Improvements in and relating to Racks for Suspending. Trousers, Neckties, Blankets, and the like
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Racks for Suspending. Trousers,
Neckties, Blankets, and the like
I, RICHARD NORRIS, residing at The Rittenhouse Club, 22nd and Chestnut
Streets, in the City of Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement;-
This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in racks for
trousers, neckties, blankets and the like.
The object of the invention is to provide simple and highly-efficient means for
easily and readily positioning trousers, and other articles, in, and removing them
from, a supporting-rack; to prevent accidental turning of the supporting-rods
when trousers or the like are suspended therefrom and also to simplify the con-
struction of the rack and render it capable of being easily taken apart for packing
or shipment.
The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out
in the claims:-
-
In the accompanying drawing:-
-
Figure 1 is a view in perspective, the rack being shown lowered. Figure 2
shows the rack raised. Figure 3 is an enlarged view, showing a portion of one
of the cross-rods and the socket therefor. Figure 4 is a side view. Figure 5 is
an enlarged end view of the parts of Figure 3.
Referring to the drawing, A designates a frame preferably of rectangular form.
This frame is composed of two longitudinal bars a, and two end cross-bars a¹, a
which are united to the ends of the former by screws a having thumb-nuts a*.
The bars a and a', a³, have in their opposed: faces interlocking grooves or recesses
forming snug joints which aid in holding the parts together. The cross-bar 2
has hinged thereto a supplemental bar as, the ends of which project beyond the
ends of bar a and in said projecting ends are thumb-screws as by which said bars
may be readily secured to the back of a door or any other suitable support.
B designates a series of parallel cross-rods located within frame A, and supported
at their ends by longitudinal bars a. The manner in which these cross-rods are
held to the bars a, allowing them to be easily removed therefrom, and positioned
in the frame, constitutes the most important feature of my invention. Each rod
is preferably round or cylindrical in cross-section and each end is cut-away at b
to form a flat surface 6' and an inner shoulder 6. In the bars a are formed opposite
series of slots 2. Each of these slots is open at its outer end, and one of its
walls is curved from near its outer end inward until it meets the other wall 64,
which latter is truly straight. In positioning each rod B the same is so turned
that the rounded portion of each end will contact with the curved wall b³ and as
the rod is moved inward to the inner branch of the slot the flat surfaces b¹ of each
rod will face, or be in contact with, the inner portion of the straight wall 6. The
shoulders by contacting with the side-bars prevent longitudinal movement of

page_text: .
the bars. In this way the rods when once positioned in the frame are prevented
from turning within or falling from their bearings. To remove the rods it is
necessary that they be removed from the inner portion of each slot, and thence
outward through the open ends thereof. By thus securing the rods within the
frame trousers, or any other articles, suspended therefrom are prevented from
falling, as will occur if the rods are free to turn in their bearings. To place
trousers within the frame a rod is removed and a pair of such trousers folded
thereover so that they will hang suspended from the cross-rod when the latter is
replaced in the frame. Any one rod may be removed and replaced without dis-
turbing others.
C is a chain one end of which is attached to a door or wall, centrally above the
inner end of the frame, by a hook d. The outer end of this chain is secured to the
outer cross-bar a¹. The trousers are applied to the frame when the latter is lowered
into an approximately horizontal position, after which it is raised into a nearly
perpendicular line by causing one of the links of the chain, near the outer end of
the latter, to engage hook d.
For convenience in packing for shipment the several parts of the frame may be
readily and easily disconnected by removing the thumb-nuts and screws holding
the several bars of the frame.
From what has been said it will be seen that I have provided an extremely
simple and inexpensive rack for trousers; that the supporting-rods are not liable
to turn in their bearings; that the parts may be readily disconnected for shipment
in a trunk, or the like, and also that neckties, or other articles of personal wear,
may be suspended from the frame. The latter may also be used in a stable for
hanging horse-blankets therefrom.
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 rack pivoted at one end having its sides provided with opposite series of
slots, each of which has an inner branch formed with a straight wall, a series of
cross-rods having their ends fitted in said slots, each of said rods having at each
end a flat surface corresponding to the straight wall of its respective slot, and means
for holding said rack raised or lowered, substantially as set forth.
2. A rack having longitudinal side bars provided with open-ended slots formed
with inner branches, each slot having a curved wall and an opposite straight wall,
a series of cross-rods fitted at their ends in said slots, each of said rods having at
each end a rounded portion and a flat surface corresponding, respectively, to
portions of the walls of said slots, and means for holding said rack raised or lowered,
substantially as set forth.
3. The frame herein-described composed of two longitudinal bars and two cross-
bars, screws having thumb-nuts for holding said bars together, a supplemental
bar hinged to one of said cross-bars, and having thumb-screws at its ends, said
longitudinal bars having open-ended slots provided with inner straight portions,
each of said slots having a curved wall and an opposite flat wall, and a series of
cross-rods having their ends provided with rounded portions and flat surfaces,
corresponding, respectively, to the walls of said slots, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 4th day of October 1898.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.