An Improved Combination Brace and Bodice or Vest and Suspender.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 4th May,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Combination Brace and Bodice or Vest and
Suspender.
I, SUSAN BECKETT of Ruby Ville, Nowranie Street Summer Hill near
Sydney in the Colony of New South Wales do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed to supply an effective and healthful support to the
human figure. It is specially serviceable in counteracting the evils consequent on
the use of the corset and it allows liberty to every organ and muscle, room for a
deep respiration and facility for a vigorous heart-beat. In this improved
combination brace and bodice or vest and suspender all steels and bones are
dispensed with and the dragging weight of the dress skirt or lower habiliments is
removed from the hips and put upon the shoulders.
This improved combination brace and bodice or vest and suspender consists of a
series of bands arranged so as to give the desired support that is to say:-It
consists of a main or body band say about three inches more or less in width which
passes round the body under the arms and buttons in the front. The back part of
this band is stiffened and corded, and, to allow of being tightened or loosened at
will, is laced in the centre. Into the front of this band, which is say only two ply
thick, is inserted, on each side of the front buttons, a pocket or lozenge shaped piece
of material to form breast supporters. To each supporter is attached a shoulder
band or brace which passes backwardly over the shoulders and crosses the other at
the back near the waist, and terminates in a waist band or belt which passes round
the waist and buckles at the front or side. To the shoulder bands or braces at the
back are attached two straps with series of eyelet holes which can be adjusted
to hooks fixed on the main band that passes round the body, and these have the
effect of expanding the chest and squaring the shoulders in a natural and easy
manner. On the waist band at the back where the braces are crossed, stiffened
and corded (thus affording a support for the spine) are two hooks (and there may
be other similar hooks at convenient points on the waist band or belt) for
suspending the dress or lower habiliments so that the weight will be supported
from the shoulders. In front from the bottom of the breast supporters are two
straps with series of eyelet holes which can be adjusted to two hooks on the waist
baud or belt and so have the effect of keeping the breast supporters and shoulder
bands in their proper position. For male use of course the pockets or breast
supporters would be dispensed with but otherwise the improved combination brace
and bodice or vest and suspender would be as described.
Dated this Fourteenth day of April One thousand eight hundred and
ninat frie

page_text: An Improved Combination Brace and Bodice or Vest and
Suspender.
. I SUSAN BECKETT of Ruby Ville Nowranie Street Summer Hill near Sydney
in the Colony of New South Wales 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:-
This invention is designed to supply an effective and healthful support to the
human figure. It is specially serviceable in counteracting the evils consequent on
the use of the corset and it allows liberty to every organ and muscle, room for a
deep respiration and facility for a vigorous heart beat. In this improved
combination brace and bodice or vest and suspender all steels and bones are
dispensed with and the dragging weight of the dress skirt or lower habiliments is
removed from the hips and put upon the shoulders.
This improved combination brace and bodice or vest and suspender consists of a
series of bands arranged so as to give the desired support that is to say it consists
of a main or body band say about three inches more or less in width which passes
round the body under the arms and buttons in the front. The back part of this
band is stiffened with buckram or other material except steels and bones and
corded and to allow of being tightened or loosened at will is laced in the centre.
Into the front of this band which is say only two ply thick is inserted on each side
of the front buttons a pocket or lozenge shaped piece of material to form breast
supporters. To each supporter is attached a shoulder band or brace which passes
backwardly over the shoulders and crosses the other at the back near the waist,
and terminates in a waist band or belt which passes round the waist and buckles
at the front or side. To the shoulder bands or braces at the back are attached
two straps with series of eyelet holes which can be adjusted to hooks fixed on the
main band that passes round the body and these have the effect of expanding the
chest and squaring the shoulders in a natural and easy manner. On the waist band
at the back where the braces are crossed stiffened otherwise than with steels or bones
and corded (thus affording a support for the spine) are two hooks (and there may
be other similar hooks at convenient points on the waist band or belt) for
suspending the dress or lower habiliments so that the weight will be supported
from the shoulders. In front from the bottom of the breast, supporters are two
straps with series of eyelet holes which can be adjusted to two books on the waist
band or belt and so have the effect of keeping the breast supporters and shoulder.
bands in their proper position. For male use of course the pockets or breast
supporters would be dispensed with but otherwise the improved combination brace
and bodice or vest and suspender would be as described.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference will now
be made to the drawings herewith in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved combination brace bodice or vest and
suspender Figures 2 and 3 being front and back views respectively of the same as it
appears upon a female figure.
A is the main band which passes round the upper part of the body under the
arms lacing at the back through eyelet holes e and buttoning in front at d. The
front pockets or breast supporters B, the fulness or looseness of which to form
the pockets is shown by the dotted lines, are let into this band A and the shoulder
bands braces or straps C extend from band A and pockets B cross at the back
at C¹ and finish in the waist band or belt D which has fastening buckle at side (or
if preferred in centre at front or back). Front side straps a with series of eyelet

page_text: holes reach from band A and pockets or breast supporters B downwardly to hooks f
on waist band D and back side straps b also with series of eyelet holes reach from
shoulder bands C to hooks h on main band A while c are hooks on waist band for
supporting the dress skirt or other lower habiliments. Eyelet holes g are provided
on bands C to allow for adjustment of the position of pockets or breast
supporters B.
From the foregoing general and particular description of the nature of the
improved combination brace and bodice or vest and suspender and its various parts
the method of use and the functions of the whole and of said various parts and
the manner in which this invention is carried into practical effect will be clearly
understood.
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
First. The combination brace and bodice or vest and suspender consisting of (a) a
main body band (with or without front pockets or breast supporters) laced at back
and buttoned in front, (b) shoulder bands crossed at back and joined to a waist
band having suspending hooks. (c) front side straps adjustably attached to said
waist band and (d) back side straps adjustably attached to said main band
substantially as herein described and explained.
Second. The combination brace and bodice or vest and suspender consisting of
the various parts combined and arranged substantially as herein described and
explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this Seventh day of January One thousand eight hundred and
Ninety-nVe.
DinеEY-Пve.
SUSAN BECKETT.
Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.