An Improved Drapers' Frame or Line for Exposing Goods.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1892-Accepted, 30th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Drapers' Frame or Line for Exposing Goods.
I, WILLIAM VOLNEY KEEN, of 40 Church Street, Croydon, in the County of
Surrey, Decorator, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an improved drapers' line for exposing goods for sale,
so that they may be made to be displayed in a more conspicuous manner than
hitherto.
Up to the present time it has been usual to have one or more continuous straight
and fixed rods or lines upon which the goods are hung.
My invention consists in forming the rods or lines in several movable parts or
sections, so that each part or section may be fixed at any suitable angle, each being
independent of the other.
I use any suitable supports, which are fixed to the ceiling at suitable distances
apart. At the lower ends of these supports are bearings, in which the central rod
or line is free to turn. The other rods or lines in each section are connected to
the central one by side rods, so that the rods or lines in each section will all be
able to turn simultaneously. Or I may make the centre rod or line in each
section a fixture in the bearings, and the other rods or lines and the side rods will
then turn around the central rod or line.
I may use any suitable means for causing each section to be fixed at any angle
or position, but I prefer to employ a cog wheel which is attached to the centre of
the movable part, and into which a pawl, with one or more teeth engages. This
pawl is fixed to the support. By disengaging the pawl from the cog wheel, the
section may be rotated to any angle or position, and then fixed there by the pawl.
Dated this 10th day of May 1892.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant...
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Drapers' Frame or Line for Exposing Goods.
I, WILLIAM VOLNEY KEEN, of 40 Church Street, Croydon, in the County
of Surrey, Decorator, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improved drapers' line for exposing goods for
sale, so that they may be made to be displayed in a more conspicuous manner than
hitherto.
Up to the present time it has been usual to have one or more continuous straight
and fixed rods or lines upon which the goods are hung.
My invention consists in forming the rods or lines in several movable parts or
sections, so that each part or section may be fixed at any suitable angle, each being
independent of the other.
I use any suitable supports, which are fixed to the ceiling at suitable distances
apart. At the lower ends of these supports are bearings in which the central
rod or line is free to turn. The other rods or lines in each section are connected
to the central one by side rods, so that the rods or lines in each section will all
be able to turn simultaneously. Or I may make the centre rod or line in each
section a fixture in the bearings, and the other rods or lines and the side rods will
then turn around the central rod or line.
I may use any suitable means for causing each section to be fixed at any angle
D

page_text: or position, but I prefer to employ a cog wheel which is attached to the centre
of the movable part, and into which a pawl with one or more teeth engages.
This pawl is fixed to the support. By disengaging the pawl from the cog wheel,
the section may be rotated to any angle or position, and then fixed there by
the pawl.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a single frame mounted on a central rod secured to the
ceiling.
Fig. 2 an elevation of a set of frames adjustably mounted on two rods fixed
between the ceiling and the floor.
Fig. 3 an elevation showing how two or more frames may be mounted in the
same horizontal line on rods suspended from the ceiling, each frame being capable
of turning independently of the others.
Fig. 4 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the means I prefer to employ for
fixing the frames in any desired position, while permitting such position to be
readily changed at will.
Fig. 5 is an elevation (partly in section) of a slightly modified arrangement of
the means for fixing the frames in position, and
Fig. 6 is an end view (partly in section) of Fig. 5.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figs. where they occur.
A are the frames to receive the goods to be exhibited, such frames being mounted
in a bearing or bearings B, carried by rods C secured to the ceiling or other
suitable part, so that the frames A can turn in such bearings to any desired angle
and be secured in such position by any suitable means.
The means I prefer to employ for this purpose are shown more clearly in Fig. 4,
and consist in a toothed wheel D mounted on the frame A, and with which engages
a pawl E pivotted at e to the bearing B in which such frame turns. When pawl E
is raised the wheel D is released, so that frame A can be turned to the desired
position, when pawl E is again allowed to engage wheel D and thus secure
frame A in the position to which it has been moved. In Fig. 4 the pawl E is shown
as being made to be lifted in and out of gear directly by hand, while in Figs. 5 and 6,
such pawl extends beyond its pivot e and a cord or chain F is secured to its outer
end, so that the action of pulling such cord or chain will raise the pawl out of gear
with wheel D, while the release of the cord or chain permits the pawl to engage
such wheel again.
In Fig. 1 frame A is mounted on a central rod C secured to the ceiling, and such
rod may if desired be capable of turning on its axis, by means of a socket or swivel
joint c, arranged in any suitable position in its length, so as to permit of the
frame A being turned sideways in addition to its movement in the bearing B.
In Fig. 2 the bearings of each frame A are capable of sliding on the rods C and
can be fixed at any desired height by the set screws b, so as to enable the height of
each frame to be adjusted at will.
In Fig. 3 the frames A are mounted side by side in the same line, and each one
is capable of turning in its bearings B independently of the others. A set screw
or pin X passing through the bearings B as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is preferably
provided and engages a slot or groove formed near the end of the pivot or part of
the frame A which enters the bearings B, so as to prevent such pivot or part
leaving the bearings, while still allowing the frame to turn freely in such bearings
when desired.
It will be readily understood that if desired a single frame or line A might be
mounted in the same way as shown in Fig. 2 or in Fig. 3 instead of in the manner
shown in Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. A frame or line for exposing goods which is mounted so that it can turn

page_text: in a bearing or bearings and be secured in any desired position, substantially as
specified.
2. A frame or line for exposing goods which is mounted in a bearing secured,
to a central rod and in which bearing it can turn, substantially as described and
as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
3. One or more frames or lines for exposing goods, each of which is mounted so
that it can turn in end bearings arranged to slide on, and be secured to side rods,
substantially as described and as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.
4. One or more frames or lines for exposing goods, each of which is mounted so
that it can turn in end bearings secured to side rods, substantially as specified and
as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.
5. The means for fixing the frames or lines A in any position in their bearing
or bearings B, consisting in a toothed wheel D with which engages a pawl E.
pivotted to the bearing B, substantially as specified and as shown in Fig. 4 of the
drawings.
6. The modification of the means for fixing the frames or lines A in any position
in their bearing or bearings B, consisting in extending the pawl E beyond its pivot
and providing same with a cord or chain for raising such pawl from engagement
with toothed wheel D, substantially as specified and as shown in Fig. 5 of the
drawings.
7. The screw or pin ✗ engaging a slot near the end of the pivot or part of frame
or line A which enters bearing B, so as to prevent such pivot or part from leaving
the bearing, substantially as specified and as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the
drawings.
Dated this 14th dex of June 1892
ALLISON BBOS.,
Agents for the Applicant.