A Bust Improver.
Year: 1898

page_text: A Bust Improver.
I, MAURICE FREDERICK BUCHNER, of 2, Higher Parade, New Brighton, in the
County of Chester, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a bust improver and has for its object to provide a
light, cool, and easily adjusted substitute for pads as a means of improving the
figure of the wearer by imparting a natural appearance of fulness at the chest
and preventing unsightly creases in the dress and a contracted or stooping
appearance especially in the case of flatchested figures.
The improver, which may be worn separately or be combined with a bodice,
a corset, or other undergarment is adapted to cover the region of the chest, and
is made substantially of fine horsehair, cloth, or other light airy and open fabric,
including metallic gauze two layers of the material being used, shaped to suit
the position it is intended to occupy upon the chest and around the base of the
neck, the outer layer being cut rather larger in depth than the under layer and
the two being united or bound together at the edges so that whilst the under
layer fits close to the figure of the wearer an inflated or puffy form is necessarily
imparted to the outer layer, the fulness of appearance being maintained by
stiffeners of light whalebone or the like. These stiffeners are secured within
sheaths formed at the back of the outer layer and they may extend from the top
to the bottom edge and are constrained, by the difference of dimension of the
two layers of material, to assume an outwardly curved form and to impart a corre-
sponding appearance of fulness to the outer layer of material. The underlayer
may also be stiffened, if necessary, in the transverse direction.
The improver, if worn as a separate article, may be secured in place by elastic
or other fastenings.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Bust Improver.
I, MAURICE Frederick Buchner, of 2, Higher Parade, New Brighton, in the
County of Chester, Gentleman, 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; -
-
My invention relates to a bust improver for ladies and others and has for its
object to provide a light, cool, and easily adjusted substitute for pads as a means
of improving the figure of the wearer by imparting a natural appearance of fulness

page_text: .
at the chest and presenting unsightly creases in the outer garment and a con-
tracted or stooping appearance especially in the case of flat-chested figures.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification wherein Figure 1 represents a front view of the bust improver
and Figure 2 shews a central vertical cross-section of the same, on line 2-2
Figure 1.
2
The improver, which may, be worn separately or be combined with a vest,
bodice, corset, or other undergarment, is adapted to cover the region of the chest
and is made preferably of a light, airy, and open fabric such for instance as fine
horsehair cloth, sateen, muslin, or other gauze (including metallic gauze) but
it may be made of other material. Two layers a b of the material are used, shaped
to suit the position which the improver is intended to occupy upon chest and
around the base of the neck of the wearer, the outer layer being cut rather
larger in depth than the under layer b and the two being united or bound together
at the edges so that, whilst the under layer blies flat and fits close to the figure of
the wearer, an inflated or puffy form, whose fulness diminishes gradually from the
centre to the sides, is necessarily imparted to the outer layer a, the fulness of
appearance, and the elasticity of the improver, being maintained by flexible
stiffening ribs of light whalebone (whether real or imitation) horn, steel, .or
other stiffeners used as substitutes for whalebone in corsets and bodices. These
stiffening ribs are secured within sheaths of suitable fabric formed at, or attached
to, the back surface of the outer layer a, as indicated in Figure 2, and they
extend from the top to the bottom edge of said layer and thus are constrained,
by the difference of dimension of the two layers of material, to assume an outwardly
curved form, as shewn, and to hold the outer layer of material correspondingly
distended. The under layer may also be stiffened, if necessary, in the transverse
direction by means of one or more flexible ribs, as d, of similar material and
sheathed similarly to the ribs c and attached to the under layer b so as to extend
from side to side thereof. By providing the upper layer of material with
inextensible tapes or other means of maintaining the curvature of the stiffeners,
or by giving the stiffeners a permanent set or curvature, it would be possible to
dispense with the underlayer of material; and such a bust improver is comprised
within the scope of this invention.
b
The improver if combined with a bodice, corset, or other under-garment, may
be attached thereto in any way suited to the requirements of individual taste or
special circumstances; and if worn as a separate article (which is the form more
particularly illustrated in the drawings) may be secured in place by means of
fastenings such as shewn, or by any other suitable fastenings. These consist of
side loops e for the arms of the wearer, a band f encircling the neck, and a central
tab g in front; all the fastenings being preferably of elastic cord or the like
material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A bust improver for ladies and others, consisting of two layers of porous or
other fabric united at their edges, the outer layer being cut larger in depth than
the under layer which is suitably stiffened so as to lie close to the figure whilst the
outer layer is held distended by means of light flexible ribs serving to maintain
the desired shape and elasticity of the appliance, substantially as specified.
2. A bust improver for ladies and others substantially as herein specified.
Dated this 31st day of May 1898.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.