IMPROVEMENTS IN GAITERS, SPATTERDASHES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES.
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Baptiste Toussaint, of No. 82, Boulevard
Sebastopol, Paris, in the Empire of France, and of No. 31, Charing
Cross, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAITERS, SPATTERDASHES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES.
Sealed the 18th August 1865, and dated the 1st March 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Baptiste Toussaint,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st March 1865.
I, JEAN BAPTISTE TOUSSAINT, of No. 82, Boulevard Sebastopol, Paris, in
the Empire of France, and of No. 31, Charing Cross, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GAITERS, SPATTERDASHES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as
follows:-
The improvements I introduce in gaiters, spatterdashes, and other similar
articles, consist in a new mode of fastening the same, by which means they
can be put on or taken off with greater facility than those with the present
means of fastening, that is to say, with a strap and buckle, or button, which
after being in use some time the strap becomes worn or split by the constant

page_text: fastening and unfastening to which it is subjected, as well as cut by the buckle.
The following is a description of my improvements :-
Securely fastened to one side of and in the interior of the gaiter or legging,
as the case may be, are two or more bands of patent leather or other suitable
material; these bands are made elastic by fixing them firmly and by any con-
venient means to springs of steel similar to those used for pocket books, or in
place of the springs, strips of strong india-rubber may be employed. At the
opposite ends of the bands to those fixed to the inside of the gaiter, circular
holes are cut or punched, and in order to render them more secure may be
furnished with metal rings or eyes; these holes are made to fit upon small
metal-headed pins arranged in a direct line from the point where the bands
are fastened, and on the opposite side of the gaiter or legging, and correspond-
ing in number with them. These pins are fixed to the gaiter or legging in
the position above mentioned by means of screw nuts or rivets from the interior
of the gaiter. In removing the gaiter or legging all that is necessary is to raise
each band in succession and draw the eyelet hole over the head of the pin, thus
unfastening it; this operation is readily performed by taking hold of the
tongue with which each band is furnished. To replace the gaiter the reverse
operation must be performed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Baptiste Toussaint in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th August 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
BAPTISTE TOUSSAINT, of No. 82, Boulevard Sebastopol, Paris, in the Empire
of France, and of No. 31, Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Пer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Jean Baptiste Toussaint, Her special licence that I, the said Jean
Baptiste Toussaint, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Jean Baptiste Toussaint, my executors, administrators, 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

page_text: of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAITERS, SPATTERDASHES, AND OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jean Baptiste
Toussaint, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their bands 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 Jean Baptiste Toussaint, 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 and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
The improvements I introduce in gaiters, spatterdashes, ог leggings consist
in a new mode of fastening the same, by which means they can be put on or
taken off with greater facility than those with the present system of fastening,
that is to say with a strap and buckle or buttons, which after some use the
strap becomes worn and split by the constant fastening and unfastening to
which it is subjected, as well as cut by the buckle, and those that button
are constantly out of order by the buttons coming off and the holes becoming
The object of my Invention is to overcome these objections to the
old system of closing by simplifying, and at the same time rendering it more
worn.
secure.
The following description of my improvements will at once be understood by
reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Securely fastened to one side of and in the interior of the spatterdash or
legging are two or more bands of patent leather or other suitable material a,
Figs. 1, 2, and 3; these bands are rendered elastic by fixing them firmly and
by any convenient means to springs of steel b, Figs. 1 and 2, similar to those
used for pocket books, or in place of these springs strips of strong india-
rubber may be employed. At the opposite ends of the bands to those fixed
to the inside of the legging, circular holes are cut or punched, and in order to
render them more secure may be furnished with metal rings or eyes; these
holes are made to fit upon small metal-headed pins c, Figs. 1, 2, and 3,
arranged in a direct line from the point where the bands are fastened, and on
the opposite side of the spatterdash or legging. These pins are secured to
the legging by small screw nuts, rivets, or by any other suitable means from
the interior of the legging. In removing the gaiter, spatterdash, or legging,
all that is necessary is to raise each band in succession, and draw the eyelet

page_text: hole over the head of the pin, thus unfastening it, this operation is readily
performed by taking hold of the tongue d, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, with which each
band is furnished. To replace the spatterdash the reverse operation must be
performed. In place of the elastic bands or straps I can also make use of
cords, also elastic and lacing across one another, upon small hooks arranged
for that purpose on each side of the opening of the legging, and these hooks
may be so arranged as to form various designs when laced across with the
cords; the legging or spatterdash may also be ornamented with small holes
punched out of the leather similar to the toe caps of boots and shoes at
present in use, such devices varying according to taste and the degree of finish
of the legging, which may also be furnished with a tassel. And in some
cases I insert a piece of elastic band similar to that employed for the side
springs of boots, and shewn B, Fig. 4, this causes the legging to fit closer,
and at the same time is more comfortable to the wearer, as it gives with
every motion of the leg.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim and desire to secure
by Letters Patent is the peculiar arrangement of closing spatterdashes,
leggings, or gaiters in the manner already described and shewn by the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Baptiste Toussaint, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the year of
.. our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
JEAN BAPTISTE J. B. TOUSSAINT. (L.B.)
HÉBRÉ,
82, Boulevart Sébastopol,
Paris (France).