Improvements in Racks for Hats and similar Articles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Racks for Hats and similar Articles.
I, CHARLES EDWARD COCHRANE, of Number 58 Tribune Building, in the
City County and State of New York, United States of America, Merchant, 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 that class of hat racks in which radial arms are adapted
to be held in a frame, plate or casting in such a manner that the arms may be
vertical or nearly so, when not in use, and may be radially swung into an extended
position when desired, and my invention consists in the improvements hereinafter
set forth.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved rack showing a central arm pendent,
and the outside arms in position for use;
Figure 2 is a rear view of the same with the back plate removed to show the
interior arrangement;
Figure 3 is a view of the back plate; and
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 taken from above.
Similar letters of reference designate similar parts in all the figures.
A casting or body A is provided with a rim B, or any suitable arrangement for
attaching it to a wall or standard, and has slots C, C, C, through the exterior
portion thereof and recesses D, D, D, in the interior portion thereof, which, in
conjunction with the corresponding recesses H H H, in the back plate G form
sockets adapted to receive the balls E E E on the inner.ends of the rods F F F.
The back plate is held in position by a screw passing through the hole I into the
lug J of the body A, or by any other suitable means.
It will be seen that when the arms have been placed in position and secured by
the back plate, the balls will revolve in the sockets D H so that the radial arms
may freely move along the channels C C C. If an arm is pendent, as shown at
the centre in Figure 1, it can be moved sideways and upward as indicated by the
arrow until it has swung round into the socket K formed behind the point or
hook L. The rod will then be in an extended position, securely held from
displacement by any downward pressure that may be put upon it, and from lateral
displacement also, but it may, when desired, be readily thrown into a pendent
position by reversing the motion just described.
By this means I secure a strong, compact and durable rack in which the arms
can readily be raised or lowered by a simple swinging movement, without under-
going a longitudinal movement through the slots as is the case with racks in which
radial arms provided with balls have been heretofore employed, which movement
is somewhat complicated, and also results in scratching and marring the arms by
their contact with the sides of the metal slots. This is particularly objectionable
when nickel or other plating or enamelling is used upon the rods.
The body or casting may be reversed, so that the arms may be raised into a
vertical position when not in use, if desired. And the form of the body or
casting A may be modified to suit it to varying positions in which it may be placed.
Thus it may be given an annular form, and supported at the centre upon a
standard.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of a body or casting, provided with a socket therein and a
hook or projection thereupon, of an arm attached to said body by an enlarged
portion at or near its end resting within said socket and adapted to be held
detachably in an extended position by the said hook or projection.
2. The combination of a body or casting in two parts provided with a socket
in its interior portion, a hook or projection upon its exterior portion, an arm
provided with an enlarged end resting within said socket and adapted to be held
detachably in an extended position by said hook substantially as described.
.
3. The combination, with the body portion provided with slots C, hooked-
shaped supports, and internal recesses D; of the rods provided with heads E
resting in the said recesses; a detachable back plate confining the said heads in the
said recesses; and means for securing the said back plate to the body portion,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 29th day of Mov 1001
H. J. HADDAN,
Of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co.
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.