Improvement in Women's Corsets.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvement in Women's Corsets.
I, ROBERT COUSINS, of 29, Liberty Street, San Francisco, in the County of San
Francisco and State of California, United States of America, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
This invention consists in means to contract or expand, circumferentially at various
points, four or more, the diameter and consequent configuration or model of corsets,
by lacing, or equivalent devices, applied independently at several points in the cir-
cumference of the corset, and in different degrees, at various points in the length
thereof, whereby the general contour or figure of the corset can be adapted to fit the
wearer, such construction being in distinction to corsets that are adjustably expanded
or contracted from one point in their circumference.
My invention also consists in corsets formed of independent sections, circumferen-
tially, separable vertically, joined together by lacings at four or more points, as before
explained, one section forming the back being integral and without slits, gores or
perforations, to more effectually protect the spine of the wearer, the objects of iny
invention being sanitary, as well as to attain complete adjustment and symmetrical
variations of figure or contour.
My invention also includes laced and adjustable breast gores, stiffened ribs and
other accessories required in carrying out and applying my invention as herein before
explained.
Dated this 26th day of September 1898.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
improvement in Women's Corsets.
I, ROBERT COUSINS, of 29, Liberty Street, San Francisco, in the County of San
Francisco and State of California, United States of America, Merchant, do here-
by 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
My invention relates to women's corsets, and to an improved construction thereof,
with certain useful objects, as will be hereinafter described.

page_text: My improvements consist in dividing the corsets circumferentially into five parts
or sections with curved edges, one of which sections forms the back; joined laterally
at four points by laced geres so the perimeter can be varied at the top, middle or
bottom, and at any intermediate point, with corresponding form or flare, the back
being closed and the fastening in front. Also consists in gores for the breasts that
can by lacing cords therein be made flat or convex. Also further consists in a peculiar
disposition of the stiffening ribs or whalebone strips, and in other features illustrated
in the drawings and hereinafter described in connection therewith.
The objects of my invention are to attain a circumferential adjustment at all points
of the corset, from the top to the bottom thereof, so as to control the flare, curves and
contour by adjustment from several points around the corset, so as to preserve-its
symmetry and prevent distortion. To enable the corsets to be adjusted for a range
of sizes above and below the normal size. To bring the several lacings within con-
venient reach of the wearer. To place the bone stiffenings so as not to cause abrasion
of the person or clothing, and to protect the spine and muscles of the back from the
Also to attain other useful
exposure caused by an open joint or lacings there.
objects.
To these ends I construct corsets as shown in the drawings, Fig. 1 being an eleva-
tion in perspective of one of my improved corsets applied to a wearer, and Fig. 2 the
same corset extended or spread out to show the manner of its construction and
adjustment.
The corset is composed of five pieces or sections, A A B B and C, the latter being
integral or solid without perforations, so as to fit over and protect the spine and main
muscles of the neck, all having inwardly curved edges.
The partings or gores D and E are covered by the interior shields F, attached at
one side to the sections A or B and provided with bone stiffenings, preferably three
in number, as indicated by dotted lines and marked by the letter a in Fig. 2. Similar
stiffening strips are also applied at various points in the several sections A, B and C,
where marked a and indicated by dotted lines. These, it may be observed, are dis-
posed about the corset so as to permit uniform flexure in adjustment, producing
symmetrical curves at the top or bottom.
The fastenings G at the front are of the usual construction, the edges being re-
inforced by metallic strips to which these fastenings are attached.
At the breasts are gores H, provided with lacing cords the same as the joints D
and E, so as to be adjusted flat or convex, as the anatomy of the wearer and the
manner of lacing may determine, also to adapt the corset for nursing when required.
In Fig. 1 the corset is shown contracted about the waist to fit a particular figure.
In Fig. 2 it is shown the opposite, expanded at the waist and adapted for a different
figure altogether. Intermediate adjustment will be plain.
By these several constructive features it will be seen that the form of the corset is
completely at command. The circumferential adjustments being at four points pre-
vent distortion and prevent flexibility not attainable with fewer laced partings or
gores; also adapt a corset by such adjustments to several sizes both above and below
the normal size and to various figures within these sizes.
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
I claim is
1. In a corset, the sections A, B and C, curved on their edges and adapted to be
joined by lacings at four points in the manner and for the purposes as described.
2. In a corset, the separate sections A, B and C, provided with the interior shields F
to cover and protect gores or joints E and D, these shields fastened at one side and
adapted to slide and overlap at the other side, in the manner specified:
3. In a corset, the separate sections A, B and C, five in number, and courses of laces
joining these separate sections, the central one C close or solid at the back, and the
front sections A provided with the laced breast gores H as specified.

page_text: 4. In a corset, the sections A, B and C, normally curved on their edges and thereby
adjustable for sizes above and below the normal.
5. In a corset, the breast gores H provided with lacing cords and adapted for adjust-
ment thereby to various degrees of convexity, in the manner specified and shown.
Dated this 13th day of June 1800
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.