IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACES OR SUSPENDERS,. STOCKING SUPPORTERS, AND FASTENERS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Harvey Fisk Snow, of Aldermanbury, in the City of
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACES OR SUSPENDERS,.
STOCKING SUPPORTERS, AND FASTENERS CONNECTED THEREWITH.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Harvey Fisk Snow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1876.
HARVEY FISK SNOW, of Aldermanbury, in the City of London,
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN BRACES OR SUSPENDERS, STOCKING SUPPORTERS, AND FASTENERS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in braces or suspenders, stocking
supporters, and fasteners connected therewith, and consists,-
Firstly. In constructing a loop having the shape of two triangles, united at one
of their angles. In one of these triangles are introduced crosswise the two front
webbings of the braces or suspenders. The two back webbings are also introduced
crosswise through the other triangle in such a manner as to bring the above
triangular loop at the back of the wearer.
Instead of using the double triangular loop above described one of the triangles
may be dispensed with, and a straight loop, ring, hook, or buckle used in lieu
thereof, from which depends the webbing for the back or front buttons of the '
trousers.
In order to use braces constructed as above as chest expanders I propose to unite
the two front webbings to the back webbing by means of cross webbings which
pass under the arms, and which are adjusted by suitable slide pieces or loops; or
the said cross webbings instead of being attached to the front webbings may
go round the upper part of the arms of the wearer in order to keep the shoulders
back.
Secondly. In making braces or suspenders in such a way that the front side
webbings after being attached to two of the front buttons of the trousers shall pass
over the shoulders and be united at the back by means of a cross piece, from
whence they pass under the arms and are attached to the two other front buttons
of the trousers. From the cross piece above described depend two webbings which
are attached to the back buttons of the trousers. The said cross piece may be
united to the side webbings by means of triangular loops, buckles, or hooks.
Dries C31
•

page_text: For expanding the chest by these braces or suspenders I propose to unite the
front webbings under the arms before they are attached to the front buttons of the
trousers.
Thirdly. In making braces or suspenders in such a manner that the two front side
webbings after being attached to two of the front buttons of the trousers shall pass
over the shoulders and cross each other at the back of the wearer, and the right-
hand webbing after passing under the left arm shall be attached to the other left-
hand side button of the trousers, whilst the left-hand webbing after passing under
the right arm shall be attached to the other right-hand side button of the said
trousers. Two suitable webbings depend from the crossing of the webbings and
support the back of the trousers.
To prevent the button holes being torn or otherwise damaged I fix at the end of
the button straps small metallic plates cut out in such a way as to leave the leather
or webbing round the button hole clear to take hold of the buttons.
In certain cases I unite two of the front button straps into one button strap,
which takes hold of the centre button of the belt of the trousers.
In order to suspend drawers or under hose by means of the above described
braces or suspenders I propose to attach to the front and back webbings single or
double straps (fixed or attached by suitable buckles), which shall extend beyond
the trousers straps and fasten to the drawers or under hose.
The above described braces or suspenders may be used for holding up
skirts by replacing the button straps by single or double safety pins or hooks.
ladies'
The stocking supporters, constructed according to my said Invention, are similar
to the braces or suspenders described in the second part of this Specification, and
consist in fastening two webbings to the loops which serve to unite the side
webbings under the arms for expanding the chest. These webbings descend along
the leg to the stocking, where they divide into two straps to which are attached
clips or fasteners herein-after described. A belt is used in conjunction with these
stocking supporters in order to carry two straps for special purposes, and to which
are attached safety pins.
The clips or fasteners consist of small fixed plates attached to the straps afore-
said and having one end turned up. To this plate is suitably hinged another plate,
which on being brought down into the aforesaid turned-up part secure between
them the edges of the stocking; or the movable plate may be pivoted on to the
fixed plate so as to be moved in or out of the turned-up part of the said fixed
plate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Harvey Fisk Snow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
December 1876.
HARVEY FISK SNOW, of Aldermanbury, in the City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BRACES OR SUSPENDERS, STOCKING SUPPORTERS, AND FASTENERS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in braces or suspenders, stocking
supporters, and fasteners connected therewith, and consists,―
Firstly. In constructing a loop having the shape of two triangles united at one of
their angles. In one of these triangles are introduced crosswise the two front web-
bings of the braces or suspenders. The two back webbings are also introduced
crosswise through the other triangle in such a manner as to bring the above
triangular loop at the back of the wearer.
Instead of using the double triangular loop, above described, one of the triangles
may be dispensed with, and a straight loop, ring, hook, or buckle used in lieu

page_text: thereof, from which depends the webbing for the back or front buttons of the
trowsers.
In order to use braces constructed as above as chest expanders, I propose to
unite the two front webbings to the back webbings by means of cross webbings,
which pass under the arms, and which are adjusted by suitable slide pieces or
loops, or the said cross webbings instead of being attached to the front webbings
may go round the upper part of the arms of the wearer, in order to keep the
shoulders back.
Secondly. In making braces or suspenders in such a way that the front side
webbings after being attached to two of the front buttons of the trowsers shall pass
over the shoulders, and be united at the back by means of a cross piece, from
whence they pass under the arms, and are attached to the two other front buttons
of the trowsers. From the cross piece, above described, depend two webbings,
which are attached to the back buttons of the trowsers. The said cross piece
may be united to the side webbings by means of triangular loops, buckles, or
hooks.
For expanding the chest by means of these braces or suspenders, I propose to
unite the front webbings under the arms before they are attached to the front
buttons of the trowsers.
Thirdly. In making braces or suspenders in such a manner that the two front
side webbings after being attached to two of the front buttons of the trowsers shall
pass over the shoulders, and cross each other at the back of the wearer, and the
right-hand webbing after passing under the left arm shall be attached to the other
left-hand side button of the trowsers, whilst the left-hand webbing after passing
under the right arm shall be attached to the other right-hand side button of the
said trowsers. Two suitable webbings depend from the crossing of the webbings,
and support the back of the trowsers.
To prevent the button holes being torn or otherwise damaged, I fix at the end
of the button straps small metallic plates cut out in such a way as to leave the
leather or webbing round the button hole clear to take hold of the buttons.
In certain cases I unite two of the front button straps into one button strap,
which takes hold of the centre button of the belt of the trowsers.
In order to suspend drawers or under hose by means of the above-described
braces or suspenders, I propose to attach to the front and back webbings single or
double straps (fixed or attached by suitable buckles), which shall extend beyond
the trowsers straps, and fasten to the drawers or under hose.
The above-described braces or suspenders may be used for holding up ladies'
skirts by replacing the button straps by single or double safety pins or hooks.
The stocking supporters constructed according to my said Invention are similar
to the braces or suspenders described in the second part of this Specification, and
consist in fastening two webbings to the loops, which serve to unite the side web-
bings under the arms for expanding the chest. These webbings descend along the
leg to the stocking, where they divide into two straps to which are attached clips
or fasteners herein-after described. A belt is used in conjunction with these stocking
supporters, in order to carry two straps for special purposes, and to which are
attached safety pins.
The clips or fasteners consist of small fixed plates attached to the straps aforesaid,
and having one end turned up. To this plate is suitably hinged another plate,
which on being brought down into the aforesaid turned up part secures between
them the edges of the stocking, or the movable plate may be pivoted on to the
fixed plate, so as to be moved in or out of the turned up part of the said fixed
plate.
In order to explain this Invention more fully, I will now proceed to describe the
means whereby it may be put into practical effect, reference being had to the
illustrative Sheet of Drawing accompanying these Presents, and to the numeral
figures and letters of reference marked thereon respectively as follows:-

page_text: '
Figure 1 is a loop having the shape of a double triangle through which are
introduced crosswise the side webbings A, A¹, and the back webbings B, B¹,
Figures 2 and 3, in such a way as to bring the above double triangle at the back
of the wearer.
Instead of the two triangles above described one triangle may be used, to which
are attached single or double loops, Figure 4, or the loops may be replaced by a
ring, buckle, or hook. One side of the triangle aforesaid in some cases is made
round, as shown in Figure 4.
I also fix the triangle to the webbing by means of a small plate, Figure 5 and 6,
in which A shows the plate; B, the webbing; and C, the triangle broken off.
Figure 7 shows a brace made as a chest expander. A is the triangle through
which is passed crosswise the side webbings B, B¹. To the triangle is attached a
triple loop C, from which depends the webbing D attached to the buttons at the
back of the trowsers and the two side webbings E, E¹, which join the side web-
bings B, B¹, by means of sliding loops F, F 1, furnished or not with small rings f
for sliding them up or down.
Instead of joining the side webbings E, E¹, to the front webbings B, B¹, they
may be made to go round the upper part of the arms of the wearer to keep the
shoulders back.
Figure 8 shows the sliding loop, which may be furnished at one or both ends
with a loop A, ring, buckle, or hook.
Figure 9 is a brace constructed in such a way that the side webbings A, A², after
being fixed to two of the front buttons of the trowsers B, B¹, are made to pass over
the shoulders, and then take hold of the two other front buttons C, C. The side
webbings are united at the back by a cross webbing D by means of triangles, rings,
hoops, or buckles E, E¹; F, F¹, are the back webbings, which depend from the
cross webbings aforesaid.
For expanding the chest by means of these braces I unite the side webbings A, A¹,
under the arms, as shown in Figure 10, by means of lozenge loops G, G², or by a
ring.
Figure 11 is a brace in which the side webbings A, A, after being attached to
two front buttons a, a', are made to pass over the shoulders and cross each other at
the back at B, where they are sewn together, and then join the two other front
buttons C, C¹. The two back webbings D, D¹, depend from the crossing B.
Different means may be employed to fix the two webbings A, A1, at the back,
such as a lozenge-shaped plate, Figure 12, to which is fixed a triangle E for the back
webbings. Another mode of uniting the said webbings is shown in Figures 13 and
14, in which a, a, are two washers, sewn each to one of the webbings. A washer b,
with triangle or loop C, may be placed between them, and the whole secured by a
rivetted eyelet d.
To prevent the button holes being torn I fix inside the slit a small metallic
plate A, Figures 15 and 16, which is doubled over and pressed together.
In certain cases I unite two of the front button straps into one button strap,
which takes hold of the centre button of the trowsers, as shewn in Figure 17.
Figure 18 is a brace in which the webbings A, A¹, are united at the back by a
cross webbing B attached to the loops or rings C, C¹, by means of hooks D, D¹.
The button straps are continuous, that is to say, after being attached to two of
the front buttons they are made to pass through the rings or loops E, E, then take
hold of the two other front buttons and thence, after passing through the loops or
rings C, C¹, aforesaid, cross each other at F and take hold of the back buttons.
In order to suspend drawers or under hose by means of the above described
braces or suspenders I attach, by any suitable means,
to the side and back webbings
single straps, as shown in Figures 19, 19ª, and 20. In this last Figure are shown

page_text: fasteners A which I use instead of the button straps; I also make use of double
straps for holding up the drawers, as shown in Figure 21.
Figure 22 represents a small spring clip used in conjunction with or without the
above described drawer suspenders. It is furnished with indentations A, A¹, the
object of which is to take hold of the drawers and trowsers when these are not
furnished with suitable buttons.
Figure 23 represents elongated button straps furnished at A with buckles. These
button straps are made of flattened fibrous brade doubled over at B, so as to form
the button hole, and sewn together from C to C¹, or they may be formed of a single
piece of fibrous braid flattened and provided with a button hole.
The above described braces or suspenders, may be used for holding up ladies'
skirts by replacing the button straps by hooks, Figure 24, or double safety pins,
Figure 25.
.
The stocking supporters constructed according to my said Invention are shown
in Figure 26 and 27.
In Figure 26 the loops A, A¹, pass over each of the shoulders and are united by
the cross piece A¹¹. The webbings B, B¹, depend from them, and extend to a certain
distance along the leg, when they divide into two smaller webbings C, C, to which
are attached the fasteners which take hold of the stockings.
In certain cases a belt D is used, the object of which is to hold two short web-
bings or straps E, E³, furnished with safety pins, fasteners, and buckles for special
purposes.
Figure 27 is another mode of holding up stockings by means of a belt A, from
which depend on each side one or two sliding straps B, B1, passing through a loop C,
from which depend one or two smaller straps D, D¹, to which are attached the
fasteners. E, E¹, are two webbings or straps furnished with buckles and safety
pins or fasteners for special purposes.
Figure 28 is another mode of holding up a bandage by means of two straps A, A¹,
which meet at the front and back of the wearer, and having at B, B¹, single straps
furnished with buckles and safety pins or fasteners.
The clips or fasteners which I use for holding up the stockings are shown in the
following Figures :—
Figure 29 shows a fastener in which the edge of the stocking is held by sliding
the hinged plate A into the turned up part B of the plate C.
Figure 30 is a fastener where the edge of the stocking is held between the
movable triangle A. and the turned-up part B of the plate C.
Figure 31 is a fastener by which the edge of the stocking, after being placed over
the wedge-shaped part A, is secured thereto by sliding over it, the part B with
turned edges C.
Figure 32 is a spring fastener which is made to take hold of the edge of the
stocking by sliding down the pin A.
Figure 33 is a spring fastener which holds the stocking between the edges A.
Figure 34 is a fastener in which the edge of the stocking after passing through.
the wire loop A is turned over the end B of the hinged plate C. The whole may
be secured by sliding down the groove D the stud E.
Figure 35 shows another mode of taking hold of the stocking by sliding part
of the edge thereof into the narrow slit A. This fastener may also be used in
conjunction with the drawer suspenders above described.
Figure 36 is a small clip for joining together two webbings. This is performed
by sliding the two ends of the webbings A, A¹, between the movable parts B, B¹,
and back plate C, and then turning inwards the said parts B, B₁, as shown in
Figure 37.
Figure 38 is another clip for joining together two webbings. It is composed of
two wedge-shaped ends A, A¹, over which the webbings are placed and made secure
by sliding over them the two wedge-shaped pieces B, B¹, the edges of which go
round the sides of the wedge-shaped ends A, A¹
Having now described and set forth the nature and object of my said Invention

page_text: for "Improvements in Braces or Suspenders, Stocking Supporters and Fasteners
connected therewith," and the means whereby it may be effected, I would remark
in conclusion that I hereby declare my Invention to consist in and I claim
structing braces or suspenders, stocking supporters and fasteners connected there-
with," substantially as described and represented.
con-
In witness whereof, I, the said Harvey Fisk Snow, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
HARVEY FISK SNOW. (L.S.)