US905471A - Lace-curtain stretcher and drier. - Google Patents

Description

M. SMITH. LACE CURTAIN STRETGHER AND DRIER.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 1,1908.

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M. SMITH.

LACE GURTAIN STRETGHER AND DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1,1905%.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

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I MOSES SMITH, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

LACE-CURTAIN STRETCHER AND DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

Application filed June 1, 1908. Serial No. 436,160.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Moses SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lace- Curtain Stretchers and Driers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is the construction of a device that will especially serve as a stretcher and drier for a plurality of lace curtains in the most limited space possible and that may be folded compactly for shipping and storage.

I accomplish my object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure l is a front elevation of the entire device when set up for use; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a perspective of the device in folded position; Fig. 4c is a sectional elevation of a clamp in position; Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of the separable base of the device showing one door fastened as when the device is set up, the other door released to fold against its base; Fig. 6 is a detail of a curved slotted hinge strap and thumb screw engaging with an upper arm, broken away; Fig. 7 is a detail of a slotted strap and thumb screw engaging with a lower arm, broken away; Fig. 8 is a detail of a brace bar, and Fig. 9 is a perspective of a clamp in position as seen from the rear side of a standard and arm.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

The device is constructed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in duplicate parts facing oppositely, each part having a base A with feet or supports A A. These bases A A are rigidly connected with each other by means of doors B B each of which is provided with a hinge b at one end, which hinge is also fastened to the contacting base A, thus allowing said door to be folded fiat against the inside of its supporting base; the opposite end is provided with a hook, or other suitable fastening, by which it is adapted to engage with the opposite base A when the device is set up for use. When the stretcher and drier is set up these doors hold the parts of the base in rigid position. The superstructure of the device consists oftwo uprights C G having caps C C, each upright having a central vertical slot D extending from its cap to a point somewhat above base A. On each side of said slot metal strips I) D are rigidly fastened, the inner edges extending slightly inside the vertical of the slot. Arms E F. each have connection with base A by means of a metal strap F rigidly fastened at one end to the arm, its other end provided with a slot f in which a thumb screw F operates, thereby permitting the arm to be folded, when not in use, up against the projecting extension piece E of the superstructure, as shown in Fig. 3. Each side of the superstructure is also provided with duplicate up per arms H H, their inner ends provided with metal straps H H, the outer ends of which are rigidly fastened to the arms; the inner end 72, of each strap is curved downward at a right angle with its outer end and provided with a slot it that is both horizontal and vertical. The inner ends of said upper arms are spaced somewhat apart; the slotted ends of the straps close said space lapping over each other. A thumb screw I operates in these slots, extends into slot D and engages with the inner edges of metal strips D D. By means of said thumb screw I operating through slots h it and in slot D between metal strips D D said arms are held at any desired elevation, and when the device is not in use said arms may be folded vertically against the face of the superstructure as also shown in Fig. 3.

J J are standards for supporting the outer ends of each set of arms. To clamp the standards and arms I stamp from a metal sheet a central plate K with clasps 7c is on its opposite side edges at opposite ends. One of these clasps is adapted to be slid upon a standard, the other upon an arm, and to be held in position on the standard and arm by headed screws 70 k, thus holding the arm and standard in rigid engagement.

L L are brace bars provided with notches j j adapted to engage with the arms, thereby holding both upper and lower arms on both sides of the device in firm position. Through the slidable feature of the clamp clasps it will be seen that the outer ends of upper arms H H can be readily adjusted to any height desired, the inner ends being at the same time lowered or raised to a corresponding height by means of thumb screw I operating in slot D, engaging with the inner edges of metal strips D I) and retained in its adjusted position by a nut or head 03 rigid on the inner end of the screw rod. The front sides of the base projections, arms and standards, are provlded with metal brads or pins 0 upon whlch lace curtains may be I held in stretched position until dry. To prevent these brads working out, a metal strip 0 is fastened upon each standard and arm back of the brads. The upper arms being adjustable vertically and the standards adjustable horizontally the device can be adjusted to curtains of any length and width, or simultaneously to curtains of different length and width, and when not in use the device can be quickly folded and held in small compass by rods P P, as shown in Fig. 3.

The device, as shown, is adapted to hold four curtains, simultaneously, but I reserve the right to construct it for two curtains only or by extension through mechanical changes to a greater number than four curtains without altering the scope of my invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lace curtain stretcher and drier the combination of duplicate bases and supports, duplicate doors hinged and fastened to opposite bases, duplicate uprights on said bases provided with caps and vertical slots, the front and rear vertical metal strips thereon, duplicate lower arms and slotted straps connecting the same, thumb screws adapted to engage with said slotted straps and bases and support said arms horizontally or in folded vertical positions, duplicate upper arms and curved slotted straps connected with the same, thumb screws engaging with said curved slots and the slots and metal strips on said uprights and adapted to support said upper arms horizontally at any adjusted height or hold the same rigid when folded in vertical position, standards to sup port the outer ends of said upper and lower arms, plates and the clasps projecting at right angles from the opposite vertical side edges thereof slidable upon said arms and standards to permit adjustment to the length and width of curtains, headed screws in said clasps to hold the arms and standards clamped in adjusted positions, notched brace bars engaging opposite sets of arms,-and rods for holding the parts compact when closed, substantially as set forth and shown.

2. In a .curtain stretcher and drier the combination with a base, of a superstructure having a vertical slot central therein, lower arms projected oppositely from the ends of said base and straps and thumb screws to support the same to said base, upper arms and the straps attached thereto having inner curved ends and a thumb screw engaging with the slots in said curved straps and with said central slot to support the inner ends of said arms when in use and bind them to the structure when folded, standards, and clasps having headed screws to clamp the standards and arms rigidly together at any adjusted horizontal and vertical position, substantially as shown and described.

3. A lace curtain stretcher and drier comprising a base, the hinged doors therein, the vertical slotted uprights supported on said base, the upper and lower duplicate sets of adjustable arms carried by said uprights and base, the standards to support the outer ends of the arms, the clasps to clamp the arms to the standards, and the brace bars to hold duplicate opposite sets of arms rigidly in spaced position, substantially as shown and set forth.

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

MOSES SMITH.

Witnesses EDMOND S. BROWN, F. A. HARRIS.

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