IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING LINES FOR DRYING CLOTHES, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Archibald Macfie at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th July
1867.
I, ARCHIBALD MACFIE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Auctioneer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING LINES FOR DRYING CLOTHES, AND FOR OTHER
LIKE PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the apparatus berein-after explained for supporting
lines for drying clothes and for other like purposes, whereby the line can be
easily lowered so as to give ready access to the clothes or articles suspended
from it, and easily brought again into and fixed in its raised position.
In constructing and arranging apparatus according to my Invention I fix in
the ground at the place over which one end of the line is to be fixed a strong
post or support, in which post or support two horizontal staples are driven, one
near its top and the other about its middle; each of the said staples has a
circular eye or opening in its end. Through the said staples a cylindrical tube,
or rod, or pole slides vertically, and to the top of the tube, rod, or pole one end
of the line is fastened. Near the bottom of the tube, rod, or pole is a circular
groove or neck passing all round the tube or pole, the said neck making the
said tube or pole of less diameter at that point than the parts above and below
it. Another post and parts of the kind described is fixed at the place where
the other end of the line is to be supported, and the line is stretched between
the tops of the two tubes, rods, or poles. Where the line is of great length
intermediate supports of the kind described may be employed. When in use

page_text: the tension of the line causes the tube, rod, or pole to press against the inside
of the eye of the upper staple in the direction in which the tension is exerted,
and against the eye of the lower staple in an opposite direction. When the
tube, rod, or pole is in its raised position the neck near its bottom engages
with the eye of the lower staple and prevents the vertical motion of the tube,
rod, or pole. In order to lower the tube or pole and the line suspended by it,
it is only necessary to press that part of the tube or pole above the top staple
in a direction contrary to that in which the tension of the line is exerted,
when the neck at the bottom of the tube or pole is released from the lower
staple and the tube or pole may be lowered. In raising the tube or pole the
tension of the line causes the neck near its bottom to engage with the lower
staple as soon as the tube or pole has been raised to the required height; the
other pole or poles supporting the line are raised, fixed, and lowered in a
similar manner. In order to facilitate the motion of the tube or pole a pulley
or antifriction roller may be fixed at that side of each of the staples against
which the tube or pole bears. Instead of fixing the tube, rod, or pole by
means of the neck described the said neck may be dispensed with and the
bottom of the tube, rod, or pole be provided with a narrow flange. On raising
the tube, rod, or pole the said flange comes against the ring of the lower
staple and arrests and limits the motion of the tube, rod, or pole. Where
there is a brick wall or other fixed structure in the required place the posts
described may be dispensed with, and the staples described be fixed in the said
wall or structure.