Improvements in Clothes Props.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
Improvements in Clothes Props.
We, HERBERT WHITTAKER, Coal Merchant, and ESTHER WHITTAKER,
Gentlewoman, both of 25, Ash Street, Failsworth, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in clothes props and has for its object
to so construct a clothes prop that the same will be more durable and efficient
and can be more conveniently kept when not in use indoors than heretofore has
been the case.
To this end our invention consists in the first place in forming the clothes
prop in length in two or as many parts as may be found desirable to enable
it to be kept in-doors, which parts are connected together by means of a suitable
socket or coupling.
The said socket or coupling may be cast in metal in the form of a tube, with or
without a cross partition, each end being adapted to receive one of the prop parts.
By preference we fix the said socket or coupling to one of the prop parts
permanently, whilst the other is rendered readily removable from the other
end of the socket or coupling for instance by forming both taper or in bayonet
fashion.
Our invention consists in the second place in providing the upper extremity
with a head consisting of two vertical projections with hook shaped upper ends and
fixed to the side of the prop separately or jointly formed in one piece with a cross
rail or cap to fit against the end of the prop, which hooked ends project inwardly,
pass each other and are sufficiently wide apart from each other to allow of inserting
the clothes line between and below the same whereby the line is securely kept in
position when upon the prop.
Our invention consists in the third place of a metal shoe or provision for the
lower extremity of the prop formed with teeth circular, square or wedge shaped,
which renders the prop more durable and also steadier in use.
Dated this 6th day of May 1896.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicants.
We, HERBERT WHITTAKER, Coal Merchant, and ESTHER WHITTAKER,
Gentlewoman, both of 25, Ash Street, Failsworth, in the County of Lancaster,
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 clothes props and has for its object

page_text: to so construct a clothes prop that the same will be more durable and efficient
and when not in use can be kept in-doors more conveniently than heretofore has
been the case.
And in order that our invention may be more fully understood we have caused to
be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 10 are elevations and Figs. 2 & 9 end views of Figs. 1
& 8 respectively of various forms of our improved clothes prop.
In carrying out our invention, the improvements consist in the first place, in
forming the clothes prop in length, in as many parts as may be found necessary to
enable it to be kept in-doors conveniently, say two parts a & b which are connected
together by means of a suitable socket or coupling c.
The said socket may be cast in metal in the form of a tube, as shown in Figs. 1,
2 & 3, with or without a cross partition, each end being adapted to receive one of
the prop parts. By preference, we fix the socket c to one of the prop parts, say b
permanently, whilst the other is rendered readily removable from the other end
of the socket, for instance by forming both taper, or when round in section in bayonet
fashion, as shown in Fig. 6.
Fig. 7 shows the prop parts a & b coupled together by means of links a¹ and
retained in line, see dotted lines, by means of a sheath & slid over the same.
Another form of prop coupling is shown in Figs. 8, 9 & 10, consisting of two
hinges, the pin c¹ of one hinge being rendered removable so as to allow of folding
the prop, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 10.
Our improvements consist in the second place in providing the upper extremity
of the prop with a head consisting of two vertical projections d, d with hook
shaped upper ends d', d', and fixed to the side of the prop, as shown in Figs. 1 & 2,
by means of a metal band e formed in one piece with a cross rail d³, see Fig. 4, or
with a cap d³ fitting the ends of the prop, as shown in Fig. 5, which hooked
ends d', d, project inwardly, pass each other and are sufficiently wide apart from
each other to allow of inserting the clothes line between and below the same
whereby the line is securely kept in position when upon the prop.
When forming the hooked shaped projection d, d, d', d', without a cross_rail d
or cap d³, we may form the top of the prop with a V or similar slot e', see Figs. 8
& 9, adapted to receive the clothes line.
Our invention consists in the third place of a metal shoe for provisions for
protecting the lower extremity of the prop, which shoe f is formed with teeth f¹ as
shown in the drawing, or wedge shaped, and as will be readily understood and
which renders the prop more durable and also steadier in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim, is-
1st. A clothes prop formed in length in one or more parts connected together by
means of a suitable socket or coupling, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2nd. In combination with the upper end of a clothes prop a, two hook shaped
projection d, d, d', d', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In combination with the lower end of a clothes prop, a shoe f, f', or
provisions for protecting same, all substantially as set forth.
Deted this 5th day of Fohmory 1807
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicants.