US2225235A - Folding costumer - Google Patents

Description

17, 1940. G R SC'HLElCHER 2,225,235

FOLDING cos'ruMER Fild Oct. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVE TOR AT RNEY Patented Dec. 17,' 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT Frio 2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a folding costumer. In the present art most of the folding costumers have the upper cloak support, when extended, folding or collapsible arms with a pivot in the center which makes a very impractical and dangerous article as one is likely to catch ones fingers in a joint when opening or closing same or rip ones hand when removing clothes therefrom. It is my first object to remove that feature which is not only dangerous but is also unsightly. Again in the present type of folding costumers all of the extending collapsible arms fit into grooves or recesses in the uprights and thus greatly weaken the construction of the uprights and also given a danger spot in which one could catch his or her fingers when opening or closing the costumer and even when opened clothes might catch there-between. They are also unsightly in appearance. It is a second object of my invention to eliminate that feature and thus have strong and substantial uprights without any of those objectionable features. By having the upper cross bar, when the costumer is in a collapsed position wedged at both the upper and lower extremities and extending on the outside of the uprights, it enables the costumer to form a stronger unit when in a closed position than is at present accomplished and is a third object of my invention. Likewise the outside locking of the support bracket or lower bracing arms upon the outside of the uprights when the costumer is collapsed forms a stronger unit when in a closed position and is a fourth object of my invention. The base members are of such simple design that they are less complicated and bulky over the present art and form a fifth object of my invention. The upper hangers are also of a simple design and less complicated than the present art and form a sixth object of my invention. The hanging elements forming a two way hanger are entirely new and simple and practical and form a seventh object of my invention. The means of locking the upper spacing rod, when opened are the eighth and ninth objects of my invention. 'Ihe means of locking said rod when used to hold the uprights closed is a tenth object of my invention. 'Ihe means of locking the lower supporting brackets when Figure 1' is an outside side. view in collapsed condition. Figure 2 is an outside View looking in the direction of arrow in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3y of Figure 2. Figure. 4 is a vertical section showing costumer in 5 expanded condition. Figure 5 is a top plan view of the device. Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation showing the locking member in locked position.

Reading on my said drawings and more parl ticularly Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, they consist of the stand of costumer designated as III, which consistsy of two halves, II and I2, and is mounted on a base member I3. The top portion carries hangers I4, also hangers I5. Hangers I4 are 15 staggered-ly arranged and carry narrow slots I. Hanging elements I are forced into slots I6 and fastened by screws I'I. Members II and I2 are split in the middle at I8 and form an Octagon in an assembled condition. Each one of those halves are split on the top as at I9 and 20.

Split I9 is deeper than 23 to accommodate the C portion 2l of spacing rod 22. In section I2 there is a tube 23 to receive the down turned end 24 of rod 22. The C portion 2l by its eyelet 25 permits a pivot pin 25 to hold it in fastened position on member I I The end 24 has a narrow slot 26 to receive a locking latch 21. Locking lever 28 is pivotedly secured to member II and serves with its upper portion 29 to lock the rod 30 22 in extended position to prevent an unnecessary high upswing of rod 22. A set screw 30 is placed underneath the lower section of C portion 2|. Both members II and I2 have openings 3I and 32 in line to permit the portion 24 to enter 35 through and be locked in collapsed position by latch 2'I to assure a proper alignment. An additional dowel 33 is fastened in lower section of beam I2. A corresponding opening 32 in member II permits said pin to enter through and be locked by its slot and latch member 34 as best seen in Figure 2.

Bracing members 35 and 36 are fastened to members II and I2 respectively, and lock thelower portion of the costumer firmly in open position.

Members 35 and 36 are commonly pivoted at 3l and fold up vertically on the sides of members I0 and II in collapsed position. Member I2 has two stop elements 38 and 39 fastened on its side, which serve to apply a spring like effect to rod 22 in. its non-active position to apply pressure to the portion 24 and thereby locking same tight against latch 21, and preventing the self releasing of rod 22 as best seen in Figure 3.

While I have illustrated my invention in different ways and using different construction, materials, means and methods, still I do not intend to limit myself to those particular means, designs, methods, materials, or construction, as it is apparent that other means, designs, construction, methods, and materials may be employed for obtaining the same results Within the scope of any claim without departing from the scope or spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A folding costumer, as herein described,

comprising two halves and mounted thereon base l members, the top portion having attached thereto hangers containing slits for the insertion of metal strips, said metal .strips projecting in an upward position slightly on both sides of said insert, said hangers being staggeredly arranged, said halves forming an Octagon when together, said halves being split on the top, one half having attached thereto a metal rod having a C curve at one end thereof and an eyelet. on said end containing a pivot through said eyelet to hold it in fastened position, the other end of said rod having an L shaped bend and fitting into a slot in the top of the other half, the spring action of said rod when forced into said end locking said end into said slot, the C end being held in locked position, by a locking lever which is pivoted to the other half and the upper portion of said lever locking into the C part of said rod between the rod and the said half and thus preventing an upward swing of said rod, said C portion of said rod having a set screw placed beneath the lower portion thereof to act as a locking means, said halves having openings therein to permit the insertion of said rod at its L shaped end there through when in a closed position and containing on one-half thereof a latch to lock said rod when inserted through said openings, which rod has a slot to permit said locking, and one half containing at the lower portion thereof a dowel and a corresponding opening on the other half to receive said dowel, said dowel having a slot therein to receive the end of a pivoted lever when inserted into the other half, which lever is pivoted on the other half and when locked into said dowel adds rigidity to said halves in locked position, said halves also containing bracing members on the lower halves and which braces are pivoted at the center thereof, said braces when opened locking and holding the halves in firmer position,` one of said halves also contain- 'said veyelet to hold it in fastened position in said split in said half said rod and C curve then passing 'through said half, said rod then extending `a distance and its other end being in L shaped `and fitting, when extended, into a tube in the top of the other half after passing through the split in said other half and fastening therein by the spring action of said rod when forced into said tube, said C curve having a set screw beneath the said curve near its eyelet to act as a locking means, and being further locked in position- `by a locking lever, locking into the C part of said rod between the rod and the half to which it is attached, said locking lever being pivotecl to said half beneath said rod, said rod when released from its extended locked positions being pushed through the half to which the tube is inserted and along the outside of said half until said `halves are tight together and is then inserted into said halves through a hole therein by means of its L shaped end, upon said half are two set screws beneath said rod which rod acts asa spring when inserted through said halves said rod being held by a lever pivoted on the other halfnear the hole therein, said lever fitting into a slot in the end of said L shaped rod and bracing means at the lower end of said halves to add stability thereto, when the device is open. GEORGE R. SCHLEICHER.

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