Improvements in or connected with Braces or Suspenders.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Braces or Suspenders.
I, THOMAS PARKIN, of Blaithwaite, Wigton, in the County of Cumberland,
Architect, 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 improvements in or connected with braces or suspenders
by means of which certain advantages are obtained.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I shall proceed to describe
how I carry it into effect in the case of braces or suspenders of the well known
type in which two long straps of leather or of webbing or other fabric, pass from
the back forwards, one over each shoulder, and downwards till they pass through
a buckle to which the front tabs are attached. As is well known, the adjustment
of this type of brace depends upon the length of strap passed through the said
buckle before the latter is fastened upon it. Thus to tighten the brace, a further
length of strap is pulled through the buckle, or in other words the buckle is
passed upwards over the strap to a higher level.
Taking the said strap of such a brace, I stamp, impress, weave, brand or other-
wise mark the same with a number of parallel transverse lines spaced at suitable
distances apart, or I may substitute for the said transverse lines a series of bars
or wires let into, or embedded in, the material of which the said straps are
composed.
The action of my invention is as follows. Let us assume that the braces or
suspenders are being used for a given pair of trousers and that it is known that for
that pair of trousers the braces should be of a certain length. Then all that it is
necessary to do is to pass the said strap through the buckles until the buckles
reach the transverse line or bar corresponding with the desired length of brace.
Thus, for example, if the straps of the braces be marked in inches and it is known
that the ends of the straps should project beyond the buckle for a distance of three
inches, all that it is required to do is to pull the ends of the straps through the
buckle until the latter reaches the third line or bar, when it is fastened. Ŏr, let
us assume that the legs of the wearer are of unequal length and that the right strap
requires to be one inch longer than the left one. In this case, the buckle of the
right strap is brought say to the second line or bar and the buckle of the left strap
to the third line or bar.
In practice I prefer, in the case of leather straps, to mark them by branding or
impressing transverse lines thereon, and in the case of webbing or fabric to
mark the said straps by means of transverse coloured threads woven into the said
webbing or fabric.
I find it convenient to space the lines apart in inches, halves and quarters, the
inch lines consisting of lines extending the whole distance across the straps, the
half inch lines extending half way across and the quarter lines one fourth of
the distance across. I also find it convenient in many cases to number the
said lines consecutively, the numerals being legibly marked in the same manner as
the lines.
I desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited to braces of the
kind mentioned but that it is applicable to other kinds of suspenders, such for
example as those employed by ladies for sustaining stockings and the like. The
mode of and means for applying my invention in the case of other kinds of
suspenders will be readily understood from what has preceded.

page_text: Having now particularly described aud 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 method of rendering braces or suspenders readily adjustable, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
2. As a new article of manufacture, braces or suspenders. marked substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
3. The application of a graduated scale to braces or suspenders substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
4. The application of a graduated scale and numerals to braces or suspenders,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 28th day of April 1896.
THOMAS PARKIN,
Per J. G. Lorrain,
Norfolk House, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.