Improvements in Ironing Boards.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ironing Boards.
I, WILLIAM AUGUST EDWIN HENRICI, of the City of Syracuse, County of
Onondaga and State of New York, one of the United States of America, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 improvements in ironing boards whereby there is
produced a board whereon shirts may be quickly secured in such manner as to allow
them to be run through the ironing rolls without danger of tearing the shirts or
disarranging them on the board. This is accomplished in such manner as to leave
the neck band of the shirt unaffected by the ironing rolls so that the same may be
afterward smoothly ironed and finished in a uniform style so that all the shirts ironed
on my improved board may be as nearly uniform in appearance as possible; this
being particularly desirable in shirt factories where new goods are made in large
quantities, and my invention consists in certain peculiarities of construction as will be
hereinafter more fully set forth in the specification, and specifically pointed out in the
claims.
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In the annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of my ironing board with a shirt
secured thereon in position ready to be ironed; Fig. 2 is a plan view, having part of
the covering thereof removed to show the different layers of padding and having
part of the revoluble block G broken off to show the enclosed spring, to better
illustrate the details of construction; Fig. 3 is a side view showing a clamping
device for the upper end of the shirt thrown away from the board; Fig. 4 is' a plan
view of the neck band retaining device in its closed position; Fig. 5 is an end view
of the same in its open position; Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of a portion of the
body of my improved board showing the rod D hinged to said board; Fig. 7 is a
face view of one of the retaining blocks showing the serrations thereon; Fig. 8 is a
sectional view of a part of the clamping roll and its spring and shaft; Fig. 9 is
a plan view of a modified form of construction on which both open front and open
back shirts may be ironed; Fig. 10 is a side view of the same; Fig. 11 is a cross
section of fig. 9 taken on line x-x and Fig. 12 is a detached view of a modified
form of yoke clamp which I have found to be best applicable to the board where both
open front and open back shirts are to be ironed on the board.
In the construction of ironing boards it is desirable that the board and its appur-
tenances be so arranged that the shirt may be quickly and firmly secured thereon
and at the same time may have a smooth yielding base upon which to rest so as to
hold the bosom smooth while allowing it to yield slightly to the ironing rolls as it
passes through, so the force of the same will in a measure be overcome.
In constructing my device a wooden base A is first provided of the desired form,
and upon this is cemented a sheet of rubber B which is at least as large as the bosom
of the shirt to be ironed; over this is stretched several thicknesses of muslin, and
over all a sheet of linen C, or where desirable a single thickness of felt inclosed in a
bag of linen or cotton may be used. In fact 1 have found in practice that the latter
form of covering is more desirable for reasons hereinafter referred to. This cloth
covering is held in place by securely fastening it to the wooden base. After the cloth
covering of Fig. 2 is in position the steel strips b b are screwed down so that the
pins a a will be forced through all the thicknesses of cloth and into the holes a¹ a¹ in
said strips, thus preventing any accidental escape of said cloth covering from said
pins. To the under side of the board (Fig. 6) is hinged the rod D at the end of
which is secured the central part of an arc-shaped spring E to which is secured the

page_text: blocks F F, said rod D resting in the longitudinal groove i on the underside of the
board when the blocks are in their closed position on the board.
At the opposite end of the board, on a fixed shaft G₁, is mounted the revoluble
block or roll G, preferably of wood and recessed. longitudinally for the reception of
a spring H coiled on said shaft and fitting tightly between the block and shaft. The
block is free to revolve in the direction shown by the arrow, but is held against
movement in the opposite direction by the free end of the spring acting as an elastic
detent on the block. The outer end of the spring is secured to the block and the
inner end is free. When the block is pressed in the direction of the coil the spring
is wound more tightly about the shaft clutching the same, and locking the block
thereto. Movement of the block in the opposite direction unwinds the coil and
loosens the spring on the shaft, allowing the block to turn freely.
The top end of the board is provided with the opening O of the form it is designed
to shape the neck band, and is provided with the brace J which firmly braces the end
of the board, said brace being provided with the stud j which is hereinafter explained.
In some instances I use the covering or pad B B shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11
because I have found in practice that an ordinary covering composed of several
thicknesses of cloth secured at the side edges to the base A becomes quickly saturated
with the moisture expelled from shirt bosoms ironed thereon, and when once so
saturated requires a long time to become dry. The felt is partially impervious to
moisture and by using a single thickness inclosed in a bag as shown in Fig. 11 I am
enabled to firmly secure the same to the board by fastening it at and near the ends
only, thus leaving the side edges free from engagement, and capable of separation
from said wood base, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawing, for the purpose of drying
out any moisture which may have accumulated in said felt covering.
In practice my board is used as follows: The shirt to be ironed is slipped over the
body portion of the board and the rod D with its spring and blocks are closed over
the upper end of the shirt, bearing thereon at the yokes so that it is held in the same
position as on the person of the wearer, or the yoke clamp 1) E of Figs. 9, 10,
and 12 may be placed in position as shown in said figures and perform the same
office. The lower end of the skirt of the shirt is then drawn down back of the
board and the upper button-holes of the neck-band are slipped over the stud j so that
the shirt is held in substantially the position in which it is to be worn on the person.
After the shirt is thus secured at the upper end, the skirt is turned over around the
roller G and is stretched as tightly as possible without tearing by turning said block
with the hand in the direction indicated by the arrow. The neck band is then turned
down into the opening formed to fit it and the spring retaining device K is inserted
in said opening of the board with the stud projecting through the V shaped opening
in said spring K after which the lever L is pressed down in the V shaped opening in
said spring K and forces the same outward pressing it against the neck band of the
shirt and holding said neck band in place in said opening the top edge of said spring
being substantially on a level with the plane of the shirt bosom so as not to interfere
with the operation of the ironing roll under which it is to be passed.
It will be observed that when the shirt has been properly placed in position on my
improved bed it is secured against any accidental displacement and the bosom may be
ironed without in any manner affecting the neck band which is held in place by the
spring K. The roll G is held against returning to allow the shirt to escape from its
proper position until it is ironed, after which it may be released by simply drawing
on the free end of the skirt to withdraw the folds from under the rolls.
The features of novelty most prominent in the modification shown in Figs. 9, 10
and 11 are firstly the sliding plate P which is removed when the board is used in
ironing open front shirts so as to allow for the extra thickness of cloth in the bosoms
of that style of shirt at the central line where the two folds thereof come together,
secondly, in the modified style of covering for the board which consists of a single
thickness of very beavy felt inclosed in a bag of linen or cotton secured at and near
the ends only thus leaving the side edges free from engagement with the board so

page_text: that the said covering may be slightly raised away from the wooden base to more
quickly dry out any moisture which may have accumulated in said felt covering
when the board is in use and thirdly, in the more simple form of yoke clamp shown
in Figs. 9 10 and 12 used to hold the yoke of the shirt in place on the board.
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. In an ironing board for shirts, a neck band opening provided with a stud, a
spring retaining device for holding the band, a clamp for securing the yoke and a
device for stretching the bosom. on the board all combined substantially as shown.
2. An ironing board for shirts provided at one end with an opening for the neck
band, a stud projecting into said opening and a retaining spring adapted to conform
to the contour of said opening to hold the band therein in combination with a
revoluble block at the other end to draw the shirt over the board and kept in position
by a spring detent substantially as described.
3. An ironing board for shirts provided with a tightening device consisting of a
block or roll mounted on a fixed shaft and longitudinally recessed combined with a
spring coiled on said shaft allowing free rotation of the block in one direction and
acting as an elastic detent against motion in an opposite direction substantially as
described.
4. An ironing board for shirts provided at one end with a spring clamp for the
yoke, recessed for the neckband and a curved spring clamp, fitting therein and having
at its other end a tightening block mounted on a fixed shaft and acting as an elastic
detent against motion of the block in one direction while allowing it to rotate freely
in the opposite direction substantially as described.
5. As a new article of manufacture, a neck band retaining device consisting wholly
of a curved spring and a pivoted arm having an enlargement acting directly on the
top adjacent parts of said spring to distend it substantially as described.
6. As a new article of manufacture a neckband retaining device consisting of a
spring substantially circular in shape exteriorly with its ends bent into the interior of
the circle, an arm pivoted between the ends of said spring and provided with an
enlarged free end for distending the said spring substantially as shown and set forth.
7. As a new article of manufacture a neck band retaining device consisting of a
spring provided with an eccission to accommodate the shirt stud, an arm pivoted
between the ends of said spring and provided with an enlarged free end for distending
said spring constructed substantially as described and shown.
8. An ironing board for shirts provided with a clamp for the yokes thereof
consisting of a rod hinged at one end centrally to the underside of the board and an
are shaped spring centrally secured to the other end of the rod and having its ends
free and each provided with a retaining block acting to clamp the yokes of the shirt
against the upper end of the board substantially as described.
9. An ironing board for shirts provided at one end with an opening and a curved
spring clamp therein for the neck band and with yoke clamping blocks on the free
ends of an arc shaped spring centrally secured to a rod which is centrally hinged to
the underside of the board, said board having at its other end on a fixed shaft a
recessed revoluble block and a spring coiled on the shaft and fitting tightly in said
recess between the block and shaft all combined substantially as set forth to securely
clamp the shirt to the board at all desirable points.
10. An ironing board for shirts comprising a base portion to which is secured a
covering of felt or analogous material to form a pad said covering being fastened to
the base at and near its ends only leaving the intervening side edges free from
engagement with the base substantially as and for the purpose set forth and shown.
11. In an ironing board for shirts a base board A provided with a longitudinal
channel in its surface, a plate removably held in said channel and a covering of felt
or textile fabric over all substantially as described and for the purpose specified,

page_text: 12. In an ironing board for shirts, the base A provided with a longitudinal channel
in which is removably inserted a plate C the top surface of which is flush with the
surface of said board and a covering of felt or textile fabric secured over the same
in such manner as to be wholly or partially separable therefrom at 'the sides for the
purpose of ventilation all constructed substantially as and for the purposes described
and shown.
ited this 14th day of May, 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.