IMPROVEMENTS IN LACINGS FOR CORSETS, GLOVES, SHOES AND OTHER ANALOGOUS ARTICLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, of 52 Chancery
Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LACINGS FOR CORSETS, GLOVES,
SHOES AND OTHER ANALOGOUS ARTICLES,"-which invention has been cominuni-
cated to me from abroad by Abram Smith Mann, of Rochester, New York, United
States of America, Merchant, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of my specification
Figure 1 is a back view of a corset showing my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a similar view of a fragment of the same on an enlarged scale.
Figure 3, is a horizontal section through one of the lacing bearings, in line x, x,
of Figure 2, enlarged above the natural size.
Figure 4 is a front or edge elevation of Figure 3.
My improvements relate to lacings for corsets, gloves, shoes, and other articles of
an analogous nature, and is of that kind where lacing cords extend from side to
side around bearings on the edges of the article to be laced, and are drawn up to
bring the parts together. The invention consists in the peculiar arrangement of
the bearings as hereinafter described, whereby the lengths of the cord are drawn
across the opening in substantially right-angled lines also in the peculiar
construction of the bearings as will be more fully set forth.
In the drawings, which show the lacing attached to a corset, A, A, indicate the
two sides of the corset which are to be-drawn up by the lacing; B, B, are the
bearings; and C, C, the lacing cords, of which two are preferably used, one starting
from each end, and both meeting at the centre and passing outward in opposite
directions, as shown in Figure 1. In such case, when the corset has been laced up
as tightly as desired the loose ends of the lacing cords can be passed around the
person and tied together or otherwise fastened to prevent slipping.

page_text: In order to carry the lengths a, a, of the lacing cords across the opening at right
angles, the bearings B, B, are arranged as follows:-A set of single bearings B, are
secured to the fabric on one side-as at the right hand at the top in Figure 1, and
a set of double bearings-as at the left in the same figure, and these are so arranged
that each single bearing on one side comes directly opposite each double bearing
on the opposite side. If desired the position may be alternated or reversed, as
shown at the bottom in Figure 1, so that the single bearings at the top come on
the right hand side and those at the bottom on the left hand side.
The lacing cord is attached at the end, then passes around the first of the double
bearings, then crosses the opening and passes around the single bearing on the
opposite side, then recrosses the opening and passes around the next bearing of the
double bearings, then passes downward vertically to the next pair of double
bearings, when it proceeds in the same manner. This is clearly illustrated in the
enlarged view Figure 2.
The advantage of this arrangement of the bearings, viz-with a set of single
bearings on one side and a set of double bearings on the other side, is that the
lacing cord is carried across the opening in a right-angled direction, so that the
draw is direct on the two sides in lacing up, requiring less power, and producing
less puckering and wrinkling than in the ordinary lacing where the cord extends
across the opening in an inclined direction.
The bearings are constructed as follows:-The edges of the corset, or other
article to be laced, are constructed with two flaps b, b, which join together at a
little distance back; c is a shaft or pin, on which fits a grooved roller & turning
freely. The pin is cut down or reduced at the ends, forming shoulders, the roller
resting on the enlarged centre portion. ff. are washers which rest on the reduced
ends of the pins and against the shoulders inside the flaps b, b, and g, g, are
washers resting on the ends of the pins outside the flaps, the pins being rivetted in
these outer washers.
By the use of the double flaps as described the bearings are all enclosed out of
sight. By the use of the two sets of washers, one outside and the other inside the
flap, the fabric is firmly clamped in place, and at the same time the flaps are held
apart so that the roller can run freely and the cord can pass through without
obstruction.
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
First. In a lacing, the combination, with a corset, or other analogous article to
be laced, of a set of single bearings placed on one side of the opening, a set of
double bearings placed on the other side, the two being directly opposite, and a
cord attached to one side passing around one of the double bearings, thence around
the single bearing, thence back around the other double bearing, thence along the
side of the opening to the next double bearings, and in the same manner around
the remaining bearings, whereby the lacing extends at right angles across the
opening as specified.
Second. In a lacing, the combination, with a corset or other analogous article, of
& set of single bearings placed on one side of the opening, a set of double bearings
placed on the other side, the two being directly opposite, and two cords, one
attached at the top and the other at the bottom, passing around the bearings at
right angles to the opening, as described, the free ends of the cords meeting
intermediately and extending outward. in opposite directions, as and for the
purpose specified.
Third. In a lacing, the combination with a corset or other analogous article
provided with double flaps at its lacing edges, of a bearing consisting of a shaft, a
roller on the shaft located inside the flaps, two washers on the shaft on opposite
sides of the roller, also located inside the flaps, two washers on the shaft outside of

page_text: the flaps serving to attach the bearing to the flaps, and a lacing cord passing from
side to side around the rollers, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In a lacing, the roller bearings herein described, consisting of the shaft e
provided with shoulders, the roller d resting and turning freely on the shaft, the
washers ff, resting on the reduced ends of the shaft and forming guides for the
roller, and the outside washers g, g, for attaching the bearing to the flaps, as shown
and described and for the purpose specified. .