Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1888
Specification Accepted, 28th Sept., 1888
I, HARDY WELLS Civil Engineer of No. 85 Gracechurch Street in the City of
London and in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The inconvenience arising from the wearing of belts made for men's use under their
trowsers, especially in hot weather, either as medical curative articles or merely
for general support of the middle parts of their bodies and the objectionable buckles
usually attached thereto has long been the subject of complaint.
Now, this invention for improvements in waistcoats is designed to enable belts to be
entirely done away with and more effectual and more comfortable support to be
obtained by the application of invisible strengthening ribs or rods, made flat or round
of various necessary curvature, comprised of wood, woodite, whalebone, whaleite, gutta-
percha, electric metal, steel, or any manufactured composition of desired elastic stiff-
ness inserted in waistcoats together with elastic sides or springs of various shapes.
It is further best described in the accompanying drawings Fig. 1. 2. and the letters
of reference marked thereon.
a, a, a, a, and b, b, b, b, in Fig. 1. are common points to a, a, a, a, and b, b, b, b, in
Fig. 2. and represent the joining parts of the front (Fig. 1.) and back (Fig. 2) of a
waistcoat. Pockets or bags of any desired size or materials, but of wash leather by
preference, are inserted between the linings, or on the inside or the outside lining as
shewn in Fig. 1. 2 at c, c, c, c, c, into which the ribs or rods may be dropped and then
kept in their positions by an elastic heading or by preference by a flap with button
and button hole, or by an eyelet hole and spring button, as shewn in Fig. 1. 2
at fffff
With a view to making the waistcoat more comfortable for wear, an elastic webbing
is placed in the lining as shewn in Fig. 2. at d, d, and it is also sometimes extended as
represented in Fig. 1. at G, G, and to counteract the effect of any slackening or
expansion of the elastic webbing, one, two, or more straps with buckles as shewn in
Fig. 2. at E. E, are provided by aid of which any slack may be taken up and th
waistcoat be kept firm fitting to the body.

page_text: As this invention for improvement in waistcoats is especially applicable to the
waistcoats worn by working men to give them support during or after labour and as
the material of their garments is stronger than usually worn by the upper classes, a
simple strip of leather or strong cloth sewn on to the waistcoat inside or outside to
form a bag or pocket with the aid of wood or other stiffeners sewn up at the top will
conduce to the comfort and support, like a truss, with or without elastic sides and
straps and buckles similar in general character to those in Fig. 2 at E, E, may be
placed as may be thought advisible on the sides of the waistcoat or on the back, such
straps being elastic or not as desired, but by making the opening flaps as shewn
in Fig. 1. 2. at c, c, c, c, c, the stiffening ribs or rods may more easily be shifted to
any number of different waistcoats.
Instead of elastic webbing as shewn in Fig. 1: 2 at d; d, and G; G, wire springs
might be inserted between the linings with or without the straps and buckles shewn in
Fig. 2 at E, E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is performed, I hereby declare what I claim is:-
1. The means, substantially as herein described, by which a waistcoat may be made
and worn to give support to the body in a manner superior to ordinary belts.
2. A waistcoat with the insertion upon or between the linings of a bag or pocket
formation made of any kind of leather or cloth, or by joining the two linings and so
forming a bag or pocket, with elastic top, or flap with button and button hole, or by
an eyelet and spring button, into which stiffening ribs or rods made of vegetable,
animal or metallic substances are inserted..
3. The placing of elastic webbing or wire springs, in, between, or on the lining of
waistcoats together with attached straps and buckles at the sides or back of such
waistcoats.
Lastly. I do not confine myself to any particular size or measurements in the
manufacture of materials for such improvements in waistcoats but claim to make them
according to bodily requirements.
Dated this 10th day of August 1888