IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACES, SUSPENDERS OR SHOULDER STRAPS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACES, SUSPENDERS OR SHOULDER
STRAPS" 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 especially to suspenders, shoulder straps or braces having,
as a means of attachment to pantaloons, breeches or other similar articles of wearing
apparel, two side rods, bars or supports, carrying devices for grasping or holding
the waistband of the pantaloons or other similar articles, or for securing said waist-
band to the said rods, bars or supports, or which are directly secured or attached
to the waistband, each of which rods, bars or supports carries or has attached or
secured to it a ring, eye or other fastening, holding or suspending device, by which
they are secured, or adapted to be secured to the ends of the straps of the sus-
penders, braces or shoulder straps.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 shows a portion of the suspenders or braces representing one of the
rods, bars or supports attached to the waistband of the pantaloons, and connected
with the lower end of one of the straps of the suspenders or braces.
Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation of the complete suspenders or braces.
Figure 3 is a vertical central section drawn to an enlarged scale on the line xx
of Figure 2, showing the construction and application of one form of waistband
attaching device hereinafter described.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section of the attaching device upon the same line
as that of Figure 3, the waistband being also shown.
Figure 5 is a side elevation drawn to an enlarged scale of one of the side rods,
bars or supports attached to a waistband and suspended from a part of the
suspenders.
Figure 6 is a plan view of a waistband rod, bar or support.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are views showing a modified form of the waistband rods,
bars or supports.

page_text: Figures 10 to 16 inclusive relate to the construction of one form of waistband
attaching device, and
Figures 17, 18 and 19 to another forn thereof.
Figure 20 is a view in elevation of a slight modification in the position of the
waistband rod, bar or support suspending or attaching device.
Figures 21 and 22 show one of the waistband rods, bars or supports enveloped
or covered by the waistband with the exception of the attaching or suspending
ring or device.
The devices for supporting or sustaining the pantaloons, breeches, or other
similar article of wearing apparel, comprise the curved rods, bars or supports A A¹.
These rods, bars or supports may be made of metal or any other suitable material,
and they are curved horizontally to approximate the curve of the side of the body.
They may be rigid after they have been thus shaped, or they may be made to
yield laterally. It is desirable, however, that they should be stiff or rigid enough
to resist vertical strains; or in other words, so that the ends of the rods, bars or
supports may sustain in proper position the attaching or holding devices which
they carry, or which are attached or secured thereto.
While this form of construction is preferable yet it is not absolutely essential as
the bars, rods or supports may be made of material which will yield or spring
somewhat, or of a material so supported or held at the ends by bracing pieces or
devices running upward toward each other to the ring or eye, or by the waistband
as hereinafter specified, that they may be made of a material which is not rigid,
or which is not strong enough to properly support or hold at its ends the device
for securing them to the waistband of the pantaloons or other similar article.
This latter form of construction will be hereinafter more fully described.
In the drawings each of these side rods, bars or supports is shown as provided
with three devices by which it is secured to the waistband of the pantaloons,
breeches, or other similar article; or, in other words, whereby the pantaloons,
breeches, or other similar articles, are suspended, when properly secured to the
waistband of the pantaloons, breeches, or other similar articles, these attaching
devices occupy the place of the buttons ordinarily used for receiving the button
holes upon the ends of the straps of the suspenders or braces.
It is obvious that there are many ways of attaching these side rods, bars or
supports in place to the waistband, and I have represented in the drawings two of
these ways, but I would not be understood as confining my invention to these
specific fastening devices, as I consider that they do not constitute the principal
feature of my invention, which does not lie in the specific means employed in
securing the side rods, bars or supports to the waistbands, but in the application of
such bars, rods or supports to waistbands, regardless of the manner by which they
are secured thereto, and when used in connection with suspenders or shoulder
straps, or braces.
may
The attaching, holding or supporting devices are well shown in various
Figures, and they each have a bar or stud which is adapted to pass through
the substance or material of the waistband or edge of the article supported.
These attaching devices, which I have lettered B in the drawings,
form from a blank b, which is shaped in plan as represented in Figure 10,
and in section as shown in Figure 11, and is made of brass or other equivalent
metal. The said blank is first submitted to forming operations whereby the
two cups 61, 63, are struck down therefrom, and the screw-holes 63, 64, formed.
The blank is then further formed by folding substantially upon the line x, x,
of Figure 12, so as to bring the two portions c, c' parallel with each other,
and also to bring the screw-holes b³, b, opposite each other, as represented in
Figure 15. The end c² is then bent upward, so as to bring the cup b¹ opposite the
screw-hole b in the cup b³, (see Figure 15); and the part is also bent upward
parallel with the part c¹, and its end c bent downward, as represented in Figure 16
to project upon the inner side of the screw-head d. The holding device supports
a screw D, which projects from the head inward and has the sharp gimlet-point d¹

page_text: the thread d extending to the groove d³. This screw fits the screw-holes b³, b.
The arm c³, which is slightly yielding, serves to prevent the screw from being
removed from the plate by ordinary handling.
It will thus be seen that the complete fastening device comprises the plates or
supports, one of which carries a screw and the other of which has a teat or inward
extending projection d' having a screw-threaded hole. These plates are yielding
or spring plates and the plate c has a cap which covers the end of the screw-hole b₁,
There is also pro-
so that its end is always protected or shielded when in use.
vision for attachment to the rod, bar or support, by forming the plate to straddle
the bar or support, as shown in Figure 5.
In use the waistband or article to be supported or attached is placed between
two portions or parts of the device, and the screw having been turned outward to
permit of the placing of the waistband, is turned inward, its point forming a hole
in the material and its end projecting through the same into the screw-hole upon
the opposite side. As it is desirable that the two parts of the device be drawn as
closely together as possible upon the waistband or article which they hold in order
to bring the bearings of the screw closely together, and in order to more firmly
hold or support it, I have formed the screw with the groove or recess d³ imme-
diately adjacent to the inner side of the head, so that after the screw has been
turned sufficiently to bring its end into the screw-hole b, and its head adjacent to
the outer surface of the plate c³ it may still be turned, and thus by engagement
of the screw-thread with the screw-hole b draw the two parts of the device
together.
It is obvious that, in lieu of forming the plates or portions c, c² from one piece
of metal, or one blank, they may be made from two or more pieces.
Each of the side rods, bars or supports also bears or carries a ring or eye E, or
other similar device for receiving the end of the straps, suspenders or braces, or the
holding or fastening devices thereon. When a ring or eye is employed it is pre-
ferably secured to its bar or support by the central fastening e, of the attaching
devices, the plate of which is made sufficiently long to pass through the eye or
ring, as represented in Figures 3, 4, and 5, thereby fastening or securing the eye
or ring to the bar or support in a manner to enable it to be swung thereon.
In Figure 20 I show a modified form of construction in which the eyes or rings
instead of being secured directly to the side supports, bars or rods, are secured to the
cords, straps or pieces F extending therefrom, the two side cords or straps extending
diagonally upward, and the central piece or cord substantially straight. I consider,
however that this construction is not as desirable as the one first described.
In Figures 7, 8, 9 and 20 I have represented the supports, rods or bars provided
with a lateral adjustment, whereby they may be made to conform to any desired
horizontal curvature. This is obtained in Figures 7, 8 and 9 by making the bar,
rod or support in three parts a, a', a², the end parts a a² being hinged to the ends
of the part a¹ to swing laterally or horizontally. The construction which I have
shown comprises a recess a³ formed in the ends of the part a', which recess receives
the tongues a formed on the inner end of each end piece a a², the parts being
united by the pivots a³. The shape of the tongues may be such as to prevent the
end pieces from being swung outward more than a limited distance.
In Figure 20 I have represented the bar, rod or support made in five parts
instead of three, the parts being hinged together at the points a, a, as, a³, as
above described. This construction gives a little greater adjustability to the bars,
rods or supports.
I here desire to state that the rods, bars or supports may be made con-
tinuous instead of in two parts, so as to extend entirely around the body when
in use, if desired, and this continuous piece may have a hinge at the back and a
clasp at the front to allow it to be opened, and also to permit its ends being secured
together.
In Figures 17, 18 and 19 I have shown waistband supporting devices somewhat
different from those above described, and they consist, essentially, of hooks H,

page_text: carried by plates 7, depending from the. rod, bar or support, which hooks have
sharp points, and are arranged to curve upward. Each of their ends is covered
by the swinging protecting plate 1 which is pivotted at 2 to the plate ³ to
swing over the end of the hook, and is provided with a notch or recess h³ in its
inner surface, which notch receives the front end of the hook and is held in place
thereby, so that after being moved to a position to cover the end it becomes
locked. This covering plate, it will be observed, is a spring plate, in that it, or
its support, is made to yield somewhat in relation to the hook, and it has its edges
bent outward at the points h, to provide a guiding surface to direct the closing
of the plate on the hook.
In use, the hooks are inserted through the material of the waistband and their
ends covered by the protecting plates.
I would here remark that in lieu of these waistband-attaching devices the bars,
rods or supports may be attached directly to the waistband by sewing, or by
rivetting, or by staples, so as to be made a permanent part of the pantaloons or
other article, or they may be entirely enclosed within the waistband so that only
the eye or ring shall project therefrom, if desired. This form of construction is
shown in Figures 21 and 22.
These pantaloon-supporting or suspending bars, rods or supports may be used
with any form of shoulder strap, braces or suspenders, and I bave represented in
Figure 1 the form of straps usually known as shoulder braces, and they comprise
the straps G, G¹, connected by the back-strap g, and the end straps gl, which are
represented as supporting the buckles g2 carrying spring hooks g³, which engages
with the eyes or rings of the side supports or rods. I do not lipit myself to the
use of this especial form of device for connecting the suspender ends with the
bars, rods or supports, but may use in lieu of the buckle and hook, any equivalent
connecting device.
It will be observed that in use the straps of the suspenders, braces or shoulder
straps, are connected with the pantaloons or pantaloon-supporting or holding devices,
at two points only, and that those points are upon each side of the pantaloons beneath
the arms, and where the movements of the body communicate the least extent or
amount of movement to the strap-ends. It will also be observed that the con-
nection of the suspenders, braces or straps with the pantaloons is by means of a
flexible or universal joint, which permits the free movement of the straps in
relation to the rods, bars or supports without binding or drawing. It will also
be noticed that the bars, rods or supports hold the pantaloons, breeches or other
similar article of wearing apparel, supported by as large a section of the waistband
as may be desired in such a manner as to hold it off from the body and to prevent
sagging of any part thereof, so that a better setting of the pantaloons or breeches
is obtained and maintained, and the strain upon the waistband equalized and
distributed.
When the rods are attached directly to the waistband, or enclosed by the
waistband, they may be made of whalebone, wood, gutta-perchia, or any material
sufficiently strong when so attached to sustain the weight of the pantaloons or
other article supported thereby.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
First. Suspenders or other similar articles having the waistband bars, rods or
supports secured to the waistband as described, and to the ends of the suspenders
in a manner to be removable therefrom, all substantially as specified.
Second. As a means for supporting pantaloons or other articles of wearing
apparel, the bars or rods A, A¹ connected with, attached to, or held within the
waistband of the pantaloons or other article, and having means of attachment to
suspending straps of suspenders, braces or shoulder straps, all substantially as, and
for the purposes, described,

page_text: Third. The combination in suspenders, braces or shoulder straps, of the rods,
bars or supports, waistband-suspending devices, the rings or eyes E, and the
suspending straps g¹ of the suspenders, braces or shoulder straps, all substantially
as, and for the purposes, described.
Fourth. The combination of the waistband rod, bar or support, the arms c c¹
having the screw-holes 63, 6 and the screw D, all substantially as, and for the
purposes, described.
Fifth. The combination of the waistband-rod, bar or support, the arm c, c¹ having
the screw-holes 63, 6, the spring screw-head holding flanged arm c³, and the
screw D, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Sixth. The combination in an attaching device for suspenders, of the arm
supporting the screw D, with the arm having the inward projection d' and the
screw hole b* formed therein, all substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Seventh. The combination of the arm c¹, the screw D, the arm c² having the
screw hole b, and the cap b' all substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
Eighth. The combination of the arms c, c¹ having screw holes 63, 64, with the
screw D having the thread d and groove d³, all substantially as, and for the
purposes, described.
Ninth. In an attaching device for suspenders, the combination of the waistband-
rod, bar or support, and an arm or arms supporting a cross stud, pin or bar adapted
to be passed through the material of the waistband, and to be supported at one or
both ends, all substantially as, and for the purposes described.
Tenth. The waistband bar, rod or support of suspenders or braces constructed to
have a horizontal adjustment or movement to vary the degree of its curve, all
substantially as described.
Eleventh. Suspenders or braces comprising waistband-rods, bars or supports,
sustaining waistband-attaching devices, and shoulder straps for suspending the
same.