An Improved Trousers Stretcher.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1891
An Improved Trousers Stretcher.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., the Goneral
Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me from
abroad by Theodor Otto Thiesing, of Hildesheim, in the Empire of Germany,
Merchant) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to an improved trousers stretcher and has for its object to
provide a stretcher which obviates the disadvantages attending the use of the
ordinary trousers stretcher.
In order to enable the invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of the improved trouser stretcher.
Figures 2 and 3 are details.
Figure 4 is a view shewing the apparatus in use, and
Figures 5, 5 and 6 are modified forms of parts of the stretcher.
The improved trousers stretcher consists of a straight or bent bar A having a hook
in the centre and provided with clips or clamps B fixed by screws a at the ends.
The clips B are each formed of two jointed jaws b, b' tho jaw b¹ being provided with
a recess in which is a spring c.
In order to suspend the trousers they have to be turned upside down and the lower
part of the trouser leg is introduced between the jaws of the clip B, Figures 1 and 4.
The weight of the garment effects a downward pull and at the same time the clips B
keep the two sides of the legs flattened together whereby the creases resulting from
wear are caused to disappear.
To obtain good results it is necessary that the distance between the clips should
correspond exactly with the width of the lower part of the trouser legs but as the
width of the trouser-leg varies with the fashion I advantageously employ an
adjustable trousers stretcher (shown in Figures 5 and 5") having a modified form
of clip.
The bar A is made in two parts which are connected in the middle by a coupling
nut C having a right and left hand screw thread provided with a central hook. The
screw threaded portion of the two parts of the bar A, A corresponds with the thread
of the nut C by turning which nut the bar can be adjusted to the desired
position.
The free ends of the bars A A are provided with clips B B as in the arrangement
hereinbefore described which clips comprise two lovers b, b' (Figures 5, 5ª) which are
jointed by a pin nearly in the centro. Around this pin is a spiral spring C, the ends
of which are fixed to the corresponding ends of the levers b, b'. In order to
introduce the garment into the clips the arms b, bare pressed towards each other
when the clip will open and the trouser leg can be placed therein. On the pressure
being removed the clip closes under the action of the spring and tightly grips the
trouser leg.
The clip represented in Figures 5 and 5 is not only easier to manipulate than that
described in connection with the first mentioned arrangement, but also lasts much
longer and gives a more secure grip.
Spiral springs which work in tension frequently become weak owing to being
distended during the whole time the trousers stretcher is in use.
This inconvenience is obviated by the use of a torsion spring as described by which
the strain is very small as compared with the spring c in Figure 1..

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that wh
claim is :-
(1.) The improved trousers stretcher comprising a straight or bent bar provided
with a hook in the centre and spring clips at the ends for holding the trouser legs
substantially as hereinbefore described.
(2.) The use with a trousers stretcher such as that referred to in claim 1, of a
divided bar rendered adjustable lengthwise by means of a coupling nut having a
right and left hand screw thread, which bar is provided at both ends with
clips formed of jointed levers and provided with à torsion spring substantially as
herein before described.
(3.) The improved trousers stretchers hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated the 20th day of November 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.