US155421A - Improvement in corset-springs - Google Patents

Description

W. 'B. GARGILL.

Corset-Springs. 55 42 Pa tant'ed Sept. 29, 1814.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WIIJLIAM B. CARGILL, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF AND WATERMAN 8t MAYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSET-SPRINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155,421, dated September 29, 1874; application filed May 18, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. CARGILL, of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Corset-Fastenings, of which the following is a specification:

Corset-fastenings have been made of two steel springs, upon one of which headed studs are riveted and upon the other metallic eyes or loops are attached, and these are inserted within pockets or hems upon the front edges of the half-corsets. In some cases the steel springs have each been made of two-or more layers, held together by metallic clasps. An instance of this character may be seen in Let ters Patent No. 99,633, granted Feb. 8, 1870, to me. The back portions of these steel springs are exposed to rust from perspiration, and said rust soils the fabric of the corset as well as weakening the steel, and the metallic surfaces in contact sometimes move upon each other as the springs are bent, and in so doing the clasps that hold the springs to each other become displaced; and in case of the springsteel breaking, the end frequently inj ures either the clothing or the person.

My improvement is made for obviating the before-named difficulties; and consists in a backing-strip of wood or similar material, clamped to the steel spring by metallic clasps or other connections, so that the metallic clasps are held in position by being embedded into the wood more or less. The strip of wood protects the spring from perspiration. It also renders the fastening much more elastic, and lessens the risk of breakage, because the wooden strip prevents the steel being bent with a sudden curve, and it acts to distribute any strain over a greater length of the spring, and in case of the spring breaking the interposed wood prevents the ends of the spring injuring either the person or the clothing.

In the drawing, Figure l is an elevation of the corset-fastening, with part of one of the springs removed to show the backingstripof wood; and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan at the line a; w.

The steel springs a b are of usual character. They, however, are, by preference, of thinner metal than generally employed. 0 c are the metallic studs projecting from the spring a, and d d are the metallic eyes or loops upon the spring I). The backing-strip e, of wood or similar non-metallic elastic material, is slightly Wider than the steel spring, so as to prevent the back edges of the spring cutting the fabric of the corset, and also to allow the sheet metal of the clip t" to embed itself into the wood by the pressure to which it is subjected as said clip is bent around and compressed to place.

The wooden backing-strip may be slightly recessed to receive the clips previousto their being secured in place.

The backing-strip accomplishes the objects before enumerated, and the fastening constructed in this manner is superior to those in use, and risk of personal danger from the ends of the steel spring, if the same breaks, is avoided.

I am aware that a wooden corset bush or spring has been made with two or more short plates of steel fastened to it at places where the wood is bent to stiifen the same; and also that two steel springs have been connected together by clasps notched into the edges of the widest spring. In the first instance there is no continuous metal spring, and in the second case there is no wood to protect the metal from perspiration nor the person or clothing from injury if the steel spring breaks.

I claim as my in vention The corset-fastening, made of a continuous metallic spring, with a backing of wood secured to the spring, in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

Signed by me this 15th day of May, 1874.

"Witnesses: WM. B. CARGILL.

Gno. T. PINOKNEY, V CHAS. H. SMITH.

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