Improvements in Lacing Fastenings for Corsets and other Articles of Wearing Apparel.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lacing Fastenings for Corsets and other Articles
of Wearing Apparel.
I, MOSES KELLAM BORTREE of Grand Rapids, in the County of Kent and State of
Michigen, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
The invention relates to the construction of the lacing device which is formed of a
single wire or strip of rigid material secured at the edges by loops, eyes or apertures
being formed in which to pass the lacing cord.
Reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side view of a corset embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view across the meeting edges.
Fig. 3 is a view of a variation in which the wire is located back from the edge of
the section.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the usual construction which has preceded
my invention.
Fig. 5 is a similar view showing my improved construction in comparison there-
with; and
Fig. 6 is a separate strip of loops.
Heretofore in the manufacture of corsets it has been customary to provide the
meeting edges of the back of the corset with metallic eyelets set at a little distance
from the edge, and through these eyelets the draw-string has been passed back and
forth, thereby affording means for adjusting the corset to any desired fit. This con-
struction, however, has been accompanied by several disadvantages. The eyelets
engaged only with the fabric, frequently worked loose, leaving the eyelet-holes bare,
thus impairing the adjustability of the corset-string and imparting rapid wear both to
the fabric and to the string as well. So again the corset-string having to cross the
back steels and a portion of the fabric before entering the eyelets, does of necessity
thicken the structure both upon the outer and upon the inner surface; those portions of
the string disposed along the inner side adjacent to the body are frequently a source
of ill-comfort and annoyance, and the portions disposed on the outer side frequently
show an outline on the outside of the waist. And still again, when the corset is in use,
the portions of the corset-string between the corset and the body of the wearer are
held rigidly by the pressure of the body which prevents the string from playing through
the eyelets and so prevents the proper yielding of the back edges of the corset to
conform to the varying strains due to the movement of the body.
It is the purpose of my invention to produce a construction which shall overcome
these difficulties.
To this end, referring to Fig. 4, A and A¹ represent the two sides of a corset as
heretofore usually made; a represents the usual steels or stiffeners at the back edges;
al represents the eyelets, and A" is the corset string woven in and out in the usual
way through the eyelets, and lapping over the fabric and steels at a".
B and B represents the sides or sections of a corset embodying my improvement, and
6 represents the usual steels or stiffeners at the back edges. Now, instead of employing
the eyelets as heretofore, I locate a wire or strip of metal at the edge; it is retained
in place by being passed through the loops which are formed in any suitable
manner at the back edges of the corset sections. This leaves the spaces 3 through
which the corset string may be woven and serve instead of the eyelets formerly
in use.
This wire or strip b¹ occupies preferably a space less in thickness than the edge of
the corset section so that when the corset string is passed around it, the pressure of

page_text: the body upon it is not such as to bind and prevent its free action through the said
orifices or spaces.
Instead of employing a simple wire, the metal may be of any form in cross-section,
as for instance, flat or oval, or it might be simply the usual steel or stiffener with its
edges smoothed or rounded where the string passes. So also, the wire may be placed
outside of the steel, as shown in Fig. 5, or the usual steel may be dispensed with
and the wire or strip 6' serve the same purpose as the stiffener usually does at this
point.
Again, while I prefer to locate the wire or strip 61 at the extreme edge, it may be
located further back, as shown in Fig. 3, in which event the fabric may be punched
with holes as shown, through which the string may be woven and then they will draw
upon the steel the same as above described.
In corsets as usually made with eyelets, the corset string having more strain thrown
on it at some points than others, this serves to draw the fabric at these points and
disturbs it, not only impairing the looks of the corset, but racking and injuring it.
My invention obviates all this trouble and distributes the strain over
surface.
a broad
Of course this device is applicable for the forward edges in those corsets which lace
in front, and if equally applicable in other articles of wearing apparel where lacing is
employed, and I would have it understood that my invention embraces such analogous
uses. The wire or strip may be plated or otherwise treated to rendered it non-
corrosive. This device may be embodied in a strip D of loops, as shown in Fig. 6,
with a wire embraced therein all ready for attachment to any form of corset.
Also, where the strings passed beyond the edges and through the eyelets as here-
tofore, the strings prevented the corset edges from fitting closely to the back, while-
by my improvement the edges may hug closely against the back.
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.
1. In combination with a corset, a wire or rigid strip of material b¹, and spaces b³,
substantially as described.
2. In combination with a corset, a wire or rigid strip of material 61, the loops b¹¹,
and spaces 63, substantially as described.
3. In combination with a corset, a wire or rigid strip of material 6', said wire plated
with non-corrosive material, of spaces 63, and loops 6", substantially as described.
4. As an article of manufacture, a strip of loops D, with the wire b' embraced
therein, the whole adapted for attachment to an article of wearing apparel.
Dated this 27th day of August 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.