IMPROVEMENT IN CHEST EXPANDERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, THERESA KEANE, 216, Broad Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Brace & belt manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENT IN CHEST EXPANDERS to be as follows:-
At the
The chest expander consists of 2 pieces of elastic webbing or other material
(similar in width & texture to that used in braces.). The length of the strips may
vary, but they will be usually about twice the length of a pair of braces.
end of one of the strips a buckle is attached and at the other ends loops are made
(large enough for the webbing to pass through) either by doubling the webbing over
or attaching pieces of leather. The 2 strips cross each other and are sewn together
about 2 inches from the ends with the loops on. The expanders are adjusted as
follows:-
The straps are placed one over each shoulder (the part where they cross each
other and are sewn together being at the back as in adjusting a pair of braces) The
front ends of the strips are then passed under each arin & through the loops before
mentioned at the back-the end of the strip round the right shoulder passing
through the loop at the right and the end of the strip round the left shoulder passing
through the loop on the left at the back. After being threaded through the loops
the strips are crossed at the back and are both continued round the waist until they
meet at the front, forming a belt which is then buckled with the aforementioned
buckle in the usual way.
The Novelty of the Invention lies in the expanders being self adjustable; as by
tightening the belt round the waist the straps round the shoulders are tightened.
These may also be used as braces by having pieces of leather attached at the back
and front.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the saine is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The adiustable chest expander, substantially as herein set forth.

page_text: I, THERESA KEANE of 210 Broad Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Belt and Brace Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENT IN CHEST EXPANDERS and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
It consists of 2 strips of elastic webbing or other material similar in size &
texture to that used in braces. The length of the strips may vary, but they will
usually be about twice the length of a pair of braces. At the end of one of the
strips a buckle is attached and at both the other ends loops are made (large enough
for the webbing to pass through) either by doubling the webbing over or by
attaching pieces of leather.
The two strips are sewn together across each other in the form of the letter X
about two inches from the ends where the loops are.
The expanders are adjusted as follows:-
:-
The strips are placed one over each shoulder (with the crossing at the back as in
adjusting a pair of braces) The front ends passing over each shoulder and round
the arms, underneath which they are also passed, and then through the loops at the
back (the end of the strip round the right shoulder passing through the loop on
the right and the end of the strip on the left passing through the loop on the left.
After being threaded through the loops the strips are again crossed (below the
crossing where they are sewn together) and are continued round the waist until
they meet at the front; where the two ends are buckled together with the buckle
before mentioned. Instead of the loops used at the back two little rollers (as wide
as the strips) may be used. In this case the strips pass round the rollers and are
not crossed a second time but return in the same direction and pass round the waist
until they meet at the front where they are buckled as in the previous case.
By attaching pieces of leather at the back and front they may also be used as
braces.
The novelty of the invention lies in the chest-expander being self adjustable as
by tightening the straps round the waist, the straps round the shoulders are also
tightened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention I declare that what I claim is
The adjustable chest expander as herein set forth.