Improvements in Bloomer Costumes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bloomer Costumes.
I, BENJAMIN ALTMAN, of 25, Madison Avenue, New York City, United States.
of America, Merchant, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide bloomers which, when worn, will closely.
resemble a skirt. This end I attain by employing a peculiar pattern or cut in the
construction of the bloomers, from which results a graceful fulness at the lower.
portion of the bloomer, and causing the same to hang with increased fulness.
To these ends my invention consists in the construction of bloomers and a pattern
therefor, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this'
Specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
Figure represents a front elevation of bloomers embodying my invention
showing them extended as far as their length will permit;
Figure 2 is a rear view of the bloomers in the same extended position;
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the bloomers partly in section, showing them
spread as far as possible and illustrating specific features of their construction;
Figure 4 is a section taken vertically through the bloomers and showing the
inner side of one-half thereof;
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of a cut or pattern employed in constructing
the bloomers; and
:
Figure 6 represents a human figure wearing the bloomers, and shows the form
taken by the bloomers when worn, which, as aforesaid, present a strong resemblance
to a skirt.
'
The cut or pattern illustrated in Figure 5 forms one-half of the material
composing the bloomers and from this pattern two duplicate sheets of cloth are
therefore taken. The pattern comprises an approximately arc-shaped or curved
outer edge a directly contiguous to radial sides b and c, which are in turn contiguous
to an inner edge e, the same comprising a gore el next to the side c, and a serpentine
edge e next to the side b, together with a plain and curved edge e lying between
the gore and serpentine edge and sloping towards the edge a, as it nears
the edge a
It will be noted that the edges opposite to the edge a form a step-shaped edge
running from the edge c to the edge & for the purpose of facilitating the gathering
or puckering of the upper edge at these places to form folds, the portion el forming
the crotchi.
In constructing the bloomers from these sheets of cloth cut from the pattern,
the edges b and c are sewed to each other to form a seam 1, best shown in Figure 4,
the edge a being gathered equally throughout its length and confined by a band 2
having a suitable fastening strap 3. The seam 1 merges into a seam 4, best
illustrated in Figure 3, which extends from the rear side of the waist band 5
downwardly and forwardly to the front side of the bloomers, where it ends at the
point 6, the same being immediately below the 85 7 which is provided with the
usual fastening devices and also with a strap 8 which serves to draw the folds of
the bloomer together at the front and makes the same hang gracefully, as best
shown in Figure 1, the strap being illustrated by dotted lines. The waist band 5
bas a securing strap or terminal 9.
.

page_text: In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the bloomers are shown extended to as great a length as
possible, and this is done solely for the purpose of illustration; it will be understood,
however, that, in use the bloomers are arranged as in Figure 6 and reference to this
figure will show the exceedingly graceful folds of the garment and there it will be
seen that it has almost exactly the appearance of a skirt because of the contracted
and ment appearance at the waist and because of the increased material at the
bottom which causes the gathering of the edge a and a fulness which produces the
above described advantages.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Bloomers, the same being.composed of a plurality of patterns or cuts, ench
comprising a lower edge a, contiguous to inwardly converging sides whereby the
lower portion of the bloomer is given a fulness increased over that of the waist,
substantially as described.
2. As a new article of manufacture, bloomers, the same being formed of two
duplicate patterns or cuts, each comprising a curved edge a contiguous to inwardly
converging sides b and c, the sides being in turn contiguous to an edge e which
comprises a gore e', a serpentine portion, and an intermediate curved part e',
the said patterns or cuts being joined to each other to produce the bloomers,
substantially as described.
3. Bloomers, the same comprising two leg sections, each having an exaggerated
fulness at its lower extremity and narrowing to the top where they are joined.
4. Bloomers composed of a plurality of sections, patterns, each having a lower
edge a and an upper step-shaped edge, substantially as described.
5. The pattern for bloomer "legs," substantially as herein shown and described.
Dnted this 14th day of October 1995.
wwww7CT 1533
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents..