DRAVEMENTS IN LADIES' GARMENTS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Olivia P. Flynt, of Boston, in the County of
of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of
Southa Tavantion of & THDRAVEMENTS IN LADIES' GARMENTS."
Sealed the 13th April 1875, and dated the 27th October 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Olivia P. Flynt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with her Petition, on the
27th October 1874.
· I, OLIVIA P. FLYNT, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, and State of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LADIES' GARMENTS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a garment intended to take the place of
the ordinary outside waterproof garment worn by ladies for protec-
tion from the weather. The main advantage which this garment
has over the ordinary waterproof cloak is, that while the latter but
imperfectly protects the outside of the dress this Invention protects
completely both the outside and inside of the dress and skirts. It is also

page_text: equally adapted for a protector from dust in summer weather, especially
when travelling, if made of proper material.
The said garment resembles an ordinary waterproof cloak, but attached
to its bottom is an inside waterproof lining which is secured around the
waist of the wearer (usually attaching to the drawers) inside the dress
and skirts, so that the dress and skirts hang between the inner lining and
the outer waterproof garment. As the bottoms of the said garment and
lining are attached during their entire lengths there is no possibility of
the dress or skirt becoming soiled.
An important feature in this garment is its ample pocket room.
Attached to the sides of the garment are two welts not unornamental in
appearance. Two outside pockets are placed in each welt (one above
the other) and are protected from the weather and hid from view by a
tab which buttons over them. These pockets are intended for small
articles such as the handkerchief, gloves, pocket book, and the like. A
large inside pocket is placed in each welt, beneath the pockets above
named, and which opens from inside the welt. One edge of the welt is
left unsewed and free, so that entrance may be had to this pocket.
Another very large pocket is attached to the skirt of the garment which
is reached by placing the hand under the welt; one such pocket is
placed under each welt. The whole garment, except the pockets and
sleeves can be made in a single piece of cloth, or if goods cannot be
found wide enough in two pieces.
If for any reason the lining should not be in use provision is made for
buttoning it upon the inside of the garment.
The whole garment is simple, useful, graceful in appearance, and the
improvements in it are not noticed unless the garment is attentively

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
cighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Olivia P. Flynt, Her special licence
that I, the said Olivia P. Flynt, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Olivia P. Flynt, my executors; adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ircland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LADIES' GARMENTS,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Olivia P. Flynt,
my exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Olivia P. Flynt, do hereby declare
the nature of my said 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 is intended to take the place of the ordinary "water-
proof," so called, for ladies' wear, the advantage being that while the
"waterproof" but very imperfectly protects the outside of the dress this
device protects completely both the outside and inside of the dress and
skirts. It is also equally adapted for a protector from dust in summer
weather especially in travelling if made of proper material.
An important feature in this garment is its ample pocket room.
Attached to the sides of the garment are two welts not unornamental in
appearance. Two outside pockets are placed in each welt (one above
the other) and are protected and hid by a tab buttoning over them. A
larger inside pocket is placed in cach welt beneath the pockets above
named and is reached through the free edge of the welt one edge only
being attached to the skirt. A large skirt pocket is also placed under
cach welt and covered by the same. The whole garment (excepting the

page_text: buttons upon the drawers, gathering and tying, or in any other manner.
The dress c, as seen in Figure 1, hangs with the skirt, also between the
garment a and lining b. Hence it is impossible that either dress or skirt
should become soiled. When the lining b is not in use it may be held
in place by buttons upon the straps or bands d. The lining which does
not disturb or crumple the dress or skirt in the least may be attached to
any outer garments or skirt by securing it at the bottoms if desired. e is
a welt of which there are two, one upon each side of the garment.
This welt e is made from one piece of cloth (see Figure 6) and is folded
at e'; it is attached at its edges e" and its lower edge e to the garment,
while its folded edge c' remains free; ✓ is a small pocket in the outside
of the welt e near the top of the same, f' being the entrance to it. This
pocket extends as far down as the stitching", and is accessible only
from the outer side of the welt; g is a pocket somewhat larger and deeper
than the pocket f, accessible through its opening g' in the outside of the
welt, and extending down to the line of stitching 9". In order to hide
and protect from the weather the outer pockets f, g, a tab h is attached
to the welt at the line ' and extends up over the openings f¹, g', to the
pockets f, g, and attaches to the buttons . When the pockets f, g, are to
be reached this tab is unbuttoned; is the largest pocket in the welt e
and extends to the bottom of the said welt; is the direct opening to
it, and as it opens upon the inner side of the welt it is reached by placing
the hand under the free edge e¹; m is a large skirt pocket reached by
placing the hand under the welt and into the opening m³, m"; Figure 9
is the line at which it folds. The welts, tabs, and their pockets, are pre-
cisely alike.
All the pockets are very useful and especially so to a lady
travelling. In the different sized pockets may be carried the watch,
tickets, change, gloves, handkerchief, and even in the largest ones
changes of clothing, so that a lady may travel with little or no baggage
if provided with my garment.
=
It may be well to state that when the lining is made of rubber
cloth it is advisable to make the upper portion for a distance of six or
cight inches from the waist binding of a fabric which is pervious
to air.

page_text: Second. The lining 6 constructed as herein set forth, and attached to
the bottom of the garment a, or to an ordinary "waterproof," or to a
walking dress skirt of any description, for the purpose specified.
Third. The welts e having their edges e¹ free, and provided with
outer pockets f, g, and inner pockets 2, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fourth. In combination with the pockets f, g, the tabs 7, attached to
the welts e, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.
Fifth. In combination with the welt e and skirt of the garment a,
the pocket m, substantially as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Olivia P. Flynt, have hereunto set
my hand and seal; this Seventeenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord 1875.
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