Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1888
Specification Accepted, 22nd Jan., 1889
GEORGE ALBERT NEWTON, and SAMUEL WELTY HURLEY, both of the City of
Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of New York, United States of America,
Gentlemen, 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:-
Our improvements relate to the means employed for connecting pantaloons or lower
garments to upper garments or shirt-waists, the object being to obviate all undue.
strain upon the garments and all discomfort to the wearer when bending forward.
The garments being formed and combined relatively so as to fit the wearer when
standing upright, it is obvious that in the case of a rigid connection, such as heretofore
used, between the garments, the act of bending the body forward to any considerable
degree or of sitting down will be rendered not only uncomfortable but practically
impossible, involving the danger of severing the connections or tearing the adjoining
portions of the garments.
We are aware that heretofore waist-bands have been re-enforced with elastic strips
extending obliquely across such bands; but our invention is entirely distinct from
such an arrangement, it being immaterial whether a waistband is used or not, since my
elastic couplings may be attached directly near the edge of either garment to connect
with buttons or analogous devices arranged at or near the opposite edge of the other
garment.
We are also aware that an elastic strap attached to a waist-band has been provided
with button loops, and with intermediate stays through which the band could slide;
but such is not the equivalent of our invention, which consists, essentially, in the
combination and arrangement, substantially as hereinafter set forth, of a laterally-
extending elastic cord fastened at both ends to the garment and formed with an
intermediate button loop or equivalent connecting device and a central stationary
support secured to the garment and formed with two opposed bearings, one for each
of the said lateral extensions, the said parts being relatively arranged in such a manner
that when the loop or connecting device is pulled outward the strain will be distributed
throughout the cord longitudinally, the attenuation allowing the loop and adjoining
Price 8d1

page_text: portion of the elastic cord to extend upward vertically at right angles to the remaining
portions of the elastic extensions, which maintain their horizontal alignment under all
circumstances. As a result of this construction, the longitudinal elasticity of the cord
is immediately brought into play during use and directed by the bearings accurately
into the proper direction to be most effective, whereas in both of the cases referred to
above the strain of use displaces the elastic material obliquely and its longitudinal
resistance is not fully brought into play until the garments have separated to an objection-
able degree, the connection between the garments in such cases being too loose, whereas
our arrangement holds the parts taut under all conditions and draws the garments
snugly and evenly together with a uniform tension. According to our construction,
each loop with its lateral extension is independent in action and there can be no
slipping or sliding of the elastic cord out of its normal position. The strain in use
is also distributed more evenly and directly around the person of the wearer, thus
counteracting all tendency to unduly wrench, pucker, or tear certain parts, and
preserving the symmetry of the garments.
In actual use it is desirable that the fastening devices upon the garments shall be
arranged as near the adjoining edges thereof as practicable, in order to avoid the
wrinkling or folding over of the edges, and for this reason my lateral extensions of the
couplings along the edges of the garments is designed especially to attain the
advantage of a comparatively long vertically extensible link through which the strain
will be distributed, and which will permit of an exceptional degree of separation
between the garments without derangement or discomfort.
In the accompanying drawings we illustrate means for giving practical effect to my
improvements, although we wish it to be understood that we do not confine myself
strictly to the identical form and construction of parts shown, since it is obvious that
various modifications may be made therein without deviating materially from the
essential features of our invention.
Figure 1, is a diagrammatic view of the inner side of a portion of the lower
garment and the outer side of a portion of the upper garment, illustrating the
arrangement of my improved form of coupling between the waist-band of the lower
garment and the upper portion of said lower garment.
Figure 2, is a view of the rearside of the waist band, showing three loops connected
with each other by a lateral extension; Figure 3, a view showing a modified form of
fastening or bearing piece in which anti-friction rollers are used; Figure 4, a view
showing a modification in the construction of the lateral extensions in which coiled
metallic springs are used; Fig. 5, a sectional view of adjoining portions of an upper
and lower garment as attached to each other.
In the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
the several views, A represents the lower portion of an upper garment, such as a
shirt-waist or similar article of apparel-and B represents a portion of the upper edge
of a pair of pantaloons or similar garment.
The coupling C consists, essentially, of one or more loops or equivalent connecting
devices, c (as, for instance, the hooks c¹, Fig. 3.) connected with lateral extensions e²
which pass around suitable bearings, D, and are secured at opposite ends to the
garments.
The connecting devices c may consist of safety hooks or pins in certain cases
where buttons, &c., are unprovided or not desirable.
The coupling C may manifestly be attached to either garment with like result,
although ordinarily it will be attached to the nether garment B.
The latter may be provided with the waist-band B₁, if preferred, although this is not
material, since the coupling ( may be attached directly to the inner side of the
garment.
The whole coupling C may be conveniently formed of a single length of elastic cord,
as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or of a series of elastic cords joined by the connecting
device c', as shown in Fig. 3, or the connecting device
may be connected with
one or more laterally-arranged coiled metallic springs, C₁, C, as shown in Fig. 5, in
either case the result and the means of attaining it being substantially identical.

page_text: The bearing pieces 1) may be constructed in various ways, their main purpose being.
to afford stationary fulcrums or guides d'd for the support and direction of the lateral
extensions c² under all circumstances.
When constructed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the elastic cord is passed through the
guides d d preparatory to the formation of the loops c c the opposite extremities of the
cord being secured to the garment by sewing or other suitable means. It is also
desirable in such case to secure the cord to the garment at intermediate points
between the loops c, so as to render each connecting device independent in action.
In Fig. 3. a modified bearing, D, is shown, provided with anti-friction rollers d³,
against which the lateral extensions c² bear in lieu of the curved metal surfaces d. d.
(shown in Fig. 2). The bearings D may be made of sheet metal struck up into the
required shape, or their mechanical equivalents in any form may be substituted, the
essential feature in this connection being the provision of means for turning or
deflecting as well as supporting and retaining the lateral extension
or coupling device c.
below the loop
In use the loops, hooks, or other coupling devices c c are connected to the opposed
buttons, hooks, or eyes a a, as the case may be, causing the coupling C to draw the
adjoining portions of two garments together, so that they overlap in the usual manner.
The act of bending the body forward creates a strain upon the transverse extensions c²,
which, owing to their elasticity, elongate sufficiently to relieve both garments of undue
tension. Upon the wearer again assuming the upright position the resilience of the
lateral extensions c² causes the retractile movement of the parts into their normal
positions. The arrangement and construction of parts is such that new couplings C
can be readily substituted for those that become worn or defective.
We have herein shown and described our invention as applied to the connection of
two separate garments, although we do not wish to confine ourselves exclusively to
such use, since the invention is applicable for the purpose of connecting the adjoining
portions of a single garment, such for instance as the so called "combination
garment, in which a change in the position of the body of the user is apt to create
strain upon the fastenings of the garment and discomfiture of the wearer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
An attachment for garments, consisting of an elastic coupling, C, formed with a
connecting device, c, and having its opposite extremities secured to the garment, in com-
bination with the opposed adjoining stationary bearings d d, which confine the portion
of the couplings Cadjoining the connecting device c between them and deflect said
portions of the coupling C in a direction substantially at right angles to the lateral
extensions c² c², for the purpose of distributing the strain in use longitudinally
throughout the said coupling, substantially as, and in the manner herein set forth.
Dated this 15th day of December 1888.