IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSTLES OR SKIRT SUPPORTERS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lemuel Dow Owen, of 481, New Oxford Street,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BUSTLES OR SKIRT SUPPORTERS."-A communication from abroad by W. S.
and C. H. Thomson, of New York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 18th June 1861, and dated the 5th January 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lemuel Dow Owen at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th January 1861.
I, LEMUEL DOW OWEN, of 481, New Oxford Street, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BUSTLES OR SKIRT SUPPORTERS," being a communication to me from
abroad by W. S. & C. H. Thomson, of New York, in the United States of
America, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in forming an indestructable bustle and skirt.
supporter of elastic material for ladies' use, to give grace and beauty to the
form with ease and comfort to the wearer. I make a band of one or more
pieces of steel, or some other elastic material, placed parallel with each other,
of sufficient length to pass nearly round the body, and attached to the ends

page_text: are suitable arrangements for connecting or fastening them together. To this
elastic band I attach by means of clasps a coil or spiral of fine rolled steel
spring, or its equivalent, which increases in diameter gradually from each end
towards the centre of the band, and forms an elastic roll, capable of com-
pression without injury. Sometimes I use short pieces, in which case instead
of a continuous coil extending the length of the band, separate rings are
formed, which are attached at intervals by clasps to the band. I prefer to
use the spiral form, as it gives greater strength and durability, and is easier
manufactured and capable of adjustment. The details of the said Invention
may of course be varied without departing from the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and I claim the right to do so accordingly.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
the said Lemuel Dow Owen in the Great Seal Patent Office, on
the 21st June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LEMUEL
Dow OWEN, of 481, New Oxford Street, in-the-County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Lemuel Dow Owen, Her special licence, that 1, the said Lemuel
Dow Owen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Lemuel Dow Owen, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter 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 Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSTLES OR SKIRT SUPPORTERS," a communication to me
from abroad by W. S. and C. H. Thomson, of New York, in the United
States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Lemuel Dow Owen, 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

page_text: filed in the Great 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 Lemuel Dow Owen, do hereby declaro
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 Drawings hereto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention consists in forming indestructable bustle or skirt supporter
of elastic material for ladies' use, to give grace and beauty to the form, with
case and comfort to the wearer, I make a band of one or more pieces of
steel, or some other elastic material placed parallel with each other, of
sufficient length to pass nearly round the body, and attached to the ends are
suitable arrangements for connecting or fastening them together. To this
elastic band I attach by means of clasps a coil or spiral of fine rolled steel
spring, or its equivalent, which increases in diameter gradually from each end
towards the centre of the band, and forms an elastic roll capable of com-
pression without injury. Sometimes I use short pieces, in which case instead
of a continuous coil extending the length of the band separate rings are
formed, which are attached at intervals by clasps to the band. I prefer to
use the spiral form, as it gives greater strength and durability, is easier manu-
factured, and capable of adjustment.
And in order that the same may be more fully understood, reference is had
to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon.
Fig. 1 is a view of the bustle or supporter when finished; Fig. 2 is a plan
of the clasp used to fasten the spiral coil to the band.
a, a, a, a, Fig. 1, represents the band formed of the two elastic springs
placed parallel with each other, and held in their position by the coil, which is
attached to the band by the clasps e, e, e, e. To the ends of the band are
attached straps c, c, with suitable arrangements for fastening them together.
b, b, b, b, Fig. 1, shews the coil as attached to the band by the clasps e, e, e, e.
To attach the coil or spiral to the band I place one of the narrow strips of
steel of which the band is made across the centre of the clasp marked d,
Fig. 2; then I lay the coil on in such a way that the spring of which it is
composed crosses the band at right angles over the clasp, and bend up the
parts marked h round the spring, thus fastening the two firmly together.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same may be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not

page_text: confine myself to the precise details herein laid down, so long as the peculiar
character of my Inventions be retained; but what I claim as my said Inven-
tions is, the arrangement and construction of bustles or skirt supporters,
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lemuel Dow Owen, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
Oue thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
LEMUEL DOW OWEN. (L.S.)