Improvements in Apparatus for and. Process of Stretching
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application; 12th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 4th May,
1895
Improvements in Apparatus for and. Process of Stretching:
Shrunken Garments:
I, PATRICK O'THAYNE of 235 West 4th Street New York City, in the County
and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer 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:
Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which—
Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus,
Figure 2 is a side elevation of a frame for hose,
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a frame for drawers,
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a portion of an expansible frame on a modified
plan, and:
Figure 5 is a detail view of a rectangular expansible frame.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.
The object of this invention is to restore to their original dimensions woollen
fabrics or garments which have been shrunk in washing, wearing, or by other
causes.
The invention consists in apparatus for and process of stretching garments in all
directions, and means for steaming the garments while being stretched.
In reducing the invention to practical form, I employ a steam table provided
with numerous perforations in the top thereof, and furnished with windlasses, and
an extensible frame adapted to the garment to be treated, and arranged to be
connected with the windlasses so that it may be extended-in all directions.
The table A, for general use, is preferably made in T-shape, as shown, but it
may be adapted to the particular form of garment to be treated. The table is
made hollow for the reception of steam, and series of perforations are made in its
upper surface, for supplying steam to the garment lying thereon. Below the table
are journaled windlasses B, B', for extending the sleeves and upper portion of a
garment laterally, and below the middle portion of the table is journaled a
windlass F, for stretching the lower portion of a garment laterally. Near the
centre of the table is journaled a windlass D, and near the end of the table is
journaled a windlass E, both extending across the table at right angles. The
windlass E consists of a shaft carrying two small drums around which are wound
tapesee connected with the cross bar at which is secured to the end of the
garment or fabric to be stretched. The said windlass is provided with a ratchet
wheel which is engaged by a pawl pivoted to the edge of the table.
I will describe the apparatus and the method of stretching a garment, an under-
shirt for example, with this improved apparatus. The expansible frame A', which
receives the undershirt, is formed of side tubes a a', the tubes b 6' hinged to the
ends of the tubes a a', the tube c attached to the upper end of the tube a', and the
right angled rod d inserted in the upper end of the tube a and also in the tube c.
In the outer sides of the tubes a a' are made slots e, in which are placed slides fƒ'
pivotally connected with tubes 9 g. To the slides ff¹ are attached cords h.h'.
In the tubes g g¹ are inserted offset rods i i, to the free ends of which are. pivoted
short tubes. In the tubes 6 b' are inserted offset rods, the free ends of
which are bent at right angles and inserted in the tubes j j'.

page_text: The garment is placed upon the expansible frame A¹, by folding up the
tubes bb, 9 g, after removing the rods ii, ³, as indicated in Figure 4. The
said rods, 1, 3, are inserted in the sleeves and in the tubes. The frame
carrying the garment is placed on the table A, and tapes kk' are attached to the
tubes and pass over the pulleys at the rear of the table, thence under the
table to the windlass B¹. Tapes m m¹ attached to the tubes a a¹, extend through
the sleeves and run over pulleys n n' at the rear of the table and are wound on the
windlass B. The lower ends of the tubes a a' are connected by tapes o o¹ with the
windlass F. The cords h h connected with the slides ff' run over pulleys p p¹
and are wound on the windlass D.
While the garment is being steamed the several windlasses are turned, thus
tightening the tapes and the cords, expanding the frame A' and stretching the
garment in any direction as much as may be required, the windlass B serving to
stretch the body of the garment laterally, and the windlass B' stretching the
sleeves. The windlass F stretches the lower portion of the garment laterally;
the windlass E stretches the garment lengthwise and the windlass D is used to
stretch the sleeve laterally, by drawing down the tubes g g¹.
In the modified form of extensible frame shown in Figure 4, the slides ƒ ƒ³
instead of being placed inside of the tubes a a¹, are placed on the outside, and the
cords h h are placed on the outside; this difference of construction, however, does
not effect the operation of the apparatus.
g"
r
In the expansible frame shown in Figure 2, for application to hose, the side
rods are provided with tubular upper ends s s'. The lower end of the rod
is made tubular, and the lower end of the rod is beat at right angles and inserted
in it. In the tubular ends s s¹ of the rods r r is inserted a curved rod t, which is
designed for receiving the toe of a stocking. A curved extensible cross-bar u,
formed of the parts a a³ receives the heel of the stocking. The ends of the said
extensible bar are provided with eyes which slide on the rods r r. The parts a² a³
are curved, and the part as has a tubular end into which is inserted the free end of
part a².
An extensible cross-bar v is placed on the narrower portion w of the extensible
frame which receives the top of the stocking. The said bar is formed of the
tubular part 6 attached to the rod and the part 6 attached to the rod and
which enters the part 63. A tape c² is connected with the ends of the bar u.
extensible stocking frame is placed upon the table and extended by means of the
windlasses as in the case of the frame A¹.
The
In Figure 3, is shown an extensible frame for receiving drawers. The frame is
composed of the side rods 2 d³, which are offset at their lower ends and bent at
right angles, tubes e e³ attached to the tubes f2 f³, the right angled ends of the
tubes d'd being inserted in the tubes e e³, and a forked rod 92, the arms of the
fork of which are inserted in the tubes ff. This frame is placed upon the table
and expanded laterally and longitudinally as in the cases already described.
In like manner the apparatus may be adapted to various other garments or to
plain fabrics, the frames being made of telescoping parts to admit of expansion in
all directions. The several windlasses are provided with ratchets and pawls for
maintaining them in the position in which they may be placed, thereby holding
the garment in an expanded condition while it is pressed. In Figure 5 is shown
an expansible rectangular frame, formed of four angled-pieces a³. each piece
having a tubular end 6 for receiving the solid end c of the adjacent piece,
as shown.
In lieu of employing a steam table I may cover the table with felt, and apply
the steam to the upper surface by means of damp cloths and hot irons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. An apparatus for stretching shrunken garments, comprising a hollow table

page_text: having a perforated top, an expansible skeleton frame having the form of the
garment to be treated, and adapted for insertion in the garment, and an expanding
mechanism carried by the table and connected with the expansible frame,
substantially as described.
2. In an apparatus for stretching shrunken garments, the combination with a
table, of an expansible frame on the table, windlasses carried by the table, and
cords or tapes connected to the windlasses and frame, substantially as, and for, the
purpose set forth.
3. In an apparatus for stretching shrunken garments, an expansible frame
comprising side bars, tubes hinged to the upper ends of the side bars, a second set
of tubes having a sliding and hinged connection with said side bars and two pairs
of rods, each pair having their inner ends fitting in the said tubes and their outer
ends slidably connected together, substantially as described.
4. In an apparatus for stretching shrunken garments, an expansible frame,
comprising tubular side rods provided with slots, tubes hinged to the upper ends of
the side bars, slides in the tubular side bars and projecting out through the slots
thereof, a second set of tubes hinged to the said slides, and two pairs of rods, each
pair having their inner ends fitting in the said tubes, and their outer ends slidably
connected together, substantially as described.
5. In an apparatus for stretching shrunken garments, an expansible frame,
consisting of tubular and slotted side bars, one of said side bars having a right
angled extension at the top, a right angled rod fitting in the said right angled
extension of the side bar and in the other side bar, a tube hinged to the upper end
of each side bar, slides in the side bars and projecting through the slots thereof, a
second tube hinged to each slide, and two pairs of rods having their inner ends
fitting in the said tubes, the outer end of one rod of each pair being provided with
an angular tubular extension to receive the angular end of the other rod, substantially
as herein shown and described.
6. A process of stretching shrunken garments, which consists in subjecting the
garment to the action of steam, while the same is in position on an expansible
frame, by means of the perforated table, the garment during treatment being
expanded or stretched.
7. In a process for stretching shrunken garments the employment of a perforated
table for the treatment of the garment by steam.
Dated this 12th day of February 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.