(No Model.)
S. E. OAPEN.
- CURTAIN HOLDER.
No. 581,693. Patented May 4,1897.
 TSSESY Q4, pgg
Attorney Nrrtn TATE-S Parent @rrrcn.
CURTAlN- HOLDER.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,693, dated May 4, 1897. Application filed November 2, 1896. Serial No- 610,857. (No model.)
To aZZ whom it nwty concern.-
 Be it known that I, SANFORD E. CAPEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stoughton, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Curtain-Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.
 My invention relates to improvements in combined curtain-fasteners and whi'liletreehooks.
 The invention consists of the combination, with an attaching-shank having a bifurcated end, of a spring-clip so mounted in said bifurcated end that it may be turned either into alinenient with the shank or at right angles thereto and be retained in such position.
 The invention also consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, all of which will be more particularly set forth and claimed.
 In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a detail perspective view of the device embodying myinvention, the securing-clip being turned at right angles to the attaching-shank. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of my said device applied to a carriage-curtain, the said spring-clip being turned into its locking position, the open position of said clip being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. represents a side elevation of my said device applied to a Whiffletree, the clip being turned at right angles to the supporting-shank. Fig. at represents a detail side elevation of myimproved fastener, showing the looped formation of the said clip; and Fig. 5 represents a detail perspective view of said clip.
 A in the drawings represents the securingshank; B, the spring-clipg O, the carriagecurtain, and D the whiftletree. The said shank A is screw-threaded, as at a, whereby it may be attached to either one of the stand ards of the carriage-top or to one end of the whiffietree. Said shank is also provided with an annular enlargement or head a the office of which is to brace the shank by engaging the surface into which the latter is screwed. The
outer end of the shank is enlarged and bifurcated, as at a a transverse pivot-pin a being mounted in said bifurcated end and adapted to receive the spring ends of the securing-clip B. This clip comprises a spring bent upon itself to form an approximately V-shaped structure with a loop I) at the converging ends of the arms forming the same. The said arms of the V are each formed with a longitudinal slot 7).
 In assembling thepart-s of the device the arms of the spring are forced together and inserted in the bifurcated end of the shank, the pin a passing through the slots in said arms.
 It will be observed from the above that when it is desired to insert this fastener either through a carriage-curtain or through the end of a trace the securing-clip is first forced to one side, with the pin a lying in the extreme end of the grooves of said clip. The clip may then be turned into a position in line with the shank, so as to practically form a continuation of the same. The clip is now forced with the bifurcated end of the shank through the aperture in either the carriage-curtain or the trace and the clip again forced down at right angles to the shank and forward until the pin w occupies the opposite ends of the slots in said clip. The clip now lies with half of its length upon each side of the shank and effectually prevents the withdrawal of the latter through the aperture through the curtain or trace.
 The tension of the arms of the clip tends to force said arms into frictional engagement with the bifurcated ends of the shank, and thus the clip is held firmly in any of its adjusted positions.
 It will be observed from the above that the aperture cut in either the curtain or the trace is very small in comparison with those now.
in use. This is possible because of the peculiar construction of the shank and clip, which allows the latter to be turned in line with the former and practically forms a continuation of the same.
 The formation of a round aperture is also a great advantage over the old elongated slot usual with securing-buttons now in use, as the same will not rip or tear, having no cor ners to start such an action. The difficulty and annoyance of buttoning a small buttonhole over a large-headed button is also obviated, as the shank and clip are adapted to be slipped loosely through the aperture in either the curtain or the trace.
 Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is
1. The combination With an attachingshank havinga bifurcated end of a spring-clip mounted in said bifurcated end, and adapted to be turned into alinement with the shank or at right angles thereto, and be held in either of said positions, substantially as described.
 2. The combination With an attachingshank having a bifurcated end of a clip secured in said bifurcated end, and comprising a spring bent upon itself to form an approximately Vshaped structure, and adapted to be turned either into alinement with said shank or at right angles thereto, substantially as described.
 3. The combination with an attachingshank having a bifurcated end of a spring-clip formed with slots and mounted in said bifurcated end, and a pin passing through the bifurcated end of the shank, and slots in the securing-clip, substantially as described.
 4. The combination with a screw-threaded attaching-shank, having a bifurcated end, of a securing-clip, having approximately the form of a V and formed with slots in its respective arms, said arms being mounted in the bifurcated end of the shank, and a pin passing through the bifurcated end of the shank and through the slots in said securingclip, substantially as described.
 5. The combination with a screw-threaded attaching-shank, having a bracing-head and an enlarged bifurcated end of a spring-clip, having approximately the form of a V and formed with slots, and a pin for securing said clip in the bifurcated end of the shank by passing through the slots of the same, substantially as described.
 In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.
SANFORD E. CAPEN.
lVitnesses:
JosEPH S. CAPEN, ELIJA G. OAPEN.