Improvements in Bustles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Bustles.
I, THOMAS PORTER TAYLOR, residing at Park Place, in the city of Bridge County
of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, one of the United States of America, Manu-
facturer, 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 certain new and useful improvements in bustles and the
object thereof is to produce a bustle which shall be cheap and simple in its construc-
tion, which shall, in its essential parts, be entirely of wire, said wire being so wrought
that as short a length as possible shall be employed, whereby stock is economized;
and with these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction
and combination of elements which will be hereinafter fully set forth and then recited
in the claims.
In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may fully
understand my device and how to make the same, I will describe it in detail,
reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specifi-
cation and in which
Fig. 1, is a perspective of my improved bustle.
Fig. 2, a similar view, but showing the properly bent wire prior to securing in
operative position.
Fig. 3, a detail modification of a loop and
Fig. 4, a similar view.
Like figures of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
1, represents the waist band or belt and 2, the spacing tape. The distending
bows 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are formed from a single length of wire, bent at the corners of the
bustle into spring loops 8, said wire being carried across, backward and forward until
as many bows are made as are required to produce a bustle of the proper size. At
either end of the wire I prefer to form hooks 9 which, as shown at figure 1, are passed
through the loops and in conjunction with the lacing cord 10, serve to keep the bustle
in shape. Said hooks are not essential however, as a cord or some equally simple
equivalent is entirely adequate to retain the bustle in assembled and operative
form.

page_text: The resilient action of the bustle is obtained from the loops, which, when the bows
are collapsed upward receive tension therefrom. When the bows are released the
spring of the loops throws said bows downward and thereby returns the bustle to its
normal position.
In figures 1 and 2, I have shown the wires as crossed to form the loops. I do not
however, desire to be limited to such construction, as the loops can, as shown at detail
figure 3, be equally as well bent up without crossing the wire. It will be observed
that the entire length of wire used in the construction of this bustle goes to form the
distending bows, saving only that little which is utilized in the loops. There are no
side stays and no crossed wire sections or braces which could in any way irritate or
injure the person of the wearer.
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. In a bustle the combination with a suitable waist band and check tape of a
series of distending bows and a plurality of spring loops interposed, one between the
ends of each two bows, and a lacing cord whereby the looped ends of the bows are
secured in assembled position and the middle of the bustle controlled and varied,
substantially as set forth.
2. A bustle consisting of a plurality of distending bows, between the ends of which
and the ends of the next bows are interposed spring loops, and a suitable wrist band
and check tape.
3. A bustle consisting of the waist band 1, the spacing or check tape 2, the bows 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, the loops 8, each serving to connect the ends of two bows, the lacing
cord 10, extended between the corners of the bustle and the hooks 9, clasped through
the loops.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1000.
THOMAS PORTER TAYLOR.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.