Mark Twain and the Invention of the Bra Clasp

 

            On December 19, 1871, Mark Twain, born Samuel L. Clemens, received patent number 121,992 from the United States Patent Office due to a new invention. Twain starts off his letter by stating, “Be it known that I, SAMUEL L. CLEMENS, of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and in the State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable and Detachable Elastic Straps for Garments” (Improvement). His invention description explains what the intended use of the Adjustable and Detachable Elastic Straps is by describing them as, “…an adjustable and detachable elastic strap for vests, pantaloons, or other garments requiring straps” (Improvement). In his submission for the patent, Twain included a diagram of the Twain intended for these clasps to hold together any loose garments, however, his idea for the invention fell short after some time. The elastic strap and clasps were originally used to hold shirts together, to be used on underpants, to adjust women’s corsets, and to replace the use of suspenders by tightening pants as well. After some time, people came to find that the elastic strap with the clasp actually held women’s brassieres together more effectively than a replacement for suspenders or to tighten clothing. Today, the invention of the clasp that holds together two pieces of fabric is worn by almost every woman all over the world.