Improvements AppLICABLE TO TROUSERS, RENDERING THE SAME AVAILABLE FOR BICYCLE RIDING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Rowland Richard Gadsden, of Dunstable, in the County of
Bedford, Draper's Assistant, for the Invention of "Improvements AppLICABLE
TO TROUSERS, RENDERING THE SAME AVAILABLE FOR BICYCLE RIDING AND
OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 29th October 1878, and dated the 6th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Rowland Richard Gadsden
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th May 1878.
ROWLAND RICHARD GADSDEN, of Dunstable, in the County of Bedford, Draper's
Assistant. "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO TROUSERS, RENDERING THE SAME
AVAILABLE FOR BICYCLE RIDING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention consists in improvements applicable to trousers, whereby the lower
part can be drawn tight round the logs, and can be released at pleasure and assume
the ordinary shape.
Trousers at present are sometimes supplied with buttons on the inner part of the
lower portion thereof, on to which a strap or other attachment is placed, said strap
passing under the boot or shoe and holding the trousers taut.
For bicyclists, knee breeches, knickerbockers, or pantaloon trousers are generally
used to avoid the danger arising from the trousers coming in contact with the parts
of the machine.
By my Invention I use in combination with the trousers an arrangement whereby
same can be (at the lower part) drawn tight, and thus I overcome the difficulty at
present experienced.
In carrying out my Invention, I adopt mainly the following arrangements :-The
trousers are cut in the ordinary way, but I insert in the lower part, generally in the
portion overlapping, an elastic band or thread, provided generally with a metal
piece for the purpose of operating on the band.
When the trousers are to be drawn tight, the lower part is doubled back
at the seam, and the piece of metal (or the elastic band) grasped and pulled, .

page_text: drawing the trousers tight; the metal with band being placed under the boot and
held there.
When the trousers are to be released, all that is required is to release the elastic
band from the foot, and the trousers assume the ordinary shape.
It will thus be seen that for bicyclists, horse riders, and others, trousers with my
arrangements applied thereto will be of great service, being of the ordinary shape,
and doing away (in the case of bicyclists especially) with the inconvenience of having
a special kind of garment for the purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Rowland Richard Gadsden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
0th November 1878.
ROWLAND RICHARD GADSDEN, of Dunstable, in the County of Bedford, Draper's
Assistant. "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO TROUSERS, RENDERING THE SAME
AVAILABLE FOR BICYCLE RIDING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention consists in improvements applicable to trousers, whereby the lower
part can be drawn tight round the legs, and can be released at pleasure and assume
the ordinary shape.
Trousers at present are sometimes supplied with buttons on the inner part of the
lower portion thereof, on to which a strap or other attachment is placed, said strap
passing under the boot or shoe and holding the trousers taut.
For bicyclists, knee breeches, knickerbockers, or pantaloon trousers are generally
used to avoid the danger arising from the trousers coming in contact with the parts
of the machine.
•
By my Invention I use in combination with the trousers an arrangement whereby
same can be (at the lower part) drawn tight, and thus I overcome the difficulty at
present experienced.
In carrying out my Invention, I adopt substantially the following arrangements :—
The trousers are cut in the ordinary way, but I insert in the lower part, but I insert
in the lower part (generally in the portion overlapping) an elastic band or thread,
provided generally with a inetal piece for the purpose of operating on the band.
When the trousers are to be drawn tight, the lower part is doubled back
at the seam, and the piece of metal (or the elastic band) grasped and pulled,
drawing the trousers tight, the metal with band being placed under the boot and
held there.
When the trousers are to be released, all that is required is to release the elastic
band from the foot, and the trousers assume the ordinary shape.
It will thus be seen that for bicyclists, horse riders, and others, trousers with my
arrangements applied thereto will be of great service, being of the ordinary shape,
and doing away (in the case of bicyclists especially) with the inconvenience of having
a special kind of garment for the purpose.

page_text: incidentally intimated in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out
in practice, I will now proceed (aided by the accompanying Drawings) to further
and particularly describe and ascertain in what manner the same is to be performed
or carried into practical effect, that is to say :—
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a section of part of a log of trousers with my Invention applied
thereto.
Fig. 2 shows the application of my Invention, the trousers being drawn (at the
lower part) tight round the leg of the person using same.
A is the elastic band or thread, shown placed in the part overlapping. The
enlarged portion B may be metal, but I prefer to have the rubber enlarged to the
size shown. This rests, when the trousers are in the ordinary shape, on the inside
of the bottom of the trousers.
To draw the trousers tight, same are first doubled back as described, and the
enlarged portion B is pulled, drawing the trousers tight, as shown in Fig. 2, the
enlarged part being placed under the boot or shoo and held there, as shown by said
Fig. 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and objects of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the improvements applicable to trousers,
rendering the same available for bicycle riding and other purposes, consisting in pro-
viding trousers with arrangements for drawing tight the lower part of the same, so
as to carry into effect the objects and intentions of the said Invention, as herein-
before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Rowland Richard Gadsden, have hereunto set
my haud and seal, the Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
0 Witness,
W. HILLIER,
21, Cockspur Street,
Charing Cross.
ROWLAND RICHARD GADSDEN. (L.S.)