US2519987A - Clothespin - Google Patents

Description

g- 1950 E. B. WERNETTE CLOTHESPIN F iled March 28, 1945 I I N VEN TOR.

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ATTORNEK Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to utility articles or devices and more especially to clothespins.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive clothespin article of the character described.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved clothespin structure embodying a unitary structure combining self-acting, flexible, gripping members with features whereby the members may be manipulated by hand to article-engaging or -releasing condition.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved embodiment of a clothespin which is substantially nonbreakable, resistant to wear and having longer life than clothespins known to the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothespin incorporating the above mentioned objects which may be made of a durable plastic or similar material which is not subject to deleterious action by moisture or chemical reaction from washing solutions.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a further consideration of the description and drawing.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clothespin embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same shown in article-engaging position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I show a clothespin l which may be made of a suitable plastic material such as Lucite, or similar material, having a central U-shaped member ll having a central resiliently flexible portion l2 and a pair of upwardly extending portions or arcuate legs l3 having upper ends I4.

A pair of clamping members l are formed integrally with member I2 and extend downwardly from ends l4 and curve around portions I2 and i3 being spaced therefrom a small amount by spaces [6. Members l5 terminate at their lower ends in a pair of jaws I! which have curved, mutually presented cam faces l8 and tapering entrance cam faces l9.

Ends l4 are curved outwardly at 20 forming finger pieces or means by which portions I5 may be flexed or bent together against the resiliency or flexure thereof to separate jaws II as shown in Figure 2 for engaging an article of clothing such as 2| or a clothesline 22.

The clothespin I0 may be made of any suitable material such as wood or a plastic material such as Lucite and if made of such a plastic material can, be molded into substantially the form shown, or it may be cut out from larger sheets or out ch into pieces of desired thickness from extruded strip pieces having substantially the transverse section shown in. Figure 2. If desired, clothespin I'll may be made of metal and either molded, stamped or pressed into form, in which event the cross-section of the material will be substantially less than that shown in the several figures and particularly Figure 3.

The structure being unitary as described, the central member I I will be flexible or resilient and have a region of flexure approximately at the lower bend l2 when the upper portions I3 are pressed together manually by pressure applied to finger pieces 20. In this manner jaws H are separated a distance to permit easy engagement of an article of clothing 2| wrapped around a clothesline 22. However, if the article should require additional spacing of jaws I! such spacing will occur by the resiliency or fiexure of members l5, the flexure normally occurring near the upper portions thereof adjacent ends l4.

It should be obvious that the clothespin can be secured to the article 2| by a mere downward movement over the article and clothesline 22, the tapered faces [9 facilitating the entry between cam faces [8, or the jaws I! may be separated manually as described. Conversely, the clothespin may be removed from the article and the line by mere lifting movement whereupon jaws I? will separate by the cam action of surfaces ill, or the jaws may be manually separated by pressure applied to finger pieces 20.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made there from within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and systems.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clothespin comprising a single piece of homogeneous non-metallic resilient material, said clothespin having a central somewhat U-shaped member formed so that ends of the arcuate legs are closer together than the remaining portions thereof, an arcuate clamping member on each side of the central U-shaped member forming a space therebetween, the ends of said legs being joined integrally to adjacent ends of the respective clamping members, each clamping member having one of a pair of complementarily formed jaws presenting oppositely disposed recessed clothesline gripping cam faces and outwardly flared entrance cam faces adjacent thereto, said cam faces on opposite sides being initially spaced apart a minimum distance providing a clear passage therebetween and wherein the ends of the legs are spaced apart one from another, said cam faces on opposite sides being adapted to spread against resistance of said clamping members and said central U-shaped member to a maximum open position wherein said ends of the legs are in abutment thereby to inhibit further opening of said jaws.

2. A clothespin comprising a single piece of homogeneous non-metallic resilient material, said clothespin having a central somewhat U-shaped member formed so that ends of the arcuate legs are closer together than the remaining portions thereof, an arcuate clamping member on each side having substantially thesame radius of curvature as the adjacent leg of the central U-shaped member and forming a space of uniform breadth and depth therebetween, the ends of said legs being joined integrally to adjacent ends of the respective clamping members forming recessed finger pieces, each clamping member having one of a pair of complementarily formed jaws of thickness greater than said clamping member presenting oppositely disposed recessed clothesline gripping cam faces and outwardly flared entrance cam faces adjacent thereto, said cam faces on opposite sides being initially spaced apart a minimum distance providing a. clear passage therebetween and wherein the ends of the legs are spaced apart one from another, said cam faces on opposite sides being adapted to spread against resistance of said clamping members and said central U-shaped member to a maximum open position wherein said ends of the legs are in abutment thereby to inhibit further opening of said jaws.

EUGENE B. WERNETTE.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,091,413 Wilkins Mar. 24, 1914 1,916,856 Copeman July 4, 1933 1,928,536 Heinlen et a1 Sept. 26, 1933 2,137,542 Murphy Nov. 22, 1938 2,255,467 Kabriel Sept. 9, 1941

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