Display Dress Figures for Garments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1836
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Display Dress Figures for Garments.
1, OAKLEY SELLECK, of Number 127 West 32d Street of the City of New
York, in the County and State of New York, United States of America,
Manufacturer, 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 is a display or dummy figure which is especially designed for
exhibiting dress and other garments for female wear, and consists primarily of a
back board which is shaped to represent the outline of the human figure, and
especially that of the female human figure, combined with portions draped to
represent exposed portions of the dress as viewed from the front of the dressed
form, including parts representing the arms and hands, and additional parts
representing the lower limbs and feet. And it consists secondarily in the
employment of means attached to rear of the back-board whereby the figure may be
adapted for exhibiting ladies' coats, cloaks, etc.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 represents a front or plan view of the back-board constituting the upper
portion of the figure with its supports, without its drapery.
Fig. 2 represents a like view of the figure in its finished state, with its drapery.
Fig. 3 represents an edge side view of the back-board having segmental pieces
attached thereto of the structure shown in Figure 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
The letter A indicates the body of the back-board which may be of wood, metal
or other suitable rigid material which is cut out or otherwise shaped to represent
the outline of the body portion and head of the human figure. This back-board A
is mounted on a suitable base c, and the face or front portion thereof is draped
in a suitable manner to represent those portions of the dress which are exposed
when viewed from the face or front portions of the figure, such as the waist and
the skirt, the arm and feet portions being of course accessory to the board and
attached thereto in a symmetrical relation to the remainder of the parts repre-
sented by the figure. The arms and legs may be pivoted to assume different
positions and obviously moreover increase the effect of the figure which is to
display various styles or patterns of garments in simple, cheap and compact
manner.
The letters D, D' D indicate three segmental transverse pieces of wood or
other material secured to the back, waist and hip portions of the back-board so
as to extend transversely or horizontally to the figure, the means employed for
this purpose being suitable hinges a a. Said curved edges E, E', E2 are connected
as by tape b so that when the upper segmental piece D is raised from the position
shown in dotted lines Figures 2 and 3 to a position at right angles to the back-
board A and held in that position by the hook C as shown in full lines Figures 2
and 3, the segmental pieces D', D will assume a similar position, thereby forming
an outline representative of the bust of the human figure on which coats and
cloaks and other articles may be exhibited and displayed.
Another advantage of the figure as constructed is that it occupies the least
possible space and requires but a comparatively small amount of material to
produce the desired effect in contradistinction to the show figures now used which
necessitate the employment of a whole dress instead of the half dress or sections

page_text: required by my invention, rendering the same of great commercial value, by
adapting it for many commercial purposes.
Another advantage of the figure as constructed is that it can be shipped and
transported with great facility and at low cost, which is a desideratum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is:
1. A display dress figure consisting of a back-board shaped to represent the
outline of the human figure and of face portions upon the back-board draped to
represent exposed portions of the dress from the front of the dress form; substan-
tially as shown and described.
2. A. display dress figure consisting of a back-board shaped to represent the
outline of the human figure, of the face portion upon the back-board draped to
represent exposed portions of the dress front, the front of the dress form combined
with parts representing the arms and hands, and additional parts representing the
lower limbs and feet, each of said parts being attached to the back-board;
substantially as shown and described.
3. A display dress figure consisting of a back-board shaped to represent the
outline of the human figure in combination with suitable pieces attached to the
rear of the back-board whereby the figure may assume an outline representative
of the human form, adapting it for exhibiting and displaying ladies' coats, cloaks
and the like; substantially as shown and described.
4. A display dress figure consisting of a back-board shaped to represent the
outline of the human figure, of the face portions upon the back-board draped to
represent exposed portions of the dress form, the front of the dress form combined
with suitable pieces attached to the rear of the back-board whereby the figure may
assume an outline representative of the human form, adapting it for exhibiting
and displaying ladies' coats and cloaks and the like; substantially as shown aud
described.
Dated this 6th day of January 1896.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.