An Improved Skirt Clip for Lady Cyclists.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Skirt Clip for Lady Cyclists.
1, THOMAS HENRY CARR, of 49, Portrack Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, Grocer, do.
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to
he performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an improved skirt clip for the use of lady cyclists and
has for its object to provide a simple, efficient, and inexpensive device which shall
cause the skirt to maintain such a position as not to interfere with the action of
the rider or become entangled with the rear wheel.
In constructing my improved clip I employ a stout piece of galvanized or other
suitable wire which I bend into a coil midway between its two ends to act as a
spring to the straight portions of the wire, the latter being approximately parallel
to each other. The ends of these straight portions I form into sharp points and
I then bend over a portion of the said ends at right angles so that their points
meet together in the same straight line. These points are for fixing into and
clipping the skirt and they preferably overlap one another about one quarter of
an inch so as not to injure the material of the skirt.
In order to increase the spring or gripping power of the clip I may use a stout
elastic band placed around the straight portions of the wire, the latter being
suitably bent or recessed to receive and hold the said band in position. This
band is especially useful should the spring or power of the clip become weakened
by use as a fresh band may be easily applied in the place of the old one.
And in order to fully understand my said invention 1 will describe the same with.
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved clip,
Fig. 2 an edge view at right angles to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 a top edge view or plan.
of the same.
a represents the coil formed midway of the length of the wire and a', a' are the
straight portions of the latter.
The arms or portions a¹ are bent over at a² at right angles with a¹ so as to be
in the same straight line with each other their points or ends a overlapping one
another for about one quarter of an inch as shown. The coil a acts as a spring
to force the two points together so as to clip or hold the skirt.
b is a stout band of india-rubber placed around the arms a' of the clip to give
increased power to the spring. This band is held in position by bending the
arms a¹ at a as shown in Fig. 1.
In applying my invention the rider tightens the skirt sufficiently and gathers it
up at the back. The points of the clip are then forced through the gathered up
portion at about ten inches above the bottom of the skirt and the latter is thus
held in suitable position for riding. The clip itself also being of some little weight
serves to keep the skirt down and prevent its being blown up by the wind.
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 I
claim is :-
1. In skirt clips for lady cyclists forming the same of stout wire pointed at each
end and coiled midway between the latter so as to form a spring the ends being
bent over at right angles so that their points overlap each other, substantially as
described and for the purposes specified.

page_text: 2. In clips as above claimed constructing the same with a wire spring coil a,
straight portions or arms a¹, bent over ends a' provided with points a, and bent or
recessed portions a formed in the arms a¹ for receiving an elastic band b, sub-
stantially as described and for the purposes specified.
3. The improved skirt clip for the use of lady cyclists substantially as described
and shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 5th day of September 1896.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.