Improvements in and appertaining to Corsets, Stays and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to Corsets, Stays and the like.
I, JOSEPH HALSTEAD, of 3, Ormerod Road, Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
General Draper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows,
that is to say;-
It relates to improvements in and appertaining to corsets, stays and the like
and consists in the method of constructing same whereby they may be readily
altered to suit several sizes of wearers with an equal degree of exactness.
In carrying my invention into effect, in accordance with one form of construc-
tion, I form two series of eyelet holes at each of those edges of the corsets which
are to be joined together by a cord or lace, one series being nearer the edge than
the other, but in such relative proximity therewith that when such edge is folded
over, the one series will exactly overlie the other in order that the lace may
pass through both of them while the folded edge in such case will form the outer
edge of the corset.
By constructing corsets, stays or the like as above described, they may be made
to fit three separate and distinct sizes of wearers, the smallest being when both
edges are folded over and the lace passing through all four series of eyelets, the
next size being when one edge only is folded over, while the largest size is fitted
by neither of the edges being folded over.
A similar result may be attained by making employment of a separate and
distinct insertion piece having its four rows of holes made to coincide with each
other when folded over, so that the laces may be passed therethrough to attain
the object desired, or a simple insertion piece having two rows of holes only may
be employed in place of the one last described.
Dated this 27th day of September 1898.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to Corsets, Stays and the like.
I, JOSEPH HALSTEAD, of 3, Ormerod Road, Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
General Draper, 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, that is to say:-
-
It relates to improvements in and appertaining to corsets, stays and the like

page_text: and consists in the method of constructing same whereby they may be readily
altered to suit several sizes of wearers with an equal degree of exactness.
In order that my said invention may be readily understood, I have hereunto
appended sheets of drawings illustrative thereof, in which:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the corset with the parts folded and laced
together to form the least size.
Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views to Fig. 1 but show the corset with the parts
arranged and laced together to form respectively one and two sizes larger corsets
than those shown by Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view enlarged scale, of the folding parts of the
corsets as in their position shown by Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 but illustrates the parts as when in the posi-
tion shown by Fig. 3.
Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views to Figs. 2 and 3 respectively but illustrate a
modification hereinafter explained.
Figs. 8 and 9 are similar sectional views of Figs. 6 and 7 that Figs. 4 and 5
are of Figures 1 and 3.
Similar letters and figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout the
several views.
In carrying my invention into effect I form two series of eyelet-holes ab
and a6 in each of the edges c and d of the corset to be joined together by a
cord or lace f, the series a and a¹ being nearer the outer edges than are the
series band b¹, but in each case the series a or a' is in such relative proximity
with its respective series or ', that when the part or g is folded over (see
Fig. 4) the one series will in each case exactly overlie the other in order that
the lace may pass through all the several eyelet-holes as shown by Fig. 1 while
the folded edges at h will form the outer edges of the corset and the least size is
produced.
By turning out or opening the part or g (the part g' being shown by Fig. 2)
so that the lace will only pass through one series of holes at a¹ Fig. 2 but
through the two series ab on the opposite side of the corset the next larger size
of corset is produced, while by opening both parts out as shown by Figs. 3 and 5
another larger size of corset is produced.
As a modification in the construction above described I employ a separate
piece (shown by Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive) which may be thus made to go with the
ordinary kind of corset as at present constructed, with its two usual series of lace
holes mm. In this case the several series of eyelet-holes ab and a¹¹ are made
in their respective positions in the piece k as shown, so that when one part of the
said piece is folded over the other (see Figs. 6 and 8) they (said respective series
of holes a bab¹) will coincide with each other.
In order that the several parts may be folded as above described I reduce the
thickness of the fabric forming the corset at the part (as at p) where the fold is
produced, and to make the corset durable and efficient I secure the usual strength-
ening strips of metal, whale-bone or the like s in such positions relatively with
the series of holes that one of such strips s intervenes at all times between the
series of holes and each outer edge of the parts brought together by the lacing.
Although I have only shown my invention as applied to a corset or stay laced
at the back I wish it to be understood that I am well aware that it can be applied
with equal advantages to corsets or stays having their eyelets arranged in any
other positions such as at the front sides or other parts thereof.
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
1 claim is-
1. A corset or stay having folding parts with series of eyelet-holes to coincide
with similar series of eyelet-holes in the body part the same being constructed
and arranged substantially as herein specified.

page_text: 2. A corset or stay having folding parts with series of eyelet-holes made therein,
similar series of eyelet-holes in the body parts and strengthening strips secured
in positions relatively therewith substantially as specified.
3. A corset or stay having folding parts with series of eyelet-holes for laces
made therein the parts intervening between these series of holes being made
thinner to facilitate their folding over the other parts substantially as specified.
4. In combination with a corset or stay having series of eyelet-holes, a detach-
able piece having corresponding series of such holes, the said detachable piece
being constructed to have one part folded over the other substantially as set forth.
Dated this 27th day of June 1899.
JOSEPH HALSTEAD.
Per Samuel Hey,
Agent.