An Improvement in Braces, Belts, and Waistbands of Garments.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1887
Complete Left, 4th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 4th May, 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Braces, Belts, and Waistbands of Garments.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention a communication to me from abroad by
1. J. Chidley of Port Fairy Victoria Australia to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a device-designed to be used in combination with braces
and belts or in lieu of the strap and buckle ordinarily employed for waistcoats and the
waistbands of trousers.
The device consists of a flat strip of indiarubber having at each end a hole for
attachment to the buttons of the garment. In the case of braces the strip of india-
rubber would replace the usual brace-end or tab. Being elastic it permits the braces
to be made of any suitable strong and inelastic material such as leather or webbing,
while allowing of the free movements of the wearer.
It would preferably be made of red vulcanised indiarubber, the thickness of which
would of course depend on the tension required. It may be strengthened by doubling
the thickness of the ends. As it is comparatively inexpensive it may be replaced
when worn out.
In applying the tabs to a brace, they may be passed through a yoke or eye on the
brace, or they may be attached to a stud on the brace.
In the case of a waistband of a waistcoat or pair of trousers, each end of the india-
rubber strip would be attached to buttons or studs at the proper distance apart on the
garment.
1000
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Braces, Belts, and Waistbands of Garments.
1 ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by John
James Chiley, of Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia, Photographer) and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
. following statement :-
This Invention consists of elastic tabs to be combined with non-elastic braces, the
tabs serving as brace ends whereby the braces though non-elastic are enabled to
adapt themselves to the movements of the wearer. The tab is also intended to replace
the back strap and buckle of a vest or trousers.
Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings which represent in figure 1 an
elastic tab of my invention, separately; in figure 2 the front end of one of
a pair of braces; and in figure 3 the back end of the same. The same letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The Invention consists of a flat strip of vulcanized india-rubber having enlarged
rounded ends ab united by a straight shank portion c which may be narrow, the
breadth and thickness of the strip depending on the tension it will be required to
bear. In each of the ends a b is a hole, the hole d in the end 6 which is intended to
be permanently attached being a simple round hole which, owing to the elasticity of
the rubber, may be sprung over a stud or button on the brace, whilst the hole at the
other end a is of a form which will enable it to be readily attached to, or detached
from, the buttons of the trousers, being formed of two holes e e' united by a slit e²,
or it may be of the ordinary button hole shape. To increase the durability of the
device the ends may be made of double thickness round or beyond the button holes at
the point where the strain of the buttons comes on them.
As shewn in figure 2, two of these elastic tabs are attached to the front end of each
brace by their ends b being buttoned on to buttons or studs attached to two short
tabs carried by the buckle of the brace: two elastic tabs being similarly attached to
the back end of the braces as shewn in figure 3. The tabs attached to the back ends
of the braces should be rather broader or thicker than those at the front, as being
fewer the strain on each is greater.
In applying the tab to a vest or trousers, for the purpose of applying the necessary..
tension heretofore obtained by a back strap and buckle, both ends of the tab would
have a round hole as at d, and they would be simply buttoned on to buttons or studs
fixed at the proper distance apart on the back of the garment as shown in figure 4.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to he performed I declare that what I claim is ;
An elastic tab consisting of a strip of india-rubber having rounded ends a b,
middle or shank portion c, and button holes de, applied in combination with a trouser
brace or belt, or in lieu of a back strap and buckle for vests and trousers, substantially
as specified.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A: M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.