IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACES OR SUSPENDERS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Pope, of Twickenham, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACES OR
SUSPENDERS."-A communication from abroad by Charles H. Oleve-
Alabama tendon of toxine
Sealed the 18th September 1868, and dated the 23rd March 1868.
L..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Pope at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd March 1868.
I, THOMAS POPE, of Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BRACES OR SUSPENDERS," a communication, to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to combine shoulder braces or straps
and suspenders in such manner that while the pantaloons or other
garments are thereby securely supported the chest is thrown forward
and the body caused to assume a perpendicular position.
The said Invention consists chiefly in so arranging the shoulder straps
in combination with two pieces of leather or other suitable material that

page_text: the article of dress is securely and comfortably suppported without the
-intervention of brace straps or cross-bands either in front or at the back.
The two pieces of leather or other suitable material may be of any
-convenient form. In these pieces two openings are made at any con-
venient angle to each other, in which openings the shoulder straps
arc inserted-and-secured. Button holes are formed in these pieces of
leather, or side-straps may be inserted in a third opening in the pieces
of leather, and button holes formed in the said side straps. The shoulder
=4 straps are constructed of elastic webbing or other suitable material;
on these straps I arrange sliding buckles, by means of which I am
-enabled to lengthien or shorten. the straps as occasion requires. To the
band of the pantaloons or other garment I attach two buttons or other
suitable fastenings whereby the said garments are connected to the
suspenders; these buttons are secured to the band at such points that
when the pantaloons or skirts are adjusted to thic form of the wearor
the buttons will be immediately above the hips in a straight line with
the centre of the hollow under the shoulder and the foot. The shoulder
straps cross each other a short distance below the neck and where the
shoulder blades meet.
In order to adapt my Invention for more, convenient use. with skirts
'or other articles worn by ladies, a modification of a slight character, may
be made. To the shoulder straps at the point of crossing I attach a
back strap by means of a loop. The hoop or outer skirt to be worn is
provided with a strap or band, to which I attach three buttons, two in
the position before described and one between these two for the back
strap of the suspenders. To the under skirts I attach suitable loops
which pass over these buttons, and' the suspender can then be attached
to the same as already described. I am thus enabled to dispense with
the connecting of the shoulder straps together by brace straps or cross
bands which are, most objectionable, for, whether they, pass. across the
breast or back, they interfere with the circulation,. and whenever they,
pass over the lungs and cause pressure. upon. the same. they, impede, the
respiration to such an extent that persons threatened with consumption
or other lung disease cannot safely wear them.
My Invention relieves the, breast and hips from all pressure by trans-
ferring the same to the upper portion of the shoulder blades..
In other contrivances for a like purpose the shoulder straps form a
loop just under the arm-pit, but in, my Invention the shoulder straps are

page_text: united so far below the arm-pit as not to come in contact with the cavity
.or under portion of the arm, and therefore do not interfere with the
respiration.or. circulation..
SPECIFICATION- in. pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Pope in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 22nd September 1868..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
POPE, of Twickenham,.in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her. most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of March, in the year of
our: Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-first
year of Her reign,. did, for Herself, Her. heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me,, the said Thomas Pope, Her special licence that I,
the said Thomas Pope, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others, as I, the said Thomas Pope,, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times. thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within. the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands,, and Isle of. Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACES OR
SUSPENDERS," upon: tlie condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Popc, my exccutors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention,, and in. what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in: the Great Scal Patent Office within. six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters.
Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Pope, 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, reference being had to the accompanying: Sheet
of Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
The object of my Invention is to combine shoulder braces. or straps
and-suspenders in such a manner that while the pantaloons or other

page_text: garments are thereby securely supported, the chest of the wearer is
thrown forward and the body caused to. assume a perpendicular
position.
The said Invention consists chiefly in so arranging the shoulder straps
in combination with two pieces of leather or other suitable material
which are buttoned or otherwise fastened to the pantaloons or other
article of dress that the said article of dress is securely and comfortably
supported without the intervention of brace straps or cross bands cither
in front or at the back. The two pieces of leather or other suitable
material may be of any convenient form. The shoulder straps are
attached to these pieces in any secure and convenient manner. Button
holes are formed in these picces, or side straps with button holes in them
may be inserted in a third opening in the said pieces. The shoulder
straps are constructed of elastic webbing or other suitable material; on
these straps I arrange sliding buckles, by means of which I am enabled
to lengthen or shorten the straps as occasion requires. To the band of
the pantaloons. or other garment I attach two buttons or other suitable
fastenings whereby the said garments are connected to the suspenders;
these buttons are secured to the band at such points that when the
pantaloons or skirts are adjusted to the form of the wearer the buttons
will be immediately above the hips in a straight line with the centre of
the hollow under the shoulder and the foot. The shoulder straps cross
each other a short distance below the neck where the shoulder blades.

page_text: the respiration to such an extent that persons threatened with
consumption or other lung discase cannot safely wear them.
My Invention relieves the breast and hips from all pressure by trans-
ferring the same to the upper portion of the shoulder blades.
In other contrivances for a like purpose the shoulder straps form á
loon just under the arm-pit, but in my Invention the shoulder straps
are united so far below the arm-pit as not to come in contact with the
cavity or under portion of the arm, and therefore do not interfere with
the respiration or circulation.
are united so far below the arm-pit as not to come in contact with the
cavity or under portion of the arm, and therefore do not interfere with
the respiration or circulation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews one of my improved suspenders; Figures 2 and 3 arc
back and side views drawn to a reduced scale, illustrating the manner
of wearing the said suspenders; Figure 4 illustrates a modification of
the same more especially intended for ladics' usc. Like letters indicato
thic same parts throughout the Drawing.
The two picces a, which are preferably made of leather, may be of
any desired form. The said pieces are provided with two openings at b
to receive the ends of the straps c, or are otherwise formed to permit the
said straps to be securely and conveniently attached to the same.
Button holes d are formed in the picces a whereby the said picces arc
attached to buttons e on the waistband of the pantaloons or other
garment. The straps c may be constructed of clastic webbing, leather,
or any other material usually employed in the manufacture of braccs
or suspenders and similar articles. The slides or buckles c¹ are secured
to the ends of the straps c, which are passed through the links c², so
that by moving the slide c¹ over the other portion of the strap nearer
to or further from the centre, the suspender is adjusted to any desired
length. I prefer to use two of these slides, but if one continuous strap
is used and connected to the pieces a by a link similar to c², through
which it can slip or adjust itself, then only one of the slides or buckles c¹
need be used. A central slide f, as shewn in Figure 2, may be used, if
desired, to keep the straps properly together and to prevent their being
twisted in putting on the suspender.
In the modification of my Invention illustrated in Figure 4, whereby
the suspender is rendered more convenient for ladies, is the additional
strap, which is attached to the central part of the suspender at the back,
I

page_text: and is. connected with a button or other fastening midway between.
the other two points. of support on the band. h of the skirt. or-other.
garment.
Having, thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to:
me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim, a.
suspender with two parts c secured to button straps a or other. cquivalent
devices, and with cach part c arranged to pass. from the button strap at.
one side over the shoulder of the wearer to the button. strap at the other
side of the wearer, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Pope, have hereunto set
my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year.
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight..
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