IMPROVEMENTS IN LADING STATE
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ermelinde de Block-Stevens, of Antwerp, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Ladies' Stays Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LADING STATE"
Sealed the 16th November 1860, and dated the 25th May 1860..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ermelinde de Block-
Stevens at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th May 1860.
J, ERMELINDE DE BLOCK-STEVENS, of Antwerp, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Ladies' Stays Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for ""IMPROVEMENTS IN LADIES' STAYE," to be as follows:-
The Invention consists in providing ladies' stays with cases or sheaths made
of elastic material placed upwards on both sides of the busc. Similar cases or
sheaths are fitted at the back part of the stay on the right and left sides;
Several strips of whalebone are inserted in the elastic cases, so that by taking
out one or two. of the said strips the stay is made larger as may be required.
One or two of the sheaths or cases are arranged in a manner similar to a
hinge joint, some portions of the cases being embodied with the right side of
the stay, and other portions with the left, so that when all the strips of whale-
hone have been removed, the stay opens itself without being unlaced

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Ermelinde de Block-Stevens in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th November 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ERMELINDE
DE BLOCK-STEVENS, of Antwerp, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Ladies' Stays
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Ermelinde de Block-Stevens, Her special licence that I, the said Ermelinde de
Block-Stevens, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Ermelinde de Block-Stevens, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"A NEW SYSTEM OF LADIES' STAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Ermelinde de Block-Stevens, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Ermelinde de Block-Stevens, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof :-
My Invention consists in applying to the front part of stays on each side of
the base cases or sheaths made of either elastic or other material; these cases
being composed of many pieces attached now on the right, then on the left
side, contains strips either of whalebone, wood, steel, or any other suitable
plyable material. Similar cases or sheaths are applied to the back part of
stays on each side of the lace.
The annexed Drawing is an illustration of my Invention.
Fig. 1 shows the front part of a stay, and Fig. 2 the back part of the same;
these two Figures are half size; Fig. 3 is one of the cases or sheaths before
mentioned, drawn full size, shewing three strips of whalebone inserted into it;

page_text: the portions of the case attached to the right part of the stay are formed by a
piece of tissue folded to contain the said three strips of whalebone side by side,
whilst the portions of the said case attached to the left part of the stay are
divided into three compartments by stitching, so that on taking out the strip 1
the stay is widened, as is shown in Fig. 4, where the strips 2 and 3 remain in
their case, and if it be required still wider, the strip 2 is taken out, and the
stay is then as shewn in Fig. 5, where only the strip 3 remains in its case.
If the stay requires to be still more widened, we may do so by removing more
strips from some of the other sheaths; if the third strip of any of the cases
were to be taken out, the stay would be undone without being unlaced. It is
well understood that the number either of the cases or strips of whalebone
may be increased or diminished at pleasure. Instead of strips of whalebone or
similar materials, I sometimes insert in the sheaths metallic helical springs,
such as are shewn, Fig. 6, which allows the stay to follow all the motions of
the body without hurting; such springs may be preserved from oxidizing by
silvering or galvanizing.
A most important part of my Invention consists in an elastic string, as
shewn, Fig. 1, on each side of the stay, which is inserted in the tissue, which
allows the said stay to follow the several variations of the body. I can apply
the said elastic string as well as the helical spring to the shape of gowns, and
to girdles of all sorts.
I claim as my Invention the way of making ladies' stays, as described and
illustrated in the annexed Drawing, with cases or sheaths in which several
strips of whalebone, steel, wood, or suitable material are inserted, which being
taken out widen by so much the stay, which may even be taken off without
unlacing, by taking out all the strips of any of the cases.
I claim also the application of metallic helical springs instead of strips of
whalebone, and the application of elastic strings, as shewn on Fig. 1 of the
Drawing.
And also, the said springs and helical spring applied to the shape of gowns
and girdles of all sorts.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ermelinde de Block-Stevens, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
E. DE BLOCK-STEVENS. (L.S.)