US3538555A

US3538555A - Sheet folding device

Info

Publication number: US3538555A
Application number: US775823A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ambrose C Langston
Original assignee: AMBROSE C LANGSTON
Current assignee: AMBROSE C LANGSTON
Priority date: 1968-11-14
Filing date: 1968-11-14
Publication date: 1970-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1987-11-10

Description

Nov. 10,` 1970 A. c. LANGsroN SHEET FOLDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 14, 1968 INVENTOR. AMB/2055 i LANGJTON BY mA/.6L V. TEF/fr Mv/II United States Patent O 3,538,555 SHEET FOLDING DEVICE Ambrose C. Langston, 7963 Amador Ave., Yucca Valley, Calif. 92284 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 694,505, Dec. 29, 1967. This application Nov. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 775,823

Int. Cl. D06f 55/02 U.S. Cl. 24-81 3 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for assisting in the folding of sheets comprising a fixed clamp and a slideable spring mounted clamp in a vertical track whereby the folded edges of a sheet may be held in stretched position so that the operator may easily fold the remaining sheet portion.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Ser. No. 694,505 iiled Dec. 29, 1967 and now abandoned.

One of the main objects of the invention is in the provision of a device for folding sheets whereby one of the folded ends is held by a fixed clamp and an opposed end is held by a sliding spring tensioned clamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide spaced guided tensioned opposed clamp members for stretching and securing one end of a sheet so that it may be quickly and easily folded.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a quickly attachable track carrying opposed sheet clamping aid stretching members for assisting the sheet folding operation.

It is well known that the folding of sheets from a conventional drier or clothesline is a rather cumbersome job and it is the yfundamental theory of the present invention to provide an easily wall attachable track and spaced clamp means for securing the ends of a sheet so that the operator can quickly and easily fold the remaining portion.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, herewith wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the device in position of use;

FIG. 2 is a vfront elevational view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in vertical section of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view partially in section of a modified securing means for the slideable clamp.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings. It is apparent at iirst glance that the device is particularly adapted to assist the operator in the folding of sheets. The device is not complicated. It quickly clamps the folded ends of a sheet in a vertical secure and stretched manner so that the operator may easily fold the remaining portion as shown in FIG. 1. The vertical wall attachment of the device is preferable but not absolutely necessary.

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The device is particularly adaptable for use in the well known coin controlled laundries. However, it is useful in the home and elsewhere.

The device itself is relatively simple and easily attached to a wall or otherwise. A partially open inturned edged track or guideway 10 is screw 12 or otherwise secured to a wall 14. A block 16 in the track is secured thereto at 18 and also to a conventional clothes pin 20 at 22. Any kind of clamping member could be used. A second lower block 24 attached at 26 to a clothes pin or clamp 28 is slideably mounted in the track or guideway 10. The clothes pin 28 is secured at 30 to the upper end of a coil spring 32 carried in the open portion of the track and connected at its lower end at 34 to the lower end thereof.

The track 10 may have a lug 36 lformed therein to limit the downward movement of the block 24 and clamp 28. In FIG. 5, a slight modification is shown wherein the moveable block 24 has a finger manipulated offset cam means 3-8 for iixedly securing the lower clamp in any desired position in the track.

The operation of the device is so obvious as to negative description. The operator clamps one folded end of the sheet in stretched position and then folds the remainder as desired. A minimum of room space is required and the operation, quick, simple and time saving.

I claim:

1. A device for assisting the folding of sheets, comprising:

a vertically disposed elongated track or guideway attachably connected to a wall or the like;

a sheet clamp mounted in a xed position in the upper end of said track for operative attachment to a sheet;

a second clamp slideable in said track below said rst mentioned clamp; and

a tensioning spring at the lower end of the track, said spring being connected to said second clamp and `biasing the same downwardly in a manner to hold sheet ends in a stretched position between said two clamps for easy folding of the remaining portion by the operator.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which means is provided for limiting the downward movement of the lower clamp.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the lower clamp is mounted on a block slideable in the track and has mechanism for securing it in any desired position in the track.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 541,803 6/1895 Barns 24-81 1,105,018 7/1914 Bluhm. 1,607,477 11/ 1926 POtter 24-137.5 2,387,471 10/ 1945 Simpson. 3,236,425 2/ 1966 Sipe 223-37 FOREIGN PATENTS 546,937 3/ 1932 Germany.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner