AN IMPROVED STOCKING SUPPORTER
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Henry Cramp, of the City and State of
New York, United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, London, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
STOCKING SUPPORTER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Henry Cramp
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 24th March 1875.
I, ALFRED HENRY CRAMP, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings,
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED STOCKING SUPPORTER," to be as follows:-
My said Invention relates to a novel stocking supporter to be used
instead of a garter, and which is chiefly designed for ladies and children.
It is well known that ordinary garters for fastening stockings are
prejudicial to the health of delicate women and children by reason of
their compression and the consequent impediment of circulation, and
many contrivances have been adopted to render them less injurious by

page_text: forming them of metal, wire, and other materials, with the hope of
giving the requisite security to the stocking without injurious com-
pression; but none of these contrivances are practically successful, as
the precise adjustment of the elasticity to bind the stocking with the
desired slight pressure, even if existing when the garter is first worn,
cannot be long maintained.
By my Invention I provide a perfectly secure support for a stocking
without any compression whatsoever. The said Invention relates to the
combination of metal clips or holders which hold the stocking with
suspending straps or bands which are attached to a corset or other
portion of the dress on to a band or belt of any suitable material.
My improved clip or holder is formed of a flat piece of thin brass or
other suitable metal which is bent or doubled together so that it will
open and close, and it has sufficient clasticity to cause it to open when
not compressed or pinched. The opening edge of one or both sides of this
clip is formed with small teeth, and the said clip is provided with a
small metal strap or compressor which slides upon the clip. When this
strap is forced out to the jaws or opening edges of the clip the same are
compressed and grasp and hold the top of the stocking securely between
them, but when the said strap is drawn back the jaws open and release
the stocking. Small protuberances or projections formed on the clip.
prevent the accidental slipping of the strap or compressor on the same.
This improved clip will be found very efficient and convenient for the
purpose of my Invention, but if desired I may use any other suitable
form of clip or clasp in combination with suspending straps for the
purpose specified. The said clips are secured to the straps by metal
rings or by other suitable means. I prefer to use two clips and straps
for each stocking. The said straps are provided with sliding buckles or
other suitable means for adjustment, and may be made of elastic or
other suitable fabrics, such as used in the manufacture of braces.
33
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Henry Cramp in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd September 1875.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Henry Cramp in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd September 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
HENRY CRAMP, of the City and State of New York, United States of. 3

page_text: America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Henry Cramp, Her
special licence that I, the said Alfred Henry Cramp, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Henry.
Cramp, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, 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
"AN IMPROVED STOCKING SUPPORTER," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alfred Henry Cramp, my executors 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 Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Henry Cramp, 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 bad to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
My said Invention relates to a novel stocking supporter to be used
instead of a garter, and which is chiefly designed for ladies and children.
It is well known that ordinary garters for fastening stockings are
sometimes prejudicial to the health of delicate women and children by
reason of their pressure or compression upon the limbs and the consequent
stoppage or obstruction of the circulation, and it has been sought by
many contrivances, such as forming the garters of metal, wire, and
various other materials to obviate this difficulty and give the requisite
security to the stocking without injurious compression; but none of
these contrivances are practically successful, as the precise degree of

page_text: elasticity necessary to bind the stocking with the desired slight
pressure, even if existing when the garter is first worn, cannot be long
maintained.
By my Invention I provide a perfectly secure support for a stocking
without any compression of the leg. The said Invention relates to the
combination of metal clips or holders which grasp the stocking with
suspending straps or bands attached to a corset or other portion of the
dress, or to a band or belt of any suitable material worn around the
waist.
My improved clip or holder is formed of a piece of thin brass or other
suitable metal which is bent or doubled together so that it will open and
close, and it has sufficient elasticity to cause it to open when not com-
pressed or held. I form the opening edges of one or both sides of this
clip with small teeth, and the said clip is provided with a small metal
strap or compressor which slides upon the clip. When this compressor
is adjusted over the jaws or opening edges of the clip the same are com-
pressed, and grasp and hold the top of the stocking securely between
them; but when the said compressor is drawn back the jaws open and
release the stocking. Small protuberances or projections formed on the
clip prevent the accidental slipping of the strap or compressor from the
same.
This improved clip will be found very efficient and convenient for the
purpose of my Invention, but if desired I may use any other suitable
form of clip or clasp in combination with suspending straps for the
purpose specified. The said clips or clasps are secured to the straps by
metal rings or by other suitable means. I prefer to use two clips and
straps for each stocking. The said straps are provided with sliding
buckles or other suitable means for adjustment, and may be made of
elastic or other suitable fabrics, such as are used in the manufacture of
braces and similar articles.
The accompanying Drawing shews one of my improved stocking
supporters.
Figure 1 shews the said stocking supporter attached to a waist band
or belt; Figure 2 is a side view; and Figure 3, a front view of the
aforesaid clip. Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the
Drawing.

page_text: The said clip or holder, as above described, has two elastic or spring
sides a, a, the extremity of one or both of which is formed with teeth or
serrations at b. c is the sliding strap or compressor which is pushed
down to cause the said clip to grasp the top of the stocking when the
same is inserted in the said clip; c³, c¹ are the said projections; d, d, are
straps of cloth, leather, or other suitable material to which the clips are
attached; e is a buckle for securing the said straps to the suspender f, f¹,
and adjusting the same thereon to adapt the supporter to any required
length. The part f¹ of the suspender is preferably formed of elastic
webbing. is the band or belt to which the suspenders fare attached,
and which is to be secured around the waist. The said band should be
made partially or entirely of elastic material to render it convenient and
comfortable to the wearer.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim,—
First. A stocking supporter consisting of a clip or clips or other
similar device for grasping and holding a stocking attached by suitable
straps or suspenders to a waist band or belt, or to a corset or other
suitable portion of the dress, as herein set forth.
Second. The clip or holder formed of thin metal and with sides or
jaws furnished with teeth or serrations, and which is provided with the
sliding compressor and projections, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Henry Cramp, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
JA. EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
ALFRED H. CRAMP. (L.s.)