A New or Improved Corset, more particularly intended for Use during the Period of Gestation.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Corset, more particularly intended for Use
during the Period of Gestation.
I, GIOVANNI PAOLO FESTA of 63, Grosvenor Street, Grosvenor Square,
London, Gentleman, 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 a new or improved corset more particularly intended for
use during the period of gestation but which may also be worn with advantage
during the early period of convalescence of accouchement and while nursing, the
object being to provide an extremely light corset giving perfect ventilation, the
aid corset being constructed with elastic front pieces so as to allow of free action
of the heart and digestive organs, while the belt, which is removable, can be
lowered as required so as to accommodate itself to the increase of figure, the whole
corset being constructed of soft light material in combination with open canvas or
netting in parts, and having extremely pliable steels or whalebones so as to fulfil all
the requirements of such a corset more particularly as regards extreme lightness
and weight, ventilation and the support afforded.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a
front view of the corset shown closed and laid out flat, Fig. 2 being a back view of
same and Fig. 3 a view of the belt.
My improved corset is constructed of a combination of a light canvas or netting a
and elastic front pieces which are particularly designed to give readily and mould
themselves to the shape of the figure, as required, the said corset being laced
together at the back as shown while the front is also laced at two places c, c¹ so as
to be readily let out as the size of the figure increases.
The belt as shown at Fig. 3 consists of a front pad or shield d constructed of
light canvas or netting, having a suitable lining at the back and furnished with
stiffening ribs, the band a being designed to pass through the links / arranged on
the back of the corset (Fig. 2) when the ends proceed through a small metal
loop h and are brought back around the waist to be secured to the buckles m.
Three or more rows of buttons fare provided upon the front of the corset in order
that the belt may be secured in position by means of the tabs t and by this
arrangement the front of the said belt can be lowered as the period of gestation
advances so as to afford a firm and comfortable support.
This improved corset may also be used after accouchement and the belt dispensed
with when no longer required. During the period of gestation the front of the corset
is laced up as shown upon the left hand side of Fig. 1 the lacing being let out as
the size of the figure increases, while in order to fulfil the requirements of nursing,
the corset may be laced up a sufficient distance as shown upon the right hand side
of Fig.
or this portion of the corset. may be sewn together, while for additional
strength a tab t¹ may be provided and secured to a button as shown, the upper part
of the corset being then loosely laced so as to allow of it being quickly and
easily opened as required for nursing purposes, or the special form of lacing shown
in Fig. 1 may be employed so that upon releasing the tab t from the button r the
corset can be quickly and easily drawn open at this point, this arrangement being
of course equally applicable to either or both sides of the corset.

page_text: The various parts or sections of the corset are sewn or secured together in the
ordinary manner while stiffening ribs of whalebone, steel or the like ary employed
as required, and preferably arranged so as to run perpendicular and parallel with
the figure as far as possible.
Having now particularly described "and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The new or improved corset constructed of loose canvas or netting a having
front pieces of elastic material b in combination with the belt (Fig. 3) and the
arrangement of buttons f, tabs t and loops whereby the said belt may be secured
in position and lowered as required, the whole combined arranged and constructed
substantially as herein described and shown and for the purposes specified.
2. The new or improved corset more particularly intended for use during the
period of gestation substantially as herein described and shown and for the purposes
.specified.
Dated this 4th day of May 1896
F. G. CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.