Improvements in Wardrobes.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wardrobes.
We, WILLIAM DOMMETT ASKEW, of 42, Conduit Street, in the County of
London, Tailor, and Dr. JAEGER'S SANITARY WOOLLEN SYSTEM COMPANY,
LIMITED, of 95, Milton Street, Fore Street, in the City of London, Warehouse-
men, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows: —
This invention has reference inter alia to a construction of wardrobe that can
be placed within and readily adapted in width to fit the recess usually left in
bed and other rooms between either side of the chimney and the adjacent side
of the room, so that such wardrobe shall occupy the whole width of the recess
and present a more pleasing appearance than is the case where the wardrobe
only occupies a part of the whole width of the recess, whilst at the same pro-
viding, in a simple and comparatively inexpensive manner, increased wardrobe
capacity for reception of article of attire.
For this purpose, the wardrobe, which except as hereinafter described may
be of ordinary construction, is provided at one end with a laterally adjustable
extension comprising a vertical end board, which is or may be made of approxi-
mately of the same height and depth as the wardrobe and horizontal guide
bars or supports connected to the end board and arranged to slide endways in
suitable guideways in the adjacent end of the wardrobe proper, the arrangement
being such that by pulling or pushing on the end board the guide bars or
supports can be caused to slide in or out of the guideways in the end of the
wardrobe and the total width of the wardrobe and extension readily adjusted
to fit any given recess in a room. The adjustable extension is provided with.
one or more rods or supports from which coats or other articles can be hung
and also at or near the front with another rod or support from which a curtain
is or can be suspended so as to close the front of the adjustable extension and
protect the articles therein from dust or the like, as well as to impart a pleasing
and finished appearance to such extension.
The adjustable extension is or may be provided above the rods or supports
from which coats or other articles can be hung with one or more top boards
the ends of which are adapted to be dropped into recesses at the upper ends
of the end board and wardrobe so as to cover in the adjustable extension and
provide a further protection against entrance of dust.
In order to render it unnecessary to take down the curtain when the adjustable
extension is to be moved into the closed position, a vertical front board may
be attached to the corresponding end of the wardrobe so as to form an extension
thereof lying in about the same plane and against which the end board is
adapted to abut when the adjustable. extension is closed, the curtain being then
enclosed and hidden from sight.
To admit of trousers and the like being pressed in an easy and convenient
manner, there is provided within a wardrobe according to this invention, an
improved construction and arrangement of trouser presser comprising an upper
fixed horizontal plate or platen, a lower movable horizontal plate or platen

page_text: carried by a plunger mounted to work in a vertical cylinder or guide, means
adapted to be worked by a suitably arranged hand lever for raising the said
plunger with plate or platen and pressing trousers thereon against the fixed
plate or platen, and means for holding the various parts in the operative
position.
In one arrangement of this kind, the upper plate or platen is fixed to the
lower side of a shelf that may form the bottom of two receptacles or cupboards
within the upper part of the wardrobe and is supported against upward pressure
by one or more, suitably arranged struts arranged between it and the top part
of the wardrobe. The lower movable platen is mounted on a vertical hollow
plunger that is closed at its bottom and is formed with a slot running its entire
length. The plunger is mounted to move vertically in a cylinder that is
arranged centrally, or approximately so, within the wardrobe and is or may
be between two sets of drawers and above other drawers and is provided at
or near its upper located end with a pulley that works through a slot in the
wall of the cylinder and also. in the slot in the plunger. To the lower end of
the plunger is secured a flexible connector such as a cord or length of wire,
that is led centrally and vertically in an upward direction within the plunger,
then over the pulley at the upper end of the cylinder, over a second pulley
arranged in line with the first mentioned pulley and mounted on the inner
side of the back wall of the wardrobe, and thence downward to one end of a
lever pivoted on a pin secured to the back wall of the wardrobe. The other
end of the lever projects towards one end of the wardrobe and is suitably
connected to a lever that is pivoted to such end of the wardrobe and carries a
pawl arranged to work over and engage with a fixed rack. The arrangement
is such that by depressing the outer end of the second lever, the movable platen
will be raised and press trousers or the like thereon against the upper fixed
platen, the parts being held in this position by engaging the pawl with the
rack.
To increase the leverage of the second lever there may be pivoted to the outer
end of such lever a handle provided with an extension so arranged that when
the handle is depressed it will depress the corresponding end of the second
lever with pawl but can be turned idly upward so as to admit of the handle
being moved into a position in which it does not project beyond the front of
the wardrobe. The two levers may be arranged inside or outside the wardrobe,
and be protected by suitable cover plates or boxes, of which the one for the
second lever may carry the rack for holding the pawl.
In a modified arrangement the trouser presser is adapted to be operated
hydraulically instead of mechanically as described.
According to a further arrangement, the trouser presser is of the ordinary
screw press type but in order to adapt such a presser to effectually deal with
varying numbers of pairs of trousers the bridge piece carrying the nut in which
the hand operated screw works is lengthened and made of about, the same width
as the interior of the wardrobe the end walls of which are provided at suitable
intervals for a part of their height with transverse grooves or recesses into
one or other pair of which the ends of the said bridge piece can be slipped so
that the distance between the upper movable plate or platen carried by the
screw and the lower fixed plate or platen can be readily adjusted to suit the
particular number of pairs of trousers to be dealt with.

page_text: Improvements in Wardrobes.
We, WILLIAM DOMMETT ASKEW, of 42, Conduit Street, in the County of
London, Tailor, and Dr. JAEGER'S SANITARY WOOLLEN SYSTEM COMPANY,
LIMITED, of 95, Milton Street, Fore Street, in the City of London, Warehouse-
men, 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 has reference inter alia to the construction of wardrobes that
can be placed within and readily adapted in width to fit the recesses usually
left in bed and other rooms between the sides of the chimneys and the adjacent
sides of the rooms so that the wardrobes shall occupy the whole width of the
recesses and present a more pleasing appearance than is the case where a
wardrobe occupies only a part of the whole width of the recess, whilst at the
same time providing, in a simple and comparatively inexpensive manner,
increased wardrobe capacity for the reception of article of attire.
For this purpose, a wardrobe, which, except as hereinafter described may be
of ordinary construction, is constructed as will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. represents an example in
perspective and Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line AA of Fig. 1.
The wardrobe is provided at one end with a laterally adjustable extension
comprising a vertical end board 1 which may be made, as shown, of approxi-
mately of the same height and depth as the body of the wardrobe, and horizontal
guide bars or supports 2 connected to the end board 1 and arranged to slide
endways in suitable guideways 3 in the adjacent end of the body of the wardrobe,
the arrangement being such that by pulling or pushing on the end board 1
the guide bars or supports 2 can be caused to slide in or out of the guide
ways 3 and the total width of the wardrobe with its extension readily adjusted
to fit any given recess in a room. The adjustable extension is provided with
one or more rods or supports 4 (only one is shown) from which coats or other
articles can be hung and also at or near the front with another rod or support 5
from which a curtain 5ª can be suspended so as to close the front of the adjustable
extension and protect the articles therein from dust or the like, as well as to
impart a pleasing and finished appearance to such extension, the rods or
supports 4 and 5 also working in guide ways in the adjacent end of the body
of the wardrobe.
The adjustable extension may be provided above the rod or support 4 (or
rods or supports) with one or more top boards which are secured at one end
to the board 1 anil project over and lie upon the top of the body of the wardrobe
so as to cover in the adjustable extension and provide a further protection
against entrance of dust.."
In the example shown the upper horizontal guide bar or support 2 is made
in the form of a wide flat board so as to serve the double purpose of acting
as a top support and a cover for the adjustable extension which is further
supported at the bottom by rollers 6 arranged to roll on the floor and mounted
in bearings 6 secured to the lower side of the lower guide bar or support 2
which is also shown made as a wide flat board.
In order to render it unnecessary to take down the curtain when the adjustable
extension is to be moved into the closed position, a vertical front board 7 may
be attached to the corresponding end of the body of the wardrobe so as to
form an extension thereof which lies in about the same plane as the front of
the wardrobe and against which the end board 1 is adapted to abut when the

page_text: adjustable extension is closed, the curtain 5 being then enclosed and hidden
from sight.
To enable trousers and the like to be pressed in an easy and convenient
manner, there is provided within the wardrobe, according to this invention, an
improved construction and arrangement of presser comprising an upper fixed
horizontal plate or platenia lower niovable horizontal plate or platen carried
by a plunger mounted to work in a vertical cylinder or guide, means adapted
to be worked by a suitably arranged hand lever for raising the said "plunger
with its plate or platen and pressing trousers or other articles thereon against
the fixed plate or platen, and means for holding the various parts in the operative
position.
One arrangement of this kind is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and also in Figs. 3
and 4 which are respectively a vertical section on the line B B of Fig. 4 and a
horizontal section on the line CC of Fig. 3. In this example, 8 is the upper
plate or platen fixed to the lower side of a shelf 9 that forms the bottom of two
receptacles or cupboards 10 and 11 within the upper part of the wardrobe, the
said plate or platen and shelf being supported against upward pressure by a
suitable strut 12, or there may be more than one, arranged between the shelf
and the top part of the wardrobe. The lower movable plate or platen 13 is
mounted on a vertical hollow plunger 14 (see Fig. 3) that is closed at its
bottom and is formed with a slot 15 running from top to bottom of the plunger.
The plunger 14 is mounted to move vertically in a cylinder 16 that is arranged
centrally, or approximately so, within the body of the wardrobe and may, as
shown be located between two sets of drawers and above other drawers and
is provided at or near its upper end with a pulley 17 that works through a
slot 18 in the wall of the cylinder and also in the slot 15 in the plunger. To
the lower end of the plunger is secured a flexible connector 19, such as a cord
or length of wire, which is led centrally and vertically in an upward direction
within the plunger,..then over the pulley 17 at the upper end of the cylinder.
over a second pulley 20 arranged in line with the first mentioned pulley and
mounted on the inner side of the back wall 21 of the body of the wardrobe,
and thence downward to one end of a lever 22 (see Fig. 4) mounted on a pin 23
secured to the back wall 21 of the wardrobe. The other end of the lever 22
projects towards one end 24 of the body of the wardrobe and is suitably con-
nected, as by a pin and slot connection to a lever 25 that is pivoted at 26 to
such end of the body of the wardrobe and carries a pawl 27 (Fig. 1) arranged
to work over and engage with a fixed rack 28. The arrangement is such that
by depressing the outer end of the lever 25, the movable platen 13 will be
raised and press trousers or the like thereon against the upper fixed platen S.
the parts being secured in this position by engaging the pawl 27 with the
rack 28.
To increase the leverage of the lever 25 there may, as indicated by dotted
lines in Fig. 2, be pivoted to the outer end of such lever a handle 29 provided
with an extension 30 so arranged that when the handle 29 is pulled over and
depressed it will depress the corresponding end of the lever 25 with its pawl 27
but can be turned idly upward (as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2) so as to
allow the handle to be moved into a position in which it will not project
beyond the front of the wardrobe. The two levers 25 and 29 may be arranged
inside, or, as shown, outside the body of the wardrobe, and be protected by
suitable cover plates or boxes 31, of which the one for the second lever may
carry the rack for holding the pawl. When the hand lever 25 is arranged
outside the end wall 24 of the wardrobe, the vertical front board 7 may be
hinged to the said end wall so that it can he opened outward, as shewn, to
afford ready access to the hand lever. In this case a fixed post or frame 7ª may
be provided against which the hinged front board 7 can be closed and secured
and against which the end board 1 of the laterally adjustable extension can
abut when the latter is moved inward towards the body of the wardrobe.

page_text: Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing part of a wardrobe with a modified
construction of presser. In this example the lower movable plate or platen 13
is carried by tubular supports 32 that are connected together at their lower
ends by a plate 33. and are arranged to work vertically on guide tubes 34 fixed
to the top of the set of drawers 35. The connecting plate 33 is connected to
one end of a flexible connector 36, such as bicycle chain, that is led over a
guide pulley 36* and connected at its other end to a segment of a wheel 37
fixed to a suitably supported shaft 39 which is provided at its outer end with
a handle 25 carrying a pawl 27 working over a segmental rack 28. As will
be seen the arrangement is such that by turning the handle 25 in the direction
of the arrow, the plate or platen 13 will be raised and articles thereon pressed
against the upper plate or platen 8.
Fig. 6 shows in front elevation a further arrangement in which the trouser
presser is of the ordinary screw press type comprising a lower fixed plate or
platen 13 and an upper movable plate or platen 8 carried by a hand operated
screw 40 working in a normally fixed nut 41. In order however to adapt such
a presser to effectually deal with varying numbers of pairs of trousers, the
bridge piece 42 carrying the nut 41 is lengthened and made of about the same
width as the interior part A of the wardrobe in which it is located and the
end walls 43 of which are provided at suitable intervals with transverse grooves
or recesses 44 into one or other pair of which the ends of the said bridge
piece 42 can be slipped so that the distance between the upper movable plate
or platen 8 carried by the screw and the lower fixed plate or platen 13 can be
readily adjusted to suit the particular number of pairs of trousers to be dealt
with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. A wardrobe having at one end a laterally adjustable extension comprising
a vertical end board;, horizontal guide bars or supports therefor, one or more
rods or supports from which coats or other articles can be hung and a rod or
support from which a curtain can be suspended so as to close the front of the
adjustable extension, the several bars or supports being connected to the end
board and arranged to slide endways in suitable guideways in the adjacent
end of the body of the wardrobe so that the total width of the wardrobe with
its extension can be readily adjusted to fit a recess in a room, substantially as
described.
2. A wardrobe having a laterally adjustable extension constructed arranged
and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and
shown in the drawings annexed.
3. In a wardrobe, a presser comprising an upper fixed horizontal plate or
platen, a lower movable horizontal plate or platen, a vertical support and guide
for the lower plate or platen, means adapted to be worked by a suitably
arranged hand lever for raising the said support with its plate or platen, and
means for holding the various parts in the operative position, substantially as
described.
4. In a wardrobe, a presser, and operating and holding means therefor con-
structed arranged and operating substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive or modified according to Fig. 5 of the drawings
annexed.
5. In a wardrobe, a presser of the screw down type having a vertically
adjustable bridge piece carrying the normally fixed nut in which the hand
operated screw works, and fixed end supports carried by the body of the ward-
robe and formed with transverse grooves or recesses into one or other pair of
which the ends of the said bridge piece can be slipped, substantially as described
for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 6. The improved wardrobe constructed with a laterally adjustable extension
and with a presser substantially as herein before described with reference to and
shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, or modified according to Fig. 5, or to Fig. 6
of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 19th day of February 1900.
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.