US1894625A - Table for stretching fabric - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1933. c. M. MCCARTHY TABLE FOR STRETCHING FABRIC Filed Dec. 11, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR M Q m ATTORNEYS Jan. 1?, 1933., 3, MCCARTHY TABLE FOR STRETCHING FABRIC Filed Dec. 11. 19150 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NMQ lNVENTOR CHARLES P1. N CAR H Y BY Jan. 17, 1933. c. M. M CARTHY TABLE FOR STRETCHING FABRIC Filed Dec. 11, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v- H T R R w "Kn R. N m rm mm H ML R W m Patented Jan. 17, 1933 CHARLES M. MCCARTHY, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA TABLE FOR STRETCHIN G FABRIC Application filed December 11, 1930. Serial No. 501,566.

This invention relates to a device for handling fabric such as fabric for draperies, and particularly to a machine for stretching, measuring and arranging said fabric for hemming.

It is now the practice in many stores and other establishments, to cut the material for curtains, drapes, etc., from the bolt and to lay the same out on the table in order that the curtains or drapes can be finished. It is desirable to have simple, efiicient and rapidly operated means for holding and stretching the fabric for measuring the same, and for so disposing the same that one end can be folded to form a hem. It is also desirable to have such a device which will not pierce or in any way injure the fabric.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a simple and efficient fabric stretching, measuring and handling device, by means of which the fabric can be easily and quickly manipulated.

It is a further objectof the invention to provide a device for stretching and manipulating the fabric, comprising a table preferably of rectangular form, a member slidable on the table and extending transversely thereof, with means thereon for holding the fabric and a member adjacent one end of the table for engaging and holding the fabric.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fabric stretching and handling device comprising a rectangular table, a member extending transversely thereof at right angles to the edges of the table, said member having cloth holding means thereon, means for holding said member in fixed position at various points on said table, a cloth holding device adjacent one end of the table compris- 40 ing a bar movable into engagement with the cloth and over which the cloth is adapted to be folded, said bar being free at one end so that the cloth can be slid therefrom.

It is also an object of the invention to pro- 45 vide a fabric stretching and handling device comprising a table, rigid guide means along the edge thereof, a member extending trans versely of said table and having means depending at the sides of said guide members respectively, longitudinally spaced rollers carried by each of said means and engaging said guide members to prevent lateral or vertical movement of said first mentioned memher, said member having a cloth holding means thereon.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a cloth stretching and manipulating device comprising a rectangular table, a member extending transversely thereof and having a novel form of cloth holding or clamping means thereon. 1 It is also another object of the invention to provide a fabric stretching and handling device comprising a rectangular table having a recess extending transversely thereof adjacent one of its ends, a yieldingly mounted supporting member in said recess, and a bar adapted to engage the cloth on said supporting member, together with means for raising and lowering said bar.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the table, certain portions thereof bein broken away and some parts shown in difi erent positions in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device, a portion thereof being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on line 77 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of one of the legs of the table; and

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of one part of the table with certain parts being broken away and others shownin vertical section.

Referring to the drawings, a table is shown supported on a plurality of legs 15, these legs being six in number and arranged in rectangular formation with a pair or" legs at the middle portion of the sides of the rectan- 1e. While the legs 15 may be variously ormed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated they are shown as made of angle bars having solid or block-like portions 15a at their lower ends into which are threaded the screws 16 having semispherical heads 16a adapted to engage a supporting surface with their convex sides. Screws 16 are preferably provided with holes 16b by which they may be turned by the application of a. suitable tool. The legs 15 at their upper ends are secured to angle bars 17 which extend transversely beneath and are secured at the bottom of the table top 18. Said table top 18 is of rectangular form and the same has secure to its sides and ends T-shaped bars 19. Angle bars 17 are bolted to the central part or stem of the T-bars 19 by bolts 17a having heads countersunk in members 19. The table top 18 has adjacent one end a recess 18a extending thereacross, at one side of which is disposed an angle bar 20 having one flange set into the table top and at the other side of which is disposed a fiat bar 21 secured to the side of the recess with its top flush with the upper surface of the table top 18. A plurality of spaced curved brackets 22 are secured to bars 20 and 21 and extend therebetween below the same, said brackets having apertures at their central portions through which extend the bolts 23. Bolts 23 have heads at their upper ends countersunk into a supporting member 24 of crescent or trough-shape at its upper portion and having vertically depending flanges 24a. Bolts 23 have a pair of nuts 25 thereon below bracket 22, and a nut 26 thereon immediately below member 24, a coiled spring 27 encircling said bolt and bearing at its lower end against bracket 22 and at its upper end against nut 26. A bar 28 having a flat top and a lower surface curved with the same curvature as member 24, extends across the table above member 24 and is secured at one end to a lever 29 secured to a shaft 30 journaled in bearings beneath table top 18 and in an angle bar 31 secured to an angle bar 32 secured to table top 18 and to bar 17. Lever 29 has a handle 29a by which it is manipulated and is adapted, when in raised position, to engage a stop pin 33 secured in one of the T-members 19. A pedal lever 29?) at the opposite side of the table from lever 29 is connected by link 290 to an arm 29d secured to the other end of shaft 30. Lever 29b is pivoted to a bracket 299 secured to one of the legs 15. Shaft 30 has a collar or washer 34 thereon at the inner side of the angle 31, held in place by a pin 35. Said shaft is thus held against outward movement. Bar 28 projects beyond the edge of the table opposite lever 29 and is provided with an aperture 28a which is adapted to fit over a tongue 36a extending upward from a bracket 36 secured to one of the members 19 by screws 37 A buffer member 38 of yielding material, such as leather, is also secured by screws 37 to the outer side of bracket 36. It will be understood that the flanges of members 19 at each side of the table are cut away to accommodate bar 28 and openings 24?) are formed in the members 24 where they extend over the horizontal portions of member 19 to accommodate the movement of member 24. Table top 18 has a plurality of grooves 18?) shown as two in number, extending transversely thereof between recess 18a and one end of said table, and said top is also provided with a recess 180 extending transversely thereof closely adjacent one end, said recess having undercut sides and extending between the members 19. The legs 15 are braced adjacent their upper ends by diagonally extending bars 39 shown as crossed and being connected by a rivet 40. Braces 41 alsofextend from the legs to the end of the table top 18.

A member 42 extends across table top 18 between recess 18a and the end more remote therefrom. While said member may be variously made, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as comprising a wooden bar 42a to one end of which is secured the metal angle bar 42?) havingits horizontal flange set into bar 42a. Another angle bar 420 is disposed some distance from angle bar 42?; and has its horizontal flange set into a separate wooden bar 42d. Angle bars 42?) and 420 are connected at their lower sides by a plurality of transversely extending plates 420 which extend therebetween. Bars 42a and 42d are thus rigidly connected together as one member. Member 42 has secured at its under side at each end an angle member 43 to which is riveted another angle member 44, the two thus forming a channel, in the top and bottom horizontal flanges of which are journaled the trunnions a of a roller member 45. Said roller member has portions 456 which extend over the top and bottom respectively of the vertical portion of members 19 at the sides of the table, and said roller also has portions of reduced diameter adjacent portions 45b engaging the outer sides of the vertical portions of member 19 at the sidesof the table, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The members 43 and 44 extend some distance along the side of the table top 43, as shown in Fig. 3, and the rollers 45 are journaled therein adjacent the end thereof. Members 19 thus form guide means or memhers at each side of the table. The member 42 is thus accurately guided for sliding movement longitudinally of the table, the rollers 45 preventing lateral or vertical movementofjthe-member 42. Bar 42d has a vertical surface 42f'from which extends the horizontal surface 429, and said bar has a cured to bar 42a. The hinges 49 have torsion springs 51 secured to the parts thereof so that plates 47 are yieldingly urged downward to move rod 46 into engagement with surface 422'. A plurality of cloth holding members 52 are provided, comprising short levers having yielding material such as rubber 53 on their ends, engaging surface 429. The levers 52 are pivoted at one end to small brackets 54 secured to the top of bar 42a and are equipped with small resilient plates 52a so that they are yieldingly urged downward into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or the same may be raised to substantially vertical posiv tion as shown in Fig. l and held therein. Bar

end thereof a of member 19.

42a is provided with a pair of handles 55.

Bar 42a has a recess 42;} formed in its under side adjacent angle bar 420 and a rod 56 extends transversely of table top 18 in said recess, said rod having secured at one tubular extension 57a of bracket 57 having a depending portion 575 at one side of the table to which is secured a plate 58 of rectangular shape, said plate being disposed alongside the vertical portion Tubular portion 57 a of bracket 57 rests on one of the plates 426. Another bracket 59 having a tubular portion 59a is carried on the opposite end of rod 56, being slidable on said rod, said bracket also having a depending portion 59b to which is secured a rectangular plate 60. The tops of bars 43 are cut away to accommodate the depending portions 575 and 595 of brackets 57 and 59. Rod 56 is threaded at its end adjacent bracket 59 and a nut 61 is screwed tiereon, iaving a knurled cylindrical portion by which it is manipulated. A headed screw 62 is secured in the end of rod 46 and prevents nut 61 being screwed 0% of said rod.

A coiled compression spring 63 encircles rod 56, engaging the bracket 59 at one end and engaging at its other end a collar 64 pinned to the rod 56. A similar coil compression spring 65 encircles rod 56, engaging bracket 57 at one end and engaging at its other end a small bracket 66 secured to the bottom of table top 18.

A scale 67 is set into one edge of table top 18, extending from angle bar 20 to one of the T-members 19, said scale being graduated in inches. y

A bracket 68 is secured to one of the enc legs 15 and has outwardly projecting lugs at its top and bottom, to which are pivoted" by the headed and nutted bolts 69 the arms of a bracket 70. Said arms converge outwardly and are secured together at their outer ends, the top bar having a horizontal portion to which is secured an iron holder 71 comprising a plate having an upstanding flange about its rear and sides. Holder 71 and bracket 70 can be swung under table top 18 as shown in dotted lines in 3. A casing 72 is also secured to the bracket 68 containing a pair of electric sockets with heir contacts con nected, so that the plug of a cord extending to a source of current can be placed in one socket and the plug of an electric iron used can be placed in the other.

In operation the cloth to be handled, or from which a drape or curtain is to be made, will be ilaced on the table and the free edge portion will be laid on the surface 42;; with its end against the vertical surface 427. The member 42 will previously have been moved on the table to give the desired length of the curtain. After member 42 is so positioned, it is clamped and held in this position by the operator turning the nut 61. hen nut 61 is turned in a clockwise direction, rod 56 is moved to the left as seen in Fig. 2 and bracket 59 is moved to the right. -This move ment continues until clai'nping members 58 and 60 are brought into clamping engagement with the members 19 at the sides of the table. Member 42 is thus clamped to the table and held securely in one position. Springs 63 and 65 are compressed moves to the left and bracket 59 moves to the right. It will be seen that when it is de sired to release the member 42, the nut 61 can be turned and springs 63 and 65 will thus force the brackets 57 and 59 to the right and left respectively, so that clamping plates 58 and 60 move away from members 19. When the cloth is placed on surface 42g, members 52 are lifted until the edge of the cloth is positioned against surface 42;, after .which said members are depressed onto the cloth so that it is lightly held in position. When the cloth is positioned clear across member 42 or for the entire width of the cloth, the operator swings rod 46 down onto the cloth. the cloth, of course, being between rod 46 and the surfaces 422' and 42h. Rod 46 is raised to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 when the cloth is being preliminarily positioned. After rod 46 is lowered into engageas rod 56 wise of the table in fiat stretched condition, and is moved past the bar 28. This bar is raised, so that the cloth can pass thereunder and the cloth is brought down to one of the .ves 186 where it will be cut. If a narrow hem is to be made on the cloth, it will be out along the groove 18?) nearest bar 28, while if a wider hem is to be used, itwill be cut along the groove farthestfrom bar 28. Obviously, other grooves could be placed in the table if desired. The bar 28 is lowered onto the cloth when it is passed thereunder and the cloth is clamped between support 24 and bar 28. Support 24 is yieldingly mounted, owing to the springs 27 and the cloth is thus yieldingly held. The hole 28a in bar 28 passes over the tongue 36a so that bar 38 at its free end cannot be sprung lengthwise of the table by any tension of the cloth. The buffer 38 is provided so that bar 28 will be cushioned and will not make a loud metallic noise as it lowered into position. It will be seen that the top surface of bar 28 is substantially flush with the table top. The cloth, after being cut, is folded over bar 28 towards member 2 and the hem can be pinned in position. The re cess 180 is provided to form a. pocket to contain pins. It will be seen that the operator can easily secure a pin from the pocket, owing to the undercut edges of the pocket. It is desired, usually, to press the hem while it is on the bar 28 and the iron support 71 is provided so that an electric iron can be placed thereon. The operator can conveniently use this iron to press down the hem on bar 28 and the hem is thus easily and quickly pressed in the cloth. The bar 28 can now be ifted by lifting lever 29 by its handle 29a and the hem slid off of the bar 28 at the free end of the latter. Pedal lever 29?) is provided so the operator can lift bar 28 from either side of the table and will thus not have to walk back to lever 29 if at the opposite side of the table. By raising rod 46 the curtain can now be removed from the table. The edge will readily pull from under the memhere 52. It will be understood that member 42 can be very easily moved lengthwise of the table by sliding it by means of the handles 55. Attention is called to the fact that the rollers 45 carried by member 42 insure an accurate movement and positioning of the member 42. It will be seen that owing to the portion 45av of rollers as engaging the top and bottom of the members 19, the member 42 cannot move vertically. The reduced portion of the rollers engaging the sides of member 19 also insure that there will be no endwise play of the member 42. The table can be kept accurately leveled by adjustment of the screws 16 in the bottoms of the legs. The table is made quite rigid and is of a very rugged structure, due to the metal members 19 and the middle supporting work.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple and eflicient machine for handling cloth, and one which can be easily and quickly operated for stretching cloth, measuring and hemming curtains, drapes and similar articles. The table formed by applicants device has a smooth flat top accurately positioned in one plane and the goods or cloth can be pressed on this table. Not only can the operations be quite rapidly performed, but the cloth is held by means which does not puncture the cloth or damage the same in any way. The device can be nicely finished and the same gives a very pleasing appearance. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efficient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth and in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangular table, a member extending transversely of said table guided at the sides thereof and slidable lengthwise thereof, aclamping means for cloth on said member, and a cloth holding means carried by said table dcpressible on said cloth adjacent one end of said table, said last mentioned means being liftable and having an end free of connection with said table so that cloth after being folded thereover, can be slid off at one end thereof.

2. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangular table, a member extending transversely of said table guided at the sides thereof and slidable lengthwise thereof, a clamping means for cloth on said member, and a holding device for cloth ad jacent one end of said table comprising a support and a bar mounted to be raised and lowered for engaging cloth on said support, said bar having a. flat top disposed substantially at the level of said table top, so that cloth can be folded over the same to form a hem.

3. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangular table, a member extending transversely of said table guided at the sides thereof and slidable lengthwise thereof, a clamping means for cloth on said member, and a holding device for cloth adjacent one end of said table comprising a support and a member mounted to be raised and lowered for engaging cloth on said support, and yielding means for causing a yielding engagement of said cloth by said last mentioned member.

7 parallel edges therefor, a

4. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangular table, a member extending transversely of said table and slidable thereon, means for holding said member in fixed position on said table, a yielding support extending transversely of said table below the surface of said table and adjacent one end thereof, a clamping bar engageable with said support for holding cloth thereon, and means for raising and lowering said bar.

5. Thestructure set forth in claim 4, said bar having a free end opposite said last mentioned means and a buffer of yielding material on said table for receiving and cushioning the free end of saidbar.

6. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangular table having parallel edges, a member extending transversely of said table at right angles to said edges, said member having a concave surface directed toward one end of said table, a cloth clamping means adapted to engage said surface and having a convex yielding surface and means carrying said last mentioned means movable upwardly and downwardly so that said first mentioned means may be raised from said concave surface and lowered into engagement with cloth thereon.

7. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangular table, a member extending transversely of said table at right angles to the edges thereof, said member hav ing a vertical surface engageable by the edge of a piece of cloth and having a horizontal surface adjacent said vertical surface, means engaging said cloth on the horizontal surface for holding the same, a lower horizontal surface, an arcuate surface extending between said horizontal surface, a rod of yielding material engaging said arcuate surface,

swinging means carrying said rod, and re silient means urging said rod toward said arcuat-e surface.

8. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a table with parallel longitudinal edges, rigid parallel guide elements secured to said edges having side and bottom surfaces, a member extending transversely of said table and movable longitudinally thereof, having rollers thereon, said rollers having surfaces extending at right angles and respectively engaging said guide surfaces, and held from lateral and vertical movement thereby, a cloth clamping means on said member, and means on said member engaging said guide elements for holding said member in various fixed positions.

9. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a table with rigid bars forming member extending transversely of said table having means at each end depending along said bars respectively, longitudinally spaced rollers carried by said means and having ofi'set portions,

said rollers engaging the sides, top and bottom of said bars, said member thus being guided for movement longitudinally of said table and extending at rightangles to the edge thereof said member having a surface engageable by the cloth and a clamping means carried by said member yieldingly engaging cloth on said surface.

10. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a table, a member extending transversely thereof at right angles to the edges thereof and slidable longitudinally of said table, a rod slidably carried by said member extending across said table, a clamping member carried by said rod and disposed adjacent one edge of said table, a tube slidable on said rod and carrying a clamping member disposed adjacent the other edge of said table, and a nut threaded on said rod and engaging the outer end of said tube whereby said nut may be turned to cause said clamping members to engage said edges.

11. The structure set forth in claim 10, and a spring on said rod engaging the end of said tube at one end and held by said rod at its other end.

12. The structure set forth in claim 10, a spring on said rod engaging the end of said tube at one end and held by said rod at its other end, and a second spring on said rod engaging said first mentioned clamping means at one end and engaging a member fixed to said table at its other end.

13; A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangular table, a recess extending transversely of said table adjacent one end thereof, a vertically yielding support with a concave arcuate surface disposed in said recess, a bar having a convex lower surface adapted to engage the cloth on said support and swinging means carrying said bar at one side of said table for raising and lowgring said bar, the other end of said bar being ree.

14'. 'Acloth handling'device having in combination, a table, a bar extending across said table adjacent one end thereof, a lever pivoted for upward swinging movement at one side of said table to which said bar is secured at one end, and means engaging the other end of said bar when in cloth holding position, so that movement of the latter end of the bar lengthwise of the table is prevented.

15. A cloth stretching and measuring device having in combination, a flat topped table on which said cloth may be pressed, a member extending transversely of said table and movable lengthwise thereof, means on said member for holding the edge of a piece of cloth in position, clamping means on said member adapted to clamp said cloth so it can be stretched and measuring means extending longitudinally of said table.

16. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangular table, a member extending across said table adjacentone end thereof for holding cloth-to be folded thereover and hemmed, means slidable on said table for'stretching cloth, a scale carried by said table for indicating the length of the cloth to-be hemmed, means for holding said slidable means-in-fixed position onsaidtable, and a plurality of indicating means extend-- ing across said table, spaced. different distances from said first mentioned member, for indicating the width of the hem to be madein said cloth.

17. A fabric st r-etching device having in combination, a table having a fiat topsurface, a flatmember engageable with cloth adjacent one end of said table and extending transversely over said cloth and over which cloth' can be folded to be hemmed, means cooperating with said memberto'clamp said cloth; and a member adjacent the other end ofi mid table extending thereacross atv right angles to the: side edges ofsaid table and slidable lengthwiseof said table, cloth holding means on: said last mentioned member, andmeans holding said lastmentioned member in fixed position whereby various lengths of the cloth can bestretched and hemmed. 7

158.. A: fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangular table having a flat top, a flat member extending across said table adjacent one end adapted to be placed on said clotli,means cooperating with said" member to yielding-1y clamp said cloth so 35 that cloth can' be folded over said member and hemmed, arnember extending across-said tableadjaaent the other end disposed at right angles to the 5" es of said table, means on said lastmentioned member for holding saidcloth, mscale extending longitudinally of said table tor indicating thelength of the cloth: to be hemmed, and means 'for holding said last mentioned member'in fixed position longitudinally of said table. 45 CHARLES M. MCCARTHY.

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