IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACES FOR SUPPORTING tt TROUSERS AND OTHER GARMENTS "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Hovenden of West Dulwich in the County of
Surrey for an Invention of 'IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACES FOR SUPPORTING
tt
TROUSERS AND OTHER GARMENTS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Hovenden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd January 1883.
FREDERICK HOVENDEN of West Dulwich, in the County of Surrey,
MENTS IN BRACES FOR SUPPORTING TROUSERS AND OTHER GARMENTS
"1
« IMPROVE-
My invention relates to braces such as are used for supporting trousers and
other articles of apparel. These I make of the same general form as ordinary
braces, but their straps are about one foot longer than those of ordinary con-
struction. At the back there are four straps, two short straps for the hinder
buttons, and two long straps which fasten in front. These four straps are con-
nected together by a metal junction piece having the shape of the figure 8 laid on
its side. One of the short and one of the long straps are attached to each of the
two eyes or loops of the junction piece by a leather loop which is free to slide
along the rounded metal of the junction piece. As the junction piece extends over
a considerable width at the back of the wearer, the straps for the hinder buttons
are made as short as possible.
These braces instead of being worn in the same manner as ordinary braces which
are passed directly over the shoulders to the buttons in front, are worn in the
following manner. The long strap which starts from the right hand loop of the
junction piece behind is passed under the right arm-pit, over the right shoulder,
across the back, then under the left arm pit, and fastened in the usual manner to
buttons in front under the left breast. The other strap similarly is passed under
the left arm pit, over the left shoulder, across the back, under the right arm-pit,
and fastened to buttons in front under the right breast.
Thus the weight of the garment supported by braces of the kind described is
made to assist in expanding the chest and so developing the organs within, instead
of having the contrary effect produced by braces of ordinary construction. The
junction piece made as described prevents undue strain upon the shoulders, and
assists in the proper adjustment and distribution of the tension on the brace.
Obviously, braces such as I have described are applicable with equal advantage
to support articles of female apparel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Hovenden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th July 1883.
FREDERICK HOVENDEN of West Dulwich in the County of Surrey " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BRACES FOR SUPPORTING TROUSERS AND OTHER GARMENTS
»
My invention relates to braces such as are used for supporting trousers and
other articles of apparel. These I make of the same general form as ordinary
braces, but their straps are about one foot longer than those of ordinary con-
struction. At the back there are four straps, two short straps for the hinder
buttons, and two long straps which fasten in front. These four straps are con-
nected together by a metal junction piece having the shape of the figure 8 laid on
its side. One of the short and one of the long straps are attached to each of the
two eyes or loops of the junction piece by a leather loop which is free to slide
along the rounded metal of the junction piece. As the junction piece extends over
a considerable width at the back of the wearer, the straps for the hinder buttons
are made as short as possible. These braces, instead of being worn in the same
manner as ordinary braces which are passed directly over the shoulders to the
buttons in front, are worn in the following manner. The long strap which starts
from the right hand loop of the junction piece behind is passed under the right
armpit, over the right shoulder, across the back, then under the left armpit, and
fastened in the usual manner to a button or buttons in front under the left breast.
The other strap similarly is passed under the left arm pit, over the left shoulder,
across the back, under the right arm pit, and fastened to a button or buttons in
front under the right breast.
Thus the weight of the garment supported by braces of the kind described is
made to assist in expanding the chest and so developing the organs within, instead
of having the contrary effect produced by braces of ordinary construction. The
junction piece made as described prevents undue strain upon the shoulders, and
assists in the proper adjustment and distribution of the tension on the brace.
Obviously, braces such as I have described are applicable with equal advantage
to support articles of female apparel.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings represent respectively a front and
a back view shewing how braces according to this invention are worn on the
person. Fig. 3 shews to an enlarged scale the junction of the straps at the back.
A A¹ are the two short back straps connected to the junction piece B by leather
loops free to slide. CC are the two long straps which are also connected to B by
freely sliding loops. It will be seen that the strap C on the right side of B is
passed under the right arm pit, back over the right shoulder, across the back and
under the left arm pit, to a button or buttons situated at the left front. In like
manner the strap C₁ on the left side of B is passed under the left arm pit, over the
left shoulder, across the back and under the right arm pit to a button or buttons
at the right front. Although I have shewn the junction piece B made in the form
of an 8, which is the best form for attaching the 4 straps, it might be made of
other shape such as a ring either circular or elliptical as in Fig. 4; and it may be
of metal or other suitable material sufficiently strong and smooth to hold the strain
of the straps and permit of their loops sliding freely along it.
The braces may be made with only one button hole in a single strap in front
instead of two button holes in a double strap as shewn in the Figure, the braces
are then affixed to the hind front button on the trousers or a button placed further
back so as to be as nearly placed to the centre of gravity of the trousers as can be,
This is the best form of the brace.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim :
Constructing braces for supporting trousers and other garments with two short
back straps connected by a suitable junction piece to two front straps each
sufficiently long to be passed under one arm pit, over the shoulder, across the back
and under the opposite arm pit to the front button or buttons, substantially as and
for the purposes herein set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said Frederick Hovenden have hereunto set my
hand and seal this eleventh day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
FREDERICK HOVENDEN
(L.S.)