A New or Improved Trousers Presser.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Trousers Presser.
I, HENRY COWLEY, of High Street, Feltham, in the County of Middlesex,
Cabinet Market, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My present invention is a new or improved trousers presser, the principal
advantages of which are lightness, effectiveness, and cheapness, combined with
extreme compactness. This last mentioned point supplies a special want, there
having existed hitherto no trousers presser which can be conveniently packed
within a travelling trunk or portmanteau. It is with this object in view that I have
designed the present invention, so that one or more pairs of trousers can be carried
within a trunk or portmanteau or the like while still in the presser. Neverthe-
less, my invention can be used by itself with great effectiveness, and, occupying
very little space may be kept in a drawer where there may also be other clothing.
My invention consists of a pair of slabs or boards having a certain amount
of pliability. They may be made of three-ply veneer or of solid wood (or metal)
as desired. The material to be employed is preferably wood, cut to a convenient
length and width, adapted to receive a certain length of the legs of a pair of
trousers.
Along each longitudinal edge of each slab, I attach an angle strip of metal,
preferably cast brass, the outermost corner or edge (in relation to the centre of
the presser) lying within the angle of the strip, the latter being secured by
screws or the like. The strips aforesaid may carry a block at each end in which
is a hole or slot, whereby the two slabs may be firmly held together by bolts
and nuts. I prefer to make said strips curved slightly, the slabs being of
necessity also curved in order to enable the strips to be attached thereto. The
curvature of the slabs will be such that the inner surfaces (between which the
clothing is to be introduced) are longitudinally convex, the object being to cause
the centre portion of the presser to bite and press with equal or greater power
compared with the two ends. By this method, I do not find it necessary to
employ intermediate screws or equivalents, but can rely solely upon those at each
end. While the presser is being screwed up, the curved strips will, together
with the slabs, gradually become straightened, that is to say, the ends of
the top and bottom slabs, which are curved away from one another, are drawn
together by the action of the end screws, and thus a considerable pressure is
produced throughout the entire length of the slabs.
I do not find it desirable to employ cross bars upon my apparatus. If, how-
ever, any such should be used, provision must be made for a slight transverse
bending of the slabs, which becomes necessary owing to the fact that the clothing
(owing to seams) is of much greater thickness along the centre of the presser

page_text: than along the edges, and that, were there to be no such bending, the clothing
would receive an excessive pressure upon the seams and little or none upon
the other parts.
My presser need not be more than two or three inches in height and may be
carried in a trunk in any convenient manner. For instance, a space might be
partitioned off in the front of the trunk into which it may be dropped, or it
may be strapped upon the lid or in any other suitable position.
I, HENRY COWLEY, of High Street, Feltham, in the County of Middlesex,
Cabinet Maker, 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:-
My present invention is a new or improved trousers presser, the principal
advantages of which are compactness and efficiency. Its construction and manipu-
lation are very simple, and, as it occupies a very small space, it may be
kept within a drawer or packed within a travelling trunk or the like together
with any ordinary clothing, or it may be mounted upon a stand, according
to desire. One or more pairs of trousers (or other articles) may be pressed within
it simultaneously, division boards of wood or thick card being inserted, if
necessary.
In carrying out my invention, I take a pair of slabs, or boards having a
certain amount of pliability. These may be of wood, metal, or any other kind of
suitable material, whether solid, or built up of veneer or layers of material. 1
find in practice that stout 3-ply veneer makes suitable board. The boards
may be rectangular, tapered or of any shape and proportions suitable for receiving
between them the legs of trousers.
Along each longitudinal edge of each slab I attach a strip of metal preferably
of cast iron or steel, carrying a block at each end (or other point), the blocks
of the upper slab having slots or holes for receiving the top ends of bolts fur-
nished with screwed wing nuts, the lower ends of the said bolts being previously
passed through, hinged to, or fixed into the blocks of the lower slab. I prefer
to make said strips curved slightly, the slabs being of necessity also curved in
order to enable the strips to be attached thereto. The curvature of the slabs will
be such that the inner surfaces (between which the clothing is to be introduced)
are longitudinally convex, the object being to cause the centre portion of the
presser to bite and press with equal or greater power compared with the two
ends. One slab only, together with the metal strips attached thereto, may.
be curved, if desired. By this method I do not find it necessary to employ inter-
vening screws or equivalents, but can rely solely upon those at each end.
While the presser is being screwed up, the curved strips will, together with the
slabs, gradually become straightened, that is to. say, the ends of the top and
bottom slabs which are curved away from one another, are drawn together by
the action of the end screws and thus a considerable pressure is produced through-
out the entire length of the slabs. It is obvious, however, that I may employ

page_text: flat, strips and slabs instead of curved ones, and may add one or more bolts and
screws at suitable points between the ends if desired.
For the purpose of supporting the trousers or other clothing when out of the
press, I may provide a thin board or panel capable of sliding in grooved or
rebated pieces fixed to or forming part of the. underside of the lower slab
of the press or metal side strips.
It is a necessary factor to the successful working of my trousers presser that
the slabs should be capable of bending transversely, for when trousers are folded
and pressed, the seams (where the cloth or material is doubled over and occupies
twice as much thickness) tend to take all the pressure to themselves, and if the
slabs themselves were not pliable or curved, the knees and other parts of the
trousers which need the pressure most would receive little or no pressure. This
objection is only enhanced by using several trousers in the press. A flat unyield
ing slab is moreover not only inefficient in itself but is particularly liable to
become split under the strain applied to it.
1 do not find it necessary to employ cross bars upon my apparatus. When,
however, any such are used, they are arched on their inner surfaces or raised
upon feet, so that they may not bear upon the centre of the slabs and thus
prevent their bending transversely as aforesaid.
In describing my invention, I will refer to the accompanying drawings which
show several forms in which my invention may be carried out.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are plan, cross section, and longitudinal edge view res-
pectively of one form.
Figures 4 and 5 are plan. and edge view respectively of a modification.
Figures 6 and 7 show slight variations, being a plan and end view respectively.
Figure 8 is an enlarged view representing the hinged bolt shown on a smaller
scale in the two preceding figures.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modification of my invention, showing
hinged bolts of a different form and also the sliding slab or panel partly with-
drawn, and
Figures 10 and 11 show cross section and detail respectively of Figure 9.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3, A represents the top slab, half of it broken away to
show the bottom slab B underneath. C C are the longitudinal strips of the top
slab, of metal section, the angle enclosing the upper edge of the slab, and held
on the top by screws D D or the like. The vertical sides of the angle come
flush with the lower edge of the slab, as shown more clearly in Figure 2. The
strips CC carry blocks CC at each end, slotted as at C2 C2. The lower slab B
carries longitudinal metal strips E E arranged similarly to and symmetrically with
the upper strips, but its blocks E E¹ are formed with holes into which are fixed
in an upright position threaded bolts F F, which are intended to enter the
slots C2C and receive winged nuts G screwed over their ends. As will be
seen from Figure 3, the strips and slabs remain curved in the direction of their
length while not under any pressure, but when pressure is applied they become
straightened out, while, on the other hand, the slabs become slightly curved
transversely, as already mentioned. The transverse curvature is shown in Figure 7,
hereinafter referred to.
In Figures 4 and 5, I have shown rectangular slabs, and the strips C C and E E
are represented as being flat instead of angular, and also without any curvature.
This form may be preferred by some persons, and in order to ensure sufficient
central pressure, I may employ additional blocks C₁ D¹ with proper means of
securing by holts and nuts.
Referring now to Figures 6, 7, and 8, the bolts F, instead of being caused
to remain upright, may be hinged within the blocks E¹ E, so that upon the
fly nuts being loosened, the bolts can fall out of the upper slots C²C into a
horizontal position level with the bottom slab. By this arrangement, there will
be less possibility of the bolts interfering with the easy removal or introduction
of the trousers or other articles. I may employ side strips with lugs H HH

page_text: extending in the direction of the centre of the slab, so as to bring the securing
screws 1 further away from the edges of the slabs, and thus prevent any
possibility of the side strips being forced away from the edges, when the screw
pressure is applied. The lugs 1 may be of different lengths, so that the screws do
not lie in line along the grain of the wood. In Figure 7 are shown several
pairs of trousers JJ under pressure within my trousers presser. K K are
boards separating the trousers.
Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing the hinged bolt F', pivotted by a rivet or
pin L to the bottom block E¹. I may employ means for preventing the hinged
bolt from accidentally slipping out of its slot C by enlarging or rabbeting the
upper edge of said slot to about half its depth and sufficiently wide to receive
the nut G.. Said nut G, which is too large to enter the slot proper, will, on being
screwed down, enter the enlarged part and bear upon the crescent or semi-
circular seating M within the slot C².
Other means may be employed for holding the hinged bolt within the slot.
For instance, I may provide lugs or raised pieces upon the top edge at the
entrance of the slot, which would act as a stop when the nut was screwed down
behind same upon the bolt.
I may prefer, in some cases, to use the form of presser shown on Sheet 2 of the
accompanying drawings. The lower slab may be provided with a panel N, which
is capable of sliding in grooved or rebated pieces O fixed to or forming part of
the underside of the lower slab B or strips E and serves to support the trousers
or the like when out of the presser, the lower slab B in this case being straight
longitudinally. When out of use, it can be pushed in flush with the end of the
presser. Pressure may be applied as before, but the bolts F are eyeletted and
hinged on studs Q and held thereon by small T-headed set screws or buttons R
screwed into the ends of same. When not being used, said bolts may lie length-
wise of the presser, the enlarged ends P of the lower strips E serving to keep
them sufficiently far away from the edges of the presser for this purpose. The
ends of the lower and upper strips E and C may be extended inwardly as shown
by C, to secure a firmer hold upon the slab. The upper strips C are longitudinally
slotted as at T to receive the bolts F when swung up. Said bolts may be made
to work stiffly on the studs Q or otherwise arranged so that they may remain
temporarily in any convenient position.
The slabs with strips attached, whether the latter be angular or flat in cross
section, may be either straight or curved from end to end, according to desire.
The hinged bolt and lugs shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 need not be associated
only with these particular forms of presser as shown, but may be used separately
or together with any of the forms herein referred to.
My presser need not be more than two or three inches in height and may be
carried in a trunk in any convenient manner. For instance, a space might be
partitioned off in the front of the trunk into which it may be dropped, or it
may be strapped upon the lid or in any other convenient position.
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. A presser consisting of two strong slabs or boards one or both slightly
pliable longitudinally and transversely and normally curved from end to end
and both provided along their longitudinal edges with metal strips of either
angular or flat cross section the ends of the upper strips being slotted and the
lower strips provided with corresponding bolts and nuts the whole substantially
as described and with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the accompany-
ing drawings.
2. A presser consisting of two strong slabs or boards one or both slightly
pliable transversely both provided along their longitudinal edges with metal
flat cross
strips of either angular or
section the upper strips being

page_text: slotted and the lower strips provided with corresponding bolts and
nuts and having a sliding panel or not as may be desired the whole substan-
tially as described and with reference to Figures 4, 5 and 9 of the accompanying
1011
·
.
aming.
Bated this 10th day of March 1500.
For the Applicant,
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.,
61 & 62, Chancery Lane,
(7&8, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agents.