US387349A - Garment-stretcher - Google Patents

Description

(N M OdeL) H. S. POLGER.

GARMENT STRETGHER.

No. 387,349. Patented Aug. '7, 1888.

mitneas es N. PETERS Fholeuihngraphnr, Washington, DC.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

HARRY S. FOLGER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

GARMEN'T STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 387,349, dated Augus 1 Serial No. 271,467. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY S. FoLGER, a

c1t1zen of the United States, residing at Springfield, 1n the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stretching and Drying Frames, of which the following is a specification. My lnvention relates to a device for stretching woolen garments,and is particularly adapted for stretching woolen shirts or undergarments of children while drying after being laundered.

Woolen garments, as is well known, shrink conslderably when laundered. Especially is this true of the small woolen under-garments of infants or children. To such an extent does this shrinkage occur that the small woolen shirts worn by infants and children after being laundered several times become almost useless, as the shrinkage is so great that the children cannot wear them.

I The object of my invention is to provide a simple device of novel construction for stretchlng and drying garments of this character,the sald device being adjustable to adapt it to different slze garments and to permit it to be readily removed from the garment placed thereon when desired.

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my inventlou. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the parts separated and partly in section. Fig. 3 1s a detail view of one of the corner holding clamps. Fig. at is a similar view of the opposite side of said clamp. Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the same.

The general construction of my improved device consists of the main frame A.having at the upper corner clamping-pieces B B,to which are secured arms 0 G. The main frame A is made in two parts, A A, preferably of steel, iron, or brass wire of sufficient size to secure the necessary stiffness. The parts A and A are preferably made of a U shape, adapted to be connected together at the top and bottom to form the rectangular frame A. The parts are preferably held together by means of coupling-pieces D, each provided with an opening, 0, adapted to receive the ends I) b of the re spective pieces A and A and a clampingscrew, a, screw-threaded in said coupling B,

extending into the opening a, so as to bind against the respective parts I) b. The cornerpieces are each provided on one side with a groove shaped to fit the corner of the U shaped pieces forming the frame. In applying the corner-pieces to the frame the groove 0 is slipped over the wire at the corner and is secured therein by soldering or in any other convenient and suitable manner. Extending through the corner piece B in a plane above the plane of the wires forming the frame A, and parallel to the end pieces,b b,of said frame, is an opening-or sleeve, 0, and at right angles thereto is a clamping-Somme", adapted to project into said opening.

Thearms C consist, preferably, of a si niglepiece of brass, iron,or steel, having a degree of elasticity or resilience, and bent, as shown, to form a V-shaped spring'arm. In attaching the arms 0 to the frame A one end, d,of the said arm is slipped through the sleeve 0 of the corner piece B, and clamped therein in any desired position by the clamping-screw c", the other end, (2, of the said arm remaining free, and adapted by the resilience of the metal to be moved to adjust the arm to different sizes, as desired.

The clamping'screw a of the coupling D is preferably provided with an open head, a, which will form a convenient point for sus pension of the frame when in use.

In using the frame the parts -A and A are adjusted to the proper size and the arm 0 pushed through the sleeves 0' until only a small portion remains projected. The shirt or other garment as it comes from the laundry-tubs is slipped over the frame A and the arms 0 drawn through the arm portion of the garment until the said arm portions are stretched to the proper degree. The arms 0 are then secured in position by the clamping screw 0 and the frame suspended from the screw a until the garment is dried. When properly dried,the arms 0 may be withdrawn, and by loosening the clamping screws a the ICC parts of the frame may be closed together, so that the garment can be readily removed therefrom.

By the construction above described woolen garments, especially small shirts used by infants and children, may be readily dried without shrinkage and the garments removed therefrom when so dried.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. An adjustable drying and stretching frame composed of two U-shapcd pieces of resilient metal, connecting-couplers adapted to slip over the ends of the respective pieces,and a clampingscrew in each of said couplers for holding said pieces in different positions of adjustment, a V-shaped springarm connected to each of said U-shaped pieces, and means, substantially as described, for holding said arms in different positions of adjustment, substantially as set forth.

2. An adjustable drying and stretching frame provided with cornerpieces having longitudinal openings therein and adjustable spring-arms adapted to be inserted in said openings, substantially as specified.

3. The adjustable stretching frame com posed of the two U-shaped pieces, the free ends of which are connected together by couplings, as described,the corner-pieces having the longitudinal openings, a clamping-screw, and the independent spring-arms adapted to be secured to said corner-pieces and adjusted therein, substantially as specified.

4. The adjustable stretching and drying frame composed of the U-shaped pieces, the free ends of which are connected together by connecting-couplers, so as to be adjustable, as described, the corner-pieces grooved on one side to receive the said wire,which is secured therein, and provided on the other with an opening to receive one end of the V-shaped spring-arm, means for holding said spring arms indifferent positions of adjustment in said corner-pieces, and a suspension'ring on said connecting-coupler,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of April, A. D. 1888.

HARRY S. FOLGER.

Witnesses:

PAUL A. STALEY, W. I. GROVE.

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