IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRACES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gedge, of the Hollies, South Lambeth Road,
in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF BRACES."-A communication from abroad by François
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gedge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st October 1873.
:
I, JOHN GEDGE, of the Hollies, South Lambeth Road, in the County
of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRACES," a communication to me from
abroad by François Auguste Garnier, of No. 64, Faubourg St. Martin,
Paris, France, to be as follows :—
The principle of construction of these improved braces is based upon
the fact that in all the movements of the body there is a constant
oscillation of the shoulders produced by the alternate raising of the one

page_text: and lowering of the other, from whence it results that to avoid fatigue
the brace corresponding to the shoulder that is raised must lengthen,
and that its fellow must shorten to the same extent.
This object is attained by the means which I will now proceed to
describe, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawing :—
1°. The two braces are bound together at the back by being fixed
upon an apparatus common to both.
2º. Each brace is fixed to one of the buckles D, E, (Fig. 1), to which
it is united without sewing by the passing of its ends in the four slits
presented by each buckle.
3°. The buckles D, E, are hinged at the points A and B which
indicate the two ends of a lever A, B. At the centre 0 of this lever
there is also hinged a piece C, F, G, carrying at each of the points F
and G a stud to which are fixed straps of leather or other material
intended to button on to the back buttons of the trowsers.
It will be readily understood that during the elevation of the right
shoulder the lever A, B, will take the position shown, Fig. 3, that there
will be a lengthening of the right brace and a corresponding shortening
of the left one.
The essential features of this Invention are embodied in the above s
described arrangement, but it will be evident that the same effect may
be obtained by interverting the functions of the lever A, B, for example,
by fixing the braces to its centre and the straps to its ends.
Each of the braces is united in front to a buckle H (Fig. 2) having
two tongues and intended to regulate the length of the brace. To this
buckle there is also applied a lever K, L, analogous to the lever A, B,
above described, and fulfilling the same functions as regards the straps
which button on to the two buttons fixed in front at one of the sides of
the trowsers. Thus the body can make no movement without bringing
into play the levers A, B, and K, L, wherefore it is proposed to term
these braces "raturial braces."
It is also proposed to add to the above designation the word
"phoenix," the justification being that as all the metal parts do not
wear out on the other parts becoming deteriorated, they may be easily
replaced without thread, needle, or other special tool, the braces being
made without any seam.
3

page_text: If it is desired to replace the flat straps by rounded cords, leather
drawn into a cord, silk cord, cat or other gut, or other rounded material,
the following process is adopted :-The lever is always preserved but in its
middle (see Fig. 4) is placed a pulley P in the groove of which slides the
cord each end of which forms a loop representing the button hole; this
loop is fastened by a small apparatus Q, R. This apparatus is pierced
with three holes or passages in the direction of its length, the cord
passes through one of these outer holes, then its end having given the
length required to form the loop passes in an inverso direction through
the opposite hole, a screw V screwed into the central hole presses on the
two lateral cords and fixes them in this position. A similar apparatus
is applied to each of the front buckles.
It will be understood that this apparatus is but one of the numerous
means by which a buckling without sewing may be realised with a cord,
and that this Invention comprises the use of any means by which braces
may be made without any sewing whatever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Gedge in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 20th March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GEDGE, of the Hollies, South Lambeth Road, in the County of Surrey,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Gedge, Her
special licence that I, the said John Gedge, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Gedge,
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

page_text: :
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRACES," a communication to, me
from abroad by François Auguste Garnier, of No. 64, Faubourg
St. Martin, Paris, France, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Gedge, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 5
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 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 John Gedge, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
}:
1
The principle of construction of these improved braces is based upon 1
the fact that in all the movements of the body there is a constant
oscillation of the shoulders produced by the alternate raising of the one
and lowering of the other, from whence it results that to avoid fatigue
the brace corresponding to the shoulder that is raised must lengthen,
and that its fellow must shorten to the same extent.
2
This object is attained by the means which I will now proceed to
describe, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawing,
upon which Figure 1 is an elevation showing the arrangement of the lower
portion of the back part of a pair of braces embodying my Invention;
Figure 2 is an elevation showing the front arrangement; Figure 32
shows the arrangement, Fig. 1, as it would appear when one of tho
-shoulders of the wearer is raised, and Figure 4 a modification of the
-arrangement shown, Fig. 1.
b
1°. The two-braces are bound together at the back by being fixed upon-
‘an apparatus common to both.
2°. Each brace is fixed to one of the buckles D, E, (Fig. 1) to which
it is united without sewing by the passing of its end in tho four slits
✓ presented by cach buckle.
€
"
3°. The buckles. D, E, are hinged at the points A and B, which
indicate the two ends of a lever A, B. At the centre of this lever
there is also hinged a piece C, F, G, carrying at each of the points F
ย

page_text: and G a stud to which are fixed straps of leather or other material
intended to button on to the back buttons of the trowsers.
It will be readily understood that during the elevation of the right
shoulder the lever A, B, will take the position shown, Fig. 3, that there
will be a lengthening of the right brace and a corresponding shortening
of the left one.
The essential features of this Invention are embodied in the above
described arrangement, but it will be evident that the same effect may
be obtained by interverting the functions of the lever A, B, for example,
by fixing the braces to its centro and the straps to its ends.
Each of the braces is united in front to a buckle H (Fig. 2), having
two tongues and intended to regulate the length of the brace. To this
buckle is also applied a lever K, L, analogous to the lever A, B,
above described, and fulfilling the same functions as regards tho straps
which button on to the two buttons fixed in front at one of the sides of
the trowsers. Thus the body can make no movement without bringing
into play the levers A, B, and K, L, wherefore it is proposed to term.
theso braces "rational braces."
It is also proposed to add to the above designation the word
"phoenix," the justification being that as all the metal parts do not
wear out on the other parts becoming deteriorated they may be casily
replaced without thread, needle, or other special tool, the braces being
made without any seam.
If it is desired to replace the flat straps by rounded cords, leather
drawn into a cord, silk cord, cat or other gut, or other rounded material,
the following process is adopted :-The lever is always preserved, but in
its middle (see Fig. 4) is placed a pulley P, in the groove of which slides
the cord, each end of which forms a loop representing the button hole;
this loop is fastened by a small apparatus Q, R. This apparatus is pierced
with three holes or passages in the direction of its length; the cord
passes through one of these outer holes; then its end having given the
length required to form the loop passes in an inverso direction through
the opposite hole, a screw V screwed into the central hole presses on the
two lateral cords and fixes them in this position. A similar apparatus is
; applied to each of the front buckles.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven.

page_text: or may be performed, I would have it understood that I not confine
myself to the precise details herein-before described and illustrated on
the accompanying Sheet of Drawing, as variations may be made therein
while retaining the essential feature of this Invention, and that I claim
as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,
the combination of oscillating levers, substantially as described, for the
purpose of permitting the automatic lengthening and shortening of the
braces according to the movements of the body.
In witness whereof I, the said John Gedge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.