Improvements relating to Corsets and to Devices used in connection therewith for Supporting Articles of Clothing.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
Improvements relating to Corsets and to Devices used in connection
therewith for Supporting Articles of Clothing.
I, WILHELM KLEINWÄCHTER, of No. 27 Schweidnitzer-Stadtgraben, Breslau,
in the Empire of Germany, Doctor of Medicine, 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 a corset provided with an arrangement for supporting
petticoats or other articles of clothing and which is adapted by its construction to
exactly fit the feminine form and to support the bust without thereby injuriously
acting upon the internal organs or impeding the complete and free capacity or
capability of movement of the wearer. At the saine time the combined corset and
petticoat-supporting device whilst preventing any compression or other pressure on
the organs of generation, relieves the hips from the weight of the clothing and by
the ingenious construction thereof transfers the load to the shoulder in such a
manner that it is reduced to a minimum.
The corsets employed hitherto were all subject to the disadvantage that although,
in some cases, the free capacity or capability of movement can be ensured, yet the
pressure is not removed from the said organs. The former methods of construction
moreover did not comply with the established requirements of hygiene. These
disadvantages are entirely obviated by the herein described corset and petticoat-
supporting device.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may he
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice
:-
Figure 1 shows the combined corset and petticoat-supporting device viewed from
the front.
Figure 2 is a back view thereof
Figure 3 shows a side view of the same
Figure 4 is a petticoat-supporting device in use, alone, viewed from behind
Figures 5 and 6 are simple modifications thereof, and
Figure 7 shows a front view of the petticoat-supporting device with an independent
corset.
The combined corset and petticoat-supporting device consists of a bodice-shaped
portion a, Figures 1 to 3, surrounding the bust, which portion is so formed as to
correspond to the feminine form. The bodice-shaped portion is made in two pieces
and is held together at the back by lacing & or other suitable means. The connection
at the front side can be carried out in various ways. In the arrangement shown in
Figure 1, there are attached to one portion india-rubber bands c provided with
It is obvious that this
button-holes adapted to engage with corresponding buttons.
connection may be replaced by lacing, hooks and eyes or other suitable devices.
For stiffening the corsets, stiffening pieces, strips or the like are provided. A
characteristic feature of this invention is the position and length of these stiffening
pieces, which only extend as far as where the inner wall of the body is firm or
stable. The stiffening pieces d at the front joint or connection extend to the end
of the breast-bone. The stiffening pieces e which shape the spaces for the breasts,
as well as the side stiffening pieces terminate at the ribs forming or enclosing
the chest. Also the stiffening pieces at the bark do not extend further than the
movable portion of the vertebral column.

page_text: In this manner the position of all these stiffening pieces is similar in that they fit
as much as possible over those portions of the body corresponding to the position of
the ribs. In order to provide a secure support for fully developed busts or figures,
obliquely-running stiffening pieces hare arranged between the stiffening pieces e and f
of the corset. These support the breast from the sides and provide such a secure
support therefor that a lateral yielding is prevented and the use of shoulder bands
rendered unnecessary if desired. These arrangements also permit a free motion of
the upper part of the body without pressing or cramping the same. Moreover
around the part for holding the breast are provided shoulder-straps or bands i
which commence at the front in the middle, pass over the shoulders and are also
attached to the middle of the corset at the back. These bands can be rigidly
attached to the corset at the back whilst the front end is provided with a row of
button-holes whereby the connection of the front end thereof to a button secured
to the corset may be effected at the most convenient length of band. It is obvious
that this connection may also be effected in any other suitable manner. By reason
of the elastic yielding nature of the corset a second supporting-band & is necessary
in the case of very fully developed busts or figures. To the lower part of the
corset on each side is attached a flap provided with a button for the attachment
of a stocking suspender. At the back is a flap provided with a hook m.
front is a band secured by eyes hooking on to a hook o forming a loop.
holding the petticoat, bands p are sewed to it, which hang in the hooks at the back
and, at the front, are supported at the desired length, by means of the adjustable
loops.
At the
For
The bands passing obliquely downwards from the shoulders support, through the
medium of the corset and its attachments l, m, n, the weight of the clothing from
the shoulders with the longest possible leverage, so that the weight thereof comes
as little as possible on the curved parts of the body. The stiffening pieces are
formed of whalebone or any other suitable elastic material. Moreover since the
ends thereof, during any movement of the upper part of the body, cannot press into
the yielding parts of the body, further, since the corset only gives support to the
bust without pressing the same, therefore any injurious inward displacement of the
internal organs by pressure, compression or the like or any movement from their
normal position or interference with their activity is entirely prevented.
Instead of the above described form or arrangement of the corset with petticoat-
supporting device, the same fundamental principles can be carried out in the manner
illustrated in Figure 7. In this case the corset and the petticoat-supporting device
are separated, and the corset can be put on or taken off as required, without thereby
interfering with the petticoat-supporting device. In this case it comprises the
application of a lengthened petticoat-supporting device or suspender consisting of
two bands g, Figures 4 to 6, passing up over the shoulders and crossing both 11
front and behind, which are either connected directly to the clothing by means of
buttons, Figure 4, or by hooks and loops, Figures 5 and 6, or through a belt or
girdle r. Behind, the two bands are held together either by sewing them one over
the other, Figure 5, or by the interposition of an intermediate piece s, Figure 6.
The crossing on the front side is for the purpose of permitting relative motion of
the bands and the suspender is arranged in such a manner that the vielding parts of
the bust are not pressed by the bands. The principle of the longest possible
leverage for obviating the effects of weight of the clothing is here also carried into
practice by crossing the supporting bands.
The corset itself is, as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, provided with
stiffening pieces of elastic material, the length of which corresponds to the extent
of the ribs or bone-supported wall of the chest. By means of suitable hooks t at
the front side of the cor-et which engage with eyes u on the suspender, the position
of the suspender relatively to the corset can be fixed. If desired, similar
arrangements may also be provided at the back of the corset.
Below the spaces for the breasts are sewn bands which are secured together by
means of a buckle, serving to assist in supporting and lifting the bust.
In the

page_text: arrangement shown in Figure 7 the front portion is shown closed by lacing as an
example.
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.
First. A corset provided with a petticoat-supporting device characterized by the
employment of two bodice-shaped portions, suitably secured together in front and
behind, which are stiffened by stiffening pieces of whalebone or other elastic
material in such a manner that this stiffening only surrounds the part of the body
comprising the ribs and breast-bone and is moreover fitted to correspond to the
extent of the ribs, in combination with adjustable supporting bands and suitably
arranged attachments to which the various articles of clothing may be secured, in
such a manner that the clothing hanging on the attachments is supported through
the medium of the corset by the supporting bands, substantially as, and for the
purposes, specified.
Second. The modification of my invention wherein the petticoat-supporting
device is made separately from the corset in such a manner that the weight of the
clothing is directly supported from the shoulders by bands crossing in front and
behind, either directly or through the medium of a belt or girdle, whilst the
supporting of the bust is effected by a special exactly fitting bodice constructed on
the principles herein before described, the said clothing-supporting device being
secured to the bodice at the front and, in some cases, behind by suitably arranged
hooks, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Third. In a corset such as I have hereinabove described, the arrangement for
supporting the bust at the sides, consisting of stiffening pieces running in the
direction of the ribs especially to prevent lateral yielding of the bust and to permit
of the corset being worn without shoulder-bands, substantially as described.
Dated the 27th day of November 1894.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.