US2307256A - Garment blocking form - Google Patents

Description

Ja n.5, 1943. M. a YBU'RWELL 2,307,256

GARMENT BLOCKING FORM Filed 0a. 14, 194p 2 Sheets- 811602 1 .lYtUy Etizab m Burn elk, 1N VENT OR.

Jan. '5, 1943. v QE, BUR ELL 2,307,256 1 eAnMnT'BLocxmc FORM- Filed Oct 14, 1940 2 sheets sheet 2 17/01 llizdbeth, Bur-new INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PArsr GABMENT BLOCKING FORM Mary Elizabeth Burwell, Denver, 0010. Application October 14, 1940, Serial No. 361,050

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to knock-down blocking forms for womens garments which require shaping during the drying thereof after washing or shaping after dry cleaning, and more particularly to a form of the general type dis: closed in my Patent Number 2,213,975, granted September 10, 1940, whose ready adaptability to one or two piece garments is also a feature of the present invention.

The present garment form, while retaining the features of advantage inherent in my patented construction,

embodies many improvements thereover and over other known garment forms, with the primary purpose in mind to render the form more practical and satisfactory, not only from the standpoint of users among the general public, but also among the workers in laundries, cleaning establishments and the like, where -many such garment forms may be in constant -be better understood and more fully appreciated by a consideration of the following description in detail, and by reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the waist section of the improved garment form, showing one sleeve form removed as in the placing of the garment on the form.

' Figure 1a is a similar View of the sleeve form removed from the waist form of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is an enlargeddetail perspective View of one of the adjustable telescoping tube connections used at various points in the connections of the several portions of the garment form, showing the catch released.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the parts of 'Figure 2 showing the catch engaged.

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged detail perspective views complementary to one another and respectively showing an under-arm side portion of the waist form with its keeper, and a portion of the respective sleeve form with its spring catch for engaging the keeper.

' Figure 6 is a front elevation of the skirt form icomplete.

Figure 7 is an'enlarged detail perspective view of the connector associated with the skirt form for connecting the same in readily detachable relation to the waist form in the blocking of onepiece garments, and

Figure 8 is a similar view of one of the clasping hangers with which the waist and skirt forms are each equipped to insure against accidental displacement from drying frames.

Referring now to the above figures and initially to the waist form of Figures 1, 1a,, 4 and 5, it may be said to consist generally of a central vertical brace from which cross arms extend at approximately the under arm andwaist lines of a garment, together with a lower cross arm whereby the lower portions of a blouse may be either flared or left like the waist line. It also includes two sleeve forms, each of which is readily attachable to, and removable from, the body portion of the waist form and, like the latter, includes certain sections of a readily flexible nature. These flexible sections'I have shown in the nature of coiled springs, the coils of which are normally in contact with one another, which lend themselves readily to substantially permanent connection at their ends, by brazing, welding, soldering, screwing, and the like, to the ends of more rigid tubular members which make up the remaining portions of the forms. In terming these sections or members I do not, however, desire to be limited to coiled springs, as in some instances I may desire to utilize other suitably bodied flexible tubing in place of the springs.

In any event, the above mentioned sections,portions or members; hereinafter termed flexible, are intended to be substantially more flexible and adaptable to ready yielding, bending, and shaping than the remaining tubular sections, portions, or members formed of substantially imperforate or rigid tubing, which may be of metal or any plastic or like material suitable for the purpose.

The central vertical brace of the waist form includes an upper tubular member 25 whose lower end telescopes the upstanding arm of a four-armed fitting 26 and whose upper end carries a horizontal cross piece or neck bar 21 having at its outer ends downwardly and outwardly curved extensions 21a for the reception of flexible shoulder members 23.

On the horizontal arms of the fitting 26 are telescoped the inner ends of 'two oppositely,.outwardly projecting bust tubes 29 which together form the under-arm cross arm, each having at its outer end a short depending angular extension 30 to the lower end of which a flexible tube 3| is connectedt'o freely depend.therefrom.. Thus each tube 29 with its nipple 30 forms a right angle, and, as seen in Figure 4, each tube 29 has an upwardly opening aperture l3 and a laterally opening aperture 4, for a purpose which will presently appear.

The lower arm of fitting 26 receives in telescoping relation thereon the upper end of a lower tubular member 32. Member 32 has in termediate its ends laterally oppositely outstanding tubes 33 on which are telescoped waist line tubes 34 having at their outer ends rings 35 movably encircling the flexible side members 36, into the upper portions of which the flexible tubes 3| freely depend.

The lower end of the lower tubular member 32 telescopes a tube 31 having at its lower end lateral branches 38. On these branches flexible tubes 40 are connected by means, of nipples 39. The outer ends of tubes 40 are connected to angles 4| to which are also connected the lower ends of the flexible side members 36.

There are thus provided points of adjustment for increasing the waist form lengthwise and crosswise, at the four arms of the fitting 26, the two lateral branches 33 of the lower tubular member 32, and at tube 31 and its two lateral branches 38. At each of these points of adjustment the inner and outer tubes are provided with the same adjustment means as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This is also true of the upper nipples 42 of the flexible side members 36, which nipples are adjustable on the depending angular extensions 30 of the bust tubes 29.

In Figures 2 and 3 I have shown a typical adjustable connection A wherein the inner telescoping tube is provided with a lengthwise groove 6, in which, at equidistant, measured, and preferably calibrated points, are circular indentations or recesses 5 to receive a ball-like projection 4 on the free end of a spring arm 3. This spring arm 3 is fixed at its opposite end in connection with a band around the outer telescoping tube remote from its end. The projection 4 is disposed to extend through an opening in the wall of the outer tube so as to ride in the groove 6 and drop into the successive recesses 5, from which it is readily yieldable except when a locking collar 2, which slidably surrounds the outer tube and spring arm 3, is shifted to the free end of the spring. The released position of collar 2 is shown in Figure 2 and the locked position thereof is shown in Figure 3. It will be understood that an adjustable connection A of this character is used whenever so indicated in the other figures.

With the body of the waist form, which is thus adjustable as to all measurements both lengthwise and crosswise, two sleeve forms are utilized. Each of these sleeve forms consists of two oppositely disposed relatively adjustable U-shaped sections, the side bars or members 43 of the lower outer section partially telescoping into the side bars or members 44 of the upper inner section with connecting adjustments A. The outer cross piece preferably has a short flexible section 45 therein facilitating the changing angle of its side members 43 in lengthwise adjustment of the sleeve form.

Moreover, the upper inner section of each sleeve form has at its inner or shoulder crossbar telescopingly adjustable tubes 46 and 41, with an adjustable connection A, and the latter of which has, at the outer side of the sleeve form, a ring 48, movably encircling its flexible shoulder member 28. The member 28 extends from the outer side member 44 while the tube 46 forms a rigid angle with the inner side member 44 and at this angle is a laterally projecting spring catch l5 shown in Figure 5.

The spring catch of Figure 5 is adapted to enter the laterally opening aperture I4 of the body section, previously mentioned, and has an upstanding projection |6 which, when the free end 11 is pressed toward tube 46, may move inwardly through aperture I4 and extend into aperture |3 to thus releasably connect the sleeve form to the waist body. Each sleeve form may thus be readily attached to its respective side of the waist form body by thus attaching the spring catch and adjustably associating the free end of the flexible shoulder member 28 with the neck extension 27a. The spring catch |5 serves to hold the sleeve form at an angle with respect to the waist body and thus adjustment of the connection A at the upper end of the flexible shoulder member 28 serves to regulate its curvature in use.

Referring now to Figure 6, the skirt form includes a central lengthwise brace consisting of an elongated tubular brace member 50 having at an approximately central point lateral branches 5|. Similar lateral branches 52 at the upper end of brace 50 form a curved waist line bar upon which are telescopingly adjustable waist line tubes 53 having angular extensions 54 at their outer ends. These tubes are adjustably connected to bars 52 by connections A, and to their outer angular extensions 54 are connected the upper ends of flexible side or hip members 55. The lower ends of these flexible side or hip members are attached to the upper ends of side tubes 56, in which are two telescoping tubes 51 and 58, both controlled by connections A, and the inner tubes 58 having angular inward extensions 59.

The lower portion of the tubular central brace 50 is likewise telescoped by two inner adjusting tubes 60 and 6|, the inner tube 6| having at its lower end curved lateral branches 62 forming a curved hem piece or member whose opposite outstanding portions adjustably telescope within flexible tubes or members 64 with nipples bearing adjustable connections A at their inner ends and with their outer ends fixed to the angular extensions 59. Thus the curved tubular hem pieces 62 and flexible tubes 64 cooperate to form a flexible hem portion for the skirt frame, whose curvature may be controlled to coincide with the varying curvature of the hem portion of skirts of varying flares. For this control, the central brace is lengthwise adjusted relative to the side members of the skirt frame.

Hip braces or cross arms 65 are formed by tubes telescoping on the intermediate lateral branches 5| of the central brace 59 with adjustable connections A at their inner ends and with rings 66 at their outer ends around the lower portions of the flexible side members 55. Thus the skirt form is laterally adjustable at the waist, hem, and intermediate portions, with respect to the central brace, to given measurements, adjustment of the intermediate cross arms controlling the shaping of the hip portions of a garment thereon. Adjustment of the same as to length thereof and curvature of the hem or lower bar has been referred to.

In the skirt form especially the operation of connections A is very desirable. The pressure of projection 4 against the inner tube when the catch is engaged has the effect of pressing the inner tube against the opposite side wall of the i'outer tube, which presents a relatively smooth "surface to the garment which is stretched thereon, and touching the side of the tube opposite to the fastener.

To attach the skirt form in overlapped relation 'at its waist portion to the waist form, a split tubular clip or clasp l9 may be engaged with the upper portion of the central skirt brace 50.

This clasp, as best seen in Figure 7, has exteriorly thereof a series of split clasping rings l8 engageable with the lower portion of the lower central tubular member 32 of the waist form below the lateral extensions 33 thereof, to thus detachably hold the waist and skirt forms together as a unit of accidental displacement from thehanger bar after the clasping hanger is once engaged over the bar. Accidental soiling of garments during drying, especially during hanging thereof on the racks and bars, may thus be avoided.

The upper portions of the two complementary clasping members 22 and 220. are bridged by a split tubular spring 2! urging the member 22a toward the member 22, and this spring is slotted to receive therethrough the upstanding oppositely inclined wing-shaped finger pieces 20 of clasping members 22 and 22a which are oppositely, outwardly inclined. Thus when finger pieces 20 are pressed toward one another, the movable clasping member 22a will be shifted away from clasping member 22 against the tension of spring 2| to open position for disposition on, or removal from, I

a hanger or rack bar. When the finger pieces 20 are released, spring 2| urges the movable member 22a. toward the stationary member 22 to active clasping position.

The dress form of the present invention may be readily assembled, both as to the waist and skirt sections, and easily adjusted to various sizes and shapes of garments throughout a long range of such sizes or shapes, and it is believed to be plain that, in the present construction, all of the advantages of my patented form are present along with many advantages which the patented structure does not afford in respect to strength, durability, ease of handling and such other respects as are particularly important in connection with its commercial use in laundries, cleaning establishments and the like.

While it is not believed necessary to set forth in detail the precise manner of use which will vary to some extent to suit the personal preference of the operator or user, it may be said in general that, as to the waist form, the entire frame is set up by its various adjustable connections A to measurements before the garment, to be dried, is placed thereon. All points of adiustment are locked to show the desired measurements on the calibrated tubes. The bust is widened or narrowed as desired, the waist line regulated, and the lower portion of the frame widened to shape the flare of the hip portion of a blouse, or left like the waist line, for example, if a sweater has a tight band at the bottom thereof.

The sleeve forms are not joined until after the garment has been placed on the waist form body, and are then put inside the garment, the upper ends of the flexible shoulder member are adjustably disposed on the neck extensions, and the spring catch it is inserted in the apertures l3 and M to thus hold the sleeves while the shoulder members are adjusted to the style of the garment.

With the skirt form, its adjustments are all first set and locked before the garment is drawn over the same, and when satisfactory as to lateral and lengthwise adjustment, the garment, engaged at the waist line, is then pulled down smoothly over the adjustably curved hem bar, and if properly fitted and not too wet, it will be found that the garment will stay as stretched, since all of the adjustments A are placed so that they are within the frames of the forms and do not touch the garment.

Having thus fully described the present invention, what is claimed is:

l. A garment blocking form including a waist or blouse section having a laterally elongatable cross brace approximately at the bust line, the ends of which define the underarm points, a, longitudinally extensible member rising centrally above said cross brace and having upper lateral extensions, sleeve forms, each having a detachable connection at the inner portion of its upper end with one end of said cross brace, supporting the sleeve form in definite angular relation to the cross brace, and flexible shoulder members connected at the lower ends thereof to the outer portions of the upper ends of the sleeve forms and in adjustable detachable engagement at the upper ends thereof with the upper lateral extensions of the longitudinally extensible member, said shoulder members being free of connection, intermediate the ends thereof, with the arment form, and being formed of freely flexible coil springs having closely contacting convolutions for readily assuming different curvatures by adjustment of their upper ends and by adjustment of the longitudinally and laterally extensible members.

2. A garment blocking form including a waist or blouse section having a laterally elongatable cross brace approximately at the bust line, the ends of which define the underarm points, a longitudinally extensible member rising centrally above saidcross brace and having upper lateral extensions, sleeve forms, each having a detachable connection at the inner portion of its upper end with one end of said cross brace, supporting the sleeve form in definite angular relation to the cross brace, and a flexible tubular member extending from the outer portion of the upper end of the sleeve form and having its upper end adjustably telescoping one of said upper extensions for forming an adiustably curved shoulder each of said flexible members consisting of a coil spring, the convolutions of which are in closely contacting relation.

3. A garment blocking form including a waist or blouse section having a laterally elongatable cross brace approximately at the bust line, a longitudinal brace member having lengthwise extendable portions centrally above and below the said cross brace, a cross member at the waist line having laterally extendable portions at opposite sides of the longitudinal brace member and spaced below the cross brace, a cross member spaced below the waist member and including laterally extendable portions at opposite sides of the lower end of the longitudinal brace member, and flexible side members consisting of flexible tubes rising from the outer end portions of said lower cross member, and similar smaller flexible tubes depending from the outer end portions of the bust line cross brace into the rising tubes, each of said flexible tubes consisting of a coil spring having closely contacting convolutions, and the waist line cross member having at its outer end portions guide means through which said flexible side members are movably disposed intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof.

4. A garment blocking form including a waist or blouse section having a laterally elongatable cross brace approximately at the bust line, a longitudinal brace member having lengthwise extendable portions centrally above and below the said cross brace, a cross member'at the waist line having laterally extendable portions at opposite sides of the longitudinal brace member and spaced below the cross brace, a cross member spaced below the waist member and including laterally extendable portions at opposite sides of the lower end of the longitudinal brace member, flexible tubular side members consisting of coil springs rising from the ends of said last named cross member and loosely through end portions of the waist member, and depending flexible extensions consisting of coil springs carried by the ends of the cross brace telescoping within the said flexible side members and movable relative thereto for elongation of the side members.

5. A garment blocking form including a waist section and a skirt section, each having a longitudinal central brace member, and each including a portion overlapping a portion of the other in their conjoint use for drying a one piece dress, and a single fastener for holding the sections together in such use including a clasping member carried by the longitudinal brace of one section and engageable with the longitudinal brace of the other section.

6. A garment blocking form including a waist section and a skirt section, each having a longitudinal central brace member, and each including a portion overlapping a portion of the other in their conjoint use for drying at one piece dress, and a single fastener for holding the sections together such use including a clasping member having portions detachably engageable with the said longitudinal brace members, when overlapped, along a substantial lengthwise portion of the said members to thus prevent angular movement of one section relative to the other.

7. A garment blocking form including a skirt section having a longitudinal brace member and a cross brace intermediate the ends of the longitudinal brace and including laterally extendable portions at opposite sides of said longitudinal brace, cross members located adjacent to the uppar and lower ends of the longitudinal brace respectively at the waist and hem lines, and each including laterally extendable side portions, and side members rising from the ends of said hem member including telescoping adjustable lower portions and readily flexible upper portions consisting of coil springs having closely contacting convolutions movably extending through end portions of the intermediate cross brace and in connection'at their upper ends with the adjustable end portions of the waist member.

8. A garment blocking form including a skirt section having a lengthwise central brace, cross members at the top, bottom, and an intermediate point of said lengthwise brace, each including laterally extendable portions at opposite sides of the lengthwise brace, side members in connection at their lower ends with the end of the lower cross member and including readily flexible portions, consisting of coil springs having closely contacting convolutions, extending movably through the end portions of the intermediate cross member and in connection at the upper ends thereof with the upper cross members, the

central brace and the lower portions of said side members having telescopingly adjustable portions below the intermediate cross member, and each of the laterally extendable portions of the lower cross member including a flexible portion consisting of a coil spring having closely contacting convolutions, whereby the curvature of said lower cross member may be definitely controlled by the adjustment of the side members and the central brace.

MARY ELIZABETH BU'RWELL.

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