Improvements in Appliances for Stretching and Shaping Hats and Helmets.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 27th Apr., 1889
Improvements in Appliances for Stretching and Shaping Hats
and Helmets.
I GEORGE HENRY BRUCE of 132 Price Street Smethwick in the county of Stafford-
shire Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention for Improvements in appliances for stretching and shaping hats and
belmets relates to the manner in which I construct and arrange my portable stretcher,
so that a hat or helmet be adapted to suit any shape of head by causing the particular
parts requiring to be stretched to be pressed against by the arms of my appliance.
In carrying my invention into effect when constructing a stretcher or appliance
for shaping hats I form the outer or pressing surface of three or more arms working
upon pivots or centre joints, in such a manner that two of them by preference work on
one centre pin, and the other upon a seperate centre pin. These pins
central jointed bars having a screw formed upon the free end of each to admit of a
union or connecting nut being placed upon same.
carry in
The screws upon each bar being one right hand and the other left hand the
connecting nut will draw them together or force them apart by simply turning the
same in either direction.
The arms I form with a curved surface to suit the ordinary curvature of hat, and
by moving them upon their pivots I am enabled by turning the central connecting
nut to apply a pressure upon those parts of the hat that the arms are placed against.
I do not always use a connecting right and left handed screw to apply the pressure
but sometimes employ a series of jointed levers so that the pressure upon the central
portion forces the arms out as before described when using a screw.
In constructing a stretcher with more than three arms I employ the same system
of central levers or screws to force the arms against the surface of hat.
By bringing these moving arms into different positions I am enabled to apply
pressure at the desired parts, and thus to shape the hat or helmet to suit any special or
peculiar requirement.

page_text: I do not limit the construction of my improved stretching appliance to the particular
joints and levers herein described as I employ their equivalents in ordinary mechanical
construction with like advantageous results or I sometimes make one or more of
the arms stationary while the others are moveable upon their pivots.
In like manner I cause the central parts of one or more of the arms to form
supports for the other arms, and I employ more than one connecting nut or forcing
lever, so that the pressure shall be brought against one position of the hat or
helmet only when so desired.
Dated thin 10th
L T
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Stretching and Shaping Hats
and Helmets..
I GEORGE HENRY BRUCE of 10 Helena Street Smethwick in the County of
Stafford but late of 132 Price Street Smethwick, aforesaid Mechanical Engineer, 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 for Improvements in appliances for stretching and shaping hats and
helmets relates to the manner in which I construct and arrange my portable stretcher,
so that a hat or helmet be adapted to suit any shape of head by causing the particular
parts requiring to be stretched to be pressed against by the arms of my appliance.
In carrying my invention into, effect when constructing a stretcher or appliance
for shaping hats I form the outer or pressing surface of three or more arms working
upon pivots or centre joints, in such a manner that two of them by preference work
on one centre pin, and the other upon a separate centre pin.. These pins, I carry in
central jointed bars having a screw formed upon the free end of each to admit of a
union or connecting nut being placed upon same. The screws upon. each bar being
one right hand and the other left hand the connecting nut will draw them together or
force them apart by simply turning the same in either direction.
The arms I form with a curved surface to suit the ordinary curvature of hat,
and by moving them upon their pivots I am enabled by turning the central
connecting nut to apply a pressure upon those parts of the hat that the arms are placed
against.
I do not always use a connecting right and left handed screw to apply the pressure
but sometimes employ a series of jointed levers so that the pressure upon the central
portion forces the arms out as before described when using a screw.
In constructing a stretcher with more than three arms I employ the same system of
central levers or screws to force the arms against the surface of hat.
By bringing these moving arms into different positions I am enabled to apply
pressure at the desired parts, and thus to shape the hat or helmet to suit any special
or peculiar requirement.
I do not limit the construction of my improved stretching appliance to the
particular joints and levers 'herein described as employ their equivalents in ordinary
mechanical construction with like advantageous results or I sometimes make one or
more of the arms stationary while the others are moveable upon their pivots.
In like manner I cause the central parts of one or more of the arms to form supports
for the other arms and I employ more than one connecting nut or forcing lever, so
that the pressure shall be brought against one position of the hat or helmet only when
so desired.
In order that my invention and the manner of performing the same may be perfectly
understood I hereunto append one sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereafter
referred to and representing examples of my invention.

page_text: Figure 1 shows the first form of stretcher which I have already described and it
consists of three arms A. B. and C having screws D and E with right and left hand
threads and a central nut F, the screw E carries a joint G upon which work the ends
of the arms B and C. The thrusting surfaces of the arms A. B. and C may be of
any suitable shape but I prefer to make them in circular form with considerable
surface and flanges H. H. H. to hold these surfaces in position with respect to the rin
or edge of the hat. To operate my invention the screw F is so turned as to bring
E and D together and allow the thrusting surfaces I. I. I. to fit easily into the hat at
the portions desired to be expanded, the flanges H. H. H. rest upon the edge or rim
of the hat, the nut F is then turned upon the screws D and E so as to thrust out the
arms and any suitable extension can be given at the points of pressure by continuing
this process long enough.
In another form 1 dispense with the screws D and E and the central nut F as shown
at figures 2 and 3. In this case figure 2 a bar K has a socket at one end L which
receives the circular end of a joint M having notches N. N. N. in one of its
surfaces. There is another joint O at the end of K so arranged that the arm P
attached to it moves in a direction at right angles to the other two arms Q and R.
The screw S is so set in one of the notches N that the arm P can only enter the
hat while the arms Q and R are pressing against it by doubling out the joint Oas
shown in dotted lines at P figure 3, the pressure is then applied by pushing in the
joints O to bring it straight again and thus causing an application of power similar
to a toggle movement by repeating this process and adjusting the position of Q and R
by means of the screws any desired pressure or extension may be made upon
the hat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved appliance for stretching and shaping hats and helmets as shown
in figure 1 substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
2. The improved appliance for stretching and shaping hats and helmets as shown
in figures 2 and 3 substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated this 19th day of March 1889.
MARKS & CLERK,
Agents for Applicant.