Improvements in Devices for Stretching Shirts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 18th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Stretching Shirts.
I, SIVERT MOE, of 395 Fifth Avenue, Chicago, in the County of Cook and State.
of Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices for
stretching shirts upon a bosom board, and it has for its object, among others,
to provide a simple and cheap device readily attached to an ironing board by which
the shirt may be readily clamped and stretched, and which after the same has
been ironed and the shirt disengaged from the clamp will automatically return to
its normal position, ready to be again used. The clamping jaws are mounted for
movement independently of each other, to admit of the reception and clamping of
the body of the shirt, and afterward movable together on the same support to
tighten the shirt on the bosom-board, and when the shirt has been ironed and
then disengaged from the clamping jaws the latter return to their positions
independent of each other. The clamping and stretching device forming the
subject matter of this application can be used either alone or in conjunction with
suitable neck-clamping devices on the same board.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear and the novel features
thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which, with
the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of the specification and in
which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improvement, and the parts shown in the position
they assume when the shirt has been clamped.
Fig. 2 is a like view, showing the position of the parts after the shirt has been
stretched.
Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the parts in their normal position, i.e., realy
to receive the shirt and before the clamping jaws are brought together to clamp
the same.
Fig. 4 is a substantially central, vertical, longitudinal section with parts in the
position in which they are seen in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is an end elevation, and
Fig. 6 is a top plan.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.
Referring now to the details of the drawing by letter, A designates a plate or
casting, adapted for attachment to the under side of an ironing board or table or
other support X in any convenient manner; for instance by serews a, as indicated
in Fig. 1 by dotted lines. Projecting from this plate or casting are the arms A¹
and extending centrally from the outer edge of this plate or casting is the inclined
curved arm A, the under face of which is toothed or notched, as seen at a¹, to
constitute a ratchet with which is adapted to engage a pawl, hereinafter described..
B is a rod or shaft supported in ears at the outer ends of the arms A¹ and on the.
outer ends of this shaft or rod beyond the ears of the said arms A' are sleeved the
rn ... 01

page_text: arms C, carrying the curved plate C¹ which upon its rear face is formed with lugs
or ears C² in which is held a shaft or pin C³ on which is pivotally mounted the
pawl D, one end of which is beveled or pointed, as seen best in Figs. 1 and 4 to
engage the ratchet teeth of the arm A2 on the plate or casting A, and this pawl is
formed with an arm D¹ which is, in this instance, shown as curved to conform to 5
the curvature of the rear face of the curved plate C¹. A spring D2 is arranged
around the pivot of this pawl to act thereon to keep it normally in engagement
with the ratchet. The curved plate C₁ has a centrally-disposed, forwardly and
upwardly extending arm D3 having an opening to receive the shaft or rod B, and
the upper end of this curved arm D³ is rounded as seen at d³. E is a spring coiled 1
around the shaft or rod B, with one end secured to or bearing against the under
face of the plate or bracket A, as shown, and its other end secured to or adapted
to bear against the front side of the curved plate C¹ as shown. The upper end of
the said curved plate is formed with the transverse extension C+ forming one of
the clamping jaws and upon its front face it is concaved or formed with the longi- 1
tudinal groove or curved depression, as seen in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and into
which the shirt body is designed to be pressed and clamped by the other jaw as
will hereinafter appear.
F is the other jaw carried by the curved arms F¹ which are sleeved upon the
shaft or rod B, so as to move freely thereon. The inner or rear face of this jaw :
or clamp has secured therein in any suitable manner the rubber or other yielding
or elastic web or strip G, as shown, and which is adapted to press against the shirt-
body and force and hold it in the depression of the jaw C as indicated in Fig. 1,
with a yielding pressure so as to prevent injury of the article being operated upon.
In this instance the elastic trip is shown as tubular in form and compressed within
the recess in the jaw or clamped by a rod or wire g, as clearly seen in Figs. 1 to 4
inclusive, but it is evident that other means may be employed for holding this strin
in place. The hub or sleeve f, of one of the arms F¹ is extended or lengthened and
upon its rear side is formed with a lug in line with the arm D of the pawl so
as to actuate the same at certain periods of the operation of the device, as will be
hereinafter more fully set forth. The jaw or clamp F is formed upon its front with
the lugs or ears f2 in which is held a pin f3 upon which is mounted for pivotal
movement the lever or thumb-piece H which has depending from its under face
the lug h, which is inclined or rounded as shown, and is in line with the curved
arm or projection D³ extending forwardly from the curved plate C¹ as seen best
in Fig. 4. It will be understood that the two jaws or clamps C+ and F are mounted
for independent pivotal movement upon their support or shaft.
With the parts constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
the operation is as follows: With the parts in the position in which they are seen
in Fig. 3, the shirt Y being placed upon the bosom-board and the neck held or
clamped in any suitable manner, the tail portion of the shirt is brought down over
the clamp or jaw C as shown, the portion beyond that acted upon by the clamps being
received in the space between and below the clamping jaws as indicated by dotted
lines and then the clamp or jaw F is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3
and its clamping edge or strip engaged with the shirt, and, as the clamp or jaw is
pressed towards the jaw 'C', the shirt is firmly bound between the two jaws or
clamps, and then by pressure upon the lever or thumb-piece H the rounded face
of this depending portion or lug h, is engaged upon and over the upper rounded
end of the curved arm or extension D³ as seen in Fig. 4, and, as the lever is
pressed upon the jaw or clamp E, is forced more firmly against the shirt and into
the recess or depression of the jaw C and the parts are locked and the shirt
clamped, as indicated in Fig. 1. When this is done, the two jaws and their arms
are bound together as one, and are then moved together outward by pulling upon
the arms or upon the clamps or jaws and the shirt thus stretched; as the clamps
are moved outward, the pawl engages in the ratchet, as indicated in Fig. 2, and
thus holds the parts against retrograde movement, Fig. 2 showing the position of
the parts when the shirt has been stretched and ready to be ironed. After the

page_text: shirt has been ironed and it is desired to remove it from the board, all that is
necessary to do is to pull upward upon the lever or finger-piece H until its depen-l-
ing lug is disengaged from the end of the curved arm D³, and, as this is done,
the lug f is brought into engagement with the arm D₁ of the pawl and forces
the same against the curved plate C and thus throws its outer end out of engage-
ment with the ratchet, when the spring throws the arms F1 and their jaw or clamp
away from the jaw C and then returns the latter back to its normal position,
that seen in Fig. 3. It will thus be seen that the return of the parts to their
normal position is practically automatic, as soon as the thumb-piece or lever is
actuated to disengage the same from the curved arm and the pawl from the
ratchet.
Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit
of my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.
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: :-
1. A shirt-stretching device comprising jaws mounted for movement independent
or synchronous, substantially as described.
2. A shirt-stretching device comprising jaws mounted upon a common shaft
and constructed and arranged to be moved independent of each other or simul-
taneously, substantially as described.
3. A shirt-stretching device, comprising jaws mounted upon a common shaft
for independent movement thereon, and means for connecting the same to cause
them to move simultaneously, substantially as described.
4. In a shirt-stretching device, the combination of jaws mounted to move in-
dependently of each other, and means for connecting the jaws to cause them to
move together and means for holding them in their adjusted position, substantially
as described.
5. In a shirt-stretching device, the combination with clamping jaws mounted
independently on a common shaft, of means carried by one jaw co-operating with
means carried by the other jaw whereby the two may be caused to move in unison,
substantially as described.
6. In a shirt-stretching device, the combination with clamping jaws mounted
independently on a common shaft, of means carried by one jaw co-operating with
means carried by the other jaw whereby the two may be caused to move in unison
and means for holding the jaws clamped in their adjusted position, substantially
as described.
7. The combination with the jaws mounted on a common shaft for independent
pivotal movement thereon, of a pawl carried by one of the jaws, and a ratchet
co-operatively arranged to hold the jaws in their adjusted position, substantially
as described.
8. The combination with the jaws mounted for independent pivotal movement,
of a pivoted lever carried by one jaw, and a projection movable with the other jaw
for co-operation with said lever to lock the jaws together so they may be moved
in unison, substantially as described.
9. The combination with the jaws mounted for independent pivotal movement,
of a pivoted lever carried by one of said jaws, a projecting arm carried by the
other jaw for engagement with said lever, and a ratchet and pawl mechanism for
holding the parts in their adjusted position, substantially as described.
10. The combination with the jaws mounted for independent pivotal movement,
of a pivoted lever carried by one of said jaws, a projecting arm carried by the other
jaw for engagement with said lever, a ratchet and pawl mechanism for holding
the parts in their adjusted position, and means for actuating said pawl to separate
the jaws, substantially as described.
11. The combination with the jaws mounted for independent pivotal movement,
of means, a portion of which is movable with each jaw for causing the same to

page_text: move together, and a ratchet and pawl mechanism and releasing devices carried
by and movable with said jaws for separating the same, substantially as described.
12. The combination with the jaws mounted for independent pivotal movement,
of a lever pivotally mounted on one of the jaws, a curved arm carried by the other
jaw for engagement with said lever, a fixed ratchet, a pawl carried by one of the
jaws for engagement therewith, and means carried by the other jaw to disengage the
said pawl from its ratchet, substantially as described.
13. The combination with the jaws mounted for independent pivotal movement
on a common shaft, of means for locking the jaws together to move in unison and
means for automatically returning the same to their normal position when dis-
connected, substantially as described.
14. The combination with the jaws mounted for independent pivotal movement
on a common shaft, of means for locking the jaws together to move in unison,
means for automatically returning the same to their normal position when dis-
connected, and a pawl and ratchet mechanism for holding the same in their adjusted
position, substantially as described.
15. The combination with the jaws mounted for independent pivotal movement,
of a ratchet, a pawl pivotally mounted on one of the jaws, and having an arm and
a lug carried by the hub of the other jaw in line with and adapted to carry said
arm, substantially as described.
16. In a shirt-stretching device, a jaw having a yielding strip upon its acting
face, substantially as described.
17. In a shirt-stretching device, a jaw having a yielding strip upon its acting
face, combined with a co-operating jaw having a depression to receive said strip,
substantially as described.
18. The combination with the jaws mounted for independent pivotal movement,
of a ratchet, a pawl pivotally mounted on one of the jaws, and having an arm and
a lug carried by the hub of the other jaw in line with and adapted to carry said
arm, and means for locking said jaws together to move in unison, substantially as
described.
19. In a shirt-stretcher, the combination of jaws, means for binding them
together, and means for holding the same in their clamped adjusted position about
their pivot, substantially as described.
20. In a shirt-stretcher, the combination of jaws, means for binding them
together, and means for holding the same in their clamped adjusted position
about their pivot, and provision whereby when the jaws are disconnected their
holding means is thrown out of operative position, substantially as described.
21. In a shirt-stretcher, a casting formed with horizontal arms, and a toothed
bar disposed centrally between said arms, a shaft held in said arms, jaws pivotally
mounted upon said shaft for independent movement, means carried by one of the
jaw for engagement with co-operating means on the other jaw for locking them
together, and a pivoted pawl carried by one of the jaws for engaging the toothed
bar to hold the jaws in their adjusted position, substantially as described.
22. In a shirt-stretcher, a casting having horizontal arms adapted to receive
a shaft, and a centrally-disposed curved arm toothed upon its under side, sub-
stantially as described.
D1
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1000