AN IMPROVED DRESS HOLDER OR DRESS SUSPENDER
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Spooner, of No. 45, Gore Place, South Hackney,
in the County of Middlesex, Warehouseman, for the Invention of " AN IMPROVED
DRESS HOLDER OR DRESS SUSPENDER."
ealed the 2nd November 1877, and dated the 10th May 1877.
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Spooner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th May 1877.
'
STEPHEN SPOONER, of No. 45, Gore Place, South Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Warehouseman. "AN IMPROVED DRESS HOLDER OR DRESS SUSPENDER."
My Invention relates to that class of dress holders in which the dress is held by
two levers of the first order jointed together.
I construct my improved dress holder or suspender of two such levers jointed
together by a pin passing through coincident holes in the said levers. The longer
end of each of the said levers is turned or curved up so as to form a hook, on the
point of which a knob, loop, or button is or may be formed or affixed. In the
straight end of each of the said levers a hole is formed, through which a ring is
passed; the two levers are then connected together by passing through the said
rings either a third ring or a cord, by which the said fastener may be suspended
from the waist, the upper ends of the levers being so connected that the points or
knobs of the books shall be towards each other.
Instead of passing the cord through the rings they may be dispensed with, and
the said cord may be passed through the holes or eyes in the levers. Or instead of
forming holes in the ends of the levers, the said ends may be bent so as to form
hooks by which the holder may be suspended.
In using the said fastener it is suspended from the waist in the ordinary manner.
The two levers are then separated, and a fold or several folds of the dress is or are
placed between them; the dress and fastener are then allowed to fall, the former
being held between and on the hooked or turned up ends of the levers, the weight of
the dress causing the said levers to close thereon, the firmness with which it is held
being increased in proportion to its weight.
In some cases I arrange between the said levers a spring by which they are con-
stantly pressed or drawn together. -

page_text: Dress holders constructed as herein-before described have the following advantages
over ordinary dress holders-They require less manipulation; they hold the dress
more firmly they do not injure the dress; a larger fold or larger folds can be
suspended by them, and the greater the weight of the dress the more firmly it is
held.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Stephen Spooner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
November 1877.
68
.
STEPHEN SPOONER, of No. 45, Gore Place, South Hackney, in the County of
Middlesex, Warehouseman. AN IMPROVED DRESS HOLDER OR DRESS SUSPENDER."
My Invention relates to that class of dress holders in which the dress is held by
two levers of the first order jointed together.
I construct my improved dress holder or suspender of two such levers jointed
together by a pin passing through coincident holes in the said levers. "The longer
end of each of the said levers is turned or curved up so as to form a hook, on the
point of which a knob, loop, or button is or may be formed or affixed. In the
straight end of each of the said levers a hole is formed, through which a ring is
passed. The upper ends of the two levers are then connected by passing through
the said rings either a third ring or a cord, by which the said fastener may be
suspended from the waist, the upper ends of the levers being so connected that the
points or knobs of the hooks shall be towards each other.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings are elevations taken at right angles
to each other of a dress holder constructed according to my Invention. In these
and in the other Figures of the Drawing the same letters and figures of reference
are used to indicate corresponding parts.
A, A, are the two levers; a, a, are the curved or hooked ends thereof; a² is the
pin by which the said levers A, A, are joined together, and on which they are
capable of turning; a³, a³, are the discs or buttons formed on the ends a¹, a¹, of the
levers A, A; a, a, are the holes formed in the straight ends of the said levers;
as, as, are the rings passed through the said holes, and as is the ring by which the
rings a³, a, are connected.
In using the said holder it is suspended by attaching the ring a to a cord passed
round the waist in the ordinary manner. The two levers are then separated and a
fold or several folds of the dress is or are placed between their turned up ends. The
dress and the suspender are then allowed to fall, the former being held between and
on the hooked or turned up ends of the levers, the weight of the dress causing the
said levers to close thereon, the firmness with which it is held being increased in
proportion to its weight.
Instead of passing the cord through the ring a it may be passed through the
rings as, as, or the said rings may be dispensed with, and the said cord may be
passed through holes or eyes formed in the upper ends of the levers..
Or instead of forming holes in the ends of the levers, the said ends may be bent
so as to form loops through which the suspending cord may be passed. This arrange-
ment is illustrated in Figure 3, which is an elevation of a dress suspender so con-
structed. In the said Figure a', a7, are the loops at the upper ends of the levers A, A,
through which the cord is passed.
Or the said loops may be formed so as to overlap each other, and be connected by
a ring through which the suspending cord is passed. This arrangement is illustrated
in Figures 6 and 7, the holder being shown closed in Figure 6, and open in Figure 7.
In these Figures a¹0 is the ring by which the loops a, a, are connected, and through
which the suspending cord is passed.
Or hooks may be formed on the upper ends of the levers A, A, under which
leops on the suspending cord are passed, and instead of forming knobs, buttons,

page_text: or discs on or affixing them to the turned up ends of the levers, the said ends
may be bent so as to form loops which are roughened in order to grip the dress
firmly.
To prevent the accidental disengagement of the dress holder by any side twist I
arrange between the said levers a spring, by which their ends are constantly pressed
or drawn together. This arrangement is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, which are
elevations taken at right angles to each other of a dress holder thus constructed;
as, as, are the hooks at the upper ends of the levers A, A; all, al, are the loops
formed on the turned up ends of the said levers, and B is the spring by which the
ends of the said levers are pressed or drawn towards each other.
Or any other arrangement of springs which will have the same effect may be
used.
Figure 8 is an elevation of a dress holder showing an arrangement of flat springs ;
C, C, are the springs, each of which is rivetted or otherwise affixed to one of the
levers A, A, at c¹, c¹; c², c², are shoulders or notches cut on the said levers under
which the free ends of the springs C, C, engage, and thereby tend to press the ends
of the said levers towards cach other.
In order to conceal the springs I prefer to secure on each side of the holder at the
joint part a plate, one of which is shown at D, Figure 8, the other being omitted
in order the better to show the arrangement of the springs. These plates are
secured by passing through them the rivet or pin on which the levers A, A, work.
Instead of the two springs C, C, one only may be used, and instead of forming
discs, knobs, or buttons on or affixing them to the turned up ends of the said
levers, the said ends may be splayed out as illustrated at a in the said Figure, the
meeting faces of the said turned up ends being roughened or serrated.
The arrangements of springs herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings are applicable not only to the forms of dress holders with
which they are shown in combination, but also to dress holders of any of the forms
herein described.
Dress holders constructed as herein-before described have the following advantages
over ordinary dress holders:-They require less manipulation; they hold the dress
more firmly; they do not injure the dress; a larger fold or larger folds can be
suspended by thein, and the greater the weight of the dress the inore firmly it is
beld.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim, per se, making
dress holders of two levers of the first order jointed together, neither do I confine
myself to any particular form of spring, but I claim as my Invention,―
Firstly. Constructing dress holders or suspenders of two levers, the lower ends of
which are bent into hooks and pressed or drawn together by a spring or springs, the
upper ends being connected by a cord or ring, or by rings or links, essentially as and
for the purpose described.
Secondly. Making the lower ends of the said levers of a hook form, essentially
as herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Spooner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.