US2155485A - Corset - Google Patents

Description

April 25, 1939. M; R E 2,155,485

CORSET Filed Feb. 23, 1937 MAQV-j fie/lnis,

INV R- I ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to corsets, and particularly to one designed to function in reducing the size and in supporting the weight of the parts of the body between a location below the bust to the upper thighs, and which at the same time will be comfortable to the wearer when seated, standing, or walking.

It is an object of my invention .to provide a corset in which the abdomen or stomach is held from protruding, and in which the bulging flesh above and below the restraining means of the corset is prevented. The object of my invention is accomplished by providing a corset construction including a back portion and an elastic front portion, these two portions extending from a point below the bust to the upper thigh portions of the legs. Also provided are flaps which are of less height than the elastic front and which, when secured in place, such as by lacing, hold the abdomen or stomach from protruding. The portions of the elastic front projecting above and below the flaps prevent the flesh from bulging at these points, thus giving a very graceful contour.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a corset in which means is provided for holding the buttocks and exerting an upward forward pressure thereon, thus reducing the size and causing same to conform to the desired configuration. This object of my invention is accomplished through the provision of the flaps referred to heretofore which are connected to the back portion of the corset, and which preferably extend diagonally upward toward the front of the corset, and which are preferably secured together by lacing. When the iiaps are laced together a force or pressure in an upward forward direction is applied to the buttocks, thus raising and confining it as aforesaid.

In the preferred form of my invention the corset is so designed that the abdomen or stomach is pulled rearwardly and thus held from protruding, and the buttocks is confined within the lower portion of the corset and is reduced in size and raised by means of an upward forward force provided when the flaps are laced in place. The design is such that the pressure or force employed to confine the buttocks is also employed to retract the abdomen or stomach. In the preferred form of my invention the constricting force ordinarily present around the waistline is avoided. By reason of the application of pressiu'es the various parts .of the body between a point below the bust and upper thighs are supported in normal positions and confined so that their sizes are reduced, and in addition to this the pressures applied by the corset are such that good posture of the wearer is obtained.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a corset of the character pointed out here- 5 toiore in which it is possible by the raising or lowering of the forward, front, or adjoining ends of the flaps to readjust or redistribute the pressure in order to obtain the desired confining action or desired comfort of the wearer.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a corset of the character pointed out heretofore in which an elastic insert is provided in or adjacent to at least one of the flaps in order that the vertical adjustment of the flaps ll for the purposes pointed out in the preceding paragraph may be accomplished.

It is an important object of my invention to provide a corset which is so designed that the various parts of the body between a point below 59 the bust and thighs are enclosed, properly confined, and held in normal positions, and in which the corset will not interfere with the wearer when in a seated or standing position or while walking, and in which the wearer may be comfortable in these various positions.

In the preceding paragraphs I have pointed out the more prominent objects and advantages of my invention. In the course of the following detailed description of a preferred form of my .30 invention I will point out additional objects, advantages, and features which inure from the details of construction of the preferred form of my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in .35 which I have illustrated my invention:

Fig. 1 is a profile view showing the corset of my invention in place on the wearer before the flaps have been laced in place.

Fig. 2 is a profile View showing the corset fully applied.

Fig. 3 is a front view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the corset fully applied as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral H represents a back portion of the corset which is preferably inelastic, although, if desired, may have elastic portions which will not interfere with the performance of the intended functions of the corset. This fabric back H extends from a point below the bust to the upper thighs as illustrated, and is preferably tailored to be form fitting. The. back portion H extends around the entire back of the wearer and terminates along vertical edges 12 at the wearers sides. The

numeral I4 represents an elastic front which is preferably made from a two-way stretch elastic. The edges of the elastic front I4 are secured to the edges I2 of the fabric portion II, and this elastic front I4 is of the same height as the fabric back [I extending from a point below the bust to the upper thighs. The portions II and I4 are preferably of such a size that when the corset is applied to the wearer the elastic front I4 is stretched and, when positioned as shown in Fig. 1, exerts a confining action to the various parts enclosed thereby, although this confining pressure is not sufficient to cause any discomfort to the wearer and may be considered as supplemental or subsidiary to the final confining action which is produced when the corset is fully applied to the wearer. It will be seen that the fabric back II extends downwardly on the wearer sufficiently to fully enclose the buttocks and to support same in the position shown in Fig. 1. It will further be seen that the elastic front I4 fully encloses the abdomen and extends downwardly to the upper thighs so that a uniform curvature is obtained and so that there is no bulging of flesh.

My invention in addition to the parts II and I4 provides a pair of flaps I6, which flaps are preferably made from an inelastic material, such as fabric. Each of the flaps I6 is secured to the back portion II along the edge I2, as illustrated best in Figs. 1 and 2. The flaps I6 are of less height than either the back portion II or elastic front portion I4. It will be seen that the portions II and I4 project considerably above the upper edges of the flaps I6, and that the lower edges of the portions II and I4 extend considerably below the lower edges of the flaps l B. The flaps I6 are so cut that they extend upwardly and forwardly, as illustrated best in Figs. 2 and 3, to the front of the wearer where they meet and are adapted to be secured together such as by a lacing II which extends through eyelets I8 provided near the free edges I9 of each of the flaps I 6.

After the corset has been applied, as illustrated in Fig. l, the wearer then laces the flaps I6 together and laces them sufficiently tight to confine the various parts of the body to obtain the desired results. I prefer to employ two lacings Ila and I'll) so that the upper and lower portions of the flaps I6 may be independently adjustable as to pressure or constricting action desired. When the flaps I6 are laced in place the parts occupy the positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be seen that the flaps extend diagonally upward to the front of the wearer, and by virtue thereof an upward forward pull is exerted on the buttocks as illustrated by the arrows 20 of Fig. 2. This is effective in confining the various parts of the body, as will be seen from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 1 dotted lines 2| illustrate the position of the parts of the body after the flaps I6 have been laced in place. It will be seen that the lacing of the flaps l6 accomplishes two major results. First,'the abdomen or stomach is pulled rearwardly and, second, the buttocks are pulled inwardly and raised. This has the effect of not only giving the body more graceful contours but also giving the wearer a proper posture, and the wearer will because of the proper positioning of the parts of the body stand or walk in a more erect and graceful posportion I4 provides in effect a continuation of the flaps I6 and prevents the flesh from bulging outwardly at the upper and lower edges of the flaps I6 as the flesh would do if the elastic front portion were not provided.

It will furthermore be seen that the flaps l6 are sufliciently high with respect to the wearer that there is no interference thereby to the wearer seating herself. The elastic front, being elastic, will permit the proper and comfortable functioning of the hip joints, while the fabric flaps I6 are sufficiently high to offer no interference. When in a seated position, as well as in standing position, the elastic front functions to prevent the bulging of flesh.

In order that the wearer may, if she so desires, adjust the distribution or magnitude of the confining forces I provide elastic inserts 23 in each of the flaps I6. These elastic inserts 23 are preferably of triangular shape as shown and are positioned in the lower part of each of the flaps l6 and, in effect, form that lower portion of each flap I6 where each flap is connected to the edge I2 of the fabric back portion II. To redistribute or adjust the pressures, all that is necessary is to raise the flaps I6 at their point of juncture along the free edges I9, such, for example, as indicated by dotted lines 24 in Fig. 2. It will be seen that this is possible by reason of the elastic inserts 23, and that the result thereof is to reduce the lateral pressure around the waist of the wearer and to increase the upward forward pressure indicated by the arrows 24. By a reverse action, that is, by a lowering of the flaps, the pressure around the waist may be increased, and the pressure around the buttocks may be decreased.

In accordance with standard corset practice, where desired, stays, such as indicated by the numerals 26 in Fig. 4, may be employed. The po sitioning of the stays may depend upon the needs of the wearer, and it comes within the scope of my invention to place in the back portion II, the front portion I4, or the flaps I6 the desired stays to assist these portions of the corset in performing their intended functions.

I recognize that various alterations and modifications may be made in the corset of my invention illustrated herein, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction illustrated herein, but wish my invention to be construed to broadly cover a corset incorporating the principle or mode of operation of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a corset of the class described, the combinationof: a fabric back and elastic front attached at its side edges to the side edges of said back adapted to surround the body from a place below the bust to the upper thighs, said back surrounding the buttocks; and fabric flaps secured to said back and adapted to be secured together at the front, said flaps being of less height than said back or said elastic front, and extending upwardly from their points of attachment to said back to the point where they are secured together, and an elastic insert in the lower part of at least one of said flaps where it joins said.

back.

2. In a corset of the class described, the combination of z a fabric back and elastic front attached at its side edges to the side edges of said back adapted to surround the body from a place below the bust to the upper thighs, said back surrounding. the buttocks; and fabric flaps se- I6 cured to said back and adapted to be secured together at the front, said flaps being of less height than said back or said elastic front, and extending upwardly from their points of attachment to said back to the point where they are secured together, and an elastic insert in the lower part of at least one of said flaps to permit vertical adjustment of said flaps to vary the application of pressure.

3. In a corset of the class described, the combination of: a fabric back and elastic front attached at its side edges to the side edges of said back adapted to surround the body from a place below the bust to the upper thighs, said back surrounding the buttocks; and fabric flaps secured to said back and adapted to be secured together at the front, said flaps being of less height than said back or said elastic front, and extending upwardly from their points ofattachment to said back to the point where they are secured together, the lower portions of said flaps being attached to said back suificiently low that when said flaps are so secured together they exert an upward and forward pull on the portion of said back surrounding the buttocks, and an elastic inin the lower part of at least one of said flaps to permit vertical adjustment of said flaps to vary the application of pressure.

MARY S. GRAVES.

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