CONSTRUCTION OF DRESS-SUSPENDERS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Walker at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd July 1879.
GEORGE WALKER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRESS-SUSPENDERS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of dress-
suspenders, whereby the skirts of ladies dresses can be securely suspended and
beld at any desired height without the probability of their being accidentally
loosened and falling.
The body or main portion of the dress-suspender consists of two metallic plates,
which may be of an oval, oblong, or any other desired form, the lower ends of such
plates being connected or hinged together in the following manner:-The lower
ends of the plates are respectively cut into the requisite shape, and the side portions
thereof bent at right angles thereto, so as to be capable of overlapping each other,
the said bent portions being respectively formed with a hole or perforation therein
for the reception of a metallic pin which is passed through the same, thus forming
a hinge joint; or the bearings for the metallic pin may be formed separately, and
attached to the plates by riveting, soldering, or otherwise. To the inner surface of
one of the plates is attached a wire placed vertically. The lower parts of such
wire is twisted once or oftener round the before mentioned hinge-pin, the wire
being then turned upwards, and having attached thereto a disc of metal or other
suitable material furnished with a pad or cushion capable of bearing and pressing
against the opposite metallic plate, which may or may not be provided with a
corresponding pad or cushion. The upper end of the said last mentioned plate is
bent at right angles towards the opposite plate, the same having a hook-like slot
or opening cut or formed therein; or a piece of metal formed in like manner may
be riveted, or soldered, or otherwise attached to the plate. The upper end of the
said wire extends beyond the plate to which it is attached, and is terminated by a
ring or other suitable contrivance. In order to suspend and retain the skirt of the
dress in the required position, a portion of the same is placed between the said disc
and the plate upon which it is intended to bear. The plates are then pressed
towards each other, and the upper end of the wire passed into the before mentioned
hook like alot or opening, when the elasticity obtained by the method of construction
herein before described holds the same firmly in position, and retains the dress
securely between the diso and the plate upon which it bears or impinges.

page_text: -
A modification of this Invention consists in connecting the lower ends of the
plates by means of a strip or piece of metal so bent as to possess a certain amount
of elasticity and to have a tendency to separate the plates, or by a hinge of
ordinary construction. To the inner surface of each of the plates is attached a
disc of metal or other suitable material, the same being respectively furnished with
pads or cushions on the faces thereof. The upper end of one of the plates is bent
at right angles (or a separate piece of metal is attached to the plate), a slot or
opening heing formed therein similar to that before described, and to the upper end
of the opposite plate is attached a wire extending beyond the same, and terminated
by a ring by which it is suspended from the waist. A portion of the dress having
been placed between the said pads or cushions, the two plates are pressed towards
each other and connected by means of the upper end of the wire being passed into
the slot or opening at the end of the opposite plate, in which position the plates
will be held firmly together, and the dress securely suspended by the operation of
the strip or piece of metal by which the lower ends of the plates are respectively
connected and also by the elasticity of the plates.
The apparatus may be suspended from the waist by a ring or rings placed at any
desired part thereof.
Instead of connecting the upper ends of the plates as above described, the same
may be held together by means of any suitable and known contrivance.