US2594738A - Clothesline support - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1952 v G. c. cuRTz CLOTHESLINE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 23, 1946 I INVENTOR. 650265 c. cwzrz.

Patented Apr. 29, 1952 CLOTHESLINE SUPPORT George C. Curtz, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to George E. Curtz, Pittsburgh, Pa.

, Application September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,758

2 Claims. 1

My invention is an improvement in clothes line supports, and has for its object to provide means for easy and effective raising and lowering of the supporting element for the line, and particularly for effecting tightening engagement of such support upon and in connection with a supporting standard.

In the ordinary use of clothes lines, it is desirable that they be initially in position within reasonably convenient reach, for placement of the wet clothing or the like. Ordinarily it is common practice to elevate the line at one or more points between connecting terminals, for such purpose.

In my invention, I provide one or more supporting standards, each provided with a slidably related attaching terminal, and a depending handle, whereby the line may be initially connected at a distance within reasonable reach from the ground, and then elevated to any desired height for use. The effective element contributing to such operation and use, is in the form of a slidably mounted holding device, of such construction as to be in either gripping or releasing condition, on a suitable standard or post, depending on the operating conditions, as

shall be more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating one preferred form of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation showing a pair of the devices as used.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified construction of the supporting standard.

Fig. 3 is a partial face view of the operative mechanism, at right angles to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse partial sectional view on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1, showing the device in gripping relation to the standard.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the device relaxed, as in non-gripping position.

Fig. 6 is an isometric View illustrating a modified construction.

Referring to the drawing, a standard 2, which may conveniently be in the form of a section of piping or tubing, either single, or in connection with a lower reinforcing section 3, is fixedly located in the ground at suitable location with relation to a companion member, or other suitable fixture.

The active element of the device consists of r a hook i, which in the form shown, is the terminal of a continuous wire 5, and which is spirally wound one or more times around the upper standard 2, in the form of a coil as at 6, for free sliding movement thereon, when not loaded.

By reason of the construction, with the hook 4 somewhat above the coil 6, the tension of the clothes line I tends to effect a gripping action by the coil against the standard 2, and to bind thereon under such load, much in the manner of a-lever action.

The lower downwardly extending portion of wire 5 is provided with a terminal handle 8, such portions extending downwardly and outwardly at a slight angle from the standard 2, thereby assisting coil 6 to effect a gripping or binding action on standard 2, in connection with the pull of the line.

Fig. 4 illustrates the position of the coil or coils 6 under such strain and in close gripping action around the pipe 2.

Fig. 5 shows the coil relaxed, slightly separated from contact as at 9, and free to move upwardly and downwardly thereon.

It will thus be seen, that with the device lowered as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1, it is in convenient position for lacing the clothes line around the hook, and for elevating it to operative position. By exerting a slight outward pull on the depending somewhat stifi wire 5, as at 5a, the coil 6 may be released for free upward movement, even though under tension of the line.

Upon releasing handle 8, the tension of the line I, alone or when loaded, will tend to tighten the coil 6 around the standard 2, assisted by the gravitating action of the handle and wire.

Fig. 2 shows a modification of the device, in which a sulficient length of standard 2b is mounted between upper and lower fixtures ll) and H, bolted or otherwise attached to any permanent surface l2, as of a building, wall, or the like.

While good results may be had with the construction as made of a single Wire with the gripping and releasing coil 6, the same effect for free sliding and incidental lever action gripping, may be secured, as by use of a plate ring l3, the inner circular edge M of which slightly exceeds in diameter, that of the standard 2.

In such case the plate may be separately attached to a hook 4a and a handle 5a, secured to the plate ring 3, as at [5.

It will be understood that the device, which can ordinarily be made of a continuous section of sufficiently stifi wire, having the necessary degree of flexibility and resilience, is effective in providing for a good gripping action on the support, it may be substituted by such other means, with the hook and handle.

Also, that the device may be changed or modified in proportions, dimensions, sizes, or other 3 features by the skilled mechanic, within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A manually and vertically adjustable clothes line support comprising a vertically extending standard, and a wire rod having an intermediate portion coiled about said standard and having a loose fit for sliding movement thereon to difierent positions of vertical adjustment, an upper end portion connected with and extending angularly upwardly with respect to the axis of said intermediate portion to provide a hook to which a clothes line may be fastened, said hook, being operable by the force of a clothes line fastened thereto to tilt said intermediate portion on said standard into gripping engagement therewith to restrain it against vertical movement thereon, and a lower end portion connected with and extending angularly outwardly and downwardly with respect to the axis of said intermediate portion, and a handle on the terminal of said lower end portion for manually operating it to move said intermediate portion out of gripping engagement with said standard and for adjusting its vertical position thereon.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 characterized by said intermediate portion being comprised of at least two coiled loops with said upper REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 950,043 Gierding Feb. 22, 1910 15 1,014,861 I Bennett Jan. 16, 1012 1,016,822 Golden Feb. 6, 1912 1,048,780 W'oolhiser Dec. 31, 1912 1,201,427 Angvick Oct. 17, 1918 1,238,295 Hunt Aug. 28, 1917 20 1,455,557 Tydings May 15, 1923 1,778,255 .Frost Oct. 14, 1930 2,265,017 Winkle Dec. 2, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 Number Country Date 16,228 Great Britain 1898 706,701 France Mar, 31, 1931

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