Improvements in Clips for Suspending Curtains and other Articles.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clips for Suspending Curtains and other Articles.
We, LOUIS JORDAN and STEPHEN WALLIS of 291 Church Street, in the City,
County and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturers, 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 relates to certain improvements in hooks or catches.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved hook or catch particularly
adapted for hanging curtains and which shall be exceedingly cheap, simple, and
durable in construction and composed of a minimum number of parts, and which can
be easily and quickly operated, and will greatly reduce the time and trouble
heretofore expended in hanging curtains.
These objects are accomplished by and my invention consists in certain novel
features of construction and in combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter
and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings;—
Figure 1 is a view of a curtain pole, and a portion of a curtain suspended therefrom
by the improved hooks.
Figure 2 is a cross section of the pole showing the catch in end elevation.
Figure 3 is a perspective showing the two arms of the hook and the wire which binds
them together separated.
Figure 4, is a cross section of the end of the arm carrying the pins.
The hook is composed of the two corresponding metal strips or members a, b,
which are suitably fulcrumed or pivoted together within their lengths. Below the
pivotal point the two sides or strips are correspondingly bulged or bent outwardly a
suitable distance at c, in opposite directions forming the normally closed opening d
for the purpose hereinafter set forth, and their two clamping jaws at the outer ends.
The member a, at its clamping end or jaw below the outward bulge c, is, preferably,
straight and flat and provided on its inner face with the sharp pins d d, projecting
towards the corresponding free end or jaw of the member b. These two sharp
projections are formed from a single metal pin having its ends formed into needle points,
which pin is then bent into a substantially shape, and the two ends are inserted through
two apertures in the end of said member so that the cross piece of the U, will be
against the outer face of said end between the perforations and the pointed ends
will project a distance from the inner face of said end, and the pin is held in this
position by the extremity f, of the said member which is bent back upon itself and
down upon the portion of the pin on the outer face of said end, thereby preventing
the pin from pushing back out of the perforations. The free end of the other
member b, below its outward bend or loop c, normally bears against the corresponding
end of member a, but opposite the pins d, of member a, the free end of member b, is
provided with an outward bulge e, forming a recess to receive the points of said pins,
the recess being of greater depth than the length of the pin points from the inner face
of the end of member a, and of greater width than the pins, so that the pins if they
do not pierce the fabric will formi a fold or crease therein and force it into the bulge e,
and thereby firmly hold it.
The two members are pivoted together above the outward bends c c, by means of a
wire g, twisted around said members, the edges of which are grooved as shown to
receive the wire so that it will lie below or flush with the edges of the members. The
pivoted or fulcrum point of the members is thus formed..

page_text: Above the fulcrum the members extend outwardly, and upwardly in opposite
directions a suitable distance and are then doubled upon themselves, and extend back and
inwardly again towards the fulcrum point and at a slight distance from the outwardly
extending portions h, forming the spring portions i¹, the end of spring i, being
doubled upon itself to form the eye j, and the end of spring being rounded to bear
and slide on said eye. Thus when the handles formed by the lengths h, i, i, are
pressed together against the tension of the springs i¹ the opposite ends or jaws of
the members are separated and opened.
When it is desired to use the present catch in hanging curtains from poles, the
handies are pressed together, thereby opening the jaws of the catch which are then
slipped over the pole from the top so that the pole will loosely rest in the recess d'
formed by the bulges e c, and the catch can freely slide on said pole; the upper edge
of the curtain is caught between the jaws of the catch and the pins pass through or
press a fold of the curtain into the recess or bulge e, and thereby firmly hold the same.
The same catch thus holds the curtain and slides on the pole.
If desirable rings can be used on the pole and the present catches secured to them
by means of the eyes j, as shown in Figure 1, and the hem or upper edge of the
curtain can extend up into the opening d. The manner of securing the members
together is cheap, and strong, and cannot be easily broken or injured.
This catch is by no means limited to use as a curtain support, but is adapted for
many other purposes and uses, such as an attachment for fans, parasols, umbrellas, etc.,
and can be made of any size suitable for the purpose to which it is to be applied.
The catch can be attached by means of the eye j. The invention is not limited to
the precise construction here shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1st. The herein described separable curtain ring.
2nd. The herein described device for the purposes mentioned.
3rd. A curtain holding and hanging catch formed to embrace and slide on the
curtain pole and to clamp the upper edge of the curtain and hold the same,
substantially as described.
4th. A catch consisting of two lever members fulcrumed together and provided with
corresponding opposite outward bends on one side of the fulcrum, and with jaws
beneath the bends for the purpose described.
5th. A hook or catch consisting of two lever members pivoted together within
their lengths and provided with clamping jaws on one side of the fulcrum, one or more
pins projecting inwardly from one jaw and a corresponding recess in the opposite
jaw to receive the pins, the members on the opposite side of the fulcrum forming
handles to open the jaws. substantially as described.
6th. A hook or catch consisting of two lever members pivoted together and
having corresponding recess on one side of the fulcrum to receive a curtain pole
and jaws beneath said recesses to hold the curtain and handles on the opposite
side of the fulcrum whereby the jaws can be separated substantially as described.
7th. The herein described hook consisting of two lever members, a single wire
loosely surrounding the same and resting in grooves in the edge of said members and
pivoting the same together, said members having handles on one side of the fulcrum
and clamping jaws on the other side, substantially as described.
8th. The herein described catch consisting of two integral lever members pivoted
together, and forming jaws on one side of the fulcrum and on the opposite side
of the fulcrum, said members being bent outwardly in opposite directions to form
handles and then doubled upon themselves and extended back to form springs with
the ends of the spring bearing against each other for the purpose set forth.
9th. In a catch the combination of the jaws, one or more pins projecting
inwardly through one of the same, the end of said jaw being bent back upon the
outer side of the jaw and the outer end or ends of said pin or pins and thereby

page_text: locking the same in position, the opposite jaw being provided with a recess to receive
the pins, substantially as described.
10th. A metal catch jaw having two transverse perforations, in combination with
a single substantially U shaped pin having its two ends pointed and projecting
inwardly through said apertures and the cross portion of the pin extending on the
outer side of the jaw between the apertures, the extremity of said jaw being bent back
on said cross portion of the pin for the purpose set forth.
11th. A curtain ring constructed to open and close.
12th. The spring consisting of the two arms hh, extending outwardly in different
directions and then doubled upon themselves and extended back to form portions i i³,
which bear against each other at their ends, as set forth.
1000
L. JORDAN,
By L. W. per F. B.
S. WALLIS,
By L. W. per F. B.
Dated this on way of super
L. JORDAN,
By L. W. per F. B.
S. WALLIS,
By L. W. per F. B.