IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS OR CORSETS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th December 1880. A com-
munication from abroad by William Bowers and Henry Berry Doremus, both
of Newark, New Jersey, and August Fellheimer, of the City and State of
New York, all in the United States of America.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS OR CORSETS."
Southampton Buildings, London.
A communication from abroad by William Bowers and Henry Berry Doremus,
both of Newark, New Jersey, and August Fellheimer, of the City and State of
New York, all in the United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in stays or corsets, and has for its objects
to enable the wearer of a corset provided with such improvements to adjust and
fasten the same with greater facility than has heretofore been practicable, to
increase the stiffness and strength of the busk, and to reduce the cost of con-
struction of a corset by dispensing with the fastenings heretofore necessary.
The said Invention comprises corset busks so arranged upon the opposite sides
of a corset that the parts can, by the edges being interlaced or folded upon one
another, hold the sides of the corset together, and be prevented from unfolding
when on the body by means of the curvature which is imparted to the said busks
by the body of the wearer or otherwise.
It also comprises the combination with a corset adapted to be fastened by
interlacing or folding the edges of a fastening device adapted to hold the said
interlaced or folded edges together more securely.
It further comprises the combination with said interlacing parts of a device
adapted to prevent the said parts from sliding longitudinally upon one another.
In carrying this Invention into practice I employ three busks, which I term
the first, second, and third busk; these busks are provided with covering material,
and are arranged in such a manner that they can, by being interlaced or folded, hold
the two sides of the corset together as above stated when upon the body of the
wearer, the usual curvature of the busks whereby they are caused to conform to
the shape of the body effectually preventing the parts from becoming unfolded or
detached by the ordinary tension thereon.
The second busk is curved in the usual manner, or formed and arranged quite

page_text: near and edge to edge to the third busk, so that when it is folded over upon said
third busk the tendency of the curvature is to hold both busks together. Now if
the first busk, which is connected to the other edge of the corset to that to which
the second busk is attached, is interposed between the second and third busks so
.that they will be interlaced, the effect of the curvature of the busks above referred
to will be to hold the two edges of a corset together when upon the body of the
wearer without the aid of clasps or fastenings such as have been heretofore used.
The strength of this spring fastening, as it may be termed, can be increased by
curving the third busk (although it may be straight) the same as the second busk,
and arranging them so that when placed edge to edge the curve of one will be in
reverse order to that of the other.
If desired the first and second busks only may be used, they being curved as
described, and so arranged to overlap each other that they will be sufficient to hold
the two parts of the corset together.
By constructing and arranging the busks as above described I not only obtain the
strength resulting from one busk being placed over or upon another as heretofore,
but also gain the additionally great advantage of causing the busks themselves to
serve as the means for holding the sections of the corset together.
Instead of curving the first and second busks the busk or busks next to them
may be curved, the object being to have one busk acted upon by a spring power
in the other when folded or interlaced that will hold the two busks in engagement
or position.
It is evident that more than three busks may be used without departing from
the spirit or principle of this Invention, and that the manner of enclosing them in
jean or other suitable material may be varied, and that whalebone, steel, or any
other appropriate material may be employed in their construction.
Should it be deemed advisable to have additional security to prevent the parts
from becoming separated catches or buttons may be employed to connect such
parts.
wearer,
To prevent the parts from sliding or working while upon the body of the
and to enable them to be at once properly adjusted, a pintle or stud may
be used; this stud is fastened upon and projects from one of the busks on one
side, and is adapted to enter a perforation in a busk on the opposite side.