Improvements in Frames for Drying and Stretching Lace, Curtains, Blankets, and similar Articles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 19th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Frames for Drying and Stretching Lace, Curtains,
Blankets, and similar Articles.
JOHN ALFRED WHEELER 45 Gray's Inn Road in the County of Middlesex,
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of portable frames for
drying and stretching such articles as lace curtains, blankets and similar articles.
In carrying out my invention I do away with the fixed pin points that are
generally used, and which are so apt to catch and tear the articles, and use instead
ordinary pins about 2 in. long, which after being passed through the edge of the
material are secured by being passed through a slot in the frame, I also form a
second slot to allow of the frame being made smaller.
To form the slots which run the whole length of the framing I construct it of
three pieces of wood, joining them together at intervals by screws so that the
required spaces are left, in the one case for the thumbscrew, for securing the frame,
and in the other for holding the pins.
By the above means I can easily reduce the frame to any size, and as the
thumbscrew will move between the spaces formed by the screws joining the frame,
it is not necessary to remove the thumbscrew so often, also the pins can be regulated
similarly which is a great advantage where the edge of the article is scalloped or
pointed as they can be adjusted nicely without removing the pins, and it helps also
to enable the article to be stretched more equally, and thus prevents them being
unduly strained and thereby saves them from being torn.
I also form legs for raising the frame by pivoting two pieces of wood together
by a screw and inserting a small angle hook on the tops, these hooks when passed
between the slots on being pressed open come in contact with the screws which join
the frame and are prevented from opening further, the weight of the frame being
sufficient to keep them open; these legs are placed wherever required round the
frame.
Where it is desireable not to pierce the material, I use metal clips, these I secure
to the frame by forming a grove along its length and in the middle of the grove
I fix a wire with staples at intervals so that the clips can be moved along if desired,
the clips having a little metal piece to hold them to the wire.
Dated this 20th day of May 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Frames for Drying and Stretching Lace, Curtains,
Blankets, and similar Articles.
JOHN ALFRED WHEELER, 45 Gray's Inn Road, in the County of Middlesex,
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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of portable frames for

page_text: stretching and drying such articles as lace curtains, antimacassars and similar
articles; the object being to construct a frame that can be adjusted anywhere
along its length, also to so construct it as to take ordinary blanket pins in place
of the fixed pin points generally used and which are so apt to catch and tear the
article as well as injure the fingers.
In carrying out my invention construct the framing of two or more strips of
wood of equal length and thickness and join them together by screws inserted across
about every foot of their length; before inserting the screws I place temporally a
small piece of wood or metal to keep them a regular distance apart, the worm of
the screw being sufficient to hold them when once screwed in; these spaces form
slots running the whole length of the framing and are made sufficiently large to
receive the thumbscrew for securing the frame in the one case and to admit of the
pins being placed therein in the other, for securing the articles whilst being
stretched, the pins being first put through the articles and then placed in the slot
formed in the frame, which holds them sufficiently, at the same time they can be
moved along to adjust any points or scallops without removing the pins, except
when they come in contact with the screws joining the framing together; similarly
the thumbscrew can be adjusted to a fraction of an inch anywhere along the
framing the stretching can also be adjusted from all four courners, which enables
the article to be more easily and equally stretched; where cross pieces are used
for strengthing the frame they can also be made to devide the frame so as to take
more than one size article at a time, for this purpose they would be formed of
four pieces put together so as to form three slots, one in the centre for the
thumbscrew to pass through and one on either side for the pins.
It will be readily seen that a frame so constructed with slots as described, can
be reduced to any size and wherever the frame crosses the thumbscrew can be put
through to secure it, also that by releasing the nut of the thumbscrew the frame
can be adjusted easily either way, and that it is only necessary to shift the
thumbscrew when it comes in contact with the screws joining the frame.
In a modifyed form I construct the slot to receive the pins by adding the outer
strip of wood to the other portion of the framing by means of screw eyelets, holes
being made in the outer strip to allow of the screw portion passing through
freely a countersink also being made to take the head of the eyelet, as thus
constructed the outer piece though held firmly by the screw to the other portion
of the frame, is free to turn or cant over, and has the advantage that it grips the
pins slightly at the bottom, holding them more firmly in their place.
I also form portable legs "Fig. 3" of the accompanying drawing; to raise the
frame a convenient hight from the ground so as to facilitate the pinning, these
I construct of two pieces of wood, pivoted together by a screw and having an
angle hook screwed in the ends for the purpose of connecting them to the
framing; when opened and placed in the slot formed for the thumbscrew the
hooks come in contact with the screws joining the frame and are prevented from
opening further the weight of the frame being sufficient to keep them open.
arrange that the box used for keeping the frame clean shall be constructed to form
a support by deviding the lid and hinging it at the points c of the accompanying
drawings Fig. 4, so as to form legs on either side, the same being joined by the
crosspiece "d" for dividing or strengthing the frame.
k
I also
Fig. 1 in the accompanying drawings shows a top view of the framing as
constructed with slot "a" made the size for the thumbscrew to pass through, and
slot "b" the exact size to take the pins.
Fig. 2 a cross section.
Fig. 3 small folding legs.
66 "
Fig. 4 shows the box with lid " α
"devided to form legs, and hinged at the
points C
having hooks screwed on at the tops at the points "e" for the purpose of
connecting it to the cross piece "d" as described herein for the purpose of forming
the middle support to the frame; when let down they are secured by the centre
portion of the lid F.

page_text: Fig. 5 shows a view of the frame complete with legs "a" also box "6" forming
central support, the frame is joined at the point C "for convenience of placing it
in the box, small brass plates with a hole large enough to admit of the thumbscrew
being passed through are screwed on at the ends for the purpose of securing them
to the crosspiece "d."
"
Fig. 6 shows a section having the slot ". a at an angle, this form has the advantage
that the pin being at an angle the material keeps well to the wood of the frame,
and as the pin is well supported at this point it is not so likely to be pulled out or
bent over, whilst the article is being stretched.
Fig. 7 is a section showing a slot for the thumbscrew only, webbing being secured
by tacks along its length as in "a" for the purpose of sewing in small articles to be
stretched or worked.
Fig. 8 shows a simple thumbscrew for securing the corners of the frame.
Fig. 9 a double nutted thumbscrew with fixed centre "b" which enables the ends
of the frame to be gripped seperately and has the advantage that only the portion
required to be moved need be released.
"
Fig. 10 a piece of wood or metal with teeth as shown, having small projections "a
to prevent it falling through when placed in the slot of the frame; the teeth are
constructed to catch the fixed screws joining the frame so that when placed in the
slot, close up to the curner where the frame crosses it will prevent the corner
caving in should the thumbscrew become loose which they are apt to do if
carelessly moved from place to place, it is also useful for holding one side whilst
the other can be drawn out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what maner the same is performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A frame constructed with a slot running its entire length to allow the
thumbscrew to pass through for securing the frame and to adjust the size and
regulate the stretching; constructed as described herein and shown in the
accompanying drawings and for the purpose set forth.
2. A frame constructed with a slot running its entire length formed as described
herein and shown in the accompanying drawings for the purpose of placing therein
ordinary blanket pins, with modifications as described herein and for the purpose
set forth.
3. Portable legs applied as described and shown herein and for the purpose set
forth.
4. The construction of the lid of the box to form the central support as shown
and described herewith and for the purpose set forth.
5. The double nutted screw as described herewith and shown in Fig. 9 for the
purpose set forth.
6. The piece constructed as described herein and shown in Fig. 10 for the
purpose set forth.
JOHN ALFRED WHEELER.