Improvements in Picture-hanging Appliances.
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Picture-hanging Appliances.
I, JOHN SAMUEL RAWLE, F.S.A., of 35 St. Augustine's Road, Camden Square,
London, N.W. in the County of Middlesex; Artist, and an Art Examiner to the
Science and Art Department do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN PICTURE-HANGING APPLIANCES 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 appliances for hanging pictures, diagrams, casts, or other
articles, against walls, or screens, or from rods; and its object is to reduce the
amount of friction, the suspending cord, chain, or other suspending material, is
liable to, when in contact with nails, hooks or rings, which are used in conjunction
with the cord, etc., for suspending purposes; and thus,-1st. To prevent the .
fracture or breaking of the cord, etc., by which the picture or other object is
suspended; and, 2nd. To render it easier to re-adjust the position of the picture,
or other object, if it be shifted from the exact position in which it was originally
placed.
"
Throughout this Specification, I intend that the word "Cord" be meant to
include wire, chain, or any other suspending material; and likewise, that the word
Picture" be also meant to include any other object.
I now proceed to describe, in detail, the special features of my Invention, and
refer, for explanation, to the accompanying sheet of diagrams. My Invention
includes:-
:-
1st. THE PULLEY-RING, which is intended to hang on a nail, screw, or hook, for
the purpose of suspending pictures.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the Pulley-Ring.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Fig. 4 is a section of the pulley C, on line H H, Fig. 2.
In each of the Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the same letters are used to distinguish each
corresponding portion of the Pulley-Ring, thus:-
The portion A B is made of some metallic substance. The upper part A is in
the form of a ring, to hang on a nail G. The lower part B B is hollowed out, to
allow a circular grooved pulley. C C to rotate easily within it, on a cylindrical
axle E.

page_text: The pulley CC has a semi-circular, or otherwise curved-shaped groove, DD, on
its outer border, of sufficient depth and width to contain the suspending cord, and
it has its axis pierced by a circular opening, through which is placed the axle E.
The axle E is made of metal, and welded, or otherwise firmly attached, to the
lateral portions B B. The pulley may be made of some metallic or other substance.
The suspending cord is to pass over the pulley C C, through the aperture I, and
rest in the upper portion of the groove D D. In Fig. 1, F F shews, in front
elevation, the position of the cord, hanging over the pulley.
The upper, or ring portion, A, Figs. 2 and 3, may, when greater strength is
required, be made as thick as the lower portion B B.
The Pulley-Ring may be plain or ornamented.
A modification in the construction of the pulley-ring is shewn in Figs. 5A, 5B.
That is, instead of having the portions A A, B B, Figs. 1, 2, 3, in one piece, the
upper portion is made as a separate ring, T, to hang on a nail U.
The ring passes
through a circular hole in the portion V. The part V W is one piece of metal, the
lower part of which is hollowed out to contain the grooved pulley X, rotating on
the axle Y. The position of the cord is shewn at Z Z.
2nd THE PULLEY-HOOK, which is intended to hang on a rod for the purpose of
suspending pictures.
Figure 6 is the front elevation of the Pulley-Hook,
Fig. 7 is the side elevation of the same.
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same, shewing a section of the pulley P P, and
the cap R.
In each of the Figures, 6, 7, and 8, the same letters are used to distinguish each
corresponding portion of the Pulley-Hook, thus:-
O is the picture-rod.
M N is the hooked portion which hangs on the picture-rod.
PP is a grooved pulley, of the same construction as that used in the pulley-ring,
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 54, 5B, and it rotates on an axle Q, as in the case of the
pulley-ring, previously alluded to.
R is a cap, made of metal, or other substance, screwed on to the axle Q, to keep
the pulley P P in its place.
Figure 6 shews how the suspending cord X X is placed in position in the groove
of the rotating pulley P P.
The cap R, and the front of the pulley P P, may be plain or ornamented.
In construction, care must be taken that sufficient space is allowed from A to A,
Figure 7, so as to let the pulley-hook pass easily over the picture-rod O.
3rd THE PICTURE-FRAME PULLEY is intended to be used instead of the ordinary
picture-frame ring, and is to be attached to the picture-frame which is to be
suspended.
Figure 9 is the front elevation of the Picture-frame Pulley.
Fig. 10 is the side elevation of the same.
Fig. 11 is the plan of the same.
Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the same, shewing a section of the pulley T T.
Fig. 13 shews a modification by which a plate F, with screw holes, may be used
instead of the screw S.
In each of the Figures, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, the same letters are used to
distinguish each corresponding portion of the Picture-frame Pulley, thus:
11
TT is the grooved pulley, similar to that used with the Pulley-Ring and Pulley-
Hook, as already described. It rotates on a metallic axle U. The axle U is
welded, or otherwise fastened to the two lateral portions V, V. These two lateral
portions V, V, meet and join below the pulley, as shewn in the diagrams, and are
welded or otherwise fastened to a ring W.
Another ring Y is inserted, loosely, in the'ring W. The two ringed portions, W
and Y, enable the pulley portion to take any convenient angle or position with
regard to the screw S, when the latter is fixed in its place.

page_text: of one wise lastentu
vut hanged portion
CHO
'latter has fastened in it a screw S.
The portions V, V, W, Y, Z and S are made of some metallic substance or
substances.
The ends of the axle U, which are inserted in the lateral portions V, V, may be
less in diameter than the remainder of the axle, as shewn at A, Figure 10ª. A
similar modification may be made with regard to the axles used for the pulleys in
the Pulley-Ring and Pulley-Hook.
4th THE CORD-ADJUSTER is an appliance for shortening or lengthening the cord
by which a picture is suspended.
Figure 14 is a front elevation of the Cord-Adjuster.
Fig. 15 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 17 shews a section of one of the pulleys L.
In each of the above Figures, 14, 15, 16, and 17, the same letters are used to
distinguish each corresponding portion of the Cord-Adjuster; thus:-
A B C D, Figure 14, is a plate of metal, or other substance, with projecting
sides, or wings, shewn at F E, G H, Fig. 15, and at I J K, Fig. 16.
Any number of grooved pulleys, L, L, L, L, L, L, similar to those used in the
appliances already described, are made to rotate on metallic axles M, M, etc., which
are screwed in, or otherwise fastened to the plate A B C D, Figure 14, and FG,
Figure 15. N is the cap, or end of the axle, inade greater in diameter than the
diameter of the axle, so as to keep the pulley in its place.
P, P, are round holes, with bevelled edges, in the projecting sides or wings.
Figures 18 and 19 shew a modified construction of the Cord-Adjuster, in which,
instead of using pulleys, as at L, L, etc., knobs Q, Q, are used, which are screwed,
or otherwise fastened to a plate of metal, or other substance, similar to A B C D,
in Figure 14. Figure 19 is the side elevation of one of the knobs Q. The cord
passes through the circular hole S, in the projecting sides. To lessen the friction,
a flat ring of metal, or other substance, may be placed somewhat loosely on the
shank, R, of the knob Q.
The plate A B C D, Figure 14, instead of being made rectangular in shape, may
be made elliptical, or otherwise curved, or partly straight and partly curved, in its
contour, so as to do away with the corners, at A, B, C and D, and thus prevent any
possibility of damage being done, by these corners, to the suspended picture.
The Cord-Adjuster may be made long or short, thick or thin, and have a greater
or fewer number of pulleys or knobs, according to the size and weight of the
object to be suspended. The Cord-Adjuster, in whole or in part, may be made of
metal or other substance.
Figures 20, 21, and 22, shew how the Cord-Adjuster is to be used. That portion
of the suspending cord, which usually lies in a horizontal position, between the two
Picture-frame Pulleys, is made to pass through the two holes, P, P, in the pro-
jecting sides. The Cord-Adjuster may thus be at the back of the picture, and out
of sight.
When the picture is first hung at its proper level, the cord is to pass through the
holes P, P, in the direction S, S, Figure 20. The Cord-Adjuster will then hang
loosely on the cord. When the cord gets slack, it can be shortened, and the picture
can be raised up to its original level, without the undoing of any knots, and fre-
quently, without taking the picture off the nail, simply by placing the cord over or
under one, two, or more of the pulleys or knobs, as shewn at T T, Figure 21,
or V V, Figure 22.
Or, the cord may, when the picture is first hung, be made to pass over or under
one or more of the pulleys or knobs, instead of passing through in a straight
direction, and then the level of the picture may be either raised or lowered, as may
be required.
I wish it to be understood that, in each of the appliances I have described in this
Specification, the scale is optional, and must depend, greatly, upon the size, nature,

page_text: and weight of the object to be suspended. Also, that either of the appliances may,
in whole or in part, be made of any convenient substance or substances, metallic or
otherwise.
The appliances may be used singly, or in combination.
I
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what
I claim is
First. That I attach a cylindrical grooved pulley, which rotates on an axle, to a
shaped piece of metal, or other substance, which has an aperture in it, or has a
ring attached to it, by which to place the appliance on a nail, for the purpose of
suspending pictures or other objects, substantially in the manner hereinbefore
shewn and described.
Second. That I attach a cylindrical grooved pulley, which rotates on an axle, to
a hook, the said hook to hang on a picture-rod, for the purpose of suspending
pictures or other objects, substantially in the manner herein before shewn and
described.
Third. That I attach a cylindrical grooved pulley, which rotates on an axle, to
a screw, or plate with screw holes, which said appliance is to be fastened to picture-
frames or other objects, for the purpose of suspending them, substantially in the
manner hereinbefore shewn and described.
Fourth. That I attach any convenient number of rotating pulleys, (or knobs),
at convenient intervals, to a plate of metal, or other substance, for the purpose of
adjusting the length of the cord by which a picture or other object is suspended,
substantially in the manner as herein before described, and shewn in the accom-
panying diagrams.