Improvements in Fastenings for Corset Steels.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1896
Improvements in Fastenings for Corset Steels.
I, OSWALD FRANCIS EMANUEL BORCHARDT, residing at 126 East 12th Street,
in the City, County and State of New York, United States of America, Furrier,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described aud ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to corsets and the object thereof is to provide improved
means for fastening the steels thereof, together, in which a sliding plate or bar is
provided, by means of which the books which are connected with pivoted links, are
operated, and in which all the hooks may be released at the same time by pulling on
the sliding plate or bar.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, and in which :-
Fig. 1 is a front view of the front steels of a corset.
Fig. 2 a rear view of one of said steels.
Fig. 3 a view on an enlarged scale of the construction shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 a section of the line 4, 4 of Fig. 1, only one of the steels being shown in
section.
Fig. 5 an edge view of the steel shown in Fig. 2 showing also a protection plate
which I employ, and
Fig. 6 represents a detail of the construction.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a steel A, of the usual form on one
side of which is formed the usual projection B, which are provided with conical
shaped eyes or openings b, the apex of which is directed outward, and the base
of which is also convex or rounded as clearly shown in Fig. 1.
The steels A, and C, are as will be understood, the front steels of the corset by
means of which the front sides thereof are united, and, in my improvement, the
steel C, is provided opposite each of the eyes or openings b, with hooks D, which
are pivotally connected with the steel C, and with one end of the link E, shown in
dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, and in section in Fig. 4.
The other end of the link E, is pivotally connected with a plate or bar F, by
means of a pin C, which passes through a vertical slot H, formed in said plate, and
is provided with a circular head K, as shown in Fig. 3, and it will be observed
that one of these links is employed for each of the eyes or openings b, of the
steel A.
The upper end of the plate or bar F, is secured to one end of a spring L, the
other end of which is secured to the upper end of the steel C, and the plate or bar F
is also provided on its front edge with a series of notches M, and N, which are
triangular in form, as shown in Fig. 2, and said notches are arranged in pairs
between each of the hooks D, and the lower wall of the upper notch of each pair
is inclined downwardly, and the upper wall of the lower notch of each pair is
inclined upward, as clearly shown in said fig., and these notches are adapted to
engage and operate in connection with the pins O, which are formed on or secured
to the steel C.
In operation, when it is desired to fasten the corset, the separate steels or stays A
and C, are brought together in the usual manner, the plate or bar F, is pulled
downward by means of a cord P, attached to the lower end thereof, in which
operation the said plate or bar, F, will be forced downward by means of the pins or
projections O, operating in the notches or recesses N, as shown in dotted lines in
Fig. 3, and the hooks D, will be turned in the reverse position, as shewn in dotted

page_text: lines in Fig. 1, in which position they will pass through the eyes or openings b, in
the projections B, as will be readily understood, after which, by releasing the
cord P, the plate or bar F, will be drawn upward by means of the spring L, when
the hooks D, will be turned in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, when the
separate steels will be securely locked together.
When the plate or bar F, is drawn downward to the lowest position, the pins O,
will rest in the slots or recesses M, and the hooks or projections, will be shown in
the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, and after the plate or bar has
been drawn upward by the spring L, as herein before described, the said pins or
projections will rest in the notches N, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which position
the steels A and C are locked together.
In the position of the plate or bar F, shown in Fig. 3, the locks D will be in
a vertical position as will be readily understood, and it is only when the plate or
bar F, is drawn to the lowest position that said hooks D, will be in the position
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the pins O, rest in the notches or recesses M.
Instead of operating the device as above described, in locking the separate steels
together, this operation may be performed by hand in the usual manner, in which
case, each individual hook will be connected with its corresponding eye, as is usual
in this class of devices, and in this case, the sliding plate or bar F, is not to be
operated, until it is desired to unfasten or loosen the steels, at which time, all that
is necessary, is to pull downward as before described upon the said plate or bar F,
until the hooks D, are in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the
pins O, connected with the steels C, rest in the notches or recesses M, of the
sliding bar.
I have also shown in Fig. 5, a cover R, composed of thin spring metal, preferably
of brass, which is attached to the steel C, at each end, and which is intended to
cover and conceal the plate or bar F, but which is at the same time, so connected
with the steel C, as not to interfere with said plate or bar, or the operation thereof,
as herein before described.
As shown in the drawing, the cover R, extends for only a part of the length of
the steel C, and the bar F, but it will be understood, of course, that in practice,
this cover extends the full length of these parts, and I prefer also to have it so
attached to the steel, and so formed that the central portion thereof, will extend
outward, and not be, in the normal position of the part, closely in contact therewith,
throughout the full length.
In Fig. 6 one of the projections B, connected with the steel A, is shown on an
enlarged scale, for the purpose of more clearly illustrating its form, and the form
of the eye or opening therethrough.
It will be understood of course, that Fig. 2, is a rear view of the steel C, shown
in Fig. 1, and that the notches or recesses M and N, in the sliding plate or bar F,
are in the edge thereof, which is adjacent to the steel A.
It is evident that changes in, and modifications of the constructions shown and
described, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and
I therefore reserve the right to make such alterations therein as fairly come within
the scope thereof.
Having fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters
Patent-
1. A device for fastening or securing corset steels consisting of a sliding plate
or bar connected with one side of one of said steels, and hooks pivotally connected
with said sliding bar, and means for operating said bar so as to turn said hooks so
that they will pass through the eyes or openings connected with the opposite steel
and lock the separate steels together, substantially as shown and described.
2. A device for fastening or securing corset steels, consisting of a sliding plate
or bar connected with one side of one of said steels, and hooks pivotally connectedi
with one of said steels by links which are pivotally connected with said sliding bar,
and means for operating said bar so as to turn said hooks so that they will pass

page_text: through the eyes or openings formed in the opposite steel and lock the separate
steels together, said sliding bar being provided with vertical slots through which
the pivotal pins which connect the links therewith, pass, substantially as shown and
described.
3. The combination with corset steels, one of which is provided with projections
having eyes or openings formed therein, of hooks pivotally connected with the
other steel, opposite said eyes or openings, a sliding plate or bar pivotally connected
with said hooks by means of links which are pivotally with the hooks, and with
said sliding bar, whereby when the bar is operated, the hooks will be turned so as
to pass through the eyes or openings and lock the separate steels together,
substantially as shown and described.
4. The combination with corset steels, one of which is provided with projections
having eyes or openings formed therein, of books pivotally connected with the
other steel, adapted to be passed through said eyes or openings, each of said hooks
being in operative connection with means by which they can be turned so as to
enter the said eyes or openings, and securely lock the steels together, substantially
as shown and described.
5. The combination with corset steels, one of which is provided with projections
having eyes or openings formed therein, of hooks pivotally connected with the
other steel, adapted to be passed through said eyes or openings, each of said hooks
being in operative connection with means by which they can be turned so as to
enter the said eyes or openings, and securely lock the steels together, said means
consisting of a sliding bar which is connected with said hooks by means of links
which are pivotally connected with said sliding bar, substantially as shown and
described.
6. The combination with a pair of corset steels, one of which is provided with
projections having eyes or openings therein, of hooks pivotally connected with the
other steel, and secured to links which are pivotally connected with the sliding
plate or bar, said plate or bar being provided with notches or recesses, the lower
walls of a portion of which are directed downward, and the upper walls of the
others being directed upward, pins connected with said steels to which the sliding
plate or bar is connected, and adapted to operate in said notches or recesses, and
means for operating said sliding bar, substantially as shown and described.
7. The combination with a pair of corset steels, one of which is provided with
projections having eyes or openings therein, of hooks pivotally connected with the
other steel and secured to links which are pivotally connected with the sliding
plate or bar, said plate or bar being provided with notches or recesses, the lower
walls of a portion of which are directed downward, and the upper walls of the
others being directed upward, pins connected with said steels to which the sliding
plate or bar is connected, and adapted to operate in said notches or recesses, and
means for operating said sliding bar, consisting of a spiral spring connected with
the upper end thereof, and with the steel, and a cord connected with the lower end
thereof, substantially as shown and described.
8. The combination with a pair of corset steels, one of which is provided with
perforations having eyes or openings therein, and the other of which is provided
with hooks corresponding with said eyes or openings, pivotally connected therewith,
of a sliding plate or bar connected with said pivoted hooks and with the steel with
which they are connected, and by means of which the hooks are operated, and a
cover secured to the steel with which the sliding bar is connected and adapted to
cover and conceal said sliding bar, and the devices connected therewith, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
Dated this 30th dor of August 1805
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.