Improvements in Trousers' Stretchers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trousers' Stretchers.
I, CHARLES BRAWN, of 124 King's Road, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,
Clothier, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for removing or
preventing what is called " bagginess" at the knees of trousers, and it refers to
that form of apparatus in which the trousers are clamped at two suitable points,
which are then moved away from each other so as to put a certain tension on the
material of which the garment is made, and so remove or prevent the distortion
which would otherwise occur at the knees of the trousers when same are worn.
The arrangements for clamping the trousers at the points desired are secured to
the opposite ends of a longitudinal board or bar, and each consists of a stationary
cross bar with a corresponding hinged bar and means for securing the two cross
bars together after the garment has been placed between them. The means for
securing the cross bars together may consist of an ordinary spring clip which is
secured to the stationary cross bar, and a projection on which will enter a corre-
sponding recess in the hinged cross bar when the latter is closed or folded down,
the spring clip being provided with means for releasing it when desired to insert or
withdraw the garment.
A screw clamp hinged to one of the cross bars and provided with a thumb nut
may be used instead of a spring clip if desired.
In one form of my apparatus the longitudinal board or bar is hinged in its
length so that the two parts can turn, in one direction, in relation to each other,
and in inserting the trousers in the stretcher one part of such board is first bent in
relation to the other part and a certain slackness of the garment allowed. When
the garment has been clamped at the points desired, one part of the longitudinal
board and the clamp it carries is then forced down into a straight line with the
other part, thus putting the necessary tension on the garment, and the two parts
are then secured (by a slide or other suitable means) in this position. The garment
may be removed when desired by loosening the clamping bars, the longitudinal bar
having been first released so that it can fold, if desired. The hinge of the longi-
tudinal bar also permits of the apparatus being folded so as to reduce its length for
convenience of transport, and if desired the clamping bars at each end may be made
detachable with a like object.
Instead of hinging one of the clamping bars directly to the one in conjunction
with which it operates, same may be carried by an arm or frame hinged or pivotted
to the longitudinal bar, so that when the trousers have been clamped at one end,
and the arm or frame raised, the trousers are passed over and below the bar
carried by the latter, and a certain pull exerted thereon while the arm and bar
are forced down with the other hand and secured by the spring clip or screw
clamp to the stationary clamping bar.
In a further modification the longitudinal board or bar is made in two parts, and
one of the clamping arrangements is secured to one end of one of such parts, and
the other clamping arrangement to the opposite end of the other of such parts.
The two parts of the longitudinal bar are made so that they can slide in relation to
each other, such movement being produced by a screw with a suitable head
carried by one part, engaging a corresponding nut carried by the other part.
After the trousers have been clamped at the desired points, by turning the screw
in the proper direction the clamping bars will be moved away from each other and
the necessary tension placed on the garment. The reverse movement of the screw
will bring the parts back to their original position. Instead of a nut and screw,

page_text: any other suitable means may be employed for moving the parts of the longitudinal
bar in relation to each other and securing, same in the position to which they have
been moved.
fnL1000
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Trousers' Stretchers.
I, CHARLES BRAWN, of 124 King's Road, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,
Clothier, 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 :-
The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for removing or
preventing what is called "bagginess" at the knees of trousers, and it refers to
that form of apparatus in which the trousers are clamped at two suitable points.
which are then moved away from each other so as to put a certain tension on the
material of which the garment is made, and so remove or prevent the distortion
which would otherwise occur at the knees of the trousers when same are worn.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. is a front elevation and Fig. 2 a side elevation of one form of my
apparatus, and
Figs. 3 and 4 corresponding views of a modified form of same.
The arrangements for clamping the trousers at the points desired are similar in
both forms of the apparatus, and consist in a cross bar A and a corresponding
hinged or removable bar A' between which the trousers are inserted. The bars
are slotted or have holes formed at the opposite ends as shown at a, and through
such slots or holes pass binding screws B fitted with a thumb nut 1, by means of
which the two bars A, A, are clamped together with the necessary pressure to
securely hold the trousers between them. The screws B may be either formed
with a head on their bottom end to bear against the under side of bar A, or such
screws may be pivotted to the bar as shown in the drawings, so that when the
nut is loosened they may be turned down and thus release the top bar A¹, but
will remain secured to the bar A, and thus avoid all chance of their being lost.
Referring now to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that
the bars A are secured to the opposite ends of a longitudinal board or bar C,
and that the lower top bar A simply fits over bar A. The upper top bar A
is carried by an arm or frame D pivotted to the longitudinal board or bar C. The
bottom end of the trousers is inserted in and clamped between the lower clamping
bars. The arm or frame D is then turned to the position shown in thin broken
lines in Fig. 2, and the top of the trousers is passed over the upper bar A¹ and
then turned down under such bar, as shown in thick broken lines E in such figure.
When this has been done the trousers are forced by one hand against the board or
bar C near the upper end thereof, and held sufficient tight to prevent them slipping
over the upper bar A' when arm or frame D is pushed back by the other hand, so
as to bring the bar A¹ it carries on the top of the upper bar A, the action of
forcing the arm or frame D down straining or stretching the trousers between the
two clamping devices. The upper bars A, A¹, are then clamped together by the
binding screws B, thus holding the trousers securely in their stretched position, and
removing all bagginess.
By loosening the screws B the trousers can be readily removed when required.
In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 one of the clamping devices is fixed
to the longitudinal board or bar C, while the other is movable in relation thereto.
For this purpose the bottom bar A carries guide rods F which enter holes in the
board or bar C, and through such bar A passes a screw G provided at its outer
end with a head for operating same. The screw G works through a nut H let into

page_text: the end of board or bar C, and the inner end of such screw passes into a hole I
formed in board or bar C to receive same. The trousers being first clamped
between the upper and lower clamping devices, while the lower clamping device
is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, by turning the screw C such lower
clamping device is moved away from the top one, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4
and in broken lines in Fig. 3, thus stretching the trousers, the extent of the
outward movement of the lower clamping device determining the strain or pull on
same, so that such strain or pull may be regulated as desired.
In either form of apparatus described the board or bar C may if desired be
hinged at its centre (as shown in Figs. and 4), for facility of transport and
storing or packing.
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 :-
1. The improved trousers' stretcher consisting of clamping devices secured at
opposite ends of a longitudinal board or bar, and the top bar of one of such
clamping devices being carried by an arm or frame pivotted to the longitudinal
board or bar, substantially as specified.
2. The improved trousers' stretcher consisting of clamping devices, one secured
to one end of a longitudinal board or bar, and the other mounted at the opposite
end thereof and carrying a screw working through a nut on the longitudinal
board or bar, so as to move such clamping device towards and away from the other
clamping device, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1892.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant..