Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 14th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th Apr., 1887.
I, CHARLES ERNEST THOMSON of the firm of W. S. Thomson & Co., of 48 Old
Bailey, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
My invention has for its object to provide a bustle or dress-improver which is less
liable to be damaged by pressure than those heretofore constructed, and to this end it
comprises the improvements hereinafter described.
The improved bustle is composed essentially of a number of sections which are
united to a suitable waistband and connected at their outer sides in order to maintain
them in their proper positions relatively to each other.
Each section is preferably composed of a piece or strip of flexible material, such as
steel, bent approximately to the form of a circle, and so that one end portion of the
strip projects from the circumference in a tangential direction, while the other end
portion extends in a substantially diametrical direction across the interior of the
section and is then bent backwards to lie upon the internal surface of the said strip,
where it is secured by an eyelet or clip to the circumferential portion of the section.
An eyelet or clip is also used to secure the two thicknesses of steel at the point from
which the tangential portion projects.
The portion of the strip which extends diametrically across the section constitutes
a kind of stay or brace to prevent the circumferential portion from collapsing too
much under pressure.
If desired this stay or braco may be separate from the circumferential portion of
the section and be secured thereto in any suitable manner. Also, instead of arranging
the said stay as described, it may consist of a spring of approximately the same shape
as the circumferential portion of the section and fitting within the same.
Each section is attached to the waistband by its tangential portion, and is secured
by a rivet or eyelet or by any other desirable means. The inner portion of each
section, that is to say, the portion nearest to the person of the wearer, is preferably
attached to a flap forming a downward extension of the waistband.
The outer sides of the sections are connected together, as before stated, by means of
a band or tape, the extremities of which are attached to the waistband to prevent the
lateral movement of the sections.

page_text: The shape of the sections may vary more or less according to the degree of
prominence which the bustle is to give to the dress, or according to fashion. Also,
instead of making the sections of steel they may be made of whalebone or of other
suitable material. The steel which I prefer to use is what I term twin steel. This
steel is composed of two narrow pieces united by calico or clips so that a space is left
between them.
The advantage of using this twin steel is that the eyelets or rivets can be readily
passed through the same without punching holes, as is necessary when ordinary flat
steel is employed.
The several sections are usually made successively smaller from the centre of the
bustle towards the two sides.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Figure 4 is a viow of one of the sections detached from the waistband.
aa are the sections, and bis the waistband to which the said sections are united.
As shown in the drawing each section is composed of a piece or strip or flexible
material, bent approximately to the form of an oval.
One end portion of the piece or strip of which each section is formed projects,
as shown in Figure 4; while the other end portion & extends in a substantially
diametrical direction across the interior of the section, and is then bent backwards
at e to lie upon the internal surface of the said strip, where it is secured by eyelets ff
to the circumferential portion of the section. An eyelet is also used to secure the
two parts of the section at the point from which the portion e projects.
The portion of the strip constitutes a stay or brace to prevent the circumferential
portion of the section from collapsing too much under pressure.
Each section a is attached to the waistband by its projecting portion c, and is
secured by a rivet or eyelet g or by any other desirable means.
.
The inner portion of each section, that is to say the portion nearest to the person of
the wearer is attached to a flap A, forming a downward extension of the waistband.
This flap assists in retaining the sections in their proper relative positions.
The outer sides of the sections are connected together, as before stated, by means of
bands or cords i, which are passed through eyelets or holes in the sections; the
extremities of the said bands or cords being attached to the waistband at & to prevent
the lateral displacement of the sections.
The flexible material of which I prefer to form the sections is what I term twin
steel. This material consists of two narrow strips of steel placed a short distance
apart, as shown in dotted lines at 7 in Figure 3, and united by textile fabric or by
clips, so that a space is left between them. The advantage of using this twin steel is

page_text: that eyelets or rivets can be readily applied without punching holes, as is necessary
when ordinary flat stoel is omployed.
Instead of making the sections of twin steel they may be made of whalebone or of
any other suitable material.
The several sections are usually made successively smaller from the centre of the
bustle towards the two sides, as shown.
It is to be understood that the shape of the sections may vary more or less according
to the degree of prominence which the bustle is to give to the dress or according to
fashion.
It is obvious that the construction hereinbefore described may be modified without
departing from the nature of my invention, for instance the stays or braces d may be
separate from the circumferential portions of the section, and be secured thereto and
arranged in any suitable manner. Also instead of arranging the said stays as
described they may consist of springs of approximately the same shape as the circum-
ferential portions of the section and fitting within the same. Further, instead of
using eyelets for securing the different portions of the sections together and for
securing the latter to the waistband, rivets, clips or other devices suitable for the
purpose may be.-employed.
Having now 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 ;—
First. A bustle or dress improver comprising.a number of independent sections
united to a waist band and retained in their proper relative positions by means of
hands or cords, substantially as described.
Second. A bustle or dress improver having a number of independent sections
composed of steel or other flexible material bent to an approximately circular or oval
shape and provided with an internal braco or stiffenor, the said sections being united
at one side to a waistband-and to a flap projecting therefrom and at the other side
connected by bands or cords substantially as, and for the purposes, specified..
• 3 •
3335
Dated this 12th day of March 1887.
CHARLES E. THOMSON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.