A Portable Wardrobe or Device for Holding or Suspending Trousers, more especially intended for Military Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 8th Dec.. 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Portable Wardrobe or Device for Holding or Suspending Trousers,
more especially intended for Military Purposes.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM COLLINS of 51 Honeywell Road, Wandsworth Common
in the County of Surrey Professor of Music do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:―
My invention relates to a portable wardrobe or device for holding or suspending
trousers, more especially intended for military purposes.
For barrack use it is of great importance that all articles of personal furniture
should be easily portable, in consequence of the necessity for frequent removal,
and the object of my invention is to provide a simple inexpensive and portable
device or wardrobe for holding or suspending a number of pairs of trousers and
which is capable of being collapsed and forming a kind of case to contain the
trousers in case of removal.
For this purpose I form the body or back of the device of wood divided hori-
zontally at about the centre and there furnished with off-set or projecting hinges
so that the lower part of the body or back may be folded over the upper part and
thus form a box or case in which the trousers may be packed for transport as
hereinafter more fully described.
Upon the face of the body or back of the device at suitable distances apart, from
near the top down to about the centre I arrange a number of horizontal clamping
bars which at one end are hinged to the body or back, and at the other end are
provided with screw or other fastenings engaging corresponding parts upon the
body or back.
At the top of the device I employ a rectangular frame formed preferably of rod
metal hinged to the body or back so as to be capable of folding down thereon, and
I support this top rail at right angles to the body or back by means of brackets
hinged thereto and engaging racks or stops upon the top.
I form the body or back with key hole slots or other means of suspension from
nails driven into the wall and at the bottom of the body or back I provide a
hinged shelf held in position by links arranged at each side thereof and at one
eud hinged to the body or back so as to be capable of folding in alignment there-
with, and at the other end slotted to engage headed studs upon the shelf and in
connection with this shelf and adapted to slide thereon I employ a drawer which
is formed with sides hinged to the bottom and preferably with a hinged bottom so
that it may be collapsed for transport.
From the top of the device I suspend a curtain which is attached to the body
or back at the upper part and falls over the top rail and extends below the shelf.
The trousers are placed in position in the wardrobe or device by inverting them,
and clamping them at or near their lower ends beneath the hinged bars or clamps
against the body or back when they will hang one pair over the other.
In order to remove one pair of trousers, leaving the others in position it is only
necessary to unfasten the hinged bar or clamp holding that pair in position when
it may be easily removed without disturbing the others.
When it is desired to collapse the wardrobe or device for the purpose of removal,
the top rail is disconnected from the brackets and folded on to the body or back,
the shelf is disconnected from the links and similarly folded, the trousers are
folded up within the upper part of the back, and the lower part of the body or
back is folded over to cover them the drawer is collapsed and placed within the

page_text: receptacle thus formed and the upper and lower parts of the body or back are
then fastened together by means of straps or by other suitable means when a
compact package will be formed for transport
Or in lieu of leaving the trousers clamped in position and folding them on to
the face of the top part of the body or back they may be removed from the
clamps and placed upon the reverse side of the upper part of the body or back
and the lower part of the body or back may be hinged so as to fold over them.
In some cases I employ a wood top in lieu of the top rail and in lieu of the
curtain I employ wood sides and a door all of which parts are hinged and connected
together with capability of easy separation and so as to form a compact box or
case for travelling purposes.
By these means obtain a convenient and portable wardrobe device for barrack
use, which enables several pairs of trousers to be held suspended and thus kept
in good condition whilst at the same time the device occupies very little room either
in use or transport.
Dated this 16th day of March 1892.
WHITE & WOODINGTON.
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Portable Wardrobe or Device for Holding or Suspending Trousers,
more especially intended for Military Purposes.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM COLLINS of 111 Kelmscott Road, formerly of
51 Honeywell Road, Wandsworth Common in the County of Surrey, Professor of
Music, 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 a portable wardrobe or device for holding or suspending
trousers, more especially intended for military purposes.
For barrack use, it is of great importance that all articles of personal furniture
should be easily portable in consequence of the necessity for frequent removal, and
the object of my invention is primarily to provide a simple, inexpensive and
portable device or wardrobe for holding or suspending a number of pairs of
trousers, and which is capable of being collapsed and forming a kind of case to
contain the trousers in case of removal.
For this purpose I form the body or back of the device, of wood divided
horizontally at about the centre, and there furnished with offset or projecting
hinges, so that the lower part of the body or back may be folded over the upper
part, and thus form a box or case in which the trousers may be packed for transport
as hereinafter more fully described.
-
Upon the face of the body or back of the device at suitable distances apart,
from near the top down to about the centre, I arrange a number of horizontal
clamping bars which at one end are hinged to the body or back, and at the other
end are provided with screw or other fastenings, engaging corresponding parts
upon the body or back.
At the top of the device I employ a rectangular frame, formed preferably of
rod metal hinged to the body or back so as to be capable of folding down thereon,
and I support this top rail at right angles to the body or back by means of brackets
hinged thereto, and engaging racks or stops upon the top.
I form the body or back with key hole slots, or other means of suspension from
nails driven into the wall, and at the bottom of the body or back, I provide a
hinged shelf beld in position by links arranged at each side thereof, and at one
end hinged to the body or back, so as to be capable of folding in alignment
therewith, and at the other end slotted to engage headed studs upon the shelf,

page_text: and in connection with this shelf and adapted to slide thereon, I employ a drawer
which is formed with sides hinged to the bottom, and preferably with a hinged
bottom, so that it may be collapsed for transport.
From the top of the device, I suspend a curtain which is attached to the body
or back at the upper part, and falls over the top rail and extends below the shelf.
The trousers are placed in position in the wardrobe or device by inverting
them, and clamping them at or near their lower ends beneath the hinged bars
or clamps against the body or back, when they will hang one pair over the other.
In order to remove one pair of trousers, leaving the others in position, it is
only necessary to unfasten the hinged bar or clamp holding that pair in position
when it may be easily removed without disturbing the others.
When it is desired to collapse the wardrobe or device for the purpose of
removal, the top rail is disconnected from the brackets and folded on to the body
or back, the shelf is disconnected from the links and similarly folded, the trousers
are folded up within the upper part of the back, and the lower part of the body
or back is folded over to cover them, the drawer is collapsed, and placed within
the receptacle thus formed, and the upper and lower parts of the body or back
are then fastened together by means of straps or by other suitable means, when
a compact package will be formed for transport.
Or, in lieu of leaving the trousers clamped in position, and folding them on to
the face of the top part of the body or back, they may be removed from the
clamps, and placed upon the reverse side of the upper part of the body or back,
and the lower part of the body or back may be hinged so as to fold over them.
In some cases, I employ a wood top in lieu of the top rail, and in lien of the
curtain I employ wood sides and a door, all of which parts are hinged and connected
together with capability of easy separation, and so as to form a compact box or case
for travelling purposes.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect. I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more full-

page_text: bars b which at one end are attached to the body or back a by means of hinges b',
and at the other end are apertured to receive screw studs fixed to the back and
are there removeably clamped or fixed by means of fly-nuts 6.
a,
The top of the device consists of a rectangular frame formed of rod metal
hinged at to the body or back a, so as to be capable of folding down thereon as
represented more particularly at Figure 3, and this top rail c is when required,
supported at right angles to the back or body a by means of brackets or struts c², at
one end hinged thereto at 3, and at the other end engaging racks or stops * upon
the top rail c.
The back or body a is furnished with fittings a provided with key-hole
slots a³, or it might be furnished with other means of suspension from nails
driven into a wall.
At the bottom of the body or back a is arranged a shelf d, which is hinged
at d' to the back a, and when in use is held in position at right angles thereto by
means of links d2 arranged at each side thereof, and at one end hinged at to the
body or back a, so as to be capable of folding in alignment therewith, and at the
other end provided with slots d to engage headed studs d upon the shelf d, and in
connection with the shelf d and adapted to slide thereon is provided a drawere
formed with the sides and ends hinged at e¹ and held erect by hooks and eyes
(and it might also be provided if desired with a hinged bottom) so that it may be
collapsed for transport, as represented at Figure 3.
C
From the top rail c of the device is suspended a curtain which is attached to the
body or back a at the upper part thereof, and falls over the top rail c and extends
below the shelf d.
The trousers are placed in position in the wardrobe or device, by inverting
them at or near their lower ends beneath the hinged bars or clamps / against the
body or back a when they will hang one pair over the other, as represented at
Figures 1 and 2.
C
a,
In order to remove one pair of trousers h, it is only necessary to loosen the hinged
bar or clamp holding that pair in position by partially unscrewing the fly-nut 6*
when that pair of trousers may be easily removed without disturbing the others.
When it is desired to collapse the wardrobe or device for the purpose of removal,
the top rail c is disconnected from the struts or brackets c which are turned down
on their hinges c³, and the top rail c is then folded on to the body or back the
drawer e is removed, the shelf d is disconnected from the links and similarly
folded, the trousers are folded up within the area of the upper part of the back a,
and the lower part of the body or back a is folded over to cover then, the drawer e
is collapsed, and placed within the receptacle thus formed, and the upper and lower
parts of the body or back a are fastened together by means of straps and buckles a',
or it might be by other suitable means, when a compact package will be formed for
transport as represented at Figure 3.
In the example given at Figure 4, the hinges a¹ connecting the upper and
lower parts of the back or body a, are arranged so that the two parts fold back
to back, instead of face to face, and in this case in lieu of leaving the trousers h
clamped in position and folding them on to the face of the top part of the body
or back a as hereinbefore described, they are removed from the clamping bars b,
and placed upon the reverse side of the upper part of the body or back a and the
lower part of such body is then folded over them as shown.
In the example given at Figures 5, 6, and 7, the device is furnished with a wood
top c in lieu of the rail previously described, and in lieu of the curtain wooden
sides a are employed permanently fixed to the body a whilst doors fof wood are
provided hinged at to one of the sides a with capability of easy disconnection so
that they may be readily unshipped by lifting them off the hinges, and packed
within the device when the same is folded as represented at Figure 7, whilst they
are furnished with locks, by means of which they may be secured when closed.
A cover for the drawer e is provided which is practically a fixture with the
lower doorf but is hinged thereto at f*, so as to be capable of folding down thereon

page_text: as shown at Figure 7, and this cover ƒª³ is when desired secured in its closed position
by the lock of the drawer e.
A flap g is at a hinged to the upper part of the back or body a and serves to
close the opening at the lower end of the folded device as represented at Figure 7,
and in order to secure the flap in position it is furnished with a hasp g3 which
engages a lock a fixed to the lower part of the back or body a whilst the two parts
of the folded device are secured together by means of a hasp a upon one part which
engages a lock as upon the other part.
In the example given at Figures 8 and 9, the body or back a in lieu of being
divided horizontally into two parts as shown and described with respect to the
previous examples is in this case formed of double width divided vertically and
connected by hinges a¹ whilst each part is formed with wood sides a³ and a fixed
top c and bottom d.
The hinges a¹ are of a somewhat similar character to those f¹ referred to in
connection with the example lastly herein before described, so that the two parts
may be readily separated when in use, aud placed in different positions, whilst one
part is furnished with one or more locks a and the other part with corresponding
hasps a³, so that the two parts a may be folded together as represented at Figure 9,
and thus secured, when a useful travelling trunk or case will be formed.
Each part of the device is fitted with a rail f at the upper end, upon which
is mounted a curtain f, which when the device is in use, serves to protect the
contents thereof.
The clamping bars 6 in this example are of a somewhat modified construction,
that is to say in lieu of being mounted upon vertical axes or hinges as described
with respect to the previous figures, each clamping bar bis in this case provided
with horizontal eccentrically disposed axes 6' which enter corresponding bearings
formed in the sides a of the device whilst the bar 6 is by means of springs 6* held
at its lower edge with a spring pressure in contact with the corresponding slat a*
fixed upon the body a, so that it nips or clamps the trousers against such slat a*,
or back a, whilst in order that it may be readily drawn back or turned upon its axes
to release or receive a pair of trousers h, a handle is provided upon the face
thereof.
In the example given at Figure 10, a simple and inexpensive form of the
invention is shown and which adapted to hang upon the wall of a room, or
within a wardrobe or cupboard, and designed to suspend several pairs of trousers
with a view to keep them in shape.
This device is formed with a short back or body a provided with a wood top c
and sides a, but without any bottom or shelf, whilst the clamping bars 6 employed
in connection therewith, are of a similar character to those herein before shown and
described with respect to Figures 8 and 9.
I would here remark that I do not confine myself to the precise details of
construction herein before shown and described, as it is evident that the same may
be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly 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 :-
1. In a device for holding or suspending trousers, the combination of a body or
back and a number of clamping bars adapted to clamp the trousers against such
body substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In a device for holding or suspending trousers, the combination of a body or
back, a number of clamping bars, adapted to clamp the trousers against the back,
and a curtain or doors enclosing the same substantially as herein shown and
described.
3. In a device for holding or suspending trousers the combination of a body or
back, divided with capability of folding, a number of clamping bars adapted to

page_text: clamp the trousers against the back, and a curtain or doors enclosing the same
substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In a device for holding or suspending trousers, the combination of a body or
back divided with capability of folding, a number of clamping bars adapted to
clamp the trousers against the back, a curtain or doors enclosing the same, a folding
shelf at the lower end of the back, and a folding drawer mounted upon the shelf,
the whole of such parts being arranged with capability of packing into a compact
form for transport substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 8th day of December 1892.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.