Improvements in Devices for Stretching Trousers and other Articles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 19th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Stretching Trousers and other Articles.
I, LOUIS AUGUSTIN BAILLON, of 2 Lincoln Villas, Willesden Lane, Kilburn, in
the County of Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to devices or apparatus for stretching trousers and other
articles.
Devices or apparatus for stretching trousers as hitherto constructed are somewhat
complicated in construction, and are therefore more or less liable to get out of order.
The said devices moreover are bulky owing to their being arranged to take in the
full or nearly the full length of the said trousers, and by reason of their construction
are expensive, and inconvenient to pack in a portmanteau or the like with the
trousers stretched upon them for transport or other purposes.
The main object of my invention is to obviate the above defects and to provide a
device for stretching trousers comprising comparatively few parts, of simple con-
struction and adapted to fit into a small compass, thus being epecially suitable for
packing into a portmanteau or the like with the trousers stretched upon it for
travelling.
My said invention comprises moreover various other improvements hereinafter
set forth.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a frame comprising cross-
bars or crosspieces connected together by toggle joints or elbow joints. These toggle
joints or elbow joints are preferably arranged so as to hinge or pivot in an outward
direction that is to say away from each other. One of these cross bars or crosspieces
is provided with a piece suitably hinged or jointed at one extremity to the said cross
bar or cross-piece and provided at the other extremity with a convenient catch or
fastener. The trousers intended to be stretched are secured in the device by means
of the said cross-bar or cross-piece.
In using my improved device or apparatus the above mentioned hinged or jointed piece
is first opened and the toggle joints or elbow joints are then hinged or pivoted outwards
so as to reduce the length of the apparatus. The trousers are then passed over or
folded over the cross-bars or cross pieces twice or any other suitable number of times
and secured in the device or apparatus by closing the said hinged or jointed piece and
securing the same by means of the catch or fastener. The toggle joints or elbow
joints are then pushed or pressed inwards and straightened thus expanding the said
device or apparatus. By these means a considerable strain is put upon the trousers
fixed in the device, and they are consequently advantageously stretched.
Although I have hereinbefore described my said device or apparatus as adapted
more especially for stretching trousers, it is obvious that it is also applicable for
stretching other articles, such as for example embroidery or the like.
"I can moreover somewhat modify the construction of my said device without in any
way departing from the nature of my said invention. For instance I can arrange
the hereinbefore described toggle joints or elbow joints so as to hinge or pivot or
collapse inwards or towards each other, instead of outwards or away from each other.
I can moreover form the said device or apparatus of any convenient length or other
dimensions, so as to take in trousers placed full length in the said device, or to suit
the dimensions of other articles. In this case I provide a hinged piece upon both of
the bereinbefore mentioned cross-bars or cross pieces for fastening or securing the
extremities of the said trousers or other articles. I construct my improved apparatus

page_text: for stretching trousers or other articles of wood metal or other suitable material.
When the said apparatus is constructed of metal I sometimes form the parts or some
of the parts of the said apparatus, hollow or tubular.
Dated this 19th day of November 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Stretching Trousers and other Articles.
I, LOUIS AUGUSTIN BAILLON, of 2 Lincoln Villas, Willesden Lane, Kilburn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 invention relates to apparatus for stretching trousers and other articles.
Apparatus of this kind or class as hitherto constructed are usually composed of so
many separate and detachable parts that they are somewhat complicated in con-
struction and there is considerable liability to loss of one or more of the parts. The
said apparatus, moreover, take in the entire or nearly the entire length of the trousers
placed upon them, and consequently are inconvenient to pack in a portmanteau or the
like for transport or other purposes, with the said trousers stretched upon them.
By my invention I obviate the above defects, and provide a trousers-stretcher
which comprises comparatively few parts all securoly connected together, and which
is of simple construction, and is very compact and therefore especially suitable for
packing into a portmanteau or the like with the trousers stretched upon it.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a front elevation and
Figure 2 is a side elevation showing one form of my improved trousers
stretcher.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A A' are cross-bars or cross-pieces coupled together by connecting rods. B jointed
at B' so as to form toggle-joints or elbow-joints. These toggle-joints or elbow-joints
are preferably arranged so as to hinge or pivot in an outward direction, that is to say,
away from each other, as shown by the dotted lines Figure 1. One of these cross-
bars or cross-pieces is provided with a piece Chinged or jointed at C¹ to the said
cross-bar or cross-piece and provided at the other extremity with a convenient catch
or fastener C³. The trousers intended to be stretched are secured in the device by
means of the said cross-bar or cross-piece. The said cross-bars or cross pieces A A',
and hinged piece are preferably formed of metal U-shaped in transverse section
and the corresponding edges of the pieces A and C are slightly cambered as shown
in the drawing.
In using my improved device or apparatus, the above mentioned hinged or jointed
piece is first opened and the toggle-joints or elbow-joints are then folded or bent
outwards (as shown by the dotted lines Figure 1) so as to reduce the length of the
apparatus. The trousers are then passed over, or folded over the cross-bars or cross-
pieces A A¹ twice or any other suitable number of times and retained firmly in
position by closing the said hinged or jointed piece C and securing the same by
means of the catch or fastener C. The toggle-joints or elbow-joints are then pushed
or pressed inwards and straightened so that they assume the position shown by the
full lines Figure 1 and thus expand or extend the frame of the said device or apparatus.
By these means a considerable strain is put upon the trousers fixed in the device in
the manner above described, and they are consequently subjected to a very considerable
stretching action.

page_text: Although I have hereinbefore described my said device or apparatus as adapted
more especially for stretching trousers, it is obvious that it is also advantageously
applicable for stretching other articles, such as for example embroidery or the like.
I can moreover somewhat modify the construction of my said device without
departing from the nature of my invention. For instance I can arrange the herein-
before described toggle-joints or elbow-joints so as to hinge, pivot or bend inwards or
towards each other, instead of outwards or away from each other. I can make the
said device or apparatus of any convenient length or other dimensions, for instance
so that it is capable of taking in the full length of the trousers, or so that it will
suit the dimensions of other articles. I sometimes provide a hinged piece upon both
of the herein before mentioned cross-bars or cross-pieces A. A¹ for fastening or
securing the extremities of the said trousers or other articles. Instead of metal I
can construct my improved apparatus of wood or other suitable material. I can,
moreover, make the parts thereof tubular or of any other suitable form in transverse
section.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that I claim :-
First. In an apparatus for stretching trousers or other articles, the employment
of toggle-joints or jointed connecting rods for effecting the required expansion and
construction of the apparatus, for the purpose above specified.
Second. The improved trousers-stretcher constructed substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawing and operating as above specified.
Dated
1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.