Improvements in Stretchers for Trousers and other Garments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Dite of Application, 30th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stretchers for Trousers and other Garments.
1,,BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from abroad by Jean Benoît Granjon, of Chatonnay,
Isère, Mechanician, and Frédéric de Morsier, of 50, Rue Jacob, Paris, Architect,
both in the Republic of France, to be as follows:-
The apparatus consists of a simple or double parallelogram formed of two or three
parallel bars connected by any suitable number of jointed cross rods. By inclining
these cross rods the bars are caused to approach each other and thereby enable the
apparatus to be introduced within the trousers, then the straightening out of the
cross rods again separates the bars which pressing against the material powerfully
stretch it.
In apparatus of this kind hitherto known, the bars have rigid or very slightly
elastic forms, which does not permit their application to the various forms of trousers,
so as to give them everywhere an equal tension. The present invention consists in
rendering one at least of the bars flexible, and in supporting it along its length by a
sufficient number of jointed cross rods which are compressible by means of springs
The accompanying drawing shows at Figure 1 the apparatus thus improved
with a single flexible bar b, connected to the rigid bar B by a number of jointed
cross rods T.
Each of these cross rods is composed of two tubes sliding one within the other,
the extent of which is limited by a stud a, fixed to the interior tube and traversing
a slot e formed in the exterior tube. An interior spring tends to hold the cross rod
at its greatest length.
The rigid bar B has an exterior curve determined by the general cut of the
trousers, on the side of the leg which varies the least in form.
The flexible bar presses against the opposite side, and, consequent on the
compressibility of the cross rods T, adapts itself exactly to the material and stretches
it equally everywhere whatever may be the variations of form resulting from the cut
of the garment.
The apparatus is introduced into the trousers and withdrawn therefrom by
inclining the cross rods as indicated by the dotted lines.
This apparatus can also serve for other garments, its form will vary in this case
according to its application.
Figure 2 represents the double parallelogram formed with a central rigid bar B,
and with two flexible bars b. b' connected to the central bar by compressible cross
bars T. T similar to those shown at Figure 1. This arrangement is suitable for
trousers and other garments the curves of which are very accentuated.
A simple parallelogram fulfilling the the same conditions might also be constructed
by replacing the rigid bar B of Figure 1 by a second flexible bar.
Dated May 30th 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stretchers for Trousers and other Garments.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, a communication to me by Jean Benoît Granjon, of Chatonnay, Isère,
Mechanician, and Frédéric de Morsier, of 50, Rue Jacob, Paris, Architect,
both in the Republic of France, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification
and to the figures and letters marked thereon:-
The apparatus consists of a simple or double parallelogram formed of two or
three parallel bars connected by any suitable number of jointed cross rods. By
inclining these cross rods the bars are caused to approach each other and thereby
enable the apparatus to be introduced within the trousers, then the straightening
out of the cross rods again separates the bars which by pressing against the material
powerfully stretch it.
Lu apparatus of this kind hitherto known, the bars have rigid or very slightly
elastic forms which do not permit their application to the various forms of trousers
so as to give them everywhere an equal tension. The present invention consists
in rendering one at least of the bars flexible, and in supporting it along its length
by a sufficient number of jointed cross rods which are compressible by means of
springs.
The drawing accompanying my Provisional Specification shows at Figure 1
the apparatus thus improved with a single flexible bar b, connected to the rigid
bar B by a number of jointed cross rods T.
Each of these cross rods is composed of two tubes sliding one within. the other,
the extent of which is limited by a stud a, fixed to the interior tube and traversing
a slot c formed in the exterior tube. An interior spring tends to hold the cross
rod at its greatest length.
The rigid bar B has an exterior curve determined by the general cut of the
trousers, on the side of the leg which varies the least in form.
The flexible bar b, presses against the opposite side and consequent on the
compressibility of the cross rods T adapts itself exactly to the material and
stretches it equally everywhere whatever may be the variations of form resulting
from the cut of the garment.
The apparatus is introduced into the trousers and withdrawn therefrom by inclining
the cross rods as indicated by the dotted lines.
This apparatus can also serve for other garments, its form will vary in this case
according to its application.
Figure 2 represents the double parallelogram formed with a central rigid bar B,
and with two Hexible bars b. connected to the central bar by compressible cross
bars T. T. similar to those shown at Figure 1. This arrangement is suitable for
trousers and other garments the curves of which are very accentuated.
A simple parallelogram fulfilling the same conditions might also be constructed
by replacing the rigid bar B of Figure 1 by a second flexible bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
An improved stretcher for trousers and other garments consisting of a simple or
double jointed parallelogram one or two of the long sides of which are flexible and

page_text: united to the other sides by jointed compressible and elastic cross rods, enabling the
flexible arms to adapt themselves exactly to the material and to stretch it equally
throughout.
Dated February 5th 1891.
B. J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.