IMPROVEMENTS IN CORSETS
Year: 1852

page_text: I'
LETTERS PATENT to James Henry Smith, of Connaught Terrace,
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CORSETS."
Sealed the 16th April 1858, and dated the 27th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Henry Smith
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 27th October 1852.
I, JAMES HENRY SMITH, of Connaught Terrace, London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CORSETS"
to be as follows:-
The principle of my Invention consists in the arrangement of elastic
materials in corsets in accordance with anatomical requirements, so as
to admit of free muscular motion, healthy respiration, combined with
support to the spine and graceful shape. Many ill effects are known
to follow the use of ordinary corsets, which, indeed, are condemned by
medical authority as destructive of female health. Now my improved
corset offers a remedy for all these evils. Being constructed in close
imitation of the human frame it admits of expansion of the lungs for
respiration, of free play for the muscles, gives ease in the region of the
abdomen, and acts in unison with, not in opposition to, the functions of

page_text: the body. Fig. 1, shows a view of the back part of the corset. a, a, is
a busk which supports the spine. Figs. 1, to 8, are pieces of elastic
fabric, arranged in manner corresponding with various muscles & liga-
ments, and intended to permit of their easy action. Those acquainted
with anatomy will perceive that this arrangement is in close conformity
with that of nature. Among other muscles whose action is thus
followed are the trapezius, rhomboid, infra spinatus, latissimus, and
dorsal; all their names cannot be, enumerated here. Fig. 2, shews a
side view of the corset, with like insertions 9, 10, 11, and also pieces of
elastic fabric in plain bands, as at b, b, Fig. 2, 3. The picces at 9, 10,
11, are to act with the transversalis muscles and admit of abdominal
respiration with the peristaltic action of the stomach. Fig. 3, shows the
front of the corset with elastic insertions at b, b.
be fastened in front. I propose to denominate my improved corset the
Corsaletto di Medici, or Resilient Boddice.
These corsets are to
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Henry Smith in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 27th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES HENRY SMITH, of Connaught Terrace, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Henry Smith, Ier special
licence that I, the said James Henry Smith, my exccutors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Henry Smith,
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 "In-

page_text: PROVEMENTS IN CORSETS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said James Henry Smith, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
scal, 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 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 James Henry Smith, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what inanner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say):
'
The principle of my Invention consists in arranging separate pieces
of elastic materials in corsets, so as to act in unison with the anatomical
structure, thereby promoting free muscular motion and permitting of
healthy respiration: Many ill effects are known to follow the use of
ordinary corsets, which are condemned by most medical men as
destructive to female health. Now my improved corset, being con-
structed in imitation of and in accordance with the upper portion of the
female physique, does not constrain the free functional action of the
body; it gives case in the abdominal region by its elasticity; it admits
of the expansion of the lungs, while at the same time that graceful
contour deemed essential in this article of dress is preserved. Figure 1,
is a view of the back part of my improved corset; Figure 2, is a side
view; and Figure 8, represents the front of the corset. The transverse
picces in the back and sides of the corset are made of india-rubber
webbing, or braid, or other similar elastic material, and may be lined
with flannel, silk, or other material. It will be seen that these elastic
pieces or insertions are interlaced and crossed in various directions,
variable in number, size, and position, in conformity with individual
configuration. Now this arrangement is, as nearly as possible, a
counterpart of the arrangement of the muscles and ligaments of the
female human form, and as every motion of the human frame calls
into play one or other of these muscles or ligaments, the object in my
Invention is, that the corset should yield in that particular part actuated
by the movement of a muscle or ligament. Among the many muscles

page_text: and ligaments in this part of the frame are the trapezius, the rhomboid,
infra spinatus, latissimus, and the dorsal, and the elastic picces marked
a, to h, in Figure 1, are intended to give play to them. The elastic
pieces shewn by i, j, k, Figure 2, are intended to permit of the easy
motion of the transversalis muscles with abdominal respiration, and
are also useful inasmuch as the peristaltic action of the stomach is not
obstructed, as it often is by rigidity in this portion of the corset. In
addition to these peculiar arrangements of elastic material, I insert
other pieces of clastic material for giving additional elasticity; as shewn
at l, l, m, m, but make no claim to these. These corsets in general
open in front, and are made of the ordinary materials and in the
ordinary manner, except as regards those parts in which my Invention
consists; and I need not give any directions as to the manufacture of
these parts, for it will be obvious that these elastic pieces may be easily
sewn or attached to the corsets. I propose to denominate my improved
corset "The Corsaletto di Medici," or "Resilient Bodice."
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and how the same
is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein-before described; but I claim the
improvements in corsets consisting in the arrangement of pieces of
elastic material on the principles and for the purposes herein-before
described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Henry Smith, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three.
JAMES HENRY SMITH. (L.B.)