Improvements in or relating to Ladies' Cycling Skirts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Ladies' Cycling Skirts.
We, WILLIAM HOWARD SWINGLER, of 15, Hotel Street, Leicester, Ladies' Tailor,
and HENRY VAN HOOYDONCK, of the same address, Ladies' Tailor's Cutter, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to ladies' cycling skirts and embodies certain
improvements thereto the nature of which is hereinafter fully set forth.
The invention comprises improved means for keeping ladies' skirts in proper
position during cycling.
It is well known that the action of pedalling has a tendency to lift a lady's skirt
and various means such as straps passing round the ankles or attached to a button
on the shoe and the other end attached to the skirt itself have been employed to
prevent this taking place.
The said means though partially successful are nevertheless exceedingly uncom-
fortable to the rider and very restrictive in wear, besides being discernible to others.
The present invention comprises improved means for this purpose which consists
of a knee cap attachable to the skirt by an elastic band or other means.
This knee cap may be of cloth and admits of construction in various ways.
In the preferred form it may consist of a suitably shaped piece of material the
two edges of which are connected together by a series of narrow elastic straps which
in practice it is found are the best adapted to allow free movement of the legs when
cycling without the discomfort incidental to the use of the devices herein before
referred to.
The knee cap instead of being attached to the skirt by elastic bands may be
connected by a fastening device somewhat after the manner of ordinary solitaires.
To th 011 f MC 1007
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Ladies' Cycling Skirts.
We, WILLIAM HOWARD SWINGLER, of 15, Hotel Street, Leicester, Ladies' Tailor,
and HENRY VAN HOOYDONCK, of the same address, Ladies' Tailor's Cutter, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to ladies' cycling skirts and embodies certain
improvements thereto hereinafter fully set forth.

page_text: The invention comprises improved means for keeping ladies' skirts in proper
position during cycling.
It is well known that the action of pedalling has a tendency to lift a lady's skirt
and various means such as straps passing round the ankles or attached to a button
on the shoe and the other end attached to the skirt itself have been employed to
prevent this taking place.
The said means though partially successful are nevertheless exceedingly uncom-
fortable to the rider and very restrictive in wear, besides being discernible to others.
The present invention comprises improved means for this purpose which consists
of an attachment to be worn over or immediately under the knee and to be connected
to the skirt as hereinafter described.
The invention will be fully understood from the following further description
in reference to the accompanying drawing in which,
Figure 1, is a view of a leg fitted with one of our improved attachments, the latter
being shown connected to a lady's skirt of which so much only is shown as is
necessary to illustrate the invention, part of the attachment being removed to show
the lining.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the front of the said attachment and,
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modification.
A represents the attachment which in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 3 consists
of a band of cloth shaped in the present instance to fit round just below the knee
and bend of the leg.
The said attachment may be made of cloth or any suitable material.
As shown it is of cloth provided with perforations A¹ to ventilate it and a
lining A of gauze or other similar openwork or reticulated material.
It is divided or open at the front and the two edges A2 A3 of the opening are
connected by a series of elastic straps B which are fixed in position by stitching.
These elastic straps prevent any uncomfortable or restrictive pressure on the leg
of the wearer and enables the attachment to stretch and yield to the various
muscular movements of the leg when cycling.
The front part of the attachment may also have sewn or otherwise connected
thereto an auxiliary elastic strap C as shown most clearly in Figure 3 and to this
is attached one part D of a solitaire or clasp fastening device.
The other part D¹ of the latter is sewn to the inside of a lady's skirt F and for
cycling or riding purposes the two parts of the solitaire are locked' or fastened
together so as to thereby connect the dress skirt with the attachment and thus
prevent rising or creeping upwards when cycling.
A most convenient form of solitaire or clasp fastening forms the subject of our
application for a Patent No. 12683 of 1897 of even date herewith.
3
In the modification shown in Figure 2 the attachment consists of elastic fabric E 4
with a front or auxiliary strap E¹ of similar material, the solitaire D D¹ being
attached thereto in a similar manner to that already herein before described.
In some cases the auxiliary strap Cor E' may be applied to the skirt F instead of
to the attachment A in which event the part 1 of the solitaire or clasp fastening
would be connected to the strap C or E¹ and the other part D to the attachment A 4
or E itself.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The combination with a lady's skirt of an attachment for the leg and a clasp 5
or solitaire fastening device by which the said skirt and the leg attachment can be
connected together or detached at the will of the wearer substantially as and for
the purpose described.
2. The combination with a lady's skirt of an attachment such as A Radanted.

page_text: to be attached to the skirt by a solitaire or clasp fastening device substantially as
and for the purpose described.
3. The combination with a lady's skirt of an attachment substantially as and for
the purpose described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying
drawing.
4. The combination with a lady's skirt of an attachment substantially as and for
the purpose described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.
D1 10
1
TI
1000
Witness:
E. N. LEWIS,
Berridge Street Chambers,
Leicester.
HENRY VAN HOOYDONCK.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicants.