Year: 1887

page_text: 1, FREDERICK REAST, of 5 Cambridge Gardens, Hastings, in the County of Sussex,
Hairdresser, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction of corsets for women,
men, and children, whereby comfort and support are afforded to the back of the
wearer; the figure is kept erect; the chest expanded; and tight lacing, so injurious
to health, is, in a great measure, prevented.
I proceed to describe my invention fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which Fig. 1 is a back view of one form of a pair of corsets closed, and
constructed according to my invention, and Fig. 2, another form of a pair of corsets
embodying my invention, but opened out. In both figures like letters of reference
indicate similar parts.
In constructing a pair of corsets according to my invention, the upper portions
A, A, of each half of the back are prolonged, to form shoulder straps or pieces a, a¹,
which are of gradually decreasing width, and are of such a length as to terminate
under the arms where they are retained in position by buckles b,, secured to short
lengths or strips c, c¹, of elastic webbing, sewn to the said straps or pieces. The
shoulder strap or piece a on the left, crosses and overlaps the strap or piece a', and
passes over the right shoulder, while the strap or piece a' on the right, crosses and
overlaps the strap or piece a, and passes over the left shoulder.
At the free extremity of each of the straps a, a³, are short lengths of elastic
webbing d, d, which engage respectively with the buckles b, b, herein before
mentioned. The object in interposing these lengths of elastic material e, c¹ and d, d'
is to allow free use of the arms, the webbing giving or yielding with every movement
of the arms.
The shoulder straps or pieces a, a', are in part, stiffened by bones or steels h, h³,
fitted in pockets.

page_text: jj, are loops through which the shoulder straps or pieces are passed, the loop j
seen in dotted lines, being stitched at one of its ends to the portion A, of the
corset, and at its other end, to the strap a; and the loop crossing the loop and
being stitched at one of its ends, the portion A' of the corset, and the strap a'.
In my construction it will be seen that the lacing at the back is not continued
upwards the entire height of the corset, but that only the lower half of the same is
provided with lacing, the shoulder straps or pieces answering the purpose of the
lacing along the remaining or upper half of the corset, and with greater advantage.
Fig. 2 represents my improved construction of stays alapted for the use of men and
boys. Here I dispense with the bosom or front portions of the corset, but the
shoulder straps or pieces are carried across and over the shoulders in the same manner
as previously described with reference to fig. 1, and are secured in position by the
buckles
The back portions of the corset A, A', are, in this instance, prolonged
to form a girth k, and are secured around the waist by a buckle m. To adapt this
arrangement of corset for women and girls, I provide front or bosom portions, and
furnish them with short or long busks. The dotted lines in fig. 2 represent the
arrangement of the front or bosom portions.
are bones or steels for stiffening purposes.
By reason of the construction of both these forms of corset, I am enabled to
obviate the unsightly ridge across the back, extending from shoulder to shoulder, and
which shews plainly in the present styles of corsets.
Corsets constructed as herein described and shewn in the drawings, will be found a
great comfort, and effective support will be afforded to the wearer, besides which
these corsets will give or adapt themselves to every movement of the body of the
wearer.
Having now described my Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, I would have it understood that I do not broadly claim a corset having
shoulder straps or pieces, as I am aware that, prior to my Invention, corsets have
been constructed with shoulder straps simply passing over the shoulders, without
crossing and overlapping each other, but what I do claim is :-
1. In combination with the back portions of a corset, the partly stiffened shoulder
straps or pieces (a, a) adapted to cross and overlap each other, and maintained in
position by loops (j, ¹) and secured upon themselves by fastenings (b, b) as
described and shewn, and for the purposes set forth.
2. The construction of corset shewn in fig. 2, in which the lower portions (A, A')
of the back terminate in a girth (k), or are prolonged to form bosom or front
portions (), while the upper portions of the back are extended to form shoulder
straps or pieces adapted to cross and overlap each other, to be maintained in position
by loops (), and to be secured upon themselves by fastenings (b, b¹), substantially
as described and for the purposes set forth.
3. The improved construction of corsets as herein described and shewn with
reference to the drawings, and for the purposes set forth.
DLL... CIL 1007
ERNEST DE PASS, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
68, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the Applicant.