A NEW OR IMPROVED TRUNK OR BODY PATTERN FOR AUTOMATICALLY TAKING THE MEASURES OF GARMENTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes and Son,
Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention of "A NEW
OR IMPROVED TRUNK OR BODY PATTERN FOR AUTOMATICALLY TAKING THE
MEASURES OF GARMENTS." A communication from abroad by Philibert Dubois
and Claude Fournier, of Boulevard St. Denis, No. 1, Paris.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1878.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London. "A NEW OR IMPROVED TRUNK OR BODY PATTERN FOR
AUTOMATICALLY TAKING THE MEASURES OF GARMENTS." A communication from
abroad by Philibert Dubois and Claude Fournier, of Boulevard St. Denis, No. 1,
Paris.
This Invention has for its object a system of trunk or body pattern, whereof the
component parts are rendered movable or adjustable by a special arrangement of
elastic clasping which permits them to fit or measure automatically and exactly the
shape of a person's body on which the pattern is placed.
The arrangement of elastic clasping which joins the various parts of the pattern
together consists of extensible strings or ties of india-rubber cut into any desirable
shape, and formed with double (or more) button holes held or buttoned on to eyelet
buttons let into the stuff of the body-pattern. The fore part of the pattern is
composed of two breast pieces attached to each other, and to the two side pieces as
well as to the shoulder edges respectively of the two back picces by the said elastic
strings or tics. In a similar manner the two side pieces are attached respectively
to the two back pieces, and the latter to each other down the centro of the back,
the whole forming an entire trunk or body pattern, the jointed edges of which are
arranged to lap one under another in such a manner that when placed on bodies of
varying sizes and configurations the connecting strings or ties are more or less

page_text: extended until the various parts of the pattern are brought respectively into an
exact agreement, or fit with the corresponding parts of the body.
The tailor then traces or marks with chalk the lines or edges of the so adjusted
parts of the pattern on to the underlapping stuff, and is thereby provided with the
exact measures for the garment required.
The trunk or body pattern may, if desired, be composed of a greater number of
parts than are here described; and the number of connecting strings or ties may be
as many as are required.
A petticoat or under garment formed of two or more pieces may also be attached
to the trunk or body pattern, and to each other by elastic strings or ties similar to
those described.
By this Invention the tailor is assisted in arriving at the exact prices and auto-
matic measures for the various garments of men, women, and children.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
December 1878.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London.. "A NEW OR IMPROVED TRUNK OR BODY PATTERN FOR
AUTOMATICALLY TAKING THE MEASURES OF GARMENTS." A communication from
abroad by Philibert Dubois and Claude Fournier, of Boulevard St. Denis, No. 1,
Paris.
This Invention has for its object a system of trunk or body pattern, whereof the
component parts are rendered movable or adjustable by a special arrangement of
elastic clasping which permits them to fit or measure automatically and exactly the
shape of a person's body on which the pattern is placed.
The arrangement of elastic claspings which join the various parts of the pattern
together consists of extensible strings or ties of india-rubber cut into any desirable
shape, and formed with double (or more) button holes held or buttoned on to eyclet
buttons let into the stuff of the body pattern, the jointed edges of which are
arranged to lap one under another in such a manner that when placed on bodies of
varying sizes and configurations the connecting strings or ties are more or less
extended until the various parts of the pattern are brought respectively into an
exact agreement, or fit with the corresponding parts of the body.
The tailor then traces or marks with chalk the lines or edges of the so adjusted
parts of the pattern on to the underlapping stuff, and is thereby provided with the
exact measures for the garment required.
And in order that the said Invention may be well understood, I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, reference being made to the accompanying
Drawing.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a front view of the trunk or body pattern, and Fig. 2 a back view
thereof.
Fig. 3 represents the "body pattern" adjusted to a person's body, the dotted
lines indicating the mark of the chalk make on the pattern.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are separate views of the various parts composing the
body pattern.
And Figs. 10 and 11 represent front and edge views respectively of one of the
elastic ties or claspings for joining the various parts of this pattern together.
The fore part of the body pattern is composed of two breast pieces a and b (Figs.
4 and 5), which are attached to the side and shoulder pieces by the elastic strings
or ties c, c, c. These strings or ties are made of india-rubber in the shape shewn in
Figs. 10 and 11, and are held on the two meeting pieces of the pattern by eyelet
buttons d, f, let into the stuff e, and arranged in rows according to the varying
sizes of the patterns. The two pieces, a, b, clasp together in the front by means of
the strings or ties c', which are formed with many holes for accommodating the
pieces a, b, to the various bends of the breast.
The back part of the body pattern is composed of pieces h, h¹, and i, i¹, (Figs. 6,
7, 8, and 9), the pieces h, h¹, being joined at the sides to the front pieces a and b,
and to the two pieces i, ¹, at the back by means of the strings or ties c, as above
described.
Lastly. The two pieces i, i¹, are clasped together at the middle of the back and
to the shoulder pieces next to the breast pieces.
We can also join a petticoat k to the body pattern, as shewn in dotted lines,
Fig. 2, this petticoat being formed of two or more pieces retained also by means of
the elastic claspings before described.
The use of our system, which is very simple, is as follows:-The pieces being
arranged so that the edges overlap one on the other, as shewn by the dotted lines,
the pattern is put on the body of a person, and the different pieces having been
adjusted to the shape of the vestment required by means of the variable extensions
of the elastic ties or claspings, the tailor traces with chalk the lines corresponding
with the edges of the pieces, and thereby obtains an exact pattern with the necessary
measures for the correct making of the garment.
The forms and dimensions of these several pieces may bo varied at pleasure to
suit the different garments required for men, women, and children.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the construction and use of an adjustable trunk or body pattern
in combination with the elastic ties or claspings, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described, and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing,
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of December, 1878.
E. T. HUGHES. (L.S.)