Year: 1886

page_text: I, OTIS BASSETT BENTON, of Cleveland, County of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio,
United States of America, Gentleman, 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 improvements in trousers stretchers, forming a stretcher
which is automatic in its action.
The invention consists in the construction combination and arrangement of parts
as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a plain elevation of a complete
stretcher constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the
same. Fig. 3 is a view of the lower clamp and a section of the connecting bar
showing the ratchet in said bar. Fig. 4 is a detail of one end of the bottom
clamping piece showing the spring catch drawn back. Fig. 5 is an inside view of
the opposite end. Fig. 6 is a perspective of a clamping piece detached. Fig. 7 is
a longitudinal section of the coupling in the center of the connecting bar. Fig. 8
is a section of the lower end thereof, and Fig. 9 a view of the clamping piece
showing the journal and boss thereon.
My improved trousers-stretcher consists broadly of two clamps A, A, connected
by a ratchet bar B. Each clamp is formed with a base piece a having a flat,
smooth bearing surface, and a top piece b preferably cam shaped as shown in
Fig. 6, although this piece might, if preferred, be made cylindrical with its points
off the longitudinal center, thus giving an eccentric action to the piece when it is
turned.
The top or clamping piece is designed to be so attached to the base piece as to
be easily and quickly removed and replaced as occasion may require. The means
by which this is accomplished consists in two keepers or plates c, d, firmly fixed to
the respective ends of the base piece, the keeper or plate c being provided with a
counter sunk orifice c¹ and the keeper d having an open slot di and a pivoted
spring pressed hook du to traverse the slot. The top piece b has a pivot or
journal 61 at one end with a boss corresponding to the countersunk orifice c¹ and a
plain. pivot or journal 62 at the other end.
Then when the parts are to be placed in position, the difference in the construc-
tion of the journals effectually prevents mistakes, as the parts can only be united

page_text: when matched as described, and the difference being visible and obvious mistakes
are avoided in advance, and the handling of the stretcher is thereby greatly
facilitated.
Normally the hook d¹¹ is pressed by its spring e against a lug g on the edge of
the slot, but is so shaped that when the journal 6 on the top piece is pressed
down in the slot, it yields and allows the journal to pass, after which it imme-
diately flies back and engaging the journal serves to hold it down in working
position. The whole operation, except the handling of the top piece, is automatic
and instantaneous. For the more convenient control of the hook it is provided
with a knob du
The top piece or cam 6 of the clamps is provided with a handle 6111 to turn said
piece for initial clamping, or when the trousers are to be removed from the
stretcher.
The connecting bar or rod B may be either cylindrical or angular; two pieces are
here shown although it may consist of a single piece. The upper clamp is attached
firmly to the end of the bar in any suitable manner, and the lower clamp is
adjustable thereon by means of ratchet teeth h on the bar and a pawl i on the
keeper which confines the clamp on the bar. This keeper k is provided with
a right angled flange K¹ which constitutes a rest for the foot when the trousers
have been placed in the clamps and the process of stretching is to be performed.
A considerable power is required to give the trousers the necessary tension, the
foot-rest or its equivalent for applying the power is indispensable, but with it and
a self-locking pawl or dog for taking up the movement of the clamp, the process is
rendered easy and simple and takes but a moment for its complete performance.
Thus suppose the stretcher to be laid on a table or on the floor or other even
surface, with the top clamping pieces removed; the trousers being placed in the
stretcher the top pieces are sprung into position and turned on their axes by
means of the handle 6111 until they clamp and hold the trousers. This completes
the initial clamping.
The stretcher is then ready to be handled and to apply the tension through the
foot piece K¹. If the initial clamping has been just sufficient to prevent the
trousers from slipping in the clamps, it is enough, as the clamping thus begun is
taken up by the trousers themselves when put under tension, and the tightness of
the clamp thereafter is measured by the degree of the tension and is always
sufficient, whatever the strain, to hold the trousers firmly between the clamps.
If desired, the clamping may be completed originally by hand, but there is no
need of this nor of being particular about this part of the work, if the clamping
is tight enough to stand stretching. A covering of rubber or felt on the top
clamping piece improves its action.
It is of course to be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular
arrangement shown and described of the pawl and ratchet mechanism, as, obviously,
it may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. Nor do
I confine myself to the exact details of construction shown in the other parts of
the stretcher,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that, what
I claim is:
1.) In a trousers stretcher, a clamp consisting of a plain base piece and a top
piece removably secured to the base piece and having journals, on which it is adapted
to turn, when the clamping is effected, substantially as set forth.
2.) In a trousers stretcher a pair of clamps, in combination with a connecting
bar and pawl and ratchet mechanism for adjusting one of the clamps on the bar,
substantially as set forth.
3.) In a trousers stretcher, pawl and ratchet mechanism for adjusting the clamps
in relation to each other and a foot rest on one of the clamps for depressing it,
substantially as set forth.

page_text: 4.) In a trousers stretcher a clamping piece provided with a handle to rotate
said piece on its axis, substantially as set forth.
5.) In a clamp for a trousers stretcher, a base piece provided at one end with
a keeper having a countersunk orifice and at the other with a keeper having a
spring catch, in combination with a top piece having a journal with a boss at one
end and a plain journal at the other, substantially as set forth.
6.) In a clamp for a trousers stretcher a base piece provided with a keeper
having an open slot and a stop, a hook catch pivoted on the side of the keeper and
a spring to hold the catch normally across the open slot and against the stop, in
combination with a top piece having a journal which rests in said keeper, substan-
tially as set forth.