings or other objects at elevated points thereof; also, that the clothes line may be supported by and stretched over various supporting elements and strung backand forth,

or in any desired direction; it'being necessary 132?. Serial No. 209,011.

only that the line be stretched from supporting element to supporting element and finally retained in taut condition at the supporting element or point most remote from the initial point of attachment of the line.

In the drawings conventional clothes poles are shown provided with outstanding supporting pins or attaching pins 8 'attheir upper ends, and one end of the line is provided'with a loop which is placed over one of the outstanding pins of one of said poles. To one of the outstanding pins of the other pole, my improved device is attached, as and in the manner to presently appear.

My improved line holder comprises an elongated line-receiving and guiding member 9, which is formed of metalllc sheet material bent into substantially U-formation in cross section, as best shown in Fig. 3; thus providing spaced side walls 10 of like formation connected together by a concavo-convex edge wall llwhich serves as an abutment for the line. 7

fPivotally secured to the side walls 10 of the receiving and guiding member 9 near one end thereof is a line holding or locking member 12 having aconvex gripping edge 13 gradually receding from the axis of its pivot 14, by means which said holding or looking member is fastened in place. The holding or fastening member is normally disposed at an acute angle to the receiving or guiding member 9, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and under such conditions the gripping edge 13 is spaced a sufficient distance from the curved edge wall or abutment 11 of said receiving or guiding member to permit free movement of the line 6 between the two members of the device. o

The outer or free end of the holding or-lock ing member 12 is provided with an opening 15, which forms an eye adapted to be placed over one of the out-standing pins 8 of a pole, or overa hook, nail or other line-supporting element. 1

The gripping edge of the holding or looking member is preferably roughened, and in the form shown has a series of line-engaging transverse teeth 16 extending along the same.

The pivoted end of the holding or looking member, by reason of its gripping edge receding gradually from the axis of the pivot 14 may be said to be cam shaped or eccentric-ally formed so that upon rotating said member on its pivot, the edge of the eccentric or cam shaped end will more closely appreach the curved edge wall or abutment of the receiving or guiding member of the device.

When the device is applied to an elevated line-supporting element, such as the outstanding pin of a clot-hes pole, or a hook or nail secured to an object at an elevated point, that portion or end of the line extending beyond the device is taken hold of and'the clothes line drawn taut, and during such action the tendency of the line is to force the holding or locking member into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 so as to provide sufiicient clearance between the two members of the device to allow the line to move freely between them, and as the pulling strain on the holder is directed downwardly, due to the elevated position of the device, the friction of the line against the gripping edge of the cam or eccentric shaped portion of the holding or locking member will cause rotary or swinging movement of said member so as to provide the necessary clearance for the line to freely move between the two parts of the device.

\Vhen the line is drawn taut between its the gripping edge of the eccentric or cam portion of the holding or lookin member will be moved upwardly toward the curved edge wall or abutment of the receiving or guiding member 9 so as to securely grip and retain the line in taut. condition. It will be In order to apparent therefore that as the weight on the stretched portion of the line increases, the tendency of the holding or locking member is to. more firmly grip the line, thus assuring a proper securing of the line without necessity of tying the same to the pole or other object. 7 V

prevent wear on the clothes line due to movement lengthwise, back and forth, within the line-receiving member 9, the concavo-convex edge wall 11 of said member is flared outwardly at opposite ends, as at 17 and 18; the fiare18 being very decided, due to the fact that the line is caused to assume an angular formation at this point and is forcibly drawn downwardly over this fiare,.which provides a smooth rounded riding surface for the line; thus eliminating all sharp edges which would cause wear on the line and even- I tually resultin separating it at this point.

The ends of the side walls 10 adjacent the flare. 18 are also flared outwardly, as at 19,

and in reality form continuations of the flare 18. These flares 18 and 19 form a widened mouth at one end of the line-receiving member so that the line can be conveniently passed between the two members of the device.

The device need not be removed from the clothes line after being once placed thereon, as it is only necessary to slide it along the line when more or less of the line is to be used. 1

The stretching and fastening of the line by means of this device is accomplished almost instantly, sinceafter the device is fastened in place with the line passed between the two members of the device, it is only necessary to grip the hanging portion of the line and pull upon the same to draw the line taut, and immediately upon releasing the line, an automatic clamping'efi'ect takes place between the two parts of the device. v i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:- a 1 1. A line holder, comprising an elongated line-receiving member of U-formation to providetwo spaced side walls of like formation, a holding member pivotally secured to the side walls of said line-receiving member and having a. gripping surface eccentric to its pivot and means for securing said holding.

member to. a support, said U-shaped line-receiving member being adapted to have aline passed lengthwise therethrough and said holding member being adapted upon movement in one direction to grip said line within said line-receiving member and upon movement in an opposite direction acting to release said line. I

2. A line holder, comprising an elongated line-receiving member of U-form'ation in cross section to provide two spaced side walls of like formation, a holding member pivotally secured between the side walls of said line-receiving member near one end thereof and extending outwardly at an angle to said line-receiving member, the pivoted end of said holding member being 'eccentricallyformed with respect to the pivot thereof and having a roughened line-engaging surface,

the outer end of said holding member being. I

provided with means for attachment'to a support, said members being adaptedto have a line passed therebetween.

3; A. line holder, comprising an elongated line-receiving member of U-formation in cross section to provide spaced side walls and a concavo-convex edge wall serving as an abutment, a holdmg memberpivotally secured between the side walls of said line-receiving member near one end thereof and.

having a gripping edge gradually receding from the axis of its pivot betweenwhichand said abutment a line to be drawn taut is adapted to be passed, said grippingedge having a series of teeth extending along the same,v said holding member extending outwardly from said line-receivin member at an angle thereto and being provided With an opening at its outer end through which a supporting element is to be passed, said holding member being, swung in one direction upon pulling said line in one direction so as to cause the gripping edge of sald holding member to swing away from said abutment and upon releasing said line being adapted to swing in the opposite direction to move 1 said gripping edge 1n closer relation to said abutment and thereby clamp the line between the two members of the device.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ANTHONY HOFBAUER.

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