Improvements in Trouser and other Garment Stretchers.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 28th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 28th Jan., 1887.
TRUVIDIONAL DE MULTICATION.
Improvements in Trouser and other Garment Stretchers.
We, JOEL CADBURY of Gt. Hampton Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer and JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON of Spencer Street Bir-
mingham, aforesaid, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TROUSER AND OTHER GARMENT STRETCHERS," to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to that class of trouser stretchers in which two bars
are jointed at or about their middles, after the manner of a knee lever or rule joint.
The stretching or imparting of that longitudinal strain to a garment which is necessary
for the bringing of a garment to its true or original shape, is effected by the
straightening out of the jointed bars, after they have been placed in position when
at an obtuse angle.
Our invention consists first in improvements in the stretcher bar; and secondly, in
the clamping arrangement or end bars which hold the ends or parts of a garment
while being stretched.
The stretcher part consists of two lengths or rods jointed respectively at and near
their inner ends that is, a cross pin or joint centre passes through or near the inner
end of one bar, and through the other bar at a considerable distance from its inner
end, so as to form a prolongation or extension of the last named bar from its joini
centre: this prolongation forms the means, whereby the straightening out, and fixing
of the rods when straightened out is effected.
The rod or length with a prolongation beyond the joint, consists of a plain length,
while the other rod or length consists of two parallel lengths closed at bottom, and
divided by a space equal to the breadth of the other rod; so that when the stretcher
bar is not in use, it is simply folded up with the one part between the parallel strips of
the other part.
The terminal ends of the stretcher bar are reduced in breadth, which fit into socket
or bracket eyes fixed upon the respective top and bottom clamping devices.
The top and bottom clamping devices consist respectively of two folding bars
having a link joint at one end, (when the bars are folded or lie one upon another)
DO1

page_text: and a link or securing affixing device at the other end; that is, the two inner ends
when the bars are opened out, are connected together by a link jointed to the two
bars by a cross pin.
The fixing or securing device of the other end, consists of a link secured to the
lower bar by a cross pin, upon which the link freely turns. The other end of the link
which comes a little higher than the top bar, is connected with the back end of a
lever, which turns upon, or within the eye of the link, as a fulcrum centre. The said
hack end of the lever is enlarged into a cam or excentric, so as to form a heel which
presses upon a plate at the fastening end of the top bar. This end of the top bar is
slotted, so as to bring the foot or cam part of the lever, inwardly upon the pressure
plate and when the lever is in its fastened position, with its underside lying in juxta
position with the top bar, the lever lies below the centre upon which it turns, thereby
fixing the bars in their clamped positions.
Rubber or felt facings or part facings may be disposed on the insides of the bars, to
afford a better grip on the objects clamped.
In using the stretcher, place the extremities of a garment between the clamping
bars, then bring the fastening link into the slot in the end of the top bar, when the
lever at its end is vertical, or nearly vertical, then depress the lever to the plane of
the top bar, with its heel part (during its change of position) forcibly pressing itself
upon its top, which on passing below its centre of motion, retains itself, and the
clamping bars in position.
The ends of the stretcher bar are then placed within the respective sockets on the
tops of the clamping bars, when the jointed rods of the stretcher bar make an obtuse
angle with each other; and as the two rods are made to approach the same plane, or
to straighten out, so their terminal ends become extended, and the garment stretched.
The jointed rods of the stretcher bar are fixed either by a turn or catch coming
over the extension before referred to, or hy an adjustable sliding loop or ring, which
embraces the two rods below the joint upon which they turn.
The adjustable sliding loop or ring may be made in the form of a spring that may
be made to pull down the rod extension, and thereby take up any slack that may be
required after the initial stretching. Thus the spring is made to automatically
straighten out the limbs forming the stretcher bar.
Longitudinal distension of the stretcher bar, may be effected by making the joint
sliding, and interposing a coiled spring between the two parts.
Instead of a single jointed stretcher bar as described, a double stretcher bar may be
employed, in which two of the stretcher bars are jointed together at their extreme ends,
with an opening out screw placed between the middle joints, and which said screw is
free at one end, and capable of turning on a pin at the other. The straightening out
of the bars is accomplished by a fly nut or other like expedient, turning on the end of
the screw.
JOEL CADBURY.
JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham,
Agent to the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trouser and other Garment Stretchers.
We, JOEL CADBURY of Great Hampton Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, and JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON of Spencer Street Bir-
mingham aforesaid Manufacturer, 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 :-
Our invention has reference to that class of trouser stretchers in which two bars
are jointed at or about their middles, after the manner of a knee lever or rule joint.
The stretching or imparting of that longitudinal strain to a garment, which is necessary
for the bringing of a garment to its true or original shape, is effected by the
straightening out of the jointed bars, after they have been placed in position when at
an obtuse angle.
Our invention consists first in improvements in the stretcher bar; and secondly, in
the clamping arrangement or end bars, which hold the ends or parts of a garment,
while being stretched.
The stretcher bar consists of two lengths or rods jointed respectively at or near
their inner ends; that is, a cross pin or joint centre passes through or near the inner
end of one bar, and through the other bar at a considerable distance from its inner
end, so as to form a prolongation or extension of the last named bar from its joint
centre; this prolongation, forms the means, whereby the straightening out, and
fixing of the rods when straightened out is effected.
The rod or length with a prolongation beyond the joint, consists of a plain length,
while the other rod or length, consists of two parallel lengths closed at bottom, and
divided by a space equal to the breadth of the other rod; so that when the stretcher
bar is not in use, it is simply folded up with the one part between the parallel strips of
the other part.
or
The terminal ends of the stretcher bar are reduced in breadth, which fit into socket
bracket eyes, fixed upon the respective top and bottom clamping devices.
The top and bottom clamping devices, consist respectively of two folding bars,
having a link joint at one end (when the bars are folded or lie one upon another) and
a link or securing or affixing device at the other end; that is, the two inner ends
when the bars are opened out, are connected together by a link jointed to the two bars
by a cross pin.
The fixing or securing device at the other end, consists of a link secured to the
lower bar by a cross pin, upon which the link freely turns. The other end of the link
which comes a little higher than the top bar, is connected with the back end of a
lever, which turns upon, or within the eye of the link as a fulcrum or centre... The
said back end of the lever is enlarged into a cam or excentric end, so as to form a heel
which presses upon a plate at the fastening end of the top bar. This end of the top
bar may be slotted, so as to bring the foot or cam part of the lever, inwardly upon the
pressure plate; and when the lever is in its fastened position, with its underside lying
in juxtaposition with the top bar, the lever lies below the centre upon which it turns,
thereby fixing the bars in either clamped positions.

page_text: Rubber or felt facings or part facings, may be disposed on the insides of the bars,
to afford a better grip on the objects clamped.
In using the stretcher, place the extremities of a garment between the clamping
bars, then bring the fastening link over the ends of the clamping bars, (when the
lever at its end, is vertical, or nearly vertical) then depress the lever to the plane of
the top bar, with its heel part (during its change of position) forcibly pressing itself
upon its top, which on passing below its centre of motion, retains itself, and the
clamping bars in position.
The ends of the stretcher bar are then placed within the respective sockets on the
tops of the clamping bars, when the jointed rods of the stretcher bar, make an obtuse
angle with each other; and as the two rods are made to approach the same plane, or
to straighten-out, so their terminal ends become extended, and the garment stretched.
The jointed rods of the stretcher bars are fixed either by a cross pin or a turn or
catch coming over the extension before referred to, or by an adjustable sliding loop
or ring, which embraces the two rods below the joint upon which they turn.
The adjustable sliding loop or ring, may be made in the form of a spring that may
be made to pull down the rod extension, and thereby take up any slack that may be
required after the initial stretching. Thus the spring is made to automatically
straighten out the limbs forming the stretcher bar.
Longitudinal distension of the stretcher bar, may be effected by making the joint
sliding, and interposing a coiled spring between the two parts.
Instead of a single jointed stretcher bar as described, a double stretcher bar may be
employed, in which two of the stretcher bars are jointed together at their extreme
ends, with an opening out screw placed between the middle joints, and which said
screw is free at one end, and capable of turning on a pin at the other. The
straightening out of the bars is accomplished by a fly nut or other like expedient
turning on the end of the screw.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawing, the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation, partly in vertical section, a trouser stretcher
constructed according to my invention. Figure 2 represents a cross section of the
same upon the dotted lines A B. Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section
through CD. figure 1. Figure 4 represents the position which the stretcher bars
assume, on being placed in position for stretching. Figure 5 represents (upon a
larger scale) one end of one of the stretcher bars in section. Figure 6 represents the
same in elevation, but with the affixing device removed.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of
the drawing.
a is the stretcher bar, consisting of two lengths or bars jointed respectively at or
near their inner ends, and which said bars are jointed at a² by a cross pin.
.
The top bar is made up of two parallel bars, or a fork like bar, divided by a space,
equal to the breadth of the single lower bar, and wherein the single lower bar lies
when not in use. The said lower bar, has at its jointed end a prolongation or
extension a³, through which a pin or cotter & passes, for securing the said bars in the
same straight line, or in the same plane. c is a top clamping bar, and d is a lower
clamping bar, each consisting essentially of two folding top and bottom folding bars,
between which, the extremities or other parts of a garment to be stretched, is gripped;
and upon their inner faces; (or one of them) pads or rubber facings e are disposed,
which ensure the garment or parts of the garment being held. are joint or hinge
loops, upon which the bars turn outwardly; and which said loops are connected to
the upper and under bars, by plates f². is a similar loop, but only connected to the
lower bar, leaving the eye or opening in the loop free to pass over the ends of the
bars, and so secure them together. is a lever connected to the top of the loop.
This lever has a long and short arm, or heel; marked respectively h¹³, so that after
a garment has been placed in position between the clamping bars, the loop attached to
the lever is simply passed over their ends, and the levers then turned down, until it
passes the centre, which forcibly compresses the bars together, with the garment

page_text: between them. ii are sockets on top faces of the upper and lower clamping bars,
wherein the ends a' a³ of the stretcher bar or bars take.
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. In a trouser stretcher bar, consisting of two jointed bars, one of which is
made fork like, or two parallel bars divided by a space, equal to the breadth of the
other bar, and which said bars, or one of them, is or are prolonged, or extended to a
distance beyond the joint centre; and through the prolonged part of the one, and
through the bar or bars of the other (below the joint) a pin, loop or other fastening
expedient, passes or embraces, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. Providing the inside faces of the clamping bars with rubber, felt, or
other yielding pads or facings e; substantially as and for the purpose herein described
and set forth.
Thirdly. The combination of the joint loop, with the plates 2, and inner rounded
ends of the bars, in proximity to the loops, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly, Drawing together, and securing, the clamping top and bottom bars of
trouser stretchers, by a jointed loop g', carrying at its top a lever h, with a long and
short arm or heel part ²; and which heel part presses upon the top of the bar or
plate, on the lever being placed or turned into position for clamping. The parts
being arranged, combined and operating in the manner and for the purpose as
described and set forth.
JOEL CADBURY.
JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON.