IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR SUPPORTING TROUSERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Topham of Deansgate, Manchester in the
County of Lancaster for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR
SUPPORTING TROUSERS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Topham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st August 1983.
JOHN HENRY TOPHAM of Deansgate, Manchester in the County of Lancaster
IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR SUPPORTING TROUSERS
The Invention has for its object improvements in means for supporting trousers
whereby the use of braces is dispensed with and the inconveniences resulting
therefrom are avoided.
For this purpose I fix two buttons on or near each side seam of the trousers
such buttons being fixed at a suitable distance apart from each other. In
connection with these buttons I employ a belt which extends only from the one
soam round the back of the trousers to the opposite seam. This belt is preferably
formed in the following manner.
The centre is made of broad webbing and is provided with a buckle and slides
to enable the same to be adjusted in length and to the slides are attached connecting
ends which are provided with button holes to enable the same to be buttoned on
to the aforesaid buttons.
These connecting ends may be formed of webbing clastic or otherwise or they
may be formed of other elastic or inelastic material and the central portion of the
belt may also be made of elastic or inelastic material but it is advisable that either
tho central portion or the connecting ends be made of elastic material to afford case
to the wearer and to enable him to move in any direction without inconvenience
whilst at the same time a sufficient support is provided for the trousers.
If desired the connecting ends may be capable of adjustment in length in lieu
of or in addition to forming the central portion of the belt adjustable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Topham in the Patent Office on the 31st January
1884.
JOHN HENRY TOPHAM of Deansgate Manchester in the County of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR SUPPORTING TROUSERS
"
The invention has for its object improvements in means for supporting trousers
whereby the use of braces is dispensed with and the inconveniences resulting
therefrom are avoided.
For this purpose I fix two buttons on or near each side seam of the trousers such
buttons being fixed at a suitable distance apart from each other. In connection 1
with these buttons I employ a belt which extends only from the one seam round
the back of the trousers to the opposite seam. This belt is preferably formed in
the following manner. The centre is made of broad webbing and is provided with
a buckle and slides to enable the same to be adjusted in length and to the slides
are attached connecting ends which are provided with button holes to enable the 1
same to be buttoned on to the aforesaid buttons.
These connecting ends may be formed of webbing elastic or otherwise or they
may be formed of other clastic or inelastic material and the central portion of the
belt may also be made of elastic or inelastic material but it is advisable that either
the central portion or the connecting ends be made of elastic material to afford ease
to the wearer and to enable him to move in any direction without inconvenience
whilst at the same time a sufficient support is provided for the trousers.
If desired the connecting ends may be capable of adjustment in length in lieu
of or in addition to forming the central portion of the belt adjustable
And in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying Drawings
Call & describe tha
Figure is a face view of my improved means or belt for supporting trousers
and Figures 2 and 3 are respectively an elevation and a plan representing my
invention in use..
I fix two buttons a a on or near each side seam of the trousers such buttons
being fixed at a suitable distance apart from each other In connection with these
buttons I employ a belt which extends. only from buttons a at or near the one
Beam round the back of the trousers to the buttons a at or near the opposite seam,
This belt is preferably formed in the following manner.
The centre b is made of broad webbing and is provided with a buckle cand
slides d d to enable the same to be adjusted in length and to the slides d d are
attached connecting ends ee which are provided with button holes to enable the
same to be buttoned on to the aforesaid buttons a a.
These connecting ends may be formed of webbing, elastic or otherwise, or they
may be formed of other elastic or inelastic material and the central portion b of the
belt may be made of either elastic or inelastic material but it is advisable that
either the contral portion 6 or the connecting ends e e be made of elastic material
to afford ease to the wearer and to enable him to move in any direction without
inconvenience whilst at the same time a sufficient support is provided for tho
trousers

page_text: If desired the connecting ends ee may be capable of adjustment in length in
lieu of or in addition to forming the central portion of the belt adjustable
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the mode in which I
carry the same into effect I would have it understood that what I claim is, the
improved means for supporting trousers herein described such means consisting of
a belt connected to buttons a a at or near the side seams of the trousers and
extending from the buttons on one side around the back to the buttons on the
other side such belt being constructed substantially as herein shown and described}
In witness whereof I the said John Henry Topham have hereunto set my hand
and scal this twentyninth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
JOHN HENRY TOPHAM. (L.S.)