US1360846A - Tightening device for clotheslines or the like - Google Patents

Description

L. J. WILUAMS. TIGHTEN'ING DEVICE FOR CLOTHESL'INES OR THE LIKE.

4 APPLICATION FILED .IANZI, I920 Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

UNITED STA'IJESTPFATENT OFFICE.'

LOSEY'J. WILLIAMS, 0F BELOIT, WISCONSIN.

TIGHTENING DEVICE FO RCLOTI-IESLINES OR THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, LOSEY J. W rLnmMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beloit, in the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tightening Devices for Clotheslines or the like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a ppertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improve ments in tightening devices for clothes lines or the like,and has for an object to provide an improved device capable of quick and convenient application to a clothes line for the purpose of taking up the slack therein.

Another object of the present invention resides in providing a device of this character for carrying out the above described pur poses which will be simple in construction and designed for simple manipulation, andwhich will be cheap in manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings forming a. part of this application, and in which similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, with one end broken away, of an improvedtight ening device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view takenon the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; and Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, v are diagrammatic views showing various stages of applying the improved tightening device to a clothes line or the like.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein only a single mechanical embodin'ient of the invention is illustrated, 1 designates a handle made of any suitable. material or length, and having the rectangular cross section shown in Figs. 2 and 3, although any other cross section desirable may be used, as this forms no essential part of the invention.

. The handle 1 is provided atoneend with a groove 2 in which the clothes line is received, although anyother means to receive the clothes line may be used. A hook 3 provided with a threaded shank 4, or other suitable securing means, is fastened in the ham dle 1 near the opposite end thereof and projects downwardly, the mouth of the hook,

3 being open as shown in Fig. 2.

The handle 1 also carries a rack 5 along Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed January 21, 1920.

.the upper edge,

tothe handle 1.

to limit the dicularly or horizontally,

Patented Nov. 30, 1920. Serial No. 353,036.

its lower edge in proximity to the grooved end 2, but this rack may extend along the entire lower edge or throughout any portion thereof desired, or may be placed on or on either side, or any be employed to accomplish other means may This rack 5 is preferably the same purpose.

made of a piece of wrought iron bent or waved in the manner best illustrated in Fig. 1 and having its ends perforated to receive crews 6 and 7, by which the rack is secured It is obvious, however, that other securing means maybe used. Adjacent the secured ends the rack is formed with depending loops 8 and 9 which form stops movement of the frame 10 which embraces the handle 1 and is slidable and adjustable along the same, the lower portion of the frame 10 being receivable into the notchesof the rack 5.

The frame 10, as shown in Fig. 3, is rectangular and advantageously made of metal. It is slightly larger than the cross section of the handle 1, so that said frame 10 may be raised to the vertical position, whereby the lower portion thereof may clear the teeth 'on the rack 5, permitting the frame 10 to functions the. shape of the-frame is not es sential, that it may be only partly inclosed, or may be in a T or other form, the shank passing through the handle either perpenand, by engaging with the rack, or other means, be adjustable along the handle. 3

V The frame 10 carries at one side thereof an arm 11 from which projects a pin 12 car rying a grooved wheel 13 held thereon as by a cotter pin 14. The wheel 13 is open on the side opposite the arm 11 for allowing the device to be engaged with a clothes line indicated at 15. It is obvious that a hook or othermeansmay be attached to or made part of the frame 10 in place of the arm 11. the pin v12, the grooved wheel 13 and the cotter pin 14, and that such hook or other means may accomplish substantially the same results.

The application of the device to a clothes line is shown in Figs. .4 to,9,-;inclusive. ,As

shown in Fig. 4, the handle 1 is placed beneath the line and the line is engaged with'the grooved'wheel 13, the line passing on the under side of said wheel.

Referring to Fig. 5, the handle 1 is next rotatedabout' the grooved wheel13 in a clockwisedirection whereby the groovedend 1.12 ofthe,handlel' isbrought-beneath and enrotated to the final position.

gaged with the line 15.

I n Fig. .6 the groovedend Qofthe handle 1 :is shown' fu'llyengaged with the '-line 15, and forms-a bight therein.

7 further :position of the handle 1.

l he final position-0t thedevice is shown in Fig.8, where the hook 3 is shown'engaged over the line 15 alter the handle '1' hasfibeen The *device forms a bight inthe clothes line '15,*taking up'the slack therein and in accordance with the amount of-the slack 'to'be taken up,the

frame 10 carrying the grooved roller 18is adjusted along the handle '1.

In Fig. 9 is also shown a .view similar .to Fig. 8 with the handlerreversed,showing how it may be applied by engaging it over the clothes lineinstead of'beneath the same and'rotating the handle in a gcounter-clockwisedirection. Theefi'ect here, howevenis the same as in the first mentioned case;

, by the claims.

'- -I claim: V

V 1. A tightening device for clothes hnes and-the'like including ahandle adapted "to be placed intermediate.oftheiline andito be supported wholly by the clothes line, means "disposed-between.the ends of the handle for initial-engagement with'the clothes line and adapted to form a center aboutwhi'chthe handle may .be rotated on the'lineto form a bight'therein, said handle being provided 5 at one end with means in whichtoreceivethe bight of the l1ne,. and means pro ectmg latei ally "front the handle at the opposite end thereotand at the side opposite froinsaid first-mentioned means whereby'to receive the line to stnoportthe'handle therefrom after it has been rotated to produce said light, substantially as described. 7

2. Atightening device for clothes lines and the like including a handle, an adjustable roller projecting laterally from one side of said handle and adapted to be initially en- ;gaged over an intermediate portion of the clothes line to support the tightening device from the line, said handle having a groove 7 made in one of its ends'to receive the line whenthe handle 'isrota'ted about such roller as a center, the line engaging in-said groove being formed into abight,and a hook projectingdaterally' from the handle and from the sidethereot oppositeto that in, which the ro'llerproj ects, said hookbeing at the end of the handle opposite said groove whereby to receive :the line and to hold thehandle againstrotationinthe reverse direction, substantially as described.

7V A tightening device for clothes lines or the like including an elongated 'tlnn'handle,

a rack secured to said handle and having stops at its ends, a frame fitted about said handle and movable into and {out of the notches in 'saidrack, a roller carried by said frame and adapted to be initially engaged with an intermediate portion ot the clothes line, said handlehaving a groove tormedin itsend adjacent said .roller to receive and 'formai'bightinthe line when the handle is "rotated about the roller as a center, said handle adapted :to be brought parallel with fthe'line, said stops adapted to hold the line away tromsaid rack, and ahook at the other end of'said'handle opposite the'grooved end fforlfinally 'receiving theline luidrfor'holding the handle against rotation in'a reverse di- :reetion, substantially asfdescribed.

4. Actighteningdevice for clothes lines-oi" the like comprising an elongated thin wooden handle'ha'ving a groove made in one end thereof, a metallic thin'corrugated bar *forming rackteeth"securedfto one side of said handle, said bar being looped outwardly away from the"handle near its opposite ends to form'stops at each end ofthe rack, a rectangular frame -fitting loosely about said handle and beingtiltable'thereon, said frame 'adapted to engagetheteeth of the rack bar :to hold the frame in adjusted position, a roller jcarriedby said drame and adapted to be initially en aged with an intermediate part otthe clot esline, said'handle adapted ';to be :rotated iboiitzth'e roller as a centerto direct the clothes line into'the grooved end of said "handle whereby to form a 'bight 'thereingsaid han'dle adapted'tobe swung to a position parallel With the clothes'line ex- ".tending from said bight, saidstops adapted to space the line tromthe rack and trom said trame, and-a hookat the end of the fhandleopposite said grooved end and projecting in a'direction oppositely with respect to said-roller-for finally engagingthe line to 'preventreverse rotation. o't the handle, substantially-as described. c

7 I EGSEY JSWILLIAMS.

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