Improvements in Corset Clasps.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
Improvements in Corset Clasps.
. A communication from the EUREKA INSTANTANEOUS OPENING CORSET STEEL
COMPANY, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware,
and having a place of business at Dover, in said State, in the United States
of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of London,
Charterd Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement;-
This invention relates to corset clasps and consists in constructing the busks
as fully set forth hereinafter, so as to permit the two busks to be locked together
at all points by a single movement of the locking device so as to secure the
two parts firmly in position during the time that they are locked or connected
and so as to permit the unlocking of all of the studs simultaneously. To this
end the parts are constructed as fully set forth hereinafter, and as illustrated
in the accompanying drawing, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a face view of the improved corset clasp; Fig. 2 is the same, of one
of the busks; Fig. 3 is a face view of the blades of the latter busk; Fig. 4 is
a face view of another blade of the latter busk; and
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5, Fig. 1.
There are two busks A B in the improved corset clasp, the busk B, like many
others, being provided with headed studs or pins 8 arranged at suitable intervals
and adapted to co-operate with the engaging parts on the busk A.
This busk A consists of two plates or blades 1, 2, the blade 1 being provided
with projections 3, and the blade 2 with similarly arranged projections 4, the
blade 2 either lying upon or beneath, and sliding longitudinally in respect to
the blade 1, being confined thereto by pins 6 passing from the blade 1 through
slots w in the blade 2 and extending through washers 7 and riveted as shown;
or any other suitable fastening means may be employed to permit the blade 2
to slide upon or beneath the blade 1 to a limited extent.
Preferably, as shown, the parts are so connected that the projections 4 of the
blade 2 in being carried from the projections 3 of the blade 1, will be moved
upwards so that naturally the descent of the blade 2 would tend to bring the
projections 4 to their lower positions.
Each projection 3 has a slot extending from the outer end inward and
enlarged to form an eye r¹ adapted to receive the head of the pin S, the slot ar
of sufficient width to permit the passage of the stem of the pin or stud; and
each projection 4 is provided with a hook 5 which when the projection 4 is in
a lower position, will cross a slot and close the outer end of the same so that
the stem of the stud after being drawn outward, can pass into the inner portion
of the slot : but on the contact with the edge y of the hook 5, is prevented
for moving further outward.
When the blade 2 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 2, all of the

page_text: hooks 5 are carried away from the slots and the stems of the stud can then be
passed inward through the slots or the heads may be passed upward through
the eyes and then by longitudinal movement of the blade all the hooks are
caused to cross the slots .r. Thus, the two busks are securely fastened together
and cannot be separated until the blade 2 is moved upward. For this purpose,
it is only necessary for the wearer to bear against the lower end of the blade 2
which may be turned slightly outward to afford a bearing, and push it upward
when at once the two busks are unhooked. Whether the blade 2 is pushed
downward or not, it will naturally tend to fall or work downward to a locking
position and therefore there will be little danger of displacement in actual use.
It will be seen that the draft of the studs is outward against the hooks 5
and in order to enable them to better withstand the strain, the projections 3
extend on both sides of the same, affording lateral bearings in both directions.
In order to prevent the outward strain from tending to lift the blade 2, and
in fact, to secure a reverse action, the edges y of one or more hooks are inclined
inwards towards the blade at the outer end, whereby the outward draft tends
rather to draw the hooks downward than to lift them and to open the slots.
It is not always necessary to have the slots enlarged to form eves ar¹, as they
may be carried back without enlargement as shown in the bottom position,
Fig. 3, in which case, the stems of the studs may be passed inward through the
slots, and will be locked in place by the downward movement of the blade 2,
as before described.
The projections 3, 4, may be formed in plates of brass or other material
riveted to the blades 1, 2, but it is preferred to form them in one piece with
the latter, as it makes the article less bulky.
A stud 10 on the blade 2 projects through a slot near the top of the blade 1
and constitutes a means of sliding the blade 2, by applying the power at the
upper end of the busk. The wearer can thus unlock the upper studs while
holding the lower one in position, and then return the blade 2 to place so that
the busks remain connected at the bottom only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The combination in a corset clasp, of a busk consisting of a blade pro-
vided with projections at one side, each with a slot extending inward from the
outer end, and a second blade sliding longitudinally on the first and provided
with hooks rigid therewith arranged to cross said slots to close the outer ends
of the same, substantially as set forth.
2nd. The combination in a corset clasp, of a busk consisting of a blade pro-
vided with projections at one side, each with a slot extending inward from the
outer end and enlarged to form an eye, and a second blade sliding longitudinally
on the first and provided with hooks rigid therewith arranged to cross said slots
to close the outer ends of the same, substantially as set forth.
3rd. The combination in a corset clasp, of a busk consisting of a blade pro-
vided with projections at one side, each with a slot extending inward from the
outer end, and a second blade sliding longitudinally on the first and provided
with hooks rigid therewith arranged to cross said slots to close the outer ends
of the same, one or more of said hooks having inclined edges, substantially as
set forth.
4th. The combination in a corset clasp, of a busk consisting of a blade pro-
vided with projections at one side, each with a slot extending inward from the
outer end, and a second blade sliding longitudinally on the first and provided
with hooks rigid therewith arranged to cross said slots to close the outer ends
of the same, the latter blade arranged to slide to carry the hooks away from the
slotted projections in an upward direction, substantially as set forth.
5th. The combination in a corset clasp, of a busk consisting of plates each

page_text: consisting of a steel blade, with projections at one edge in one piece with the
blade, the projections of one blade having slots extending inward from the outer
ends and the projections of the other blade in the form of hooks to close the
outer ends of said slots, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 9th day of October 1899.
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.