US2570987A - Stocking aligner - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 9, 1951 E. P. ROSE 2,570,987

STOCKING ALIGNER Filed June 3, 1948 2 snee's-shee*b vl l 50W/M70 Fe-/Pas Oct. 9', 1951 E. P. ROSE sTocKING ALIGNER sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1948 IIIIIIIII R E m. n M E Patented Oct. 9, 17951 HQE STCKING ALGNER Edward F. Rose, Syracuse, N., Y.

Application J une 3, 1948, Serial No. 30,78;

2 Claims.

` alignment of the same on the-legs.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide an attachment for or improvement in garments of the waist encircling type comprising a flexible, extensible strand having a terminal clasp and surcient extensibility to reach to the ankle oi the seated wearer and suilicient retrieving strength to draw the stocking to .its normal position when the wearer is standing and which if properly attached to the stocking will insure straight seams or ribs Vwhen the stocking is automatically drawn up.`

An important object of the invention comprises the arrangement, on a garment of the girdle or waist encompassing type, of an elongated, flexible, extensible strand attached to and guided by the garment at a position in alignment with the rear lcenter of each leg of the wearer whereby the clasp on the end of the strand when attached to the hem of the stocking just after it has been drawn over the ankle will automatically draw the stocking to its normal position, ready for attachment of conventional garters thereto if desired, and insure correct alignment and a straight seam in every case.

An important feature of the invention comprises the use of a long, extremely elastic strand extending from thewaistline to below the lower edge of the garment in its retracted position and suiciently extensible to reach to the ankle of the wearer. particularly'when seated.

Another important feature of the invention comprises sheathing or guide means for the extensible strand, insuring its accurate positioning on the garment for properly aligning the stocking seam.

Other and further features and obiects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specification, wherein are disclosed several exemplary embodiments of the invention, with the understanding that such additions and modications may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of vthe invention. l

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a garment oi the girdle type provided with stocking aiigners constructed in accordance with the present invention, and shown positioned on a wearer;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 2-2 of Fig. l, showing the sheathing and guiding means of the preferred fornaci the invention;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a modined attaching and guiding means for the elastic strand;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the strand and showing the guiding means or" Fig. 4 in plan;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a further modincation;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the strand and sheathing means of Fig. S; and

Fig. 8 represents in broken away section a strand tensioning and retrieving means adapted for use in place of the devices illustrated in the earlier iigures.

The proper putting on and adjusting of womens stockings to present the best appearance seems to offer dimculties to many persons. They nd it impossible to put on a stocking so that the seam is exactly straight and centered along the rear of the leg. Where a full length mirror is not available to determine the same condition, the matter must be left to the skill of the wearer in putting on the stocking. In accordance with the present invention, simple means is provided whereby the stocking is automatically positioned to achieve exact alignment and location of the rear seam, or in the case of stockings of the now popular seamless variety, a straight and untwisted arrangement of the ribs or wales.

The invention is illustrated in combination with a garment of the girdle type, although it will 'be understood `that it need not be so oom- .bined `but may be used with any suitable waist kencircling garment which can be positioned garters I4 on the lower edge of the garment at appropriate intervals for supplementing the support of the stockings.

The device of the present invention comprises an elongated flexible strand tape, ribbon or the like I5, provided at the lower end with any suitable clasp I6 for attachment to the upper edge of the garter hem of a stocking. This strand is fully elastic in the embodiment shown, having the resiliency of a normal garter tape, but being of greater length than normal garters may be much further extended without exceeding its elastic limit, whereby it may be drawn out to great length with but little effort. Such a strand is provided for each stocking and is secured at I'I in any suitable manner near the upper edge of the garment, and a pair of them are so positioned that each is directly above and in alignment with the center of one leg when the garment I is in normal position. This insures then that when the strand is attached by its clasp to a stocking it will position the same with the center seam straight and in proper position, as will be later described. To further insure such operation the strand portion which passes along the outer surface of the garment is both guided and sheathed by a covering of suitable flexible material, such as shown at I8. In Figs. 2 and 3 a fabric is shown as having its edges'l9 turned under and stitches ZIJ applied through the double thickness to secure the same to the fabric 2| of the garment I0. The turned under portions of the sheathing material are somewhat thicker than the material of the strand I5, and hence a tunnel or channel is provided in which it moves readily under its normal resilience when extending or retracting. The tunnel or channel for the strand, being in true alignment with the desired position of the rear seam of the stocking, guides the strand from its extended to its retracted position and insures that it draws on the stocking properly.

In use the wearer, preferably in seated position, draws the stocking over the ankle and insures that the foot is properly placed, and then draws down the strand I attaching the clasp I5 at the rear seam. On releasing the clasp the strand contra cts due to its natural resilience and draws the stocking in a straight line through the intermediate position shown on the left leg to normal position with the seam properly located centrallv and straight on the back of the leg. When both stockings are so positioned, the wearer on standing may attach to the stockings the regular garters III. which provide additional support and eoualize the tension on the periphery of the stocking.

The guiding and sheathing arrangement for that portion of the fiexible strand which extends the length of the garment IIJ, shown in Fig. 1 is the preferred one but simplied modifications thereof are also available. In Figs. 4 and 5 the flexible strand I5 is shown as folded over the top edge of the garnient I0' and stitched through as shown at I'I. The strand is not completely sheathed but is guided by a succession of loose fitting staples 25, the shape of which is better shown in Fig. 5 where a straight horizontal top is connected by short bends to straight parallel sides 26, which pass through the fabric of the garment I0 and are bent under as at 21 to Secure them in position. The inner ends may be covered by suitable fabric or by the lining of the garment if desired. These staples are spaced rat frequent intervals to insure the alignment of 4 the strand I5 and to retain it reasonably close to the surface of the garment at all times.

In a further modification, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the complete strand and sheath assembly is rst made up vand subsequently applied to the garment. In this arrangement the extensible strand |52 passes loosely through a tube 29 which may be of knitted or woven fabric, unitary, assembled from conventional tape or made from such materials as plastic or metal suitably fastened to the garment. As shown it is folded to centrally position the extensible strand and is sufficiently wide so that stitches 30 may be passed through its edges and engage the fabric of the garment I02 for holding the assembly in position.

In Fig. 8 is shown a further embodiment in which the strand I53 is not of resilient character. It may be a conventional fabric tape, ribbon or cord and is wound on a drum 32 suitably journalled for rotation in a metal or plastic housing 33 having lugs 34 perforated for stitching or otherwise securing near the lower edge of a garment such as shown in Fig. 1. The strand passes out through a tangential guide aperture 35 in the housing and is given the necessary retractile strength by a spiral spring V36 arranged within the drum and operating in the manner of tape measures and the like. This spring also provides the necessary retrieving effort while permitting the strand to be pulled out readily for initial attaching to the stocking. The form illustrated in Fig. 8, if arranged at the lower edge of the garment, will not require any additional guide means. It will be positioned directly over the desired location of the seam of the stocking and will present a direct pull. If for reasons of comfort or the like it is desired to arrange the reel near the top of the garment or out of alignment with the stocking seam, then resort may be had to any of the guiding or covering means illustrated in the several figures.

While this specification has been written and the drawings arranged to disclose the retrieving straps as positioned directly over the desired location of the rear stocking seams, it will be appreciated that other positions can equally as well be used if suitable indicia are placed on the stocking edges to designate the correct positioning of the clasps so that when they are drawn up as previously described the rear seams will assume their desired locale.

The construction and arrangement of the retrievable strands or straps can be varied and modified as desired as long as they are so arranged as to be readily extensible to the desired length required to meet the edge of the stocking when it is just placed over the ankle. The considerable length achieved by securing the elastic tapes to the top of the garment, or near the waistline if the garment is a longer one, provides for the necessary extensibility without exceeding the elastic limit. The devices of the present invention are in no wise intended to supplant the customary garters, because they do not provide the multiple arrangement for the support desired about the periphery of the top.

having an upper edge and a portion extending downwardly therefrom and supporting conventional garters from the lower edge thereof, of a pair of elastic bands each having one end secured near said upper edge at the back of the garment and the other end depending below the garment, a clasp on the lower end of each of said bands at substantially the level of the garter clasps when the bands are retracted, guides for said bands secured to the garment near the lower edge thereof in vertical alignment with the desired rear seam locations of the stockings, said bands being readily extensible through said guides substantially to the seated wearers ankle for attachment to the garter hems of the stockings at the rear seams thereof whereby on release they pull the stockings into place with the seams in the desired location when the wearer assumes a standing position. f

2. The device as dened in claim 1 in which each guide comprises a loose ttingfabric tunnel substantially co-extensive With the length of the garment andsecured thereto throughout its length and in alignment with the desired stocking seam location.

EDWARD P. ROSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 683,597 Forehand Oct. 1, 1901 795,841 Kleinert Aug. 1, 1905 806,403 Du Pell Dec, 5, 1905 1,816,656 Schweizer July 28, 1931 1,954,553 Wright Apr. 10, 1934

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