Kate Hatch

“ The objection to bathing-corsets as heretofore constructed has been that it was impossible to provide them with stiff ening- ribs which would not be speedily destroyed by the action of water, particularly salt water, and when such corsets were not provided with stiffening-ribs it was necessary to use shoulder-straps or other appliances to prevent their collapsing. ”

“ The strips 10 are so disposed with reference to the sections 7, 8, and 9 that pockets 12 are formed, into which are introduced metal ribs 11 for the purpose of stiffening and giving form to the corset and preventing it from collapsing, and these metal ribs are thoroughly protected from moisture and salt water, because they are entirely surrounded by waterproof material. Over the rear edge of each half of the corset is folded a strip 13, so as to leave a pocket 14, which is inclosed a stiffening-rib 15, and this strip 13 is also secured to the section 7 by vulcanizing. ”