IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS OR CORSETS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Langridge and Richard Langridge, of Bristol,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS OR CORSETS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Langridge and
Richard Langridge at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents with
their Petition, on the 19th December 1854.
We, JAMES LANGRIDGE and RICHARD LANGRIDGE, of Bristol, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAYS OR CORSETS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention is applicable to those classes of stays or corsets wherein
double busks are used, and the Invention consists of a peculiar combination
of instruments for connecting the two parts of a busk together; for which
purpose one part of a busk is formed with two studs or buttons and a hook;
one of the studs or buttons is fixed near the lower end of such part of the
busk, the other stud or button is fixed near the middle of such part of the busk,
and the hook is fixed near the upper part of such part of the busk. The
other part of the busk is formed with two slotted openings to receive the
buttons or studs; the lower opening is slotted upwards, the middle opening
is slotted horizontally, and there is an opening at the upper part to receive the
hook.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Langridge and Richard Langridge in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 16th June 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
LANGRIDGE and RICHARD LANGRIDGE, of Bristol, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
James Langridge and Richard Langridge, Her special licence that we, the
said James Langridge and Richard Langridge, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Langridge and Richard
Langridge, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STAYS OR CORSETS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
James Langridge and Richard Langridge, by an instrument in writing under
our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Langridge and Richard
Langridge, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention is applicable to those classes of stays or corsets, wherein
double busks are used. And the Invention consists of a peculiar combination
of instruments for connecting the two parts of a busk together; for which
purpose one part of a busk is formed with two studs or buttons and a hook, and
the other parts with three holes suitable for receiving the buttons and hook.
Having thus stated the nature of our said Invention, we will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows the two parts of a double busk when separated; Figure 2
shows the two parts combined, and Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of

page_text: the two parts when combined. In each of these Figures the same letters
indicate the same parts; A and B are the two parts of a double busk. These
parts A and B are (before being introduced into the front of a stay or corset)
formed with holes at the parts shewn. The holes in the part A are suitable
for having fixed therein the studs or buttons a, a', and the hook a². The holes
in the part B are formed to the shapes shown in the Drawing. When the
part B of the busk has been introduced into the front of a stay or corset,
(and corresponding holes have been made through the fabric), the holes are
bound with sheet metal as shewn, and as is well understood when making
metal eyelet holes. By thus having the holes 6, 61, 62, of the form, and in the
directions shown, it will be readily understood that the parts A and B, when
once connected together, will not separate by any movement of the person, and
the parts A, B, will only separate when the fastenings a, b, a', b', and a², b²,
are properly separated by hand. In order to connect the two parts A, B, of a
double busk when made according to the Invention, the hook a is first intro-
duced into the hole 6; the head of the button or stud a is next introduced into
the larger end of the hole b, and when the stem of the button or stud a has
entered the narrow part of the hole b, the head of the stud or button a¹ is to
be introduced into the larger part of the hole 6', which may be readily done.
When it is desired to separate the parts A and B, the middle fastening a', b¹,
is first to be separated, then the fastening a, b, and then the fastening a², b².
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood, that we are aware that
stays and corsets have before been made with double busks. We do not,
therefore, claim the making double busks generally, neither do we claim the
mechanical parts separately; but what we claim is, the making double busks
for stays or corsets with the combined fastenings a, b, a, b, a², 62, as herein
described.
In witness whereof, the said James Langridge and Richard Langridge
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of June,
in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
FREDERICK WHITEHORN,
Totterdown, Bristol.
JAMES LANGRIDGE.
(L.S.)
RICHARD LANGRIDGE. (L.S.)