Improvements in Corsets.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1898-Accepted; 11th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corsets.
I, LILLIAN GRANVILLE WALKER, Gentlewoman, of 361, Boylston Street, Boston,
Mass., U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in a class of corsets particularly adapted
for use by those engaging in athletic exercises such as bicycle riding, golf, tennis,
the gymnasium, etc., and has for its object the production of a corset of the above
described class which will fit perfectly about the person of the wearer without
wrinkling at the sides and yet be sufficiently easy fitting and flexible to allow
perfect freedom of movement on the part of the wearer, and which will, while
properly supporting the bust, also act as a bust developer, and which is so con-
structed as to fully guard against undue wear on the outer garments by reason of
exposed metallic trimmings on the corsets.
The invention consists of the novel features of construction hereinafter set forth
and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.
Referring to the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a view of the corset partly broken away in front to show more clearly
the method of securing the same about the person, with the back lacing loosened
and the corset spread out.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the front securing portions joined together on the
lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the corset closed.
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.
In the accompanying drawings, aa denote combined front and side portions
of the corset, which are so constructed as to pass under the bust in such a manner
as to serve as a support for the same and not over the bust as in the ordinary
corsets. Each of these parts a is provided at the top and bottom thereof with
suitable slits or gores b-b¹, c-c¹ which, by means of eyelets d-d and a suitable
ribbon or lacing, are used to adjust the corset to the person of the wearer.
e-e are the back sections of the corset which are adapted to be joined together
by means of a ribbon or lacing passed through the eyelets e-e' as in the ordinary
corsets. These back sections, however, are connected to the parts a-a by means of
flexible panels f-f which, unlike the remaining parts of the body of the corset,
are without stiffening of any kind, thus allowing increased freedom of movement
without the slightest inconvenience.
g-y denote respectively a hook and a stud as ordinarily employed to secure
the corsets about the person. This securing device in the ordinary corsets is
not covered by a suitable shield for the protection of the outer garments and,
consequently, these garments are exposed to much additional wear and the danger,
of being torn by the studs. To guard against this undesirable yet common
feature, I provide the parts a-a with independent flaps h-h which are designed
to be drawn together over the hooks and studs g-g₁ by means of eyelets h¹-h
and a ribbon or lacing j, thus acting the double capacity as a shield over the

page_text: studs for the protection of the outer garments, and as an adjusting device for
removing disfiguring wrinkles from the sides of the corsets. after the same have
been donned by the wearer.
My improved corset, in so far as has not already been described, is used as
follows;
The corset, after having been so adjusted by means of the eyelets d-d in
the slits or gores bb¹, c-c¹, in each of the parts a and the eyelets e¹ in the back
sections e, and their respective ribbons or lacings, as to fit the person of the
wearer as nearly perfectly as can possibly be insured by this means, is donned
and secured in front by means of the hooks g and studs g¹, the corset passing under
the bust, as aforesaid in order to act as a bust supporter, and at the same time allow
free, unrestricted movements on the part of the wearer. The parts h-h are
then drawn together over said hooks and studs by means of the eyelets h¹-h¹
and the ribbon or lacing j, to such a degree as is necessary to remove any wrinkles
which may be left in the sides thereof, thus making a perfect fitting corset.
The corsets, as heretofore described, are particularly adapted for use by persons
engaging in athletic exercises as, by reason of its manner of fitting the person,
and of the flexible panels ff, which can be readily seen tend to greatly diminish
any inconvenience ordinarily occasioned by having the corset uniformly stiffened,
it allows of greater freedom in all movements than the ordinary corsets.
Besides its utility as an athletic garment, my improved corset is of exceptional
value as a bust developer and strengthener, and is also adapted for use by young
girls and as an hygienic corset.
It is to be observed that by downwardly extending the lower front portion of
the corset, as shown in Figure 3, a suitable abdominal support is provided for the
wearer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The improved corset herein described, consisting of the back sections pro-
vided with eyelets and lacings, front sections cut low enough to pass under the
bust, provided with hooks and studs, covering flaps and lacings, and flexible
panels uniting said front and back sections, substantially as shown and described.
2. As an improvement in corsets, the front sections cut low enough to pass
under and support the bust and provided in front with uniting means consisting
of hooks
9, studs g', covering flaps h-h, eyelets h'—h¹ and a lacing, substantially
as shown and described.
3. The improvement in corsets comprising a means for uniting the parts in
front consisting of a series of hooks g, studs g¹, covering flaps h-h provided with
rows of eyelets hh, and a lacing j, substantially as shown and described.
4. A corset having back sections e-e, provided with eyelets and a lacing,
front sections cut low enough to pass under and support the bust, flexible panels f
between said front and back sections, laced gores b-b, c-c, in the said front
sections, and a means for uniting and adjusting the parts in front, consisting of
hooks I, studs g¹, covering flaps h, eyelets h¹ and lacing j, all substantially as
shown and described.