An Improved Clothes Line.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan, · 1891..
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct, 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec, 1891:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Clothes Line.
I WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the firin of Horn and Son of 151 Strand-in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from Solomon Smith and Alexander White Alcorn M.D.
both of Ravenna State of Ohio United States of America Inventors) to be "as
follows:-
This my invention relates to an improved clothes line and it consists in ‘the
following parts-arranged and operating as described. My invention consists of an
endless line the said line being in tension between and passing around sheave wheels
mounted in bearings said bearings being secured to any suitable supports and being
arranged to allow the sheaves therein to move freely as required. The sheave
wheel-at-one-end of the line has a number of transverse openings "thiro "the 'rim
thereof for the insertion of a locking-pin which passes through the wheel supports
and one of the said openings. A travelling stop is attached to the line to lock the
same; and prevent the clothes attached thereto being drawn round the sheaves:
Dated:28th day of-January: 1891.
HORN & SON,
Agents-for-the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION."
An Improved Clothes Line. *
I WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the firm of Horn & Son 151 Strand in "the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from Solomon-Smith and Alexander White Alcorn both of
Ravenna State of Ohio United States of America Inventors) 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 lines for supporting clothes and has particular relation
to the means for supporting said lines. The improvement consists of the novel
features and the peculiar construction-and combination of the parts" which will be
hereinafter more fully described and claimed and which are shown in 'the annexed
drawings.in which
Fig. 1 is a view of a line for supporting clothes embodying my invention:
Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the manner of fastening the travelling stop to the
lower portion of the line at the splice of the two ends...
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of sheave wheel supporting bracket.
.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the sheave wheel which is located at the receiving or
inner end of the line showing the locking pin in position by dotted lines.
Fig. 5 is an end view of the sheave wheel at the outer or far end of the-line
showing the relation of the travelling stop.
Fig. 6 is a front view of the spring key for securing the sheave wheel“on the
bracket.
Fig. 7 is a side view of the locking device at the inner end of the line!
The lines sheave wheels brackets and locking devices are preferably constructed
of metal which will not corrode or stain or otherwise injure the clothing. The
line C is endless and passes round sheave wheel B one at each end thereof. These
sheave wheels are similarly constructed and are grooved to receive the line and are

page_text: mounted on the bolts G which connect the free ends of the bails A. The sheave
wheel B is held between the parallel members a, a, of the bail A. The bails are
inserted through openings or eyes a' in the outer end of the brackets a² and are free
to swing vertically or laterally to adapt themselves to the line of strain on the line.
The brackets a² are provided in pairs and have their shanks threaded, the thread
on the shank of one being right hand and the thread on the shank of the other
being left hand thereby permitting the line to be tightened or loosened by screwing
the brackets in the same direction either in or out as required.
The sheave wheel at the receiving or inner end is provided with a series of
transverse openings & through which a pin passes to lock the sheave wheel against
rotation, the pin being attached by chain F to the key which secures the bolt G
to the bail at the outer end of the line except that its ends are formed into an eye,
as shown, to form means of attachment thereto of the chain F.
It will be observed that the pin when thrust through the coincident openings
in the flanges of the inner sheave wheel extends over the groove in the periphery
thereof and across the line thereby preventing the said sheave wheel from turning
in any injurious degree.
The traveling support D is provided to connect the lower portion of the line with
the upper portion thereof, thereby preventing sag in the said lower portion and
bracing it by connection with the upper portion of the said line.
The traveling stop H is constructed similarly to the traveling support D its
lower end being secured to the lower portion of the line in any suitable manner.
The removable lock is composed of a wire which has its ends bent to form
hooks.
The lock I must be equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the sheave
wheel at the inner end of the line in order that it may operate successfully. To
lock the line and the sheave wheel the hooked ends of the locks are placed over the
upper and lower lines and the lock is drawn or pressed toward the said sheave wheel
until it binds the line thereon.
The operation of the invention is as follows-Run the travelling stop H back to
the sheave wheel at the receiving or inner end of the line-then hang the clothes
on the line and push the lower portion of the line from you.
When the stop H is half way out, place the traveling support on for the purpose
of connecting both lines and lessening the sag from weight of clothes-continue to
push the lower portion of the line from you, until the travelling stop strikes the
outer sheave wheel.
Then the line will be stopped and the wind will not blow the line farther in that
direction or off the sheave wheel. Then place the lock pin through the hole in
top of wheel and the line is permanently locked, or if it is desired to use the
removable lock I when hanging but a few clothes on the line it will lock the
line from being blown either way and the travelling stop will act as the line
support.
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 clothes-line comprising the following elements: an endless line, grooved
sheave-wheels for supporting the ends of the line right and left hand threaded
brackets for the respective sheave-wheels bails supported in the apertured ends of
the brackets and having the said sheave wheels journaled between their free ends,
the sheave wheel at the receiving or inner end of the line having a series of
transverse openings through its rim, a locking pin connected with the bail and
adapted to pass through a set of the series of openings and across the groove
therein and over the line, and a traveling stop permanently connected with one
portion of the line and adapted to lock the line on the outer pulley substantially as
set forth.

page_text: 2. The combination, with an endless line grooved sheave-wheels for supporting
the line at its ends, the sheave-wheel at the inner end of the line having a series of
openings in its rim, of a locking-pin adapted to be thrust through a set of openings
in the rim of the said wheel and extend across the groove therein and over the line,
substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
Dated this 28th day of October 1891.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.