PRESERVING THE SHAPE OF TROWSERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Coleman Gooddy, of Meltham, near Huddersfield;
in the County of York, for the Invention of "PRESERVING THE SHAPE OF
TROWSERS."
Sealed the 1st April 1879, and dated the 4th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Coleman Gooddy'
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1878.
EDWARD COLEMAN GOODDY, of Meltham, near Huddersfield, in the County of
York. "PRESERVING THE SHAPE OF TROWSERS."
The object of this Invention is to take out by longitudinal stretching and
pressure the creases and enlargements caused by the trowsers stretching during
wear or in other ways, as, for example, the enlargement at the knees popularly
known as "knees," also to prevent the shrinking and "cockling" of trowsers after
having been wet.
In carrying out my Invention I use mainly the following arrangements:-A flat
board or surface, which may be composed of wood or other material, varying in
length and width, as may be required to suit the size of the garments intended to
be kept in order. This board may be made either of equal width from top to
bottom, or varied according to requirements, clamped at each end, and of sufficient
thickness to prevent warping. At the lower extremity a piece of wood or suitable
material of such width and thickness as may be found convenient is attached by a
hinge or hinges (of peculiar construction as hereafter described), thus forming a pair
of clips, the lower jaw being part of the board, and the upper jaw the piece of wood
or suitable material.
On the side of the board opposite to that on which the hinges are affixed cramps
are placed, let into the underside of the board and working respectively each upon
its own hinge, or ordinary cramps working upon a swivel let into and held by a
bearer affixed to the said side of the board. Imitation sealskin, Utrecht velvet, or
other thick and yielding material is fastened respectively on the lower and upper
Drains S71

page_text: surfaces of the jaws and elsewhere, to prevent injury to the article being held in
the clips and press.
A pair of independent clips of similar make is placed at the head of the board,
and attached thereto by a long screw.
This screw passes through the lower jaw and into the board, working there in a
nut or nuts firmly fixed, and is caused to revolve by means of a handle placed
outside the lower jaw. The revolutions of the screw cause this pair of clips to
advance or withdraw from the board. The board is provided with a cover hinged
as are the clips, and furnished with similar cramps as before described. In con-
struction of the hinge there is a bar or shaft similar to the pin of an ordinary binge,
but much stouter and turned up true. Upon this shaft works an upright handle
through which a hole is drilled vertically to receive the foot of a cramp. The
cramp foot and vertical bandle are drilled horizontally to allow for the insertion of
a cotter, or pin, or screw, whereby they are coupled together. A stout hinge is
provided made thick at one end with a long vertical bearing slotted so as to work
easily up and down upon the arm of the cramp, consequently the cover before
described may be at a greater or lesser distance from the board, the same depending
upon the thickness of the material to be pressed, the usual screw in the cramp
supplying the requisite pressure. On the same side of the under board and cover
as the hinges are applied respectively. tapped holdfasts provided with a screw
whereby the board and cover may be brought into closer contiguity when ordinary
hinges are used, or hinges of such construction that when closed the jaws do not
meet by a determinate space varying as the case may require from one eighth to
three eighths of an inch.
The action of the Invention is as follows:-
The trowsers to be acted upon are carefully laid straight on the full length of the
board. The hinged jaw is, then lowered, and sufficient pressure applied by the
cramps to hold them perfectly tight. The top part of the trowsers is then inserted
in the higher or loose clips, and being made fast the screw is turned and the
trowsers stretched as tightly as may be deemed desirable. This being done the top
cover is lowered, and as much pressure as may be considered advisable is applied
by means of the cramps. The pair of loose clips provided work freely upon bearers
of wood or metal let into the board.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Coleman Gooddy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th June 1879.
EDWARD COLEMAN GOODDY, of Meltham, near Huddersfield, in the County of
York. "PRESERVING THE SHAPE OF TROWSERS."
The object of this Invention is to take out by longitudinal stretching and
pressure the creases and enlargements caused by the trousers stretching during
wear or in other ways, as, for example, the enlargement at the knees popularly
known as knees, also to prevent the shrinking and cockling of trousers after
having been wet.
In carrying out my Invention I use substantially the following arrangements:-
A flat board or surface, which may be of wood or other suitable material, varying
in length and width as may be required to suit the size of the garments intended to.
be kept in order. This board may be made either of equal width from top to
bottom, or varied according to requirement and clamped at each end, and of
sufficient thickness to prevent warping. At the lower extremity of the board a
piece of wood or suitable material of such width and thickness as may be found
convenient is attached by a hinge or hinges, thus forming a pair of clips, the lower
jaw being part of the board, and the upper jaw the piece of wood or other suitable
material. On the side of the board opposite to that on which the hinges are
affixed cramps are placed, let into the underside or side of the board and working
respectively each upon its own hinge, or ordinary cramps are used working upon
a swivel let into and held by a bearer affixed to the said side of the board.
Imitation sealskin, Utrecht velvet, or other thick and yielding material is fastened
respectively to the lower and upper surfaces of the jaws, board, and cover, to
prevent injury to the article being held by the clips and press. A pair of inde-
pendent clips of similar make is placed at the head of the lower board, and
attached thereto by a long screw. The screw passes through the lower jaw and
into the board, 'working there in a nut or nuts firmly fixed, and is caused to revolve
by means of a handle placed outside the lower jaw. The revolutions of the screw
cause this pair of clips to advance or withdraw from the board. The board is
provided with a cover hinged as are the clips, and is furnished with similar cramps
as before described. Upon each jaw of the hinges there is a shoulder cast,
whereby when closed the said jaws are prevented from meeting by a determinate
space, varying as the occasion may require from one eighth of an inch to half
an inch.
The action of the Invention is as follows:-The trousers to be acted upon are
carefully laid straight on the full length of the board and clips. The hinged jaw is
then lowered, and sufficient pressure applied by the cramp at the foot to hold them
perfectly tight. The top part of the trousers is then fastened in like manner in
the upper or loose clips, the screw turned, and the trousers stretched as tightly as
may be deemed desirable. This being done the top cover is lowered, and as much
pressure as may be considered advisable is applied by means of the cramps. The
lower jaw of the loose clips works freely upon bearers of wood or metal let into the
board.
Having thus far described the nature of my said Invention, and incidentally
intimated in what manner the same is to be peformed, I will now proceed (aided by
the accompanying Drawings) to further and particularly describe and ascertain
in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice, that is to
say :-

page_text: In these Figures A represents flat board or surface of wood or other material
made in suitable shape. At one end of this board or surface (A) a piece of wood
or suitable material (B) is hinged, and other pieces B1, B2, are attached in similar
manner so as to cover when closed the surface A, the piece B2 covering portion C
placed at head of board A. The pieces B, B', B2, have countersunk portion B³, as
shown in Fig. 3. Cramps D (only one of which is, shown in the Drawing) are
fixed to board A, which cramps are constructed as shown in Fig. 2, or in other
suitable manner; E is a long screw which passes through the lower jaw of clip
B2, C, into the board A, and is provided with a handle F as shown; G, G, are
pieces of velvet or suitable yielding material fixed to boards A and B¹ to prevent
injury to the article operated upon. Pieces of velvet or yielding material are also
placed on parts B, B2, and C, at b, b², and c. Each jaw of the hinges is constructed
(as shewn in Fig. 3) with a shoulder a, so that when closed there is a space left
between said jaws.
The action is as follows:-
The trousers being laid on the pieces of velvet or other material G, G, on the
board or surface A, the hinged jaw B and the clip or jaw B2 are closed, B over
end of board A, and B2 over C, and these are pressed together tightly by means of
the cramps D. To stretch the trousers, the screw E is then turned by means of the
handle F. The cover B¹ is then lowered, and as much pressure applied by means
of the cramps D as may be considered desirable to remove all creases, etc., in the
trousers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the said Invention for preserving the shape
of trousers, consisting in the arrangement of boards or surfaces with clips, screw,
and cramps, substantially, as herein before set forth and described, or any mere
mechanical equivalent for effecting the objects herein before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Coleman Gooddy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
THOS. FARRAR,
Grass Croft,
Houley,
Huddersfield.
EDWARD COLEMAN GOODDY. (L.S.)