Skirts, Petticoats, Belts, Bustles, Chest Expanders, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 12th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Mar., 1889
Skirts, Petticoats, Belts, Bustles, Chest Expanders, and the like.
I STEPHEN DIXON of Whitehill Cottage Blackmoor Petersfield in the county of
Hants Stay Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In Letters Patent No. 3740, 1869 I described a means of substituting cork in lieu
of steel iron or other hard substances in the manufacture of stays corsets dress bodices
skirts, petticoats, belts, dress improvers, chest expanders bustles and the like.
Such cork was applied in various ways to such articles of wearing apparell but the
articles could not be washed unless unpicked and the cork removed.
Now according to my present invention I seek to apply cork to articles of wearing
apparoll which cork can be readily detached at will from the article and as easily
replaced whereby the body of the article can be washed and the cork strips be replaced.
I cover and stitch through cork strips, with a textile fabric or other suitable fabric as
described in my former specification but according to my present invention I insert
metal eyelets or form eyelets by sewing or otherwise in such cork strips whereby I
can easily draw or withdraw the cork strips from the slots made in sewing together
the two sides of the fabric forming the article or garment by inserting cords strings
and the like in the eyelets. After insertion of the prepared strips the ends of the slots
are sewn together thus holding the cork strips in place. The cork strips .ewn with
textile material may be made in lengths and eyeletted and cut in suitable size to fit
the articles.
Dated this 13th day of December 1888
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Stays, Corsets, Dress Bodices,
Skirts, Petticoats, Belts, Bustles, Chest Expanders, and the like.
I STEPHEN DIXON of Whitehill Cottage Blackmore Petersfield in the County of
Hants Stay Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described in
and by the following statement:—
In Letters Patent No. 3740 of 1869 I described a means of substituting cork in lieu
of steel, iron or other hard substances in the manufacture of stays corsets dress
bodices skirts dress improvers petticoats belts chest expanders bustles and the like.
Such cork was applied in various ways to such articles of wearing apparel but the
articles could not be washed unless unpicked and the cork removed and in doing this
the articles would be rendered useless."
Now according to my present invention I seek to apply cork strips to articles of
wearing apparel which cork strips can be readily detached at will from the article the
Intter may thus be washed or cleaned and the cork strips as readily replaced.
Referring to tho accompanying drawing and to the figures and letters of reference
marked thereon
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ordinary corset with my invention applied
thereto, and shewn with my improved cork strips as substitutes for "bones" partly
withdrawn therefrom.
Figure 2 is a plan of my sewn and metal eyletted cork as a substitute for bone
steel or other hard substance.
Figure 3 is an alternative plan using a sewn cyclet or hole.
Figure 4 is a section on line a-b of Fig. 2 shewn horizontally.
I cover cork strips with textile or other suitable fabric and stitch through such cork
strips A. I insert metal eyelets C or form eyelets by sewing or otherwise in such
cork strips as at C" whereby I can easily insert into or withdraw the cork strips from
the slots D (see Fig. 1) made by sewing or stitching or otherwise fastening together
the two sides of the fabric forming the article or garment by inserting cords strings
hooks or the like in the eylets. After insertion of the prepared strips I may sew
or otherwise close the ends of the slots D together, thus holding the cork strips so
sewn or stitched in place.
The strips can be withdrawn from either end of the garment and be replaced at
will.
The cork strips sewn or stitched with textile or other material may be made in
lengths and eyletted or otherwise at intervals and cut in suitable size to fit the articles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First: The manufacture and use of stays, corsets, dress improvers, dress-bodices,
skirts, petticoats, belts, chest expanders, bustles and the like having inserted into the

page_text: slots formed by sewing or stitching strips of cork sewn stitched or otherwise covered
by a fabric said strips having metal, sewn or other eylets at the ends whereby the
said strips can be readily detached from the article or garment for the purpose of
washing or cleaning the same and be easily replaced substantially as described.
Second: As a new article of manufacture a cork strip covered with textile or
other suitable fabric stitched through or otherwise affixed thereto such cork strip and
fabric being if desired eyletted and adapted for insertion into articles or garments
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
201
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.