Improvements in Corset Fastenings.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corset Fastenings.
I, CHARLES ALFRED CLÉMENT, of 71, Boulevard Voltaire, Paris, France,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to corset fastenings which are instantaneously self-releasing
but cannot become unfastened accidentally.
The invention consists in the combined employment of hooks fixed to the one
busk and having open inclined mouths or slots adapted for engagement with studs
fixed to the other busk, and of a lever hook pivoted to the one busk and adapted to
engage with a stud on the other busk in such a direction as to oppose the sliding
motion necessary for the disengagement of the inclined hooks above referred to
from their studs.
The form of this hook and its position with regard to its pivotal centre may be
such that the strain which comes upon it in wear tends to draw the other hooks
more securely into engagement with their studs, or said strain may tend to
disengage the pivoted hook which, in that case, would be locked in its engaged
position by its tail end abutting against a catch stud.
The fixed books (which may have their mouths directed upwards or downwards)
are preferably slightly different in form that is to say the inclined mouths of, say,
the three upper ones are so wide that the heads of the corresponding studs may be
sprung through them as into ordinary closed slots or eyelets, or may be engaged
with them by a relative motion of the hook and stud, in the direction of inclination
of the said mouths.
The fourth or next lowest hook is similar to the others except that its mouth is
only just wide enough to receive the neck of its stud, which can therefore only be
engaged and disengaged by the relative sliding motion above referred to, the
aperture of the hook being slightly enlarged at the inner end, without, however,
giving passage to the head of the stud.
The locking hook is pivoted at the lower part of the busk and its mouth is also
of such width as to permit of engagement or disengagement with the stud only by
the pivotal motion of the hook, the curvature of which is such that the busks
are drawn slightly towards each other in the act of engaging the hook with
its stud.
In fastening the corset the wearer first engages the lowest fixed hook with its
stud by a relative sliding motion of the parts in the direction of the inclination of
the hook and then turns the pivoted hook into engagement with its stud whereby
the first mentioned hook is prevented from becoming disengaged, after which the
remaining hooks are sprung into engagement with their studs as though they were
ordinary fastenings.
The instantaneous release of all the fastenings of the corset is effected by turning
the pivoted hook back out of engagement with its stud whereupon all the other
studs simultaneously slip out of engagement with their inclined hooks.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1890.
C. A. CLEMENT.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corset Fastenings.
I, CHARLES ALFRED CLEMENT, of 71, Boulevard Voltaire, Paris, France,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My invention relates to corset fastenings and has for its object to provide such a
combination that the whole of the fastenings will be securely retained in the locked
position by one only so that by releasing the latter the whole of the others will be
rendered simultaneously self releasing.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
forming part of this Specification, wherein
Figure 1 represents the fastenings in the engaged and locked position and
Figure 2 represents them in the act of being disengaged.
Figure 3 shews a modified form of the lever locking hook.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
To the busk or steel A are fixed a series of hooks a a' having inclined throats or
slots adapted for engagement with studs of the ordinary kind fixed to the
other busk or steel B. The inclined throats of, say, the three upper hooks a are of
such width as to give direct passage to the heads of the corresponding studs b by
inclining the hook relatively to the stud whilst the fourth or next lowest hook a
differs from the others in that the width of its throat corresponds to the diameter
of the neck of the stud which can therefore only be engaged and disengaged by
a relative sliding motion in the direction of the inclined throat of the hook, the
throat being slightly enlarged at the inner end, without however giving passage to
the head of the stud. The nose a² of each of the hooks is made of sufficient length
to prevent the accidental disconnection of the studs therefrom by the flexure of
the busks under the movements of the body. C is a lever locking hook pivoted at
the lower part of the busk A. and adapted to engage with a stud 62 on the busk B
in such a direction as to oppose the sliding motion necessary for the disengagement
of the inclined hooks a from their studs, that is to say the hook C is
oppositely directed to the hooks a whether the latter be upwardly directed as
shown or downwardly directed and the width of the throat of the locking hook
is such as to permit of the engagement or disengagement of its nose with 'the
stud only by the pivotal motion of the hook C the curvature of which is such
that the busks are drawn slightly together in the act of engaging the hook C with
the stud.
In fastening the corset, the wearer first engages the lowest fixed hook al with its
stud by a relative sliding motion of the parts in the direction of the inclination
of the hook, the locking hook C being in the position shewn in dotted lines in
Figure and in full line in Figure 2. By then turning the hook C in the direction
of the arrow 1, Figure 1, so as to engage it with its stud 2 the hook a¹ is prevented
from becoming disengaged from its stud . The remaining hooks may then be
sprung into engagement with their studs as though they were ordinary fastenings.
The busks are thus securely locked together, as, owing to the oppositely directed
position of a² and y and to the curvature of the throat f and the position of 'the
pivot c relatively to the stud 12 the latter tends to become more deeply engaged in
the throat the greater the strain upon it due to compression of the figure of the
wearer. The tail end of the hook C is so curved as to bring the knob c¹ below
the pivotal axis when in the locked position, so that, should the knob be accidentally
pressed upwards, the hook will not become disengaged. The simultaneous release
of all the fastenings is effected by disengaging the pivoted hook C by turning it in
the direction of the arrow 2, Figure 1. In so doing the eccentric form of the
throat causes the busk B to be drawn slightly towards the busk A and it is to

page_text: allow of this that the enlargement at the inner end of the hook a¹ is made. When
the hook C is disengaged the whole of the studs 6 61 62 simultaneously slip out
from their respective hooks.
In Figure 3 the form of the locking hook C¹ and the position of the stud 6
relatively to the pivot c is such that the strain tends to disengage it and the hook
is in this case secured in the locked position by its tail end being engaged with a
stud 63. The hook C shewn in Figures 1 and 2 might be similarly secured. In
either case the movement of hook C or C¹ is limited by a stop x.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1st. The application to corset busks of hooks a having wide inclined throats in
which the studs 6 may either enter as through an eyelet or by a relative sliding
motion of the hook and stud in the direction of inclination of the hook, as
specified.
2nd. The application to corset busks of a hook a' having an inclined throat of such
width as to admit only the neck of its stud b' by a relative sliding motion of the
parts, as described, said hook being placed next above a lever locking hook C
or C and constituting one of the elements of the locking arrangement for securing
the busk in the fastened position, as specified.
3rd. The combination, with inclined hooks of the kind described, of a locking
hook C or C¹ having a throat of such width that the stud 62 can only be engaged
and disengaged by a relative sliding motion in the direction of inclination of the
hook as described and constituting the other element of the locking arrangement
for retaining the busk in the fastened position, as specified.
4th. The locking lever C having its hook g so situated with regard to the
pivotal axis c that the strain due to expansion of the figure of the wearer shall
tend to maintain the hook in position of engagement, as and for the purpose
specified.
5th. The combination, with the locking lever C¹, of a stop 6³ for retaining it in
the locked position, as specified.
Dated this 18th day of June 1901