To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, HENRY E. MARCHAND, Of the city of Louisville, county of Jefferson, and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ladies' Corsets, entitled "Henry E. Marchand's Self-Adjusting Elastic Corset"
The nature of my invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of corsets, hereinafter more fully set forth.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, which are as follows:
Figure 1 is a view of the back of the corset, showing its shape when distended.
K is the corset, and is made of linen suitable for the purpose.
A is an elastic belt around the waist, for the purpose of rendering the corset elastic, and is made of gum, about one and one-half inch wide, and is covered with oil silk, in order to protect it from the rerspiration of the body of the wearer; said belt A, having a zinc plate B, attached to one end, about four inches long, and covered with any soft material, to prevent its chafing, and in order to operate as a support to the and over said plate B, there is a buckle, C, far the purpose of adjusting the same to tile proper size.
I and J are four small gum bands, inserted diagonally in the upper and lower corners of the back, in order to keep it properly adjusted to the body, while in any position; without strain or chafing.
L are the whalebone slips for the purpose of keeping it in shape.
Figure 2 is a view of the steel ribs of the front, constituting the front fastenings.
D D are the ribs, made. of spring-steel, about onehalf inch wide, and of the thickness of light clockspring.
E E E are catches, by which the corset is fastened in front, and are cut out of No, 15 sheet-brass, with a punch, or die.
G is a small cord attached to one of the catches, and by pulling down on it, all the catches are detached at the same time, and hence removes the corset with ease.
H H H are the small brass pins to which the catches E E E, attach themselves, when fastened, or in use.
Figure 3 is a view of the front of the corset, showing how the fastenings D D are arranged, and also how the cord G is attached to the catches E E E; and also how the whalebone slips L are inserted in the Same.
The above is at fall description of the construction of the above improvement, and is operated in the same manner as the ordinary corset, except in the manner of attaching or detaching it, Which is done by pulling down gently on the cord G, which detaches all the catches at the same time, which. makes it easily removed.
I am aware of the patent granted to Clara Z. Cummings, dated January 14, 1868, for improvements in corsets, in which the arrangement of parts differs from mine, and I hereby disclaim said invention; but
What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is--
A corset provided with the elastic belt A, covered plate B, buckle C, and diagonal elastic bands I J, all constructed, arranged, and operated in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
H. E. MARCHAND.
Witnesses:
E. F. HUYCK
JOHN MCCORD.