Improvements in Curtain Stretchers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 5th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1900
Improvements in Curtain Stretchers.
I, WALTER ALBERT MAYR, of Number 1886, Diversey Boulevard, City of
Chicago, County of Cook and State of Illinois, U.S.A., Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the invention is to provide a curtain stretcher having side bars
composed of two or more parts with means to keep the bars extended in a rigid
manner when in use, and with means to hold the opposite bars parallel; and
consists in placing a strap hinge on the back, or under side of each side bar so
that when extended, and supported at the ends, the abutting ends of the parts
composing the side bar will bear against each other and prevent sagging: a cross
bar is used, having a groove just large enough for the housings of the said strap
hinges to slide therein, and is clamped upon the side bars and housings of the
hinges, and also prevents sagging, and preserves parallelism between the bars,
so that all joints are right angles.
1
e
1000
GARRY P. VAN WYE,
New York City, U.S.A., Agent.
Improvements in Curtain Stretchers.
I, WALTER ALBERT MAYR, of Number 1886, Diversey Boulevard, City of
Chicago, County of Cook, and State of Illinois, U.S.A., Manufacturer, 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:
The object of my invention is to make a frame on which lace curtain's may be
stretched and dried, which shall be light, cheap, easily adjusted to different
sizes, strong and durable; and my invention consists in, the features, and details
of construction hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings, accompanying this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of
my improved curtain stretcher; Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion
of the frame, taken at the intersection of one of the longitudinal bars and the
intermediate cross, or strengthening bar: and, Figure 3 is a side elevation of a
longitudinal section taken on line 3-3, of Figure 2.
In making my improved curtain stretcher frame, I make longitudinal side
bars A. and end bars B, of the desired length and size to make a frame of the

page_text: desired dimensions. These side and end bars may be made quite slender and
small as compared with the bars that are now generally in use, owing to the means
of strengthening and supporting them which 1 employ and which will be herein-
after explained.
The side bars are of such length that it is desirable that provision may be made
for permitting them to be folded or doubled upon themselves, and to this end
they are made jointed at, or about midway of their length and held together by
strap hinges E, particularly shown in Figures. 2 and 3. These hinges are placed
on the back, or reverse side of the bars so that weight, or pressure on the bars
when placed face up in a horizontal position only brings the abutting ends of the
bars more closely together, and so prevents sagging of the bars at the joints. The
presence of joints makes it desirable also to employ a strengthening, or re-enforc-
ing piece to prevent any sagging or giving way of the frame when loaded with
curtains stretched upon it, although, as already pointed out, the arrangement of
the hinges on the back of the bars tends to prevent sagging. When so loaded
the frame may be in a horizontal position, as shown particularly in Figure 1, and
a number of curtains may be stretched on it at the same time. I, therefore,
employ a transverse bar F', intended to cross the frame at the axes of the hinges.
This bar is provided with a groove f, which is shown in Figure 3, of a depth to
receive the protruding ridges of the hinges at their pintles, or axes.
In order to hold this transverse bar in place firmly and securely, I show in
the drawings, washers preferably, compound washers H, and H³, provided with
holes in them far enough apart to register with holes in the straps or leaves of
the hinges. These washers are intended to be placed on the opposite sides of the
side bars, and so as to enclose the transverse bar as shown particularly in Figure 3.
Bolts I, are then inserted through the holes of the washers and through the holes
in the leaves, or straps of the hinges, and are fastened in place by thumb nuts i,
as shown in Figure 3. By tightening the nuts the washers are turned tightly
against the side bars and the transverse bår over the axes of the hinges so that
the parts are firmly and securely fastened together. When it is desired to fold
the side bars at their joints, the thumb nuts are removed, the bolts I, are with-
drawn, the washers are taken off and the transverse bar removed. When it is
desired to adjust the size of the frame, to make it smaller, for instance, the corner
bolts and the washers are loosened by turning their respective nuts, when the
end bars may be slid toward each other along the side bars, and the side bar at
the right of Figure 1 may be moved toward the other side bar. When the
desired size has been reached, the thumb nuts are again tightened, and the frame
is fastened securely in its new, or adjusted position.
While I have described the washers and bolts as the means employed for
fastening the transverse bar and the side bars together, I do not mean to confine
myself to such means, as any other among a large number of suitable devices
may be made use of. I simply propose to show and describe one practical way
of doing the work, and leave myself at liberty to use any that I may find con-
venient and desirable.
The transverse bar passing over the ridges, or axes of the hinges which are
received in the groove of a size to admit them, serves to insure the arrangement
of the frame bars so that the frame will be rectangular-that is, all of the angles
formed at the intersection of the transverse and side bars will be right angles.
This causes the side bars to constantly be parallel with each other, and the angles
at the corners and at the intersecting bar to be right angles. This is an important
advantage in a curtain stretcher frame, as when curtains are washed and stretched
on the frame to dry, it is important that they be dried straight and not askew
or drawn out of proper position. Not only does the transverse bar aid to prevent
sagging of the frame when it is arranged in a horizontal position with its face
up and curtains stretched on it, but it prevents the side bars from sagging when
the curtain is set up on edge. The side bars are prevented from sagging no
matter what position the frame is placed in.

page_text: 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 curtain stretcher frame constructed and operating substantially as herein
specified.
2. In a curtain stretcher frame, the combination of side bars, and a transverse
bar arranged to maintain parallelism between the bars, and right angles at the
intersection of the bars, and the transverse bar when in use, substantially as herein
specified.
3. In a curtain stretcher frame, the combination of end bars, jointed side bars
and a transverse bar provided with a groove to receive the ridges or axes of the
hinges, and means for securing the transverse bar to the side bars whereby the
sagging of the side bars is prevented when the frame is on its edges, substantially
as herein specified.
4. In a curtain stretcher frame, the combination of end bars, jointed side bars
and strap hinges arranged on the reverse, or back side of the side bars, whereby
the bars are permitted to fold back to back when not in use, and prevented from
sagging when arranged in a horizontal position with their faces up and in use,
substantially as herein specified.
Dated this 20th day of February 1900.
GARRY P. VAN WYE,"
Agent, 13-21, Park Row, New York City, U.S.A.
GARRY P. VAN WYE,"
Agent, 13-21, Park Row, New York City, U.S.A.