AN IMPROVED BRACE OR SUSPENDER FOR TROUSERS.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of AN IMPROVED
BRACE OR SUSPENDER FOR TROUSERS.". A communication from abroad by
Messieurs Richard Frères, of Paris, France.
led the 20th May 1879, and dated the 6th December 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th December 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED BRACE OR SUSPENDER FOR TROUSERS." A
communication from abroad by Messieurs Richard Frères, of Paris, France.
This Invention consists of an improved brace or suspender for trousers, which
differs from all other kinds of braces or suspenders hitherto worn in this respect,
viz., that the trousers are suspended by a single strap or band, terminating in a
single "brace end" or button hole tab, and buttoning to a single button only at
the middle of the front of the trousers. The objections to the ordinary braces or
suspenders are thus avoided, the tab at the bottom of the shirt front may be dispensed
with, creases at the waist are avoided, and the trousers are made to set better, and
the brace or suspender itself is cheaper.
This improved brace or suspender consists of a strap, band, or web of a more or
less elastic nature, the two ends of which are brought together and united at an
acute angle to one another, and connected to a suitable metal buckle or clasp. To
this buckle or clasp the "brace end" or tab is attached adjustably, so as to admit
of being lengthened or shortened, as desired. The endless strap or band of the
suspender is passed over the head, so as to hang round the neck and down the front
of the body.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated it
by way of example in the annexed Drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are front
and side views of the junction of the web or band with the button hole tab or

page_text: brace end. Figure 3 represents the entire suspender, and Figure 4 shows how it is
worn.
a is the shoulder strap or band, forming a sort of loop or collar which hangs
round the neck as shown. The two ends of the band a are united to a leather loop
b which passes through the upper slot of a metal clasp or buckle c. The tab d is
preferably passed through the other two slots of the clasp in such a way as to be
retained by the friction resulting from its own tension, so that its length may be
readily adjusted to the requirements of the trousers, or it may be attached in any
other suitable way.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent
is,-
The improved trouser brace or suspender in the form of a loop or endless band
to hang round the neck with a single tab to button to the trousers, substantially as
shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my band and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy eight.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)