Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 10th June, 1887
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 has for its object to provide a trouser stretcher which in its use will
not abrade the trousers and is capable of being adjusted to different sizes and it
consists essentially of two adjustable stretchers one for each leg of the trousers and
these two pieces are connected together by a chain, cord or other means. After these
pieces are inserted in the legs of the trousers, the trousers are inverted so that the
legs project upwards and they are held in suspension in this manner by placing the
chain on a support and by other means of connection.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 represents a view of one of the pieces
which are placed in the legs of the trousers.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same with the flaps removed.
Figure 3 represents my device in practical use.
Similar letters denote similar parts.
A, A¹ are the flaps which are inade of such shape as to hold the trouser legs in
the desired position; the flap A' is fixed on the connecting bar B by means of the
projection E.
The flap A is adjustable along the connecting bar B in the following manner : The
projection E of flap A has an indentation F (Figure 2) into which the connecting
bar B can be moved; the motion of this connecting bar is governed by the ratchet
G and pawl D; the pawl D on the projection E, and ratchet C on the connecting
bar B; this pawl D may be either a spring pawl or it may be so adjusted that its
weight will always tend to force the pawl into connection with the ratchet.
A spring
F (Figures 1 and 2) connects the two projections E and E¹ so that when it is desired
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page_text: to release the trousers and the pawl is removed from the ratchet, the projection E
will be pulled by the spring so that the connecting rod will pass into the indentation F
to its furthest extent; this spring could be attached to the projection E and connecting
bar B when the effect would be the same as that described.
H (Figures 1, 2 and 3) represents the chain which connects the two pieces x and y
Figure 3.
In Figure 3 is represented the practical operation of my device in which x and y
represents the two pieces which are inserted in the trousers; the movable flaps in
each being pulled out so as to firmly press against the sides of the trouser legs. The
two pieces are connected by the chain H and this chain is suspended on the hook J so
that the trousers hang with the body downwards and the weight of the trousers keep
them stretched to a sufficient amount.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :--
First. An improved trouser stretcher which consists of a rigid flap, a movable flap
and a bar connecting said flaps.
Second. In an improved trouser stretcher in combination, a fixed flap, a movable
flap, a bar connecting said flaps, a hollow projection on the movable flap into which
said connecting bar can be moved.
Third. In an improved trouser stretcher in combination, a fixed flap, a movable
flap a bar connecting said flaps, a hollow projection on the movable flap into which
said connecting bar can be moved, a ratchet upon said connecting bar at the end
which enters the hollow projection and a pawl upon said projection on the movable
flap.
Fourth. In an improved trouser stretcher in combination, a fixed flap, a movable
flap, a bar connecting said flaps, a hollow projection on the movable flap into which
said connecting bar can be moved, and a second stretcher constructed in a similar
manner and the two connected together by a chain, or other flexible means.
Dated this 10th day of May 1887