IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIRTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIRTS." A communication
from abroad by C. Répécaud and Company, of Lyons, in the Republic of
France. Shirt Makers
Sealed the 23rd December 1879, and dated the 2nd July 1879..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd July 1879.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE
5 MENTS IN SHIRTS." A communication from abroad by C. Répécaud and Company,
of Lyons, in the Republic of France, Shirt Makers.
The improved shirt is closed without buttons or clasps by means of the tab which
Berves ordinarily to fasten the shirt to the drawers or trousers. For this purpose,
this tab instead of being attached to the bottom of the front, is prolonged by a
10 narrower part or tape which is fixed under the left breast at about the middle of
its height, and upon the part which covers the right breast; this last carries at the
Bame height a horizontal slit through which the tape passes, which again descends
behind the two breasts, and passes out at the bottom of the front at the place
where the tab is ordinarily fixed. The alit formed for this purpose is of the width
5 of the tape, but the tab connected to the tape is broader, of more folds, and starched
so that it cannot pass, and as the tape has only the length of the breasts between
this slit and its point of attachment, it results therefore that when the front is
extended, the tape is also extended, the breasts are united, and as it were fixed
together at the middle of their height, or higher or lower, according to the point
O where the tape is fixed, which suffices to keep the shirt closed. To put on the shirt
it suffices to distend the tape by lightly folding the breasts, until the latter are
separated sufficiently to allow the head to pass. The tape is extended of itself, and
effects the closing as soon as the front is itself extended. It is to be remarked that
it is not necessary that the tab should be buttoned to the drawers or trousers to
5 effect the closing of the shirt, but that, as in shirts generally, this precaution con-
tributes to the proper setting thereof. This arrangement of tab can be applied to
all kinds of fronts and to all shapes of shirts, as it does not interfere in any way
with exterior forms, as is the case with other buttonless shirts in which the arrange-
ments are applied to the upper part.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st January 1880.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE
MENTS IN SHIRTS." A communication from abroad by C. Répécaud and Company,
of Lyons, in the Republic of France, Shirt Makers.
The improved shirt is closed, without buttons or clasps, by means of the tab which
serves ordinarily to fasten the shirt to the drawers or trousers.
For this purpose, this tab, instead of being attached to the bottom of the front,
is prolonged by a narrower part or tape which is fixed under the left breast at
about the middle of its height, and upon the part which covers or overlaps the right
breast;
this last carries at the same height a horizontal slit through which the tape
passes, the tape then descends behind the two breasts, and passes out at the bottom
of the front at the place where the tab is ordinarily fixed. The slit formed for this
purpose is of the width of the tape, but the tab connected to the tapo is broader,
of more folds and starched, so that it cannot pass, and as the tape has only the
length of the breast between this slit and its point of attachment, it results there-
fore that when the front is extended, the tape is also extended, the breasts are
united, and as it were, fixed together at the middle of their height, or higher or
lower, according to the point where the tape is fixed, which suffices to keep the
shirt closed. To put on the shirt, it suffices to distend the tape by lightly folding
the breasts, until the latter are separated sufficiently to allow the head to pass,
The tape is extended of itself, and effects the closing as soon as the front is itself
extended.
It is to be remarked that it is not necessary that the tab should be buttoned to
the drawers or trousers to effect the closing of the shirt, but that, as in shirts
generally, this precaution contributes to the proper setting thereof. This arrange-
ment of tab can be applied to all kinds of fronts and to all shapes of shirts, as it
does not interfere in any way with exterior forms, as is the case with other button-
less shirts in which the arrangements are applied to the upper part.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully

page_text: breast folding a little, gives to the tab a certain length between the points d and e
sufficient to enable the wearer to pass his head conveniently through the shirt.
This length disappears as soon as the breasts forming the front are stretched.
I would remark that it is not necessary that the moveable tab should be buttoned
to the drawers or trousers to effect the closing, but as in ordinary shirts, this pre-
caution contributes to the proper setting thereof. This arrangement of tab can be
applied to all kinds of breasts, and to all shapes of shirts, as it does not interfere in
any way with exterior forms; it has this advantage over other buttonless shirts in
which the fastening arrangements are applied to the upper part.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,
closing or fastening a shirt by means of a moveable tab uniting the two breasts of
the front at any convenient height, such tab being used or not as desired for con-
necting the shirt to the drawers or trousers.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.