An Improved Apparatus for Making Broad Flat Pleats One Over Another in Textile Material.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Oct., 1889-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Making Broad Flat Pleats One Over
Another in Textile Material.
I EMMA BILLS of 72 Camberwell Road, Surrey S.E., Costume Designer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is particularly suitable for pleating the skirts of ladies dresses from
the waist, to the bottom, the apparatus being substantially a flat frame having a
number of projecting fingers down the top of each side to enable flat laths or bands
of metal to be held upon the frame one over the other the laths having a hole
near each end for a finger to pass through, the laths are pressed tight together
by thumb screws on the fingers. To taper the pleating the laths are set rather
across the frame and may be made tapered. The material is placed under the first
lath, then turned over and another lath placed over it, and the material turned back
over that lath, and so on, the laths being screwed down tight by the thumb screws.
A certain width of material is then passed when a second set of laths and material
is arranged, as before the frame and material is then put into a steaming oven of
usual construction, and after steaming, hot air is introduced to dry the material
After drying the material is removed from the frame the pleating being finished.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1889.
FREDERIC FRINGE,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Making Broad Flat Pleats One Over
Another in Textile Material.
I EMMA BILLS, of 72 Camberwell Road, Surrey, S.E., Costume Designer, 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 is chiefly intended for making broad flat pleats one over another
in the material of the skirt of ladies dresses, from the waist to the bottom.
To enable my invention to be so understood as to be carried into practical effect,
I will proceed to describe the same with aid of the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1. plan view of the apparatus complete holding material in pleating
position.
Figure 2. a sectional end view.
Figure 3. a detached partial side view.
Figure 4. detached view of a tapered lath.
A is the frame of the apparatus which is preferred to be made in metal either
tinned or copper coated, in this frame is secured a number of projecting fingers or
pegs B, screw threaded; C laths of metal also tinned or copper coated to effect
the pleating of the material. This pleating is carried out as follows. The end of
the material E is laid over the end of the frame, and one of the laths C, laid over
it, the laths having a hole at each end for one of the pegs B to pass through, the
material is then turned back over the lath, and another lath put over it, the material
again turned over this last lath, and so on until the number of pleats desired to be
made one over another is attained. The laths are then pressed tight together by the
thumb screw D. A certain distance of material may then be passed and another set
of pleats arranged for as before and so on; the whole apparatus including the
material held in it, is then placed in a steaming oven of ordinary construction to
.

page_text: steam and shrink the material, when this is effected, the steam is turned off and hot
air or heat is introduced in any known way, to dry the material, and after the neces-
sary drying the pleating is completed and material removed from the apparatus. If
it is desired to make diagonal pleats, the laths are set diagonally as shown in
figure 1; and if tapered pleats are desired, the tapered laths C figure 4. are used.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is.
In the pleating of material, the improved apparatus for holding the material in
flat folds, one over another, while the steaming and drying is taking place, consisting
of the frame A, pegs, B, laths C, tapered or straight with a hole or equivalent at
each end for the pegs to pass through, and thumb screws D as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1889.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
1, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for Applicant.