IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACES FOR SUSPENDING TROUSERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Evans, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACES FOR SUSPENDING
TROUSERS."
Sealed the 29th December 1876, and dated the 10th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Evans at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th October 1876.
ISAAC EVANS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BRACES FOR SUSPENDING TROUSERS."
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in braces for
suspending trousers, by which improvements the braces are stronger, and more
durable, and are more economically manufactured than braces of the ordinary kind.
In braces in which back tabs or ends are used, the two shoulder straps of the
brace are ordinarily connected together at their back ends by a central piece to
which they are secured by sewing or eyeletting, the back tabs or ends being pivotted
or otherwise connected to the central back piece.
My Invention consists principally in making the two shoulder straps of the brace
of a single piece of leather or webbing in the manner herein-after explained instead
of two pieces, as usual, whereby the sewing or eyeletting of the two shoulder straps to
the central back piece is dispensed with; and as the two shoulder straps are in one
piece there is no liability of the parts becoming unsewn or, detached, as in ordinary
braces.
In making braces according to my Invention I take a leather band or web of a
length somewhat greater than the length of the pair of shoulder straps to be
produced, and I take a triangular plate of metal and fold the middle of the single
band or web around it in such a manner as to form two bands or webs crossing one
another at the required angle; that is to say, the triangular plate is placed upon the
middle of the band with one of its edges coinciding with one edge of the band;
that part of the band on one side of the plate is then folded over one of the inclined
sides of the plate, and the other part of the band is then folded over the other
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page_text: inclined side of the plate. A triangular fold in the middle of the band or web is
thus produced in which the triangular plate is held, the two ends of the band or
web at the said fold crossing and having the same inclination to one another as the
inclined sides of the plate have over which the band or web is folded. The crossing
parts of the shoulder straps are secured together by eyeletting or otherwise a little
above the top edge of the plate. The back tabs or ends of the brace are connected
to the bottom of the triangular plate either by a swivel joint or by a loop. In the
latter case the triangular plate is expanded and prolonged downwards, and in the
said expanded and prolonged part the loop is formed. Or instead of using a
triangular plate, as described, around which the middle fold of the band or web is
formed and fixed a triangular frame or skeleton plate may be used. The band or
web is folded about the triangular frame or skeleton plate in the manner described
with respect to the triangular plate; but instead of fixing the crossing shoulder
straps by eyeletting or sewing they are passed through a slot made in the upper
edge of the frame or skeleton plate. The crossing shoulder straps may however be
fixed to the frame by eyeletting or sewing.
My Invention consists further in making cach pair of the tabs or ends of braces
from one piece of leather or webbing in the manner described with respect to the
shoulder straps; that is to say, I employ a small triangular plate or frame around
which the middle of the strap or web to form a pair of tabs or ends is folded, the
crossing parts of the strap or web at the fold being secured together by eyeletting
or otherwise. The upper part of the triangular plate or frame of the tabs is
provided with a connection for connecting it to the buckle or fastening in case
of front tabs or ends, and to the middle triangular plate or framic at the back of the
shoulder straps in case of back tabs or ends.
The triangular plate for the back tabs or ends may be made of the same piece of
metal as the triangular plate upon which the folding of the shoulder straps is
effected.