Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1887
Complete Left, 24th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
I, WILLIAM HENRY YOUNG, of 70 Great Russel Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to apparatus used for stretching trouser legs, coat sleeves, or
dress sleeves, hose, or other textile fabrics, and removing from them the wrinkles,
creases, shrinkage, or other unshapeliness caused by use or otherwise.
Assuming that the improved apparatus is to be applied to trouser legs it consists
substantially of the following parts:-A trouser leg shaper and a trouser ankle
shaper formed of thin boards or plates of the proper shape inserted into the leg of the
trouser in order to prevent the latter from contracting laterally and losing its shape
whilst being stretched longitudinally. A clamp or clamps each consisting of two bars
of wood or other suitable material having taper ends; flexible rings embracing the
taper ends of each pair of bars; loops for attaching the rings to the bars; tension
connectors, connecting the rings on each pair of bars; and attachers for attaching the
connectors to a distending rod or bar or to hooks or weights; a distending rod
preferably made in two parts so that its length can be varied; and fastenings at the
extremities of the distending rod, such as loops, links, knots, holes, pegs, pins, hooks,
slots, notches, or other equivalent contrivances for fastening the attacher to them.
The internal shapers first described are of such size and form that when inserted in
the garment they give the required lateral tension and in combination with the
longitudinal tension imparted by the clamps restore the garments to their original
shape.
The bars forming the clamps are two or three inches longer than the fabric to be
clamped between them and are prismatic in general form, being rectangular in cross
section, but preferably having one face at least of each clamp rounded for the purpose
hereinafter described, and the bar ends are cut down to tapering extremities, the ends
of which may be finished with a button or knob if desired. The separate faces of each
bar are made of different breadths (for instance from about half an inch to about an
inch) so that when the ends of the bars are encircled with the flexible rings, a varying

page_text: '
space is left between them according as their different faces are presented to each
other, thus admitting of different thicknesses of the fabric to be clamped.
The buttons or knobs at the extremities of the bars prevent the flexible rings from
too easily slipping off.
The object of tapering the ends of the bars is, first, to allow the folded edge of the
garment, when an internal shaper is not used to have free space and not be broken
into a crease by the clamp pressure; second, to further increase the variation of space
between the bars for receiving the internal shapers and garments; third, to form a
shoulder against which the flexible rings when under the tension of the piece con-
necting them may press and be prevented from sliding against the folded edges of
the fabric.
The tapering ends are so cut that their axes are nearest to one of the narrower
faces of the bars, so as to still further increase the variation of space between the
latter.
The flexible rings are prevented from leaving the bars by means of loose loops,
fastened round them and attached to the bars, the end of one bar only in each clamp
being left without either loop or button so that the ring may be readily slipped off and
the bars opened to receive the fabric.
The flexible tension connector between the rings is barely long enough to allow one
ring to be slipped from the bar and is arranged so that when under tension it tightens
the rings, closes the bars, and thus champs the fabric between them.
At or near the middle of the flexible tension connector is provided an attaching
strip having for some inches of its length a series of suitable fastening arrangements
for attaching it to the end of the distending bar or to hooks or other fastenings or
to weights. In certain cases the attachment may be made directly with the tension
connector between the rings, the attaching device being dispensed with.
In practice the rings, the connector, and the attacher may be made of a single
piece of cord suitably knotted, or of leather or other suitable material cut to the
proper shape.
The distender between the two pairs of clamps is formed of a rod of wood or other
material of suitable size and length, which may be hinged or jointed, and it is provided
with any convenient arrangement for attaching to it the attacher. For instance the
end of the rod may be provided with a point or peg to receive a loop or link
the
attacher, or with a slot or notch to receive a knotted cord or link.
upon
In order to make the distending rod capable of variation in length without hinging
or jointing I sometimes make it in two parts and I fasten to the inner end of each
joint a slide or band which passes round and fits the other part; and in order to fasten
the two parts in position when extended, I prefer to use a peg fitting into one of a
series of holes, or I slip a moveable wedge under one or both slides or between the
parts of the rod.
The internal shapers first described are made of proper shape to suit the garment
in which they are to be used, or sometimes I make them in two or more parts hinged
so as to fold together for insertion, after which they may be opened within the
garment.
In order to use my invention, first, (for longitudinal stretching), the fabric being
properly folded and the clamping bars opened, the feet of the trousers or hose, or the
cuffs of the sleeves, or other garment are placed within one pair of the clamping bars.
The latter are then closed, the ring slipped upon the free end of the bar, and one bar
or both if necessary is turned round to partly clamp the fabric. The other clamp is
similarly placed upon the other end of the part to be stretched, as for instance the
upper part of the leg or sleeve, in each case those sides of the bars which carry the
loops already described being when first placed in position adjusted toward the part
of the fabric which is to be stretched, and the rings being so arranged that when the
tension is to be applied each flexible connector is opposite the space between its bars
upon the outer side of the clamp furthest from the part which is to be stretched.
When thus arranged a slight tension upon the flexible connector either directly or
by means of the attaching device upon the latter at once tightens the clamps and the

page_text: whole may then be attached to the distending rod, or to suitably arranged hooks or
supports in a wardrobe or elsewhere. If the distending rod be used the whole
apparatus together with the garment which is being stretched, may be laid in a
drawer, upon a shelf, or in a trunk for travelling.
If desired the distending rod may be dispensed with one of the flexible connectors
or attaching pieces being hung upon a hook or peg and the other being fixed upon
a second hook or peg or having a weight suspended to it.
In order to reduce the length of the apparatus and render it more portable when
in use, the part of the garment to be stretched may be folded at the middle of its
length, bringing its extremities, (as for instance the feet and upper part of trousers)
together in one clamp, and then putting the other clamp wholly inside the fold, in
such manner that the fold shall rest against the side of a bar which is rounded as
first described.
Second, for combined longitudinal and lateral stretching (or shaping) the shaper
already described is first inserted and the pairs of clamps are then applied as before,
one clamp grasping the shaper as well as the garment and the other grasping the
garment only.
Dated th: 14L
C 15
1007

page_text: I, WILLIAM HENRY YOUNG, of 70, Great Russel Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, 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 and accompanying drawing, (that is to say): :―
My invention relates to apparatus used for stretching trouser legs, coat sleeves, or
dress sleeves, hose or other textile fabrics removing from them the wrinkles, creases,
shrinkage, or other unshapeliness caused by use or otherwise, and restoring them to
their original shape.
Assuming that the improved apparatus is to be applied to trouser legs, it consists of
the following parts:
Trouser leg shapers formed of thin boards or plates of the proper shape inserted
into the leg of the trouser in order to prevent the latter from contracting laterally
and losing its shape while being stretched longitudinally; Two clamps, each consisting
of two bars of wood or other suitable material having taper ends or necks terminating
in part in knobs or buttons; flexible loops embracing the taper ends or necks of each
pair of bars; elastic rings for attaching the loops to the bars; tension connectors
connecting the loops on each pair of bars; attachers for attaching the connectors to a
distending rod to stationary hooks or to weights; a distending rod preferably made
in two or more parts so that its length may be varied; and suitable fastening
contrivances such as hooks, links, knobs, holes, pegs, pins, hooks, slots, notches, or
other equivalent contrivances for fastening the tension connectors and attaching
them to the distending rod or otherwise.
The more particular features of construction and combinations of parts constituting
my invention are severally described and explained in the following specification and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings:-
In the accompanying drawings wherein the same letters indicate the same parts,
figure is a view in perspective of the stretching apparatus (not including the inside
shapers) in position for use. Figure 2 is a side elevation. Figure 3 is a detached
partial enlarged view of the clamping bars turned in various relative positions.
Figure 4 shews sectional views of the same. Figures 6, and 7 shew several forms of
the shapers used, and figure 8 shews the misshape given trouser legs by longitudinal
stretchers hitherto in use and which misshape my combination of inside shapers with
stretching clamps effectually corrects or prevents.
The internal shapers Figures 5, 6, and 7 are of such size and form that when
inserted in the garments they give the required shapes and in combination with the
longitudinal tension imparted by the clamps, restore the garments to their original
shapes.

page_text: I am aware that there are in use internal lateral stretchers depending on springs levers,
screws, wedges and the like for laterally stretching trouser legs, but these are quite
independent in their use and action of longitudinally stretching clamps. My shapers
are entirely different in features of construction in manner of using and in aim, being
quite dependent for their effectiveness on stretching clamps which hold them in proper
position and to which they are subsidiary and essential in restoring to trouser legs
their original and proper shapeliness and elegance of form. Thus, it is the effect of all
longitudinally stretching apparatus for trouser legs, hitherto in use, to extend the
length of the legs at the cost of unduly narrowing the middle of the part stretched
and distorting the proper curves suited to the instep and ankle and to the calf of the
leg and hollow of the knee. See figure 8 wherein the instep and fore ankle curve is
unduly straightened and the calf curve quite reversed from its proper outward or
convex swell to an inward or concavo curve.
My simplest form of shaper (shewn in dotted lines on figure 6) consists of a single
thin board (of wood preferably but might be of paper board or metal) stiffened by a
cross piece made fast to its lower edge which latter also serves as a hold against which
the lower stretching clamp presses when under tension, with the result that the rear
or calf edge of the shaper is pressed forcibly back against the rear folded edge of the
garment and the proper curves maintained and fixed while the front edge of the
shaper is similarly adapted to the ankle and instep curve. The shaper shewn in
figure 6 is similar in construction and use except that its front edge is meant to reach
above the knee and it is accordingly made in two parts and hinged together that it
may be folded for convenience of insertion and unfolded after insertion. The shaper
shewn in figure 7 is similar to the last with the difference that its two parts instead of
being hinged for folding are connected by two clasping plates of sheet metal m to
which one of them is riveted fast, while the other works on a removeable pivot o in
such a manner that the upper ends of the parts at u may be made to approach each
other for insertion and then recede as the larger part of the garment is reached. The
pivot o is removeable to either of the adjacent holes on its right and left with a view
to adapting the shaper to garments of different sizes. The last two shapers described
are like the first so constructed that the tension of the stretching clamps both holds them
in position and presses their rear edges strongly against the rear folded edge of the
garment while the longitudinal stretching of the garment draws its front edge more
or less tightly against the front edge of the shaper and secures the proper front
curve.
The bars B, C, forming the clamps are two or three inches longer than the part of
the fabric to be clamped between them and are prismatic in general form, being
preferably rectangular in cross section but in some cases having one face at least of
each clamp rounded for the purpose hereinafter described, and the bar ends are cut
down to tapering extremities or necks n n which may be finished with knobs or
buttons bb as desired. The faces of each bar are made of different breadths (for
instance from about inch to about 1 inch) so that when the necks of the bars are
encircled by the flexible loops a varying space is left between the bars according as
their different faces are presented to each other, thus admitting of different thickness
of the fabric to be clamped, figure 3. The knobs or buttons at the ends of the
hars prevent the flexible loops from too easily slipping off.
The object of tapering the ends of the bars and thus forming a neck n n between
the knob or button and the body of the bar, is first, to allow the folded edge of the
garment, when an internal shaper is not used to have free space and not be broken
into a crease by the clamp pressure; second to further increase the variation of space
between the bars for receiving the shapers and garments; third to form a shoulder
against which the flexible loops when under tension of the connectors c c may press
and be prevented from sliding against the folded edge of the garment or on to the
body of the bar.
The tapering ends or necks n n are so cut that their axes are excentric or nearest
to one of the narrower faces of the bars so as to still further increase the variation of
space between the latter,

page_text: The loops are hindered from leaving the bars by means of elastic rings rr or
equivalents, passed around them and attached to the bars, but one end of one bar
only in each clamp may be left without either ring or button so that the loop may be
readily slipped off and the bars opened to receive the fabric.
The flexible tension connector cc between the loops 11 is barely long enough to
allow one loop to be slipped from the bar and is arranged so that when under tension it
tightens the loops, closes the bars, an 1 thus clamps the fabric between them.
To the tension connector is fastened by a sliding loop (or equivalent) a flexible
attacher, a, having for some inches of its length a series of suitable fastening
arrangements for attachment under different degrees of tension to the end of the
distending bar D, or to fixed books or other fastenings or to weights. The attacher a
is fastened to the tension connector cc by a sliding loop (or equivalent) so that
the greater tension may be transferred to either edge of the fabric being stretched
by sliding the attacher at will along the connector e e toward either end of the clamp.
In certain cases the attachment may be made directly with the tension connector
between the loops, and the attaching device dispensed with.
In practice I make the loops 11 the connector c, c, and the attacher a of suitably
knotted cord; or leather or other suitable material cut to the proper shape may be
used.
For
The distender D D distending the two pairs of clamps is formed of a rod of wood
or other material of suitable size and length, which may be hinged or jointed and it is
provide. with any convenient arrangement for attaching to it the attacher a.
instance the ends of the rod may be provided with a point or peg to receive a loop or
link upon the attacher or preferably with a slot or notch n³ n¹ to receive a knotted
cord or link (figures 1 and 2).
In order to make the distending rod capable of variation in length without hinging
or jointing, I sometimes make it in two parts and I fasten to the inner end of each
part a band or slide, ss, which passes around and fits the other part; and in order to
fasten the two parts in position when expanded I prefer to use a peg p fitting into one
of a series of holes or slip a removeable wedge under one or both slides or between the
parts of the rod.
To adapt my clamping bar to very thick fabrics whereof the seams night interfere
with desired uniformity of pressure, I make one of the bars of each clamp sufficiently
thin to bend and thus fit more closely to the fabric, and to prevent the hard smooth
surface of the bars from marking certain classes of goods having raised patterns I
face or encase the bars with suitable textile fabrics.
In order to use my invention, first, (for longitudinal stretching) the fabric being
properly folded and the clamping bars opened, the bottom of the trousers or hose or
the cuffs of the sleeves or other garments are placed within one pair of clamping
bars. The latter are then closed the flexible loop slipped upon the free end (neck n),
of the bar, and one bar (or both if necessary) turned on its axis to partly clamp fabric.
The other clamp is similarly placed upon the other end of the part to be stretched, as
for instance the upper part of the leg or sleeve, in each case those faces of the bars
which carry the elastic rings together with the tension connectors cc already
described being, when first placed in position, turned from the part of the fabric which
is to be stretched.
When arranged in final adjustment, a slight tension upon the flexible connectors cc,
either directly or by means of the attaching device a upon the latter at once tightens
the clamps and the whole may then be attached, under any desireable increased tension,
to the distending rod or to suitably arranged hooks or other supports in a wardrobe or
elsewhere. If the distending rod be used the whole apparatus together with the
garment to be stretched may be laid in a drawer, upon a shelf or in a trunk for
travelling.
If desired, the distending rod may be dispensed with, one of the tension connectors
being hung upon a fixed hook or peg and the other connector being by means of its
attacher, fastened under tension to a lower hook or pin or suspended weight.
In order to reduce the length of the apparatus and render it more portable when in

page_text: use, the part of the garment to be stretched may be folded at the middle of its length'
bringing its extremities (as for instance the feet and upper part of trouser legs)
together and putting the other clamp within the fold in such a manner that
the fold shall rest against that face of the bar which is rounded as before
described.
Second, for combined longitudinal stretching and shaping, the shapers already
described are first inserted (in the trouser legs for instance) and the pairs of clamps
are then applied as before, one clamp always grasping the garment as well as the
shaper in such a manner as to press the latter when under tension firmly against the
rear fold of the garment and the other clamp grasping the garment only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
In apparatus for stretching and shaping trousers and other garments.
1. The combination of outside clamps arranged for longitudinal stretching with
inside shapers held in place by the said clamps, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore set forth.
2. The combination of outside clamps arranged for longitudinal stretching with the
inside shapers illustrated in figures 5, 6, and 7 of the drawing substantially as herein-
before set forth.
3. The combination, in a clamp, of flexible loops at the extremities of a flexible
connector with parallel bars in such a manner that the loops enclose and confine the
ends of the bars, substantially as described and shewn.
4. The combination, in a clamp, of flexible loops, parallel bars and knobs or buttons
at the extremities of the said bars in such a manner that the loops embrace and
confine the ends of the bars and the loops are hindered from slipping off the bars by
the said knobs or buttons, substantially as described and shewn.
5. The combination, in a clamp, of flexible loops, parallel bars and elastic rings, in
such manner that the loops enclose and confine the ends of the bars and are attached
thereto by the elastic rings so as to hinder the loops from slipping off the bars,
substantially as described and shewn.
6. Tapering the faces of clamping bars near their ends in such manner that there
may be free space for the folded edges of the garment and that they may not be broken
into creases, substantially as described and shown.
7. The combination in a clamp of flexible loops and parallel bars so that the loops
embrace and confine the ends of the bars the bars being prismatic for most of their
length admitting however of one or more rounded or cylindrical faces, the faces so
varying in breadth, that when the bars are revolved on their axes so as to present
different faces to each other, there are secured varying spaces between the bars to
admit different thicknesses of material between them substantially as described and
shewn.
8. In any of the before named combinations such a cutting away of the several
faces of the bars toward their extremities as to form tapered ends or necks around
which the flexible loops may pass, and shoulders against which the said loops may rest
when under tension, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In any of the before named combinations, the provision that the axes of the
tapered ends of the bars shall be nearer one of the narrower faces of the bars,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In any of the before named combinations the arrangement of clamping bars,
flexible loops and tension connectors in such manner that tension on the connectors
shall tighten the loops upon the bars substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
11. An attacher provided with a series of fastening devices and attached to the
tension connector by a sliding loop or equivalent, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
12. A distending rod provided with pegs, pins, notches, or equivalents to receive

page_text: under tension the connectors and attacher substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
13. A distending rod provided as last described above, but made in two or more
parts which are confined by suitable bands or slides so as to longitudinally slide one
upon the other and give varying length to the distending rod, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Inventor.