US2119604A - Garment blocking and stretching form - Google Patents

Description

June 7, 1938.

A. P. SHEPHERD GARMENT BLOCKING AND STRETCHING FORM Filed May 22, 1935 OoooLouooowaoo Patented June 7, 1938 GARMENT BLOCKING AND STRETCHING FORM Ann P. Shepherd, Boston, Mass. Application nayzz, 1935, Serial No. 22,853

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to collapsible forms for blocking and stretching articles of wearing apparel, and more particularly to forms of this character designed for the correct blocking and forming of knitted articles in process of drying.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the correct blocking of knitted articles such as womens sweaters, skirts and the like requires both skill and care, as such articles are normally during the drying process carefully pinned upon a flat surface in accordance with a previously formed paper pattern or the like. Necessarily the accurate sizing and formation of the articles depends upon the accuracy with which they are blocked and the frequency with which the pins or similar means are inserted.

The object of the present invention is to produce a relatively simple and efiicient form of collapsible character which may be shaped into accurate conformity with any desired pattern, and which when so adjusted can be employed for repeated blocking of the same article until a different shape or size is desired.

In accordance with this and other objects, I have produced a form which may be readily collapsed when not in use, which permits convenient insertion within the article to be blocked, distending it to the exact form and size required. and which in the case of a sweater retains not only the shoulders and body portions, but in addition the arm sizes. If necessary, an additional portion of the form may be connected for the stretching of a skirt in the same operation. The form has capacity for a wide variation in size, and in addition is articulated throughout opposite edge portions to impart the desired shaping or curvature to the garment in process of drying.

Essentially the form comprises a collapsible skeleton supported from a centrally disposed and generally rigid longitudinal. The longitudinal member is provided at spaced intervals with cross members which may be locked thereto in adjustable relationship, and which engage and support at their outer ends sections of articulated side members which through adjustment of the cross members may be given any desired contour through proper location of the joints. When not in use, the articulated side members may be partially collapsed through folding in of the cross members about their connections with the longitudinal. v

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 represents a plan of the collapsible form with the arm,

sizes attached thereto, but without a garment thereover; Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating one of the sleeve stretchers; and Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating a section of the longitudinal member.

Referring particularly to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, it will be observed that the form comprises essentially a longitudinal H], which virtually forms the backbone of the skeleton, and which may consist of two generally flat metallic strips H and i2 retained in spaced relation by spacer blocks l3. This longitudinal is provided at intervals with spring detents l6, each consisting of a fiat leaf spring riveted at I6 and carrying a. locking pin l8 at its free end, which is received in openings l9 formed in the strips, and is designed to engage and retain the diagonal 'cross members 29' through reception in one of the openings 22 formed therein.

By lifting, the detent the diagonals 20 may be moved laterally with relation to the longitudinal til until the desired conformation of the form is obtained, and thereafter locked by the detent in adjusted position. Each of the diagonals is connected at its outer end to a pivot joint 24 which forms the juncture between two sections 26 of a side member. As indicated in Fig. 1, each side member consists of four sections of such a length as to give the proper articulation to the side member as a whole, and permit its conformation to be changed in accordance with the form to be given the article. By proper adjustment of each set of diagonal members with respect to each other set, any desired conformation of the side members within reason may be obtained. Toadjust the size of the form as a whole it will benoted that the lower set of diagonals 2B are connected with rods 30 which in turn are both connected at their lower ends to a sliding collar 32, this collar having capacity for sliding movement on the longitudinal and being retained in any adjusted position by a pin 34, which engages with one of a series of openings 36 formed in the lower end of the longitudinal. Not only does thev movement of this collar with its connected rods adjust all of the members in a manner to narrow or widen the form, but additional movement of the collar tends to collapseythe form to facilitate its reception within the garment.

The upper end of the form is provided with an attaching hook 38 for suspending it during use, and the lower end of the form may be provided with a stretcher bar 46 consisting of two members 62 sliding upon one another. This extensible bar is pinned at opposite ends through the members as to the side rods in a position determined by with a series of holding pins 2 I V 7 any one of the openings 46. 7' The bar is provided 48 which engage the 7 lower edge of the garment and maintain it in- 1 proper lengthwise relationship.

" spreader 52, and engaged 'with-the'sections at the 1 'nection between the end of zone of the sleeve rods:

and an extension 56 formed on the outer vend of l the upper'diagonal members 20, as indicated in Fig. 1. It will be evidentthat with this construe-c 20 tion; the sleevestretchers are adjustable both as After reception'of the form w1thin the" garment,

sleeve stretchersindicated generally in Fig.1 and more'particularly in Fig. 2, may be inserted in the sleeves and. engage with the main portion of the form. j a

i As indicated Fig. eachlstretcher comprises,

two side rods 56 and 5 Ladjustably held 'in separated'position at the'outer end by a'telescoping inner ends by ahook member 53 received inone of the openings'flyand by a telescoping conto length andrwidth.

' Ifgitis desired' to stretch a skirt at thejsarne time, the lower sections 26 of the side 'cmembers 7 may have connected thereto extensible sides ,60,

indicated in dot and dash lines, which are con- 7 nected with the openings 46 and are adjustable lengthwise to properly receive and stretch a connected skirt portion;

'- What is claimed is:

' A blocking and stretching form comprising al frame members each consisting of a pluralitybf pivotally connected and relatively short sections, a series of'cross arms connecting the articulated frame members with the longitudinal support at each pivoted. connection of the frame members; a spring detent for fixedly pinning, each set of cross arms to the longitudinal support, the crossarmsj "longitudinal support, opposite sets of articulated being perforated to provide individual lengthwise V adjustment and vary and means for changing the diagonal relationship of the cross arms simultaneously'to' adjust" toward'and from' the articulated frame members the support without essentially changing the general contour of the frame members. r

7' Ami P. SHEPHERD.

the contour of the form,

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