IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOTHES HOOKS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Alfred Barlow, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard,
London, Patent Agent and Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CLOTHES HOOKS." A communication from abroad by Purches Miles, of Brooklyn,
in the State of New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Alfred Barlow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st March 1880.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent
and Engineor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOTHES HOOKS." A communication from
abroad by Purches Miles, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States of
America.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of clothes hooks for
hat and coat racks, closets, and other places where it is desired to hang garments
and other articles.
The object of the Invention is to produce a hook possessing great strength and
durability, and which at the same time affords facilities for economical decoration
and ornamentation.
This improved hook is composed of a wire body bent into suitable shape to forin
arms or beaks, to which the clothing is hung, and of a bracket-plate, to which the
wire is applied in a secure manner, the said bracket plate being arranged for con-
venient and easy attachment to the supporting object.
This improved hook consists of a wire body and bracket plate. The wire body
is or may be bent to form an upper arın or beak and a lower arm or beak. The
hook with its two arms is formed from a single piece of wire bent double to ter-
minate in two ends at the rear.
It is obvious that in forming the hooks the wire can be given as many convolu-
tions of different forms and sizo as may be desired to give an ornamental appearance
to the hook; also that the number of arms may be increased, and that the wires
may be round, square, or of any other shape in cross section, and that the wires
may be plated in silver or nickel, bronzed, japanned, or the surface may be finished
in any desired manner; also that instead of using wire any. material or form of
metal which is sufficiently flexible to be easily bent in manner stated, and at the
same time possesses sufficient strength to sustain the article to be hung upon it

page_text: may be substituted for the wire. Care must be exercised however to so bend or
forin the material in making the body of the hook that the ends of the same will be
terminated at the rear or at the point which is fixed to the wall or other object to
which the hook is applied.
The bracket plate is preferably made of wrought metal, but may be made of cast
metal if desired. It is preferably shaped like a cross, having two lateral wings, and
between these a pair of vertically extending curved horns or projections. Along the
line of these horns the plate has a vertical groove in front, and a similar groove at
the back. In the wings are or may be screw holes, through which screws, nails, or
other suitable fastenings are or may be passed to attach the said plate to the wall
or other object.
At the top and bottom of the groove there are formed on each side of the suid
groove lips, and the sides of the second-groove-are-or-may_be_provided_with
similar lips.
To connect the hook with the bracket plate the plate is inserted between the
folds of the hook, so that the curved portion of the strand will enter the front
groove and rest therein, while the ends enter the groove. The ends of the wire are
then bent down into a recess or aperture so as to lock the parts together.
When the hook is in this way applied to the bracket plate the horns assist in
supporting the outer strand and in holding the hook in shape.
To make a still stronger connection between the plate and the hook the lips may.
be mashed down across their respective grooves and against the strands in the said
grooves, so as to bear on the wires. Grooved balls or plates of metal or other
material are provided within the rounded ends of the two arms or beaks between the
two strands of the bent wire, which will lie in the grooves in-the-said balls or plates,..
and thereby prevent them from slipping out laterally. To secure the said balls or
plates in their places at the ends of the loops of the arms or beaks after they aro
inserted, the two strands forming the arms or beaks are pressed together or con-
tracted immediately behind the balls or plates, whereby they are prevented from
slipping back. These balls or plates serve to ornament the hooks, and to strengthen
and stiffen them at the same time by preventing the wires from bending when
weighty articles are hung on the hooks.
The entire hook (the wires and the plates) may be embellished in any suitable and
tasteful manner, either by attaching ornainents, curving the wire, or surface finishing
(plating, burnishing, bronzing, japanning, and so forth) both the wire and bracket
plate. When several of the hooks are used together they may support a rod or rail,
Buch as for a hat rail.
In another arrangement for a ceiling hook the bracket plate is made in nearly the
same form and in the same manner as the one first described, but the hook portion
is formed into two equal beaks or arms bent outwards in opposite directions and of
equal lengths.
In another arrangement a bracket plato is provided having provision for carrying
three hooks, each having either one or more beaks, and each attached in the manner.
heretofore described.
Instead of attaching the plate to the supporting wall or other object by means of
screws and other fastenings entered through the holes in the plate, the ends being
formed into a screw which is driven into the support after the hook is connected
with the bracket plate, or the bracket plate is provided with a screw projecting
from its rear side, and forming part of it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Alfred Barlow in the Great Seal Patont Office on the 30th
September 1880.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 6, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, Patent Agent
and Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOTHES HOOKS." A communication from
abroad by Purches Miles, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States of
America.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of clothes hooks for
hat and coat racks, closets, and other places where it is desired to hang garments
and other articles. The object of the Invention is to provido a hook possessing
great strength and durability, and which at the same time affords facilities for
economical decoration and ornamentation.
This improved hook is composed of a wire body bent into suitable shape to form
arms or beaks, to which the clothing is hung, and of a bracket plate, to which tho
wire is applied in a secure manner, the said bracket plate being arranged for con-
venient and easy attachment to the supporting object.
In order that the said Invention may be well understood I have hereunto
annexed a Sheet of Drawings illustrative theroof, wherein,―
Figure 1 represents a side view partly in section of the improved hook and
bracket plate.
Figuro 2 is a front or end view of the same.
Figure 3 is a side view of the hook disconnected from the bracket plate.
Figure 4 is a front or face view of the bracket plate.
Figuro 5 is a rear view of the bracket plate.
Figure 6 is a detailed sido view of the bracket plato.
Figure 7 is a sectional detail of the said plate.
Figure 8 represents a hook-arranged for attachment to a ceiling, and for hanging
garments therefrom.
Figure 9 represents a front view of a bracket plate for the attachment of threo
hooks constructed according to this Invention.
Figures 10 and 11 represent modified arrangements of the hook and bracket
plate respectively, showing different modes of attaching them to the supporting
walls, etc.
Referring to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive of the Drawings, A represents the wire body
of this improved hook, and B the bracket plate. The wire body A is or may be
bent to form an upper arm or beak a, and a lower arm or beak b. The hook with
its two arms is formed from a single piece of wire bent double, as shown, to ter-
minate in the two ends d, e, at the rear.
It is obvious that in forming the hooks the wire can be given as many convolu-
tions of different forms and size as may be desired to give an ornamental appearance
to the hook; also that the number of arms may be increased, and that the wires
may be round, square, or of any other shape in cross section, and that the wires
may be plated in silver or nickel, bronzed, japanned, or the surface finished in any
lesired manner; also that instead of using wire any material or form of metal
which is sufficiently flexible to be easily bent in manner stated, and at the same
time possesses sufficient strength to sustain the article to be hung upon it, may be
substituted for the wire. Care must however be exercised to so bend or form the
naterial in making the body of the hook that the ends of the same will be termi-
nated at the rear or at the point which is fixed to the wall or other object to which
the hook is applied. The bracket plate B is preferably made of wrought metal,
but may be made of cast metal if desired. It is preferably shaped like a cross,
aving two lateral wings f, g, and between these a pair of vertically extending
curved horns or projections w, w. Along the line of these horns the plate B has a

page_text: .
vortical groove i in front, and a similar groovej at the back. In the wings f, g,
are or may be screw holes 2, through which screws, nails, or other suitable fastenings
are or may be passed to attach the said plate to the wall or other object. At the
top and bottom of the groove i there are formed on each side of the said groove lips
m, m, and the sides of the second groove jare or may be provided with similar
lips n, n.
To connect the hook A with the bracket plate B the plate B is inserted
between the folds C, D, of the hook, so that the curved portion o of the strand D
will enter the front groove i and rest therein, while the ends d, e, enter the groove j.
The ends d, e, of the wire are then bent down into a recess or aperture 7, as in
Figure 1, so as to lock the parts together.
When the hook is in this way applied to the bracket plate B the horns w assist
in supporting the outer strand C, and in holding the hook in shape.
To make a still stronger connection-between-the-plate and the hook the lips
m, m, n, n, may be mashed down across their respective grooves i, j, and against
the strands in the said grooves, so as to bear on the wires, as shown more clearly
in Figure 2. F represents grooved balls or plates of metal or other material pro-
vided within the rounded ends of the two arms or beaks a, b, between the two
strands C, D, of the bent wire, which will lie in the grooves in the said balls or
plates, and thereby prevent them from slipping out laterally. To secure the said
balls or plates F in their places at the ends of the loops of the arms or beaks after
they are inserted, the two strands forming the arms or beaks are pressed together
or contracted immediately behind the balls or plates, whereby they are prevented
from slipping back. These balls or plates serve to ornament the hooks, and to
strengthen and stiffen them at the same time by preventing the wires from bending
when weighty articles are hung on the hooks.
The entire hook (the wires and the plates) may be embellished in any suitable and
tasteful manner, oither by attaching ornaments, curving the wire, or surface finishing
(plating, burnishing, bronzing, japanning, and so forth) both the wire and bracket
plate. When several of the hooks are used together they may support a rod or rail,
such as for a hat rail.
In Figure 8 is shown another arrangement for a ceiling hook, wherein the bracket
plate is made in nearly the same form and in the saine inanner as the one first
described, but the hook portion A is formed into two equal beaks or arms bent out-
wards in opposite directions and of equal length.
In another arrangement, shown in Fig. 9, a bracket plate B is provided, having
provision for carrying three hooks E, A, E, each having either one or more beaks,
and each attached in the manner heretofore described.
Instead of attaching the plate B to the supporting wall or other object by incans
of screws and other fastenings entered through holes in the plate, the devices
shown in Figures 10 and 11 may be used. The first consists in forming one of the
ends d or e into a screw E', which is driven into the support after the hook is
connected with the bracket plate, as shown in Fig, 10. The second consists in
providing the bracket plate with a screw G projecting from its rear side, and
forming part of it.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, I
claim,―
1. In the manufacture of clothes hooks, forming the body of the hook by bonding
the metal into shape, and attaching the hook to a separate bracket plate, and locking
it thereto, in manner herein described.
2. The body of the hook A formed by bending the metal of which it is composed
into a suitable shape, so as to terminate the ends d, e, of the wire at that part
of the hook which is to be connected with the support at the back of said support,
substantially as described.
3. The bracket plate B provided with horns w, w, and having the grooves i, j,
substantially as described.
4. The body A of the hook formed of metal and bent into shape in combination

page_text: with the bracket plate B, which is placed between the folds of the hook, substan-
tially as described.
5. The body A of the hook, having one of the ends d, e, of the wire of which it is
composed made into a screw E', in combination with the bracket plate B, substan-
tially as described.
6. The bracket plate B, having horns to and grooves i, j, and provided with a
screw G projecting from its rear and forming part of it, substantially as described.
7. The grooved balls or plates F inserted between the two strands C, D, of which
the hook is composed, in combination with the body A of the hook, substantially as
described.
8. The wire hook A, having disconnected ends d, e, one above the other, in com-
bination with the bracket plato B, which is recessed at the back to receive said
ends d, e, and wherein said ends are bent forward, substantially as described.
9. The bracket plate B provided with the grooved horns w, w, recess or aperture r,
and wings f, g, stibstantially as described.
10. The bracket plato B, having grooved horns w, w, wings f, g, recess or aper-
ture r', and lips m, n, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Alfred Barlow, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this
day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.