Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct.. 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
I, WILLIAM HILI. COOPER trading as Richard Cooper of Ashbourne in the County
of Derby, Corset Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has for its object a corset and belt so arranged that the belt can
tighten up the corset instead of merely compressing it as an ordinary belt placed
round it would. Further to enable the wearer to give a much more graceful
appearance to her figure, and to enable the corset to be made longer or shorter waisted
as desired.
I form the corset in two or more pieces, that is, divided at back and front, or at
sides and front. The corset is laced or fastened with studs and eyelets in front in the
usual manner, but at the back or sides is only united at or near the top and bottom,
the central portion of the otherwise meeting edges being ent away more or less, so as
to form two concaves facing each other. Taking first a corset divided at back, cach
concave is connects to the end of a belt at two or more points by means of shorter
straps jointing the belt at an angle, in fact each belt forks into two or more ends sewn
or otherwise attached to one concave part. The points of attachment of one concave
are arranged to alternate with, instead of being opposite to the points of attachment
of the other concave at its belt, so that the forks of the two belts, though both crossing
the hiatus between the two concaves, shall not interfere with each other. but shall be
interlacing or alternating with each other. The other ends of these two belts are
arranged as a buckle and tongue, or they have other fastening device. If, instead of
one double concave opening at back, there be one at each side, the straps are preferably
forked, each with two forks attached to the front concave, and crossing each other at
back, and have each a second tongue attached to the hack concave of the opposite side
in such manner that no tension comes on this latter till the two pairs of concaves are
drawn close together by pulling on the fastening of the two belts in front. When the
concaves are drawn towards each other the wearer reduces the size of the waist without
altering the size top and bottom which naturally improves the figure. By this

page_text: invention a corset can be made longer or shorter waisted as desired. The size is not
simply increased, because I do not alter the size top and bottom. I provide, however,
provision for the latter if necessary by the use of straps or laces.
It is obvious that provided the attachments of the belts are placed in those positions
in which they would be attached if the edges of the divisions were formed concave the
offeet would be nearly the same if the concave were filled up with like material, so us
to form a rectilinear odge, but there would he no use in this extra piece, and it would
only tend to form an uncomfortable protuberance. In practice, I prefer three inches
at top and bottom vertical and joined to the corresponding piece by sowing, lacing
eyeluts, or otherwise, and the central part concave,
In manufacturing this corset, 1 nse the ordinary straight or spoon shaped steel busk
or fastoners at the front, and the wearer fastens the corset in the usual way, then by
means of the waist belt the corset can be tightened up or loosened out after
adjusting.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co..
6, Lord Street, Liverpool.
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Corsets.
I, WILLIAM HILL COOPER trading as Richard Cooper of Ashbourne in the County
of Derby 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:
This invention has for its object a corset and belt or its equivalent, so arranged that
the belt can tighten up the corset, instead of, or as well as, compressing it as an ordinary
belt placed round it would. Further its object is to enable the wearer to give a much
more graceful appearance to her figure, and to enable the corset to be made longer or
shorter waisted as desired.
The accompanying sheet of drawings shows two ways of carrying out my invention.
In these:-
:-
Figure 1 is a back view of a corset composed of two main pieces with opening at
the back as hereinafter described.
Figure 2 is a similar view of a corset made up of 3 main pieces with openings at the
sides, and
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of Figure 2.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings:-
A, A, are the two main pieces of the corset, which may be provided with the
usual busks A', A', having the ordinary fastening devices a, a, thereon. These
pieces A are joined at the back, at top and bottom only, as shown at A², A², being
cut away between the points of attachment A* in such a manner as to form two
concave edges facing each other. Each concave is connected to the end of a belt B
or its equivalent, at two or more points by means of shorter straps, jointing the
belt at an angle, in fact each belt forks into two or more ends B', sewn or other-
wiso attached to one concave part, as shown. When belts such as described are
used, the points of attachment of one concave are arranged to alternate with,
instead of being opposite to the points of attachment of the other concave, so that
the forks B of the two belts B, though both crossing the hiatus between the two
concaves, shall not interfere with each other, but shall be interlacing or alternating
with each other. The other ends of these two belts B are arranged as a buckle
and tongue, ', or they have other fastening device. If, instead of one double
concave opening at back, there be one at each side, as shown at Figures 2 and 3,
the straps in this case are preferably forked, each with two forks B attached to
the front concave, and crossing each other at back, and have each a second tongue B²,
attached to the back concave of the opposite side in such manner that no tension
comes on this latter, till the two pairs of concaves are drawn close together, by
pulling on the fastening of the two belts in front, and when said concaves are
closed up, no overlapping can take place, by reason of the extra straps B³, which
act as stops. It will be evident that more than two openings with concave edges
may be provided, either at the back, front, or sides, as desired. Also, that as far
as regards the drawing together of the concave edges, there is no necessity for
the belt to pass right round the waist, as the edges could be drawn together by

page_text: short belts attached thereto, or by laces or their equivalent. When by any of
these means, the concaves are drawn towards each other, the wearer reduces the
the size of the waist without altering the size top and bottom, which naturally
improves the figure. By this invention a corset can be made longer or shorter
waisted as desired. The size is not simply increased, because I do not alter the
size top and bottom. I provide, however, provision for the latter if necessary by
the use of straps or laces C. Figure 2.
It is obvious that, provided the attachments of the belts are placed in those
positions in which they would be attached if the edges of the divisions were formed
concave, the effect would be nearly the same if the concave
were filled up with
like material, so as to form a rectilinear edge, but there would be no use in this
extra piece, and it would only tend to form an uncomfortable protuberance. In
practice, profer ihren inches at top and bottom vertical, and joined to the
corresponding piece by sewing, lacing eyelets, or otherwise, and the central part.
concave.
In manufacturing this corset, I use the ordinary straight or spoon shaped steel
busk or fasteners at the front, and the wearer fastens the corset in the usual way, then
by means of the waist belt, or the belts or laces aforesaid, the corset can be
tightened up or loosened out after adjusting.
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 corset provided with one or more vertical openings, having concave edges
adjustable in their distance apart by means of laces, helis, or their equivalent in such
a manner that the middle or waist of the corset can be widened or narrowed without
affecting the top or hottom thereof, substantially as described.
2. The improvements in corsets which consist in forming same of two or more
main pieces, permanently or adjustably joined together at their top and bottom
edges in such manner as to leave an opening formed by and between said edges, and
provided with an enclosing belt or its equivalent, attached to said edges at or
about the middle of same, in such manner as to be capable of adjusting the spaco
between the middle of said pieces, and thus altering and controlling the pressure
about the waist of the corset, without affecting the upper and lower portions,
substantially as described.
3. In a corset, the pieces of which are provided with concave opposing edges, such
as described, the use of an encireling belt whose loose ends are capable of adjustment,
and whose other ends are forked and attached to said concave odges in such manner
that the forked pieces of one end pass through or alternate with those of the other end,
and thus leave room for adjustment, substantially as described and shown.
4. The manufacture and use of a corset provided with concave side openings, such
as described, and having a forked adjusting belt B, attached to the pieces thereof in
such manner that when the concavities are closed up, the extra pieces B2 of the belt
are tightened, and so prevent overlapping and consequent erensing, through exira
pressure, substantially as described.
DL 1th dhan 1000