To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, David M. Smith, of Springfield, in the county of Windsor and State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful or Improved Clothes-Pin; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, letters, figures, and references thereof.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1 denotes a side view of my improved clothes pin. Fig. 2 is an edge view of it. Fig. 3 is a side view of the clothes pin as commonly made and in ordinary use.

In the said drawings A and B represent two levers each having the shape therein exhibited. They are hinged together at a by a wire or other proper hinge, and so that the two longer legs may be moved toward each other and at the same time move the shorter ones apart. Between the superior legs a spring C is placed, one end of it being made to bear against one of the legs while the other end is made to act against the opposite leg, the spring being fastened to one or both legs as occasion may require. The inner surfaces of the lower arms of the levers are inclined to the outer edges so that when the levers are closed together they meet in an angle. Between the vertex of such angle and the hinge a, the levers are hollowed out so as to make an opening D within which the clothes line with clothes on it is to be interposed when the article is used.

The flaring mouth made by the planes b, c, is for the purpose of facilitating the placing the article on a line.

This instrument unlike the common wooden clothes pin in common use does not strain the clothes or injure them when it is used as does such common wooden clothes pin. By pushing the two superior legs together the inferior ones are opened apart so that the instrument can be safely placed on the article of clothing hanging on the line. This done the pressure of the fingers is to be removed so as to permit the reaction of the spring C to throw the inferior legs together, and cause them to simply grasp the piece of clothing and the line between them.

Another advantage and a very important one too my improved clothes pin possesses over the common pin is that it cannot be detached from the clothes by the wind as is the case with the common pin and which is a serious evil to washerwomen.

I do not claim a mere clasp composed of two levers hinged together between their respective ends and having a spring placed between their two adjacent arms; but

What I claim as my invention is—

The above described improved clothes pin that is to say I claim the arrangement of the line opening D and the spring C, on opposite sides of the hinge a of the two levers A, B, all substantially as hereinbefore specified, whereby by pressure of the longer legs of the levers between the thumb and fingers of the hand of a person, the instrument is rendered very convenient of application without danger during the same of tearing the clothes secured by it on a line.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my signature, this seventh day of February A. D. 1852.

David M. Smith.

Witnesses:

John Ward,

W. W. Ladd.