Improvements in Attachments for Corsets.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1898-Accepted, 2nd July, 1898
Improvements in Attachments for Corsets.
I, ANNIE WARDROPER, of 1, Cheyne Court, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,
Married Woman, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved abdominal belt designed to be attached
to and used in conjunction with corsets, to enable more pressure to be exerted for
drawing in the figure than can be obtained by means of corsets alone.
The invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:-
-
Figure 1 illustrates the improved belt attached to a corset, and shows the mode
in which the same is worn.
Figure 2 is a view on a larger scale showing a mode of connecting the front ends
of the belt by means of lacing.
Figure 3 is a corresponding view to Figure 2 showing a mode of securing the
ends of the belt by means of hook and eye fastenings.
a is the abdominal belt which is formed of elastic webbing or other suitable
material and is in the present instance made of two parts united at their front and
rear ends. At the back the connection between the two parts may advantageously
bo effected by lacing, whereas at the front the ends may either be laced together
as at 6 Figure 2, or be connected by hook and eye fastenings as at c, Figure 3,
the eyes being secured in a strip of material d.
ec are stiffening ribs of any suitable material which are sewn onto or into the
fabric of the belt or band. It is important that these strips should be arranged
at the points where the belt is attached to the corset (as shown) either vertically
or approximately so, in order to enable them to effectually resist creasing of the
band.
In the example shown in Figure 3 the length of the band may be varied slightly
if necessary to adjust the degree of tightness or pressure, by merely letting out or
drawing in the lacing at the back.
ff are eyelet holes which are arranged in pairs at the upper edge of the belt or
band, and are adapted to allow safety pins to be passed through them for the
purpose of effecting the attachment of the corset, which latter may have corre-
sponding eyelets formed on it. This arrangement is extremely simple and
convenient, but obviously any other suitable mode of fastening the belt or band
to the corset may be employed, or the attachment may be made permanent by
sewing if desired. The two holes f of each pair are situated on opposite sides of
the stiffening ribs e so that the safety pins embrace the said ribs, and the latter
thus act at the points where creasing is most likely to occur.
The result of the attachment in the manner described is that the belt is
effectually prevented from shifting upward around the waist and is kept securely
in its proper position without creasing.
Moreover instead of being made in two parts as in the example shown, the belt
or band may be made of any desired number of parts laced or otherwise secured

page_text: together, and if desired in such a manner that the length of the belt or band may
be easily varied to regulate its pressure on the abdomen.
In addition to this the belt or band instead of unfastening at only one place
may be made to unfasten at each side.
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. An attachment for corsets consisting of an abdominal belt composed of two
or more parts provided with stiffening ribs arranged substantially as described for
the purpose specified.
2. A corset attachment of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, having
eyelet holes at each side of the ribs for the reception of safety pins, substantially
as described and for the purpose specified.
3. A corset attachment constructed substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawing for the purpose specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.