Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898
(A communication by CHARLES E. AVERY, and CHARLES E. LYLE, both of the City
of Dowagiac, in the County of Cass, State of Michigan, United States of
America, Inventors.)
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham, in the County of War-
wick, and 322 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 relates to improvements in trouser guards, and to trouser guards
particularly designed for the use of bicyclists to keep their trousers from coming
into contact with the running gear of the bicycle or from interfering with their
operation of the same.
The objects of this invention are, first, to provide an efficient trouser guard which
can be worn upon the person at all times which shall be convenient in use.
Second, to provide a trouser guard which is concealed from view when in use,
which is easy to operate and which shall retain the trousers securely in the position
required.
Third, to provide a trouser guard for use inside the trousers which is easily
attached and detached when required. Further minor objects will definitely
appear in the detailed description to follow.
These objects of the invention are accomplished by the devices and means
described in the following specification, pointed out in the claims and illustrated
in the accompanying drawing, in which,
Figure 1 is an elovation view of the improved trouser guard on the inside of a
trouser leg secured to the scam, only a part of the trouser leg being shown.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same as it appears in a trouser leg when in
use, the position of the trouser fold being indicated by the dotted lines.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the guard detached from the trouser, the dotted
lines showing the position of the folding lever when extended.
Figure 4 shows a modified means of protecting the inserting points and securing
the same in place.
Figure 5 is also a modification of inserting the points and the shield for the
same.
In the drawing similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the
several views.
Referring to the lettered parts of the drawing, A represents a portion of the inside
of a trouser leg with a seam A' inside. The main body portion of the improved
trouser guard consists of a loop of wire forming a journal C¹ at the centre on which
the folding lever to be hereafter described is pivoted. The body is folded sub-
stantially at right angles to each side of the journal part and is offset into loops C
curved slightly inwardly. Inwardly projecting angular loops B' are just beyond

page_text: the loops C and the remainder of the body extends substantially at right angles
from the journal portion on each side and terminates in points for the casy inser-
tion of the same into the seam of the trouser. These points may turn toward each
other at the end or project straight out. A shield D is provided for the points.
The lever portions E is made of a rounded loop of wire terminating in eyelets E
which pivot upon a straight journal portion C of the main body part. The lever E
is of spring wire.
In use,
"
the improved trouser guard is attached by inserting the points through
the body of the seam inside of the trouser leg and pushing it along until it expands
and locks the same by engaging the same by the angular loops B¹ B₁. The guard D
is then put over the point to prevent injury to the wearer. Loops C are placed
toward the outside so they come next the material of the trouser leg. When
secured in this position within the trouser leg to retain the trouser the lever E is
thrown out from the leg of the wearer and folded in position thereby. This. will
carry the material of the trouser into the fold between the lever and the main
body portion taking up the slack in the trouser and retaining it securely around
the leg of the wearer with no retaining part in sight to offend the eye of the
observer or injure the trouser by clamping a fold of the same. The points of the
wire of the main body portion are protected by a shield D so that they will not injure
the wearer or the fabric. The shield is not necessary for the proper operation
of the device. This is shown considerably modified in views 4 and 5. In Figure 5
the shield is bent at the end and the ends of the wire forming the body straight,
which makes it very easy of insertion. In Figure 4 is shown the shield secured
to one end of the wire B and cut off at an angle so that it itself may be inserted
through the seam for the purposes of attachment and the sharp point at the
opposite end be inserted within the same to protect it and serve as a guard against
injury.
Having thus described their improved trouser guard my correspondents desire
to state that they are aware that it can be considerably varied in its details without
departing from their invention. Other means than by insertion through the seam.
can be provided for retaining it inside the trouser." It might be sewn on the
inside of the trouser or retained by other means. The ways of attaching being
simple and yet so numerous it is not deemed advisable or necessary to illustrate
them. The means shown are those most approved as there is no stitching or
rivetting or any additional loops upon the trousers necessary.
SO
It is desirable to state also that in a trouser guard a main body with an auxiliary
lever member hinged thereto can be made in various ways and having a suitable
catch or lock to hold them in position when folded could be utilised on the inside
of a trouser leg and would be quite effective for the purposes of a trouser guard.
Illustration of modifications has not been attempted because they would be so
numerous that it would be practically impossible. They are merely mentioned to
show that they are contemplated, and embraced in the broad features of the inven-
tion. The parts need not necessarily be made of wire though that is the preferred
material as it can be secured perfectly round and smooth and will not injure the
fabric of the garment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a trouser guard, a main body portion consisting of a wire folded at its centre
to form a journal C' and offset at each side to form engaging loops CC and kinked
into with inwardly projecting loops B₁ adjacent thereto and extended substantially
parallel and terminated in points for insertion; a guard D for said points, and a
lever portion E consisting of a loop of spring wire turned into eyelets E¹ around
the central journal C¹ and adapted to fold between the engaging portions C to
lock the same, all adapted to be placed upon the seam of a trouser and hold a fold
thereof to the inside substantially as described for the purpose specified,

page_text: 2. In a trouser guard, a main body member adapted to be secured to the inside
of the trouser, a lever portion pivoted thereto adapted to fold around substantially
parallel therewith and suitable means of retaining the two together when folded
to retain a fold of the trouser between the same to gather the same around the
ankle of the wearer for the purpose specified.
3. In a trouser guard, a main body portion made up of wire adapted to insert
through the inner seam of a trouser and a lever portion pivoted thereto, and
suitable means of retaining the lever and body when they are folded around
together for the purpose specified.
4. In a trouser guard, the main body portion made up of wire adapted to insert
through the inner seam of a trouser with retaining kinks therein and a lever
portion pivoted thereto, and suitable means of retaining the lever and body when
they are folded around together for the purpose specified.
Dated this 15th day of June 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.