Year: 1888

page_text: We, EMMA AMELIA FORD, Corset Maker, and JOSEPH FORD, Engineer, both of
141 Stockwell Road, Lambeth, in the county of Surrey, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to he
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention consists of the application to an ordinary corset or abdominal belt,,
of one or more pressure springs acting transversely at the base of the corset, or over
the hips, either for the purpose of supporting or confining the figure, or for the
purpose of rupture, in which latter case the spring or springs may, if necessary, be
fitted with one or more pressure pads or plates.
We are aware that belts have already been used in combination with corsets for
supporting and confining the figure, but they do not give universal satisfaction owing
to the pressure being exerted and felt all round the body, whereas by our present
invention the pressure is only applied back and front and not at the sides.
The springs may be constructed for application to any existing corsets, or they may
be fitted to a corset when it is made.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 illustrates a spring fitted to an ordinary
corset, and Figure 2 illustrates a corset, made with a spring or springs in which the
spring or springs are concealed within the corset. Figure 3 is a view in plan of a
spring as adapted to fit any corset, and Figure 4 is a view showing the adjustable
fastening for attaching the front of the spring to the front of the corset.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The springs A may be made of flat steel strips, or of one, two, or more members of
wire of any suitable section and material. The springs are bent into the shape shown
by Figure 3, so that the pressure is exerted between the free ends thereof. The
springs-if the corset is made with them are preferably placed between the two
thicknesses of material of which the corset is made and are fixed in position by
rivetting, stitching or otherwise as shown by Figure 2. If desired a spring or springs
may be fitted to one side of the corset only.
When the springs are adapted to fit on to any corset, they are made preferably of
two members, as illustrated by Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing.
Each spring A is made out of a single length of wire bent double on itself and
then bent into shape. On to the spring is threaded an eye B having a screwed shank
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page_text: to receive a flat nut B. This shank passes through one of the lace holes at the back
of the corset, to fit the spring thereto by means of the nut B¹ screwing on the shank
thereof.
On the front of the spring an eyelet hook C is clamped by a milled nut C¹, this
hook engages with one of the eyelet studs on the busk of the corset as shown by
Figure 1. The eyelet hook and nut is shown on an enlarged scale by Figure 4.
By clamping the eyelet hook C to the spring A in the manner illustrated, the hook
can be fixed in any desired position to suit figures of any size.
Instead of passing the shank of the eye B through one of the lace holes of a
corset, it may be passed through a hole made specially for it, or the eye may be
carried by a small plate adapted to be stitched or otherwise fastened to the corset or
belt. The eyelet hole may also be provided with a special stud for fixing to the
busk of the corset or belt instead of using the ordinary eyelet stud of the busk.
sometimes also confine the spring to the corset or belt just over the hip by means of
any suitable fastening that will allow it a small amount of universal motion.
We
When these pressure springs are used for rupture and similar maladies, the pressure
pads or plates are either fixed directly on to the springs A, or on to the corset in such
positions as to be acted upon by the said springs.
We are aware that trusses have been made of metallic spring frames, and we
therefore do not broadly claim the use of such spring frames, but having now
particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what
imanner. the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
1. A corset or abdominal belt having one or more pressure springs, arranged and
operating as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
2. A pressure spring formed of one or more members, and constructed and adapted
to fix in, or to, a corset or helt, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with a corset or abdominal belt, of one or more pressure
springs adapted to operate in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore set
forth.
4. The combination with a corset or abdominal belt, of a spring frame or truss,
with or without pressure or supporting pads or plates, arranged and operating as set
forth.
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ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.