Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 10th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 11th Jan., 1887.
My present invention relates to apparatus used for the purpose of stretching
trousers or other garments when not in use, in order to preserve their shape, or other
articles such as canvas.
It has for its object a novel method of making such apparatus so that it occupies
very little space when not in use, can be very quickly and easily adjusted to trousers
or other garments of different sizes, and is simple to use and effective in operation.
I take a series of pairs of levers or bars pivotted together at their centres, and
having the extremities of the adjoining pairs also pivotted together so that the entire
series constitutes a set of what are known as "lazy tongs," in which the movement of
the first pair of levers is multiplied to any desired extent, the entire apparatus being
instantly extended or contracted as desired by such movement. The levers or bars
may be arranged in two or more parallel sets where great strength is required. To the
first pair of bars I joint or connect by means of links a transverse bar of wood or other
material having a screw clip attached to it by means of which the waistband of the
trousers or one end of the garment or other article which is to be stretched can be
firmly held, and to the last pair of levers a similar bar is connected having a similar
clip by which the lower or other end of the trousers or other garment or article which
is to be stretched can in like manner be firmly held. I arrange a transverse screw
across two of the jointed bars by turning which the apparatus can be extended or
contracted as desired and retained in the required position. Or a transverse guide
having a series of holes through which and through one of the pivotted bars a moveable
pin passes may be used for the same purpose; or a series of notches in a bar connected
to one of the levers and kept in its required position by a detent or catch upon the
opposite lever, or other equivalent device for the same purpose.
The two clips having been attached to the garment which is to be stretched the
apparatus is extended sufficiently to stretch the latter to the required extent, and is

page_text: kept in such position by the arms last described. When sufficiently stretched the
levers may be released and the clips removed, and the entire apparatus can be then
shut up into very small compass.
Instead of connecting the clip directly to the ends of the apparatus as described,
I sometimes connect them to the latter by means of a screw working in a nut in the
bar connecting the ends of the levers, so that after the stretching has been partially
effected by extending the apparatus in the way described, may be continued by
turning the screws so as to further separate the clips.
Where canvas or other surfaces are to be stretched, sets of apparatus of the kind
described may be arranged at right angles to each other or in any other position so as
to effect the stretching in the desired directions.
Apparatus constructed according to my invention is simple, cheap, light and strong,
and is easily used and very effective for the required purpose.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Stretching Trousers or other Garments
or other Articles.
I, ELLIS PARR, of Long Lane, in the City of London, Merchant, 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 and
accompanying drawing (that is to say) :-
My invention relates to apparatus used for the purpose of stretching trousers or
other garments when not in use, in order to preserve their shape, or other articles such
as canvas.
It has for its object a novel method of making such apparatus so that it occupies -
very little space when not in use, can be very quickly and easily adjusted to trousers
or other garments of different sizes, and is simple to use and effective in operation.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, figure 1 shewing the
apparatus as used for stretching trousers, in its extended position. Figure 2 is a side
view of the same, and figure 3 shews the same apparatus closed. Figures 4 and 5
represent the apparatus in a modified form and used in a somewhat different manner.
I take a series of pairs of levers or bars a, a, a, pivotted together at their
centres b, b, b, and having the extremities of the adjoining pair also pivotted together
at c, c, c, so that the entire series constitutes a set of what are known as "lazy tongs,"
in which the movement of the first pair of levers is multiplied to any desired extent,
the entire apparatus being instantly extended or contracted as desired by such
movement.
The levers or bars a may be arranged in two or more parallel sets where great
strength is required.
To the first pair of bars a' I joint or connect by means of links, a transverse bar of
wood or other material d having a screw clip e attached to it by means of which the
waistband of the trousers or one end of the garment or other article which is to be
stretched can be firmly held, and to the last pair of levers a, a similar bar d¹ is
connected having a similar clip et by which the lower or other end of the trousers or
other garment or article which is to be stretched can in like manner be firmly hold.
I arrange a transverse screw across two of the jointed bars by turning which the
apparatus can be extended or contracted as desired and retained in the required
position. Or a transverse guide having a series of holes through which and through
one of the pivotted bars a moveable pin passes may be used for the same purpose; or a
series of notches in a bar connected to one of the levers and kept in its required
position by a detent or catch upon the opposite lever, or other equivalent device for
the same purpose.
In the drawing a transverse screw is shewn, passing through a projection upon one
of the pivots c, and carrying a bar y having one or more notches h, which can be fitted
over the opposite pivot as shewn in figures 1 and 4. The screw fis fitted with a nut i
by which the pivots can be drawn together and the apparatus extended.

page_text: The two clips e, el, having been attached to the garment which is to be stretched the
apparatus is extended sufficiently to stretch the latter to the required extent, and is
kept in such position by the means last described. When sufficiently stretched the
levers may be released and the clips removed, and the entire apparatus can be then
shut up into very small compass (as shewn in figure 3).
Instead of connecting the clips directly to the ends of the apparatus as described,
I sometimes connect them to the latter by means of a screw working in a nut in the
bar connecting the ends of the levers, so that after the stretching has been partially
effected by extending the apparatus in the way described, it may be continued by
turning the screws so as to further separate the clips.
In figures 4 and 5, the apparatus is shewn about half the length, and having two
clips e, e, at the upper end, and a transverse bar d¹ without a clip at its lower end.
The lower edges of the latter bar d' are rounded, and the waistband or upper part of
the trousers being held in one of the clips e they are doubled round the lower bar d¹,
and their other ends or feet are, fixed in the other clip e. The apparatus is then
extended as already described by the screw and nut i.
In figures 1 and 3, the ends of one of the bars a¹ and a, are shewn working in a
groove, in order to allow the apparatus to open and close as shown.
In figure 4, the upper ends of the bars a are shewn pivotted together to the bar d,
which also carries a rigid guide in which the pivot works, so as to ensure the
proper position of the bar d and clips e, e. The lower bar d' is shewn simply pivotted
to the bars a', but it may also be guided in the same way as the bar d if preferred.
Where canvas or other surfaces are to be stretched, sets of apparatus of the kind
described may be arranged at right angles to each other or in any other position so as
to effect the stretching in the desired directions.
Apparatus constructed according to my invention may be made of any suitable
materials or combination of materials, and is simple, cheap, light, and strong, and is
easily used and very effective for the required purpose.
I do not confine myself to the precise proportions and method of construction and
arrangement of the several parts of the improved apparatus, which may be varied more
or less according to the purpose and circumstances under which it is to be used, but t
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 :-
In stretching apparatus, the pivotted levers a, in combination with the clipping
apparatus, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose described
and shewn.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Inventor.