US2560150A - Clothesline prop - Google Patents

Description

y 11 1951 J. T. BATEMAN 2,560,150

- CLOTHES LINE PROP Filed May 20, 1947 FIG.

pub

, I I I @l v a /3 INVENTOR. JA/mss' 7'. aArsMA/v, no ,4 BY

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE James T. Bateman, Norfolk, Va.

Application May 20, 1947, Serial No. 749,298

'2' Claims. '1

This invention relates to a prop for supporting a line, such as a clothes line, at a point intermediate its length, and particularly concerns a prop of this character which may be easily adjusted and held in adjusted position to support the line at a desired level.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide :a" prop of the type:described"which is securely locked in any adjusted :positionpwhich; is-

simple inconstruction, and readily manufactured.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will be made fully apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with' the accompanyin drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a prop constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but taken at a right angle thereto and showing parts in section.

Referring to the drawing, the prop illustrated comprises a lower section II, and an upper section IZ. Both sections are preferably of metal pipe of such diameter that the upper section telescopes into the lower section. For example,

- the lower section I I may be formed of three quarters inch pipe and the upper section I2 of three eighths inch pipe. The lower end of the section II may be provided with a pointed end cap I3, or otherwise sharpened to permit this section to be forced into the ground. Preferably openings I4 are provided to release rain which might otherwise accumulate in the lower section. The upper or second section I2 is mounted in the lower or first section II for extensile and contractile movement. A longitudinal slot I5 is provided in the section II and a handle I6 projecting externally of the section I I and secured to the section I2 by a bolt I? extending through the slot I 5 permits the section I2 to be extended and contracted relative to the section I I.

In order'to lock the two sections in any adjusted position the upper end of the lower section is cut at an angle to its transverse dimension as indicated at I8, and a washer I9 surrounds the upper section I2 and is adapted to rest on the upper end of the lower section. The washer I9 has an opening corresponding to the outer diameter of the upper section I2 to the end that when the washer is normal to the section I2 said section may slide through the opening with only a small clearance therebetween. However, when the washer I9 is at an angle to the horizontal the 2 washer grips the section I2 preventing relative motion therebetween. The washer I9 is biased into an oblique or tilted position by a spring'20. Preferably one end of the spring 20 is secured to the lower section II by a clamp 2I, which clamp may be adjusted longitudinally of thelower sec tion II to adjust the tension of the spring '20. A screw 22 holds the clamp 2| in any adjusted position on the pipe II and also provides "a means to attach the spring 20 to the clamp. The other end of the spring 20 is attached to the outer elongated end of the washer I9 by means of an eye .bolt 23. Preferably the clamp .2I' does not completely surround the pipe I I, having anopen portion to clear, the slot I5, permittingthe movement of the handle I6 the full. length of the slot. I5.

The upper end of the section I2 is externally threaded to be received in the internally threaded socket 2 5 of a fitting member 25. The member 25 also includes an upper elongated plate 25' formed to have a line receiving hook 26 and an elongated plate 21 is pivoted on a bolt 28 which is secured to the member 25 and said plate 21 is provided with a hook portion 29 adapted to coact with the hook 26 to secure the line therebetween. A split washer 30 on the bolt 28 between the nut 3| and the member 25 permits the bolt 28 to be tightened sufiiciently to cause the lever 29 to frictionally engage the plate 25 when the lever is closed on the line, tending to hold the parts in closed position. It will be appreciated that thepivoted plate may be swung to and from its overlapping position with the stationary plate by manually engaging handle 21', the same being offset, as stated, in order to clear the enlarged socket of the fitting, all as shown in the drawings.

In the operation of the device it will be apparent that when the upper section I2 is lifted the washer I9 will tend to move into a horizontal position and the upper section I2 will slide through the opening in the washer. When the line has been adjusted to the desired level, and the weight of the line bears on the upper section, the washer I9 assumes an oblique position, the right hand end thereof resting on the upper end of the oblique cut I8, and the opposite end being biased downwardly by the spring 20, so that the washer securely grips the section I2. Any downward force due to the weight of the line, is in a direction to increase the tendency of the washer I9 to tilt and thus lock the two sections in adjusted position.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A clothes line prop comprising a first tubular section having one end open and having the other end pointed for insertion into the ground, a second section having one end extendin into the open end of said first section and mounted for extensile and contractile movement therein, a fitting member having one end adjacent to the other end of said second section and fixedly secured thereto, a hook on the other end of said fitting member for supporting a clothes line, a lever arranged in side by side relation with respect to said fitting member and mounted on the latter intermediate its ends for movement about an axis transverse of said fitting member toward and away from the latter, a second hook on the end of said lever adjacent the hook on said fitting member and facing the latter to thereby lock the clothes line therebetween, hand actuating means positioned exteriorly of and extending through said first named section and connected to said second named section adjacent said one end for efiecting the extensile and contractile movement of said second section, and a spring actuable means slidably engaging said second section and engageable with the open end of said first section for holding said second section in any select position of its expansible movement.

2. A clothes line prop comprising a first tubular section having one end open and having the other end pointed for insertion into the ground, a second section having one end extending into the open end of said first section and mounted for extensile and contractile movement therein, a fitting member having one end adjacent to the other end of said second section and fixedly secured thereto, a hook on the other end of said fitting member for supporting a clothes line, a lever arranged in side by side relation with re spect to said fitting member and mounted on the latter intermediate its ends for movement about an axis transverse of said fitting member toward and away from the latter, a second hook on the end of said lever adjacent the hook on said fitting member and facing the latter to thereby lock the clothes line therebetween, there being a longitudinally extending slot in said first section extending inwardly from said one end thereof and terminating at a point adjacent to and spaced from said pointed end, a bolt extending through said slot and having one end fixedly secured to said second section adjacent said one end of the latter, hand actuable means on the other end of said bolt for effecting the extensile and contractile movement of said second section, and a spring actuable means slidably engaging said second section and engageable with the open end of said first section for holding said second section in any select position of its expansible movement.

JAMES T. BATEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,505,137 Gee Aug. 19, 1924 1,681,192 McBride Aug. 21', 1928 2,215,759 Koehler Sept. 24, 1940 2,242,609 Hammar May 20, 1941 2,434,598 Stegall Jan. 13, 1948

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