US717829A - Carpet-stretcher. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JANQB, 190 3. 1

H. O. FBHRMANN. CARPET STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22, 1901.

no MODEL.

1m: NORRIS Pains 60., Puo'wuwa. wuamc'rcu. a. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN O. FEHRMANN, OF JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,829, dated January 6, 1903. Application filed April 22, 1901. gerial No. 56,856. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANC. FEHRMANN, residing at J efierson, in the county of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Carpet- Stretchers, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specifian edge elevation of the invention, showing the parts arranged ready for the stretching operation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a cross-section on the line 4. 40f Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary edge elevation showing the hinged portion turned out into operative position. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail fragmentary views of the modified form of construction.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 9 indicates the main pieceor member of the improved stretcher, said member being provided on its upper side longitudinally with a groove 10, in which fits a slidable arm 11. This arm is provided at required distances apart with openings or recesses 12, and at its outer end is formed or provided with a head portion 13, to

which is secured a block 14, said blockformed on its under side with a series of closely-arranged fiexible steel Wires, forming a wire fabric 15, in which the individual wires are preferably bent, as shown. 7

The numeral 16 indicates an operating-lever, which is pivoted near its lower end between two upwardly-extending straps 17 17 on a pivot-bolt 18. The lower ends of these straps are pivotally connected to opposite side edges of the main member 9 on a pivotof the arm 11.

bolt 19. Links 20 20 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the respective straps 1'7, and the lower ends of said links are pivoted on a removable bolt 21, passing transversely through the main member 9. A nut 22 is turned on the threaded end of this bolt. By removing the not the lever,the straps 17, and the links 20 may all be folded down onto the top of the main member 9, whereby convenience in shipment is promoted. The lower end of the lever has pivoted thereto a hook 23, which is adapted to engage any of the series of openings 12.

The device may consist merely of the main member 9 and the slidable arm 11, and in the use of the device so constructed the outer end of the main portion 9 is placed against the wainsooting of the room. The-hook 23 is then made to engage one of the openings 12 The lever 16 is then pressed downwardly in a direction away from the outer end of the slidable arm, and this of course has the effect of sliding said arm out,-

wardly. As the steel-wire brush 15 is in engagement with the carpet, said carpet'is necessarily stretched on the out movement of the arm. The fine flexible wires take a firm grasp on the carpet, while yet they do not puncture or otherwise damage said carpet, as is-the case where rigid unyielding spikes or other sharp devices are employed. When the lever is turned down to its full extent, the slidable arm is held out in the position to which it has been slid by means of the engagement of the free end of a hook 24 with any of the series of openings 12, said hook being pivoted to the main member 9. If the first throw of the lever has stretched the carpet to the requisite extent, the hook 2 1 is left in engagement with the particular opening of the slidable arm until the stretched carpet is tacked down, or if the lever is required to be given another throw in order to complete the stretching the hook 24 is left in engagement with the opening until the lever is again brought to an upright position. The said hook is then released and the lever depressed as before. WVhile the end of the main portion 9 may be placed against the wainscoting, this in all cases will not be practicable, and hence another wire brush will be required, said brush being connected to the end of the main portion. This brush is indicated by the numeral and is removably fitted by means of a tongue-and-groove connection. This brush will, when the device is not placed against a wainscoting, firmly embed itself into the carpet, and hence hold the main portion 9 against movement.

I prefer to connect to the main member 9 another member or part whereby the length of the device may be considerably increased when necessary. In the Figs. 1 to 5 form of construction this extra strip (indicated by the numeral 26) is connected at one end by a hinge connection 27 to the end of the main member 9 in such manner that said member 26 may be folded beneath the part 9, as clearly shown. When thus folded under, the brush 25,if employed, has a tongue-and-groove connection with the hinged end of said part 26, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. When the two parts 9 and 26 are thus folded together, they are held in their folded relation by means of a small hook 28, pivoted to the member 26 and its free end engaging a staple 29, secured to the edge of the member 9. Whenever it is desired to increase the length of the device, the brush 25 is removed from the member 26 and the hook 28 disengaged. The said member 26 is then folded out to the position shown in Fig. 5 and the brush 25 then adjusted to the end of the member 26, said end of the member 26 being suitably grooved to receive the tongues of the brush.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings I show a modified form of construction wherein the extra member has a sliding connection with the main member 9 instead of a hinge connection therewith. Referring to these figures, the extra member is indicated by the numeral 30. This member is U-shaped in cross-section and provided with inwardly-extending tongues 31 31. The main member 9 fits in the groove of the member 30, and the opposite side edges of said member 9 are provided with grooves 32 32, which receive the tongues 31. The upper slidable arm 11 has a tongue -and-groove connection with the main portion 9, the same as in the other form of construction, and the straps 17 and links 20 (not shown in Figs. 6 and 7) are connected at their lower ends to the main portion 9, the same as in the Figs. 1 to 5 form of construction. When it is desired to use the Figs. 6 and 7 construction in its shortest form, the member 30 is slid beneath the member 9 and held thereto by means of a hook similar to the hook 28. The brush 25 is then adjusted to the under side of the end of the member 30. The hook 23 of the lever 16 is now made to engage one of the openings 12 of the slidable arm 11, and said lever is then depressed. The arm 11 is thereby slid outwardly, and said arm is held in its outwardly-adjusted position by means of the engagement of a hook similar to the hook 2 1. If, now, it is desired to use thefull length of the stretcher, the member 30 is slid outwardly by hand. A bail 33 or other suitable locking device is then turned down, so that its cross-piece will engage across the end'of the member 9. The hook 23 is next engaged with one of the series of openings 12, and by depressing the lever, as before, the arm 11 will be forced outwardly.

By providing the extra carpet-engaging brush 25 it is not absolutely necessary that the end of the main member should be placed against the wainscoting or other fixture in a room, as said brush affords a means for anchoring the end of the main portion or member at any location in the room, and consequently I am thereby enabled to efiect a thorough stretching of an intermediate portion of the carpet even in a room having considerably greater length than is ordinarily the case.

It will of course be understood that in my improved form of construction any desired number of extensible sections may be provided, so that I therefore do not wish to be understood as confining myself to any particular number. I also in certain combinations of my device do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the particular form of anchoring devices shown in the accompanying drawingsviz., the brushes 15 and 25inasmuch as any other suitable devices may be substituted which will have the eifect of engaging the carpet. The construction shown, however, is preferred, as by the use thereof all danger of tearing or mutilating the carpet is avoided. I furthermore do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the particular form of lever connection for pushing outwardly the section which it operates, as any other desirable means capable of performing the same function may be employed in lieu thereof.

What I claim as my invention is In a carpet-stretcher, the combination of a main member, a stretcher member or arm slidingly connected thereto,acarpet-engaging device carried at the end of the slidable member, means for sliding the slidable stretcher member outwardly, means for holding said slidable stretcher member in its outwardlyadjusted position, an extensible stretcher member or arm, a connection between said extensible stretcher member or arm and the main member, said connection being such as to permitsaid extensible stretcher member to extend outwardly from and in longitudinal line with the main member, in order to increase the length of the device, or to be disposed beneath the main member with its outer end flush with the corresponding end of the main member, in order to decrease the length of the device, a carpet-engaging device for the extensible stretcher member or arm, and

I member, or when said extensible member is adjusted outwardly.

In testimony whereof I afifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN O. FEHRMANN. Witnesses: LM. SMITH, W. A. MUOK.

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