Improvements ins
Year: 1897

page_text: I, GILBERT JAMES SHELDON, of 16, Red Lion Square, London, W.C.,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-.
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in stretchers for trousers
and other garments.
According to my invention I construct the stretcher with two longitudinal
pieces of wood or other material possessing sufficient rigidity and suitably shaped.
These are linked together by a transverse strut, which is pivoted or otherwise
flexibly attached thereto; one method of attachment consisting in uniting the
transverse bar to both long bars by hinges or pivots, and another method con-
sisting in uniting one end of the transverse bar to one of the long bars by a
hinge or pivot, and to the other long bar by a sliding joint. A spiral or other
suitable spring is detachably fitted to one of the long bars, and to the transverse
bar, in such a manner that it tends to draw the transverse bar from a diagonal
towards a right-angled position relatively to the long bars, and thereby press
such bars apart. Or the same effect may be produced by an additional diagonal
strut, fitted with a spring and attached to the bars in a similar manner. Or such
springs or spring struts may be similarly attached to the long bars only for the
same purpose. In some cases I dispense with the application of springs.
The apparatus in a closed position, is inserted in the trouser leg. By means
of the transverse bar and the spring or other strut the long bars are then caused
to separate and press outwardly against the inside of the trouser leg, thus
removing all creases and causing the bagginess at the knee to disappear, and the
trousers to resume their original shape.
Dated 27+1, August 1807
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS.
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Stretchers for Trousers and other Garments.
I, GILBERT JAMES SHELDON, late of 16, Red Lion Square, London, W.C., but
now of 2, Penryhn Terrace, Hastings, in the County of Sussex, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in stretchers for trousers
and other garments.

page_text: And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my invention, showing the long bars folded together,
and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same showing the long bars forced apart by
means of a detachable spring and strap operating upon the transverse bar.
The transverse bar or strut 3 is hinged or pivoted to the longitudinal bars 4
and 5, as shown. 6 is a staple fixed to the strut. 7 is a pin fixed at the lower
end of the bar 4. 8 is a rubber or other spring hooked to the staple 6 or to the
bar 5 and also to the strap 9. This strap is perforated with a number of holes
for attaching and adjusting the same to the pin 7.
Instead of a spring 8 and strap 9, a strap only, or a spring only may be used,
as preferred..
The apparatus in a closed position, is inserted in the trouser leg. By means
of the transverse bar or strut, and the strap or spring, or spring and strap, or
analogous appliance, the long bars are caused to separate and press outwardly
against the inside of the trouser leg, thus removing all creases and causing the
bagginess at the knee to disappear, and the trousers to resume their original
length.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The improved construction of stretchers for trousers and other garments
substantially as described.
2. In a trouser stretcher the combination of longitudinal bars 4 and 5, united
together by a bar or strut 3 hinged or pivoted to the bars 4 and 5, and a strap
or spring or strap and spring attached to the strut and one of the longitudinal
bars, or diagonally to both bars and not to the strut, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.
021... 1000
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS.
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.