IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUSKS FOR STAYS, BODICES, GAITERS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL
Year: 1869

page_text: 4
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edmund Knight, of the Firm of Messieurs
Knight, Whale, and Company, of Love Lane, Wood Street, in the
City of London, Merchants, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUSKS FOR STAYS, BODICES, GAITERS, AND OTHER
ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL."
Sealed the 1st January 1870, and dated the 7th July 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edmund Knight
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th July 1869.
I, HENRY EDMUND. KNIGHT, of the Firm of Messieurs Knight, Whale,
and Company, of Love Lane, Wood Street, in the City of London,
Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUSKS FOR STAYS, BODICES, GAITERS,
AND OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
busks applicable to stays, bodices, dresses, gaiters, or other articles of
wear, the object being to strengthen such busks while permitting freedom

page_text: of elasticity and to prevent them from breaking or snapping while in a
bent position.
To effect this object I propose to apply to the back or interior surface
of the busk a flat or convex metallic rib extending nearly the entire
length of the busk, and I prefer to apply the arched or convex form of
rib or plate on account of the additional strength afforded thereby. Each
end of this rib is to be firmly rivetted or attached to the busk, so that
the rib acts as a tie or stringer to the busk, the slightly arched form of
which gives it a greater length between the points of attachment to the
rib than the rib itself, and consequently the busk is strengthened on the
same principle as a bridge or curvilinear iron roof by the power of the
tie rods. Whether the busk be bent throughout its length or at any
particular part so that the whole breaking strain is concentrated at one
point so it will be found that the strengthening plate will correspond in
its contact with the rear of the busk and protect its entire length, or
that part only where the whole strain exists, and thus the tendency to
fracture in the ordinary construction of busk, more especially at or
between the fastenings, will be completely obviated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Edmund Knight in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th January 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
EDMUND KNIGHT, of the Firm of Messieurs Knight, Whale, and Com-
pany, of Love Lane, Wood Street, in the City of London, Merchants,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Henry Edmund Knight, Her special licence, that I, the
said Henry Edmund Knight, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Henry Edmund Knight, my 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

page_text: vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUSKS FOR STAYS, BODICES, GAITERS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF
WEARING APPAREL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Henry Edmund Knight, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 I, the said Henry Edmund Knight, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 certain improvements in the construction of
busks applicable to stays, bodices, dresses, gaiters, or other articles of
wear, the object being to strengthen such busks while permitting freedom
of elasticity, and to prevent them from breaking or suapping while in a
bent position.
To effect this object I apply to the back or interior surface of the busk
a flat or convex metallic rib extending nearly the entire length of the
busk, and I prefer to apply the arched or convex form of rib or plate on
account of the additional strength afforded thereby. Each end of the rib
is to be firmly riveted or attached to the busk, the slightly arched form
of which gives it a greater length between the points of attachment to
the rib than the length of the rib itself, and consequently the busk is
strengthened on the same principle as a bridge or curvilinear arched
iron roof by the power of the tie rods. The ribs should by preference be
steel, but other metal or alloy of metal may be used capable of yielding
and springing back to its original position. Whether the busk be bent
throughout its length or at any particular part so that the breaking
strain becomes concentrated at one point or position of the busk so it
will be found that the strengthening rib or plate will correspond to the
action of the busk in regard to its protecting contact with the rear of the
busk and protect its entire length, or that part only where the whole
strain exists, and consequently the tendency to fracture which occurs in
the ordinary construction of busk, more especially at or between the
fastenings, will be completely obviated. Although busks for dresses,

page_text: stays, bodices, and other large articles are generally made in an arched
or bent form, for smaller articles they are sometimes made straight or
flat. My Invention is equally applicable to this latter form of busk,
especially by using the convex metallic strengthening rib.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would remark that I do
not restrict myself to the use of flat or convex metallic protecting ribs,
since other forms may be applied, such as corrugated metal or otherwise;
neither do I restrict myself to any particular length of metallic rib as
applied to the busk, as the same may be placed and fixed to the busk
either throughout its length or to any extent, and in any position
desired; but what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein
in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved method of constructing
busks by the application thereto of steel or other metallic strengthening
ribs riveted or otherwise fastened at any given points, such ribs forming
ties to the busks and receiving the bending or breaking strain throughout
their length or at any position, thereby protecting the busk from fracture,
substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edmund Knight, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
HENRY E. KNIGHT. (L.S.)