Year: 1887

page_text: I, HENRY SCOTT, of 42, Bedford Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 for its object to construct trousers stretchers in a simple form
and at the same time to occupy small-space.
Heretofore trousers stretchers have been mostly constructed in such a manner that
when the trousers were secured in them and under stretch, they occupied the full
length of the leg of the trousers and were made incapable of being made to occupy
less space whenever it might have been desirable to do so. For instance were it
desired to pack the trousers under stretch in the device in a portmanteau, or other
box of ordinary size, it is found very inconvenient in most cases, and very often
impossible. Now according to my Invention these inconveniences and defects are
overcome as will be presently explained.
A trouser stretcher constructed according to this Invention consists essentially
of a frame having articulated side, or longitudinal members; end members to
which the trousers are secured, and a cross bar, or bars at the point or points where
the parts of the side frames are jointed.
The above is a general description of construction of stretchers according to my
Invention, but to set forth the same more clearly and to define distinctly the manner
of manipulating the stretchers I will now proceed to describe my Invention more
fully by the aid of the Drawings which are annexed to and form part of this
Specification.
Like letters and figures denote like parts throughout the views of the Drawings.

page_text: Figure 4 is a perspective view of the stretchers containing a pair of trousers
under stretch.
Figure is an enlarged view of the gripping device of the end members of the
stretcher; and Figures 6 and 7 show a modification of the device shown in Figure 5.
With reference to figures 1 to 5 of the Drawings a designates the side members,
each member consisting of two pieces; b are the end members or bars secured to the
side frames a; c designate strips for gripping the trousers to the end bars and
holding them in position; d are devices having inverted inclined planes (as shown)
for forcing the strips e against the end bars b, and e is the cross bar, or roller mounted
upon a pine which also serves to form the hinge of the side frame a. The dotted
lines in Figures 1 and 2 indicate one position in which the trousers may lie in the
apparatus that is the trousers are there shown placed in the stretchers passing over
the roller e on the same side of the apparatus as the strips c.
In Figure 4 the trousers are placed in the stretchers conversely to the above
mode. It will be evident that either mode of placing them in the stretchers may be
adopted.
In dotted lines in Figure 2 the members a are shown moved about the pin e', tho
end members approaching each other. This indicates one manner of putting
tension upon the trousers; that is as the end members bare moved towards each
other the tension upon the trousers will be increased. In this instance it is assumed
the trousers are placed in the stretchers when the frame is fully extended as shown in
full lines in Figures 2 and 3. Another mode of fixing the trousers in the stretchers
and putting tension upon them is by securing them in position when the members a
are in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, but instead of placing the
trousers legs above the roller e, as there shown, they would be placed below it. Con-
sequently upon extending the members a to their maximum length the required
tension would be put upon the trousers. The trousers might then be further stretched
if desired by turning the members a into the position shown in Figure 4, namely,
by folding, or doubling the frame up. If this amount of stretch is found to be
excessive and it is desired to fold the frame as to take up small space (as in Figure 4)
the trousers may be placed in the frame when fully extended and then folded as
shown in Figure 4.
In Figure 5 a detail is given of the means employed-in the example of apparatus
illustrated in the Drawings-of forcing the gripping strips c against the end bars b,
the trouser legs being placed between these two parts. The means consists-as will
be seen upon reference to the Drawings-in forming the guide pieces d in the form
of inverted inclined planes under which the ends c' of the bars c pass. These ends c¹
are also made in the form of inclined planes (see also Figure 5) to correspond with
the space lying directly below the inclined guides d. Hence to secure the trousers in
position they are laid in the required position over the end bars b; the gripping
strips c are placed under the guides d and are pressed forward until the trousers are
nipped, or gripped between the bars e and b. The tension can then be put upon the
trousers in the manner already described.
It will be observed that in the example of stretcher herein particularly set forth
no screws are employed either to nip the trouser gripping devices together, or to put
the tension upon the trousers, the operation of gripping and stretching being effected
simply by placing the trousers upon the bars b, inserting the gripping bars
moving the two ends of the apparatus about the pin e' as described.
and
In lieu of using the inclined planes d and c¹ for gaining the necessary pressure
upon the trousers, I may employ eccentrics d as shown in Figures 6 and 7, which
are provided with a handle d for turning them. The eccentrics bear upon the
strips, or bars c and when turned press the bars e onto the bars b and grip the
trousers between them.
It will also be evident that the apparatus can be folded with the trousers in it
under stretch, into such a compass, that they can be easily packed in a portmanteau
or chest of moderate dimensions, and will occupy comparatively little space therein.
The form of stretcher illustrated affords a means of making it entirely of wood.

page_text: One advantage of attending the use of wood solely, is, that the trousers are rendered
free from liability to be injured by rust, which immunity is not afforded where
the apparatus is made of, or partly of oxidizable metal, but at the same time,
although preferable, I do not confine myself to the use of wood, or any particular
material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature, object and purposes
of my Invention, I would state in conclusion that I do not confine my Invention to
the particular details and construction of trouser stretchers set forth, as these may
be altered in design without departing from the substance of this Invention, but
what is claimed in respect of the herein described Invention is :-
First. A trousers stretcher, consisting essentially of an articulated frame, as, or
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. A trousers stretcher consisting of two portions, each portion consisting
of two side members a and an end member b, and capable of being moved about a
hinge substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. Therein described construction of means for gripping, or securing trousers
in their stretchers, consisting of two bars, such as c and b, provided with inclined
planes or eccentrics, whereby they can be adjustable relatively to each other,
substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The trousers stretcher consisting of the side members a, a, a, a, the end
members b, b, the gripping bars c, c, the guides d, d, d, d, the roller e and pin e¹, all
as set forth with reference to the Drawings.
Dated this zora day of December 1887.
HENRY SCOTT.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.