IMPROVEMENTS IN STRETCHERS FOR TROUSERS AND OTHER LIKE GARMENTS
Year: 1885

page_text: татшеный.
We, JOEL CADBURY of Great Hampton Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, and JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON of Spencer Street,
Hockley, Birmingham, aforesaid, Tool Maker, do hereby declare the nature of
said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN STRETCHERS FOR TROUSERS AND OTHER
LIKE GARMENTS," to be as follows:-
60
Our invention has for its object to stretch or distend trousers and such like
garments, for the purpose of restoring to the said garments their normal or proper
shape; and our said invention consists of an automatic tension bar or rod, situated
or disposed between two clamping expedients which respectively grip and hold the
extremities of the garment; while the said tension bar expands or lengthens out
through the influence of a spring, which keeps the bar constantly expanding or
lengthening out, and the garment always on the stretch; that is, in virtue of the
expanding properties of the bar, no slack is allowed, as the bar follows up the
stretching thus created until the garment has resumed its normal shape-The
tension stretching bar or bars may be provided with an elbow joint for first
starting or placing the parts in position or for giving the initial stretching.
In carrying out our invention, we proceed as follows. The clamping devices
consist of two metal plates of any suitable breadth but of a length a little beyond
the breadth of that part of the garment to be clamped or held; and situated at the
extreme ends of these holding plates, bracket arms are situated, having V or wedge
like openings or undercuts inclining towards the lower end of the top clamp and
the upper edge of the lower one. These wedge like openings are enclosed between
the inside edges of the bracket arms and the upper surface of the plate, thus
constituting wedge shaped openings; and within these openings, longitudinal
wedge shaped bars of the full length of the clamp plates take, so that when the
extremities of a garment are placed between the respective wedge bars and their
plates, and tension put upon the garment, the wedge bars are drawn by the pulling
action, into the narrowed parts of the wedge openings, and so holding or clamping
the extremities of the garment between the gripping parts; and as the tension
becomes greater, so the grip increases proportionally.
The tension bar for stretching, consists of a rod preferably working within a
tube closed at one end; and between the closed end and the extremity of the rod

page_text: working therein, is a coiled spring which forces the rod telescopically out of the
tube, and so elongates the length of the stretcher bar and so constantly keeping it
on the stretch. Or instead of the coiled spring being enclosed within a tube, it
may surround the tube or rod or both of them, and where a cheaper form of tension
bar is required, two bars may be employed working side by side, instead of a tube
and rod as described.
The stretcher rod or the tube may be provided with an elbow joint, to allow the
parts of the stretcher to make an angle with each other, when placed between the
top and bottom clamp plates; thus, the stretcher bar by being jointed shortens
the distance (when open) between its extreme ends; and when the joint is closed,
the parts of the bar become straight or lie in the same line, and when in this last
named position, press outwardly the clamps and the garment stretched between
them, and thereby imparting to the said garment, the initial tension or first
stretching. The elbow joint when closed as last described, in becoming straight,
passes beyond the centre of the joint, and is kept in that position by the tension
of the objects stretched.
The elbow joint arrangement may be used independently of the spring, when
a constant following up stretching, is not required.
In using the stretching appliance, the extremities of the garment are placed
between the parts of the holding plates or clamps with the stretching rod between
them, when the garment to be stretched is gradually drawn into form by
expansion.
JOEL CADBURY.
JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent to the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Stretchers for Trousers and other like
Garments.
We, JOEL CADBURY of Great Hampton Street Birmingham in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturer, and JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON of Spencer Street
Hockley Birmingham, aforesaid, Tool Maker, do hereby declare the nature of said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STRETCHERS FOR TROUSERS AND OTHER LIKE
GARMENTS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates principally to clamping devices to be used in connection
with trouser and other garment stretchers; and also in an improved means for
elongating the distance between the parts or clamping bars, by which the garments
to be stretched, are held. The former consists of top and bottom holding expedients,
in the form of bars, of a length somewhat broader than the breadth of the garment
to be held. Thus each clamping device consists of a bottom bar having wedge ends
or flanges, the tops of which incline in such a manner as to give a progressive
wedge action; and within these wedge flanges, the ends of a wedge bar take. The
middle of this last named bar is provided with a socket hole wherein one of the
ends of the distension rod takes, so that when the extremities of a garment are
placed between the respective wedge bars and the under bars, of the top and bottom
clamping expedients, and tension put upon the garment, the wedge bars of the one
part are drawn by the pulling action, into the narrowed parts of the wedge ends
or flanges, on the other part, and so holding or clamping the extremities of the
garments between the gripping parts.
The tension bar for stretching, consists of a telescopic rod with spring in
compression, between the two parts as set forth in patent 3126 year 1884; or a
rod having at one or at two of its ends, flat springs, which are connected to the
wedge bars. These springs have socket holes at or about their middles wherein
the ends of the bar take. The spring's compression being allowed for by the
connecting pins working within slots or piercings.
By employing springs as described, the distance between the top and bottom
clamping devices, is constantly increased by the springs (after compression) tending
to resume their normal conditions.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation clamping devices made according to our
invention with a "MoIlvenna tension bar or stretcher" between them. Figure 2
is an elevation of the same, and figure 3 is a vertical section, (upon a larger scale)
through the dotted lines A B figure 1. Figure 4 is a transverse section of the
clamping bars upon the dotted lines CD figure 1. The other letters represent the
parts of the clamping device separately.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the Drawings.

page_text: a b are two clamping base bars of a length a little beyond the breadth of that
part of a garment to be gripped and held. c is a tube or hollow bar, and d is a rod
working telescopically within c; and between the upper inside part of c and
rod d, a coiled spring is disposed, which forms an automatic tension bar, for
keeping the garment always on the stretch.
The ends of the respective bars c and d take into sockets or holes c² d² in the
wedge bars a² 62. These bars a³ 6' work in taper bracket ends a³ ³. a 14 are
cut away parts in the bars a and b wherein the seam of the garment lies, so as to
admit of the bars having an even and uniform grip, which would not be so if the
seam and double thickness of material were disposed within the middle of a bar;
the whole of the pressure of the bar would then be upon the seam, instead of lying
evenly upon the breadth of the garment. These cut away parts are best seen in
figures 5, 6, 9 and 10.
In using the stretching appliance, the extremities of the garment e are placed
between the clamping bars a a, b b² as best seen in figures 1 and 3; the tension
bar is then placed between them, when the spring is under compression.
The expansion of the spring distends the rods, and lengthens the distance
between the upper and lower clamping devices, thereby always keeping the
garment on the stretch.
By the pressure thus exerted, the clamping bars are brought closer together, and
the garment gripped between them, by the advancing of the ends of the wedge
bars a within the wedge brackets or ends a³ 63, thereby firmly clamping the
extremities or parts of a garment.
Figure 5 is an edge view, and figure 6 is a front view, and figure 7 is a plan
partly in section of the base or under bar, and figure 8 is an edge view of the
wedge bar of the upper clamp. Figure 9 is an edge view and figure 10 a plan of
the base or under bar, and figure 11 is a plan, and figure 12 an edge view of the
wedge or upper clamp.
Figure 13 represents a tension bar, having at its ends, flat springs, which are
connected to the wedge bars.
i is a rod or bar, g g are flat springs connected to the bars a² 62 by pins h h, the
necks of which work in slots or piercings g³ in the spring g. The middle of the
spring is provided with socket holes g3 g wherein the ends of the rod i take.
When a garment is fixed between the upper and lower clamping bars the springs
are compressed by the handle or pull ³.
On the liberation of the bar after the compression of the springs, when a garment
is held between the clamps, the distance between the top and bottom clan.ping
devices, is constantly increased and the garment stretched, in virtue of the springs
tendency to resume their normal condition.
Figure 14 represents a modification of the clamping arrangement.
a is the bottom bar and a² are brackets situated at the end of the said bar, b is a
top bar having an axis 6' which takes within the bayonet like slot a³ of the
bracket a³, the portion a of the said slot is inclined, so that on pressure being
applied to the bar b in the direction indicated by the arrow, the two said bars are
brought closer together, and the garment gripped between them, by the trunnion
ends travelling down the inclines a. c is a tension rod which is disposed
between two of the said bars b, which clamps the two extremities or portions of a
garment. Figure 15 is a side elevation.
In tigure 16 and 17, the grip upon a garment is produced by the top bar turning
upon pivot ends as a centre. The underside of the bar is made cam like, so that
when turned down, the garment is gripped between the bottom bar, and the
underside of the curve or excentric part of the upper bar.
a is the lower bar, a' the bracket, b the top bar, b² the trunnion centres at each
end of the bar, and a³ is a slot, open at top, through which open top the ends be
pass, in affixing the bar in position. c is a tension bar, which takes into a socket *
in the bar b, which said socket is below the joint centre 6 upon which the bar b
turns, in clamping a garment between itself, and the bar.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
First. A clamping device, for trouser and other garment stretchers, consisting
of two separate and unconnected bars or strips of any suitable material; the one
which forms the base or under bar, is plain and is provided with wedge formed
brackets at both of its ends, wherein the wedge terminal ends of a secondary or
top bar take and wedge, and between the said bars, (when used in pairs) the
extremities of garments are clamped and held, by the forcing of the wedge or top bar
into the wedge formed bracket ends of the under bar, thereby bringing the upper
and under sides of the two bars closer together. The extremities of the stretching
bar taking into sockets formed in the upper clamping bar, substantially as described
and illustrated in figures 1 to 12 both inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly. A clamping device for trouser and other garment stretchers, con-
sisting of two plain bars; the lower one being provided with bracket or flanged
ends, having bayonet like inclined wedge slots, wherein the ends of the top bar
take, and between which said bars (when used in pairs) the extremities of a
garment are clamped by the forcing inwards, and the moving of the axial ends,
down the wedge inclined slots thereby bringing the top and bottom bars closer
together, for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated in figures 14
and 15 of the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. A clamping device for trouser and other garment stretchers, consisting
of two bars; the one being provided with bracket ends, wherein wedge or inclined
open slots are made, while the other consists of a bar, shaped upon its under side,
and having trunnion ends, which engage and work within the wedge slots in the
ends of the first bar; so that by the moving of the ends of said top bar, down the
wedge slots and upon its ends, the two bars are brought closer together, so as to
firmly grip a garment disposed between them; the extremities of the tension or
stretcher bars taking into sockets below the trunnion ends, substantially as
described and illustrated in figures 16 and 17 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. Making holding or clamping devices with recessed or cut away parts
marked ab, wherein the seam of the garment lies, for the purpose substantially as
described and illustrated.
Lastly. A trouser stretcher consisting of a fixed bar with flat springs at its
ends, (or a single spring at one end) to give the necessary tension and requisite
following up on the stretching of a garment, which said springs are preferably
attached to the top clamping bar, and the connection between the stretcher bar and
spring is made by the ends of the former taking into socket holes in the latter
substantially as described and illustrated in figure 13.
Dated this Third day of February 1886.
JOEL CADBURY.
JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent to the Applicants.