Improvements in Corset Busks, Corset Side Steels, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corset Busks, Corset Side Steels, and the like.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM BUCKLEY of the Firm of Buckley & Co., of 35 Lever
Street, Manchester, Corset and Busk Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of my said invention to be as follows:-
--
These improvements have for their object the manufacture of a corset busk
which shall be practically unbreakable under the greatest strain or distortions of
the body.
In accordance with my invention I take, by preference four coils of fine steel
wire, of a length corresponding to the length of busk required. These coils of wire
are intercoiled in pairs, one of each pair boing inter-coiled alternately with one of
the other pair of coils.
When placed as closely together as possible and having the appearance of one
coil, the whole of the coils are flattened out until the members of one pair of coils
lie in the spaces of the other pair of coils and so become fixed together, and produce
a flat wire strip, which is the desired busk with parallel sides. To facilitate the
intercoiling and the flattening out of the coils as aforesaid, and to keep the coils in
proper relation to each other and prevent elongation or contraction longitudinally,
I employ a strip of thin sheet steel or other stiffening core passing centrally
through the coils and on which the coils are evenly flattened and by which the
shape of the busk is retained.
If desired the said inner stiffening strip may be dispensed with, or instead of
being inside the coils, such strip may be on the outside, being fixed thereto after
the coils have been flattened out. By varying the diameters of the coils the shape
of the busk may be varied and in this way the ordinary spoon shape busk may be
produced, or this latter may be effected by intercoiling additional wires from a point
near the centre of the busk to the bottom end; the inner stiffening core being of a
corresponding shape.
The usual mounts, tips or attachments for protecting the ends of the busk and
the sheet metal fastenings for securing the corset to the person are, by preference
clamped on to the busk.
In wear this improved busk is highly flexible, and therefore practically
unbreakable under ordinary strains, whilst at the same time it is sufficiently rigid
to support the body of the wearer, the strength of the coils being such that the
busk always resumes its original shape, however much bent over by the movements
of the wearer.
These improvements are equally applicable to the side steels of corsets, also to
steels used in ladies dresses and other wearing apparel.
Dated this 17th day of December 1894

page_text: I, CHARLES WILLIAM BUCKLEY of the Firm of Buckley & Co., of 35 Lever
Street, Manchester, Corset and Corset Busk Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
These improvements have for their object the manufacture of a corset busk,
from fine wire, which, with a stiffening core of steel or similar substance, shall be
extremely flexible, and practically unbreakable under the most severe and
frequent strains, or distortions of the body.
On the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 illustrates a front view of my improved corset busk, and Fig. 2 a side,
or edge view on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 3 illustrates a stage in the manufacture of said busk.
In accordance with my invention I take coils of fine wire (A) of a length
corresponding to the busk required; and I so arrange these wires (see Fig. 3) as to
give them the appearance (more or less) of one coil. I then apply pressure to the
said coils and flatten them out in the plane of their lengths until the members of
the respective coils lie in the spaces of each other, and so become fixed together as
shewn in Figs. 1 and 2. This forms the desired wire busk with parallel sides, but
to keep the coils in proper relation to each other and prevent lateral distortion
1 thread or lace a strip of thin steel (B) or other similar stiffening substance
centrally through the busk before the coils are flattened out, and thus I ensure of
the busk retaining its shape, besides affording it an increased suppleness, and
facilitating the flattening of the coils.
The usual "tips" (C) for protecting the ends of the busk and the sheet metal
fastenings (D) are, by preference, secured to the improved busk by being tightly
clamped thereon, and these also serve to hold the coils in their proper position and
prevent elongation or contraction of the coils longitudinally.
Instead of being inside the coils the steel strip may be on the outside, and fixed
thereto after the coils have been flattened out, but this arrangement would not be
so good as the one already described.
In lieu of forming the coils before making up the busk, they may be formed by
the act of wrapping the wire round the stiffening strip, and thus render it possible
to make the wire a tight fit on the steel, and produced an "armoured" effect.
By varying the diameters of the coils the shape of the busk may be varied and
in this way the ordinary "spoon" shape of busk may be produced; or this latter
may be effected by inter-coiling additional wires from a point midway in the
busk's length, and to the bottom end thereof,-the inner stiffening core being of a
corresponding shape.
In wear this improved busk is highly flexible, and practically unbreakable,
whilst it is sufficiently rigid to support the body of the wearer,-the strength of the
coils, and particularly that of the stiffening core, being such that the busk when
released always resumes its original shape.
Although more particularly described as applied to busks, my invention is
equally applicable to corset side steels, and to steels used in ladies dresses, and
other wearing apparel.
Having thus 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
1st. In the manufacture of corset busks the use of coiled wire flattened in the

page_text: plane of its length in combination with a stiffening core, and mounted and fitted
with tips and fastenings, substantially as set forth.
2nd. In the manufacture of corset busks, the use of a strip of steel or its
equivalent with a covering of wire coiled therearound, substantially as set
forth.
Dated this Seventeenth day of Sentember 1895
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.