IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING, TO APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING CLOTHING AND OTHER ARTICLES IN SHOP WINDOWS AND OTHER PLACES"
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Felix McIlvenna, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING, TO APPARATUS FOR
DISPLAYING CLOTHING AND OTHER ARTICLES IN SHOP WINDOWS AND OTHER
PLACES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Felix McIlvenna at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th July 1880.
FELIX MILVENNA, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING CLOTHING AND OTHER ARTICLES
IN SHOP WINDOWS AND OTHER PLACES."
Busts or blocks for displaying clothing are usually very ponderous and bulky to
store away; I make mine hollow of light air proof material, and when required
for uso blow them out. If dresses or mantles are to be shown both full length and
half length a different kind of bust for each is usually required, and the half length
ones aro usually side busts showing one side only. I therefore make the body
stand for full length, whether solid or hollow, of two parts, two side busts in fact,
fastened together by a collar or other fastening above and below, so that cach
part can act as a side bust if required or be joined with a pedestal to form a body
stand. The arms I make telescopic, attached by a metal sliding apparatus, the
end of the arm being preferably of wood or other hard material, so that it can bo
drawn in and out to suit different lengths of arms.
The shirt I show separately on a flat wire frame swivelling on an upright pedestal.
This frame has two hooks at bottom to support the bottom of the doubled shirt.
It can thus be placed at any angle. The cravat is shown in the same way on a
cravat stand, and attached to it I place a ring or hoop nearly the same size as the
collar with a stud in front, and on this ring I place the collar, fastening with the
stud as when worn, and with the cravat hanging down, thus displaying both
articles in their natural position as worn. The hat I support on a bent wire
support at the end of a vertical or other rest; this wire is held by a set screw.
By loosening the set screw the wire can be turned on one side so as to form a sort
of saddle for the side of the hat to rest in; a stationary hook catches the rim, and
thus the hat can by the same apparatus be shown in its ordinary position or
horizontal, so as to exhibit the lining and the inside with the maker's name. A
similar mechanism can be used for displaying fans, two forks or hooks holding
each side when opened for display taking the place of the saddle wire.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Felix McIlvenna in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th January
-
1881.
FELIX MILVENNA, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING CLOTHING AND OTHER ARTICLES
IN SHOP WINDOWS AND OTHER PLACES."
Busts or blocks for displaying clothing are usually very ponderous and bulky
to store away; I make mine hollow of light airproof material, and-when required.
for use blow them out. Fig. 8 shows a bust in this plan with tube for blowing it
out. If dresses or mantles are to be shown, both full length and half length, a
different kind of bust for each is usually required. The half length ones are
usually side busts showing one side only. I therefore make the body stand for
full length, whether solid or hollow, of two parts, two side busts in fact, fastened
together by a collar or other fastening above and below, so that each part can act
as a side bust if required, or be joined with a pedestal to form a body stand.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 show a bust made in this manner. In these A, A, are the two
separate parts, each capable of being used separately; B and C, plans of top and
bottom of bust, and also of corresponding plates B and C on the standard D.
These plates fit loosely on standard, which can be made adjustable as regards
height in any of the well known ways now in use. The base of tho-stand-is-shown
out of Drawing in order to moro clearly show its shape; there is however nothing
new in the said base. The arms I make telescopic, attached by a metal sliding
apparatus, the end of the arm being preferably of wood or other hard material, so
that it can be drawn in and out to suit different lengths of arms; this is shown
partly in section in Fig. 3.
The shirt I show separately on a flat wire frame swivelling on an upright
pedestal. This frame has two hooks at bottom to support the bottom of the
doubled shirt. It can thus be placed at any angle. This is shown in rough
perspective in Figure 9, in which E is the stand; F, framework hinged on the head
of the stand, which head can be made if desirable loose on the pedestal so as to
turn; I prefer it fixed however, and turn the pedestal to the required position.
The cravat is shown in the same way on a cravat stand (Fig. 10), and attached
to said stand, I place a ring or hoop G nearly the same size as the collar with
a stud in front, and on this ring I place the collar, fastening with the stud as
when worn, and with the cravet banging down, thus displaying both articles in
their natural position as worn, or I place the cravat on the stand above as fancy
dictates. The stand is of the well known type, only the horizontal collar ring
with stud attached is new in this implement.
The hat I support on a bent wire support preferably hinged at the end of a
vertical or other rest H, as shown in perspective, Fig. 1, elevation, Fig. 2. The
dotted lines in Fig. 1 give the position for showing the hat vertically. This wire
can be held by a set screw if desired. The wire can be turned on one side so as
to form a sort of saddle for the side of the hat to rest in, as shown in Fig. 2; a
stationary hook J catches the rim, and thus the hat by the same apparatus can
be shown in its ordinary position or horizontally, so as to exhibit the lining and
the inside with the maker's name. The plate K falling against the support H
bolds it at the required angle.
A similar mechanism can be used for displaying fans, two forks or hooks L, L,
Figs 11 and 12, holding cach side; the handle if existing hangs inside or in front
of the support.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying

page_text: it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what believe to be new and
desire to protect under the hereinbeforo in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The bust, half bust, or other large portion of a figure for displaying
clothing, formed hollow of a flexible airtight material, such as india-rubber, with a
mouth-piece or orifice so that it can be blown out into shape as wanted.
Second. The bust or figure composed of two half busts or figures so that it can
at once be taken to pieces and each part used separately as a half bust or figure,
substantially as described.
Third. The combination hat stand so arranged as to be capable of holding a hat
so as to show the interior or exterior as desired, substantially as describod.
Fourth. The construction of lay figures with telescopic arms or arms arranged
so that they can be shortened or lengthened at will so as to suit the requirements
of different dresses, substantially as described.
Fifth. The manufacture of scarf displaying stands with a ring and stud or its
equivalent for displaying collars, substantially as described.
Sixth. The fan stand with two forks or recesses for displaying the fan full
spread, substantially as described.
Seventh. The shirt stand constructed of wire or other suitable material with
hooks or pins at the bottom to hold the shirt, and arranged to swivel or hinge on
the stand so as to be displayed at any angle, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Felix McIlvenna, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of January, in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
25 Witness,
W. P. THOMPSON,
of the Firm of W. P. Thompson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Liverpool & Loudon.
FELIX MCILVENNA. (L.S.)