IMPROVEMENTS IN CORSETS On STAYS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co.; Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CORSETS On STAYS." A communication from abroad by
Moses Kellam Bortree, of Jackson, Michigan, United States of America,
Gentleman.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th June 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CORSETS OR STAYS."
[A communication from abroad by Moses Kellam Bortree, of Jackson, Michigan,
United States of America, Gentleman.]
This Invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in corsets, by
means of which a greater degree of adjustability can be obtained than has been
practicable in corsets as usually made.
In the manufacture of corsets or stays it is customary to make all of each of the
sizes alike, that is to say, each size is cut from its own patterns, hence, all of that
size are precise duplicates of each other; experience teaches that more adjustability
is required, as ladies wearing the same sized corsets so vary in the developement of
the bust, and otherwise, that great difficulty is found in fitting corsets as ordinarily
made to the different varieties of form requiring the same size of corset in the
waist. Such adjustability is further desired to enable the wearer to adjust the
corset to a longer or shorter length of waist, to enable her to wear with the same
corset longer or shorter waisted dresses with ease and comfort. Hence, the object
of this Invention is to construct a corset with some of the parts adjustable vertically
in such a manner that the wearer may adapt them to all the varying conditions
under which they are desired to be worn.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I form the front portion of the stays
with two openings to correspond with the two breasts of the wearer. To each
side of these open parts are secured metallic guides; I provide separate pieces of
proper shape to be applied over the said openings, and these pieces have at their
sides metallic slides, which when these breast pieces are in place have a vertical
motion in the guides secured to the cut away or open portions of the corset.

page_text: The adjustability thus secured will allow, when the wearer is in a stooping
position, the breast pieces of the corset to be forced down by the pressure of tho
breasts of the wearer, and when the wearer becomes again crect, the breast pieces
will assume their first position.
If desired, a spring plate may be secured to one of the slides of each breast piece,
and provided with a pin to engage with holes in the guides at the sides of the
breast openings; a fastening or catch of this or other suitable construction would
allow of the breast pieces being secured to place after having been adjusted to the
satisfaction of the wearer.
In some cases it may be advisable to supply the adjustable parts with clastic
connections, so that they will positively adjust themselves to the various positions
the wearer may assume.
These breast pieces are designed to be made of different sizes in fulness, and sold
separately from the corset, so that the purchaser of a corset of the construction
described may obtain breast picces of any required size, as all the breast fastenings
will be of uniform size with the guides upon the corsets.
I do not desire to confine myself precisely to the construction above described of
the devices for securing the adjusting of the breast pieces. It is obvious that many
other devices might be adopted in combination with a breast piece and corset to
produce the same result, and fastenings of various kinds may be employed to
secure the separate breast pieces in the corset to such position in the latter as the
wearer might desire, and the fastenings and slides may be covered in any convenient
or ornamental way; or a similar adjustability might be obtained by making the
breast portions of the corsets in the ordinary manner, and inserting a similarly
constructed part to a cut away portion of the corset over the hips without departing
from the spirit of my Invention, which is to so construct a corset with adjustable
parts, substantially as described, by means of which corsets of the same size may
bo comfortably and easily worn upon forms varying in length of waist, and in the
varying developments of busts and hips.

page_text: described may obtain breast pieces of any required size, as all the breast fastenings
will be of uniform size with the guides upon the corsets.
I do not confine myself to tho precise construction of the devices as above
described for securing the adjustment of the breast pieces, as it is obvious that
many other devices might be adopted in combination with a breast piece and
corset to produce the same result, and fastenings of various kinds may be
employed to secure the separate breast pieces in the corset and in the position the
wearer may desire, and the fastenings and slides may be covered in any convenient
or ornamental manner; or a similar adjustability might be obtained by making the
breast portions of the corsets in the ordinary manner, and inserting a similarly
constructed part to a cut away portion of the corset over the hips without departing
from the spirit of my Invention, which is to construct a corset with adjustablo
parts, substantially as described, by means of which corsets of the same size may
be comfortably and easily worn upon forms varying in length of waist, and in the
varying developments of the busts and hips.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. A corset or stay in which the breast portions are cut away, and the sides
of such cut away parts are provided with guides or fastenings, adapted to receive
and hold in position, vertically, adjustable breast pieces, which are not otherwise
permanently secured to tho said corset, substantially as above set forth and for the
purposes specified.
Second. A detached breast piece, the sides of which are provided with suitable
fastenings to permit the said breast piece to be vertically adjusted in a corset,
substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination of the body of a corset, the sides of the cut away
portions of which are provided with suitable guides or fastenings, with the
adjustable part C, whose sides are provided with slides or fastenings adapted to
allow it to be adjusted in the cut away portion of the corset, substantially as above
set forth and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, tho said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.