US609455A

US609455A - Patrick mcclafferty

Info

Publication number: US609455A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1898-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1915-08-23

Description

No. 609,455. P n Patented Aug. 23, I898.

P. McCLAFFERT-Y. CLOTHES LINE PROP.

(Application filed Dee. 23, 18,97.)

(No Model.)

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ih zsses W 1 y Z 4 flmop q s, Q 9 P 1 litre PATRICK MCCLAFFERTY, OF BORDENTOWN, NEWV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS J. MURPHY,- OF SAME PLACE.

CLOTH ES-LINE PROP.

srncrrrcn'rron forming part of Letters mam No. 609,455, dated August 23, race.

Application filed December 23, 1897. Serial No. 663,257. (No modeL) T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LPATRIoK MOOLAFFERTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bordentown,in the county of Burlington and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Clothes-Line Prop, of which-the following is a specification.

This invention relates to props for clotheslines; and its purpose is to provide a-device of this character which can be readily applied to the clothes-line and will be prevented from accidental disengagement therefrom by the action of wind or other cause tending to impart a vibratory or flopping movement to the line and which can be readily disengaged from the said line at the will of the personby a proper manipulation, the prop being construct-ed to attain these several ends and with a view to cheapness, simplicity, durability, and efliciency.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form,proportion,and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a clothes-line prop constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig.2 is a vertical central section thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modification, the dotted lines showing the operation of the spring-actuated jaw. Fig. 4: is a transverse section about on the line X X of Fig. 2 on alarger scale. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line Y Y of Fig. 2 on a larger scale.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by the same reference characters. 7

The prop will be constructed of any suitable material and of any desired length and preferably is composed of a wooden strip, the latter being selected with reference to the 10- cality, so as to secure lightness and cheapness in the formation of the article. The upper endof the strip comprising the propis cut away, forming a shoulder l and afixed jaw 2, the latter having a notch 3 in its innerside near its upper end and the latter being outwardly beveled beyond the notch, as clearly indicated at 4. The notch 3 is designed to receive the clothes-line and flares outwardly toward the sides of the prop toprevent inj urious contact of the prop with the line, which would result if the corners or sharp edges were not removed.

A movable jaw 5 has its lower end abutting against the shoulder 1 and its upper end outwardly beveled, as shown at 6,:the beveled portion 6 coming opposite the beveled end 4 of the fixed jaw to provide a flaring or approximately V-shaped space to receive the clothes-line when placing the prop in position. A flat spring 7 is secured at one end to the strip or prop and at its oppositeend to the movable jaw 5, and its purpose is to hold the jaw 5 close against the jaw 2, whereby the clothes-line is retained within the notch 3 when the prop is in service. This spring is housed and protected from the elements by being concealed within a space'provided between the opposing faces of the jaws 2 and 5, the latter being channeled or recessed on its inner face, as shown at 8, to a sufficient depth to receive the spring 7. The lower end of the spring 7 is let into a kerf 9, formed in the prop below the shoulder'l, and a suitable fastoning secures it to the said prop and likewise to the movable jaw 5.

A pin 10 is secured in an opening formed transversely in the jaw 2 immediately below the notch 3, and its outer end is headed, as shown at 11, thereby forming a stop to limit the outward movement of the jaw 5. This pin extending at right angles to the grain of the prop serves to strengthen the latter and being located so that its top side comes about flush with the bottom side of the notch reinforces the latter and sustains the wear and strain of the clothes-line. The outer portion of the pin passes loosely through a transverse opening 12 and serves in a measure to direct the movable jaw in its movements when fitting the prop to a clothes-line or removing it therefrom. The opening 12 is smaller than the head 11, thereby admitting of the latter limiting the outward movement of the jaw 5. This jaw 5 has a positive and loose connec tion at its lower end with the shouldered por tion 1 of the prop, and, as shown in Fig. 2, a projection 13'at the lower end of the jaw 5 enters a corresponding notch 14 in the shouldered part 1, and, as indicated in Fig. 3, a hinge 15 has its members secured in any desired way to the prop and jaw 5, whereby the latter is permitted to move outward at its free end.

WVhen it is desired to secure the advantages of the invention without the necessity of providing a pole or staff, the prop will be constructed in the nature of an attachment to be fitted to a pole or staff or to any kind of prop already in use and, as shown in Fig. 3, its lower end will be reduced, forming a tang or shank 16, to be fitted into an opening bored in the end of the pole or staff to which the device is, to be applied. The prop is applied to a clothes-line by presenting its upper end so that the line comes opposite the V- shaped space between the jaws 2 and 5, and an upward movement of the prop will cause the line to ride upon the beveled ends 4 and 6 and move the jaw 5 away from the jaw 2 a proper distance to permit the line to enter the notch 3, after which the jaw 5 will close under the action of the spring '7 and retain the prop in place.

When it is required to remove the prop from the clothes-line, it is grasped and moved laterally or in such a direction so that the line will exert a lateral pressure upon the jaw 5 sufficient to move it away from the jaw 2, when a downward movement of the prop will permit the line to escape from between the jaws, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a clothes-line prop, the combination of a fixed jaw having a notch in the inner side near its outer end, a separate springactuated jaw having loose but positive connection with the fixed jaw and adapted to close the open side of the notch, and a stop carried by the fixed jaw and engaging the spring-actuated jaw to limit and guide the latter in its movement, substantially as set forth.

2. In a clothes-line prop, the combination of a fixed jaw having a notch in its inner side near its upper end, and having the latter outwardly beveled beyondthe notcl1,aspringactuated jaw having direct and loose connection with the fixed jaw and adapted to close the aforesaid notch, and having its upper end outwardly beveled, and a pin reinforcing the lower side of the aforesaid notch and passing loosely through an opening formed transversely in the spring-actuated jaw to direct it in its movements, substantially as set forth.

3. In a clothes-line prop, the combination of a fixed jaw having a notch in its inner side near its upper end, and the latter outwardly beveled beyond the notch, a springactuated jaw having loose and direct connection with the fixed jaw and adapted to close the notch therein, and having its upper end outwardly beveled, and a headed pin secured in an opening formed transversel yin the fixed jaw and reinforcing thelower side of the linereceiving notch formed therein, and passing loosely through an opening formed in the spring-actuated jaw to direct the latter in its movements and limit its outward play, substantially as set forth.

4. In a clothes-line prop, the combination of a fixed jaw havin g a notch to receive the line, a separate movable jaw for closing the open side of the said notch, the said jaws having their outer ends oppositely beveled, and a flat spring secured at its opposite ends to the jaws and concealed and protected by being located within a recess formed between the opposing portions of the jaws, whereby the movable jaw is opened by lateral pressure, substantially as set forth.

5. In a clothes-line prop, the combination with the body thereof having its upper end notched or cut away forming a fixed jaw, and provided with a socket formed in the base of the notch and a slot extending below the socket, of a movable jaw having a tongue fitted in said socket, and a spring having one end seated in the slot and secured to the body of the prop, and its other end connected to the movable jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

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

PATRICK MCOLAFFERTY.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, FRANCES PEYTON SMITH.

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