Improvements in Clips for Stair Rods.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1897-Accepted, 7th Aug., 1897
Improvements in Clips for Stair Rods.
1. REGINALD ARTHUR BROADHURST, of The Bungalow, Frances Road, Bourne-
mouth, in the County of Hants, Electrical Engineer, 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 improvements in clips for stair rods by means of which
certain advantages are obtained.
My invention consists essentially of an attaching device and an embracing
device. The said attaching device consists of a piece of metal of any convenient
form which may be perforated with orifices for the attachment of the clip to the
stairs by screws, nails or the like. The embracing device consists of a ring of
circular, elliptical or other convenient geometric form, one part of which is fixed
and the other part of which is movable and controlled in its action by a spring.
I shall hereinafter for the purposes of this specification refer to the attaching device
as the base, the fixed part of the embracing device as the fixed segment and the
movable part of the embracing device as the movable segment.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood, I shall now proceed
to describe, by way of types or examples, three forms of the same, the said forms
giving good results in practice. In order that this description may be more
readily understood I have appended hereto a sheet of drawings diagrammatically
illustrating the said types or examples. In the said drawings
Figure I is a side elevation of a form of my invention in which an external
spring is employed.
Figure II is a rear view of the said form and
Figure III a plan thereof.
Figure. IV is a side elevation of a form of my invention in which an internal
spring is employed in connection with a laterally movable segment, the said
segment being shown in its normal or closed position.
Figure Vis a side elevation of the same with the movable segment shown in
its open position.
Figures VI and VII illustrate a form of my invention which differs from that
shown in Figures IV and V merely in the fact that instead of having a laterally
moving segment I employ a vertical moving segment.
I desire it to be understood that in using the terms lateral and vertical with
respect to the motion of the movable segment, I use the said terms rather in a
popular sense than in a scientific sense. The meanings of the said terms will be
readily grasped from the description which I now proceed to give.
Referring to Figures I, II and III, 1 is the base, 2 the fixed segment and 3 the
movable segment. The base in this case consists of a horizontal plate or strip 4
from a point at or near the rear extremity of which extends the part 5, which in
this case forms not only a portion of the base but also a portion of the fixed
segment, and the upper extremity 6 which latter is perforated by the orifice 7 for
the reception of a screw or nail. The horizontal part 4 is also perforated by a
[Price 8d.]

page_text: similar orifice 8. The movable segment 3 is hinged at 9 to the part 5 of the base
and it is provided with a heel 10 which projects through the orifice 11 formed
on the part 5 of the base. Against this heel presses the spring 12, whose function
is to retain the movable segment in its normal position.
The action of the invention is as follows. Let us assume that it is desired to
insert the end of a stair rod within the space 13 of the clip. All that has to be
done is to press the stair rod downwards upon the part 3, the effect of which is to
push this part 3 downwards and angularly around the centre
until the rod passes
over the end of the said movable segment, when the spring 12 forces the said
segment back into the position shown in Figure 1. The rod is held now within
the clip as shown in Figure I.
'
In Figures IV and V, I illustrate a simpler form of clip. The base 1 consists
of an elbow shaped casting, part of the base forming also part of the movable
egment of the clip. In this case the movable segment 3 is at the side of the
.clip and is hinged at 9 to the lower or horizontal part 4 of the base. Instead of
the spring being an external one it is in this case placed at the interior of the ring,
being attached to the bottom thereof by screws 14. The action of this form of
my invention is similar to that hereinbefore described except that the stair rod is
pressed in laterally instead of vertically downwards as in the last case.
Figures VI and VII illustrate a form similar to that shown in Figures IV and V
except that the movable segment opens vertically inwards instead of laterally
inwards. The said movable segment is controlled by a spring similar to that
shown in Figures IV and V but the spring is placed in a different position so that
the said movable segment opens inwards after the manner set forth with reference
to Figures I, II and III. The action of this form will be readily understood
from what has preceded.
I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of
construction hereinbefore set forth as it is obvious that anyone skilled in the art
to which my invention appertains may modify such structural details without
departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a clip for stair rods, the combination of a base or attaching device, a
fixed segment, a movable segment and a spring controlling the action of the said
moval le segment, substantially as set forth.
2. The arrangement and combination of parts substantially as set forth with
reference to Figures I, II and III.
3. The arrangement and combination of parts substantially as set forth with
reference to Figures IV, V, VI and VII.
Daied this 5th day of July 1897
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.