Conformator

Feb. 5, 1935

R. L. CARVER ET AL

CONFORMATOR

1,989,680

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Feb. 5, 1935.

R. L. CARVER ET AL 1,989,680

CONFORMATOR

Filed April 14, 1932 ₄ Sheets-Sheet. 2

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Feb. 5, 1935.

R. L. CARVER ET AL

C0NF0RMAT0R

1,989,680

Filed April 14, 1932

Sheets-Sheet 3

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Feb. 5, 1935.

R. L. CARVER ET AL

CONFORMATOR Filed April 14, 1932

1,989,680

Sheets-Sheet 4

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Patented Feb. 5, 1935

1,989,680

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

1,989,680 CONFORMATOR Ralph L. Carver and Donald T. Robbins, Los Angeles, Calif. Application April 14, 1932, Serial No. 605,224 10 Claims. (Cl. 33—175) when the rods are in their adjusted position. Then a movement of the locking arm in a sliding direction gives a longitudinal movement to a rack. This rack rotates a pinion and such pinion operates a shaft with an eccentric section. The eccen- 5 trie section has a connection to a moving bar which moves transversely of the cabinet, which bar is connected at its end to one of the movable locking plates.

Another detailed feature comprises forming the 10 cabinet with a stationary and a moving section, the moving section being on the wheels and each section preferably being in upper and lower parts so that the cabinet may be disassembled into four units. By this construction the lower portions 15 may be supports and a number of different heights may be provided, or the person whose form is to be taken may stand on boxes or supports of different heights.

Another feature of our invention relates to the 20 manner of making a permanent form for clothes or dress making in which we use the shape made by the ends of the rods and the shoes thereon as a mold. In this mold we insert a rubber bag, which bag may then be filled with a quick setting 25 material, such as a light weight mixture of plaster of Paris. The rubber bag may have small bags attached thereto to form the shape of the arms or separate small bags may be used for this purpose. By this method we form a solid cast which 30 has the body shape of the person whose form has been taken.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet with 35 parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2—2 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3—3 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows. 40

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4—4 of Figs. 1 and 6 in the direction of the arrows, showing part of the locking cam shaft and the hand power operation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a detail partial front elevation taken 45 in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section on the line 6—6 of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal section on the line 7—7 of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows. 50

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical section on the line 8—8 of Fig. 2 of one of the rods and the supporting guide plates and locking plate.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the rods, showing the universally mounted shoe thereon. 55

Our invention is a conformator to develop a form for clothes or dress making. It is of the type in which a large number of rods mounted to slide longitudinally may be thrust in an inward g direction to engage the body of a person standing in the center of the conformator.

In a conformator of the above mentioned type, one of the objects and features of our invention is the construction by which all of the rods may 10 be moved inwardly simultaneously, the rods being mounted in a divided cabinet structure, and upright front and back sections to engage the front and back of the person whose form is being taken.

In this connection a further object and feature of our invention is moving all of the rods in each half of the divided cabinet by expansible air bags, these bags preferably being formed of rubber to thrust all the rods inwardly with a yielding type 20 of support so that the inner ends of the rods make an outline of the form of the body of the person in the cabinet. One of the characteristics of using the expansible rubber bags is that the pressure is yielding and thus cannot injure or cause discom25 fort to the person whose form is being taken.

Another detailed feature of our invention to obtain a substantially true form is mounting pivoted feet or shoes on the inner end of each rod. These shoes have a universal joint mounting to 30 allow them to tilt to obtain a more accurate conformity to the shape of a person’s body.

Another object and feature of our invention is in a positive locking or binding device to secure - all of the rods on each side of the cabinet, that is, 35 on the front and rear, so that when these are adjusted to conform to the shape of the body, all of the rods may simultaneously be locked, then the cabinet may be opened and the person whose form is being taken may step out of the cabinet.

In this connection a further detailed object and feature of our invention is providing a guide structure for the rods, this preferably being two parallel plates spaced apart and having rectangular openings for squared section rods. In conjunc45 tion with these two guide plates there is a central moving and locking plate sliding in guides, which may be shifted by a locking handle on the outside of the cabinet to slide the moving plate, which plate is provided with circular openings and en50 gages the rounded corners of the squared section rods. This gives a clamping or friction grip. In addition to the above mentioned manner of securing the sliding rods we employ a ratchet latch which is provided with a stationary ratchet bar and a pivot pawl. This pawl engages the ratchet

1,989,680

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section on the line 10—10 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows, showing the connecting elements for the lower and upper sections of the cabinet.

In constructing our invention, we utilize a cabinet structure 11 which has a rear section 12 and a front section 13, there being angle tracks 14 at the bottom on which the front section may roll on the wheels;15. Each section of the cabinet has a lower part .16 and an upper part 17. These sections are each constructed with a frame 18, which frame has vertical angle corner posts- 19, longitudinal side bars 20 at the bottom and top, and cross bars 21 at the bottom and top con15 necting the vertical corner bars. Cover panels. 22 may be utilized to enclose the sides and -top of the cabinet. Each section of the top is provided with an opening 23 through which -extend the neck and head of the person whose form is being .

taken. In the construction illustrated the wheels 15 are mounted in the longitudinal side bars 20.

The fixed guide plates^ 24 are illustrated as secured in a rectangular frame formed by outside angles 25. These angles extend vertically in the 25 frames of the upper section 17 and across the top.

At the sides these angles are mounted on a pair of inner angles 26, which angles have inturned flanges spaced apart as indicated at 27 to· accommodate the center sliding or locking plate 28. 30 This- plate at the- bottom rests in a channel 29 and at the top this plate is guided between two angles 30. It will thus be seen that there are two fixed plates 24 spaced apart and held rigidly, these plates being vertical, and between these 35 there is the central moving locking plate 28, which slides transversely across each of the upper sections of the cabinet.

The conforming rods 31 are preferably square in cross section, having rounded corners 32. At 40 the -outer ends they are provided with a button 33 and at the inner end with a shoe 34. This shoe is illustrated as formed of a metal plate 35 having a universal joint connection 36 to the ends of the rods. This joint is indicated as having a 45 vertical pivot 37 in the ends of the rods. A yoke 38 is pivoted on these pivots and is provided with lateral ears 39, which ears are provided with horizontal pivots 40 which engage small brackets 41 on the shoe plates. This provides a universal 50 joint .allowing these plates to swivel on both vertical and horizontal pivots. These pivots are made frictionally stiff to prevent the plates tilting edgewise to the direction of travel of the rods.

The rods are moved by means of an inflatable 55 42 in. each upper section of the cabinet.

These bags at the outside bear against a vertical plate 43 and at the sides against two opposite side plates 44, these, being built into the cabinet. At the top and bottom there are guide 60 rods 45 which have rings 46 thereon secured to the top and bottom of the bag. A flexible air hose 47 is connected to each bag so that the bags may be inflated to any desired pressure and by pressing on the buttons 33 on the ends of the 65 rods thrust the rods inwardly. The person whose form is to be taken enters the cabinet when the front section is pulled apart from the rear section, then with the rods thrust outwardly ..and the bags, collapsed the sections of the cabinet are 70 moved together and attached by. hooks and eyes 48. The person may stand on a box or pedestal so that his neck will extend through the opening 23 with the head above the cabinet and the shoulders inside of the cabinet. The shoulders should be 75 below the upper row of rods. These rods 31 are arranged in horizontal and vertical rows but at the top where a more accurate form should be Obtained at the shoulders the horizontal rows are spaced closer together, and at the sections to form the arm contour the vertical rows are 5 placed, preferably, closer together.

When the bags are inflated it will, therefore, be seen that the rods on both the front and rear sections of the cabinet will be thrust inwardly until the shoes engage a portion of . a person’s 10 body, front and back, and also the arms. The shoes will tilt to conform to the angle at which the rods meet the body, and as the rods are guided in a rectilinear movement they cannot twist or turn on account of being square. The rubber 15 bags, therefore, give a resilient support to the rods and apply pressure so gently that they will not injure dr discomfort the person whose form is being taken.

The locking arrangement utilizes a fixed 20 straight ratchet 49, which is secured to the lower longitudinal side bar 20 of the upper section 17 of each cabinet, this ratchet bar preferably fitting on the upper edge of such side bar. A guide block 50 -is fitted in the angle of the angle bar. This «5 has a vertical section 51 and a horizontal section 52. The vertical section is provided with a guide groove 53, from which extends a longitudinal slot 54. A cylindrical handle bar 55 extends through this slot and has a handle end 56 on the outside ₃₀of the cabinet. The inner end of the rod connects to a rack 57, which rack has a base 58 slidable in the groove 53 and has a toothed section 59 extending outwardly through an opposite groove 60 in the vertical section 51 of the block 35 50. A pawl 61 has a hub 62 mounted on the rod 55. It is provided with a tooth 63 to engage the straight ratchet 49. A finger-operating end 64 extends outwardly through a slot 65 in the side panel 22 of the side section .17 of the cabinet. _4QThe end, therefore, may be engaged by the fingers when all of the . rods have been thrust inwardly to their full extent, this tilting the pawl until the tooth engages with the ratchet 49. Such construction is used to hold the rack 57 in its lock- .. ing position, but prior to engaging the pawl with its ratchet the handle 56 is thrust inwardly toward the center or junction line of the cabinets. The rack causes a rotation of the rack pinion 66 which is mounted on a rotatable cam shaft 67, ₅₀one end 68 of which shaft 67 is journaled in the end 52 of the block 50 and the other end in a bearing 69 in the top of the cabinet secured to the top longitudinal side bar 20. A cam or eccentric section 70 of this shaft operates through cam slots ₅₅71 in a series of transverse slidable bars 72. These bars extend through slots 73 in one of the fixed guide plates 24 and are attached, preferably, by an angular bent end as indicated at 74 to the slidable locking plate 28. Therefore, the cam or eccentric section 70 causes a lateral or cross movement of the plate 28. Plate 28 has circular openings 75 surrounding each of the rods, and this circular opening is moved from the full line position of Fig. 8, in which there is a clearance around gthese rods, to the dotted line position in which ° the circular opening binds on the curved corners 32 of the rods 31 and thus frictionally locks these in position. All of the rods, therefore, are locked, the shoes conforming to the contour of the per- 70 son’s body and arms. Hence, if desired, the inflatable bags may be deflated, but this is not necessary. The two sections of the cabinet may then be unhooked and the front section moved forwardly sufficiently for the model to step out of 75

1,989,680 contact with a model, and means to simultaneously engage all of the rods to lock said rods in their innermost position irrespective of the deflating of the bag.

5. A conformator having a guide structure with ₆a plurality of slidable rods mounted therein, means to substantially simultaneously move said rods to bring their inner ends into contact with a model, a shiftable locking plate having perforations with the rods extending therethrough, and ₁₀means to move said plate to engage each rod and thereby lock the rod in its inwardly movable position and means to positively lock said plate when moved to locking position. _

6. A conformator having a cabinet with a pair 45 of spaced guide plates therein, said plates having aligned openings with slidable rods mounted therein, means to move said rods to bring their inner ends into contact with a model, a third and locking plate in addition to the fixed plates and ₂o having openings for passage of said rods, said latter plate in one position being out of contact with the rods and being shiftable to engage each rod, thereby retaining such rod in its innermost position, a hand operated handle bar extending 25 outside of the cabinet and having a connection for simultaneously shifting the movable plate, and a locking means to retain said plate in shifted position.

7. A conformator having a guide structure with ₃₀guides therein for a plurality of slidable rods, means to slide said rods to bring their inner ends into contact with a model, a slidable locking plate having an opening through which each rod extends, said plate in one position being out of con- 35 tact with the rods, a slidably mounted handle bar, an interconnecting means between the handle and the locking plate to move such plate, and a pawl and ratchet construction to retain the moving means in the locking position of said locking 40 plate.

8. A conformator having a guide structure with a plurality of rectilineally slidable rods mounted therein, means to slide said rods to bring the inner ends into engagement with a model, a slid- 45 able locking plate having openings through which said rods extend, a bar connected to said plate to move same, a shaft having a cam engaging said bar, a slidable handle, a connection between said handle and the cam to rotate the go cam on a sliding movement of the handle and thereby move the locking plate, and means to lock the handle and, hence, the plate in its locked position engaging said rods.

9. A conformator having a guide structure 55 with a plurality of rectilineally slidable rods therein, means to move said rods to bring their inner ends into engagement with a model, a slidable locking plate having an opening through which each rod extends, a rotatable cam having go a connection to said plate, said cam being on a shaft, a gear on the shaft engaging a movable rack, said rack being connected to a slidable handle, and means to latch the handle with the locking plate shifted to engage each rod at the open- ₆₅ing. , . _n ..

10. A conformator as claimed in claim 9, the latching means for the handle comprising a straight ratchet and a pivoted pawl mounted on the handle with a finger-operating end extend- 70 ing to a position adjacent such handle.

RALPH L. CARVER.

DONALD T. ROBBINS.

the cabinet. A base block 78 is fitted across the lower end of the mold and is supported on the stationary section of the cabinet, such mold being designated generally by the numeral 79 formed by k the shoes on the ends of the rods 31. A rubber bag 80 is fitted in the mold. This bag has a bottom 81 which rests on the block 78 and a neck 82 which extends through the opening 23. The bag is then filled with a quick-setting composition ₁₀ 83 which may be plaster of Paris incorporated with some material giving body but having light weight. This sets quickly after forcing the rubber bag into close contact with all of the shoes. In order to mold the arm sections, the rubber bag ₁₅ may be made with small rubber bags forming the arms connected thereto, or these may be molded separately. It is, however, preferable to mold the body form and arm forms together, then on separation of the cabinet these may be taken out of ₂₀ such cabinet as a unit. The rubber bag is provided with a lap or equivalent joint 84 which is provided with fasteners. The portion of the bag forming the arm is also provided with joints 85 having fasteners. This allows the rubber bag to ₂₅ be readily taken off the form and it may be used again. This leaves the plaster form with the arms attached. These arms may then be disconnected when it is desired to fit clothing on the form.

An important and characteristic feature of our go invention is that the inflatable rubber bags give not only a resilient pressure of the rods against the body of the model but that this pressure is equal on all parts of the body against which the rods press and also at all positions of the 35 rods, whether the person is thin or stout. The yielding air pressure in the air bags can be adjusted so that the rods will not press in on the soft or more yielding parts of the body. Thus, a true natural form may be obtained.

The lower section 16 of the cabinet is secured to the upper part 17 by means of pins 76 secured to one of the side bars 20 at the top of the lower section extending through a slot 77 and the side bar 20 on the upper section (note Figs. 2 and 10).

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.