Improvements in Trouser Stretchers.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Trouser Stretchers.
I, WILLIAM CUNLIFFE, of the Fire Station, Chorley, in the County of Lancaster,
Sanitary Inspector and Fire Brigade Superintendent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in trouser stretchers, by the adoption
of which the proper shape of the trouser legs is preserved.
The improved stretchers consist of two pairs of laths or thin strips of wood,
one pair for each leg. These laths are made some inches longer than the trousers
and have their outside edges shaped to correspond with the shape of the folded
trousers. When all the four laths have been inserted into the trousers, in the
front and back creases respectively, their lower ends are firmly secured together
and to the ends of the trouser legs by means of a suitable clip or clips. On the
upper end of each of the laths there is a sliding sleeve which may be held in
any position required by means of springs and catches or the like, and these sleeves
are capable of being clamped together and to the trousers by suitable means.
The lower ends of the laths being secured together and to the trouser legs, the
sleeves, after being connected together and to the trousers, are pulled outwards
as far as practicable, and they are held in this position by the springs or catches.
If the outer edges of the laths are bevelled to a thin edge, they will produce
creases in the trouser legs.
The construction of my improved stretchers prevents the legs of the trousers
gathering in at the knees or elsewhere.
WILLIAM CUNLIFFE, Fire Station, Chorley, Lancashire, Sanitary Inspector,
Market Inspector, and Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, 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:-
The details of the invention are as follows. In each leg of the trousers two
strips of wood (as shown by drawing at B, C) shaped out to the pattern or design
of the trousers, in whatever design pattern or fashion that may be in use.
The strips of wood shaped out to pattern marked B, C, the outer edge being
bevelled off see section B, C, on line R, S, from point to the bottom at F.
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page_text: Slides marked G are fitted to the top of each strip which slide outwards, and the
slides are held in position as they are drawn out by the springs at D, these springs
are fastened to the inside edge of slide G by screws H. The springs slide up a
rack E, the racks are fastened to the inside edge of strips. B, C, at O see section
at P Q. Clips marked A, K, are held by thumb screws J see section 4, y. The
bottom clip K is covered on the inside. with cloth.
The inner side of clip A is grooved out. to receive and secure the brace buttons,
the groove is one inch wide by one eighth of an inch deep.
The above named strips, slides, and clips, can be made either in wood, iron,
steel, brass, or any other metal. The strips may be in one length, or they can
be folded up in the middle either by hinge, or by sockets, or by telescoping.
THE ADVANTAGES.
1st. I claim for this invention that the trousers are held in perfect shape by
the strips, and the creases are formed up the legs of the trousers both back and
front, during the act of stretching.
2nd. The trousers are stretched out both in length and in width in one
operation.
3rd. The trousers stretchers are easily put on, are not bulky, and can be put
either in a drawer or wardrobe.
Dated this Twenty-first day of July 1899.
WILLIAM CUNLIFFE.