IMPROVEMENTS IN CORSETS AND IN THE FASTENINGS THERETO
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Celestin Leprince, Corset Manufacturer of the
city of Paris in the Republic of France for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henri Celestin Leprince at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th January 1883.
HENRI CELESTIN LEPRINCE Corset Manufacturer of the city of Paris in the
Republic of France IMPROVEMENTS IN CORSETS AND IN THE FASTENINGS THERETO
The object of this invention is to do away with gussets or gores and the use of
as little whalebone as is possible or convenient, both which inconveniences are
obviated by the mode of manufacture herein described
By a peculiar method of cutting the material gussets or gores are avoide.l, the
complete corset comprising five pieces only namely an upper piece, a lower portion
and a central piece forming a belt rising in a point back and front and hollowed
out on each side: this piece gives support to the body whilst preserving a good
contour without bindrance to free circulation and breathing. The two other pieces
are merely accessories.
The pieces are sewn together so that the tension or pressure of the body in its
movements rests wholly on the seams in lieu of on the material so that the latter
does not get stretched or out of form, but preserves its shape.
The requisite rigidity of the corset is thus ensured with the aid of the smallest
amount of whale bone which is judiciously placed, the central or belt piece main-
taining the proper contour whilst giving grace to the outline.
The corsets are fastened either by bands of metal with slots fitting on pin heads
on a corresponding band, or they may be fastened by ornamental buttons beneath
which are cavities in which are tixed rings covered by the button heads, the shanks
of the buttons being passed through the material and the shanks which are formed
of two flat pieces of metal being then spread out flat to the right and left, a cord
being passed through the rings on either side of the corset.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henri Celestin Leprince in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th July 1883.
HENRI CELESTIN LEPRINCE, Corset Manufacturer, of the city of Paris in the
Republic of France IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORSETS, AND IN
THE FASTENINGS THERETO
The object of this invention is to do away with gussets or gores and the use of
as little whale bone as is possible or convenient, both which drawbacks are obviated
by the method of manufacture herein described
By a peculiar mode of cutting the material, gussets or gores are avoided, the
complete corset comprising three pieces only, on either side namely an upper piece,
a lower portion and a central piece, forming a belt rising in a point back and
front, and hollowed out on each side: this piece gives support to the body whilst
preserving a good contour without hindrance to free circulation and breathing.
The two other pieces aro merely accessories.
The pieces are sewn together so that the tension or pressure of the body in its
inovements rests wholly on the seams in lieu of on the material, so that the latter
does not get stretched or out of form.
The requisite rigidity of the corset is thus ensured with the aid of the smallest
amount of whale bone, which is judiciously placed, the central or belt piece main-
taining the proper contour whilst giving grace to the outline.
The corsets are fastened either with bands of metal with slots fitting on pin
heads on a corresponding band, or they may be fastened by ornamental buttons
beneath which are cavities in which are fixed rings covered by the button heads,
the shanks which are formed of two flat pieces of metal being then spread out flat
to the right and left on either side of the corset.
Fig 1 shows my improved corset complete, Figs 2. 3 and 4 are the three principal
parts forming the body of the corsot, and these occur on each side of it and are
cut from the piece of material in a horizontal manner, this being the only method
of cutting the parts, that effects the object desired as before mentioned Figs 5
and 6 are merely accessories.
The exact forms to be cut are here represented and are only increased or reduced
in dimensions to suit various figures.
The improved corset can obviously be made of any convenient material, and
may be ornamented, embroidered or otherwise as may be desired.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures
In witness whereof I the said Henri Celestin Leprinco have hereunto set my
hand and seal this third day of August in the Year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
HENRI CELESTIN LEPRINCE 101