Corsets especially Designed for Giving Freedom of Movement to the Wearer.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Corsets especially Designed for Giving Freedom of Movement to the
Wearer.
SOPHIE AMELIA GREENE, The Yews, Weeke Hill, Winchester, Gentlewoman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I make the corsets of various materials, and I use various kinds of steels and
bones. I shape the bones and steels exactly to the contour of the human form. I
have the supports at the back and front of the corsets, either of steel, bone, or other
substance, made on an entirely new principle. I make these in two forms. Firstly,
I slit the steel, bone, or other substance, either wholly, or partially. Secondly, I slit
the steel, bone or other substance, down wholly, or partially, and I insert springs
within the slit or division. In this manner I give freedom to the wearer when
breathing heavily.
The bones, steels, or other substances with which I stiffen the corsets, start from
the back and curve round towards the front, following the lines of the ribs. Some-
times I attach these by small springs to the back supports.
I strengthen this curved part of the corset by strips arranged transversely or
perpendicularly.
I ventilate the corset in two ways, firstly by pierced ventilating holes sewed over,
and secondly by oeilleted holes or holes pierced and ringed with metal. I have these
made in two ways, firstly the plain metal oiellet or metal ringed ventilating hole,
secondly, the oiellet or ringed ventilating hole with a movable slide which will work
on a pivot.
In both cases I may have a flap of thin material, fixed on to the outside, or the
inside of the corset, this flap may be buttoned back, or let down according to the
wearer's convenience and the state of the atmosphere.
I make the top of the bust, and shoulder-blade parts of the corsets, on quite new
lines. These parts I make detachable, they are fixed on the corsets themselves, by
bones or other substance, which extend beyond the detachable pieces, and fit into
little casings made to receive them, in the corset itself.
They also button on with small tongues, going reverse ways, to ensure greater
security.
The detachable pieces are made in this way to allow of the corset being worn with
a low evening dress.
The bust is supported by means of a shaped piece, which can be tightened, or
loosened by means of buttons, laces, or studs at the wearer's pleasure.
I cross the bones or other substance sometimes, and secure them in the centre by
means of an oeillet or metal ringed ventilating hole. These I may use on my
shoulder-blade pieces, and on different parts of the corset which need support.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1900
[Price 8d.]
SOPHIE AMELIA GREENE.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Corsets especially Designed for Giving Freedom of Movement to the
Wearer.
SOPHIE AMELIA GREENE, late of the Yews, Weeke Hill, Winchester, but now of
Merrieleas, Chandlers Ford, Hants, Gentlewoman, 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 corsets, and has for its object to provide
a corset that will permit freedom of movement of the body of the wearer, for example
during athletic exercise, and be adaptable for wear with high, and low cut
dresses.
Under my invention I make the corset of the usual materials, and sorts of steels,
and bones. To attain the above object, namely, freedom for movement for the body
of the wearer, I make the principal supports at the back, and the supports or busks
at the front of the corset in the following manner, namely, I slit the support whether
of steel, bone, or other substance, partly or wholly, and at intervals within the slit or
division I attach, or provide springs thereby giving elasticity to that part of the
corset, and providing room for the expansion of the body of the wearer. I also provide
short lengths of steels, bones or other suitable stays arranged to start on each side
from the back supports, these stays are curved to follow the lines of the figure of the
wearer, and are attached to the back stays or supports by flat springs, and I strengthen
this part of the corset by stays arranged transversely or vertically.
I ventilate the corset in two ways, firstly by means of oversewn ventilating holes,
and secondly by eyelets, or metal ringed holes.
The eyelets may be plain metal eyelets or be provided with a movable slide working
on a pin as a pivot so that by moving the slide the eyelet holes may be covered or
uncovered as desired.
I also may provide a flap or curtain of thin material either on the inside or the
outside of the corset to cover the ventilating holes, to uncover the holes it is buttoned
back and exposes the holes.
I make the top of the bust and shoulder-blade portions of the corset on quite new
lines.
These parts I make detachable. They are fixed on to the corsets themselves, by
means of bones or strips of other substance, which extend beyond the detachable
portions, and fit into little casings made to receive them, on the corset itself,
they also button on with small tongues, going reverse ways, to ensure greater
security.
These detachable pieces are made in this manner to allow of the corset being worn
with a low evening dress. The bust portion of the figure is supported by means of a
shaped band, which can be made tight or loose, by means of buttons, laces, or studs,
at the wearers pleasure.
I cross the strips of bones, steels or other substance sometimes, and secure them
in the centre by means of an eyelet, on such parts of the corset which may require
strengthening. I may use them also on my shoulder-blade pieces, and in the
different parts of the corset which need support.
Having thus generally described the object, nature and effects of my invention, I
will now proceed to describe it with reference to the sheet of accompanying drawings
in which
Figure 1, is a front view, and
Figure 2. a back view illustrating my improvements in corsets.

page_text: With reference to the drawings A designates the corset generally, this is made in
the usual way, and of the usual materials, a are the front supports or busk, and & are
the back supports of the corset, under my invention to give freedom of movement to
the wearer I slit or divide these supports for some distance above and below the waist
line, as shown at a Figure 1, or for the entire length as shown at b, when the support
is slit for the entire length I provide springs 61 attached to the divided parts of the
support or busk as shown at Figure 3 the slit or division of the support permits the
parts of the support to expand, and provide for the expansion of the body during
breathing or other movement. c designate crossed stays (bones) united to the corset
by an eyelet at c¹, and are supports (bones) arranged to follow the curves or lines
of the figure, and attached at the back to the back supports d by springs d², h are
ventilating holes formed of metal or other eyelets let into the corset body, e are the
detachable bust pieces and g are the detachable shoulder-blade portions, these portions
e and gare fixed on to the corset by means of the bones f and g¹ respectively which
fit into casings or pockets formed on the corset and made to receive them, tongue
pieces having button-holes may also be provided on the parts to fasten to the corset
by buttons. These detachable parts e and y provide a support to the wearer when
taking violent exercise, and also allow of the corset being worn with a high or a low
dress.
The bust (or bosom) part of the corset is made of soft material slightly fulled,
the bosom is kept in a natural shape, and supported, by means of a shaped or curved
band which being hollowed supports the bosom in a rounded form and can
be tightened or slackened by means of buttons, laces, or studs at the wearer's
pleasure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A corset for providing freedom to the wearer when breathing or taking
exercise, constructed, and operating substantially as described, that is to say, a corset
having slit or divided main supports or busks; springs adapted to connect and provide
elasticity to such supports, side bones or supports curved and adapted to follow the
lines of the figure and connected to the back stays by springs, detachable parts for
supporting and giving freedom of movement to the bust and shoulder-blades as set
forth.
2. In a corset, detachable bust and shoulder pieces constructed and attached to the
corset as herein set forth and whereby the corset is adapted to suit dresses both for
day and evening wear as described.
3. The means herein described of ventilating corsets, namely, dividing or slitting
the supports and providing eyelet holes in the body of the corset as set
forth.
4. The improved corset, constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and
for the purposes described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of April 1899.
Dated this 21st day of April 1899.
FREDERICK J. CHEESBROUGH,
Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
Grant & Maddisons Bank Buildings, Canute Road, Southampton,
Applicant's Agent.