An Improved Brace for either Sex, to Support the Trousers or Skirt and for the Expansion of the Chest.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
An Improved Brace for either Sex, to Support the Trousers or Skirt
and for the Expansion of the Chest.
VINCENT FAVA WOOD 3 St. Andrews Street London E.C. Surgical Appliance.
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
:-
A brace for the expansion of the chest & to support the trousers or skirts of
either sexes, the component parts of which consist of elastic or non-elastic webbing
in either silk wool or cotton or fabrics of similar nature, the construction of the
brace is that is can be adjusted at back, front or between shoulders by means of
buckles slides or buttons and by a contrivance of the webbing or straps passing
through a slit in the straps it readily adjusts itself to the figure & can be regulated
at will. For fastening on to trousers of males attachments are added and for
females either hooks or bands.
The essential part of this invention is the passing of the webbing through each
other.
Dated this 19th daw of Cantambou 1001
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Brace for either Sex, to Support the Trousers or Skirt
and for the Expansion of the Chest.
I, VINCENT FAVA WOOD of 3 St. Andrews Street, London, 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 is designed to supply thoroughly efficient braces, applicable with
terminal modifications to either sex, and which while readily adjustable to the
wearer's figure, will permit the due expansion of the chest during respiration, and
allow of easy and unimpeded muscular action.
Like the ordinary braces they consist of two main straps which pass over the
shoulders, one on each side of the neck. Unlike the common braces these straps
after crossing each other near their junction with the garment they support, do not
pass directly over the shoulder, but first go beneath the arm on each side, and then
return over the shoulder, where they are connected by a horizontal adjustable
elastic strap placed high up on the back, after which each strap crosses itself
beneath the arm, there being a slit formed in one end through which the other end
passes thus forming a selfadjusting elastic shoulder strap to encircle the shoulder.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which
Fig. 1 shews a back view of my improved braces as made for men in the position
in which they are worn.
Fig. 2 shews a front view of the braces attached to a band for use by women.
a, is one main strap. b, is the other. c, is the connecting back strap, having a
slide or buckle k, for adjustment. To prevent any discomfort from this buckle, a
soft pada, of chamois leather is placed beneath it as shewn in Fig. 2. At the points
of junction between the back strap c, and the main straps a, b, leather facings d, d,
are used to strengthen the joints. e, e, are the slits through which the front
ends a', 6', of the main straps pass and in which they slide. e', e' are binding
leathers to strengthen the slits. 9, g, are adjustable buckles which it will be notice.]

page_text: are placed on both ends of each strap, and not on the fore ends only. i, i, are pivot
joints on the back ends a³, 2, of the straps a, and b. m, m, are also pivot joints on
the fore ends a', 6', of the same straps.
When the braces are once properly adjusted to the wearer's bust, they need not
be unfastened when the garment they sustain is taken off, as they form a kind of
short sleeve or shoulder strap and can be slipped off the shoulder when the garment
is removed, and slipped on again when the garment is resumed.
When required for men's use, loops to suit trouser buttons are employed as shewn
in Fig. 1. When intended for use by women, clips to grasp a skirt-band, or buttons
or hooks to engage with button-holes or loops can be substituted, or a band can be
attached as shewn by z, in Fig. 2.
They can be made of elastic or non-elastic webbing, or woven of silk wool or
cotton or other suitable fabric as preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. Braces adapted for either sex, having a selfadjusting elastic encircling shoulder
strap, and adjustable elastic backstrap as herein described and set forth.
2. In braces for either sex the combination of the encircling folds around the
shoulder with the slits e, e, the backstrap c, the leather facings d, d, the pad x, and
with or without the pivot joints i, i, m, m, adjustable buckles g, 9, and waist-
band z, as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 5th day of November 1901
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.