IMPROVEMENTS IN BRETELLES OR PANTALOON SUSPENDERS."
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Henry Eddy, of Boston, of the State of
Massachusetts, of the United States of America, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRETELLES OR PANTALOON SUSPENDERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Henry Eddy
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th June 1871.
I, ROBERT HENRY EDDY, of Boston, of the State of Massachusetts,
of the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRETELLES OR PANTALOON SUSPENDERS,”
to be as follows:→
The nature of the said Invention may be said to be as follows:-
:-
First. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders as made with each pair of
the front button hole straps united to or springing from their back or
shoulder strap at or in close proximity with the shoulder bearing portion
thereof, whether the union be effected by a buckle or otherwise.

page_text: Second. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders as made with each pair
of the front button hole straps united to or springing from the back or
shoulder strap at or in close proximity with the shoulder bearing portion
thereof, and with either or each of the said front button hole straps of
each pair, made in two pieces connected by a buckle or otherwise, so
as to be adjustable in length as occasion may require.
Third. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders connected with their pairs
of front button straps by a buckle (or made with their back and shoulder
straps adjustable in length with respect to their two pairs of front
button straps), and having one or both of the front button straps of
each pair made in two parts connected by a buckle, or so as to be
adjustable in length.
Fourth. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders made in either of the ways
hercin-before mentioned, and having the shoulder or back straps united
by a cross connection or strap, whether such be elastic or inelastic, or
adjustable in length or consist of a lacing.
Most if not all bretelles or suspenders as ordinarily made and worn
operate to contract the pantaloons of the wearer at the waist, generally
much to his discomfort and often to his detriment. The greater the
strain on the suspenders the more will they operate to effect such con-
traction of the waist. They thereby not only obstruct the action of the
abdominal muscles but indirectly that of the lungs and those of the
stomach, arteries, viscera, and other internal organs, thereby impeding
circulation of the blood and ensuring or promoting indigestion.
The cause of this contraction of the waist is due to the arrangement
of the straps of the suspenders obliquely to the line of draft. When
the back straps are crossed or make an angle with each other on the
back of the wearer there result diagonal or oblique strains tending to
draw together the back of the waist of the pantaloons. So when to each
main strap there is a pair of front button straps arranged to stand when
in use at or near a right angle to each other, such button straps when
pulled upward at their junction draw together or contract that part of
the pantaloon waist which is between them. The tendency of the
suspenders so made is also to pull firmly against the abdomen, the
middle portion of the front part of the waist of the pantaloons, all such
operating as before mentioned to the discomfort and detriment of the
party who may make use of such suspenders.

page_text: In my improved suspenders the front button straps are very much
longer than those as heretofore made, they reaching up to or in close
proximity with the clavicle or shoulder blade; in other words, the vertex
of each pair is so situated when in use, the said pair of front button
straps being united to the back strap at or in close proximity with the
shoulder portion thereof, a buckle being used if necessary to effect the
union.
The back straps I unite near the shoulder blade portions by a long
connection or band, which will cause those parts of the straps which
may be below it when in wear to extend downward, parallel or substan-
tially so, or a little divergent as they rise upward, the length of the
connection being about equal to the distance between the two rear
waist buttons of the pantaloons. This connection may be in two
parts or strips united by a buckle or a lacing, or it may be a single
elastic or inelastic strap. The main straps I usually make of elastic
webbing.
Each of the front button straps, or one at least of each pair of them,
I prefer to make of two parts connected by a buckle, or otherwise
make the strap so that it may be adjustable in length, as may be
desirable.
By having the vertex of each pair of front button straps at the
shoulder or clavicle of the wearer there will be, on account of the great
length of the straps, little if any tendency of their being drawn together
by the downward pull of the pantaloons upon them, and consequently
little if any contraction of the pantaloon waist will ensue; and as
there can be no contraction of it by the main straps descending the
back, the pantaloons will be suspended from the shoulders of the
wearer, and maintain, practically speaking, their normal looseness at
the waist.
By pivotting each pair of front button straps at the shoulder or
starting them from their back strap at the shoulder portion thereof, each
can work independently of the other, and will exert no lateral draft
thereon, as results when the back or shoulder strap descends below the
shoulder on its front.
One of the front button hole straps when the suspenders are in use
descends from the shoulder strap nearly at a right angle with the waist
band of the trousers and to the button which is situated at or near
the middle of the side of the waist band. The other or inner button

page_text: strap in its descent from the shoulder diverges from its fellow, and
serves simply to sustain the abdominal portion of the pantaloons, the leg
and back parts being supported by the back straps and the outermost
of the front button straps.
By having either or both the front button straps and the back strap
of each suspender adjustable in length as described the suspenders can
readily be fitted or adjusted as occasion may require, and by having
the connection to the two back straps as described they when in use
are kept in their normal or proper positions on the shoulders, so as
to enable the pairs of front button straps to operate to the best
advantage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Henry Eddy in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th December 1871.
•
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
HENRY EDDY, of Boston, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United
States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Henry Eddy, Her special
licence that I, the said Robert Henry Eddy, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Henry
Eddy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRETELLES OR PANTALOON SUSPENDERS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Henry Eddy, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great

page_text: Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Henry Eddy, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings making part of this Specification :-
The nature of the said Invention may be said to be as follows:-
First. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders as made with each pair of the
front button hole straps united to or springing from their back or
shoulder strap at or in close proximity with the shoulder bearing portion
thereof, whether the union be effected by a buckle or otherwise.
Second. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders as made with each pair of
the front button hole straps united to or springing from the back or
shoulder strap at or in close proximity with the shoulder bearing portion
thereof, and with either or each of the said front button hole straps of
each pair made in two pieces, connected by a buckle or otherwise, so as
to be adjustable in length as occasion may require.
Third. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders connected with their pairs of
front button straps by a buckle (or made with their back and shoulder
straps adjustable in length with respect to their two pairs of front
button straps), and having one or both of the front button straps of each
pair made in two parts connected by a buckle or so as to be adjustable
in length.
Fourth. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders made in either of the ways
herein-before mentioned and having the shoulder or back straps united
by a cross connection or strap, whether such be elastic or inelastic, or
adjustable in length, or consist of a lacing.
Of the Drawings herein-before mentioned Figure 1 represents a front
view, and Figure 2 a rear elevation of the improved suspenders as
applied to a person or as they appear when in use; Figure 3 represents a
view of them on a more extended scale.
Most if not all bretelles or suspenders as ordinarily made and worn
operate to contract the pantaloons of the wearer at the waist, generally
much to his discomfort and often to his detriment. The greater the
strain on the suspenders the more will they operate to effect such
contraction of the waist. They thereby not only obstruct the action

page_text: of the abdominal muscles but indirectly that of the lungs and those
of the stomach, arteries, viscera, and other internal organs, thereby
impeding circulation of the blood and ensuring or promoting indigestion.
The cause of this contraction of the waist is due to the arrangement
of the straps of the suspenders obliquely to the line of draft. When the
back straps are crossed or make an angle with each other on the back
of the wearer there results diagonal or oblique strains tending to draw
together the back of the waist of the pantaloons. So when to each.
main strap there is a pair of front button straps arranged to stand when
in use at or near a right angle to each other such button straps when
pulled upward at their junction draw together or contract that part of
the pantaloon waist which is between them. The tendency of the
suspenders so made is also to pull firmly against the abdomen the
middle portion of the front part of the waist of the pantaloons, all such
operating as before mentioned to the discomfort and detriment of the
party who may make use of such suspenders.
In my improved suspenders the front 'button straps are very much
longer than those as heretofore made, they reaching up to or in close
proximity with the clavicle or shoulder blade. In other words the
vertex of each pair is so situated when in use, the said pair of front a
button straps being united to the back strap at or in close proximity
with the shoulder portion thereof, a buckle being used if necessary to
effect the union.
The back straps I unite near the shoulder blade portions by a long
connection or band which will cause those parts of the straps which may ?
be below it when in wear to extend downward parallel, or substantially
so, or a little divergent as they rise upward, the length of the connection
being about equal to the distance between the two rear waist buttons
of the pantaloons. This connection may be in two parts or strips
united by a buckle, or a lacing, or it may be a single elastic or inelastic
strap. The main straps I usually make of elastic webbing.
i
Each of the front button straps, or one at least of each pair of them,
I prefer to make of two parts connected by a buckle, or otherwise make
the strap so that it may be adjustable in length as may be desirable.
In the Drawings the main or back and shoulder straps are shown a
at A, A, and their connection at B. The two pairs of front button
straps are represented at C, D, C, D, each pair being extended from a
buckle E which receives the back and shoulder or main strap. Each

page_text: of the front button straps C, D, is shown as composed of two parts
or bands a, b, united by a buckle c, such a construction of the said
buttoning straps enabling them to be adjusted in length as occasion may
require.
From the above it will be seen that by having the vertex of each
pair of front button straps at the shoulder or clavicle of the wearer there
will be, on account of the great length of the straps, little if any
tendency of their being drawn together by the downward pull of the
pantaloons upon them, and consequently little if any contraction of the
pantaloon waist will ensue, and as there can be no contraction of it by
the main straps descending the back, the pantaloons will be suspended
from the shoulders of the wearer and maintain practically speaking their
normal looseness at the waist.
By pivoting each pair of front button straps at the shoulder or starting
them from their back strap at the shoulder portion thereof each can
work independently of the other, and will exert no lateral draft thereon,
as results when the back or shoulder strap descends below the shoulder
on its front.
One of the front button hole straps when the suspenders are in use
descends from the shoulder strap nearly at a right angle with the waist
band of the trowsers and to the button which is situated at or near the
middle of the side of the waist band. The other or inner button strap
in its descent from the shoulder diverges from its fellow, and serves
simply to sustain the abdominal portion of the pantaloons, the leg and
back parts being supported by the back straps and the outermost of the
front button straps.
.
By having either or both the front button straps and the back strap
of each suspender adjustable in length as described the suspenders can
readily be fitted or adjusted as occasion may require, and by having
the connection to the two back straps as described they when in use
are kept in their normal or proper positions on the shoulders, so
as to enable the pairs of front button straps to operate to the best
advantage.
Suspenders constructed on the principle or principles as herein-before
explained may be said comparatively speaking to be anti-waist con-
strictile. I am aware that it is not new to make suspenders with a back
connection as herein-before decribed, and therefore I make no claim to

page_text: such irrespective of my specific arrangement of the vertices of the pairs
of front button hole straps.
I claim as my Invention as follows, viz.,—
First. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders as made with each pair of the
front button hole straps united to or springing from their back or
shoulder strap at or in close proximity with the shoulder bearing portion
thereof, whether the union be effected by a buckle or otherwise.
Second. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders as made with each pair of
the front button hole straps united to or springing from the back or
shoulder strap at or in close proximity with the shoulder bearing portion
thereof, and with either or each of the said front button hole straps of
each pair made in two pieces connected by a buckle or otherwise, so as
to be adjustable in length as occasion may require.
Third. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders connected with their pairs
of front button straps by a buckle (or made with their back and shoulder
straps adjustable in length with respect to their two pairs of front
button straps), and having one or both of the front button straps of
each pair made in two parts connected by a buckle, or so as to be
adjustable in length.
Fourth. Bretelles or pantaloon suspenders made in either of the ways
herein-before mentioned and having the shoulder or back straps united
by a cross connection or strap, whether such be elastic or inelastic, or
adjustable in length or consist of a lacing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Henry Eddy, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of May, A.D. 1