An Improved Clothes Peg.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
An Improved Clothes Peg.
We, THOMAS HENRY PROSSER, of Boyeo, in the Colony of Victoria, Teacher,
and MARK YOUNG, of Frankston, in Victoria, aforesaid, Licensed Victualler, 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:-
This invention is intended to provide a clothes peg or fastening device which
may be used for attaching clothing to lines and for analogous purposes.
This invention is one of that class in which the peg is wholly constructed of a
single piece of metallic wire and so arranged that after having once been placed
upon a line (although it can be disconnected instantly if desired) it will naturally
remain connected thereto, notwithstanding the attachment or detachment of clothes
from time to time. The dropping of pegs to the ground and their subsequent
loss as well as the trouble of carrying pegs to and from the line are thus
obviated.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 shows a side view of one of our pegs clamped in its clothes holding
position, upon a line A; Figure 2 shows the same arrangement of peg and line in
end view; and
Figure 3 shows an end view of the peg on the line in the inverted position the
peg naturally assumes whilst not in use holding clothes.
Figure 4 shows a plan view from above, and Figure 5 a plan view from beneath,
of the parts as arranged in Figure 1; and
Figure 6 shows a sectional plan view on the line L L in Figure 1.
Figure 7 shows in perspective a partially formed peg whereby the construction
may be more easily understood.
The peg consists of two pairs of oppositely set clamping loops Cc and Dd (each
set adapted to enclose the line between the loops thereof), with a central connecting
bar B, and two central spring arms Ee which may be connected to or disconnected
from one another at their bases as required and when connected have a tendency
to spring outward so as to keep the catch secure, the said arms being also adapted
to enclose the line between them.
Referring to the figures in which A indicates a clothes line each peg is adapted
to grip or press the same at five points on each side viz., C1, C2, E' D', D', on one
side, and e¹, ², e¹ d'; d² on the other side as shown particularly by Figure 6. The
loops Cc meet at G (an indent at one end of B) and G (a bend) respectively and
loops D d meet in a like manner at H H. In the case of each pair of loops there
is a less distance between the pair at their upper part than the diameter of any
line with which the peg is to be used, whilst (owing to the diverging offsets or
outward curved feet Ff which form the lower ends of the loops) the distance
between each pair of loops at the point for the entrance of the line between the
same is greater than the diameter of such line. Figure 7 shows the centre bar B
having at its respective ends the iudents G and H and completed loops C and d
which form the direct continuation of the wire from G and H and are situated on
opposite sides of the vertical plane P P Figures 2 and 4. When the loops c and D
are made (also on opposite sides of the plane P P) the free ends of the wire are
bent over the indents G and H extending thence obliquely down to their meeting
point from the opposite sides of said indents as clearly seen in Figures 1 and 4.

page_text: These arms E e diverge gradually from the central plane P P Figure 2 as they
extend downward from G H and upward from the catch K k at their free ends,
until the transverse distance m to m¹ between them in a plane M M joining the
bases of the loops exceeds the diameter of the line with which the peg is to be
used.
By placing the article to be hung to the line on the same and then pressing one
pair of loops Cc or D d over the same in the position shown by Figures 1 and 2
the article will be gripped and securely pressed against the line by the loops which
being forced apart by the entrance of the line and article between them, will
naturally tend to spring to their original position. Loops Cc may hold one
article to the line and loops D d another; or the same article may by held by
both sets of loops if required on account of its weight or to provide against
strong wind.
To remove the peg from clothing held by it all that is necessary is to push it
upward either on one side or wholly; if the latter the centre of gravity of the
peg becoming higher than the line, and the loops losing their grip thereon, the
peg will tend to overturn and take the position shown in Figure 3. In this
position there will be no tension on the loops c C, d D so that the life of the peg
in good condition will thus be preserved. The line. A will bowever be held between
the narrow part of the arms Ee at their end near the catch Kk and may by pressure
on the peg be secured there with sufficient tightness to keep the pegs from sliding
along the line when the latter is inclined. So much fixity of the peg will not
however take place by the mere weight of the peg when in the position of Figure 3
as to prevent the pegs from being adapted to slide along the line when they are
slightly pushed or the line is jerked.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
-
1. In a clothes peg the combination of centre bar B, indents G H and loops C
and don opposite sides of a central plane P P substantially as set forth and
illustrated.
2. The combination of centre bar B, loops C c and D d and indents G H
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The combination with a centre bar B of arms E e extending downward from
opposite sides thereof and ending in a catch Kk said arms diverging sufficiently
wide apart from m to m¹ in the plane M M to freely enclose between them any
line with which it is intended that the peg may be used substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
4. The combination of bar B indents G, H loops C, c D, d offsets F, farms Ee
and catch K k substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.