US2746657A

US2746657A - Sweater stretcher

Info

Publication number: US2746657A
Application number: US443537A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bessie C Feathers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-07-15
Filing date: 1954-07-15
Publication date: 1956-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1973-05-22

Description

y 2, 1956 B. c. FEATHERS SWEATER STRETCHER Filed July 15, 1954 B6551}! areal/161:5

ATTORNEYS United States Patent SWEATER STRETCHER Bessie C. Feathers, Kingsport, Tenn.

Application July 15, 1954, Serial No. 443,537

4 Claims. (Cl. 223-69) This invention relates to drying frames for sweaters and the like, and in particular, a frame for holding a sweater in drying in which substantially all parts of the frame are adjustable so that the frame may be adjusted to hold sweaters of different sizes.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for retaining a sweater in shape as a sweater dries after being washed or cleaned.

It is difficult to hang a sweater or garment of other knitted material on a line or clothes drier without the garment losing its original shape and also without the garment shrinking. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates a drying frame patterned to conform to the shape of a body on which a sweater is positioned in which the body, sleeves and lower waist band are formed to correspond with the original shape or design of the sweater for which the frame is intended.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for adjustably holding parts of a sweater frame in assembled relation wherein substantially all parts thereof are adjustable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sweaterdrying frame having adjustable elements in which the adjusting parts are not subject to rust or corrosion resulting from dampness of a wet sweater positioned thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sweater-drying frame in which substantially all the parts thereof are adjustable in which the frame is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention embodies a garment-drying frame having an arcuate upper bar with a hook extended therefrom, similar to a garment hanger, with adjustable sleeve-forming elements carried by the ends of the bar, with adjustable vertically disposed elements depending from the sleeve-forming elements to receive the body portion of a garment and adjustable horizontally disposed bars extended from inwardly extended ends of the vertically disposed elements.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating the improved adjustable sweater-drying stretcher.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, with the parts shown on an enlarged scale, illustrating a typical cross section through the adjustable elements of the frame.

Figure 3 is a detail showing a longitudinally disposed section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 also illustrating the adjustable elements and showing the device with the parts on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a detail similar to that shown in Figure 1 showing a sleeve portion of the frame with other parts omitted.

Figure 5 is a detail showing a longitudinal section, similar to that shown in Figure 3, illustrating a modification wherein a rubber button for maintaining the parts in adjusted position is replaced with a clip, the clip being retained in position with a rubber band and the parts being shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on line 66 of Figure 5 also showing the clip with the band of elastic material for retaining the clip in position.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the improved sweater-drying frame of this invention includes an arcuate bar 10 having a hook 11 extended upwardly therefrom,

upper sleeve sections

12 and 13 carried by the ends of the bar 10, lower sleeve sections 14 and 15 adjustably connected to ends of the

sections

12 and 13, respectively, vertically disposed

side bars

16 and 17 slidably mounted in split

tubular elements

18 and 19, horizontally disposed

sections

20 and 21 extended from the lower ends of inwardly extended

portions

22 and 23, respectively, of the

elements

18 and 19 and buttons 24 of rubber or other suitable resilient material adapted to be extended through openings in the elements for retaining the elements in adjusted positions.

The arcuate bar 10 is provided with spaced

openings

25 and 26 extended inwardly from the ends and the

upper sleeve members

12 and 13 are provided with split

tubular sections

27 and 28, respectively, that are adapted to slide over the ends of the bar 10 and the ends of which are provided with

openings

29 and 30 that are positioned to register with the

openings

25 and 26 in the bar 10 to receive the shanks 31 of the buttons 24. The ends of the bar 10 are arcuate in cross section, as illustrated in Figure 2, and spring inherent in the elements provides frietion for retaining the elements in assembled relation. The buttons 24, however, provide definite locating means for preventing accidental separation of the elements.

The

upper sleeve members

12 and 13 are formed with

arcuate sections

32 and 33 which extend from the

tubular sections

27 and 28, respectively, and the opposite ends of the

elements

12 and 13, which are formed at substantially right angles to the elements, are provided with

bars

34 and 35 in which spaced

openings

36 and 37, respectively, are provided.

The

openings

36 and 37 are positioned to register with openings 38 and 39 in split

tubular sections

40 and 41 of the lower sleeve elements 14 and 15 and the opposite ends of the elements 14 and 15 are provided with

openings

42 and 43 that are positioned to register with

openings

44 and 45, respectively, in

arms

46 and 47 that are secured by rivets 48 to the upper ends of the

side bars

16 and 17.

The

side bars

16 and 17 are provided with spaced

openings

49 and 50 that are positioned to register with

openings

51 and 52 in the upper ends of the split

tubular elements

18 and 19.

The lower ends of the

elements

18 and 19 are pro vided with inwardly

extended sections

53 and 54 by which the elements are connected to vertically disposed

bars

22 and 23, the lower end of the bar 22 being provided with a split tubular section 2!) having an opening 55 therein and the section 23 having a horizontally disposed bar 21 having spaced openings 56 therein extended from the lower end. The bar 21 is retained in adjusted position in the element 20 by one of the buttons 24, which are formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material.

In the typical cross section, shown in Figure 2, shank 31 of the button 24 extends through an opening 52 in the face of the split tubular element 19 and also through an opening, such as one of the openings 50, in the bar 17. The tubular element 19 includes a face in which the openings 52 are provided,

end sections

57 and 58 and a back formed with flanges 59 and 60 the edges of which are provided with inwardly extended beads 61 and 62.

With this arrangement ofparts, shanks 31 of the buttons 24 are inserted in the openings and with the buttons pressed into place the parts will remain in assembled relation-.duringthe drying process ofthe sweaten In-the design illustrated. in Figures 5 and-6,- the button 24 is replaced with a latching clip 63having-a handle 64 and a finger 65 and, as illustrated in Figure 5, the clip is retainedvin positionon one of the split tubular elements with a band 66-of elastic material. The band. rctains the clip in position wherein the-finger 65 is adapted to extend through an opening 67 'in'a split-tubular element 68-and an opening-69in a tongue-or arcuate bar 70 similar-toone of the bars, suehas the-bar 17. Bythismeans the parts are latched together. andma'y be released by; pressing, downwardly upon the; handle: 64 whereby the pin.65- isv withdrawn from the'openings. By this means the bars having the spaced openings therein, such as the bars'16, 17 and 70, are latchedortloclted in adjusted posi tions, by one of: the elastic buttons 2.4i or by the clip-63' whichis resiliently mounted on the split tubular elements Withthe partsdesigned and assembled in this manner, a sweater-stretching frame is provided thatis adjustable to sweaters of different sizes and with the parts formed of plastic or plated metal parts, the possibility of rust due to placing wet materials thereon is substantially eliminated.

The arm and body elements are carried by an arcuate support bar with upper sleeve elements adjustably connected to ends of the bar and with lower sleeve elements adjustably connected to the upper sleeve elements. The lower sleeve elements are pivotally connected to adjustable vertically disposed body elements and-the lower ends of the body elements are adjustably connected with transversely disposed bracing or retaining elements.

With the elements of the frame adjusted to correspond with the shape and size of a sweater, the sweater is placed thereon and the material of the front and back is pinned together at the upper and lower endsto prevent the sweater pulling upwardly or downwardly on the frame in drying. The ends of the sleeve may also be pinned beyond the ends of the frame elements.

In Figure 4 the split tubular elements 28 and are extended to illustrate that the frame may be used for comparatively large garments.

It will be understood that;modifications,. within the scope of the appended claims, may be made; inthe design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimedis:

1; A sweater-drying frame comprising an arcuate supportbar having spaced openings in the; ends and a hook extended upwardly from the intermediate portion, the ends of said support bar being arcuate in-cross-section, upper sleeve bars having split tubular elements provided with a fiat face, side sections extending at'right angles tosaid face'at the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, flanges extending at right angles to said side sections, and inwardly extending beads on the longitudinal edges of said flanges, said tubular elements being extended around the ends of said arcuate support bar and means passing through the ends of the support bar and outwardly of said split tubular elements for securing the tubular elements tothe ends of said arcuate bar, said upper sleeve bars having depending ends that are arcuate in cross-section, and lower sleeve bars having split tubular elements provided with a flat face, side sections extending at right angles to said face at the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, flanges extending at right angles to said side sections, and inwardly extending beads on the longitudinal edges of said flanges, said tubular elements being extended to receive the depending ends of the upper sleeve bars, vertically disposed side bars depending from and connected to.the lower. sleeve bars, horizontally disposed bars extendedinwardly on said ends of the vertically disposed body bars, and means passing through the ends of said 4 horizontally disposed bars for adjustably connecting said horizontally disposed bars.

2. In a sweater stretcher,.the combination which comprises an arcuate support bar having spaced openings in the c 'ids and a hook extended upwardly from the intermediate part, the ends of said support bar being arcuate in cross section, upper sleeve bars having split tubular sections provided with a flat face, side sections extending at right angles to said face. at the opposite longitudinal edges tlereof, flanges extending at right angles to said side sections, and inwardly extending beads on the longitudinal edges of saidflanges, said tubular elements being extended over the ends of the support bar and having offset portions with depending end-bars that are arcuate in cross-section, split tubular lower sleeve elements having a flat face, side sections extending at right angles to said face at the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, flanges extending at right angles to said sidesections, andinwardly extending-beads on the longitudinal edges of said flanges into which the end bars of the upper sleeve bars extend, spaced vertically disposed side bars with-spacedopenings therein and having arms on the upper ends that are arcuate in cross-section, extended intoithe split tubular lower sleeve elements, split tubular; elements positioned over the side bars and having inwardly offset lower ends that are arcuate in crosssection, withhorizontally disposed sections extended from said lower ends, and latching elements extending through theopenings in the split tubular elements and bars and outwardly thereof, for retaining the parts in adjusted positions.

3. In a sweater stretcher, the combination which comprises an'arcuate-suppert bar having spaced openings in the. ends and a hook extended upwardly from the intermediate part, the ends of said support bar being arcuate incross-section, upper sleeve bars having split tubular sectionsprovided with a flat face, side sections extending at right angles to said face at the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, flanges extending at right angles to said side sections, and inwardly: extending-beads onthe longitudinal-edges of said flanges, said tubular elements being extended over the ends of the support bar and having offset portions with depending end bars that are arcuate in cross-section, split tubular lower sleeve elements having av flat face, side sections extending at right angles to said face at the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, flanges extending at right angles to said side sections, and inwardly extending beads onthe longitudinal edges of said flanges into which the endbars of the upper sleeve. bars extend, spacedvertically disposedside bars with spaced openings therein. and. having arms on the upper ends that are arcuate inlcross-seetion, extended into the split tubular lower sleeve. elements, split tubular elements positioned over the side bars and having inwardly offset-lower ends that are arcuate in cross-section, with horizontally disposed sectionsextended from said lower ends, and latching elements extending through the openings in the split tubular elements and bars and outwardly thereof for retaining the parts in adjusted positions, the horizontally disposed section of. one of said split tubular elements of the side bars including a split tubular element and the horizontally disposedsection of the split tubular element of the other side bar including a bar that is arcuate in crosssection, with spaced openings therein slidably mounted in the split tubular element of the former side bar.

4. In a sweater stretcher, the combination which comprises an arcuate support bar having spaced openings in the ends and a hook extended upwardly from the intermediate part, upper sleevebars having split, tubular sections providedwith a flat face, side. sections extending at right angles to said face at right angles to said side sections, and inwardly extending beads on the longitudinal edges of said flanges, said tubular elements being extended over the ends of the support bar and having offset portions with depending. end bars, split tubular lower sleeve elements-having a fiat face, side sections extending at right angles to said face at the opposite longitudinal edges thereof, flanges extending at right angles to said side sections, inwardly extending beads on the longitudinal edges of said flanges into which the end bars of the upper sleeve bars extend, spaced vertically disposed side bars with spaced openings therein and having arms on the upper ends extended into the split tubular lower sleeve elements, split tubular elements positioned over the side bars and having inwardly offset lower ends with horizontally disposed sections extended from said lower ends, and latching elements extending through the openings in the split tubular elements and bars for retaining the parts in adjusted positions, the horizontally disposed section of one of said split tubular elements of the side bars including a References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,137,691 Landsman Nov. 22, 1938 2,307,256 Burwell Jan. 5, 1943 2,484,807 Larson et a1 Oct. 18, 1949