An Improvement in Men's, Youths', and Boys' Braces.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Men's, Youths', and Boys' Braces.
I, JOSIPHIAH WEDGWOOD MYATT, of 146 Waterloo Road, Burslem, in the
County of Stafford, Draper and Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
I make a small wheel of suitable size, with a groove-semi-circular or angular-
turned in its edge; to form a pulley or friction wheel, (hereinafter called the
"wheel "), and with a hole perforated through the centre so as to revolve on a fixed
axis, such wheel to be formed of brass or other metal, bone, celluloid, hard wood,
or suitable composition. The wheel is fitted to revolve in a suitable box or case
(hereinafter called the "case") formed by cutting or stamping sheet brass or other
suitable metal to shape required and then bent up to shape, as per Fig. 1, shown in
cross-section, the bottom part is stamped to form a circular groove to admit a ring
carrying the ordinary form of leather tabs or ends used for braces, and the upper
part is perforated with a hole to admit of a rivet or screw, being passed through to
form a fixed axis for the small wheel to revolve freely thereon, and the said sides
of case to protect the wheel by projecting beyond its edge. Fig. 2 shows cross-
section of wheel, rivet, and case. I then take two suitable lengths of the usual
woven elastic, web etc. used in ordinary braces, and connect to each, at one of their
ends, strong round cord, of suitable diameter, of such a kind known as glacé thread
venetian blind-cord, or similar make, or else of leather, preferably bent and stitched
to form a round cord with flat ends of suitable length and width to stitch or other-
wise attach to the two shoulder straps of brace as aforesaid, thus forming a
continuous length or brace, and at the other extremities are placed the ordinary
buckle and leather tabs or ends attached thereto, as used in the other forms of
braces. I now take the bent up portion of brass called the case (covered with
leather, if desired, on the side next to the wearer, by stitching through suitable
holes perforated in edge of case or by the edge of case being bent and closed down
upon the leather or other substance used) and having attached to it a bent metal
ring carrying the two back leather tabs or ends, the case is then closed up leaving
the required space for the wheel to revolve freely between its sides, the round
centre portion of brace (hereinafter called the " bridle") is then placed in the
space; the wheel placed in position over it and secured by means of a rivet or
screw aforesaid to form a fixed axis for the wheel to revolve upon. The brace is
then finished and complete as shown in Fig. 3.
And the improvements and advantages claimed for this, my invention, are these :
That an easier suspension of trousers is obtained; that the pressure is more equally
distributed on each shoulder than in any other form of brace without springs; that
it is practically self-adjusting as regards each leg of the trousers it supports; and
that the wearer can twist about in every, or any imaginable attitude without one of
the shoulder straps hurting him or pressing unduly on one shoulder, as in the
ordinary, or common form of brace. And further that it is impossible for one leg
of trousers to be held higher than the other, even if the elastic web or other
material forming the flat portion of shoulder straps, are not exactly the same length
when adjusted by the ordinary buckles as used in other types of braces; because
the small wheel finds and retains its own centre of brace, and equalizes, or nearly
so, the pressure on each end of brace shoulder straps, in any position, and allows
any side movement of the wearer, or such as would be caused by his stretching one
arm upwards as high as possible with the other hanging down-the said wheel
moving from nearly, or to, each end of the part of the brace called the bridle; and

page_text: if the brace is adjusted equally at its ends by the buckles, then the wheel remains
in the centre portion of the "bridle" portion of said brace-that is if the wearer is
standing at ease, but on any movement the said wheel occupies some other portion
of the bridle aforosaid. And lastly that it is cheap, strong, and suitable alike for
nobleman, labourer, or gymnast.
Dated this 29th day of December 1891.
JOSIPHIAH WEDGWOOD MYATT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Men's, Youths', and Boys' Braces.
I, JOSIPHIAH WEDGWOOD MYATT, of 146 Waterloo Road, Burslem, in the
County of Stafford, Draper and Agent do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
I make a small wheel, of from to inch in diameter and to inch in
thickness (these being found suitable sizes) and with a groove-semi-circular or
angular form-turned in its edge so as to form a pulley or friction wheel, and with
a hole perforated through the centre so as to revolve on a fixed axis (such pulley
wheel being hereinafter called the "wheel ") such wheel to be formed of brass or
other metal, bone, celluloid, hard wood, or suitable composition. The wheel is
fitted to revolve in a suitable box or case (hereinafter called the ". case") formed
by cutting or stamping sheet brass or other suitable metal to shape required, and
then bent up, to form shewn in Fig. 2, the bottom part is stamped up to form a
circular groove to admit and carry a metal ring carrying the ordinary form of
leather tabs or ends used for braces, and the upper part is perforated with a hole
on each side of case to admit of a rivet or screw being passed through to form a
fixed axis for the wheel to revolve freely thereon and the said sides of case to
protect the wheel by projecting a little beyond its edge, as shewn in Fig. 4, in
cross-section, wheel C, case D, rivet H, and ring (carrying back leather ends) E.
I then take two suitable lengths of the usual flat woven elastic, web, etc., used in
ordinary braces and securely attach by stitching (and afterwards covering with
leather, if desired) to each, at one of their ends, strong round cord of suitable
thickness, of such a kind known as venetian glacé thread blind-cord or other
suitable make, the length of cord from each of the two flat shoulder straps to
measure, when attached, from about 4 to 8 inches, or more, according to size of
brace; or instead of the blind-cord I use leather bent up to form a cord with flat
ends to securely attach by stitching, or otherwise, to each of the two brace shoulder
straps as aforesaid, thus forming a continuous length of which the flat portions are
the ends, as shewn in Fig. 1. Shoulder straps A, A, blind-cord, or leather cord, B.
And to the ends of the shoulder straps are placed the buckles carrying the leather
front tabs or ends as used in ordinary braces. I now take the bent up case D,
Fig. 2, (covered with leather, if desired, on the side next to the wearer, by stitching
through suitable holes perforated near edge of case; or by the edge being folded
over and closed down upon the leather), and having attached to it the bent metal
ring carrying the back leather tabs or ends as aforesaid, shewn in Fig. 3, ring E,
ends F, F, the case is then closed up leaving the required space for the wheel to
revolve freely between its sides, the round centre portion of brace, formed of the
cord, or leather, aforesaid (hereinafter called the "bridle ") is then placed in the
space in case; the wheel placed over it in required position, and secured by means
of a rivet, or screw, being passed through it and the sides of the said case so as to
form a fixed axis for the wheel to revolve freely thereon, as shewn in Figs. 3 & 4,
case D, wheel C, rivet H, bridle B, ring E carrying the leather ends F, F. The
brace is thus finished and complete as shewn in Fig. 5,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
(1.) The connecting of the two ordinary flat shoulder straps by a short piece of
blind-cord, or leather, (hereinafter termed the "bridle") this part being held down
by a pulley wheel (hereinafter called the "wheel ") which revolves on a fixed axis,
and to the case carrying the wheel is attached a metal ring which carries the
ordinary short back leather tabs, or ends as used in braces, the length of the bridle
must be such as to allow a movement of from 2 to 4 inches, or more, of the said
bridle on each side of wheel and case, to allow to the utmost for any rise of the
wearers shoulders which thereby elevates and lengthens that side of brace
(reckoning from the centre, or middle, of the bridle) and decreases the length of
the other side of brace according to which shoulder is elevated, but when the
wearer is standing upright; then the wheel remains in the middle part of the
bridle.
(2.) That an easier suspension of trousers is obtained.
(3.) That the pressure is more equally distributed on the shoulders than in other
types of braces without springs.
(4.) That it is practically self-adjusting as regards each leg of the trousers it
supports, so that if the buckles carrying the front leather tabs or ends are not
placed exactly at equal distances from each end of the two shoulder straps the
trouser legs are still held at equal height, and not one held higher than the other as
in the ordinary form of brace."
(5.) That it is cheap, strong, and serviceable.
Du ocil de f January 1900
JOSIPHIAH WEDGWOOD MYATT.