US2268996A

US2268996A - Clothesline reel

Info

Publication number: US2268996A
Application number: US300569A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maphet J Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-10-21
Filing date: 1939-10-21
Publication date: 1942-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 1959-01-06

Description

Jan. 6, 1942. M. J. YOUNG- 2,268,996

CLOTHESLINE REEL Filed 001;. 21, 1939 MAPHET J :Youue Mod/M44 Patented Jan. 6, 1942 f "22,268,996 7 a CLOTHESLINE REEL Maphet J. Young, Youngstown, Ohio Application October 21, 1939, Serial No. 300,569

; screams. 101. 242-100) This invention relates toimprovements in clothes line reels and. more-4particu1arly to .im-

line partially in use, none have been particularly I satisfactory in use, since either the construction thereof was unduly complicated or the articles themselves lacked certain features which are essential to the full usefulness. of the articles. Principal among thedefects of these prior art devices is, the omission of readily engageable means to secure an endof the line to the reel regardless-of the character of the endof the line. In some instances the line ends are simply knotted while in others loops are formed at the ends to facilitate the attachment of the ends of the lines toyarious objects. Also, sufficient thought has not been given to the problem of'taking care of the unused portions ofthelines when the remaining portions of the lines are in use and to taking care of the complete lines when no part of the lines is in use. In connection with the latter'it should be observed that it isessential for the proper maintenance of the lines, that they be kept clean and well ventilated to prevent mildew and that they be kept free from sharp bendings and undue twisting to prevent the cords from opening and kinks from forming therein. These functions are accomplished in accordance with the,

present invention by providing a simply constructed and operated reel for the orderly retaining of the lines and by providing on the reel a hook which may engage a strung portion of the line or other convenient support whenthe complete line is wound on the reel.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the invention to provide a clothes line reel which is relatively simple in design and economical to construct but which is provided with readily enthereon in a clean and well ventilated condition.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of ahook on a clothes line reel whereby the reel may be readilysuspended on a strung clothes line or other suitable support.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a clothes line reel of improved means to engage and secure'the end of the line which is to be carried thereon. I

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become-apparent from a consideration;of the following detailed specification and the. accompanying drawing wherein there is specifically illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a reel constructedin accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the view being taken along the line I--I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is .an end view of the reel of Figure l; and

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along the line IIIIII of Figure 1, Figure 3 illustrating the operation of .theline attaching feature when the line; is provided with a knot and Figure 4 illustrating theoperation'. of the same when the line end is. provided with a loop.

Referring to the modification reel in its preferred embodiment consists of a pair of spaced parallel side members in which are preferablyconstructed of sheet metal, cirgageable means to engage and securethe end of a clothes line and which is provided with means to engage a strung line or other'suitable support whereby the line on the reel may be readily maintained in a clean and airy position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clothes line reel which is simple in design, which may be economically constructed and which is capable of maintaining the line held cular in form and having peripheralbeads i I. I A

Equally radially and circumferentially spaced about the center axis of the members ID are the rods 14 which are provided with nuts or equivalentprojections I5 to engage theinner surfaces of the members Ill. The ends of the rods l4 extend outwardly through apertures in the member ID and cap nutslfi are screw-threaded onto-the projecting endsof the rods I4 to securely clamp the members l0 and rods I4 together. As shown more clearly in Figures 1, 3 and 4, one of the rods I4 is provided with a looped portion I! which may extend radially inward towards the center axis of the members H. The loop I1 is adapted to be engaged by the end of the clothes line to start the coiling of theline on the reel provided by the members It! and 14. By referring to Figure 3, which shows a knot 18 at the end of the clothes line I9, it can be seen that, simply by positioning illustrated; the

extending through the loop and having its main body on the other side of the loop, the end of the line will be effectively secured to the reel. If, however, the line I9 is provided with a loop 20, as indicated in Figure 4, the loop 20 may be passed over the loop I! to secure the end of the line to the reel.

Extending along the central axis of the side plates I is a rod 22 loosely received within apertures in the members l0 and held against axial movement relative to the reel by handle 23 attached to the rod at one end of the reel and by a cotter pin 24 or other suitable expedient at the other end of the reel. Rod 22 is provided with an extension 25 outwardly of the handle 23 which extension is in the form of a hook whereby the reel may be readily suspended from a strung line or from any other suitable support. It should be noted that the handle 23 is concentric with the axis of rotation of the reel formed by the rods I dand members and when the line is being coiled on the reel the handle 23 may be con veniently held by theleft hand of the user and the right hand of .the. user may be employed to rotate the reel by means of a handle 26 attached to the member [0 on the opposite end of the reel from the handle 23 and adjacent the periphery thereof. This provides in effect a crank which facilitates operation of the reel.

It should be apparent that many changes may be made in the above specifically described embodiment of the invention without departing fnomthe spirit or scope of the invention. For example, it should be apparent that the circular shape of the end members 10 is .not essential, as these serve simply as a support for the rods [4 or other drum construction and as a retaining means for the ends of the coil wound on the drum. Thus spoked members may be employed in the place of the side disks l0. As a further modification of the invention, it is contemplated that the hook may be made out such configuration that it will serve as a handle, thus dispensing with a separate handle, .as shown at 23 in the modification specifically described.

- It should .now be apparent that I have provided an improved clothes line reel whichsatisfactorily accomplishes the objects initially set out. The reel specificallydisclosed may be very economicallymanufactured. The reels is provided with means to readily connect the end of the clothes line whether the end be provided with a knot or a loop and in addition a hook is provided enabling the reel to be suspended from an already strung length of clothes line or from any reels or the provision of the ventilating apertures allows the line to be aired at all times and this, together with the provision of the means for suspending the reel, facilitates the keeping of the line in a clean and sanitary condition.

The above specifically described embodiment of the invention should be considered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A clothes line reel and support comprising a pair of spaced parallel members defining surfaces for confining the side edges of a coil of clothes line, a plurality of circumferentially arranged rods spanning said members and defining a drum upon which the clothes line may be coiled, one of said rods being non-rotatable with respect to said members and being provided with an inwardly directed looped portion to be selectively engaged within and without the loop by a knotted or a looped end, respectively, of a clothes line, a handle extending outwardly of said reel and support in general continuation of the axis of rotation of said drum, and a hook associated with said handle whereby said reel and support may be suspended from a strung line.

2. A clothes line reel' and support comprising a pair of spaced parallel members defining surfaces for confining the side edges of a coil of clothes line, a hollow drum having ventilating openings therethrough interconnectingsaid members and upon which the line may be coiled, means on said reel to engage a knotted or looped end of said line, ventilating openings in said members both inwardly and outwardly of said drum, a handle extending outwardly of said reel in general continuation of theprincipal axis of said drum, and a hook associated with said handle'whereby said reel may be suspended from a strung line with said axis depending vertically from the point'of support. l I

3; A clothes line reel and support comprising a pair of spaced parallelmembers defining surfaces for confining the sideedges of a coil of clothes line, a hollow drum having ventilating openings therethrough interconnecting said members and upon which the line may be coiled, means/on said reel to engage a knotted or looped end of said line, ventilating openings in said members both inwardly and outwardly of said drum, a centrally disposed aperture in each of said members, an axle extending through said apertures and projecting outwardly of the reel in general continuation of the principal axis of said drum, a handle mounted on said axle outwardly of one of said members, an outer end of said axle being curved to provide a hook whereby said reel may be suspended from a strung line with said axis depending vertically from the point of support.

' MAPHET J. YOUNG.