US2079726A

US2079726A - Garment stretcher

Info

Publication number: US2079726A
Application number: US82360A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank L Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-05-28
Filing date: 1936-05-28
Publication date: 1937-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 1954-05-11

Description

May ll, 1937.` F. L. WILSON GARMENT STRETCHER Filed May 28, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor ZZMSWH Attorneys May ll, 1937. F. L. WILSON GARMENT STRETCHER Filed May 28, 1956 4 SheeS-SheefI 2 I t l Inventor Z.]4fz7s'alz/ Attorneys May 1l, 1937. F, 1 WILSON GARMENT STRETCHER Filed May 28, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 .ialnlz/ Inventor Attorneys May 11, 1937. F. L. WILSON 2,079,726

GARMENT STRETCHER Filed May 28, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Inventor 7'73' 5.

j ZSaIz/-f A orneys Patented 4May 1l, 1937 UNITED STATES GARMENT` Frank L. Wilson,

Application May l28,

1 Claim.

The present invention pertains to new and useful improvements in garment ystretchers and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a machine of this character embodying a novel construction,

combination and arrangement whereby the garment may be subjected to the action of steam to facilitate the stretching thereof, the invention further including steam heating means for dry- '10 ing the garment after said garment has been stretched.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a machine of the aforementioned character embodying novel means through the medium of which a garment may be expeditiously and accurately stretched to the desired size.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described comprising a plurality of stretching bars, together with novel means for actuating said stretching bars.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a garment stretcher including a slidably and yieldingly mounted removable hanger for supporting the garments on the stretching bars. A

Other objects of the invention are to provide a garment stretcher of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and whereinz- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a garment stretcher constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure I2 is a View in front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section through 4r, the housing on the upper portion of the machine showing, in side elevation, the lazy tongs operating mechanism.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the lower portion of the machine. t

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the lower portion of the machine.

Figure 6 is a detail view in elevation of the lazy tongs guide rod.

Figure 7 is a view in horizontal section, taken 5:, substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a detail view in top plan, showing the means for supporting the clamping bars or jaws for substantially universal swinging movement, the cap being removed.

Figure 9 is a View in vertical section through,

STRETCHER Raymondville, Tex.

1936, Serial N0. 82,360

an intermediate portion of one of bars.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view through an intermediate portion of one of the stretching bars, taken at right angles to Figure 9.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises an annular base I from which a supporting frame 2 rises. Mounted on the supporting frame 2 and spaced above the base I is an annular casing 3. The iront portion of the casing 3 is split, as at 4, and mounted in said split 4 is a vertical bar 5. Pivotally mounted on the supporting frame 2 are foot levers 6 and 'I which are operable ln the split 4 on opposite sides of the bar 5. Vertically elongated plates 8 are mounted on the casing 3 adjacent the split 4, said plates being graduated and having notches 9 on their inner edges engageable by the foot levers 6 and 'I for releasably securing said foot levers in adjusted position. Mounted in the casing 3 is an annular perforated steam spray I0 which is connected with a steam supply pipe Il, said spray I0 being controlled by a suitable valve I2. Also mounted in the casing 3 and connected to the supply pipe II is a heating drum I3 which is provided with a drain valve I4.

. In the upper portion of the frame 2 are radial arms I5 on the inner ends of which a vertical sleeve I6 is mounted. Adjustably mounted in the sleeve I6 is a tubular post which is designated generally by the reference numeral Il; The post I1 is secured in adjusted position by aset screw y I8. The post I1 comprises a plurality of sections which are connected by couplings I9 to 24, inclusive. Mounted on the lower section of the tubular post I1, above the sleeve I6, is a sleeve 25, said sleeve being vertically adjustable and secured in adjusted postition by an elongated set screw 26. Radiating from the sleeve 25 are arms 21 on the outer ends of which a covered substantially oval frame 28 is mounted. Projecting from one end of the frame 28 is a bracket 29 on which a multiple socket 3D is hingedly mounted, as at 3I. Mounted for swinging movement on the member 30 are clamping arms 32 which are also covered and which are adapted to coact with the substantially oval frame 28 for securing the lower end portion of the garment. The pivoted end portions of the clamps 32 include headed Shanks 33 (see Figure 8) mounted in the multiple socket member 30. A stop 34 is provided on the bracket 29 for limiting the swinging movement on the multiple socket member 30 toward the frame 28. A coil spring 35 permanently connects the pivoted end portions of the clamps 32. The free end portions of the clamps 32 are detachably connected by a coil spring 36 which is engageable with a hook 31. Also mounted on the the stretching fi U ' sleeve 25 is a substantially U-shaped guide 38 provided with a set screw 39 the purpose of which willbe presently set forth.

Collars 40 and 4I are slidably mounted on the tubular post I1 above and below the coupling 23. Pivotally mounted on the collars 40 and 4I are lazy tongs 42. Also slidably mounted on the post I1, above and below the coupling 20, are collars 43 and 44 having mounted thereon lazy tongs 45. Coil springs 46 are mounted on the post I1 and engaged with the

slidable collars

40, 4|, 43 and 44 for yieldingly urging the

lazy tongs

42 and 45 toward 'retracted position. Pulleys 46 are connected to theslidable collars 40 and 4I and trained around said pulleys are

chains

41 and 48.

One end of the

chains

41 and 48 is connected to the coupling 23. The other end of the chain 48 is connected to the chain 41 at an intermediate point and the other end of said chain 41 is adjustably connected to the foot lever 6 through the medium of a hook 49. Pulleys 50 are mounted on the slidable collars 43 and 44 and trained thereon are chains 5I and 52 which are connected, at one end, to the coupling 20. The other end of the chain 52 is connected to the chain 5I at an intermediate point and the other end of said chain 5I is adjustably connected to the foot lever 1' by a hook 53. Side stretching bars 54 are mounted on the free ends of the

lazy tongs

42 and 45, links 55 being interposed between said y stretching bars and the lower lazy tongs 45.

As best seen in Figures 3 and '7 of the drawings, rods 56 project horizontally from the

couplings

20 and 23 and mounted on the outer end portions 7 of said rods is a substantially cylindrical housing 51. The housing 51 is open at its lower end and closed at its upper end, as'at 58. It will be noted that the housing 51 encloses the lazy tongs operating mechanism,`such as the

slides

46, 4I, 43 and 44, the coil springs 46, etc. Further, the housing 51 is provided with vertical slots 59 in which the

lazy tongs

42 and 45 are operable. Extending between the rods 56 on one side of the post I 1 is a guide rod 60 which is engaged between pairs of ears 6I which project from the slidable collars 4| and 43. The reference numeral 62 designates a removable garment hanger which is slidably mounted on the upper end por- .tion of the post I1 above the housing 51. A coil spring 63 yieldingly supports the hanger 62, said coil spring resting on the coupling 24.

The rods 56 project through the housing 51 and mounted on the outer ends thereof are brackets 64 on which front and back bars 65 and 66. respectively. are mounted. The brackets 64 include hinges 61 to permit swinging-move ment of the

bars

65 and 66. It may be well to here state that the

bars

54, 65 and 66 are of suitable resilient material. Further, these bars comprise upper and lower

metallic strips

68 and 69, respectively, which are riveted together and which are enclosed in a covering 'I0 of suitable naterial. The reference numeral 12 designates.

a chain having its upper end connected to the post I1 by a hook 13. The lower end of the chain the frame 28 secured in the desired position on the post Il, the lower portion'of the garment is secured vto said frame by the clamps 32. The valve I2 may then be opened for the purpose of discharging steam upwardly from the annular spray head I0 into the garment. The reference numeral 14 designates a iiexible conduit for the steam having its upper end secured to the frame 28 and its lower end secured to the casing 3. To move the side stretching bars 54 outwardly the foot levers 6 and 1 are swung downwardly and by observing the graduations on the plates 8 the garment may be conveniently and accurately stretched to the desired size. Attention is here invited to the fact that the construction and arrangement is such that the upper and lower

lazy tongs

42 and 45 may be independently actuated.

Further, the stretching bars 54, 65 and 66 are shape of the garment. For example, the lower steel strips 69 are comparatively stiil' to expand the lower portion of the garment below the hips to its fullest extent. After the stretching operation has been completed the valve I2 is closed to shut oif the steam from the spray head I0 but the garment is permitted to remain on the machine for a length of time suicient to be dried by heat from the steam drum or cylinder I3. By means of the valve I4 condensation may be conveniently drained from the drum or cylinder I3.v After being thus dried the garment may be removed from the machine by releasing the clamps 32, retracting the bars 54 and then lifting the hanger 62 off the post I1.

It is believed that the many advantages of a garment stretcher constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the machine is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:-

A garment stretcher of the class described, comprising, in combination, a base, a supporting structure mounted on said base, a casing mounted on sa-d supporting structure, a pair of foot levers plvotally mounted on the supporting structure, the casing having a vertical opening therein accommodating the foot levers, means on the casing engageable by the foot levers for releasably securing said foot levers in adjusted position, a vertical post mounted on the supporting structure, a horizontal frame adjustably mounted on the post, a iiexible conduit extending between said frame and the casing, lazy tongs mounted on the post, means operatively connecting certain of the lazy tongs to one of the levers for actuation thereby, means operatively connecting the other of said lazy tongs to the other lever for actuation thereby, bars for stretching a garment mounted on the lazy tongs, clamps for detachably securing the lower portion of the garment to the frame, means in the casing for discharging steam upwardly through the exible conduit into the garment, a steam drum mounted in the casing for heating and drying the garment, and a slidable hanger for the garment yieldingly mounted on the upper end portion of the post.

FRANK L. WILSON.