Improvements in Corsets.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 19th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corsets.
I, CHARLES BAYER of 31, London Wall, in the City of London, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to Improvements in Corsets, the said improvements having
for their object to enable a corset suited for the figure of the wearer under normal
conditions to be readily adapted to the change of figure consequent on pregnancy
and also to afford the necessary facilities to enable the wearer to suckle an
infant.
According to these improvements, the corset is made with a slit or opening at
each side of the front steels and at from about four to six inches therefrom, the
said openings extending upwards from the lower edge of the corset in a direction
approximately parallel to the front steels and to a height somewhat above the
waist. The edges of these openings are strengthened by bones or stiffeners
extending down each of said edges and are provided with loose flaps which extend
in opposite directions from said stiffened edges and overlap to prevent gaping of
the slit or opening when the extension of circumference becomes necessary. This
is allowed for by the parts at the opposite sides of the slit or gap being connected
together by elastic straps secured by lever or other clips whereby their adjustment
to any required length may be readily effected. These elastic straps preferably
extend from the overlapping side portion of the corset to the front steels, so that
sufficient strength and elasticity are obtained, to allow of considerable variation in
the circumferential dimension, the flaps overlapping more or less without in any
case disclosing the slit or aperture.
The bosom of the corset are also formed with downwardly-extending slits, the
edges of the slits nearest to the front steels not being stiffened, so that they may be
turned back as loose flaps, to give access to the breasts, while the other edges of
the slits which may be boned or stiffened are provided with loose flaps, these flaps
being buttoned or otherwise fastened to the first mentioned, to close the slits or
openings and extending over and meeting at the centre of the front portion where
they are buttoned or otherwise connected together to retain them in position.
Dated this 29th day of January 1894.
C. BAIER,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corsets.
I, CHARLES BAYER of 31, London Wall, in the City of London, Manufacturer,
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 Corsets, the said improvements having
for their object to enable a corset suited for the figure of the wearer under normal
conditions to be readily adapted to the change of figure consequent on pregnancy
and also to afford the necessary facilities to enable the wearer to suckle an
infant

page_text: The improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of
this Specification, whérein I have represented in Figures 1 and 2 a corset provided
with both these improvements, although it is to be understood they may be applied
separately to corsets to be worn before and after childbirth respectively. Figure 3
represents, on a larger scale, the preferred form of buckle.
According to these improvements, the corset is adapted for expansion of the
figure during pregnancy, by being made with slits or openings a, a, one at each side
of and at about four inches from the middle of the front, the said openings a
extending upwards from the lower edge of the corset to a point 6 somewhat above
the waist. These openings divide the front portions c from the side portions d and
their edges are strengthened by the bones or stiffeners e, e', which extend from the
upper part of the corset down each of said edges. Under normal conditions of
figure the bones e lie nearly alongside of the bones e¹, but, to allow of expansion
without exposure by the gaping of the slits, loose flaps f, g, are provided which
project in opposite directions from said stiffened edges, so as to over and under lap
as shewn. This extension is allowed for by means of elastic straps connected to
lever or other clips or buckles i whereby the adjustment of the straps to any
required length may be readily effected, the straps being stitched to the corset,
close to the front steels, and the buckles i being attached to tabs stitched to the
side portions d of the corset or to the flaps f, the straps being of sufficient length to
allow of considerable elongation by their elasticity.
The bosoms of the corset are also formed with slits or openings extending
downwardly, a sufficient distance from the top of the corset. The edges k are not
stiffened so that they may be turned back as loose. flaps, as shewn in Figure 2, to
give access to the breasts, while the other edges are boned or stiffened and are
provided with loose flaps m, these flaps being buttoned or otherwise fastened at n
to the edges k, to close the slits or openings, and also to each other at o where they
meet at the centre of the front.
The buckle or clip shewn in Figure 3 is of a known kind and forms no part of
this invention.
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
1. A corset having the front and side portions separated by slits or openings
extending from the lower edge to about the waist, the front and side portions being
provided with flaps which under and over lap to close the gap between said portions
and the said portions being connected by straps, as and for the purpose specified.
2. A corset having breast openings in combination with flaps extending across
the front, and means for fastening the same, substantially as specified.
3. The herein described corset made substantially as herein described, so as to
adapt it for wear during pregnancy and nursing, as described.
Dated this 5th day of April 1904.
כז הז ע
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
C. BAYER,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.