US2653785A - Clothesling prop - Google Patents

Description

SePt- 29, 1953 K. s. LA RUSSA 2,653,785

CLOTHESLINE PROP Filed Aug. ll, 1950 Fig.

Karl Stephen LaRussa INVENToR.

Patented Sept. 29,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHESLINE PROP Karl Stephen La Russa, East St. Louis, Ill.

Application August 11, 1950, Serial No. 178,953

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a device for supporting clothes lines and more particularly to an improved telescoping support prop for clothes lines.

An object of this invention is to provide a sup port for clothes lines that is formed in a plurality of sections in order that the support may be stored away when in relatively small compass and yet which telescoping sections include means for preventing relative motion therebetween.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel ground engaging means so as to readily enable this clothes line prop to be used for supporting clothes lines When such clothes lines extend over a nished ground surface such as a concrete walk or the like.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of locking means for securely holding the separate sections of the invention in an extended position when such is desired.

Other important objects of the invention reside in the provision of a clothes line prop that is strong, durable, highly eiiicient in operation, simple in construction and manufacture, capable of being readily implaced in its desired position, and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These, together with various ancillary objects of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this clothes line prop, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the clothes line prop in an operative position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the clothes line prop shown in its closed position, with parts thereof being broken away to show other parts in section Figure 3 is a perspective View of an embodiment of the invention for use when the clothes line extends over a finished ground surface;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken along the plane of line 4 4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail showing the construction of an alternative form of locking the telescoping sections together; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of clothes line engaging means for use in supporting the clothes line.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, the other sections, reference numeral l0, generally designates the lowermost sections, the other sections designated by reference numerals l2 and I4.

Each of the telescoping sections l0, I2 and I4 are formed with depressed grooves I8, 2l) and 22 therein so as to prevent relative rotation of one of the sections with respect to the other sections. Further, these grooves permit the sections to be withdrawn in a properly aligned manner when it is desired to position the clothes line prop in an extended position.

For holding the telescoping sections in an extended position there is provided as is shown in Figure cylindrical members 24 which are provided with end walls 26 and 28 forming stops for the spring pressed pistons 3G and 32 which are continuously urged outwardly by a coil spring 34. The pistons 3!) and 32 have projecting lugs 35 and 35 thereon which are adapted to extend through aligned apertures in the telescoping sections when these apertures in these sections are in alignment. Of course, the cylinders 24 are secured in the sections i4 and l2 for interlocking relationship with the sections I2 and IU respec tively.

Referring now to Figure 5 there will be seen an alternative means for securing the sections in the extended relationship, This includes a leaf spring 48 which has a projecting lug 42 secured thereon for positioning within the apertures as indicated at 44 in the aligned sections of the clothes line prop.

Threadedly secured to the bottom section l0 of the clothes line prop is a ground engaging member which may be conical in shape as it is generally designated at 45, This ground engaging member 46 is used whenever the surface of the ground over which the clothes line extends is soft and formed of earth, gravel, or other similar material. However, when the surface over which the clothes line extends is formed of poured concrete or other hard material, a ground engaging member generally indicated by reference numeral 48 is used and such ground engaging material includes a cylindrical member 50 having a threaded collar 52 threadedly engaged with the bottom edge of the section l0. A base plate 54 having upwardly extending bearing supports 56 and 58 is pivotally secured to the cylindrical member 50 by means of the pin 60. A rubber or other resilient pad 62 is secured to the bottom surface of the base plate 54 for resiliently supporting the member 48 and hence the clothes line prop.

The clothes line engaging member 64 is in the form of a cap having mounted thereon oppositely extending hook portions 56 and 68. The clothes line prop may be hooked in supporting engagement with the clothes line by merely first positioning the clothes line prop so that the clothes line extends parallel to the hooked portions of the hooks 66 and 68 and then rotating the clothes line prop so that these extend perpendicular to the direction of the clothes line.

As shown in Figure 6 a further form of clothes line support is contemplated and this includes a corneal member I threadedly secured by means of collar 12 to the section I4, the conical member being provided with a V-shapedy recess therein generally'designated by reference numeral 'Il for reception of the clothes line.

When it is desired to secure the clothes line prop in its closed position so as to have relatively smaller compass it is merely necessary to threadedly secure over the telescoped sections the 4"cap 16 which is threadedly secured t9 the SCCOI)` l0, over the threaded portions '18. As clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, the cap 16 isiprovided with an opening which accommodates the hooks 9i and 58. Thus, when the closed prop is not in' use, it may conveniently be suspended from the line and secured'by unscrewing the cap 16 f or clamping said line beneath the hooks B6 and 68..

Since from the foregoing the construction and adyanfges of this clothesline prop are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However,'since numerous modifications will 4 alents may be readily resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what 1s claimed as new is:

A clothesline prop including a plurality of telescopic sections, a cap threadedly mounted on the inner section, a pair of oppositely projecting angular hooks xed on the cap and engageable With a clothesline for detachably connecting the prop thereto, and a removable'cap for threading on the upper end of the outer section and engageable with the first-named cap for receiving the sections in closed position, the second-named cap havin'g`an opening therein accommodating the hooks for suspending the closed prop from the clothesline 'when said prop is not in use, said second-named cap being engageable beneath the clothesline for clamping same beneath the hooks.

' KARL STEPHEN LA RUSSA.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,578,334 McReynolds Mar. 3Q, 1926v 1,661,930. Dietrich Mar. 6, 1928I 2,231,531 Epler Feb. 11, 1941V 2,296,043 McClary Sept. 15, 1942l 2,449,778 Hyde sept. 21,; 194e` FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,057 Great Britain Oct. 9, 1899 744,194 France Apr. 14', 1933 757,611 France Dec. 29, 1933

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