An Improved Clip for Holding Mats and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Clip for Holding Mats and the like.
I, GEORGE GLENNIE ATKINS, 22, Blackheath Road, Greenwich, S.E., Upholsterer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in means for holding mats, carpets,
rugs, and the like, securely in position and at the same time allowing them to
be easily removed when so required.
It is well known that considerable inconvenience arises from the mats continually
getting displaced from their proper positions, in wiping the feet thereon, or in
walking across or kicking against the edge or surface of the mat.
In order to overcome this inconvenience I provide one or more bracket clips,
made of brass, iron, spring steel or any convenient metal, and fix the same in
such a manner that the bottom end of each said bracket bears upon the upper
surface of the mat or the like, sufficiently so as to hold it tightly down to the
floor.
These said bracket clips are made of such a shape, that they can be fixed to a
door post, step, wall, skirting board, or other convenient fixture adjacent to the
mat, and so that they may bear upon the corners, sides, or ends of the mat as may
be required.
I make these said bracket clips, preferably of flat sheet metal, of convenient
length, width, and thickness, but they may be constructed of wire or metal of a
round or other convenient section.
The upper or bracket part is provided with holes for screwing or fixing to the
wall, door-post or adjacent fixture, and the lower or tongue part is a prolongation
of the same, bent out a right angles or thereabouts and curved to an arch or
bridge shape, the end thereof terminating in a lip or tongue, formed by bending
hack the metal, so as to prevent the said end from tearing or otherwise injuring
the surface of the mat or rug.
It will be readily understood that when the bracket part of the clip is screwed
or fixed to place, and the tongue end bears tightly down on the surface of the mat,
the said mat is held in its place, but should it be desired to remove the mat, the
arched part of the clip provides a loop under which the fingers or some lever can
be applied, for raising the tongue or lip slightly, which the elasticity or spring
of the metal will allow, and that portion of the mat under the clip is thereby
released.
I may however as an alternative, make the lower or tongue part straight instead
of an arch or bridge shape as hereinbefore described, in which case, the tongue
or end is turned up into a semicircular shape, so that the fingers or lever can
he inserted to raise the clip when required, or. I provide a ring or loop on the
end, for the same purpose.
I also provide a modification of this said clip, by making bracket of a single
plate, either flat, channel, or L shape, as may be convenient, on to which I fix a
pin, on which is hinged a lever or arm. This arm is controlled by a spring,

page_text: somewhat after the manner of a sash fastener. so that when the lower end of the
said arm or lever is pulled down to grip the upper surface of the mat or rug,
the spring keeps it fixed downward and bearing on the mat, and the said lever
can only be raised by applying a force sufficient to overcome the resistance of the
spring.
This invention may also be applied in the same manner and for the same
purpose as hereinbefore described, for seatings, cushions, and other similar
articles.
Dated this 20th day of October 1897
I, GEORGE GLENNIE ATKINS, 22, Blackheath Road, Greenwich, S.E., Upholsterer,
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 means for holding mats, carpets,
rugs, and the like, securely in position, and at the same time allowing them to
be easily removed when so required.
It is well known that considerable inconvenience arises from the mats continually
getting displaced from their proper positions in wiping the feet thereon, or in
walking across or kicking against the edge or surface of the mat.
In order to overcome this inconvenience I provide one or more bracket clips
made of brass, iron, spring steel, or any convenient metal,, and fix the same in
such a manner that the bottom end of each said bracket bears upon the upper
surface of the mat or the like sufficiently so as to hold it tightly down to the
floor.
These said bracket clips are made of such a shape that they can be fixed to a
door post, step, wall, skirting board, floor, or other convenient fixture adjacent to the
mat, and so that they may bear upon the corners, sides or ends of the mat as may
be required.
-
I make these said bracket clips, preferably of flat sheet metal, of convenient
length, width, and thickness, but they may be constructed of wire or metal of a
round or other convenient section.
The upper or bracket part is provided with holes for screwing or fixing to the
wall, door post, or adjacent fixture, and the lower or tongue part is a prolongation
of the same, bent out at right angles or thereabouts, and curved to an arch or
bridge shape, the end thereof terminating in a lip or tongue, formed by bending
back the metal, so as to prevent the said end from tearing or otherwise injuring
the surface of the mat or rug.
It will readily be understood that when the bracket part of the clip is screwed
or fixed to place, and the tongue end bears tightly down on the surface of the mat,
the said mat is held in its place, but should it be desired to remove the mat, the
arched part of the clip provides a loop under which the fingers or some lever can
be applied, for raising the tongue or lip slightly, which the elasticity of the metal
will allow, and that portion of the mat under the clip is thereby released.
I may however as an alternative, make the lower or tongue part straight instead
of an arch or bridge shape as hereinbefore described, in which case,
the tongue

page_text: or end is turned up into a semicircular shape, so that the finger or lever can
be inserted to raise the clip when required, or, I provide a ring or loop on the
end for the same purpose.
I also provide a modification of this said clip by making the bracket of a single
plate, either flat, channel or L shape as may be convenient, on to which I fix a
pin, on which is hinged a lever or arm. This arm is controlled by a spring,
somewhat after the manner of a sash fastener, so that when the lower end of the
said arm or lever is pulled down to grip the upper surface of the mat or rug,
the spring keeps it fixed downward and bearing on the mat, and the said lever
can only be raised by applying a force sufficient to overcome the resistance of the
spring.
This invention may also be applied in the same manner and for the same
purpose as herein before described, for seatings, cushions and other similar
articles.
In order that this invention may be readily understood, I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents the
improved clip as herein before described, having the part bearing upon the mat,
rug, or the like, curved to an arch or bridge shape, Figs. 2 and 3, modifications
of the same with the bracket part horizontal for fixing to the floor or other similar
fixture. Fig. 4 is a further modification shewing the bearing surface flat, and
terminating with the end turned up to form a hook, or as shewn in Fig. 5 with
a ring for pulling up the clip for the purpose of releasing the mat or the like.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 shew various modifications of clips which are provided with
springs to secure the pressure and elasticity for the purpose required, Fig. 9 being
an end view of Fig. 8.
In these drawings the same letters refer to the same parts in the several illus-
trations, A being the mat, 1 the floor, C the wall or other adjacent vertical fixing,
I the bracket part of the clip for screwing or fixing to the same, the arch
or bridge shape.end bearing upon the mat, F, (in Fig. 4) the flat end bearing upon
the mat, G the ring (Fig. 5) for raising the flat end clips, HHH, springs for
controlling the action of the clips as hereinbefore described. J, the pin or pivot
working in brackets upon which the clip turns when actuated by said springs.
It will be obvious that the various conditions and requirements under which the
said improved clips may be used, necessitate several modifications of the details,
examples of which are given in the accompanying drawings, and I do not confine
myself to these precise details and examples, but may use other variations so long
as the principle of my invention is maintained, that is to say, the provision of a
clip for mats and the like, fixed to a door post, wall, floor or other convenient
fixture, and which shall bear upon the upper surface of said mat, sufficiently.to
keep the said mat in place, and yet permit of easy removal of the same.
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. The provision of a clip for holding mats and the like in position, substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth and described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
2. The application of this invention to any kind of mat, rug, carpet, seating,
cushion, or other similar article, substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth, and described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dal thin 10th dow of T..1.. 1908
GEORGE GLENNIE ATKINS.