Year: 1886

page_text: I, HENRY CLAY WHITMARSH, of 24 Cambridge Place, in the City of Brooklyn,
in the County of Kings and State of New York, one of the United States of
America, Manufacturer, do bereby 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 suspenders and shoulder braces, and the novelty consists
in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, as will be more fully
hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.
I provide a two part connecting plate.
One of the webs, or straps is connected to each of the parts which form the back
plate, Each half of the suspender is held by the half of the back plate in such an
angular position that it extends normally from the back button upon one side to
the centre of the back and thence over the shoulder of the wearer upon the same
side. This curvature is due to the manner of securing the web to the parts which
comprise the half sections of the back-plate.
:
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of
this specification, and in which ;-
Fig. 1, is a back view of the entire suspenders.
Fig. 2, is a detail of a part.
Fig. 3, is an edge section.
-
Fig. 4, is a detail, illustrating in dotted lines the liberty of movement accom-
plished by the two part back plate or pad.
Referring to the drawings:-
A and A¹ designate the upper webs of a pair of suspenders, and B and B', the
lower webs thereof, C and C³, designate the two parts of the back plate. They
are each formed of two plates, c and c, stitched together, the stitches also securing
the webs in place. The adjacent sides of the plates, C, C₁, are straight, and these.
sides are provided with corresponding rows of eyelets, d. The outer edges of the
plates are curved, and the webs, A, and A¹, are so secured between the layers, c and c¹,
as to diverge the said webs from each other at an angle which will allow the parts
marked, ff, to come fairly upon the shoulders of the wearer. The webs, B, B¹,
are similarly secured to throw the said webs at an angle which will extend to the
back buttons of the pantaloons, or the like. As far as described, it will be seen
that each suspender or member of the pair is comprised of a long and a short web,
r Die 1

page_text: and a connecting piece or plate. Each is, by reason of its attachments, so curved
as to throw the two webs upon different planes. To complete the pair of suspenders
it is only necessary to couple the plates together by the lacing cords, D, which
I prefer to make elastic to allow the plates, O, O', or either of them to have a
liberty of motion, as seen in figure 4. I am aware that it is not new with me
broadly to provide that either suspender or member may have a limited movement
independent of the other, and I am also aware that corset backs, and back braces
have been laced. But I am not aware that suspenders have been given a desired
curvature by reason of their being formed in part of a two part back-plate, or by
reason of their webs being stitched between two plates in curved or angular
positions, the two plates serving as detachable and adjustable parts of a back plate;
nor that such two part plate has ever been completed by an elastic lacing. My
invention allows me to use short pieces of web in the construction of useful articles.
A single web however may be ": fulled" upon one side and stitched between
plates as c, c¹ for this purpose. The elasticity of the lacing not only allows great
freedom of movement to the wearer, but it allows the two parts, C, C¹, to separate
laterally from each other to accommodate broad shoulders, or a wider separation
upon the shoulders.
Having now particularly described ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is,-
1. A pair of suspenders comprising essentially two separable members or
shoulder straps, each member having its web normally held in an angular position
with the free ends extended in the same lateral direction, and the members being
removably and adjustably secured together, as set forth.
2. A pair of suspenders comprising essentially two separable members, or
shoulder straps, each member having its web normally held in an angular position
by being secured to faces as, c c¹, the free ends extended in the same lateral
direction and provided with suitable ends, the plates formed by the faces, c, c¹,
being removably and adjustably secured together to couple two similar members,
as set forth.
3. A pair of suspenders, each half of which comprises a long web and a short
web secured in angular positions between faces or plates, as, c c', by stitches, and
the two parts, C, C, thus formed being adjustably coupled together, as set forth.
4. The long webs, A A¹, and short webs B, B¹, secured between plates, c, c¹, at
angles as shown, the said plates, c, d, forming a two part back plate and the
parts C, C¹, adjustably connected, as set forth.
5. The webs, A, B, A, B, and the plates, C, C₁, having eyelets d, connected and
arranged as described, combined with the elastic lacing, D, and the whole adapted
to serve as and for the purpose set forth..
จ
1000