US677725A - Rug-straightener. - Google Patents

Description

Patented luly 2, 190|.

l G. T. WEEKS. RUG STRAIGHTENER.

' (Application med Apr. s, 1901.

(No Model.)

/N VEN TOR @adige Zv Wl TNE SSE S UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. WEEKS, OE EDON, OHIO.

GHTENER.

Patent No. 677,725, dated July 2, 1901.

serial No. 54,864.' or@ model.)

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. VEEKS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edon, lin the county of lVilliams and State of Ohio,have invented a new and Improved Rug- Straightener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple, and inexpensive device which is quickly attachable upon the lower side of a rug and that affords convenient and reliable means for straightening the rug, rendering it flat, prevents the ends or corners of the rug from turning np, and serves io hold the rug where it is placed.

A further object is to provide a light eX- tensible frame for straightening a pliable rug, which frame is attachable to and readily removable from the rug to permit shaking and beating ofthe rug to clean it.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafterdescribed,and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specilication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the lower side of a rug and of the improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a modified construction of the rug-straightener. Fig. 3 is a plan view of another modification; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of one end of a rug and of the straightening device, showing a preferred means for detachably connecting said device with the lower side of the rug near a corner thereof.

Theinvention, broadly considered, consists in assembling a plurality of rods or fiat strips of wood or metal so that they aiord a light extensible frame connectible at the ends of said frame with a rug on its lower side and near the corners, the extension and subsequent securing of the members of the frame in extended adjustment serving to correspondingly' straighten the rug and prevent it from turning up at the ends or corners when in position on a floor for service.

One plan for arranging the members of the improved straightening device is represented in Fig. 1, and consists of four flat strips 5, of

metal or .other suitable material, having a length proportioned to the area of the rug. The members of each pair of strips 5 cross each other at their longitudinal centers and are pivoted together where they have engagement, as indicated at a.

Upon the lower side of the ru'g A, which is to have the improved straightening device applied thereto, four keepers ZJ b' in pocket forni are secured near each side edge of the rug. One of said keeper-pockets Z) is located near each corner of the rug A, and like ends of the cross-bars or strips 5 of each pairof strips are inserted into the two opposite pockets at the same end of the rug. The two remaining pockets b, near each side of the rug, are evenly spaced from the like pockets that are located near the corners at each side thereof. The length of the strips 5 in each crossed pair is such as will adapt their remaining ends to enter appropriate pockets b' when the rug is sufficiently stretched to remove wrinkles and render the rug Hat.

It will be seen that if the strips 5 are inelastic the tension of the stretched rug will retain the ends of the crossed strips 5 within the keeper-pockets b b', but will not prevent their removal therefrom if the material of the rug at said pockets is bent to carry the free edges of the pockets away from the ends of the strips, and the attachment of the ends of the strips may obviously be effected if the rug is in alike manner manipulated to bend it and throw the free edges of the keeper-pockets outward.

In Fig. 2 the four members of the straightening device are represented in rod form, each rod or bar 5 having a ring-eye cformed on each end thereof. The rods 5L in this construction of the device are crossed in pairs at their longitudinal centers and may be held together where they cross by a wire or cord wrapped around at the crossing-point of each pair, as indicated at d in Fig. 2.

In applying the straightening device illustrated in Fig. 2 the outer ends of each pair of crossed rods are sewed upon the under side of the rug near the respective corners of the same, and then the rug is straightened by IOO the application of inward pressure upon the crossed inner ends of the rods, which ends are then sewed at the ring-eyes c upon the fabric of the rug While it is properlystretched l the corners of the rug, or said ends may have or straightened.

In Fig. 3 the device is shown as `formed of ilat strips, which may have perforations e near their ends for attachment to the lower. side of the rug, or such perforations may be dispensed with and the pockets b In be provided. As shown in Fig. 3, the flat strips 5b have lapped contact in pairs near their inner ends, their main portions divergin g sufficiently to enter the pockets b b', that are secured at suitable points on the lower side of the rug.

If the straightening device is formed of metal either in strip or rod form, the material should be sufficiently resilient to adapt such members of the device to spring back into normal straight condition, if bent so as to bow them, and it will be evident that the strips or rods, if formed of spring metal, will permit their ends to be introduced into pockets, such as b b', when the strips or rods are bent, theirsubsequent resumption of straight form serving to straighten the rug they are applied upon and keep it in flat condition.

It is to be understood that if the rug is of moderate area but one pair of crossed stretcher members need be employed, which in this case Will cross each other at their centers of length and have their ends respectively introduced into appropriate pockets at eyes or perforations for a sewed attachment through them and upon the lower side of the rug. It is also to be understood that any suitable member of the rods or strips may be employed to straighten rugs of different lengths.

I-Iaving thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination with a rug having keeper-pockets on its lower side near the corners thereof, of resilient stretcher l'members adapted to engage their ends Within the keeper-pockets and hold the rug straight.

2. The combination with a rug having a 'plurality of keeper-pockets on the lower side thereof at the corners and near the side edges, of a plurality of resilient stretcher members, which are crossed in pairs and have their ends engaged with the keeper-pockets, said members when in straight condition serving to straighten the rug.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE T. \VEEKS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE M. SWANEY, M. E. ToWNsEND.

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