Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1887.
Complete Left, 8th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 23rd Aug., 1887.
CHARLES ABRAHAM WHITE 62, Ockendon Road Islington N Crinolette & Bustie
Manufactuerer, I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
A Dress Improver made with seven brass-capped steels which are rivetted together
at the ends. Each of the two sets of ends are enclosed in a brass socket so that the
steels open in the centre on the principle of a fan. To each brass socket is attached a
spiral brass spring, and the two springs are attached to the lower steel of the Improver.
The object of the springs being to keep the steels open or apart in the centre. In
actual use the steels close up like a fan when the wearer assumes a setting position;
but on standing erect the spiral springs draw the Improver open again.
Dated this 27th day of June 1887

page_text: I CHARLES ABRAHAM WHITE, Crinolette and Bustle Manufacturer, of 62 Ockendon
Road, Islington, 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 consists of a contrivence to act as a dress improver to be worn by
ladies, and to permit those who wear this invention, to sit down without in any way
damaging the dress improver, by crushing or otherwise putting it out of its proper
shape, as it is so constructed that each rib of steel will fold into one another, and when
the wearer is in a standing or any other position than sitting, the invention is drawn
out to its proper and stationary position by means of brass or steel coil or spiral
springs.
My invention is constructed with seven or more steels protected with linen or any
other material, segmental, or semi-circular in shape; each of the steels being smaller
than each other, so that each steel when pressed down flat, will fit one into the other;
at the ends of each steel is provided with a brass or metal cap, with a hole punched
through at each end to allow a rivet to pass through, which steels are rivetted to a
brass or metal socket as Figures 3 and 4, at each of the ends of the seven steels are
rivetted together on the ears of the socket marked H, with a steel or metal spiral or
other spring, fixed on the ear H, of each socket at each end, and the other end of
the springs are fixed to the smallest and lowest steel at U, to draw the invention open
in its proper and stationary position, at the back of the steels is fixed a piece of linen
or other soft flexible material, ribbon, or wide tape, to connect each steel to one
another, marked C, with two short pieces of the same material marked B, connected
with the top steel and the waist band or belt, marked A, the two sockets are then brought
together by means of a cord or lace, marked G, in the accompanying drawings. In
actual use the steels close up like a fan, when the wearer assuines a sitting position;
but on standing erect the spiral springs draw the improver open again in its proper
and stationary position, the object of the spiral springs being to keep the steels apart.
And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I now proceed to
describe the accompanying drawings thereof, reference being had to letters and figures
marked thereon. Figure 1 represents the back part of the dress improver, with the 7
steels marked D, and rivetted to the metal sockets F, with the spiral springs E, and
the ribbon or tape to connect the steels together marked C, and tapes B, B, to the waist
band A. Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1. Figure 3 is the back of the brass
socket. Figure 4 is the two sides of Figure 3 with the ears marked H. Figure 5 is
the plan of the dress improver closed up quite flat, with each of the steels fitting into
each other, with the cord or lace drawing the two brass sockets together forming a
semi-circle. I do not limit myself to the particular shape of the steels of the dress
-

page_text: improver as shewn on the drawings, as they may it is evident be varied without
departing from the nature of my invention, provided it be of such a nature, as each
steel shall close into one another, and according to the aforesaid statement. Like
letters refer to like parts in each figure. A, the waist band. B, the two ribbons or
tapes to connect the top steel to the waist band. C, the ribbon or tape at the back to
connect the whole of the steels together. D, each of the steels which fit into one
another when flat. E, the brass or metal socket. F, the spiral springs. G the lace
or cord to draw the two brass sockets together to form a semi-circle. H, the ears on
the socket. U, the position to which the spiral springs is attached on the bottom
steel.
Having now fully described the nature and object of my invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I claim as new and novel the
following:
First. The combination of the 7 steels D, rivetted together on each side to the brass
socket F and the spiral springs E, attached to the bottom steel U, to draw or hold the
dress improver open, with the ribbon or tape C, connected to each of the steels, and
the top steel connected to the waist belt A, by the ribbons B, substantially herein
described and according to the accompanying drawings.
Secondly. The combination of the steels D, connected together by the ribbon C,
and the spiral springs E, to open or close each steel into one another, substantially
herein described and according to the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. I claim the dress improver to have the advantage over all others; that
when the wearer sits down each of the steels D, closes up into the top steel which is
the largest, quite flat and when the wearer stands up it assumes its former and
stationary position again, without any injury being done to the dress improver,
substantially herein described and according to the accompanying drawings.
יד
1
1000