Improvements in Laundry Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Laundry Apparatus.
I, JOHN HUGHES, of Crooksburg, in the County of Albany and State of New
York, United States of America, Mechanic 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 combination clothes bars, ironing
hoards and tables, and consisting in producing a novel combination of the
indispensable elements of these articles.
The object of my invention is to produce a novel combination article of domestic
utility which may be used as a clothes dryer, ironing-board or table, as may be
required, and make the respective parts thereof separable, of simple and inexpensive
construction and materials, and capable of easy and rapid manipulation whenever
the device is utilized.
The nature and advantages of my invention will be more fully understood by
referring to the accompanying drawing in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improvement the clothes bars and ironing
board being shown in position ready for use.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the clothes bar mechanism in position upon its standard,
the working parts being shown in section. The standard is partially in section in
order that the pin which retains the dryer upon the standard, and the means of
fastening the pin to the standard, may be clearly understood.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the head or hub to which the clothes bars are connected,
and which is so formed as to allow the head to rotate upon the standard.
Fig. 4 is perspective view of the bracket which fits into a longitudinal opening
in the upper end of the stand and supports one end of the ironing board when the
latter is in use.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the clamping device by means of which the rear
support of the ironing board is connected with the base of the standard.
Fig. 6 illustrates the table top in a reversed position.
In the drawings the standard A rests upon a base A having legs A, 2, and
centrally apertures to receive the stem A' which fits therein. A pin a4 passes
through the stem A' flush with the under side of the base A1 and binds the
standard to the base.
The upper end of the standard has a neck aó, upon which the head D revolves,
the shoulder a 6 of the standard forming a seat which serves as a support for the
hend.
The head D is provided with two flanges B31, B' and a plurality of radial
notches B 3 into which the bars C are loosely fitted. Near the end of each bar a
small pin C is inserted transversely therein, and projects internally from each side
of the bar. A downwardly turned lug B integral with the upper Hange B₁ of
the head B is so arranged with reference to the pin C1 of each of the bars C,
that when the latter are in a horizontal position and connected with the head B by
resting in the notches B3 they are securely held to the head B by pins C1
impinging or wedging against the inner side of the lugs 64 and cannot be
withdrawn.
The upper and lower flanges respectively form seats for the inner end of cach
bar and maintain it in a horizontal position. The flanges and notches B³ are so
arranged and constructed that whenever a bar C is raised nearly or to a vertical

page_text: position it'can be dropped down through the opening in the lower flange which is
large enough to perthit this until the end of the bar rests upon the base a' within
a recess a 7 in the said base provided for this purpose.
In this manner all the bars C can be arranged around the standard a, so that
their upper ends will be lower than the top of the standard and entirely out of the
way when not in use. The bars can also be entirely removed from the head by
withdrawing them in an oblique direction therefrom.
The upper end of the standard A is provided with a longitudinal opening in its
axis, into which a pin D is fitted, the said pin being provided with a collar D1
which rests upon the top of the standard. The pin D has an L shaped groove D'
in its surface, into which the end E' of a small pin E projects, when the pin D, is
in its position in the standard A. This small pin E is secured in the side of the
standard A and so arranged with reference to the groove D2 of the pin D, that the
latter when inserted into the hole in the standard in which it is fitted, and turned
partly around is firmly held down against the end of the standard A and thereby
prevents the head B with the clothes bars thereon from being moved from the
standard. The upper surface of the head B, is slightly lower than the end of the
standard A, thereby allowing its free rotation upon the same. The groove D' is
of slightly spiral form at its upper end in the pin D in order that the said pin may
be drawn down firmly upon the standard A when it is turned partly around.
The bracket F, is provided with a pin F", having a groove F2 similar in size,
shape and position to that in the pin D.
The table is similarly provided with a pin G 1, having a groove G' of a
corresponding character, by this means when the pin D, is withdrawn from the
standard A either the bracket For the table G can be attached to the standard A,
as desired, and the grooves 1 and G2 of these respective parts, answer the purpose
of binding the part applied, as in the case of the pin D.
When the bracket is attached to the standard it serves as a support for one
end of the ironing board II, the opposite end being supported by the T shaped
bracket I, which is provided with legs I'. A connecting foot bar 1 is hinged
at to the bracket at one end, and the other end has therein a clamp and
dowel pins J', by means of which it may be attached to the base A of the
standard A. The base A' has openings in its under surface into which the dowels
fit, and the clamp Jis rotatable in the bar J so as to clamp it to the base Ans
shown in Fig. 5. The har Jalso lins secured thereto n loosely pivoted brace E,
having a hook K1 at its free end, which engages with a pin 1, in the bracket I
and which gives rigidity to the whole device.
The front end, of the board H has a pin H' projecting from each of its side
edges, which fit into notches in lugs F4 which are secured to the bracket F.
The manipulation and operation of my invention will now be explained.
The parts being all arranged as shown in Fig. 1 and the table G being removed
the clothes are ironed upon the board H and when finished are hung upon the
bars C, which can be revolved so as to bring each bar consecutively into a
convenient position for the purpose and when all are filled the clothes can be
removed and put away and the operation repented until the whole ironing work is
finished.
The board H can then be raised from the bracket F the bracket I be unhooked,
and the foot bar J released from the base A' by unclamping the clamp Jª, there
from whereupon the bracket I may be folded up with the foot bar J and laid away
within the board H. The bracket Fean then be withdrawn from the standard A
and the bars dropped down into the recess A' in the base A.' so as to be out of the
way and the table top G substituted for the bracket F, thereby forming a neat and
perfect table, or again the pin D can be inserted in the standard A. instead of the
table, and the clothes bars used for an indefinate length of time.
It can thus be seen that my improvement provides a table, a clothes dryer, and
an ironing table, with a small number of parts is simple and inexpensive, and
convenient complete and pert et in operation.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. A combined ironing board and clothes dryer, consisting of a standard having
a base with legs thereon and a recess therein, a revolving head, bars resting therein,
a bracket separably fitted to the standard and provided with notches lugs an
ironing board having a pin fitted in the notches, in the lugs, of the bracket a foot
bar having a clamp and pins adapted to engage with the base, a bracket provided
with legs and having a hinged connection with the foot bar, and a brace pivoted
to the foot bar, and having a hook connecting with the bracket, substantially as
shown and described.
2. A combined ironing board and clothes dryer comprising the combination of
a base having a recess in the upper surface thercof, a standard detachable secured
to said base within the recess, a head revolubly mounted upon said standard bars
pivoted therein, a bracket separably fitted to the said standard, and provided with
notched lugs, an ironing board having a pin fitted in the said lugs, a foot bar having
means thereon for engaging the base, and a bracket hinged to the opposite end
of the foot bar to fold upon the same and adapted to receive the ironing-board
thereon, substantially as shown and specified.
Dated thie 10th day of October 1895
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.