Device for Holding Down Dress Skirts for Use by Lady Cyclists.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Holding Down Dress Skirts for Use by Lady Cyclists.
I, MARIE WHITEREAD of 203 Oxford Street, Manchester, Ladies Outfitter, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a length of elastic material or webbing stitched,
pinned or otherwise secured at one end to the inner side of a Lady cyclists skirt
or similar riding habit about six or seven inches from the lower edge, and at the
other end provided with a clip, hook, Joop or other suitable fastening for clipping
attaching or connecting such end to the shoe, gaiter or other foot-gear of the
ridor, and in such way, or by such means, the skirt is caused to follow the move-
ments of the feet, or is held down over the shoe and prevented working up as
heretofore.
To cause the pull of the elastic material to be fully utilised, or to operate upon
an extended part of the skirt, I provide two or more loops or guides fixed at the
part or parts of the inner side of the skirt where it is more particularly desired
to be held down.
Two holders are used (one on either side) for cycling.
The general advantages of my invention are that it is simple, cheap, readily
applied, can be worn in ordinary walking and owing to the contraction of the
elastic material when unclipped from the shoe, lies entirely out of sight.
Dated this 17th day of November 1896.
MARIE
WHITEHEAD,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLET
SPECI
A Device for Holding Down Dress Skirts for Use by Lady Cyclists.
I MARIE WHITEHEAD of 203 Oxford Street, Manchester, Ladies Outfitter, 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:
My invention consists of a length of elastic material or webbing, stitched,
pinned or otherwise secured at one end to the inner side of a lady cyclists' skirt
or similar riding habit, and at the other end provided with a clip, hook, loop or
other suitable fastening for clipping, attaching or connecting such end to the shoe,
gaiter or other foot-gear of the rider, and by such means causing the skirt to
follow the movements of the feet, or to be kept down over the shoe and prevented
working up as heretofore.

page_text: And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawing and will
now proceed to describe the same with figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 illustrates the Holder in perspective, and in the position it occupies
relatively to the person using the sanie.
Fig. 2 shews the evil that my invention is intended to overcome, or the manner
in which the skirt works up when my improved 'Holder' is not used.
Fig. 3 shews the 'Holder' in use, and holding the dress skirt neatly over the
shoe and over-coming the evil aforesaid.
Fig. 4 shews how the 'Holder' is fixed on the inner side of the skirt, and Fig. 5
shews its position when fixed to the shoe and the user is ready for mounting her
machine.
Figs. 6 and 7 shew detached views of loop and clip, the latter in two positions-
open and closed.
In accordanco with my invention I employ a length of flexible and elastic
material (A), at one end of which I provide a brace tab (1) for enabling such end
to be secured to a button on the dress skirt. At the opposite end of this strip or
length of elastic material (A), I fix or provide a fastening (C), capable of clipping
on to the top edge of the shoe or gaiter (D). At different points along the length
of strin (A) I arrange loops or guides (E), which are stitched to the skirt as shewn
in Fig. 5, and cause the holder to act upon an extended portion of the dress, hoid
it against the leg, and keep the lower edge on the shoe.
Owing to the clastic nature of the holder it gives and takes with the movements
of the rider, its normal contraction or elongation being such as to allow for
freedom of movement and prevent undue strain on the dress.
When the clip (C) is unfastened from the shoe the strip (A) contracts and draws
the clip up out of sight, and in such way the device may remain a permanent
part of the dress and be worn at all times.
In lieu of the brace tab (B), other suitable means may be employed for securing
the holder to the dress skirt, and the clip (C) may be substituted by any other
convenient device.
Instead of using the length of elastic material (A) I may only employ a short
length with a clip at both ends, one designed to clip on to the shoe and the other
on to the bottom edge of tho skirt, but such an arrangement would not be so
desirable as the one described. Instead of webbing, elastic or india-rubber cord
may be used.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention I declare that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-
1. In means for holding down a lady's dress skirt when cycling or riding the
use of a length or piece of elastic material secured at one end to the skirt, and at
the other end to the shoe, gaiter or other foot-gear, and, by preference, passing
through guides or loops fixed on said skirt, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of parts (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or their equivalent, as and
for the purposes set forth.
Dated this. Kil 1
1008
MARIE
WHITEHEAD,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
55 Market Street, Manchester