IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS OR CORSETS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel Civil Engineer and Patent
"
Agent in the city of Hamburg Germany for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STAYS OR CORSETS a communication to him by Eduard Lerch, Gustav
Lerch and John Meyer, Corset manufacturers trading under the firm of
Lerch & Co of Ottensen in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix
"
a com-
Engel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th May 1883.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL Civil Engineer' and Patent Agent in the
city of Hamburg Germany "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS OR CORSETS
munication to me by Eduard Lerch, Gustav Lerch and John Meyer Corset
manufacturers trading under the firm of Lerch & Co of Ottensen in the German
Empire
This invention relates to certain improvements in stays or corsets and has for
its object to effect an improved method of attaching the busks of stays or corsets
to the busk cases and allows of the use of busks of any suitable material thus for
example those made of horn, bone, steel, rattan and so forth which busks can be
exchanged withdrawn and replaced without cutting or damaging any part of the
busks or of the cases.
The improvement consists in forming the ends of each busk-case with a covering
flap of metal, cloth leather or other suitable material capable of being secured and
fastened as herein after described which flap can be opened or closed and when open
allows of inspection of the material used for the busks, of removal and of replacing
or exchanging of such busks as may be necessary or desired.
The flap or cover is formed with a joint at lower end and a releasing spring and
when closed is kept in that position by means of the spring hinged cover and
a button or a loop under which a tongue on the cover will be passed and held.
This fastening of the flap will be strong and tight enough to prevent the busks
from opening the flaps accidentally which otherwise might be effected by the
sliding and torsional motion of the busks during the wearing of the corset.
When metal flaps are used, these are preferably hinged to a casing of metal
furnished with an upper projecting spring rim or cover that will retain the enclosed
busk or busks when said busks would shift in upward or downward direction in
accordance with the movements of the body of the person wearing the stay. The
back of the casing is sewn or rivetted to the body of the corset as desired or may
be requisite.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th November 1883.
"
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL Civil Engineer and Patent Agent in the
city of Hamburg, Germany "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS OR CORSETS a com-
munication to me by Eduard Lerch, Gustav Lerch, and John Meyer, Corset
Manufacturers trading under the firm of Lerch and Co of Ottensen in the German
Empire
This invention relates to certain improvements in stays or corsets and has for
its object an improved method of attaching the busks supports or stiffeners of stays
or corsets to the buskcases and allows of the using of busks, supports or stiffeners
of any suitable material, thus for example those made of horn, bone, steel, rattan
and so forth which busks supports or stiffeners can be exchanged withdrawn and
replaced without cutting or damaging any part of the busks supports or stiffeners
or of the cases.
The improvement consists in forming the ends of each busk case with a covering
flap of metal, cloth, leather or other suitable material, capable of being secured and
fastened as hereinafter described. which flap can be opened or closed and when
open allows of inspection of the material used for the busks supports or stiffeners,
of removal and of replacing or exchanging of such busks supports or stiffeners as
may be necessary or desired. The flap or cover is formed with a joint at lower
end and a retaining spring and when closed is kept in that position by means of
the spring hinged cover and a button or a loop under which a tongue on the cover
will be passed and held. This fastening of the flap will be strong and tight enough
to prevent the busks, supports or stiffeners from opening the flaps accidentally
which otherwise might be effected by the sliding and torsional motions of the
busks, supports or stiffeners during the wearing of the corset. When metal flaps
are used these are preferably hinged to a casing of metal furnished with an upper
projecting spring rim or cover that will retain the enclosed busk or busks when
said busks would shift in upward or downward direction in accordance with the
movements of the body of the person wearing the stay or corset. The back of
the casing is sewn or rivetted to the body of the corset as desired or may be
requisite
The flaps may in some cases be enlarged in width so that two or more
neighbouring busk-cases may be covered by one flap only or the flaps may be
furnished with pockets at the underside for the reception of the busk points.
The flaps may be applied to both ends of the busk cases or to one end only
whilst the other end may be closed in any of the present modes used for closing
busk-cases generally.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying two sheets of drawings.
Fig 1 of Sheet I represents two different sorts of flaps, those marked a are formed
out of leather, cloth or other flexible material, whilst those flaps marked a' are
formed of metal.
g designates the busks and b the busk cases. The flaps when laid down cover
the open ends of these cases 6 and enclose the projecting ends of busk g, whilst in
open position of the flaps, the busk ends are free for exchanging same or inspection
as before described.
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively cross sections upon line a, b of the metal flaps in
open and closed position and corresponding back plate for attachment to the body
of the stay or corset.

page_text: Sheet II represents in Figs. 1 and 2 pockets d attached to the inner side of the
flexible flaps a and applied for reception of the ends of the busks as will be
understood with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 represents a flap marked A
that extends over two busk cases and Fig. 3 represents a metal fastening attached
by means of an eyelet hole to the flexible flaps.
The size and shape of the flexible flaps as well as that of the metal flaps can be
varied.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention
I claim :-
The application of flexible or of metal flaps for covering the open ends of the
busk support or stiffener cases of stays or corsets for the purpose and in the
manner substantially as herein described in reference to and shown by the
drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel have hereunto
get my hand and seal this twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord.
one thousand eight-hundred and eighty three
F. H. F. ENGEL. (L.S.)