A Contrivance to Flatten and Dampen Seams.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
A Contrivance to Flatten and Dampen Seams.
I, DINA RÖMHILDT of Karlsruhe in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany,
Widow, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
It relates to a contrivance which can be easily affixed to smoothing irons of all
kinds.
Hitherto, in order to press the seams of new or old articles of clothing it has
been necessary for a person, first of all, at great trouble to hold the selvages of a
seam apart and to sprinkle them separately till at last enabled to begin pressing-
matters which meant much loss of time and, proportionably, an expense.
My invention is a certain device which attached to the iron acts so satisfactorily
as to lay the selvages of the seam smoothly out asunder and to moisten them with
a fine, divided spray of water all ready for the immediate impact of the hot iron.
The invention consists in the addition of a metal beak or plane (C) so as to form
the foremost part of the smoothing iron. From its point this beak rises backward
wedge-shaped, and being pushed in forces the selvages of the seam apart and keeps
them held down until the iron following on completes the work. Between the beak
and the iron proper a dampening appliance (D) is fitted of such a description that
the seams to be pressed can be sprinkled with water just before the iron operates.
This dampening appliance (D) consists of a tightly closed receptacle for water (a)
let into the beak (C) and set up on it by a soldered external socketing (6). In the
centre of the bottom of this dampener is a perforated depression resembling the
rose of a watering-pot covered by a valve (c) which is acted on by a spring-
lever (d) controlled by pressure of the thumb. In this way the water sprays out
whenever needed by the person ironing.
In the accompanying drawing, where the same figures denote the same parts,
Figure 1 gives a side view of a box-iron with a longitudinal section of the
contrivance; Figure 2 a "bird's-eye-view of the same box-iron to which the
apparatus is screwed; Figure 3 a section A-B through an anterior part of
the beak (C); and Figure 4 the side view of a flat or ordinary iron connected
with the contrivance, shown itself in longitudinal section, and analogous to
Figure 1.
The working of the appliance is as follows:-
:-
A person with the object in view of pressing seams holds the iron firmly by the
handle and after once guiding the point of the beak among the selvages need only
direct it lengthwise over the seam. Meanwhile, a steady pressure of the thumb on
the key (d) of the spring-lever opens the valve (c) and the seam is dampened. This
valve closes directly such pressure is withdrawn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A contrivance attached to irons for smoothing and dampening seams,
T
11

page_text: underneath, screwed on so as to run before the body of the iron and carrying fixed
to it a vessel holding water (a) whence on the lifting of a valve (c) the water issues
in a divided spray and the outspread seam is sprinkled.
Dated this
day of July 1894.
DINA ROMHILDT.