IMPROVEMENTS IN GARTERS AND OTHER DRESS SUSPENDERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HENRY CLAY FRANK, of New York City, in the County and State of New
York, one of the United States of America, Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GARTERS AND OTHER DRESS
SUSPENDERS" to be as follows:
The invention relates to that class of garters in which the webbing or other strap
encircles the leg, not outside of and pressing directly upon the sock, but above it.
I employ a peculiarly formed clasp, which can take hold of and release the end of
the sock at will, and which also can, when required, take hold of and release the
edge of the garter at will; but the hold on the garter is more forcible than on the
Bock. When the clasp has once been attached to the garter, it will remain secured
when the garter is detached from the sock and taken off and laid aside.
The garter is equipped at a little distance from the clasp with a small permanently
connected knob, and near the other end with a series of pear-shaped punctures
protected by corresponding metallic pear-shaped eyelets. The garter, either before
or after being connected by its clasp to the upper edge of the sock, is passed
around the leg and one of its holes engaged with the knob. On liberating it, the
tension pulls the neck of the knob into the small part of the hole and it remains
reliably engaged.
The clasp is formed with back or body of metal which by lugs or wings
supports an axis which extends across and forms a fulcrum for two levers ranged
longitudinally of the clasp, one gripping at one end and the other at the opposite
end. Each is actuated by an independent spring.
These levers are formed of sheet metal stamped or flanged, so as to give great
strength with little weight. The main body of each lever is only half the width
of the clasp, so that they may lie one alongside the other; but the gripping end of
cach is wide and extends the whole width of the clasp. One lever is actuated with
a stiffer spring than the other, or is differently proportioned from the other; so that
the grip of the clasp on anything seized thereby at one end is considerably more
forcible than the grip on any material presented at the other end.
The same construction of clasp may serve, with or without modification, for other
purposes, and especially for holding portions of other garments; as for supporting
he skirts of ladies' dresses at a little elevation in wet weather.

page_text: I make some or all the gripping surfaces of the clasp of soft and highly frictional
material. The best known to me is soft vulcanized india-rubber. The rubber is
cut from extended sheets, secured in place by claws formed on the metallic portion
of the clasp and clenched down over the edges of the rubber.
Such soft faces are especially important for dress supporters; by which I mean,
for holding up the skirt of a dress clear of the ground in wet weather. For this
purpose it is best made with both ends alike. The jaws at one end are engaged on
a high part of the skirt, and a point in the lower portion of the skirt is draw up
and engaged in the jaws at the opposite end of the clasp; the intermediate portion
being looped or gathered and allowed to hang idly.
If, by accident or otherwise, the looped up dress is forcibly pulled, the frictional
nature of the soft gripping surfaces allows the clasp to hold with considerable
force; but if the pulling force becomes too great to be resisted by the friction, the
fabric may be pulled out without injury.
When my clasp is made for dress supporters, both ends may have equally forcible
gripping jaws, the lever arms being exactly alike and furnished with similar springs.
The jaws at each end are faced with rubber.
Cement or other ordinary or suitable fastening means may be used instead of the
claws for holding the rubber face or faces to the hard portions of the clasp. I can
use cement in addition to the claws.
The rubber may be compounded with any of the ordinary adulterating materials
used to improve or cheapen the manufacture. Other soft material, as leather,
having the proper frictional qualities, may be used in place of rubber.

page_text: I, HENRY CLAY FRANK, of New York City, in the County and State of New
York, one of the United States of America, Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GARTERS AND IN CLASPS
THEREFOR; THE LATTER BEING APPLICABLE AS DRESS SUSPENDERS," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:—
The invention relates to that class of garters in which the webbing or other
strap encircles the leg, not outside of and pressing directly upon the sock, but above
it. I employ a peculiarly formed clasp which can take hold of and release the end
of the sock at will, and which also can when required, take hold of and release the
edge of the garter at will; but the hold on the garter is more forcible than on the
sock. When the clasp has been once attached to the garter it will remain secured
when the garter is detached from the sock and taken off and laid aside.
The garter is equipped at a little distance from the clasp with a small perma-
nently connected knob, and near the other end with a series of pear-shaped
punctures, protected by corresponding metallic linings or pear-shaped eyelets. The
garter, either before or after being connected by its clasp to the upper edge of the
sock, is passed around the leg and one of its holes engaged with the knob. On
liberating it, the tension pulls the neck of the knob into the small part of the hole
and it remains reliably engaged.
The same construction of clasp may serve, with or without modification, for
other purposes, and especially for holding portions of other garments, as for
supporting the skirts of ladies' dresses at a little elevation in wet weather.
I make some or all the gripping surfaces of the clasp of soft and highly
frictional material. The best known to me is soft vulcanized India rubber. The
rubber may be cut from extended sheets and secured in place by claws formed on
the metallic portion of the clasp and clenched down over the edges of the rubber.
Such soft faces are especially important for dress supporters,-by which I mean
for holding up the skirt of a dress clear of the ground. The jaws at one end are
engaged on a high part of the skirt and a point in the lower portion of the skirt
is drawn up and engaged in the jaws at the opposite end of the clasp, the
intermediate portion being looped, and allowed to hang idly.
If, by accident or otherwise, the looped up dress is forcibly pulled, the frictional
nature of the soft gripping surfaces allows the clasp to hold with considerable force,
but if the pulling force becomes too great to be resisted by the friction, the fabric
may be pulled out without injury.
The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out
the invention. The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.
Figure 1 is a face view of the garter extended, with the clasp attached.
Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a front view representing the garter in use.
Fig. 4 is a face view of the clasp as proportioned for general use.
Fig. 5 is an edge view of the same.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Fig. 7 is a face view of the clasp as proportioned for use in a garter, and
Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the ficures whara

page_text: A is a piece of webbing or other flexible material; B a sufficient piece of sheet
metal, nickel plated or otherwise smoothly surfaced and firmly engaged by clenched
claws bor otherwise, with the webbing. This plate B carries on its outer surface,
by means of a neck B¹, a smooth head or knob B. I produce near the other end
of the webbing, a series of holes a. These holes are not round, but pear-shaped.
Each is lined with a metallic eyelet C having a corresponding shape.
D is the body of a spring clasp. It may be of sheet metal, having two ears or
lugs D¹ D, which receive a cross-bar E, on which are hinged two peculiarly shaped
levers GH, each actuated by a spring I.
The lever G grips the end of the webbing A. Its gripping end G¹ is the full
width of the body D. The hinged part which engages with the shaft E is
narrower.
The lever H grips and releases the sock M. Its gripping end H', is the full
width. It is narrower at the hinge and at the other end. The levers G, H, are
applied together in reversed positions, as shown, so that both turn on the same axis.
A separate spring I is provided for each lever.
Referring to figures 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8, the end G2 of the lever G is short, and
requires a strong pressure thereon to overcome the force of the spring and lift the
end H, and liberate the webbing A. The end H2 of the lever H, is longer and
requires less force to detach the sock. It follows that the wearer may press care-
lessly upon the whole clasp with sufficient force to detach the jaw H from the
sock M without risk of detaching the clasp from the webbing A.
The broad end H' of the lever H and the adjacent end of the body D are equipped
with gripping faces of vulcanized India-rubber J. This material holds the sock
with-sufficient-force-by-its-friction. The pieces of rubber J J are secured to the
metal by means of claws j, which are formed from the metal by treating in suitable-
dies, and are pressed down upon and sunk into the rubber J.
The outer face of each rubber piece J is cross-grooved to allow it to take a very
firm hold by friction. The frictional quality of rubber is very favorable to the
reliable holding of the jaws upon the sock, even if their grooves should be omitted.
When prepared with special reference to its use for garters, the broad end G¹ of
the lever G is formed with claws which enable it to partially or entirely puncture
the webbing A, and thus engage therewith very reliably. The adjacent end of the
body D is similarly equipped on its upper face. The claws thus take hold of the
webbing A on both sides and make a very secure hold.
When, on the contrary, my clasp is made for dress supporters, or for general
purposes, both ends may have equally forcible gripping jaws, (see figs. 4, 5 and 6)
the springs I I being exactly alike and the lever arms G¹ G' being exactly similar
to the lever arms H H. The jaws at each end are faced with rubber.
Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions. Parts of the invention
may be used without the whole. The clasp may be used successfully with one of
the faces, as for example, the part D smooth metal, while the other face, as the
part G, may be equipped with the soft face J. But such a clasp will hold the
fabric with less force than if both faces are equipped with the soft material.
Cement, or other ordinary or suitable fastening means may be used instead of the
claws j, for holding the rubber face or faces to the hard portions of the clasp. I can
use cement in addition to the claws j represented.
The rubber J may be compounded with any of the ordinary adulterating
materials used to improve or cheapen the manufacture. Other soft material, as
leather, having the proper frictional qualities may be used in place of rubber.
The cross-grooves on the rubber J may be omitted.
It is not essential that the soft surfaces present the large area shown. I prefer
the whole as represented; but a narrow line of rubber across the outer edge will
grasp the fabric in most cases with sufficient force and afford the required gentle
releasing action in case the fabric is too forcibly pulled.
The end of the clasp which takes hold of the webbing A may engage by claws
without rubber.

page_text: 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. The webbing or flexible material A, provided with pear-shaped holes a,
corresponding eyelets C, knob B2, neck B¹ and plate B, and having suitable means
for engaging detachably with the sock M, all combined and arranged to serve sub-
stantially as herein specified.
2. The double clasp described, the arm G' being short and requiring great force
to detach the jaw G¹, while the arm H' is longer and allows less force to detach the
jaw H¹, in combination with the flexible material A, having holes a and knob B³,
adapted to engage in said holes, all arranged to serve relatively to each other and
to a sock M, substantially as herein specified.
3. The clasp described, having a single foundation and two independent levers
pivoted thereto, each part having projections, as d, to hold cushions J, and each
lever having an operating handle and spring, arranged reversely, as set forth.
4. The foundation D, having lugs D₁ and projections d, combined with the two
independent levers as G, H, having reversely arranged handles and springs the
pivot E common to both levers, and the cushions J, as set forth.
5. In a clasp as described the combination of a foundation as D, with two
independent levers, as G, H, the said levers having a combined width equal to the
width of the foundation, and bearing-jaws, as G¹ Ĕ', and springs as I, as set forth.
Dated this 27th day of December 1884.