US2153486A

US2153486A - Clothespin

Info

Publication number: US2153486A
Application number: US163288A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold K Schultz; William F Speagle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-09-10
Filing date: 1937-09-10
Publication date: 1939-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 1956-04-04

Description

April 4, 1939.

H. Kl SCHULTZ ET AL CLOTHESPIN Filed Sept. l0, 1957 SWW/M3046 Patented Apr. 4, 1939 PATENT OFFlCE CLOTHESPIN Harold K. Schultz, Brooklyn, and William F. Speagle, Berea, Ohio Application September 10, 1937, Serial No. 163,288

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in clothespins.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved form of clothespin which is capable of very tightly clamping clothes to a line by means of a double clamping action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothespin which is suitably shaped from a single strip of spring steel and is capable of clamping cloth-es about a line at one point and clamping the folds of the clothes together at a point below the line.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description,

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout Ithe same:

Figure 1 is an edge or side elevational view of the clothespin embodying this invention and illustrated in position to clamp clothes on a line;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view taken at right angles to Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of this invention, the reference character 5 designates a section of a clothesline upon which the piece of clothing is to be secured by means of the clothespin which is designated in its entirety by the reference character 1.

The clothespin embodying this invention is formed from a strip or ribbon of spring steel of suitable width and gauge. This strip or ribbon is folded upon itself at 8 to provide the spaced converging arms 9. These arms 9 form the inner portions of the two sides of the clothespin body. One side is bent at I0, or at the outer end of the arm 9, to provide a laterally offset, rearwardly directed fold I I which is of substantially inverted U-shape. The opposite arms of this fold diverge downwardly, as best illustrated in Figure 1. The 45 remaining arm 9 is bent laterally inwardly at I2 to provide an arm or branch I3 which underlies the mouth or entrance to the fold II. Leg portions' I4 are formed at the ends of the two| sid-es of the body. Between the branch I3 and its leg III, and angle I5 is provided and is Ypositioned to underlie the clothesline 5, as best illustrated in Figure 1. The legs I4 terminate in laterally flared extremities I6 which are rounded at their corners I1.

As this clothespin is formed of spring steel, its use in frosty, cold winter weather would have a tendency to cause the users iingers to stick to the same. For that reason, the outside surfaces of the strip or ribbon are provided with a relatively thin coating or" rubber or latex, as illustrated in exaggerated section in Figure 3 and identified by the reference character I6.

In applying the clothespin to clothes positioned 5 upon a line, the pin is forced down over the clothing and line until the line with its surrounding portion of clothes is received in the inverted U- shaped fold Il. Due to the upwardly converging arrangement of the sides of this fold, the line 10 and clothes are wedged and tightly clamped together. This wedging action spreads the sides of the fold or places the fold under tension. Due to the positioning of the legs I4, they will clamp the material 6 at a zone beneath the line 5. This 16 clamping action results from placing the upper fold 8 under tension when the pin is forced down over the line. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the clamping of the clothes to the line results from tensioning the fold I I, and the clamping of 20 the clothes at a regio-n or zone below the line results from tensioning the fold 8. It has been determined that the angle I5, formed between the branch I3 and the leg I4, very effectively cooperates with the opposed leg I4 for the other side of 25 the pin to grip the clothing about the line. This angle I5 also tends to more tightly grip the clothing when the wind blows.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described 1s to be 30 taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A clothespin of the. type ldescribed comprising a strip of spring steel formed with two sides arranged in opposed relation, one of said sides having therein a laterally oiset rearwardly directed fold of substantially inverted U shape, a portion of the other of said sides being offset to underlie the entrance to said rearwardly directed fold, and said sides terminating in closely spaced parallel legs having outwardly flared ends.

2. A clothespin of the type described comprising a strip of spring steel formed with two sides arranged in opposed relation, one of said sides having therein a laterally offset rearwardly directed fold of substantially inverted U shape, a Vportion of the other of said sides being offset to underlie the entrance to said rearwardly directed fold, and said sides terminating in closely spaced parallel legs having outwardly flared ends and a thin coating of rubber applied to the outside surface of said strip.

HAROLD K. SCHUL-TZ. WILLIAM F. SPEAGLE.