An Appliance for Attachment to Coats, Waistcoats, and the like, for Imparting a Special Shape over the Shoulders of the wearer.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left 10th Mar 1807 -Accepted 10th Ann 1807
Date of Application, 11th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left 10th Mar
1897-Accepted 10th Apr 1807
An Appliance for Attachment to Coats, Waistcoats, and the
like, for Imparting a Special Shape over the Shoulders of
the wearer.
I, ROBERT ETHORN GRIBBLE, of 10, Whimple Street, Plymouth, Tailor, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an appliance designed for attachment at the arm-holes
of coats, waistcoats and like garments, and has for its object to impart a straight
as distinguished from a sloping appearance to such garments above the shoulders
of the wearer.
The appliance consists of a strip of whalebone, steel or other suitable resilient
material preferably enveloped in a covering of cloth, canvas or other suitable
fabric. This spring is attached to the inside of a garment in close proximity to
the upper edge of the armhole, around a part of which the spring extends.
A strap is connected to the spring and by means of hooks and eyelets, or buckles,
or the like, the strap can be tightened and relaxed, at will.
Tightening of the strap bends the spring, causing it to arch and thus press
upwards forcing the garment with it. The strap, which serves as a chord to the
arc, is supported by the arm of the wearer. More than one strap may be
employed.
By means of the appliance, the garment is made to assume a straight or "square"
shape above the shoulders. The padding which is usually employed for imparting
the said shape, is dispensed with.
The appliance also has the effect of straightening out creases or folds behind the
shoulders.
Dated this 1011
1000
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Appliance for Attachment to Coats, Waistcoats, and the
like, for Imparting a Special Shape over the Shoulders of
the wearer.
1, ROBERT ETHORN GRIBBLE, of 10, Whimple Street, Plymouth, Tailor, do
ereby 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
tatement :-
This invention consists in an appliance designed for attachment to the armholes
f coats, waistcoats, and like garments, and has for its object to improve the
ppearance of such garments by exercising a straightening effect on the same
bove the shoulders of the wearer.

page_text: The appliance consists of a strip of whalebone, steel, or other suitable resilient
material, preferably enveloped in a covering of cloth, canvas, or other suitable
fabric. The spring is attached to the inside of the garment to which it is applied
in close proximity to the upper edge of the armhole, around a part of which the
spring extends. Straps, preferably elastic, are attached to the springs at opposite
ends thereof. When the straps are hooked or otherwise connected together the
spring is bent and arching upwards forces the upper part of the armhole of
the garment with it. The straps when hooked or otherwise connected are above
the arm of the wearer.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 represents
an inside view of my appliance as fully extended. It consists of a strip a of
whalebone, steel, or other suitable resilient material, enveloped in a covering
of cloth, calico, or other suitable fabric. The covering is sewn to a picce b of
cloth, or other suitable yielding material, which in its turn is sewn to the garment
as a lining above the shoulder.
Attached to one end of the appliance is a strap c, preferably elastic, fitted with
a hook c' secured to the strap by sewing or otherwise. Attached to the other end
is a strap d, also preferably elastic, having eyelets d' fixed in it. When, as shown
at Fig. 2 of the drawings, the hook e' of the strap c is hooked in one of the eyelets d'
of the strap d, the spring a is arched upwards and distends the upper part of the
armhole of the garment to which it is applied at or about the point of attachment
of the sleeve.
The application of the appliance to the armhole of a coat is illustrated at
Fig. 3.
The degree of tension imparted to the spring varies according to the particular
eyelet to which the hook c¹ of the strap c is hooked.
The arm of the wearer of the garment to which the appliance is fitted is passed
below the connected straps c and d.
By means of the appliance, the garment to which it is applied assumes a straight
as distinguished from a sloping, dished, or hollow shape, above the shoulders: The
padding which is usually employed for the like purpose, is dispensed with.
The appliance tends also to prevent the formation of creases or folds behind the
shoulders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
An appliance for improving the shape of coats, waistcoats, and the like, above
and about the shoulders, consisting of a spring of whalebone, steel, or other
suitable material, and straps, bands, or their equivalent, so connected to the spring
that by coupling the said straps above the arm of the wearer the ends of the
spring are drawn towards each other and the spring is arched upwards to bear
against and distend the part immediately above the armhole of the garment at or
about the point of attachment of the sleeve, substantially as hereinabove described
with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 9th day of March 1897
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.