IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Elizabeth Abbott and Matilda Abbott, both of
Horningsea, in the County of Cambridge, Gentlewomen, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS."
Sealed the 3rd August 1855, and dated the 31st March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Elizabeth Abbott and
Matilda Abbott at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 31st March 1855. -
We, ELIZABETH ABBOTT and MATILDA ABBOTT, both of Horningsea, in the
County of Cambridge, Gentlewomen, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS" to be as follows:- .
. Our Invention consists of two parts, which may be used separately or com-
bined. The first part consists in an improved busk fastening for stays
fastening in front. The busk is composed of two pieces attached one on each
side to the front of the stay; upon the under busk we fix three studs with
oblong heads, and behind the opposite busk we make three button holes or
apertures. The stay, after being placed upon the body of the wearer, is
fastened by drawing over the upper busk and inserting the long heads of the
studs in the button holes. Should it be required to let out the stay and make
it larger, we attach tabs with button holes or apertures to that side of the
stay or back of the busk opposite that on which the studs are fixed.

page_text: The second part of our Invention consists in adjusting stays to the waist of
the wearer by means of two bands, which being drawn from opposite sides to
the front of the stay, there to be fastened by an eyelet hole and hook, cause a
fold in the back of the stay.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Elizabeth Abbott and Matilda Abbott in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 6th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ELIZABETH
ABBOTT and MATILDA ABBOTT, both of Horningsea, in the County of Cambridge,
Gentlewomen, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Elizabeth Abbott and Matilda Abbott, Her special licence that we, the
said Elizabeth Abbott and Matilda Abbott, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Elizabeth Abbott and Matilda Abbott,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Elizabeth Abbott and
Matilda Abbott, or one of us, by an instrument in writing under our hands
and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Elizabeth Abbott and Matilda Abbott,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
Our Invention consists of two parts, which may be used separately or

page_text: combined. The first part consists in an improved busk fastening for stays
fastening in front. The busk is composed of two pieces attached one on each
side to the front of the stay; upon the under busk we fix three studs with
oblong heads, and behind the opposite busk we make three button holes or
apertures. The stay, after being placed upon the body of the wearer, is
fastened by drawing over the upper busk and inserting the long heads of the
studs in the button holes. Should it be required to let out the stay and make
it larger, we attach tabs with button holes or apertures to that side of the stay
or back of the busk opposite that on which the studs are fixed.
The second part of our Invention consists in adjusting stays to the waist of
the wearer by means of two bands or braids, which being drawn from opposite
sides to the front of the stay, there to be fastened by an eyelet hole and hook,
cause a fold or folds in the back of the stay.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed we have shewn the manner in which we
carry both parts of our Invention into effect.
Figure 1 represents an exterior view of a pair of stays, shewn as opened out,
and Figure 2, a front view of the same fastened. A, A, are the stays, and B, B',
the busks. The busk B is fitted with three or more projecting studs C, C, C,
firmly rivetted thereto, and formed with long heads, as shewn in the detached
views, Figures 3, 4, and 5. When fastening the stays the busks B, B', lap
over each other, and the projecting studs are passed through either the eye-
holes D, D, formed in the body of the stay, and at the back of the busk B', or
through similar eye holes made in the tabs E, E, sewn on to the edge of the
stay. F is a regulating piece, which may either form part of the back of the
stay, or it may be a separate piece inserted therein. The regulating piece F
is capable of expanding from the points a, a, downward to the extent of the
stuff, forming a fold on each side between the two supporting bones F¹, F¹, and
the edge bones b, b. G, G, are two bands, one end of each of which is securely
sewn on to the back of the stays at opposite sides. These bands are passed
through the loops c, c, and are brought round to the front, where they are
fastened on to hooks d, d, eyelet holes being formed in the ends of the bands
for that purpose. By tightening or letting out these bands, the folds down the
back of the stays are drawn in or let out according to the ease required by the
wearer. Instead of hooks and eyelet holes, any other suitable fastening may
be adopted for the ends of the bands.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim as our
improvements in stays is,―
First, the improved busk fastening for stays fastening in front, consisting of

page_text: .
a busk provided with projecting studs with oblong heads, which pass through
button holes made either, behind the opposite busk or in tabs attached to
the stay, as herein-before described, and represented in the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
Second, adjusting stays to the waist of. the wearer by means of bands
attached to the back of the stays, which, draw together or let out a regulating
folding piece in the back thereof, in the manner herein-before described, and
represented in the Drawings hereunto-annexed.
ess
In witness whereof; we, the said Elizabeth Abbott and Matilda Abbott,
have hereunto set our hands-and seals, this Third day of September,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
ELIZABETH ABBOTT. (L.S.)
MATILDA ABBOTT.
(L.S.)