Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1887
Complete Left, 21st Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
I, WILLIAM SACHS of the Firm of A. Sachs, Manufacturer of india-rubbor goods, of
Berlin in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in braces, garters and similar elastic articles ;
the objects of said improvements are to provide a superior elasticity and at the same
time great easiness in wearing the braces, garters and other such articles; said easiness
is attained, first, by reducing as much as possible the surface of contact by which
the braces or garters bear against the body, and further, by providing ventilation of
the articles in question; by these means friction and pressure worked by the elastic
band against the body are remarkably reduced and the free air, entering through the
band prevents perspiration or transpiration. The improved elasticity of the band,
besides, increases its durability and spares the buttons and button-holes or clasps of
the braces or garters.
To better explain the improvements of my invention, I will describe the same as
applied to braces; the application to garters and other elastic articles of the kind will,
then, be readily understood.
In carrying my invention into practice 1 make according to one modification, the
band of the braces of two, three, or more india-rubber pipes arranged parallel one
beside another, through the whole length, or crossing each other as convenient. The
said rubber-pipes consist preferably of pure caoutchouc of best quality, and they may
be covered with silk, wool, cotton or other fibrous material.
These pipes arranged one beside another are united only at intervals by any
suitable means, such as cords, band, metal-clamps or the like, in a manner, that air
may freely enter between the said pipes at all portions of the length, where the pipes
are not united-In order to provide a more complete passage of the air between the
said pipes, the latter may, if convenient, be kept asunder by small studs, or pulleys
arranged between them.
The band or strap of the braces, being composed of several pipes of circular cross-
section, does not bear against the body with its full surface, but, theoretically, only

page_text: with two, three or as many lines, as there are pipes employed. In consequence, the
friction and pressure caused by the band against the body, is considerably reduced
and no transpiration excited, the less so, as the perspiration of the body may freely
escapo between the several pipes of the band.
Though I prefer to employ rubber-pipes, being of little weight, to compose the
band or strap of the braces, I may, with a similar good effect, employ straps or cords
of solid rubber, or twisted of rubber-thread, of circular or any other convenient cross-
section; the essential feature of my invention being this, that the several pipes, straps
or cords of which the band of the braces is composed, are united only in such a way,
that perspiration may escape and air enter between them.
The straps on the free ends, as well as at the back of the braces, serving to form
the button-holes, may be secured to the clastic band in any convenient manner.
According to one modification of my invention, the pipes, cords or straps which
compose the band, form loops at the free ends of the band, through these loops a cord
or strap is passed, which forms the button holes, or to which the leather or cord,
forming the button-holes is attached. By this means, I avoid the necessity of using
metal-buckles, which offer many inconveniences in wearing.
It is not essential that the bands or straps of the braces be made entirely of elastic
pipes, cords or straps, as described. A sufficient elasticity will be obtained, if only
parts of the length of the bands or straps be made of elastic material, the remaining
parts of non-elastic cords, bands or straps, which, however, ought in any case to be
arranged, either parallel one beside another, or crossing each other, and united only
at intervals, so as to allow perspiration to escape and free air to enter, as described
with reference to the elastic material.
In using such non-elastic material, the bands or straps of the braces will be
composed partly of elastic and partly of non-elastic material, the several elastic
and non-elastic portions of the length being secured to each other by any suitable
means.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Braces, Garters, and similar Elastic Articles.
I, WILLIAM SACHS of the Firm of A. Sachs, Manufacturer of india-rubber goods,
of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, 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 braces garters, and other similar elastic
articles, such as belts, suspending-straps for stockings and the like; the object of said
improvements is to provide a superior elasticity, and at the same time great easiness
and comfort in wearing the braces, garters and other like elastic articles. Such
casiness is attained, first by reducing as much as possible, the surface of contact, by
which the braces or garters, etcetera, bear against the body, and further, by providing
ventilation of the articles in question; by these means, friction and pressure worked
by the elastic band against the body are remarkably reduced, and air, entering
through the open intervals of the constituent parts of the band prevents transpiration
being excited. The improved elasticity of the band, besides, increases its durability,
and spares the buttons and button-holes or clasps of the braces, garters, and other
articles embodying the improvements of my invention.
To better explain the said improvements, I will describe the same as applied to
braces, reference being had to the accompanying three sheets of drawings; the
application to garters and other elastic articles, belts and the like, will, then be readily
understood.
In carrying my invention into practice, I make, according to one modification, the
band of the braces of two, three or more india-rubber pipes a arranged either parallel,
one beside another through the whole length of the band, as shown in Figure 1 of the
drawings, or crossing each other, as convenient. The said rubber-pipes a preferably
consist of pure caoutchouc of best quality, and they may be covered with silk, wool,
cotton, or other fibrous material. These pipes a arranged one beside another, may be
united at intervals, as indicated by b, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, by any suitable means,
such as cords, band, metal-clamps, or the like, in a manner that air may freely enter
between the said pipes at all portions of the length, where the pipes are not united.
In order to provide a more complete passage of the air between the said pipes a, the
latter may, if convenient, be distanced by small studs c or pulleys d arranged between
them, as indicated in Figure 3.
Or, according to another modification, the rubber-pipes a are not united at intervals,
but continue to run parallel one beside another through the whole length of the band,
being guided and distanced in their rear bent part by pulleys d, as clearly shown in
Figures 10 and 11, sheet II of the drawings. The said pulleys d are arranged to
turn each on an axis, which, conveniently, is formed by the back of a link d¹, said
links being joined to form a flexible chain yielding to either side, and following
any sideward bending of the body.

page_text: In Figures 1 and 2, the said guide-pulleys d are simply secured between two plates
or sheets of metal, leather or other convenient material.
The band or strap of the braces, being composed of several pipes of circular
cross-section, does not bear against the body with its full underside suaface, but,
theoretically, only with two, three, or as many longitudinal lines, as there are pipes
employed to form the band. In consequence, the friction and pressure acted by the
band against the body, is considerably reduced, and no transpiration excited, the less
so, as the perspiration of the body may freely escape between the several constituent
pipes of the band.
Though I prefer to employ hollow rubber pipes, being of little weight, 1 sometimes
employ cords or straps of solid rubber, or twisted of rubber thread, to compose the
band of the braces, said cords or straps being of circular or flat, or any other
convenient cross section. Solid rubber cords are shown in the cross section,
Figure 6, while hollow pipes are indicated in the cross section, Figures 5 and 14.
The essential feature of my invention is this, that the several pipes, straps or bands of
which the band of the braces is composed, are so arranged to allow the perspiration
to escape, and the free air to enter between them.
The straps e on the free ends, as well as at the back of the braces, serving to form
the button holes, may be secured to the elastic pipes or cords a in any convenient
manner; Figure 1 shows a trimming of leather, sheet-metal or other suitable
material, which unites the free ends of the pipes a and holds the straps e secured to
it. In Figure 2 the pipes, cords or straps a which compose the band, are all made
of one integral length, and bent at the free ends to form loops f, through which
a cord or strap e is passed, which forms the button holes, or to which a leather
or cord e forming the button holes, is attached. By this means, I entirely avoid the
necessity of using metal buckles, which offer many inconveniences in wearing. The
length of the braces is adjustable by providing several loops f¹ at each end, the strap e
may be passed through that loop, which answers to the required length.
Figure 7 is another modification of the free end of the brace band, forming a loop f¹
through which the strap e is passed.
Where metal parts are not objected to, the free ends of the rubber pipes or cords a
may be held secured in metal shells 2, Figures 10 and 13, which form a clasp
or casing, to which a. strap e with button holes, or a chain f³ may be attached. The
strap e, in this case, passes over a pulley d of a shackle e', carrying a hook e², which
hook engages with one of the links of the chain f³. The length of the braces may, by
such and similar means, be easily adjusted to the requirements. In Figures 10 and 13,
the shells of the several rubber pipes a form a rigid casing, but it may be
preferable, in some cases, to secure each pipe or corda in a separate shell f2, the
several shells being provided, each with a lug at its lower end, and capable of
turning on a common pivot f* passed through said lugs, as shown in Figure 14. By
this means I provide an independent forward and backward motion for each separate
end of a pipe or cord a, and a superior flexibility of the parts.
Though I prefer to compose the entire length of the band or bands of a pair of
braces of elastic pipes or cords a, as described, a sufficient elasticity may, in some
cases, be obtained if only the greater part of the length of the band or strap be made
of elastic material, the remaining part of the length being made of non-elastic cords,
bands, or straps a', which however, ought in any case to be so arranged one beside
another, or crossing each other, as to allow perspiration to escape, and free air to
enter, as described with reference to the elastic material. In using such non-elastic
material a¹, the bands or straps of the pair of braces will be composed partly of
clastic and partly of non elastic material, as shown in Figure 8, the several lengths
of elastic and non elastic material being secured to each other by any suitable
means.
Figure 9 shows a garter composed of three rubber pipes or cords a parallel to each
other throughout the length, and united at the ends by suitable clasps.
In Figures 15 and 16, sheet III, of the drawings, I have shewn another modifica-
tion of my invention. The elastic band of the braces, in this case, consists of two

page_text: rubber pipes a of a flat, oblong cross section, or of two solid elastic flat bands a
arranged parallel to each other, throughout the entire length of the braces, Figure 15.
Or the two pipes or bands a may form one integral endless pipe or band, as indicated
by Figure 16, said pipe or band being passed through a loop g' at the front ends of
the braces. The free ends of the integral length of the pipe or band a are united to
form an endless band or strap, and they may be adjustably connected to each other by
a series of button holes and a removable button, or any other suitable fastening device,
in a manner, to shorten or extend the integral length of the integral band or strap,
according to the requirements. The adjustment of the length of the braces,
accordingly, may be easily accomplished by shortening or extending the length of the
integral band at one point only, while, with the usual braces, both sides must be
adjusted.
On the back the two pipes or bands a are passed through a loop g, the upper
frame-side of which may be surrounded by a loose sleeve g². The two pipes or bands a
do not pass around said sleeve in the same direction, one being introduced from the
rear to the front, the other from the front to the rear, as shown in Figure 15. By
this means I obtain an independent and free sliding motion of each of the pipes or
bands a and prevent jamming of the two bands against each other, as also against the
ends of the loop g.
I am well aware that braces are known, which consist of one integral length of
band or strap, but said band or strap is not divided in the direction of its length, and
its bent or folded part at the rear, passing through a loop like that in Figure 15, not
only causes inconvenience by jamming at any sideward bending motion of the body,
but by such jamming is also subject to rapid wear and tear, and its free motion and
elasticity are greatly impaired.
I
The arrangement of the two pipes or bands a passing through the loop y in opposite
directions, secures to the braces, its unimpaired and full elasticity and free motion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
1st. In a pair of braces, in garters, belts and other similar elastic articles, the
combination of two or more clastic pipes, cords or bands arranged parallel beside
each other, or crossing each other, leaving sufficient space between each other for the
entrance of air, and the escape of perspiration.
2nd. In a pair of braces, in garters belts and other similar elastic articles, the
combination of two or more elastic pipes, cords, or bands, arranged parallel beside
each other, or crossing each other, and united at convenient, intervals by cords, bands
or clamps, leaving sufficient space between each other for the entrance of air, and the
escape of perspiration.
3rd. In a pair of braces, in garters, belts and other similar elastic articles, the
combination of two or more elastic pipes, cords, or bands, laid parallel beside each
other, or crossing each other, and forming one integral length throughout the extent
of the article, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4th. In a pair of braces, in garters, belts and other similar elastic articles, the
combination of two or more elastic pipes, cords, or straps arranged parallel beside
each other, or crossing each other, and forming loops at the free ends of the article,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5th. In a pair of braces, the combination of two or more elastic pipes, cords or
straps laid parallel beside each other, or crossing each other, and guided at the rear
by pulleys or sheaves, allowing a free sliding motion to the said pipes, cords, or straps,
and serving to distance the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6th. In a pair of braces, the combination of two or more elastic pipes, cords or
straps arranged parallel beside each other, or crossing each other, and united at the
free ends of the brace bands by a casing carrying a chain or lug strap, to which the
button hole strap is adjustably attached by a clasp hook, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.

page_text: 7th. In a pair of braces, the combination of two or more elastic pipes, cords, or
straps arranged parallel beside each other, or crossing each other, and united at the
free ends of the brace bands by a pivot passing through lugs formed or secured to
shells, attached to the said pipes, cords, or straps, allowing each shell to turn
independently on the common pivot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8th. In a pair of braces, in garters, belts and other similar elastic articles, the
combination with two or more elastic pipes, cords or bands, arranged parallel beside
each other, or crossing each other, of two or more non elastic pipes, cords or bands
forming part of the article, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of Anril 1888.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Filing Agents for the Applicant.