Picture-Cord Fasteners
Year: 1887

page_text: I, ADOLPH GUSTAVE HOFSTATTER of 111 and 113 East Thirteenth Street, New
York, in the County and State of New York, United States of America, wood-carver,
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:
My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in Picture-Cord Fasteners;
and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference
marked thereon, making a part of this specification, in which :-
:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of one of my improved convolute cord holders for fastening
the ends of picture-cords. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the holder, illustrating
its use in connection with a knotted cord; Fig. 3, a side view of the device holding a
knotted cord, the frame to which it is secured being illustrated in section; Fig. 4, a
similar view of a frame carrying a convolute holder supporting a looped cord;
Fig. 5 being a detached view in perspective of the holder and looped cord; and
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modification in which the central end of the spiral is
extended outward to form the stem or shank of the convolute holder.
My invention has for its object to provide means for readily making fast the ends
of a picture-cord to a picture-frame and to provide a firm secure support for the same,
and likewise to facilitate a ready adjustment of the length of the cord.
Ordinarily the picture-cord is fastened to the frame by means of eyes or rings,
through which the cord or wire is led and then tied in a knot or twisted upon itself.
With these rings it is a difficult matter to properly adjust a picture or to change its
adjustment or to detach it from the cord for any purpose. These difficulties are all
overcome by the use of my Invention.
The invention consists of a bit of stiff inelastic wire coiled in the form of a flat
spiral or convolute, and which terminates, preferably at its outer end, in a stem
projecting therefrom radially in the plane of the spiral, or at an angle therewith.
This stem may be either threaded to form a screw or made fast to a base-plate, by
which to attach it to any desired surface through the agency of independent screws or
nails.

page_text: In its simplest form my improved cord-holder is made of a rod or bit of wire, A,
more or less stout, as required, which is turned at one end into a convolute or flat
spiral coil, B, as shown in Fig. 1, and whose opposite outer end, C, left to project as a
stem radially in the plane of the flat spiral, is pointed and threaded to form a gimlet-
pointed screw which may be readily entered into and will obtain firm hold upon the
picture-frame or other object to which it is to be attached.
While it is preferable that the stem C be pointed and threaded as a means of
attachment for the device, it may be riveted or otherwise secured to a flat base-plate
at a right angle to the plane of the spiral, said base-plate being then made to serve as
a means by which to fasten the plate with nails or screws to the frame or other object,
as desired.
It is evident, also, that the inner end of the coiled rod may be made to project at a
right angle to the plane of the spiral and be threaded, as shewn in Fig. 6, to serve as
a means for the support of the holder, although the use of the outer end of the coiled
rod for the purpose is preferable.
In the use of this convolute picture-cord holder it is only necessary to secure a
button or to form a knot, E, at the end of the picture cord or wire G, as shown in
Figs. 2 and 3, and to slip the portion of the cord above the knot into the spiral coil
along its open convolutions for a short distance. As the knot cannot slip through
between the convolutions it affords a firm hold and attachment for the cord, admitting,
however, of very ready detachment by simply slipping or sliding the cord back out of
the convolutions of the spiral. By slipping the knot forward until the centre of the
coil is reached the security of the fastening is improved.
The length of the cord may be readily adjusted with reference to the holder by
forming a series of knots, F, F, E., in the cord, as shown in Fig. 3.
Instead of using a knot as a means of connecting the cord or wire with the holder,
a loop, H, may be made in the end of the cord and slipped into the convolutions, as
illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. By slipping this loop inward until the innermost turn
is reached, as shown in Fig. 4, a very secure support is afforded to the cord by the
double turns, 1, 2, of the wire cord.
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. In a device for fastening picture-cords to the picture-frame, the combination of
an inelastic rigid coil whose several turns enlarge in diameter spirally from centre to
circumference, with means, substantially as described, for its attachment to the frame.
2. The holder for fastening cords to picture-frames, constructed of a stiff wire rod
bent in the form of a coil whose several turns enlarge in diameter spirally from centre
to circumference, one end of which is made to project radially in the plane of the
spiral to constitute a stem for the support and attachment of the coil to the frame,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
3. The combination, with a convolute spirally-coiled holder provided with means,
substantially as described, for its attachment, of a knotted-cord made fast to the holder
by the engagement of its enlarged portion with the convolutions of the spiral,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
D
2012
M1007