IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING TROUSERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOSIAH WILLIAMS, of St Philips Road, Sheffield in the County of York Doctor
of Medicine do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING TROUSERS to be as follows:-
My invention relates to appliances to be used instead of buttons, for supporting
trousers; the object being to avoid the great inconvenience of loose, or missing
buttons, and also to provide a ready means of securing and releasing such garments;
the said improved appliances are especially applicable for use in 'the army, and to
travellers generally, more particularly those in foreign countries.
In putting my invention into practice instead of sewing the usual brace-buttons
upon the trousers, I cut, punch, or otherwise form suitable holes through the cloth
of the trousers where the buttons are usually placed. I prefer to complete the
holes by inserting a metallic eyelet or ring, which effectually protects the edges of
the cloth from fraying or being torn, and keeps the hole open and clear,
I attach to the braces a crossbar either permanently, or so that it may be
removed; if made removeable I prefer to connect it to the brace by means of a
short flatlink chain, and hook.
I make the crossbar by preference of metal, and flat, as being most suitable
and convenient for the purpose, and so that when it is slipped through the hole.
or eyelet it hangs horizontally across the hole or eyelet, and cannot accidentally be,
pulled out.

page_text: I, JOSIAH WILLIAMS of St Philips Road Sheffield in the County of York Doctor
of Medicine do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPLIANCES FOR SUPPORTING TROUSERS and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to appliances to be substituted for buttons used to support
trousers, the object of the invention being to avoid (by the use of my appliances)
the great inconvenience (which so often occurs) of a loose or missing button, and
the difficulty of replacing it at the time; the said appliances are especially
applicable for army clothing, and for the use of travellers, particularly in foreign
parts.
My invention consists in dispensing with the usual suspending buttons, and in
place thereof I attach to the trousers in a suitable position, either eyletholes
or the appliance that I call the "Olympic" trouser suspender." In carrying out
my invention, I may use either a metallic eyelet, such as are used for passing
the cord through in Wagon Covers and Tarpaulins, or a guard of leather or other.
suitable material, through which I pass the stud or bar of the appliance or fastener,
or I may attach the fastener permanently to the trowser, and pass the stud or bar
through the loop of the brace.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood, I have annexed a
sheet of drawings representing some of the appliances or fasteners made according
to my invention.
Fig. 1 Is a simple form of fastener attached permanently to the end of the
brace, and the hole in the trousers, through which the bar is to be passed,
is guarded by a facing of leather or other material.
Fig. 2 A Fastener, consisting of two bars, connected by a Chain; one end to
be passed through the brace loop, and the other through an eyelet in the
trousers.
Fig. 3, The same connected to trousers.
Fig. 4, A fastener permanently attached to the trousers.
Fig. 5, back and edge views of same.
In Fig. 1, I make suitable holes through the tops of the trousers where it is
usual to sew on buttons, and' I guard or protect them by either sewing them round
or by a guard A. of suitable material; I permanently attach the fastener B,
consisting of a short chain and crossbar to the brace C, and all that is required is
to pass the crossbar through the hole in the trousers.
In some cases I use a metallic eyelet D as shown in Figs 2 and 3. as a simple
and effective manner of preventing the material from fraying, and the hole in
consequence becoming too large; in these figures, I have shown the fastener made
with two studs or bars E, connected by means of a short chain F, one stud or
bar passed through the loop of the brace G, and the other when in use passed
through the eyelet, in which position it is almost impossible for it to become
disengaged.
My improved system of supporting trousers may be effectually carried out as
shown in Figs 4 & 5. in which case the fastener is permanently secured to the
trousers by means of a suitable attachment, plate, or clasp H, or equivalent device,
which may be sewn between two thicknesses of the trouser material, or attached to
the outside.

page_text: I prefer to connect the stud E, by means of a flat link chain, attached to a
ranked, or curved link, I, which tends to keep the stud flat to the brace.
It will be obvious that other modifications may be made without departing from
he spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is
1. The improved method or system of supporting trousers, herein specified, with
the various appliances to be used for that purpose, substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
2. The use of appliances consisting of one or more crossbars, (either detachable
or permanently fixed to the brace, or trousers,) for the purpose of supporting
the trousers, and dispensing with the use of buttons; as herein described
and illustrated, or any mere modification thereof.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicant.