US2347711A - Stretcher frame for curtains and the like - Google Patents

Description

y 2, 1944. w. D. REDMOND 2,347,711

- STRETCHER FRAME FOR CURTAINS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 29, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BY itillmmfl Fedmmd y 1944- w. D. REDMOND STRETCHER FRAME FOR CURTAINS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1942 a INVENTOR. [11am 2. fieamaizd m, mwmyfim HTTOIPNEYS May 2, 1944.

w. D. REDMOND v 2,347,711 S TRETCHER FRAME FOR CURTAINS AND THE LIKE I Filed Sept. 29, 1942 3 Sheets-sheet 3 dad ' m", MW

Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vSTRE'ITCHER FRAME FOR CURTAINS AND THE LIKE 20 Claims.

The present invention relates to stretcher frames for curtains and the like and, more particularly, to such stretcher frames adapted for domestic employment.

A general object of the present invention is the provision of .such stretcher frames which are simple in construction, readily and economically manufactured and which can be easily and efficiently manipulated and employed to stretch wet curtains and the like for drying without requiring tedious and often dangerous mounting of curtain edges on a multitude of metal pins.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of such stretcher frames which have the side members formed of front and back clamping strips to clamp curtain edges therebetween and with the side members symmetrically arranged with respect to each other with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding side member for adjusting movement therealong whereby curtain material will be stretched substantially in a common flat plane which, for convenience, will hereinafter be referred to as single plane stretching.

Another object of the invention is the provision in such a single plane stretcher of corner clamp members each carried by an opposed end of a frame side member and slidably receiving the preceding frame side member, front and back clamping strips of which are effectively and alternately hinged or swung and clamped together thereby.

A further object of the invention is the provision in such curtain stretchers of such corner clamp members so arranged as to cause a front strip s'lidably received with complementary back strip thereby to be hinged or swung with a top hinge section of the clampmember.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of simple and effective manipulative means whereby when such corner clamp members are to be operated to clamp together front and back strips of a frame side member hinging actionisdesirably prevented.

Still further objects of the invention are the provisions of other features in such stretcher frames making for efficient use thereof which comprise providing such front and back strips of frame side members with complementary faces preferably provided with longitudinally extending transversely spaced-apart ridges the surfaces of which are obliquely arranged whereby secure anchorage of .curtain edges is had and tendency to form extremely sharp creases or folds therein may be avoided; corner clamp members of such construction as to be effectively utilizable "in applying clamping action to a front strip of a succeeding frame side member as a front strip of the preceding frame side member is clamped into position thereby; holding means adapted at least temporarily to hold a curtain edge in desired position as it is manually stretched into location between clamping strips; sectioning of one or more front clamping strips of frame side members to permit easy progressive stretching and clamping of curtain edges; and others which will appear as the following description progresses.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the stretcher frame for curtains and the like of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 2-2 .of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with parts broken away of a corner construction of another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fi 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is a top plan view with parts broken away of another modification of the corner construction of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view with parts in section and broken away of the structure shown inFig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view taken on line '8-8 of Fig. 6-;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing an additional modification of corner construction of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is an elevational perspective view with parts broken away of a back strip of a frame side member of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 11 is an elevational sectional view of a further modified form of front and back strips of a frame side memberof the present invention showing them in cooperative positions clamping the edge of a curtain or the like therebetween;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 9 showing a still further modified form of corner structure; and

Fig, 13 is a view similar to Fig. '7 of the structure shown in Fig. 12.

Prior to the present invention curtain stretchers of the type adapted for domestic use have commonly been featured by wood frame side members in the faces of which rows of closely spaced sharp upstanding steel pins have been anchored. These have always been a hazard to the safety of the user and at the present time it is extremely difiicult if not virtually impossible for curtain stretcher manufacturers to obtain such pins. Many of the marketed curtain stretchers have located frame side members in different planes causing curtain distortion when used, or attempted to avoid such distortions by highly inadequate I constructions.

These and other difficulties of the prior art are efficiently eliminated or alleviated by the present invention which in its generic aspect comprises a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding memberfor adjusting movement therealong whereby'their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front a-rid back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, and clamp members hinging the front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together. Other more specific meritorious features thereof will appear in the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In Fig. 1 is shown a top plan view of an einbodiment of a stretcher frame for curtains and the like of the present invention. It comprises four side members Ml lformed of suitable material, preferably shaped from wood, but these may be molded from suitable molding material if desired. These members 14-44 are'arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and'with each having one end l5 opposed to the inside edge l6 of the preceding member as the stretcher frame is viewed progressively in a clockwise direction.

Each side member I4 is formed of a front strip 11 and a back strip I8 which have respectively complementary faces l9 and 20 preferably provided with longitudinally extending transversely spaced-apart ridges 2!-2 I, the surfaces of which are obliquely arranged whereby secure anchorage of curtain edges may be had and tendency to form extremely sharp creases or folds in the latter may be avoided.

At the opposing end l5 of each side frame member 54 a clamp member 22 is located and securely fastened to the back clamping strip l8 of the opposed end !5 by rivets 23-23, screws or the like. Each clamp member 22 is adapted slidably to receive the preceding frame side member and front and back clamping strips l1 and I8 thereof for adjusting movement of the opposing end i 5 of the succeeding frame side member It along the inside edge of the preceding side member and so that front and back faces of all of the frame side members substantially lie in common planes for single plane stretching of curtains and the like.

As shown in Fig. 2 each corner clamp member 22, the elements of which may be formed of any suitable relatively rigid material, preferably metal, comprises a bottom hinge section 24 and a top hinge section 25 hinged together at a hinge point 26. The bottom hinge section 24 extends down from the hinge point 25 along the outside edge of the slidably received back strip l8 and then substantially at right angle thereto across beneath that back strip and is elongated at 27 to extend beneath the opposed end of the back strip l8 of the succeeding side member and fastened thereto such as by rivets 2323. The top hinge section 25 in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and'2 may comprise a hinge plate which extends upwardly from the hinge point 26 along the outside edge of the slidably received front strip I! to a point spaced appreciably above the front face of the latter and is then turned substantially at right angles to provide a portion 28 extending over at least a portion of the top or front face of the clamping strip ll. To this portion 28 of the top hinge section 25 is mounted a suitable clamping member or plate 29 which as shown in more detail in subsequent figures may be accomplished by receiving a reduced neck portion thereof in a vertical slot in the first described portion of the top hinge section 25,

The clamping plate 29 of the top hinge section 25 has the edge portion 38 thereof which is located farthest from the hinge point 26 turned downwardly and inwardly to provide an engaging lip adapted slidably to engage with an obliquely arranged inside face 3! on the front clamping strip 2 and to cause the latter to be swung therewith as the top hinge section 25 is hinged outwardly about the hinge point 26 for reception ofa curtain edge between the front and back clamping strips l1 and IS. A clamping screw 32 is threadably mounted through the portion 28 of the hinge section 25 with the end thereof adapted to bear against the top of the clamping plate 29 so as to apply force thereto.

In order to clamp the edge of a curtain orthe like between the front and back clamping strips I! and I 8 they are to be swung apart about the hinge point 25 and the edge of the curtain is then placed therebetween after which the front clamping stri i! is swung with the hinge section 25 down toward the back clamping strip l3. There after hinging movement of the top hinge section 25 is to be prevented so that proper clamping action between the front and back clamping strips H and 58 may be had. This, in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be accomplished by a rigid member 33 and a screw 34. The rigid member 33 may be in the form of an elongated plate of metal or other suitable rigid material having the ends thereof turned inwardly with one adapted to engage against the outside face of that portion of the top hinge section lying adjacent the outside edge of the top clamping strip H, the other inturned edge of the member 33 being adapted to engage against the outside face of that portion of the bottom hinge section 24 lying adjacent the outside edge of the back clamping strip iii. The screw 34 is suitably threaded through a portion of one of these two hinge sections and is headed as shown so that the rigid member 33 may be drawn up tightly into the position bridging across the hinge point 26 thereby preventing outward hinging movement of the top hinge section 25 relative to the bottom hinge section 24. It will be understood that the screw 34 may be suitably threadably mounted in either the top hinge section or the bottom hinge section and that the hinge point 26 may be located more nearly adjacent the complementary clamping faces of the front and back clamping strips I1 and I8 than is shown in Fig. 2, the structure shown in Fig. 2 being proposed only by way of example and since the location of the hinge point 26 below the complementary clamping faces 19 and 20 provides for ready formation in the hinged portion of the top hinge section of a sufficiently elongated slot to receive the headed end of the clamping plate 29. Such a modified form of construction is proposed in Fig. 13. In order to permit hinging of the top hinge section 25 about the hinge point 26 relative to the bottom hinge section 24, it is only necessary to loosen the screw 34 to permit the rigid member 33 to be turned to a horizontal position.

In Fig. 1 the front clamping strips l'i-l'i are shown made in sections and side clamping means -35 are shown provided along the frame side members I l-l4. However, this is not essential to certain stretching operations of the stretcher frame of the present invention and may be provided if desired for reasons hereinafter indicated. Assuming that the front clamping strips li-l'i are not sectioned and the clamping means 33-35 are omitted, the operation of the stretcher frame shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be as follows. With the rigid members 33-33 mounted on the corner clamp members 22-22 turned transversely to permit hinging of the top sections 25-25 relative to the bottom hinge sections 24-24, the front clamping strips ll-l'l may be swung outwardly away from the back clamping strips ill-l8 and the edges of the curtain or the like placed thereinbetween. The front clamping strips l'l-ll then may be swung manually toward the back clamping strips 18-13 to engage therebetween the edges of the curtain. It will be seen that the front clamping strips l'l-l"! will be carried to swing with the clamping plates 29-29 by means of the engaging lips 33-33 as the top hinge sections 25-25 are swung. The rigid members 33-33 may then be turned to bridge across the hinge points 26-23 and the screws 34-34 tightened to prevent further hinging action of the top hinge sections 25-25. Thereafter with the hinge sections of the corner clamps 22-22 held against hinging movement by the members 33-33 slight clamping action may be applied by clamping screws 32-32 causing curtain edges to be held between the ridged and grooved complementary faces of the front and back clamping strip i1 and 18. Then stretching may be accomplished by sliding each opposed end iii of a frame side member l4 along the inside edge It of the preceding frame side member until the curtain or the like is drawn into the desired stretching condition and the clamping screws 32-32 then tightened up to hold the structure in the soadjusted position. 7

Although it will be understood that due to the longitudinal ridging of the front and back clamping strips l1 and 58 with slight clamping force applied thereto there is less tendency for curtain edges to be W'thdrawn thereacross and from be tween the clamping strips than there is for movement of curtain material longitudinally of the frame side members, that is in the direction of the ridges 2l-2l, proper stretching on such a frame may be more readily assured by, as previ ously indicated, sectioning one or more of the front clamping strips l'I-ll and adding holding means thereto. The front clamping strip ll of any one of the frame side members 14 may be provided with say a relatively short section 36 adjacent the opposing end If: thereof and this short section 36 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be hinged to the bottom strip is by clamping means 35 which may comprise a bottom hinge section 31 suitably fastened to the back clamping strip l8 and a top hinge section 38 having a portion extending above the front face of the clamping strip 36. This hinged clamping device may be provided with suitable means to prevent hinging as in the case of corner clamp members 22-22, such as rigid member 33 and screw 34. Section 35 of the front clamping strip 11 maybe brought into clamping position by a clamping screw 39 suitably threaded in the overlying portion of the top hinge section 38. The section 36 may be caused to swing with the top hinge section by heading the end 33 thereof on the opposite side of a clamping plate 4! suitably fastened to the top of the section 33. Obviously a similar function may be obtained by other means such as by using a clamping plate similar to 23 of the corner clamp member 22 or hinge section 38 may be extended and provided with an engaging lip to cause the section 36 to swing therewith.

The so-sectioned front clamping strip ll may be further sectioned to provide additional sections such as 37 and 38 suitably hinged to the back clamping strip by similar clamping means 33-35. One or more of such sections may be provided, as desired, but it will be understood that as such sectioning is increased in distance from the opposing end it of the frame side member i l the permitted adjusting movement of the opposed end E5 of the succeeding frame side member is increasingly limited which, however, may not be undesirable in certain stretcher frames adapted for certain service.

Further aid to the user in stretching curtain edges at the time the latter are placed between clamping strips of frame sidemembers may be attained by the provision of holding means such as pins or hook devices. Such means are shown in Figs. 3 and e and may comprise a few pins 42-32, which, if desired, may be made of nonmetallic material, fixed in the bottom strips [8- !8 preferably upstanding from a ridge 2! and each adapted to be received in a socket 43 in the front clamping strip l1. Thus by placing such a pin say near the opposed end i5, the user may hook the curtain edge thereover and then stretch it to a point along the back clamping strip l8 where another such pin is located and thereafter swing the front clamping strip i? into position. Such holding means may also augment the sectioning of the front clamping strip I! so that first a curtain edge near a corner may be engaged over such a pin '52 near the opposing end 15. The curtain edge then may be stretched by hand and the front clamping strip section 3% brought into clamping position. That curtain edge may then be further stretched to another such pin located below the succeeding section 31 and the procedure repeated, and in like manner the third front clamping strip section 33 be brought into clamp-ing position over an additional portion of stretched curtain edge. As previously indicated this procedure may be reserved for the last of the frame side members to be clamped upon 2. ourtain edge with one or more of the other frame side members including full length front clamping strips ll-H if desired.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 clamping force may be applied to the front clamping strip H or section 36 thereof at the opposing end l by providing the clamping plate beneath the clamping screw 32 with an extension 44. This may be accomplished in a simple manner by providing a clamping plate 829 at the remote end with three fingers 44, I30 and I30, with the latter tWo bent downwardly and inwardly to slide along the oblique face *3! of the preceding front clamping strip i1 and with the finger 44 extending to engage the top surface of the succeeding front clamping strip. In Figs. 3 and 4 also is indicated an elongated slot 45 in the top hinge section 25 adapted slidably to receive a neck 46 on the clamping plate I29 formed by opposed notches in the sides thereof to provide a head 41 adapted to extend beyond the hinge section 25 and retain the clamping plate I29 in position after it has been angularly positioned to permit the head 41 to pass cornerwise through the slot 15 and then turned slidably to receive a front clamping strip l1.

In a structure similar to that shown in Fig. 1, wherein any one frame side member i4 is provided with a full length front clamping strip [1 without being sectioned and, if desired, without clamping means 3535 being associated therewith, tendency for the front clamping strip H to pop out of position when clamping screw 32 is tightened down may be avoided by structure such as that shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The elongated end 27 of the bottom hinge section 24 may be made integral with a transverse plate 48 which, as shown in Fig, 8, may be bent upwardly at a point oifset from the outside edge of the opposing end !5 of the succeeding frame side member a sufficient distance to permit the front clamping strip I! thereof to be swung upwardly. The transverse plate 48 may terminate at the end adjacent the plane of the front face of the preceding frame side member in a loop or sleeve 49 reciprocatively to receive a slide 55 the nose of which is adapted to be slid forward to engage the top surface of the front clamping strip i1 after the latter has been swung down into clamping position and thereafter the clamping screw 32 may be tightened down as desired without fear of the clamping strips popping apart. Obviously the ofiset plate 48 need not be made integral with the bottom hinge section 24 but may be made as a separate piece and fastened in any suitable manner to the back strip H8 at the opposing end l5.

Another form of structure which is adapted .to be used in lieu of the rigid member 33 and screw 34 is shown in Fig. 28 of the top hinge section 25 is provided, preferably integrally, with an extension 5| to be engaged by the nose of a slide 55 similar to the slide 5i! shown in Fig. 6 and supported in a similar manner by off-set plate 48.

An alternative corner in Figs. 12 and 13 or secured clamping wherein the top hinge section 25 comprises a top clamping plate 229 provided with an elongated slot52 through which is received a cross-head I41 section. The clamping plate 229 has the remote edge thereof at 230 bent downwardly and then inwardly at 53 to form an engaging lip adapted slidably to be received in a groove in the inside edge of the front clamping pose similar to the provision of the engaging lip 30 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. In this modification the clamping screw 32 is mounted relative to the back clamping strip !8 at the op- .55 9 wherein the portion clamp structure is shown formed on the top hinge strip I! for a purposing end I5 rather than upon top hinge section 25 and this is accomplished by mounting on offset plate 43 a slide 250 in which is threadably mounted clamping screw 32 adapted when the slide is in its extended position as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 to engage and apply clamping force down upon the clamping plate 229, preferably by engagement with an extension i5l thereof. It will be noted from Figs. 12 and 13 that the loop or sleeve 49 of the offset plate G8 is located a distance away from the preceding frame side member M as to permit the slide 255 to be retracted a distance sufficient for the clamping screw 32 and the nose of the slide 255 to be cleared by the clamping plate 229 when swung with the front clamping strip E? away from the back clamping strip l8.

As seen in Fig. 13 the front and back clamping strips l! and i8 may be provided with a greater number of complementary longitudinal ridges 2l2i and intervening grooves if desired which may increase the gripping action and, by virtue of their multiplicity, decrease depths of the intervening grooves producing less apparent creases in curtain material. Further as shown in Fig. 11 tendency to production of creases in curtain edges may be reduced by rounding the edges of the ridges 2i and the complementary grooves to provide a wavy or sinusoidal transverse clamping surface on each of the front and back clamping strips l7 and IS. The manner in which such soformed complementary clamping faces avoid tending ridges 2i-2l are arranged obliquely as has been shown so that eficient clamping and holding action is attained as distinguished from the precarious holding power of a flat clamping surface.

From the above it will be apparent that the stretcher frame of the present invention while avoiding the use of a multitude of steel pins effectively provides for support of curtains and the like in a single plane and by virtue of the fact members thereof are adjustable relother single plane stretching can be in an efficient manner. This feature of adjustability is of great importance and merit in the stretching and drying of curtains;

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above among others are attained in an eflicient manner and since certain changes may be made'in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

berfor adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes,

,back clamping strips sliding movement while each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp members hinging said front and together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing endoi the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, and means to cause said hinged sections of said clamp members to apply clamping force to said'front and back strips to clamp the latter together.

2. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, one of said hinged sections being elongated to extend down from a hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably received back beneath that strip and to bethe back strip of the strip then across neath the opposed end of succeeding side member and fastened thereto, the

other of hinged sections extending up from the hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably received front strip and having a portion extending over at least a portion of the top of the latter strip and interfitted therewith for relative providing for conjoint swinging movement thereof, and means to cause said hinged sections of said clamp members to apply clamping force to said front and back strips to clamp the latter together.

3. A. stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebe tween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, and means selectively to prevent hinging movement of said clamp members when said front and back strips are to be clamped together thereby.

4. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formedof front and back clamping strips having complementary faces; adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, and means mounted on the opposing end of the back strip of each of the succeeding side members selectively to be operated to prevent hinging movement of said clamp members when said front and back strips are to be clamped together thereby.

5. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, and means mounted on said clamp members selectively to be operated to prevent hinging movement of said clamp members when said front and back strips are to be clamped together thereby.

6. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed 'of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member, each clamp member having sections hinged together at a hinge point and between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, and a plurality of rigid members each of sufficient length to bridge across the hinge point from one hinge section to the other of a clamp member with each rigid member pivoted by a clamping screw to one of the sections of one of said clamp members Wherebywhen the latter are to clamp said front and back strips together said rigid members may be manipulated to positions bridging across the hinge points preventing hinging movement of the sections of said clamp members.

7. A stretcher frame forcurtains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side -tion of the top of the latter -of, and means selectively v .therebetween, clamp members members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, one of said hinged sections being elongated to extend down from a hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably received back strip then across beneath that strip and to beneath the opposed end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and fastened thereto, the other of said hinged sections extending up from the hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably received front strip and having a portion extending over at least a porstrip and interfitted therewith for relative sliding movement while providing for conjoint swinging movement thereto prevent hinging members when said be clamped together movement of said clamp front and back strips are to thereby.

8. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material hinging said front clamping strips together along their outside edges With each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, one of said hinged sections being elongatedto extend down from a hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably received back strip then across beneath that strip and to beneath the opposed end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and fastened thereto, the other of said hinged sections extending up from the hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably received frontstrip and having a portion extending over at least a portion of the topof the latter strip and interfitted therewith means mounted on the strip of each of the succeeding side members selectively to be operated to prevent hinging movement of said clamp members when said front and back strips are to be clamped together thereby. W

,9. A stretcher frame for curtains and th like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary for clamping curtain material outside edges to the opposing end of the back strip of the ing strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, one of said hinged sections being elongated to extend down from a hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably received back strip then across beneath that strip and to beneath the opposed end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and fastened thereto,

10. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping stn'ps having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened ing strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, one of said hinged sections being elonof sufficient length comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged ctions between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, one of said hinged sections being elongated to extend down from a hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably received back strip then across beneath that strip and to beneath the opposed end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and fastened thereto, the other of said hinged sections extending up from the hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably received front strip and having a portion extending over at least a portion of the top of the latter strip and interfitted therewith for relative sliding movement While providing for conjoint swinging movement thereof, and means mounted on said clamp members selectively to be operated to prevent hinging movement of said clamp members when said front and back strips are to be clamped together thereby.

12. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having 7 between which the front and the preceding side memher are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, one of said hinged sections being elongated to extend down from a hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably received back strip then across beneath that strip and to beneath the opposed end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and fastened thereto, the other of said hinged sections extending up from the hinge point along the outside edge of the slidably received front strip and having a portion extending over at least a portion of the top of the latter strip and interfitted therewith for while providing for conjoint swinging movement thereof, and a plurality of rigid members each to bridge across the hinge point from one hinge section to the other of a clamp member with each rigid member pivoted by a clamping screw to one of thesections of one of said clamp members whereby when the latter are to clamp said front and back strips together said rigidmembers maybemanipulated to positions bridging acros hinged sections back clamping strips of relative sliding movement the hinge points preventing hinging movement of the sections of said clamp'members.

13. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like com-prising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending transversely spaced-apart ridges the surfaces of which are obliquely arranged and adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their out side edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, and means to cause said hinged sections of said clamp members to apply clamping force to said front and back strips to clamp the latter together.

14. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, the front strip of at least one side member being sectioned to permit separate and progressive clamping of portions of an edge of a curtain or the like as it is stretched into position, means hinging the front strip sections to their cooperating back strip and toprovide for separate clamping thereof, clamp members hinging at least one of said front strip sections and its cooperating back clamping strip and other front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clamping strips of the succeeding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, and means tocause said hinged sections of said clamp members to apply clamping force to said front and back strips to clamp the latter together.

15. A stretcher frame for curtains and. the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, holding means between front and back strips for engagement by an edge of a curtain or the like to aid in stretching the same while being placed therebetween to be clamped in stretched position, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with eachclamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clampin'g strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and-by which the latter are hinged together, and means to cause said hinged sections of said clamp members to apply clamping force to said front and back strips to clamp the latter together.

16. A stretcher frame for curtains and the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of side members arranged in symmetrical order with respect to each other and with each having one end opposed to the inside edge of the preceding member for adjusting movement therealong whereby their faces substantially lie in common planes, each side member being formed of front and back clamping strips having complementary faces adapted for clamping curtain material therebetween, the front strip of at least one side member being sectioned to permit separate and progressive clamping of portions of an edge of a curtain or the like as it is stretched into position, means hinging the strip sections together and to provide for separate clamping thereof, holding means between front and back strips for engagement by an edge of a curtain or the like to aid in stretching the same while being placed therebetween to be clamped in stretched position, clamp members hinging said front and back clamping strips together along their outside edges with each clamp member fastened to the opposing end of the back strip of the succeeding side member and having hinged sections between which the front and back clamping strips of the preceding side member are slidably received and by which the latter are hinged together, and means to cause said hinged sections of said clamp members to apply clamping force to said front and back strips to clamp the latter together.

17. In a stretcher frame for curtains and the like, a corner clamp member comprising, in combination, a bottom section and a top section hinged together for relative swinging movement, said bottom section extending downwardly from the hinge point to provide a portion to slide along the outside edge of a frame side member and then substantially at right angles to that portion to provide a second portion to slide along the back face of such side member and terminating in an end portion adapted to be fastened to the back of an end of a succeeding frame side memher, said top section extending upwardly from the hinge point to provide a portion to slide along the outside edge of such side member and then substantially at right angles to that portion to provide a second portion to overlie the front face of such side member, a clamping screw threadably mounted in the overlying portion of said top section, a plate mounted relative to said screw and said overlying portion to engage the front face of such side member and apply clamping force thereon toward the second-mentioned portion of said bottom section and having the edge thereof farthest from the hinge point turned to provide an engaging lip adapted slidably to engage with a portion of such side member to cause at least that portion to be swung therewith, and means selectively to limit relative swinging movement of said top and bottom sections for applying clamping force to such side member therebetween.

' 18. In a stretcher frame for curtains and the like, a corner clamp member comprising, in combination, a bottom section and a top section hinged together for relative swinging movement,

said bottom section extending downwardly from the hinge point to provide a portion to slide along the outside edge of a frame side member and then substantially at right angles to that portion to provide a second portion to slide along the back face of such side member and terminating in an end portion adapted to be fastened to the back of an end of a succeeding frame side member, said top section extending upwardly from the hinge point to provide a portion to slide along the outside edge of such side member and then substantially at right angles to that portion to provide a second portion to overlie the front face of such side member, a clamping screw threadably mounted in the overlying portion of said top section, a plate mounted relative to said screw and said overlying portion to engage the front face of such side member and apply clamping force thereon toward the second-mentioned portion' of said bottom section and having the edge thereof farthest from the hinge point turned downwardly at a point located a distance from the first-mentioned portion of said top section at least equal to the width of the front face of such side member and back toward the hinge point to provide an engaging lip adapted slidably to engage beyond the inside edge of such side member and cause at least a portion of the latter to be swung therewith, and means selectively to limit relative swinging movement of said top and bottom sections for applying clamping force to such side member therebetween.

19. In a stretcher frame for curtains and the like, a corner clamp member comprising, in combination, a bottom section and a top section hinged together for relative swinging movement, said bottom section extending downwardly from the hinged point to provide a portion to slide along the outside edge of a frame side member and then substantially at right angles to that portion to provide a second portion to slide along the back face of such side member and terminating in an end portion adapted to be fastened to the back of an end of a succeeding frame side member, said top section extending upwardly from the hinge point to provide a portion to slide along the outside edge of such side member and then substantially at right angles to that portion portion to overlie the front member, a clamping screw in the overlying portion of said top section, a plate-mounted relative to said screw and said overlying portion to engage the front face of such side member and apply clamping force thereon toward the second-mentioned portion of said bottom section and having the edge thereof farthest from the hinge point turned to provide an engaging lip adapted slidably to engage with a portion of such side member to cause at least that portion to be swung therewith, and a rigid member pivoted by a clamping screw to one of said first-mentioned portions of said hinge sections so as to bridge across the hinge point and engage both said portions when manipulated to a position preventing outward hinging movement of said top hinge section relative to said bottom hinge section.

'20. In a stretcher frame for curtains and the like, a corner clamp member comprising, in comprovide a second portion to slide along the back face of such side member and terminating in an end portion adapted to be fastened to the back of an end of a succeeding frame side member, said top section extending upwardly from the hinge point to provide a portion to slide along the outside edge of such side member and then substantially at right angles to that portion to provide a second portion to overlie the front face of such side member, a clamping screw threadably mounted in the overlying portion of said top section, a plate mounted relative to said screw and said overlying portion to engage the front face of such side member and apply clamping force thereon toward the second-mentioned portion of said bottom section and having at least one portion of the edge thereof farthest from the hinge point turned downwardly at a point located a distance from the first-mentioned portion of said top section at least equal to the width of the front face of such side member and back toward the hinge point to provide an engaging lip adapted slidably to engage beyond the inside edge of such side member and cause at least a portion of the latter to be swung therewith, said plate having an extension adapted for cooperation with a portion of such succeeding frame side member, and means selectively to limit relative swinging movement of said top and bottom sections for applying clamping force to such side member there- 5 between.

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