IMPROVEMENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO STAYS, CORSETS, OR BODY BELTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charlotta Helena Carlson, of Lee, in the County of Kent,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR ADDITIONS TO STAYS, CORSETS,
OR BODY BELTS."
Sealed the 11th February 1879, and dated the 17th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charlotta Helena Carlson at
"IMPROVEMENTS
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th August 1878.
CHARLOTTA HELENA CARLSON, of Lee, in the County of Kent.
IN OR ADDITIONS TO STAYS, CORSETS, OR BODY BELTS."
The object of my Invention is to produce stays, corsets, or body belts, capable of
supporting and improving the figure of the wearer, and particularly that part thereof
called the abdomen.
The Invention consists in connecting by stitching, weaving, or in any other con-
venient manner, to the stay, corset, or body belt, and preferably the sides or front
part thereof, of binders or flaps consisting of pieces of material, say, of "coutille"
or elastic material, or a combination of the same or of any other equivalent material,
made up or strengthened by bones or steels if desired. The latter may consist of
plates of metal to form or set up a galvanic action if desired. The flaps or binders
are secured together in front by laces, busk hooks, or other fasteners, as found most
convenient, whereby the binder or flap may be adjusted to suit the size of the
wearer, as may be required.
Sometimes I make each of the binders or flaps in two or more parts, secured
together preferably by adjustable laces, whereby greater suppleness is afforded to
the corset or body belt than when the same is made in one piece.
Hooks or studs are used for adjusting the position of the binders or flaps upon
the corset proper.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charlotta Helena Carlson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th February 1879.
CHARLOTTA HELENA CARLSON, of Lee, in the County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR ADDITIONS TO STAYS, CORSETS, OR BODY BELTS."
The object of my Invention is to produce stays, corsets, or body belts, capable of
supporting and improving the figure of the wearer, and particularly that part thereof
called the abdomen.
The Invention consists in connecting by stitching, weaving, or in any other con-
venient manner, to the stay, corset, or body belt, and preferably to the sides or front
part thereof, of binders or flaps consisting of pieces of material, say, of "coutille"
or elastic material, or a combination of the same or of any other equivalent material,
made up or strengthened by bones or steels if desired. The flaps or binders are
attached to the corset, and are secured together in front (either in the middle or at
the sides in advance of the hips) by laces, busk hooks, or other fasteners, as found
most convenient, whereby the binder or flap may be adjusted to suit the size of the
wearer, and thus in combination with the corset form both an abdominal support
and a means of compressing the figure, whereby support is afforded to the body
without undue pressure.
Sometimes I make each of the binders or flaps in two or more parts, secured
together preferably by adjustable laces, whereby greater suppleness is afforded to
the corset, stays, or body belt, than when the same is made in one piece.
Hooks or studs are used for adjusting the position of the binders or flaps upon
the corset proper, so as to prevent the binder rising from its proper position..
The accompanying Drawings illustrate the manner in which my Invention is or
may be carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a view in illustration of a corset, stay, or body belt, with my improve-
ments applied thereto, and shewing this corset fastened, with the binders or
flaps a, a, applied thereto in the manner I prefer, but unlaced and spread open.
Figure 2 shows a modification of the corset with similar binders applied thereto,
but stitched to the corset at the front instead of the sides, the means of lacing or
fastening, the binder being in a position slightly in advance of the hips, and for
short stout women this arrangement of my Invention is applicable. Hooks c, as in
Figure 1, may be applied to corsets of this form.
Figure 3 shows the same corset as Figure 1 laced, with the binders or flaps
partially closed, and Figure 4 shows the same corset with the binders or flaps wholly
laced, and as it should be or appear when worn.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are views, corresponding to Figures 1, 3, and 4, of another
arrangement or modification of corset constructed according to my Invention, where
the binders or flaps are divided into two parts.
The same letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the Figures.
a, a, are the binders or flaps, and c, c, the hooks for keeping same in its proper
position; d shows a gusset-shaped or triangular aperture at or near the junction of
the binder to the corset, the latter connected by strap e at bottom to the binder
flaps, the object of it being to prevent any puckering of the corset under the binder
when closed.
Figures 1, 3, and 4 show the binders or flaps secured by laces in front; Figure 2
shows the binders secured by straps and buckles; and Figures 5, 6, and 7 show
them secured by busk hooks with laces b, b, at side, to adjust the fitting where
required.
:
The flaps may be attached to the corset proper by stitching, weaving, or other
suitable manner.
The hooks c, as before stated, serve to hold the binder flaps a in position on
the corset, thus preventing them from shifting or working up, and ensuring comfort
to the wearer.

page_text: Instead of hooks, studs or other convenient appliances for holding the binder
flaps in position may be used.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that I am aware
that it has heretofore been proposed to use a binder belt or abdominal support over
a corset, but quite separate or detachable from the same; I am also aware that it
has been proposed to separate the lower front part of the corset from the upper
front part of same, and to lace such lower part in front; I therefore do not claim
any of the above arrangements, but what I do claim is, the improved corset, stay,
or body belt herein-before described, and illustrated in the Drawings hereunto
annexed, being a combination of a corset with binders or flaps made in one or more
pieces and secured together, and which said improved corset forms both an abdominal
support and also a means of compressing the figure of the wearer.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charlotta Helena Carlson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine. ·
CHARLOTTA HELENA CARLSON. (L.S.)