Improvements in or relating to Corsets and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th. Apr., 1894
1000
1014
Ch
4005
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Corsets and the like.
I, JAMES CORNES of 37 Melbourne Street, Leicester, Professional Tailor and
Cutter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed with a view of producing a corset, stay or the like
which is specially applicable for use by ladies for cycling or riding purposes.
A corset or stay made in accordance with this invention will also be found
adapted for boating or other athletic purposes, and particularly for those pursuits
in which free action of the hips is needed.
Corsets and stays of ordinary manufacture, as is well known, are of the same
depth or width, or nearly so, throughout, so that the body of an individual for a
certain distance all round is enclosed to the same extent by the corset or stay.
This method of construction does not afford that free action to the hips which is
necessary during cycling and further, it restricts the action of the lower part of
the respiratory organs which are invariably brought into full play during
cycling.
The present invention consists of a corset, stay or the like which while not only
affording the support to the front and back of the body which ordinary corsets do,
allows free play to the hips and does not interfere with the action of the respiratory
organs when they are fully exercised.
According to this invention a corset, stay or the like may consist of front and
back portions which may be similar in construction to those of ordinary manufacture
but may be connected together by a narrow strip or band on each side in such a
manner as to allow free play to the hips and to allow the front portion to move
inwards or outwards at the upper or lower end as the action of the respiratory
organs may require during cycling or other athletic pursuits.
This narrow connecting strip or band may be formed either integrally with the
front and back portions of the corset or may be attached thereto in any suitable
manner.
Such connecting strip may also be formed of a material similar to the main body
of the corset or of an elastic or other suitable material.
Dated this 19th day of April 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Corsets and the like.
I, JAMES CORNES of 37 Melbourne Street and 46 Belvoir Street Leicester,
Professional Tailor and Cutter, 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 :-
This invention is designed with a view of producing a corset, stay or the like
which is specially applicable for use by ladies for cycling or riding purposes.
A corset or stay made in accordance with this invention will also be found
ง. 1

page_text: adapted for boating or other athletic purposes and particularly for those pursuits
in which free action of the hips is needed.
Corsets and stays of ordinary manufacture, as is well known, are of the same
depth or width, or nearly so, throughout, so that the body of an individual for a
certain distance all round is enclosed to the same extent by the corset or stay.
This method of construction does not afford that free action to the hips which is
necessary during cycling and further it restricts the action of the lower part
of the respiratory organs, which are invariably brought into full play during
cycling.
The present invention consists of a corset, stay or the like which while not only
affording the support to the front and back of the body which ordinary corsets do,
allows free play to the hips and does not interfere with the action of the respiratory
organs when they are fully exercised.
According to this invention a corset, stay or the like may consist of front and
back portions which may be similar in construction to those of ordinary manufacture,
but may be connected together by a narrow strip or band on each side in such a
manner as to allow free play to the hips and to allow the front portion to move
inwards or outwards at the upper or lower end as the action of the respiratory
organs may require during cycling or other athletic pursuits. This narrow
connecting strip or band may be formed either integrally with the front and back
portions of the corset or may be attached thereto in any suitable manner.
Such connecting strip may also be formed of a material similar to the main body
of the corset or of an elastic or other suitable material.
Referring to the drawing accompanying this Specification,
Figure 1 is a view of a corset, laid out flat, constructed according to this
invention.
Figure 2 is a view of a similar corset shown as fitted upon the person.
My improved corset consists of front and back portions A and B respectively,
which may be formed in the well known manner and such front and back portions
may be connected together by an intermediate narrow band or portion C which fits
against the sides of the wearer.
The narrow connecting band C may be composed of a fabric similar in every
respect to that of which the front and back portions are formed, or it may be
composed of an elastic material in the which elastic warp or warp and weft threads
are employed, and be secured by rows of stitches to the said front and back
portions.
The openings D formed above the narrow band or portion C allow of the full
expansion of the chest and lungs during cycling or other athletic pursuits, while
the openings E afford unrestricted movement to the hips when cycling.
In the case of full breasted persons it may be desirable to stitch loosely a piece
of elastic webbing or similar material round the edge D' merely as a support to
the breasts but not so as to press against the body or restrict its movements in
any way.
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 : :-
1. In a-corset the combination with the front and back portions of an intermediate
connecting portion shaped in such a manner as to afford free action to the chest
and hips of the wearer, substantially as described.
2. A corset or the like in which the fabric between the front and back portions
is reduced in depth substantially in the manner and for the purpose described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. A corset or the like in which the front or back portions are of a greater depth
than the intermediate connecting part substantially as and for the purpose described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. A corset or the like, wherein provision is made for the unrestricted movement

page_text: of the chest and hips of the wearer substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described.
5. The improved corset constructed and arranged substantially in the manner and
for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 11th day of January 1895.
JAME
CORNES.
Witness-
E. N. LEWIS,
Leicester.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.