Improvements in Corsets.
Year: 1891

page_text: te of Application, 7th May, 1891--Accepted, 13th June, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corsets.
We, JOHN TURNER STOCKBURN, JOSEPH JOHN STOCKBURN and RICHARD
WINSHIP STOCKBURN trading as Stockburn & Son, of Kettering Northampton,
Stay and Corset Manufacturers 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 my invention relates to improvements in corsets and my improvements are
designed with the object of affording increased durability and wear to the said
articles and greater comfort to the wearer by giving to the corset greater flexibility
and suppleness without lessening in any way the support given by the corset to the
body of the wearer.
In order that my invention may be readily understood reference should be made
to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1. shews a portion of a corset made
in accordance with my improvements and Fig. 2. shews a cross section of the
same on the line - in Fig. 1, like letters indicating similar parts in both of the
figures.
In the accompanying drawings A is the inner lining and B the outer covering
of the corset which may be of any of the materials usually employed for the
purpose.
The body of the corset is piped with cord as shewn at d or strips of cane whale-
bone or other material may be inserted in the said piping for the purpose of
affording additional stiffness to the corset if required and in the spaces thus formed
between the inner lining A and outer covering B are inserted the ribs C which
may be of whalebone ribbon steel or any other suitable material.
One of the objectionable features of corsets as at present constructed is that as
the wearer moves, the undue strain of the "ribs" upon the coverings of the corset
caused by the said movement tends to force the ends of the ribs through the fabric
and clothes of the wearer, while at the same time if the body is moved to a
greater extent the pressure is very liable to fracture the "ribs" of the corset.
In order to prevent these defects in my improved corset I secure the said
ribs C in the body of the corset by means of rivet or eyelet holes a and between
the said ribs C and the lining A of the corset is inserted a strip D of hessian
plaited or woven, horsehair paper or other material for the purpose of preventing
the said ribs C from working through the linings or coverings of the corset.
The portion of the corset in which the ribs are most liable to fracture being that
which covers the hips, I form the ribs for the purpose of stiffening the sides of the
corset shorter and the said lower portion of the sides I propose to pipe with
strips of cane cord or other flexible stiffening which is inserted in a transverse
direction so that the said piping will extend round the hips by which construction
any pressure upon the ribs of the corset is removed and there is no impediment to
the movements of the wearer.
The corset to which my invention is applied may be fastened at the front by
means of the steel busks in any well known manner and at the back by means of
laces or other means as I do not wish to confine my invention to any particular
method of fastening.
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
The improvements in the manufacture of corsets hereinbefore described the said

page_text: improvements consisting in stiffening the hip portions with piping in a transverse
direction and securing, separating and covering the ribs substantially in the manner
described and set forth.
Dated this 7th day of May 1801
REGINALD W. BARKER,
Applicants' Agent.