A Metallic Corset for Theatrical Purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1890-Accepted. 14th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Metallic Corset for Theatrical Purposes.
I, LOUIS MORGENSTERN, Artist, 11, York Road, London, S.E., England, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
New and useful improvements on corsets for use in connection with devices for
suspending a person in mid-air without visible supports. The object of my present
invention is the production of an efficient and secure device to be worn by a
performer in exhibiting the optical illusion of suspending a person in mid-air, while
performing, without visible support, said person being attached with this corset to
the operating mechanism, the latter forming the subject-matter of a separate
Application filed concurrent with the present one.
To attain the object, I construct a metallic corset of two similar bands; one being
actually worn by the performer, and the other by which they are attached to the
spindle of the elevating device heretofore mentioned.
These two bands consist each of two similar halves properly hinged together on
one side and fixed with screws on the other, so that each of the said bands may be
opened by withdrawing said screws, and then applied to the waist of the performer
after which they are to be closed and secured together.
The inner band has four ribs or stays, of which one set are connected together by
a cross-piece above and below the band.
The stays are further connected by straps having buckles by means of which
the corset is securely strapped to the performer.
The outer band has an angular projection forming a taper socket for a similarly-
constructed portion on the end of the spindle, so that when said projection or tenon
is inserted into said socket, it will fit the latter with a snug fit. The spindle is
tubular to permit a rod having on its forward end a screw-thread engaging a
threaded aperture in the band to pass through said spindle, and thereby to secure
the corset and spindle removably together. This rod has an extension hinged or
otherwise jointed to the former, for the purpose hereinafter to be referred to.
The inner band has at proper intervals above and below the outer band, a series
of anti-friction rollers revolving upon studs fastened to said band. In this band
are further more apertures receiving vertically-revolving anti-friction rollers said
sets of rollers being, thus arranged to reduce friction between the bands to a
minimum.
To one of the stays is secured a braided cord, the ends of which pass rearwardly
to and into grooves in the periphery of the spindle, there being loops or a collar,
having suitable perforations, through which said cord is passed. The object of this
cord is to enable the performer being revolved in the outer band (said cord not
being seen), so as to produce the optical illusion of the performer turning around
in mid-air. The grooves in the said shaft or spindle are for the purpose of passing
the cord through bearings of the spindle so that the spindle may be revolved
without twisting the ends of the said cord.
Upon the outer side of the band is placed a plate having an aperture by which it
is passed over the angular projection of said band it being riveted to a belt, the
free end of which is buttoned to studs on the opposite side of said plate. This
latter plate has further buttons, to which the dress or jacket of the performer is
buttoned, and thereby the entire corset and its accessories concealed from view.
In place of friction rollers I may provide the inner band with laterally projecting
Hange or rim. I prefer the rollers however as being best adapted for the purpose.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Metallic. Corset for Theatrical Purposes.
I, LOUIS MORGENSTERN," 11," York Road, London, S.E., Artist, 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 :-
Improvements on corsets for use in connection with devices for suspending an
actor without visible supports, and I do hereby declare that the following description
of my said invention taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings,
forms a full clear and exact Specification which will enable others skilled in the art
to which it appertains to make and use the same.
My present invention has general reference to improvements in metallic corsets
for use in exhibiting the optical illusion of suspending an actor in mid-air without
visible supports, and it consists essentially, in the novel and peculiar combination of
parts and details of construction, as hereinafter, first fully set forth and described
and then pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings already mentioned, which serve to illustrate my said invention
more fully,
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of my improved metallic corset.
Fig. 2. is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3. is a plan of the same, portions being shown in section.
Fig. 4. is an end elevation of a portion of the corset.
and
Fig. 5. is a horizontal sectional plan of a portion of the bands along line a, a,
y, y, in Figure 1. the former referring to the inner and the latter to the outer band.
Fig. 6. is a transverse sectional view of a portion of the bands, and
Figure 7. is a perspective view of a portion of the tubular suspending spindle.
Like parts are designated by similar letters of reference in all the figures.
The object of my present invention is the production of an efficient and secure
device to be worn by an actor in exhibiting the optical illusion of suspending a
person in mid-air while performing, without visible support, said actor being
attached with this corset to the operating mechanism, the latter forming the subject
matter of a separate Application for Letters Patent No. 15,024 A.D. 1890.
To obtain this object I construct a metallic corset of two similar bands A, B, the
latter being the one actually worn by the actor and the former the one by which he
or she is attached to the spindle I of the elevating device heretofore mentioned.
These two bands consist each of two similar halves, properly or suitably' hinged
together at A', B', on one side and suitably affixed with screws e, e', respectively,
on the opposite side, so that each of the said bands may be opened by withdrawing
said screws e, e', and then applied to the waist of the performer, after which they are
to be closed and secured together as heretofore stated.
The band B, has four ribs or stays C, C, D, D', of which the set marked C, C³,
are connected together above the band B, by a crosspiece D, and below the said
band by a crosspiece C", while the stays D, D¹, are similarly connected by the
crosspieces E, D as clearly shown in Figs. 1, and 2. The stays C, D, and C¹ D¹,
are further connected by straps F, G, F, G, having buckles f, f, g, g' by means
of which the corset is securely strapped to the performer. The outer band A has
an 'angular projection a, Figs. 1, 2, & 3, forming a taper socket for a similarly
constructed portion i on the end of the spindle I, so that when said projection or
tenon i, is inserted into said socket, it will fit the latter. The spindle I is tubular
to permit a rod, J, having on its forward end a screw-thread engaging with a
threaded aperture in the band, to pass through said spindle, and thereby to secure
the corset and spindle removably together. This rod J has an extension J', hinged
or otherwise jointed to the former at j, Fig. 1, for the purpose hereinafter to be
referred to.
The band B has at proper intervals above and below the band A, a series of
1..

page_text: antifriction rollers L. Fig. 1. revolving upon studs m, Fig. 5., fastened to said band B.
In the band A are apertures N, receiving vertically revolving antifriction rollers M,
said sets of rollers being thus arranged to reduce friction between the bands to a
minimum.
To the stays C, D, (or any one of them,) say at K is secured a braided cord K,
the ends of which pass rearwardly to and into grooves p, p, in the periphery of the
spindle I, there being loops 1, 1, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or a collar having
suitable perforations, as illustrated in Fig. 1, through which said cord is passed.
The object of this cord is to enable the performer to be revolved in the outer band,
(said cord not being seen) so as to produce the optical illusion of the performer
turning around in mid air. The grooves p, p, in said shaft or spindle I are for the
purpose of passing the cord through bearings of the spindle (not shown) so that the
spindle may be revolved without twisting the ends of the said cord.
Upon the outer side of the band. A is placed a plate n, having an aperture by
which it is passed over the angular projection of said band A, it being riveted at /
to a belt N, the free end of which is buttoned to studs b, on the opposite side of
said plate n.
This latter plate has also buttons O, to which the dress or jacket of the
performer is buttoned and thereby the entire corset and its accessories concealed
from view.
From the crosspiece C" to the crosspiece D" runs a strap H secured to said
crosspieces by screws h, h', respectively, said strap forming as it were, a saddle,
upon which the performer sits stride legs, and which carries his or her entire weight,
in conjunction with the hip straps G, G', while when the performer apparently
stands in an inverted position, such weight will be carried by the shoulder
straps F, F.
In place of friction rollers L. shown in Fig. 1, I may provide the band B with a
laterally projecting flange or rim L as shown in Figure 6. such a construction being
an equivalent of the device heretofore described, I prefer the rollers however as
being best adapted for the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
(1) In devices of the class described, the combination with the split band B,
having suitable stays and crosspieces, of the split outer band A, embracing said
band B, and adapted to be removably attached to the suspending bar I, substantially
as described, and for the purpose set forth.
(2) The combination, with the suspending bar I, of the split band A, adapted to
be removably attached to the said bar, within which band there is located a further
split band B, having suitable stays and crosspieces to embrace a performer, in
manner substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
(3) The combination, with the supporting bar I, of split band removably
attached thereto and adapted to encircle the performer, said band being provided
with suitable stays and crosspieces, as shown and described.
(4) In devices of the class described, the combination with the supporting bar 1,
of a corset adapted to embrace the performer, a suspending ring secured to said
supporting bar, a further ring within said suspending ring provided with suitable
straps for securing it to the performer, and suitable means for revolving the inner
band as described.
(5) In devices of the class described, the combination with the split band A
having the socket a, of the split band B, provided with stays and straps as described,
said bands having anti-friction rollers as and for the purpose set forth.
(6) The combination, with the band A, having the angular taper socket a; of
the tubular bar I, provided with the angular taper tenon i, and the screw threaded
rod J, passing through the core of said bar and entering the outer band of the
corset, as described.
(7) The combination, with the split band B, having the hinged joint, as described,

page_text: of the stays, crosspieces hip and shoulder straps, chest straps, and saddle strap, as
and for the purpose set forth.
(8) The combination, with the bands A. B, of the cord K, fixed to the stays of the
band B, the spindle I, and the loops 1, as stated.
(9) The combination, with the band A, of the plate n, belt N, and the buttons O,
as stated, said plate n having an opening for the passage, of the angular projection
of the outer band, as set forth.
Dated this 26th day of November 1890.
E. EATON & Co.,
Agents for Applicant.