US2223462A - Curtain stretcher - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1940.

H. ROSENTHAL CURTAIN STRETCHER Fild Dec. :50, 1937 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 D H. ROSENTHAL 2,223,462

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Dec. 30, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 wiy flaw/225%! Dec. 3,1940.

H. ROSENTHAL CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Dec. 30, 1937 4 sheets-sheet 5 Dec. 3, 1940. H. ROSENTHAL CURTAIN STRETQHER Filed Dec. 50, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 3, 1940 PATENT oFFicE oUItrams'mETonER Harry Rosenthal, Assistant; fiat-tater 30, 1937', seen N; mains 8 Claims; (o1. 3440i f i 't jrl ceti a le e v, to ce ta n s re h n a d dryin a parat s m re pa ticularl to t pb ratts s. character font n unerie Worcle n n Esta i h n s W er u te hd ired All QKl-V and te n h: ls e t hraa ldr curta n ei nlar e uan.t.. t s nd the. inv ntion ha r a o ect lc s iqn mpl iab n hly efficient apnara ,or,th. .s. character. r

t t 9 t eset urtai rstr tch nslnd dr ing dtr eesand a aratu havehe i tc q e ma tra: Yideqrm ny Qflwhic eareadap ed o at iustrnen tartc yc. cu n .of yariws izesan so 9 to provide a curtain stretching and drying appa 25 ratuslwhich is inexpensive to manufacture, which may be easily and .quickly operated by unskilled persons; and which is adaptedfor. receiving at one time, a plurality of curtains.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a curtain stretching; frame which is readilyadjustable to receive curtains of various sizes v'vhichat all times'maintains in correct alignment the edges of. the curtain and in which z the adjustable parts of the frame are effectively 35 counterbalanced. r i

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which a varying number of curtain stretching frames may be employed for a a simultaneous drying operation, the organization 40 of the apparatus being such that additional frames may be installedwhen desired. In carryingoutthe invention in one form, a supporting frame is provided which includes a plurality of channel-shaped members arranged in oppositely disposed spaced relation to form vertical tracks for a plurality or curtain stretching frames. An;insulated drying chamber encloses the upper portion of the vertical tracks and is provided with inlet and outlet means for effecting uniform circulation of drying air through the chamber,; the lower wall ofjthe chamber having an qpenil through which the curtain stretching t... ira e, may e ed in o and. out 'f-th the e 83 her, the opening being substantially closed when all of thelfra'mes' are in their u permost p sitron within the chamber. H p 2 V 2 The curtain stretching frames are adapted for vertical movement iii the tracks formed by the channel members, and in orderto provide for 5 easy assembly of the frames" in the tracks each frame is preferably of aflength less than the Width at its track. Accorqingiyonend of each frame may be inserted into thechannel member s forming one side or the track and the fr ame it) ali "ed ereiipon the otheijnd of a" g of curtain and, securing means exten ing r fon'esl'de and one end' of the frame, or ref 'eeivnig qii edge and one endt'tthe bur to pe stretchea; bf tlhlefid members o'fthe frarrfe is grooved to receive ene erid or at anjiistabl u'i'ta'ifi receivirig bar upon which the opposite edge' offjtlie turtam is attested to be secured; and m ans ar provided rt r constantly iii'taifiiiig e a;a usta 1e bar in paraua relation' to the *fdes of the frame, suittime latch mea t-ein'gprovidedittr lockirigthe. bjar se L, "s'itiqns corresponding t0- the Width Of the .toibestretche p by any "0 tier prbpejrl'y tens apart; t eremaimng tend of th curtain to be stretched; another curtainrec member is provided, the end portions it or win 11' are arrange to engage suitably torched 35.

m mbers or matesextending along the upper an qwersiaes or theifr'ame, certain of the notc es beingobliquelyarral ed to thattheforce exert d on the curtain suppt' tmgiri ember by the curt in fios'itivly retains. the mem er in' the notches. 40

In order further to provide for easy adjustment of the, frame ,to different size curtains, counter-'- weights are provided for facilitating movement of the adjustable curtain-receiving bar and the frames themselves'arecounterweighted to facilitate movend'entlof the frames along their vertical tracks. j p x t Fora more complete understanding of the invention reference. should now be had to the drawings, in which; r

.Figure l'is an elevational View of a curtain stretching and drying apparatus embodying the inv hti'o abortion of the drying chamber being br way more clearly to illustrate the constructidfial details;

ber adapted to be used interchangeably with the member shown in Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of the latch means for the adjustable curtain-receive ing bar, the section .through thebarbeingtaken substantially along the line 6 S of Fig. 1';

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view.

taken along the line of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 8 is a similar detail sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. l;

Fig. 9 isa similarfragmentary sectional view taken along the line 99 of Fig. 1

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken'along the line lii lil of Fig. 8; and j I v v Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating a constructional detail of one of the curtain-receiving frames. I

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown as comprising a curtain stretching and drying apparatus having a drying chamber l0 mounted ata predetermined height above a rigid base member or floor II on 'a supporting frame which includes side members 12 and I3 secured to the base H by suitable angle irons 14. As shown, the side members l2 and I3 comprise panels or wall membersjjfFigs. 8 and 9) which'extend only to the'bottom of the drying chamber Ill, and a plurality of U-shaped channel members 15 and I6 which extend upwardly from the top of the panel members to a point adjacent the top of the drying chamber and which are braced by suitable members II'.

The channel members l5 and I6 are arranged in oppositely'disposed relation with the flanges thereof facing inwardly so that each of the channels l5 cooperates with one of the channels IE to provide a .vertical track for slidably guiding one of the curtain stretching frames indicated generally by the reference numeral l8 for movement into and out of the drying chamber I0 through an opening in the lower wall thereof. The curtain stretching frames IS, the constructional details of which will be fully described hereinafter, may be moved between a lowermost; position shown in Fig. 2, in which position curtains may readily be applied to the frames, and an uppermost position shownin Fig. 3 in which position the curtains are subjected to a drying action within the chamber It.

As shown, the chamber H3 is provided with insulatingwalls which preferably include outer panels l'9,(Figs. l and 7) formed of Sheet metal or other suitable'material, and inner panels 20 formed of suitable heat insulating material spaced from the panels l9 to provide dead air spaces therebetween. Although any suitable means may be employed for drying the ;curt'ains within the chamber ID, the drying action is preferably accomplished by means of a forced circulation of drying air over the curtains within the chamber. Thus the chamber H), as shown, is provided with an'inlet "Z lin the lower portion of the right-hand,

wall, and an air-impelling means such as a fan 22 having air directing vanes 23 is arranged in the inlet for forcing air into the chamber and directing the air upwardly therein. If desired, the fan inlet may be connected to a suitable source of dry hot air or heating means, such for example as electric heating units, may be directly associated with the fan. In the opposite side wall of the chamber If] an outlet 24 is provided located in the lower portion of the left-hand wall, and the drying air in-passing through the chamber i0 is uniformly distributed over the surfaces of the curtains on the frames l8, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 2 and 3.

As shown best in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the curtain stretching frames 18 are located closely adjacent each other, and accordingly when all of the frames are in their respective uppermost positions the frames are effective substantially to close the opening in the lower wall of the chamber and thus prevent substantial heat loss through this opening. In order to provide for ease of movement 0f-the frames-I8 in the vertical tracks formed by the channels [5 and I6, counterweights are provided for the frames, a single counterweight being associated with each frame. Referring now to Figs. 1 and 7, each of the counterweights 25 is provided with a' pair of spaced ears 26 for supporting a rod 21 having a pulley 28 journaled thereon between the ears 28. Passing through thepulley 28 so as to support the counterweight 25, is afiexible strand 29 such, for example, as a wire or cord, the opposite ends of the strand 29 being connected, as shown in Fig. 1, to the respective upper corners of the associated frame l8, and the intermediate portions of the strand 29 passing over suitable pulleys 30, 3!, and 32 supported adjacent the top of the drying chamber l0. Thus the strand 29, the left-hand end of which is connected'to the upper left-hand corner of the frame-l8, first passes over the pulley 3i], then over the pulley 32, through the pulley 28 on the counterweight 25 and over the pulley 3|, the right-hand end of the strand being connected to the upper right-hand corner of the framel8.- By means of thearrangement justydescribed, one of the usual counterweights necessary for counterbalancing-a vertically movable frame, such for example as a' window frame, is dispensedwith, and in order to prevent twisting of the counterweights 25 the outer end of each of" the rods..21 is formed to provide an eyelet 33for encircling a vertically extending guide rod 34. Oneof these guide rods 34 is provided in connection with each counterweight, the upper end of the guide rods being secured ,to thetop of the chamber l0 and the lower ends of the guide rods 34, as shown in Fig. 1, being supported on an angle iron 35 secured to a panel member 36 which, in conjunction with a pair of panel members 31' and theright-hand-side member l3 of the supportingframe .(Fig. 8) forms a chamber for receiving the counterweights 25 when the frames l8 are in their uppermost positions as shown best in Fig. 3. f

V Although. the counterweights 25 are so correassets hereinafter, is provided, as shown best in Figs. 8 and 10, with a facing member 38 having a series of regularly spaced indentations 39, and a latch rnernber Allis provided whichis arranged to extend through afsuitable aperture in one flange of the-associated channel member I6 so as selectively to engage the indentations 39 to lock the frame 18 in any desiredposition.

The latch member 40, as shown in Fig. 10, is slidably mounted in; a guide 4| carried on the upper endof a pivoted lever 42 and is provided with a backing spring 43 for normally urging the latch rneinber 49, to the position shown. The

pivoted member 42 is mounted on a pivot pin 44 supported onjthe panel member I3 and is adapted to be moved from the heavy line position to the broken line position shown in Fig. 10.

So long "as the pivoted lever 42 occupies its normalheavy line position it will be apparent that the frame is will be automatically locked in any selected position upon movement thereto by engagement of the spring-pressed latch with one of theindentations 39, the backing spring 43 permitting'movement of the frame H? from the selected position upon the exertion of a force sufficiently great to overcome the locking force. Incase it is desired to render the locking means ineffective, it is necessary only to move the pivoted lever A2 to the broken-line position, and in order positively to retain the pivoted lever 42 in either of its" positions as desired, the lower end of the lever is provided with a spring-pressed catch 45 the inner end of which engages suitably spaced apertures 46 (Fig. 10) in the panel I3.

Considering now the constructional details of the curtain stretching frames l8, each of these frames, 'as shown, comprises upper and lower side members 4? and 48 respectively, and right and left- hand end members 49 and 50 respectively,

arranged to form a rigid frame. The upper side member 47 and the left-hand end member are respectively provided with suitable curtain-receiving means shown as comprising strips 5|. and 52 respectively, of a material known in the art'as card cloth. This card cloth as shown fest inFig. 9 consists of a plurality of very fine needles or pointed'members mounted in a supporting base member of suitable resilient materialj As. will be understood by those skilled one in the art, the needles or pointed members which form a card cloth are sufliciently fine to permit engagement of a curtain or other suitable fabric therewith without injury to the material of the curtain. Thus by means of the strips 5| and 52 edge and one end of the curtain to be stretched may be securedto the upper side member and the left-hand end member 59 of the frame 18.

In order properly to support the opposite edge ofa curtain to be stretched, regardless of the width of the curtain each of the frames [3 is provided with a horizontally extending curtain-engaging bar 53 which is provided with a similar strip of card cloth 54 extending therealong, and

suitable vertically extending grooves 55a. for receiving the opposite ends of the horizontal bar 53 so as to guide the bar for vertical movement, and the end members 49 and 59 of the frame constitute hollow members so as to provide a space for receiving suitable counterweights 55 for counterbalanci'ng the horizontal bar 53 and 3 facilitating vertical movementthereof; As shown, each of the counterweights 55 is conhected by a flexible strand 56' to one endof the horizontal bar 53, and the strands 56 pass over suitable pulleys -51 journaled in the hollow end members 49 and 50 adjacent the upper ends thereof.

In order to insure that curtainsapplied to the frames l8 will be properly stretched and dried,

it is necessary at all times to maintain the vertical movable curtain receiving bar 53 in substantially parallerrelation with the upper side member 4'l,nand accordingly the bar 53 is provided with means adapted automatically to main tain the bar in such parallel relation. This means, as shown best in Figs. 1,6, and 8, consists of a pair of flexible strands 58 and 59 arranged with the opposite ends of each strand permanently secured to diagonally opposite corners of i the frame [8, with the intermediate portions of the strands passing over and under suitable double-"grooved pulleys 60 and BI rotatably sup ported on theopposite ends of the bar 53. As shown, the bar 53 is hollowed out to receive the pulleys 69 and 6| and is likewise formed with an opening 62 (Fig. 6). which extends between the pulleys 60 and 6|, so that the bar 53 is hollow throughout substantially its entire length. The flexible strand 58, which is secured to an eyelet 53 adjacent the upper left-hand corner of the frame l8, extends through an aperture, Fig. 9, in

the upper edge of the bar 63 and passes under the pulley 60, along the opening 62, over thepulley 9!, and the opposite end of the strand 58 is secured to an eyelet 64 adjacent the lower righthand corner of the frame. Similarly, the strand 59 extends from an eyelet 65 adjacent the lower left-hand corner of the frame, over the pulley 69, along the opening 62, under the pulley 6|, and its other end is secured to an eyelet 66 adjacent the upper right-hand corner of the frame [8.

It will be apparent that whenever an attempt is made to raise the left-hand end of the bar 53, the strand 59, which passes-over the pulley 69 and under the pulley 6|, will cause the righthand end of the bar 53 to becorrespondingly raised. Similarly, when the left-hand end of the bar 53 is lowered, the strand 58, which passes over the pulley 6|, effects a similar lowering of the right-hand end of the bar 53. 53 is at all times maintained in parallel relation to the upper side member 41 regardless of the vertical position of the bar.-

Although the counterweights 55 serve to main- Thus the bar tain the bar 53 in a substantially balanced convided with a plurality of apertures 68 adapted to receive the latch tip of a pivoted latch member 69 mounted on a pivot pin 10 carried by the cross bar 53. The'latch member 69 may be withdrawn from the latching position shown in Fig. 6 when it is desired to move the bar 53, and in order to limit the backward movement of the latch member 69 a stop pin H is provided which extends across the top of the bar 53 and is arranged abuttingly to engage the upper edge of the bar. 1

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, proper stretching and drying of curtains and similar materials requires that all'four edges of the curtain be rigidly supported, and a'e'co'rdingiy each of the frames 18 is provided, in addition to the curtainsecuring strips 5|, 52, and 54 which serve tosupport three edges of the curtain, with a curtain-receiving member 12 (Fig. 4) which is adapted to support the end of the curtain opposite from the end secured to the strip of card cloth 52 on theleft-hand end member 59. This curtain-receiving member 12 con'sistsof a bar adapted to be passed'throu'gh the loop or open seam that is ordinarily formed along one end of a curtain, and the opposite ends of this bar are formed as shown to engage suitably notched platesrespectivelysecured to the upper and lower side members, and 48 of the frame l8. Thus, as shown, the upper side member 41 is provided with an angle iron 13 having a vertically extending portion provided with a series of notches "l4, and the upper end of the bar 12 is provided with a hooked arm 15 arranged selectively to engage any desired one of the notches 14 depending upon the length of the curtain'to be stretched. Similarly, the lower side member 48 is provided with a notched plate 76, the configuration of which is shown best in Fig. 4, and a horizontally extending portion of this plate is provided with a series of notches 11 for receiving the lower end portion iii of the curtain-receiving member or bar 12. As shown best in Fig. 4, the notches 11 are arranged obliquely with respect to the edge of the plate it, so that the force exerted on the bar 12 by a curtain being stretched tends to urge the end portion 18 of the bar 12 toward the bottom of the notches ll so as to positively retain the bar 12 in the desired position.

In some cases it may be desired to stretch and dry curtains of the type not provided with an open seam or loop for receiving a bar such as the bar 12, shown in Fig. 4, and accordingly a slightly different form of curtain-receiving bar is provided which may be used interchangeably with the bar 12. This second type of bar, which is shown best in Fig. 5, comprises a body portion l9 which carries a strip of card cloth 80 to which the curtain may be secured, the upper end of the member being provided with a pair of hooked arms 81 for engaging selected ones of the notches '54 in the notched plate 13, and the lower end of the member 19 being provided with extending leg portions 82 for engaging certain of the notches 11 in the lower notched plate 16. v

To position a curtain for stretching and drying the same with the improved apparatus embodying this invention,the curtain-receiving bar 53 is adjusted vertically to a position corresponding to the width of the-curtain. If the curtain is provided with a loop, bar 12 is passed through the curtain loop and is then. placed in the proper notch in the plates 13 and 16. Thereafter the opposite end of the curtain is fastened. to the card cloth strip 52. When the ends of the curtain are secured the sides are then fastened to the card cloth strips 5| and 54. If bar 19 is employed, the same proce'dure'is followed, except that after it has been properly positioned in accordance with the length of the curtain, the

end of the curtain is first secured to the card cloth strip 39. Thereafter, as just hereinabove described, the opposite end is secured to the card cloth strip 52 and the sides to the card cloth strips ii and 54. As soon asthe curtain is thus secured to the frame the entire frame is slid upwardly along the track formed by the channels l5 and Hi to. the positionshown in Fig. 3, and the curtain is'thus subjected to the. drying ly the frames are so arranged as to provide for easy removal from the tracks formed by the channels l5 and I6. Thus, as shown in Fig. 8, a spacing member 83 is provided which forms a part of the frame [8 but which is separate from the right-hand end member 49 and extends along the edge of the member 49 in abutting relation therewith. The total length of the frame l8 when considered separately from the spacing member 83, is less than the distance between the channel members I5 and i6, and accordingly insertion of the frame member into its track may be accomplished simply by inserting the spacing member 83 into one of the channels,

inserting the opposite end of the frame l8 into the other channel, and then bringing the adjacent end of the frame I8 into alignment with the spacing'member 83, whereupon the spacing member 83 may be secured to the end frame member 49. Although any suitable means may be provided for thus securing the spacing member 83 to the end frame member 49, a preferred arrangement is shown in Fig. 11 as comprising a pair of cooperating connecting members 84 and 85, which are similar in construction to ordinary hinge members, and which are provided with alternately arranged cars 86 and 81, respectively, for receiving a connecting pin. not shown, when members 93 and 49 are brought into abutting engagement. This connecting pin, upon completion of the assembly,extends through the continuous aperture formed by the ears 86 and 87 and securely locks the members 83 and 49 together, it being understood of course that a similar pair of connecting members is provided on the lower ends of the members 49 and 93. When assembled, the total length of the frame 18 plus the width of the spacing member 83 is substantially equal to the width of the track formed by the channels l5 and I6, only sumcient clearancev being provided to permit ready assembly of the connecting members 84 and 85, and it will be clear that the frame is thus permanently positioned in the channels and can be removed therefrom only by disconnection of the members 84 and 85.

It will thus be seen that the curtain stretching and drying apparatus embodying the present invention provides for easy manipulation of the curtains relative to the stretching frames I8, and is so arranged that the Various parts will be at all times maintained in correct alignment, all of the parts being so counterbalanced and correlated as to permit easy adjustment thereof to accommodate curtains of various sizes. In some cases it may be desirable to provide indicia for indicating the distance of the curtain-re ceiving bar 53 from the upper side member 41, or for indicating the distance of the bars 12 or F9 from the left-hand end member 50. If so desired, this indicia may of course be applied along the cross member 61 and along the side members 41 and 48 adjacent the notched plates 13 and I6.

wh l mrtieula emb dime ts of h i fore contemplated by the appended claims to cover an? SW11 mqdifications asfall within the tru p ri and am o the in e t en- I claim:

, 1 A, stretching and drying apparatus comprising a supporting frameincluding channel members disposed in spaced relation to form a plurality of tracks of predetermined width, each ac comnr i s a air o vchannel mbe withthe flanges thereof extending toward each other,

5a drying chamber enclosing the upper portions of said tracks and having an opening in the botm Wall her of, plurality of curtain stretching frames adapted to be moved into and out of said chamber through said opening, the length of each frame being less than the width of its associated track whereby one end of each frame may be inserted into one of said channel members and the frame aligned with its track, spacing members adapted to be inserted in the opposite channel of each track for abuttingly engaging the opposite ends of said frames, the total length of each frame and its spacing member being substantially equal to the width of the tracks, detachable means for securing said spacing members to said frames to provide for sliding movement of said frames along said tracks, and individual counterbalancing means associated with each frame to provide for facile movement of said frames into and out of said chamber along said tracks.

2. In a curtain stretching and drying apparatus, the combination of a pair of rigidly mounted channel members disposed in spaced relation to form a track of predetermined width, with the flanges of said channel members extending inwardly toward each other, a curtain stretching frame the length of which is less than the width of said track whereby one end of said frame may be inserted into one of said channel members and the frame aligned with said track, a spacing comprising a supporting frame including oppositely disposed channel members arranged to form vertically extending tracks, a drying chamber enclosing the upper portions of said tracks and having an opening in the bottom wall thereof,- a plurality of curtain stretching frames mounted in said vertical tracks for sliding movement through said opening into and out of said drying chamber, pulleys mounted adjacent the upper corners of said drying chamber and counterweights for said frames, each of said counterweights having a pulley jourhalled therein for engaging a flexible member passing over said pulleys in said chamber, there being a single counterweight and a single flexible member associated with each frame, the opposite ends of each flexible member being secured to opposite sides of the associated frame and each flexible member passing through the pulley of the associated counterweight to support said counterweight.

4. A curtain stretching and drying apparatus form vertically extending tracks, a drying chamber enclosing the' l pfiljwportions of said tracks d avi an ope in i th o e wa e of, means for introducing a current of air into one side of said chamber adjacent thebottomand for exhausting said air at-the opposite side of said chamber adjacent the bottom, a plurality-of curtain stretching" frames mounted in said vertical tracks for sliding movement through said opening into and out of, said drying chamber,

pulleys mounted adjacent the-upper corners of said drying chamber and counterweights forsaid frames, each of said counterweights having apul ley journalled therein for engaging a flexible m r pa ing o e a ru ys n a d 1amr her being a in le cqu e weishtand a ngle flex ble, rv a er ssociat w th: ac me; th pp sit ends of ea h flexi e mem: ber being secured to opposite sides of the associated frame and each flexible member passing through the pulley of the associated counterweight to support said counterweight.

5. A curtain stretching and. drying apparatus comprising a supporting frame including oppositely disposed channel members arranged to form vertically extending tracks, a drying chamber enclosing the upper portions of said tracks and having an opening in the bottom wall thereof, said chamber being of a sufficient height above the bottom of said tracks to permit the complete withdrawal of said curtain stretching frames below said chamber whereby curtains may be readily applied to and removed from said frames, a plurality of curtain stretching frames mounted in said vertical tracks for sliding movement through said opening into and out of said drying chamber, pulleys mounted adjacent the upper corners of said drying chamber and counterweights for said frames, each of said counterweights having a pulley journalled therein for engaging a flexible member passing over said pulleys in said chamber, there being a single counterweight and a single flexible member associated with each frame, the opposite ends of each flexible member being secured to opposite sides of the associated frame and each flexible member passing through the pulley of the associated counterweight to support said counterweight. I a

6. A curtain stretching and drying apparatus comprising a supporting frame including a plurality of oppositely disposed channel members arranged to form vertically extending tracks, a drying chamber enclosing the upper portions of said tracksand having an opening in the bottom wall thereof, a plurality of curtain stretching frames mounted for independent sliding movement along said vertical tracks through said opening, means for counterbalancing said frames to provide for facile movement thereof into and out of said chamber, means for securing curtains of various sizes to said stretching frames while said frames are in their lowermost position, said stretching frames when in their uppermost positions Within said chamber substantially closing said opening and means including inlet and outlet means adjacent the bottom of said chamber for introducing hot air into said chamber and exhausting cool air therefrom whereby a current of air passes across the curtains on said stretching frames.

'7. In a curtain stretching and drying apparatus having a plurality of stretching frames slidable into and out of a drying chamber along vertical tracks, the combination of counterbalancing means for providing facile movement of said frames, said counterbalancing means including a single counterweight for each frame, a pulley journalled in each counterweight, a single flexible strand for each weight, the opposite ends of said strand being respectively connected to the opposite upper corners of the asso'ciated frame and an intermediate portion offsaid strand passing through said pulley on said counterweight, pulleys fixedly mounted for rotation supporting other portions of said strand, and guiding means for said counterweight arranged to prevent twisting of said weight during vertical movement thereof.

8, In a curtain stretching and drying apparatus having a plurality of stretching frames slidable into and out of a drying chamber along vertical tracks, the combination of counterbalanc- 'ing means for providing facile movement of said HARRY ROSENTHAL.

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