GB409114A - Improvements in garment stretchers - Google Patents

Abstract

409,114. Garment stretchers. JOHNSTON, H. A., 1, Silver Birch Avenue, Toronto, Canada. March 6, 1933, No. 6739. Convention date, Dec. 30, 1932. [Class 141.] A device for stretching and reshaping garments comprises a pair of side bars adapted to be fitted within the garment, mechanism, on which the bars are removably carried, for separating them to stretch the garment transversely, and means for securing the bars in their adjusted position before removal from the mechanism. To stretch the garment longitudinally, the bottom thereof may be secured to a band actuated by a pull bar which lies across and may be clamped to the side bars. The sleeves of the garment are fitted on pairs of adjustable sleeve bars carried by the side bars. When the stretching is completed, the pull bar is clamped to the side bars, and the other ends of the side bars and the sleeve bars are also retained in their expanded positions, whereupon the expansible device is removed from the expanding mechanism. In one form, each shaped side bar 1 is provided with a series of holes 1 f to receive one end of a pin 2<a> on the upper sleeve bar 2. The other end of this pin is received in one of a series of holes 3<a> in the lower sleeve bar 3, and a locking pin 5 on the top sleeve bar 2 engages one of the holes 1f. The lower portions of the bars 1 are encircled by a band 4 faced with carding cloth 6, this band co-operating with a frame 7 to grip the skirt of the garment. To the band 4 and frame 7 are secured U-shaped yokes 8 embracing a pull-bar 9, whereby the garment is stretched longitudinally. Each end of each side-bar 1 is moved by a studded slide 10 carried on nuts threaded on the right or lefthanded thread of shafts provided with crank handles 12<c>. The nuts are held from rotation by slotted tubes carried by the shafts. The pull-bar 9 is similarly actuated. The lower ends of the side bars 1 are held as adjusted by clamping the pull-bar 9 thereto, while the upper ends are similarly clamped to a hanger. The outer ends of the sleeve bars are adjusted on the perforated parts 18, and are then clamped together. Spring clips provided at the inner end with carding cloth are used to hold the sleeves against longitudinal movement. The side bars, which are of metal faced with wood, may be provided with waist adapters. Bands 4 of different sizes are provided. The band may be grooved, the garment being clamped therein by spring clips, a tongued bar or an elastic retainer. For stretching trousers, two pairs of side-bars may be used, to be held in the adjusted position by clips and by H-bars with clamps. In stretching a skirt, the waist is held by carding cloth. For shaping a coat, flexible auxiliary means are attached to the side-bars, e.g. means comprising a plurality of connected and resiliently mounted sections of sheet steel. Cloth provided with a central slide fastener is basted to the front opening of the coat. In other forms, the pairs of bars are moved by toggle links.