Improvements in Apparatus for Pressing Trousers and other Garments and Articles, and for Facilitating the Stretching of the same.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Pressing Trousers and other Garments
and Articles, and for Facilitating the Stretching of the same.
1, WHITMORE BAKER, of Paignton, in the County of Devon, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improved apparatus chiefly designed for pressing trousers,
but also applicable for pressing other garments and articles.
In carrying my invention into practice, I provide two boards or platens of the
same or approximately the same dimensions which are hinged or pivotted together
at one end or side and which are adapted to receive the garments or articles
between them.
In order to enable the platens to remain parallel or substantially parallel notwith-
standing the number of garments or articles between them, .I make the said hinges
adjustable by any suitable means; in practice, however, I find it advantageous to
arrange the hinges or pivots in connection with spiral or other springs so that the
hinges will automatically adjust themselves according to the thickness of the goods
in the apparatus.
The opposite sides or ends of the platens to the pivotted ends are adapted to be
locked at any required position. I advantageously effect this locking by means of a
pivotted catch attached to one platen and two toothed spring racks which are attached
to the edge of the other platen.
In closing the apparatus, the catch automatically engages with the racks which
spring outward in opening the apparatus however the catch is rotated somewhat to
disengage it from the teeth of the racks.
I sometimes employ a spring for returning the catch to its normal position after it
has been moved to open the apparatus.
Segmental guides are also provided for keeping the two platens in their proper
relative position, which guides also serve to prevent the upper platen from opening
too far:
My improved apparatus is also applicable for use in stretching trousers, that is to
say, after one or more of such garments have been placed on the lower platen the
upper platen is closed down when, owing to the peculiar arrangement of the pivots,
the ends of the garments nearest to the pivots are gripped first.
If now the free ends of the garments are pulled to stretch them and the upper
platen finally closed they will be pressed in this stretched condition.
Dated the First dex of October 1888
"
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Pressing Trousers and other Garments
and Articles, and for Facilitating the Stretching of the same.
I, WHITMORE BAKER, of Paignton, in the county of Devon, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to improved apparatus chiefly designed for pressing and
stretching trousers, but also applicable for pressing other garments or articles.
In the accompanying drawing-
Figure 1 is a plan of my improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a section of the same on the line figure 1; and,

page_text: a, a¹ are two boards or platens, the lower of which is carried upon legs b, b²,
while the upper one is hinged at c so that it can be turned back.
In using the press the upper platen a¹ is thrown back, as indicated by the dotted
lines in figure 3, and the articles are laid upon the lower platen; the upper platen is
then closed down upon the articles, as shown in full lines in the said figure 3.
To enable the platens to remain parallel or substantially parallel, notwithstanding
the number of garments or articles between them, the hinge of the upper platen is
advantageously attached to a piece d, which is adapted to slide vertically in guides e, e
in the leg b. In a recess f in the sliding-piece d is located a spring g, which is
secured at one end to the said sliding-piece d, and at the other to the leg 61 by a
pin h, the said spring normally tending to maintain the said sliding-piece in its
lowest position; it will thus be understood that, when the platen a¹ is closed down,
the spring will allow the sliding-piece d to rise any required distance, according to
the thickness of the articles in the press.
In order that the extra thickness of the seams and hems shall not interfere with
the proper pressing of the garments, grooves or recesses i, j can be formed in the
lower platen a to receive the saine. To securely lock the platen after it has been
pressed down, I advantageously employ a catch k, pivotted at 7 to the underside of the
platen a, and on the edges of the platen a¹ I arrange spring-racks m, m, which are
adapted to engage with the ends of the catch, k, as shown in fig. 2; the said spring-
racks m, m being so set, that they will automatically engage with the said catch k
when the upper platen is closed. To disengage the catch k from the racks, the said
catch is turned to the position indicated by the dotted lines n in figure 1, a knob o
being provided to facilitate the movement of the catch. After the platen a' has
been raised, a spring p automatically returns the said catch to its normal position when
.the knob is released.
9, 9 are guards which protect the racks m, m, and r is a handle secured to the
platen a¹, for raising and lowering the same.
When using my improved apparatus for stretching trousers, the latter are placed
on the lower platen, and the upper platen is closed down, when, owing to the peculiar
arrangement of the pivots, the end of the garment nearest to the pivots is gripped. first.
If now the free end of the garment is pulled and the upper platen then firmly pressed
down, the said garment will be pressed in this stretched condition.
I wish it understood that I do not limit my invention to the details of construction
herein before described, as it is obvious that the same may be varied, for instance any
suitable means may be provided for rendering the movable platen adjustable relatively
to the other; and the locking arrangement may be arranged with the racks on the.
bottom platen and the catch on the top platen or any other locking mechanism may
be employed.
Although I have described my apparatus as chiefly intended for pressing trousers it
is to be understood that it may be used for pressing linen, wringing clothes and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) Apparatus for pressing trousers and other garments and articles and for
facilitating the stretching of the same, comprising two platens, one of which is hinged
or pivotted relatively to the other, the hinge or pivot being adjustable so that the
platens may remain substantially parallel, notwithstanding the thickness between
them; and means for locking the two platens in their closed position, substantially
as described.
(2) In apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claiming clause, mounting
the movable platen, substantially as described with reference to figure 3 of the
drawing, so that the two platens may lie parallel with each other notwithstanding the
thickness of the material between them.
(3) In apparatus of the kind hereinbefore described, the employment of locking
mechanism constructed substantially as set forth.

page_text: (4) The manufacture and use of the improved apparatus herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 24th day of July 1889.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.