US1278641A - Rope-clamp. - Google Patents

Description

W. HANCOX.

ROPE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1918.

1,278,64 1 Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

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W- HANCOX.

ROPE CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED APR. 20. 1918.

1,978,641. Patented Sept. 10, 191

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WILLIAM HANCOX, or HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

ROPE-CLAMP.

Speci fication of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 10, 1918.

Application filed April 20, 1918. Serial No. 229,768.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HANcoX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rope-Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in theatrical scenery trimmers, and the principal object of the invention is to provide means for permitting the adjustment of the ropes independently of each other.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- vide a clamp for each rope with means thereon for clamping the rope in any desired position and other means for adjusting the position of the clamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple and durable in construction, reliable andv eflicient in operation and one which can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a minimum cost.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 shows the invention connected with a theater drop curtain.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the device alone.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view of one of the clamps with the different parts thereof separated.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the clamp.

Fig. 6 is a cross section thereof.

In these drawings the curtain is shown at A, and said curtain is suspended by ll'l-GilllS of the three ropes or cables B. .These cables pass over suitable pulleys 0, carried by a beam D, forming a part of the stage of the theater. The ends of the ropes or cables are connected with a frame 1 which is composed of an upper cross-piece 2 and a lower cross-piece 3, and said cross-pieces are connected together by means of three rods 4.

The lower ends of the rods may be connected with the cross piece 3 in any suitable way but I prefer to connect said rods with the upper cross-piece by passing their upper ends through holes formed in said crosspiece and having their projecting ends receiving nuts 5. Each rod is provided with a plurality of annular notches 6, having their upper walls extending at right angles to the longitudinal plane of the rod and their lower walls tapering as shown. Each rod supports a clamping member 7 which is composed of a body part 8 having a hole 9 therein through which the rod passes, said body part having a stem 10 provided with a longitudinal slot 11 for receiving the rope or cable. The other parts of the clamping member consist of a washer 12 and the top piece 13. The washer 12 is provided on one face with a groove 1 1, and the body 8 is provided with a groove 15 coinciding with the slot 11. 'n the stem. When the rope is placed in the slot it will pass into said groove 15 and then the washer is placed over the stem, and the groove 14 therein will engage the rope. The stem is threaded so as to engage the screw threaded socket 16 in the top piece 13 so that when the top piece is screwed on to the stem it will cause the washer to clamp the rope between itself and the body. The top piece 13 is provided with a handle 17 to facilitate the turning thereof. A spring pressed plunger 18 is located in the end of the body 8 with its head projecting therefrom, so that said plunger may be readily grasped by the fingers and moved outwardly against the tension of the spring This spring normally holds the plunger with its inner end in en gagement with one of the notches 6 in therod, so as to prevent the clamping member from moving upwardly, but due to the tapered formation of the lower wall of the notch the clamping member may move downwardly.

A yoke 19 is secured to the lower side of the cross-piece 3 and this yoke is adapted to receive the sna hook 20 which supports the weight 21, which may be of any desired form. To keep the ropes from twisting I provide guide wires 22 which pass through eyes 23 carried at each end of the crossieces.

It will thus be seen that the ropes may be adjusted independently of each other so that the curtain may be easily trimmed.

The ropes may be adjusted either by moving the clamping members on the rods or by loosening the top piece 13 and adjusting the rope in the clamping member and then tightening the clamping pieces again.

While the device is shown as used with a drop curtain it will, of course, be understood that it may be used in connection with other devices, such as scenery, on ship board, and the like.

While the drawing shows the device provided with three clamping members it is, of course, understood that the device may be made to support a greater or lesser number.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fallv within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a movable frame, a plurality of clamping members carried by said frame and means for adjusting the position of said clamping members on the frame independently of each other.

2. A device of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality of clamping members carried thereby, means for adjusting the position of said members on the frame independently of each other and adjustable rope clamping means on said members. 37 A device of the class described comprising a frame including vertical rods',,a clamping member on each rod, means for adjusting said member on the rod and rope clamping means carried by said member. 7 j 7 4:. A device of theclass described comprising a frame including a number of vertical rods having notches therein, a clamping member slidably mounted on each of said rods, a spring plunger carried by each member and engaging the notches and rope clamping means on each member. j

5. A device of the class described comprising a frame including a number of vertical rods, a clamping member adjustably mounted on each rod and having a screw threaded and slotted stem, a washer engaging With said stem and a top piece having a screw thread socket for engaging said stem for clamping the Washer on to the rope.

6. A device. of the class described comprising a movable frame, a plurality of rope clamping means on said frame, guiding cables for the frame and eyes on the frame engaging said cables. i

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. WILLIAM HANCOX.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner '6'! mean,

Washington, D. G.

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