Improvements in Clothes Suspenders.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
Improvements in Clothes Suspenders.
I ALFRED STEINMANN of Elberfeld, Rhenish Prussia, Germany, Ziethen-
strasse 5, Merchant 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:-
My invention relates to an improved cloth suspender, by means of which trowsers
can be suspended at their bottom end so as to be streched by their own weight, the
heavy and wide part coming to hang at the bottom whilst at the same time a coat,
waistcoat or other wearing apparel can be suspended in an open manner at the
apparatus so as to keep a good shape. I attain these objects by the apparatus
shown in the accompanying drawing on which:
Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus;
Figure 2 is a vertical section along line I-I in a closed state;
Figure 3 is a similar section in an open state;
Figure 4 is a top view partly in section along line II-II;
Figure 5 shows the apparatus with trowsers and a coat suspended thereon in a
smaller scale.
Two strips B and B' of iron or steel or brass cut out of sheet metal or other
material have flanges C, and C¹ formed to them about in the middle of their length
and in such distance from each other that the flanges C₁ of the piece B' fit exactly
between the flanges C C of the piece B; holes are bored through these Hanges and
by a rivet A they are joined together so as to form a link joint; a spiral spring E
is wound round the rivet A with its ends a pressing against the inner upper sides
of the parts B and B so that their lower ends have the tendency of closing and
being pressed together. Instead of the spiral spring ordinary flat springs fixed to
the rivet might be used for the same purpose.
The upper end of the part B¹ is longer than that of the part B and is shaped
into a hook B2.
At the lower ends cross pieces D and D' are fixed to the pieces B and B' so as
to project right and left symetrically. The piece D being somewhat shorter than
the piece D which at both ends has prolongations G G joined to it by links F F.
Springs H and J having the tendency to keep the prolongations G G in their
position when opened or stretched out as shown at both sides of Figures 1 and 4,
so that they apparently form a straight and uniform piece with a middle part D'.
The links allowing the prolongation parts to be bent backwards as shown in dotted
lines Figure 4 and then both cross pieces are of equal or nearly equal length. The
insides of the cross pieces may be lined with felt or other soft material.
Now the use of the improved suspender is as follows: By the pressure of the
hand the clips are opened (Figure 3) the trowsers are then put between the opened
cross pieces D, D' and these are then closed, nipping the trowsers between them,
the prolongations G, G may then be opened also or not, as may be desired and in
the first case a coat or waistcoat is suspended on the apparatus as will be best
understood by a glance at Figure 5; by means of the hook B2 the whole is then
hung up in a wardrobe or in some convenient place. The soft lining of the cross
pieces guards the trowsers from injury, which being hung up with their heavier
part downwards will be stretched and kept straight; a coat suspended on the
outstretched cross-pieces or arms G D D G will also be held in a good position
and keep its good shape.

page_text: Making the arm D' with the linked prolongations has the great advantage that
if the same are not in use the apparatus can be brought in a small space convenient
for transport in a portmanteau or in a travelling bag.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
In a suspender for trowsers, coats and other wearing apparel the pieces B and B',
the latter ending in a hook B³, both being joined together by a rivet A and being
held in a closed state by a spring E fixed to the rivet in combination with cross
pieces D, D' respectively, the latter of which having prolongation pieces G G
linked to it, which can be bent back and which are held in an open state, when
stretched out by springs H and J. The whole as illustrated and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 28th of Tul AD 1004
ALFRED STEINMANN,
Per Karl J. Mayer,
Agent.