IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLOTHES DRYERS OR FOLDING RACKS FOR AIRING AND DRYING CLOTHES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, .
in the County of Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of
Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLOTHES DRYERS OR FOLDING RACKS FOR AIRING
AND DRYING CLOTHES."-A communication from abroad by John Ward,
junior, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, Gentleman.
Sealed the 15th March 1861, and dated the 4th December 1860..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th December 1860.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLOTHES DRYERS OR FOLDING RACKS FOR
AIRING AND DRYING CLOTHES," a communication from abroad by John Ward,
junior, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, Gentleman,
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of clothes
dryer, consisting of two series of arms, each supporting several series of
clothes lines, the arms being hinged to each other and to connecting blocks,

page_text: and provided with tension cords, the whole being so disposed as to form a
portable self-supporting clothes frame or horse capable of wide extension as
compared to its height.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN HENRY
JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of
166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her. reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said
John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLOTHES DRYERS OR FOLDING
RACKS FOR AIRING AND DRYING CLOTHES," a communication from abroad by John
Ward, junior, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, Gentleman,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-

page_text: The said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
clothes dryer, consisting of two series of arms, each supporting several series
of clothes lines, the arms being hinged to each other and to connecting blocks,
and provided with tension cords, the whole being so disposed as to form
a portable self-supporting clothes frame or horse capable of wide extension
as compared to its height.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings shows the improved clothes dryer in an extended
condition. Figure 2 shews the same in a folded condition, and Figures 3
and 4 are plan views on a larger scale, showing modifications of the blocks or
connections at the top and bottom. A is a block of metal or wood in the form
of a Greek cross; B is a similar block; C and D are rods jointed together
at e, and jointed to A and B in the manner represented; C being jointed to
A, and D to B. The joints e are not in the centre of the rods C or D, but a
little nearer the ends thereof, which are united to A or B. G, G, are clothes
lines attached to the rods D; H, H, are similar lines attached to the rods C,
at the points represented. I, I, are lines attached to the outer ends of the
rods D, and passing down beneath the ends of the rods C, and so proportioned
and arranged that when slipped in to the notches c, c, in C, they hold the
frame fully extended.
When this clothes dryer is compressed or folded together laterally, it
. assumes the condition shewn in Figure 2. The frame may be extended by a
gentle force applied laterally into the condition shewn in Figure 1, the ends
of the rods C extending below the block B, as shewn in the Figure, and the
whole being supported upon the ground or floor by the ends of these rods C,
forms a convenient and portable frame, having a great extension laterally, but
with a moderate height. It is for this latter reason especially adapted for use
within dwellings where the ceilings are of but moderate height. It is readily
extended by first loosing the parts by pulling them a little at the joints e, and
then planting one leg or base of C firmly upon the floor or ground, and seizing
the corresponding rod diametrically opposite, pulling the two horizontally apart
to its full extent, when the cords I, I, are slipped down into one of the notches c,
which fastens it in that position, and the cords G and H are loaded with clothes.
The reverse of this process reduces the frame again to its closely folded
condition.

page_text: A convenient size is obtained for the frame by making the rods C and D
about eight feet in length, placing the joint or connection e three feet and ten
inches from the ends that are jointed to the blocks, and allowing the frame to
spread to a width of about twelve feet, measured diagonally. Thus propor-
tioned the block B will stand about three inches above the floor when the
frame stands extended, thus relieving it from any bearing. The lowermost of
the lines G or H will stand about three feet high, allowing a person, by
stooping, to pass under and load the lines H from the inside.
In exposed situations, a cord may be attached to the block B, and tied to a
stake or other fixture in the ground, which will guard against the apparatus
being moved by wind or other disturbing cause. This apparatus may be
cheaply constructed, and is very strong. It exposes more line, and that more
favorably for the purpose desired, than any other portable dryer of equal cost.
It spreads to a greater extent laterally in proportion to its heighth, and allows
the clothes depending from either of the lines to hang nearly to the ground
without contact, either with each other or the supports.
Instead of the cruciform blocks A, B, shown in Figures 1 and 2, circular
or polygonal blocks or rings may be employed if preferred, and instead of four
arms in each series a greater or less number may be used, as shown in
Figures 3 and 4.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is, the general construction, arrangement,
and combination of parts forming a clothes dryer or folding rack for clothes,
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fourth day of June One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
J. HENRY JOHNSON.
(L.B.)