Improvements in Dress-improvers.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1887
Complete Left, 19th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
Improvements in Dress-improvers.
We, CHARLES ABRAHAM WHITE and FRANK THOMAS PLESTER of 62 Ockendon
Road, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Crinolette and Bustle Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a dress-improver and is constructed with seven or more
brass-capped flat-steels, which are rivetted together at the ends, and each of the two
sets of ends are enclosed in a brass socket, so that the steels open in the centre on the
principle of a fan, the aforesaid brass sockets are rivetted to an upright framing at
each end, with a single steel pivoted and fixed beneath the upright framing, this steel
is made to close up with the upper portion of the dress-improver; on the bottom ends
are fitted brass or other metal, Hat, spiral, or any other kind of spring, one end of the
spring is attached to the lower steel of the dress improver, which holds the upper
portion open, the whole being connected together by a ribbon or tape, eyeletted on
each steel. The object of the springs being to keep the steels open or apart in the
centre, and when the wearer assumes a sitting position the dress improver closes up
like a fan; but on standing erect the springs draw the improver open again, and each
of the upright frames are laced together to form the required shape of the dress-
improver.
If preferable I can fix a flat spring in the centre of the inside, or at the bottom or
top of the dress-improver to draw it open, or an india rubber band or spring can be
adopted.
J. P. BAYLY,
Agent for the Applicants

page_text: We, CHARLES ABRAHAM WHITE, and FRANK THOMAS PLESTER, of 62 Ockendon
Road, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Crinolette and Bustle Manufacturers
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 :-
Our invention consists of a dress improver, and is constructed with seven or more,
or less if required, of brass capped flat or any other shape steels, which are rivetted
together at the ends of each of the steels; each of the two sets of ends are enclosed in
a brass socket, or the socket may be dispensed with, so that the steels open in the
centre on the principle of a fan; and the aforesaid brass sockets are rivetted to an
upright framing at each end, with a single steel pivotted and fixed beneath the
upright framing; this steel is made to close up with the upper portion of the dress
improver and on the bottom ends are fitted brass or any other flat metal springs,
spiral or any other kind of spring, one end of the spring is attached to the lower steel
of the dress improver, which holds the upper portion open, the whole being connected
together by a ribbon or tape eyeletted on each steel.
The object of the springs being to keep the steels open or apart in the centre; and
when the wearer assumes a sitting position the dress improver closes up like a fan, but
on standing erect the springs draw the improver open again; and each of the upright
frames are laced together to form the required shape of the dress improver. If
preferable we can fix a flat spring in the centre of the inside, or at the bottom or top
of the dress improver to draw it open. And in order that our invention may be
thoroughly understood we now describe the accompanying drawings, reference being
had to letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 represents the back view of the dress improver without a frame, with the
steels marked D, rivetted together at F, with the tape marked C, eyeletted to each
steel, with the tapes B, B, to connect the top steel to the waste band A, and the flat
springs marked E, E, and fixed by means of an angle clip at H, and with an angle
clip attached to the bottom steel at G, and drawn together by a cord.
Figure 2 is a side view of figure 1.
Figure 3 denotes a front view of the dress improver with a framework marked I,
and an interior steel marked D', and the steels marked D, rivetted together at F, with
an additional steel placed below the bottom steel marked D2, with spiral springs
marked E, E, with one end attached to the end of the framework I, and the other end
of the springs fixed to the ends of the bottom steel D².
Figure 4 is a side view of figure 3.
Figure 5 is figures 3 and 4 closed up flat, representing the position of the dress
improver when the wearer is sitting.
Like letters refer to like parts in each of the figures.

page_text: A, the waist band. B, the two ribbons or tapes to connect the top steel to the
waist band. C, the ribbon or tape at the back to connect the whole of the steels
together. D, each of the steels which fit into one another when flat. D', inside steel.
D2 additional bottom steel. E, flat or spiral springs. F, rivets to connect the steels
together. Hangle plate to connect spring to steel. G, angle plate to connect
spring to bottom steel. I framework. J, the lace or cord to draw the two ends
together to form a semi-circle.
Having now fully described the nature and object of our invention and the manner
in which the same is to be performed we claim as new and novel the following:
First. The combination of any number of steels D, rivetted together at F, with a
flat or any other shaped springs E, attached to the bottom steel at G, and on the top
steel at the point H, to draw or hold the dress improver open with the ribbon or
tape C, eyeletted to each steel, the top steel being connected by the ribbons B, to the
waist band A, substantially herein described and according to the accompanying
drawings.
Secondly. The combination of the steels connected together and held open in its
proper position by means of the springs E, of any shape or we may place or spring
inside the dress improver for the same purpose, to open or close each steel into
one another, to permit the wearer when they sit down, each of the steels close up
into the top steel which is the longest, quite flat, and when the wearer stands up it
assumes its former and stationary position again, without any injury being done to
the dress improver, substantially herein described and according to the accompanying
drawings.
Thirdly. The combination of the hereinbefore described dress improver attached
to a framework of flat steels I, with an additional bottom steel D2, worked by spiral
springs the whole closing up flat when the wearer sits down but opens again when
they assume a standing position; substantially herein described and according to the
accompanying drawings.