Improved Appliance for Holding the Skirts of Lady Cyclists.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Appliance for Holding the Skirts of Lady Cyclists.
We, GEORGE ALBERT SHIPMAN of 26 Filey Street, in the City of Sheffield
Manufacturer, and CHARLES CHRISTOPHER WALKER, of The Wicker, Sheffield
aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an appliance for holding down the skirts of ladies when
cycle riding, the object being to produce a simple and effective appliance which
can be readily secured to and detached from a skirt or dress, and that will have
sufficient elasticity to permit of any requisite movement.
-
It consists of a strap provided with a buckle or other equivalent fastener which is to
be strapped round the ankle, and we secure in a convenient position upon the outside
of the strap a spring catch, hook, or button. To this catch, hook, or the like we
engage a fine coiled spring say for example of 3 or 4 inches long and quarter of an
inch in diameter of coil; the upper end is constructed to engage with a similar
spring catch which is secured upon a leather tab or the like, either provided with
a button hole to engage with a button fastened to the skirt bottom, or the tab may
be permanently sewn to the dress or skirt, or the spring catch may be secured to
the skirt direct.
i
Improved Appliance for Holding the Skirts of Lady Cyclists,
We, GEORGE ALBERT SHIPMAN, of 26 Filey Street in the City of Sheffield,
Manufacturer, and CHARLES CHRISTOPHER WALKER, of the Wicker Sheffield
aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same has to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to an appliance for holding down or controlling the skirts
of ladies when cycle riding, the object being to produce a simple and effectively
constructed appliance which can be readily secured to and detached from the skirt
or dress when required, and which will be sufficiently elastic to permit the requisite
movement of the limbs without any interference with the comfort of the rider and
yet prevent the skirt being unduly blown about as at present is the case.
The invention is illustrated in the annexed sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1. represents the complete appliance.

page_text: Fig. 2, front view of a metallic attachment.
Fig. 3, edge view of same.
It consists of a coiled spring provided with an attachment at each end, one of a
suitable nature to be readily secured to the skirt, and the other'to be strapped round
the ankle.
In the one illustrated in the drawing, which is the arrangement we prefer, A is
a leather or cloth tab provided with a button hole B, for the purpose of being
readily affixed to a button upon the skirt, or as readily detached therefrom.
It is secured to one end of a coiled steel spring C, say for example three inches
in length and about a quarter of an inch in diameter of coil, and very elastic.
The lower end of the spring is preferably formed into a ring D, so as to engage
with a spring catch E, or its equivalent, attached to the side of a strap F, or elastic
band which can be readily passed round the ankle of the user.
'Instead of the tab A, which is intended to button to the skirt as described, we
may substitute a spring clip or hook G, shown in Figs. 2 & 3, which may be sewn
permanently upon the skirt, in which case the upper termination of the spring would
be also formed into a ring or a ring would be attached thereto, as shown.
Other minor details may also be varied from those shown in the drawings.
By the use of our improved appliance, the parts may be separated without
detaching them, or the strap F, and spring C, may be readily removed and carried
in the pocket until again required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim, is --
1. An appliance for holding down the skirts of lady cyclists, consisting of a strap
or band to fasten round the ankle, a metallic coiled spring connected therewith, and
having at its upper end a tab or catch or hook by which it can be readily attached
to a skirt, substantially as set forth.
2. An appliance for holding the skirts of lady cyclists consisting of a spring C,
a strap F, a tab A, or a spring catch G, as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated the 15th day of October 1897.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for Applicants.