Abstract: A hanging apparatus with a tension mechanism for selectively stretching and straightening hung articles.

Abstract: A surgical simulator having at least two holding elements on a support surface, wherein a bore for receiving a bearing pin is present laterally on the holding elements at least one location, and at least one bow is arranged coaxially with respect to the bearing pin which extends on a circular or rectangular line about the support surface, wherein, by a coaxial movement of the bow about the circular or rectangular line, a work field of variable size can be adjusted, and, by the movement of the bow as frame element on the holding elements, the support surface can be spanned in an arc shape, and the use of such a surgical simulator for medical and veterinary training purposes.

Abstract: An improved device for the uniaxial or biaxial stretching of plastics material portions. The device includes a stretching frame with two pairs of mutually perpendicular guide rails with clips for stretching a plastics material portion, which clips are movable away from or towards each other. The device is constructed such that in addition to the starting position at the beginning of a stretching process and the end position after performing a stretching process, the guide rails and thus the clips seated thereon are additionally movable into a loading position. The loading position is arranged so that it lies asymmetrically within the stretching frame and is thus closer to at least one longitudinal side of the stretching frame than to the opposite side of the stretching frame.

Abstract: Implementations of a garment stretching apparatus are provided. In some implementations, the garment stretching apparatus comprises a top attachment device, a bottom attachment device, an adjustable strap, a first hanger, and a second hanger. The adjustable strap adjusts the height of the garment stretching apparatus to fit any door and also adjust the garment stretching apparatus to a desired stretching.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming molded edges on opposite sides of a load bearing surface including a stretching assembly integrated into a molding assembly. The stretching assembly may include localized fabric clamps that leave the center region of the fabric free (e.g. not clamped) through the process. The clamps may be arranged so that once extended to stretch the fabric, the fabric is held by the clamps in the appropriate position for molding. The fabric may be held so that opposed edges terminate in the mold cavities. The mold parts may cooperatively define two spaced apart mold cavities, and may include a mold pocket to provide space to store excess fabric. The fabric may be held against the surface of the mold cavity during the molding process, for example, using hold-down pins and special gate configurations. The molding apparatus may include an alternative stretching assembly configured to provide different amounts of stretch to different portions of the fabric blank.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stretcher bar frame and canvas fastening system specifically designed for artists. The stretcher bar framing system consists of side bar, corner, and connecting segments that snap fit and interlock for quick and easy assembly and disassembly. The snap fit interlocking side bar, corner, and connecting segments features a locking mechanism that utilizes a male plug member and a female socket member. The connecting segment plug member includes four resilient flexible arms with flat tooth surfaces that interlock when fully inserted into the socket members of the side bar and corner segments. The plug and socket members snap together for a tight and straight fit that can be quickly released and separated using a side release mechanism. The side release mechanism disengages the stretcher bar frame's side bar, corner, and connecting segments by pressing inward on the flat tooth surface of the flexible latching arms of the connecting segments.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stretcher bar framing and canvas fastening system specifically designed for artists. The stretcher bar framing system consists of side bar segments of variable lengths and pre-molded corner segments that are snap fitting and interlocking for quick and easy assembly and disassembly. The snap fit interlocking bar and corner segments feature a locking mechanism that utilizes a male plug member and a female socket member. The plug member includes a pair of resilient flexible arms with a flat surface tooth that interlocks when fully inserted in the socket member. The plug and socket members snap together for a tight and straight fit that can be quickly released using a side release mechanism. The side release mechanism disengages the stretcher bar segments by pressing inward on the flat tooth surface of the latching arms located within the side aperture on the bar.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stretcher lath to be used in a frame for a painter's canvas or the like, wherein the stretcher lath comprises a main part and attached thereto a flexible leg. The leg is flexible in a direction substantially perpendicular in the principal plane of the frame. The free end of the leg is located in or within the periphery of the frame. The invention further relates to a frame, comprising a stretcher lath according to the invention and to a painter's canvas fastened to a frame according to the invention. The invention also relates to a method for fastening a painter's canvas to a frame according to the invention.

Abstract: A stand includes a horizontal beam supported at two opposite ends by two respective footed legs. The legs and beam are sized to straddle a chair or bed while a human user is sitting in the chair or bed. A top surface of the beam is at a vertical level such that the user may comfortably quilt with a quilting hoop supported by the top surface of the beam. Two lateral supports are attached to the beam in spaced apart relationship and extend above the top surface of the beam. The supports are spaced apart by a distance less than a width of a quilting hoop such that the quilting hoop may be partially inserted between and abut against the supports while being supported by the beam. The supports limit movement of the hoop in lateral directions and in a direction away from the user while the hoop is being supported by the beam.

Abstract: An extension tool is provided for stretching a sheet-shaped material over its entirety with minimal adjusting portions and uniform tension. Four corner members are disposed along with four frame members for forming a rectangular frame. Four rods are disposed so as to pass through the four frame members and allow the sides and corners to move towards and away from each other for adjusting the size of the frame. One set of corner members are located on the diagonals and are provided with a moving mechanism for moving the rods along the sides of the rectangle. The extension tool for tensioning the material further comprises a transmission mechanism for converting the movement of a rod in a first side of the rectangle between first corner pairs into a reversing and approaching movement of a second rod in a second side of the frame between second corner pairs.

Abstract: This application relates to systems and methods for stretching artistic media, such as watercolor paper and/or canvas. In particular, this application discusses an artistic media stretcher and associated methods. Generally, the media stretcher includes a frame on which the medium is stretched and a hinged clamping mechanism that is adapted to both stretch the medium and to secure the medium to the frame. Some examples of suitable hinged clamping mechanisms include a double-hinged; single-hinged, tongue-and-catch; a barbell-hinged, half-barbell hinged, and a hybrid-hinged clamping mechanism. In some cases, the media stretcher is made so that paint can run off the medium without collecting at the edges. For example, the medium may be raised above the closest edges of the hinged-clamping mechanism so that paint is not retained in contact with the medium by the clamping mechanism.

Abstract: The print screen frame tensioning system, generally rectangular in shape and fabricated from extruded rectangular tubular rails, when assembled, each side rail of the frame has a longitudinal one way channel, circular in cross sectional area, formed in each of the tubular rails for substantially the length of the tubular rails for receipt of a locking rod, the locking rod being axially serrated in order to accept a matching internally serrated standard wrench socket and the longitudinal channel being axially serrated, each locking rod having an additional internal tensioning fitting formed on both of its longitudinal ends for separate lateral tensioning.

Abstract: A modified static silkscreen frame including elongated elements on the upper surface of each frame element to mate with downwardly facing securement elements along the edge of a silkscreen panel, such that the panel may be properly tensioned and retensioned as necessary.

Abstract: A method of assembling a frame assembly for a partition system is disclosed. The frame assembly includes a partition panel, a fabric covering the panel, and a frame component. The frame component automatically and evenly tensions the fabric about the panel. The frame component provided according to this method includes a support element, a lockable element, and an integral hinge defined between the support and lockable elements. The support element defines a cavity for receiving and supporting the panel. The lockable element extends from and is moveable relative to the support element. The panel is inserted into the cavity, and the fabric is mounted to the lockable element. Next, the lockable element is moved about the integral hinge such that the fabric mounted to the lockable element is automatically and evenly tensioned about the panel. A backing strip may be mounted to the frame component to protect the fabric from the integral hinge.

Abstract: A stitchery frame having manually operated tension devices located outside the work area for increasing spacing at both side bars and end bars in order to tighten fabric when work is in progress.

Abstract: A stitchery frame having manually operated tension devices located outside the work area for increasing spacing at both side bars and end bars in order to tighten fabric when work is in progress.

Abstract: An improved silk screen frame for tensioning a panel of screen material via the rotation of a pair of screen-tensioning members adapted to grip a flexible strip secured to the edge of the screen material in an off-center position with respect to the axis of rotation of the tensioning member. Rotation of the screen-tensioning members imparts a force which thereby stretches the screen panel material to a taut condition, and places each tensioning member in position to be engaged by a pair of adjacent rotatable finger locks which maintain the screen-tensioning members in their rotated state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing a predetermined tension on a silk screen, including a workstation where more than one screen may be stretched without the necessity of removing the previous screen or necessitating a physical movement of the operator.

Abstract: A method includes steps for modifying tensile stresses in an unpainted canvas that is mounted on a frame under applied tensile stresses. The canvas is formed of material that can undergo heat-shrinking when at or above a thermoplastic shrinking temperature, and can undergo heat-softening when at or above a thermoplastic softening temperature. The method includes heating the canvas to a temperature at or above the thermoplastic shrinking temperature and the thermoplastic softening temperature. The method further includes maintaining the canvas at a temperature at or above the thermoplastic shrinking and softening temperatures. This induces heat-shrinking, and thereby increases the tensile stresses in any portions of the canvas in which the applied tensile stresses are less than the opposing stresses of the heat-shrinking.

Abstract: A frame apparatus and method of stretching a flexible material over a frame apparatus. The frame apparatus includes a first frame assembly positioned adjacent a second frame assembly for relative movement to stretch a material positioned over the first frame assembly and attached to the second frame assembly. One preferred embodiment repositions the first frame assembly defining a first plane parallel to the second frame assembly defining a second plane in a direction approximately perpendicular to the second frame. A further preferred embodiment includes the second frame assembly positioned on a rear side of the first frame assembly. The first frame assembly and second frame assembly having a spreading mechanism for increasing the distance between at least part of the first frame assembly from at least part of the second frame assembly.