USRE5041E - Improvement in clothes-pins - Google Patents

Description

D. PIERCE.

Improvement ih Clothes-Pins.

N0. 5,041. Reissued Aug.20,1872

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

DEXTER PIERCE, or PAWLET, vEEMoNT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-PINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 20,364, dagad May 25, 1858 extended seven years; reissue No.

5,041, dated August 2 0, 1872- To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, DEXTER PIEROE,.for-

merly of Sunapee, county of Sullivan, State of New Hampshire, but now of Pawlet, county of Rutland, State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes Clamp or Pin, of which the, following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification.

I am aware that plain-turned pins, whether headed or otherwise, are open to several 1 pin, on the least extra pressure uponthe line,

splits or parts in the middle, the fiber of the wood in the center of the pin giving way because the limbs fail to bend as they ought to do if they were properly constructed. It is also difficult to make such pins bite or clamp an article'upon the line with a sufficient tenacity of grasp to retain it in position during a wind, on account of the undue rigidity of the cylindrical pin.

In order to obviate this objection I made this invention, which consists in making the legs or fin gers'of the pin flat upon both sidesthat is, they are rectangular in cross-section instead of semicircular.

In the drawing I have shown one form of pin embodying my invention, in which the limbs A A retain an equality of thickness until near theinner end of the slit, where they are slightly enlarged to impart additional strength at the point where there is the greatest tendency to split. Another advantage growing out of the form shown is the convenience of being able to tell at once upon picking up a pin whether it is in proper position for placing upon the line. This is readily determined on .account of the depressions at B B; but it is apparent that this feature is entirely independent of the superior elasticity incident to making the legs with parallel sides. Another point gained by this construction is the facility with which the pin can be manufactured, as the blanks can be dressed to the proper thickness and length. The slit and throat a can be cut in a number of pins in the same blank, when the separate. pins can be cut off with a common circular saw.

Although I prefer to make the legs slightly concave on their outer faces, as shown, yet it is apparent that some if not all of the advantages incident to my construction may be obtained when said legs are made straight on both sides, except when the throat chamfer at' a is cut.

I am aware that pins have been made from a single piece of wood both round and square in form, and having a series of slits in the head or butt, forming an elastic tongue or a series of tongues, which .will spring so as to permit the legs of the pin to be spread when placed upon the line, the tension of the tongue or tongues serving to compress'the legs, and thus retain the article in position. Hence I do not claim broadly a square pin with flat legs; but

What I'do claim is-- A wooden clothes-pin having a solid head and flat elastic legs adapted to clasp the line,

substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 31st'day of May, 1872.

DEXTER PIERCE.

Witnesses:

FAYETTE POTTER, FANNY LOMBARD.

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