US39322A - Improvement in clasps for corsets - Google Patents

Description

' UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. NELSON, OF BIRMINGHAM, CONN., A SSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND SHELTON & OSBORN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLASPS FOP. CORSETS.

Specification forming part ot Letters Patent No. 39,322', dated July 21, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs A. NnLsoN, of Birmingham, of the county of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improved Device for Fastening` Corsets, 85o. 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this application.

My inventionv relates to a novel method of constructing a clasping or securing device for fastening together ladies corsets and other stmilar articles, and has for its object to effect a coupling between the two steels of the corset, which can be readily made and broken by the wearer, and whichV at 4the same time cannot become accidentally uncoupled; and to these ends my invention consists in a coupling device so constructed and arranged with the two steels or edges which are to be coupled together as that the steels or strips must be strained alternately in opposite directions to eiect a disconnection of them,as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describeits construction and operation, referring` by letters to the accompanying drawings, making part of this application, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a pair of steels, such as usually inserted in the edges (which are to be coupled together) of a ladys corset, but embracing my improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, showing the two strips or steels partially disconnected. Fig. 3 is a view showing the two steels still more nearly disconnected, and Fig. et is aperspective view of a pair of steels having the coupling device in use previous to my invention.

In Figs. l, 2, and 3 the same parts are indicated by the same letters of reference.

A andB are the two steels, such as are usually employed in ladies corsets. On one of these strips, B, are riveted two projecting ears or small plates, c and d, arranged near either end of the said strip, as shown, and near the middle of said strip (between the two ears ad) is segured to it anotherear or small plate, e. About opposite to these threeplates cd care arranged on the other steel, A, three projecting studs or buttons, l 2 3, which button into the apertures ot' the three plates c d e, in a manner which will be presently explained. The stud 1, it will be seen, has an oblon g or rectangular head equal about in width to the diameter of its shank, while the studs 2 and 3 have circular or button-shaped heads. The plate e has cut through it a slot, i, about equal in width to the width of the head of stud l, and a little longer than the length of the head of stud l, (see Fig. 2,) while the two plates c d have cut througu them holes of the shape clearly shown (ste Fig. 3) at o.

Having said enough in connection with the drawings to clearly set forth the construction of the several parts, I will now brieiiy allude to the operation of them.

Suppose the two steels to be coupled together, as seen at Fig. l, (as when the corset is fastened around the wearer.) N ow,in order to uncouple the two strips A B, it is necessary iirstto spring the central portions of said strips together, as illustrated at Fig. 2, when the plate e may be disengaged from stud l. One or both of the strips A B must then be sprung longitudinally, so as to bring them into the position seen at Fig. 3, when the plate c may be disengaged from stud 2. Then, by simply movin g the plate B in the direction indicated by the arrow, the plate d will be disengaged from stud 3, and the two steels A B will be uncoupled or disconnected from each other.

It will be understood that by the combinations of relative positions into which the steels must be put to eEect the uncoupling any dis-- connection by accident (by the mot-ions of the body, &c.) is rendered impossible.

At Fig. 4, I have shown the old fashion or the mode in use previous to my invention, in which it will be seen that it is only necessary to cause the two steels D E to approach each other in order to admit of the plates f g h be# coming disconnected from their respective studs u s t, which practice and experience have shown will often be effected by the motions of the body wearing the corset.

It will be understood that, although I have described my invention as applied to a corset, the two strips may be used or needed in various articles and for various purposes, and I Wish my improved mode of connecting them together to embrace every use of my invention.

Ol course my improved coupling device may be applied Without departing' from the spirit of myinvention to any two flexible and elastic edges which require to be united and disconnected at pleasure.

Havingfullydescribed the construction and operation of my improved coupling or fastening device, and not desiring to limit my invention to the exact forms of parts, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isb The employment, in combination with two strips or edges, which can be sprung, as des^ribed, of perforated plates c d e, attached to either of said strips and studs 1 2 3, operating in conjunction with said perfor-ated plates, substantially as and for the purposes described.

THOS. A. NELSON. In presence of ROBERT DICK,

GEO. E. B. J AcKsoN.

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