Improvements in Stays for Corsets and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
[Communicated from abroad by NATHANIEL FREDERICK THAYER HUNT, of
No. 33 Bedford Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
Improvements in Stays for Corsets and the like.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 a garment stay for corsets, and the like composed of two,
or more sheets of woven fabric, or equivalent soft sheet material, sewn together by
parallel seams, so that the space between two parallel seams forms a chamber or
pocket for the steel or bone by which the stay is stiffened, and with a socket for
the end of the steel or bone which socket holds itself in the pocket as will now be
described with reference to the drawings in which
Figure 1 shows part of a corset A, with two stays B, each with three pockets b
and three bones or steels 6. The middle pocket of one of the stays B in
Figure 1 is shown cut or slit to expose the steel b and the socket D for the end of
that steel. This socket D is shown enlarged, in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Figure 2 shows the blank from which the socket is formed.
Figure 3 the socket as it is inserted in the pocket of the corset about the end of
a steel.
Figures 6 and 7 the same in vertical and cross section respectively.
After the socket so formed has been inserted into the pocket of a corset the
upper end is flattened with the result shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5. The upper end
of the socket, after it is flattened, distends the pocket from side to side, and causes
the fabric of the corset to tightly hug the socket. The socket is thus fixed in
place and holds itself in the pocket.
Another form of socket D is shown in Figures 12 and 13 and in position within
a dress stay in Figure 8; also on an enlarged scale in Figures 9 and 10. This is
an oblong piece of stiff sheet material such as metal, or celluloid, with rounded
corners, bent across its middle (see Figures 12 and 13). Its natural elasticity
tends constantly to cause the ends of the socket to separate and the ends are thus
forced against the front and back walls of the pocket in which the socket is enclosed
(see Figures 8, 9 and 10).
In Figure 10 is shown a dress stay in which two thin steels are inserted within
a pocket of the ordinary width.
Figure 11 is an enlarged section on line 11--11 of Figure 8.
In the best quality of my corsets I use this double steel construction in connection
with the spring socket above described, and by this combination I am enabled to
dispense with the connecting rivet or eyelet heretofore used whenever two steels
were used in one pocket. This construction is extremely strong and resilient and
much less likely to break.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I clain is :-
First. A stay for corsets and other garments composed of strips of soft flexible
sheet inaterial sewn together by parallel searas to form the pocket b; the steel b₁

page_text: in that pocket; and the socket D constructed as described to hold itself in the
pocket.
Second. A stay for corsets and other garments composed of strips of soft
flexible sheet material sewn together by parallel seams to form the pocket b; two
steels each slightly less in width than the pocket, and each unconnected with the
other and fitting loosely in the pocket; and two sockets D one at each end of the
pocket over the ends of the steels, and each constructed as described to hold itself
in the pocket.
Dated this 24th day of March 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.