Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 12th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Jan., 1888
I, FRANK MORRIS, of Pritchard Street, Saint Pauls, in the city and county of
Bristol, corset manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention consists in manufacturing corsets with bands which constitute a
frame or foundation on which the web or body of the corset is partly constructed.
There are two such bands in each half of the corset, one extending from towards
one of the upper corners to towards the lower and opposite corner, the other being
similarly arranged in relation to the remaining corners. The bands are arranged to
cross one another at the side of the waist.
The web or body of the corset is attached to the bands, and the strains exerted in
securing the garment on the body of the wearer and in tightening the garment are
borne by the bands instead of being, as hitherto, exerted on the web or body and
tending to part the seams..
The bands also afford increased support to the figure at various points.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, FRANK MORRIS, of Pritchard Street, Saint Pauls, in the City and County of
Bristol, Corset 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, (reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon), that is to say :-
My Invention relates to improvements in corsets, and it consists in manufacturing
the same with hands so arranged as to constitute a frame or foundation on which the
web or body of the corset is constructed, and to afford increased support to the figure
at various points.
In manufacturing or constructing a corset according to my Invention, I provide
two such bands in each half of the corset one extending from one of the upper corners
to the lower and opposite corner, the other being arranged in a somewhat similar
manner in relation to the remaining corners, but not extending thereto. These bands
are arranged to cross one another at the side of the waist.
The web or body of the corset is attached to the bands so that the strains exerted in
securing the corset on the body of the wearer, and in tightening the same, are borne
by the bands, instead of being, as hitherto, exerted on the web or body, and tending
to part or sever the seams.
And in order that my Invention may be readily understood, I proceed to describe
the same fully, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. I is a plan view detached, shewing the arrangement of the crossed bands for
one half of the corset, and before proceeding to attach the said bands to the portions
forming the web or body of the corset.
Fig. 2 is a view, in plan, of the inside of one half of the corset, shewing the web
or body attached to the cross bands.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a front and side view shewing a corset constructed
according to my Invention.
A, B, are the crossed bands which are made, preferably, of the shape shewn, and are
afterwards stitched together at their crossing point. They are composed of, say, three
folds or plies of suitable materials, viz. :-a central or internal portion of stiffening
material; an inner or lining portion of coutil, jean, or the like; and an outer portion
of stay fabric, silk or satin. The band A extends, as shewn in the plan views,
figs. 1 and 2, in a diagonal direction from the upper left hand corner of one half of
the corset, to the lower right hand corner of the same, and the band B extends
diagonally from near the lower left hand corner to about the central or waist line of
the corset, on the right hand side, as shewn in figs. 1 and 2.
These bands pass through one another, the one being divided to receive the other,
i.e. the lining on one side and the facing on the other.
These bands are further stitched as indicated at a, b, so as to leave an opening along
the upper and lower edges for the purpose hereinafter described.

page_text: .
The crossed bands A and B having been prepared, and arranged, as above described,
they are now ready to receive the portions C, C, D, D', forming the web or body of the
corset. These portions are inserted into the openings above mentioned, and, together
with the folds or plies of the crossed bands, are stitched down along the lines a¹ b¹.
The upper and lower portions C, C', may first be inserted and stitched down, and then
the portions D, D', or vice versa, as desired, it being immaterial which portions are
first inserted.
The other half of the corset is constructed in precisely similar manner, with the
exception that the crossed bands are arranged in reverse order.
The crossed bands, thus arranged, will afford, when the corset is complete, an
increased or perfect support or brace for the figure at various points, and as the "pull"
is at the sides only the vital organs of the wearer are left free.
The back steels, and the busks, are next added in the usual manner -the "strips"
are then stitched on the outside of the corset, and the bone supports inserted, as
usual.
The angle at which the crossed bands have to be placed, will naturally vary slightly
for each size of corset to be manufactured, but in every case these bands must be so
arranged, as to cross one another at the side of the waist.
In my improved construction of corset, the further following advantages present
themselves-A reduction of the waist of the wearer without a corresponding
reduction of the other parts of the figure. The continued improvement of the shape
of the corset during wear; for whilst the bands cannot stretch (owing to the manner
in which they are cut) the other parts of the corset will adapt themselves to the
figure, thus giving to it a natural, instead of an artificial, symmetry. And, lastly, the
whole strain or pull being exerted on the crossed bands, breakage is impossible.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
First. The employment and arrangement of the crossed bands, constituting a frame
or foundation, on which the web or body of the corset is constructed or built up, and
affording increased support to the figure of the wearer at various points, substantially
as herein before described.
Second. The combination with the crossed bands, above claimed, of the several
portions forming the web or body of the corset, as hereinbefore described, and as
shewn in the annexed drawings.
Third. The improved construction of corset having its parts arranged and combined
substantially as herein before described, and as illustrated in the annexed drawings,
whereby increased support, strength, durability, and symmetry are obtained.
Dated this 12th day of December 1887
Dated this 12th day of December 1887
ERNEST DE PASS, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
68, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the Applicant.