Improvements in Stretchers or Trees for Trousers, Breeches, and Leggings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stretchers or Trees for Trousers, Breeches, and
Leggings.
I WILLIAM JOHNSTONE YAPP, of 210 Sloane Street in the County of
Middlesex, Last and Boot Maker 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 :-
This invention relates to collapsible stretchers or trees for trousers, breeches and
leggings whereby the shape of the trousers &c. may be more effectually preserved
and creases more effectually removed than by trousers stretchers as heretofore
made, and whereby a more conveniently portable tree is provided for buckskin and
other breeches than those usually employed.
The stretcher or tree consists essentially of a pair of longitudinal side members
distended by means of toggle-jointed struts which are self-retaining in the operative
position and which are adjustable to suit requirements, the construction being
substantially that represented in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this
Specification wherein
Figure 1 is a plan view of the stretcher or tree distended, and Figure 2 a similar
view of the same collapsed, and Figure 3 a cross-section on line 1-1 Figure 1.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A A are the side members slightly inclined towards one another and held apart,
at a distance corresponding to the varying width of the leg of the trousers or
breeches in which they are inserted, by means of toggle-jointed struts BB' each
composed of three members, a middle member band two end members 6. The end
members bare hinge-jointed at a to the inner faces of the side bars A and at a
short distance from the ends thereof, the middle and end members 661 being
connected by hinges c situated at the opposite side of the members B B' to that at
which hinges a are situate, so as to admit of folding in the manner shewn in
Figure 2. The hinges c are adjustably connected to the members b¹ to admit of the
length of the toggles B B being varied. For this purpose the plate c of the
hinge is longitudinally-slotted as at to receive a bolt d fixed in b' and secured
by a wing nut D, the plate c' having its sides flanged as at c³ to embrace the
sides of the part 61 and so preserve the lateral alignment of the parts of the
toggles whilst permitting their longitudinal adjustment. The heel ends 6 of
the parts abut against the inner faces of the side members A. and limit the
flexure of the toggle joints in one direction but they so limit it only after the
hinges c have passed beyond the line of centres of the hinges a, so that when
the stretcher is expanded as in Figure 1, the strain which tends to draw the side
bars A together tends also to maintain the toggles B B' in position to resist
this strain. The toggles B B' fold in opposite directions and are operated by
meaus of a rod E fixed to the middle member of the toggle B' and passing
freely through the middle member 6 of the toggle B which is provided with a
handle F. By pushing or pulling the handle of rod E and handle F in opposite
directions, the toggles B B are oppositely moved in order to distend or collapse
the stretcher or tree, as the case may be.
The device as represented is suited for stretching the upper leg portions of
trousers or as a tree for breeches. For stretching the lower leg portions of
trowsers, the side members would be outwardly curved, as shewn in dotted lines
at A', to suit the flared form of the bottom of the leg. A separate tree or
stretcher would usually be provided for each leg and in using the device it
would be inserted in the leg of the trowser or breeches in the collapsed condition
and then expanded by pulling on the rod E.

page_text: For convenience of packing, the side bars A might be made in two parts
whose ends would butt together and be connected by a hinge-joint the hinge-joints
being on the face of the side bars and in axial line with one another, a corresponding
hinge-joint being provided in the rod E so as to admit of the stretcher, when
collapsed, being doubled or folded upon itself.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The herein described collapsible stretcher or tree for trowsers, breeches, and
leggings, formed of side bars distended by sets of toggle jointed struts, constructed
and operated substantially as specified.
2nd. A collapsible stretcher or tree for trousers, breeches, and leggings, formed
of side bars distended by adjustable toggle-jointed struts and operated substantially
as described.
3rd. The herein described stretcher or tree for trousers, breeches, and leggings,
constructed substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
י - שוימ
1000
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
W. J. YAPP,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.