An Improved Undervest or Undergarment for Children...
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
An Improved Undervest or Undergarment for Children...
I, ISAAC NEWTON FOOKS, of Georgetown, Delaware, U.S.A., Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement:—
The object of my invention is to provide a construction of knitted garment of
great strength for children which shall have considerable elasticity around the body'
and be practically non-extendible in a vertical direction and also to provide the
garment with detachable shoulder-straps, which may be removed or adjusted either
to vary the vertical height of the garment on the child or for adjusting the shoulder-
straps so as to cause them to cross at the back.
In carrying out my invention I provide the body of the garment, which is
preferably formed of knitted fabric, with a series of vertical bars having integral
upper portions which spread laterally and are united along the upper edge of the
body of the garment, so that the upper edge thereof is reinforced throughout its
entire length, while the lower portion remains flexible. Two of these vertical
bars are arranged immediately below the arms and on those portions of the
garment which would constitute the sides, so that when the garment is spread
out the said reinforcing-pieces, together with the lateral spreading upper portions,
constitute in effect a Y-shaped reinforcing structure. About the upper or reinforced
edges and upon each side of the Y-shaped portions for receiving the arms I arrange
buttons or other suitable fastenings, to which are detachably secured adjustable
shoulder-straps of flexible material, the said shoulder-straps being detachable, so as
to be preferably completely removed when it is desired to wash the garment. In the
case of the garment when made for boys the body portion is still further reinforced.
by a central back-strip having lateral extensions at the top which reinforce the upper
edge of the garment, and in addition thereto there may be vertical reinforcing-bars
extending downward upon the garment below each one of the buttons or fastenings
for the shoulder-straps. As these bars form in effect continuations of the shoulder-
straps, it will be understood that by placing buttons thereon, to which the trousers"
may be attached, the latter will be directly sustained by the shoulder-straps, and
hence by adjusting the shoulder-straps the height to which the trousers are adjusted
may be readily secured. From this it will be observed that the trousers can be
adjusted with all the facility that would result from employing a complete set of
suspenders directly attached to the trousers and which are undesirable in small
children. In the case of a boy's garment there are two sets of buttons about the
waist, one set for the trousers and the other set for the underdrawers, or in the case
where it is a very small child the lower set may be used for the drawers and the
upper set for kilts.
In the case of the garment when intended for girls who are far less rough, the
extra reinforcing-straps upon the back and from each one of the fastenings for
the shoulder-straps may be dispensed with, if so desired; and furthermore, it is not
necessary to provide the waist portion with more than one set of buttons, except
where kilts or dresses are to be attached to the garment.

page_text: In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved garment laid out flat.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the garment in condition for use.
Fig. 3 is a similar view of same with the shoulder-straps crossed.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the shoulder-straps removed.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form-of the garment corresponding to Fig. 1,
but specially inade for girl's use; and
Fig. 6 is a section of Fig. 1 on line x.
A is the body of the garment, and may be made of any suitable material, but
preferably of knitted fabric. The lower part of this garment is made straight, while
the upper portion thereof is made irregular and formed with the two notches or
V-shaped openings B B, which fit up under the arms of the wearer.
C are two vertical reinforcing-strips arranged immediately below the arm-
notches B and are formed integral with narrow reinforcing lateral extensions D D¹,
which are spread apart at c, so as to constitute in effect a Y-shaped reinforcing
structure. The reinforcing-strips D are continued around the upper edge of the
body portion and then downward, as at D², to constitute the binding of the free edge
of the garment. One of these reinforcing portions D² is provided with buttons or
suitable fastenings F and with button holes E or other equivalent means.
G is a central or back reinforcing vertical strip and has two lateral reinforcing
parts H H at the top which are integral with the strip G and extend in opposite
directions from the point g. The said reinforcing-strips H are secured to the upper
edge of the garment and overlap and unite with the ends of the reinforcing-strips D¹
at the rear of the arm-notches B.
Extending downward from over the juncture of the strips D¹ and H and intermediate
of the reinforcing vertical parts C and G, I arrange vertical strips J, secured to the
edge of the garment, and at the juncture of the parts D¹, H, and J, I arrange a button
or fastener K. (See Fig. 6.) Intermediate of the reinforcing parts C and D on
the front portions of the garment I arrange vertical reinforcing-strips I upon the
front portion or termination of the notches B, and at this juncture I also secure
buttons or fasteners K.
L L are two shoulder straps, which are made in any suitable manner and are
detachable from the buttons or fasteners K. The details of construction of my
preferred form of shoulder-straps are shown in Fig. 4, and consist of a strip L1, lapped
about a link m and having a buttonhole combined with a second strip M, having
a buttonhole at its free end and also lapped about the link m, and its other or free
end adjustably connected with the body of the structure by an adjustable clamp M¹.
By means of the clamp M¹ and the link m the end of the strap I may be adjusted
to suit the desire of the wearer. These straps may be connected directly about each
of the arm notches, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or may be crossed at the back, as
indicated in Fig. 3, either of which adjustments may be readily secured, since the
shoulder-straps are detachable. Any other suitable form of adjustable shoulder-strap
may be employed in lieu of that shown..
About the waist portion I provide a series of buttons P, the same being secured to
the reinforcing portions, as shown in Fig. 1, which buttons are designed to receive
the trousers or kilts or outside dresses. In addition to these buttons P, I also
provide a second set of buttons N, slightly lower and also preferably secured to the
reinforcing-strips, to which buttons N the drawers are attached. It is to be
understood that in place of buttons any other suitable fastening devices may be used,
and, further, that the upper set of buttons or fasteners P may be dispensed with if so
desired, especially in the garment when used for girls.
In practice the reinforcing strips C, G, J, I, and D', as well as the upper strips,
are secured to the body of the garment by stitching, and the upper edge or the
bounding-line of the body of the garment may be secured to the reinforcing portions
by overseaming-stitches. It is preferable in practice that the vertical reinforcing-
strips, as well as the shoulder-straps, shall have little or no elasticity in the direction
of their length, so that the proper adjustment at the waist may be positively

page_text: secured to the garment attached
position.
ULIC
In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the body portion A is provided with
reinforcing-strips C₁ under the arm-notches, corresponding substantially to the
strips C of Fig. 1. The upper portion of these reinforcing-strips C¹ are carried
laterally, as at D3 and D, along the upper edge of the garment and receive the
buttons K, as above. The vertical free edges of the body portion A are bound by
reinforcing-strips D³, corresponding to the parts D2 of Fig. 1. The out-line shape of
the garment is somewhat varied, but this is practically immaterial, especially as this
particular shape is designed for use as a girl's garment and is not subjected to the
same strain in use as a boy's garment.
While I prefer the construction shown, the minor details thereof may be modified
without departing from my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a child's lownecked undergarment, the combination of the body portion
extending only to a point below the shoulder and having arm-notches open at the
top and further having vertical reinforcing-strips secured to the body of the garment
immediately below the arm-notches and continuing laterally along each side of the
said arm-notches for reinforcing the upper edges, the rear portions thereof of both
arm-notches.uniting across the upper edge of the garment at the back.
2. In a child's undergarment, the combination of the body portion having arm-
notches at the top, with vertical reinforcing-strips secured to the body of the
garment immediately below the arm-notches and continuing upon each side of the
arm-notches and uniting across the upper edge for reinforcing the edges of
the garment, and detachable shoulder-straps detachably connected to the upper
reinforced edges of the garment upon each side of the arm-notches.
3. In a child's low-necked undergarment, the combination of the body portion
having arm-notches open at the top, with vertical reinforcing-strips secured to the
body of the garment immediately below the arm-notches and continuing integrally
upon each side of the arm-notches for reinforcing the edges of the garment, and
shoulder-straps detachably connected to the upper reinforcing edges of the garment
upon each side of the arm-notches and provided with means for adjusting their
length.
4. In a child's undergarment, the combination of the body portion having arın-
notches at the top, with vertical reinforcing-strips secured to the body of the garment
immediately below the arm-notches and continuing upon each side of the arm-notches
for reinforcing the edges of the garment, additional vertical reinforcing-strips
secured to the body portion and terminating upon the upper reinforcing-strips at the
top to one side of the strips below the arm-notches, and shoulder-straps detachably
connected with the upper ends of the last-mentioned or additional reinforcing-
strips.
5. In a child's undergarment, the combination of the body portion having arm-
notches at the top, with vertical reinforcing-strips secured to the body of the garment
immediately below the arın-notches and continuing upon each side of the arm-notches
for reinforcing the edges of the garment, an additional vertical reinforcing-strip
secured to the body portion in the back and having lateral extensions terminating
upon the upper reinforcing-strips at the top to one side of the arm-notches, shoulder
straps detachably connected with the upper portions of the reinforcing-strips upon
each side of the arm-notches and provided with means for adjusting the length of
the shoulder-straps, and means upon the waist portion of the last-mentioned or
additional reinforcing-strips for sustaining a lower garment.
6. In a child's undergarment, the combination of the body-portion having arm-
notches at the top, with vertical reinforcing-strips secured to the body of the garment

page_text: immediately below the arm-notches and continuing upon each side of the arm-notches
for reinforcing the edges of the garment, additional vertical reinforcing-strips secured
to the body portion and terminating upon the upper reinforcing-strips at the top to
one side of the strips below the arin-notches, shoulder-straps detachably connected
with the upper ends of the last-mentioned or additional reinforcing-strips, and a
central reinforcing-strip at the back of the garment having its upper end formed with
lateral extensions secured to the upper edge of the body portion and extending to
the juncture of the shoulder-straps and additional vertical reinforcing-strips.
7. In an undergarment, the combination of the body portion A having the arm-
notches B, with reinforcing-strips C arranged below the arm-notches and extended
laterally at the top to bound the upper edge of the body portion forming the arm-
notches and in which one of said portions is extended as at D2 to bound the upper
and vertical free edges of the body portion, and a middle back reinforcing-strip G
having lateral bounding-strips H H at the top which meet the other lateral bounding-
strips of the parts C C.
8. In an undergarment, the combination of the body portion A having the arm-
notches B, with vertical reinforcing-strips C arranged below the arm-notches and
extended laterally at the top to bound the upper edge of the body portion forming
the arm-notches and in which one of said portions is extended as at D2 to bound the
upper and vertical free edges of the body portion, a middle back reinforcing-strip G
having lateral bounding-strips H H at the top which meet the other lateral bound-
ing-strips of the parts CC, and shoulder-straps detachably connected with the rein-
forcing bounding-strips upon each side of the arm-notches.
9. In an undergarment, the combination of the body portion A having the arm-
notches B, with reinforcing-strips C arranged below the arm-notches and extended
laterally at the top to bound the upper edge of the body portion forming the arm-
notches and in which one of said portions is extended as at D2 to bound the upper
and vertical free edges of the body portion, a middle back reinforcing-strip G having
lateral bounding-strips H H at the top which meet the other lateral bounding-strips
of the parts C C, shoulder-straps detachably connected with the reinforcing bounding-
strips upon each side of the arm-notches, and vertical reinforcing-strips I J secured
to the body of the garment in alinement with the shoulder-straps and furnished at
the waist with means for attachment to a lower garment.
Dated this 10th day of November 1897.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London; W.C., Agent for the Applicant.