US551437A - Stair-rod - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

A. W. FINDLAY.

STAIR ROD.

No. 551,437 Patented Deg. 17, 1895.

'ndrewwndly UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

ANDRE" \V. FINDLAY, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

STAlR-ROD.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 551,437, dated December 1'7, 1895.

Application filed November lfl, 1894. Serial No. 528,782. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

I-le itknown that I, ANDREW 'W. FINDLAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Stair-Rod, of which the following is a specifica'rion.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of stair-rods wherein the rod is composed of a plurality of sections slid-ably joined to each other so as to be capable of moving on each other, to the end that the length of the rod maybe increased or diminished according to the width of the carpet to be secured in place, or to the other conditions which attend the use of the device.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings,an d finally pointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a per spective view of a stair-rod constructed after the manner of my invention and showing the same applied as in practice and held by the fastening devices referred to hereinbefore; Fig. 2, a 1011 gitudinal section of the rod and extendingto the fastening or securing devices; Fig. 3, a cross-section on the line of Fig. 2; Fig. i, a similar view on the line 3 y of the same figure; Fig. 5, a perspective view of one of the securing-screws.

My improved stair-rod is formed of two sections a and b, which are substantial duplicates of each other, differing only in size. These sections are formed of sheet metal, havin g their sides 0 bent upwardly or laterally,

to form curved flanges, and so as to give each section the shape of a perpendicularly-elongated letter C. The section I) is a size larger than the section a and receives the same, so that the two may slide freely on each other.

d indicates a strengthening and ornamental plate, which extends across the inner end of the section b, and which has one side projected beyond the same. This plate has its ends bent slightly and in conformity with the bends c of the section Z), said bent ends of the plate (I being tapered 'or gradually reduced in thickness, so as to be finally merged into the sides 0 of the sections. The purpose of this plate is twofoldnan1ely, to strengthen the plate I) and to prevent the sides or edges 0 of the same from spreading, and at the same time to give the device a finished and ornamental appearance.

Formed in the outer ends of the sections a and Z), respectively, are the longitudinallyelongated slots 6, which are formed with open ends and which are provided to permit securing the rods in place. This securing of the rods is effected by means of the clampingscrews j, which are one for each slot e and which pass through the same and into the stair. These screws f comprise three parts namely, the screwproper or threaded portion 1, the disk-like head 2, and the thumb-wheel The screw proper or threaded portion 1 is adapted to screw into the stair, while the disk 2 is provided to bear upon the sections and to clamp the same against the stair. The thumbwheels 3 are located above the disks 2 and axi ally coincident with the screw proper 1, their purpose being to furnish means for operating the screw. Thus it will be seen that in addition to these mechanical functions the several parts of the screws f combine to make an ornamental device which greatly adds to the finished appearance of the stair-rod.

In the use of my improved stair-rod the screws f are first fixed in the stair a distance apart which will. be equal to a little more than the width of the carpet to be secured, after which the sections a and Z) should be adjusted so that their ends will be capable of lying between the screws f. The arrangement of the device is completed by spreading the sections a and b so that the respective slots a will receive the threaded portion 1 of the screws f, and by tightening the screws fso that the disks thereof will bind against the respective sections (4 and l) and hold the same securely.

Owing to the peculiar construction of my stair-rod, it maybe easily removed for cleanin g of the rod or for adjusting or removing the carpet without necessitating the removal of the fastening-screws; and it may be replaced with equal facility, and by simply engaging the slots (2 with the respective screws f; also, the rod may be adjusted to suit the width of the stair or the width of the carpet, thus making it necessary to manufacture but one size of rod, all of which will be understood and will require no further description.

It is possible to provide, instead of the slots 6, a corresponding number of openings having no communication with the exterior edges of the sections a and Z), and through which the screws f may be passed. By these means the rods will be held in place as securely as in the preferred form; but in the removal of the rod it will be necessary to completely remove the screws f for obvious reasons. This change may be resorted to without affecting that portion of my invention which relates to the structure of the rod; but it is essential to the remaining feature of my invention that the slots 0 be provided, and that they be formed as shown in the drawin Therefore, Iprefer the slots (2 and considerany variation thereof as having fewer advantages than the slots.

Having described the invention, 1 claim- 1. A stair rod consisting of two similar telescopic sections C-shaped in cross section, each having overturned oppositely disposed edges extending inwardly toward each other, the overturned edges of one section interlocking and fittin g within the corresponding edges of the other section so as to render the device capable of longitudinal extension and at the same time prevent relative lateral movement of the sections, the outside section having at its inner end a reinforcing plate firmly united thereto and extending partially around the overturned edges thereof, substantially as set forth.

2. A stair rod consisting of two telescopic sections each formed of sheet metal and substantially C-shaped in cross section, one section interlocking and sliding within the other section for adapting the rod as a whole to be extended in length, each section being provided at its outer end with a longitudinally elongated open slot for the reception of a retaining screw, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDRE\V \V. FINDLAY.

\Vitnesses J. H. LEOND, F. M. BANKS.

Images