US926081A - Curtain-stretcher. - Google Patents

Description

J. STAWARTZ. GURTAIN STRETGHEB.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10, 190B.

926,081. Patented "June 22. 1909.

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J. STAWARTZ.

CURTAIN STRETOHBR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10 1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

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JOHN STAWARTZ, OF HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSlGNOR OF ONF-HALF TO OASIMER S. TARKOWSKI, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVAYlA.

CURTAIN-STKE TCI-IER.

Application led October 10, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .Tune 22, 1909.

Serial No. 457,087.

siding' at Homestead, in the county of Alle! gheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improveu'rents in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to curtain stretchers, and the object of my invention is to provide a novel curtain stretching frame upon which lace curtains, draperies and fabrics can be mounted for bleaching, drying and repairing.

My invention aims to provide a collapsible frame that will occupy a compar'atively small space when not in use, and easily and quickly assembled to provide a rigid structure for firmly supporting curtains. My curtain stretching frame is provided with a novel cur'tain engaging means for positively retaining curtains in engagement with the frame, said means being housed when the frame is not in use, to prevent a person handling the frame from being injured by the curtain engaging means.

The detail construction of my invention will be presently described and then specifieally claimed.

Referring to the drawings z-Figure l is a front elevation of my curtain stretching frame, partly broken away, Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the extension plate, Fig. 4 is a plan, Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the frame, taken on the line rfc-x of Fig. l, Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan of a clamp used in connection with the frame, F ig. 7 is an end view of a portion of the frame, illustrating a fastener, Fig. S is an elevation of a port-ion of the frame illustra-ting the fastener in section, Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the frame, taken on the line y-g/ of Fig. 4, illustrating the curtain engaging means in an extended position, Fig. l() is a similar view with the curtain engaging means in a retracted position, and Fig. ll is an elevat-ion of a portion of the curtain engaging means.

ln the accompanying drawings, l and 2 designate the end rails of my frame, 3 an intermediate rail, 4 a longitudinal top rail, and 5 an adjustable bottom rail. The rails l, 2 and 3 are each formed of two longitudinal half-sections (see Figs. 9 and l0) suitably secur'ed together with the confronting faces thereof recessed, as at (3, to provide a longitudinal opening in each rail, said opening being substantially triangular-shaped in cross section. One of the sections of each rail is provided with a plurality of eyelets T, located in the recess of the rail section. Loosely connected to said eyelets is a longitudinal plate 8 and loosely connected to the lower edge of said plate are a plurality of pins 9 constituting curtain engaging means, and adapted to extend through openings l provided therefor in the rail section. T he outer edges of the rails l, 2 and 3 intermediate the ends thereof, are provided with a recess ll, to accommodate a lever l2 which is pivotally connected to the plate 8 adjacent to the lower edge thereof, as indicated at 13. The lower' end of the lever' l2 is rectangular in elevation and is adapted to be swung', either to the right or left, whereby the lower' edge of said lever will engage in notches 14 provided therefor in the sections of the rails. Since the lever l2 is pivotally connected to the plate 8, and the eyelets 7 serve as a pivot point for said plate, the plate can be swung into the recess 6 in either of the rail sections. With the plate in the recess in one rail section, the pins 9 are extended through the openings l0, as shown in Fig. 9, while with the plate 8 in the recess of the opposite rail section, the pins 9 are retracted as shown in Fig. l0. The adjustment of the pins is accomplished by the lever l2, and this lever is swung either to the right or the left to lock the lower edge of said'lever in one of the rail pieces, whereby the pins will be either held in an extended or retracted position.

Besides the rails l, 2 and 3 being equipped with the curtain engaging means, the rails 4 and 5 are similarly equipped, consequently a rectangular' formation of pins is provided for holding the edges of a curtain or similar article.

To detachably connect the top rail 4 to the vertical rails l and 2, the outer sides of the rails l and 2 at the upper' ends thereof ar'e provided with straps l having hook-shaped ends 1G protruding above the ripper' ends of the said rails l and 2. The top face or side of the rail 4 is provided with straps 17 protruding beyond the ends of said rail, the extreme end of said straps having a rolled or wire edge 18 and a central opening 19 the latter to receive the hook-shaped ends 16 of the straps 15, while the wire or rolled edges 18 of the straps 17 engage under the hook-shaped ends 16 of the straps 15. These straps can be easily interlocked and the rails 1 and 2 maintained at right angles to the rail 4 during the use vof the adjustable bottom rail 5.

For holding the adjustable bottom rail 5 in engagement with the rails 1 and 2, the

rear side of this rail at the ends thereof is provided with straps 20 protruding beyond the ends of the rail 5, the protruding ends having bearings 21 for eccentrically mounted clamps 22, these clamps being adapted to vengage the outer sides or faces of the rails 1 and 2 and hold the inner sides or faces thereof in engagement with the ends of the bottom rail 5.

Secured to the rear face of the rail 3, at the upper end thereof, is a strap 23 which engages the top rail 4, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, while said rail contiguous to the lower end thereof is cut away, as at 24, for adjustable blocks 25 and 26, these blocks being held by means of set screws 27 extending through a slot 23 provided therefor in the intermediate rail 3. rIhe bottom rail 5 is adapted to be clamped by one of said blocks or between said blocks,

according to the parallel relative position of said bottom rail 5 to the top rail 4. This adjustment of the bottom rail 5 depends entirely upon the width of the curtains.

The rear sides or faces of the vertical rails 1 and 2 and the intermediate rail 3 are provided with pivoted legs 29 for supporting the entire frame at an inclination upon a floor or other suitable support.

The top and bottom rails 4 and 5 are made in two sections, to permit of said rails being assembled in a small package or adjusted for curtains of two different lengths. One section of each rail is provided with an extension plate 3() having slots or openings 31 formed therein for receiving ins 32 carried by the adjoining section o each rail. Each one of the extension plates 30 is provided with a ledge 33 for supporting the adjoining section of the rail, this construction being best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

My curtain stretching frame in its entirety is made of light and durable wood to permit of the same being-conveniently used as a household article, and in making the frame of several parts easily and quickly assembled, the frame can be knocked down and stored away when not in use.

Having now described my invention what l claim as new, is

1. A curtain stretching frame comprising vertical rails, an intermediate rail, a top rail, and bottom rail, said rails having longitudinal recesses formed therein, said rails having longitudinally arranged openings formed therein communicating with said recesses, plates pivotally mounted in said recesses, pins loosely connected to said plates and adapted to extend into said openings, levers pivotally connected to said plates and protruding from said rails for locking said plates in a fixed position, straps for detachably connecting said top rail to Vsaid vertical rails, eccentrically mounted clamps carried by the ends of said bottom rail for detachably holding said rail in engagement with said vertical rails, an adjustable block carried by said intermediate rail for holding said bottom rail in engagement therewith, and legs pivoted to said vertical and intermediate rails for supporting said frame at an inclination, substantially as described.

2. A curtain stretching frame embodying vertical rails, an intermediate rail, a top rail, and a bottom rail, curtain engaging means carried by said rails, said means comprising plates pivotally mounted in said rails, pins looselyconnected to said'plates and adapted to protrude from said rails, and levers carried by said plates and protruding from said rails for locking` saidplates in a fixed position; means for detachably connecting said top rail to said vertical rails, means for detachably connecting -said bottom rail to said vertical rails, means carried by said intermediate rail for clamping said bottom rail thereto. and means connected to said vertical rails and said intermediate rail for supporting said frame.

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

JOHN STAVARTZ.

Witnesses MAX H. SnoLovirz, K. H. BUTLER.

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