Improvements in Riding-habit Skirts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Riding-habit Skirts.
I, CHARLES JOSIAH Ross, trading as J. & G. Ross, of 227 High Street, Exeter,
in the County of Devon Outfitter do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention, which relates to riding-habit skirts has for its objects, first, to.
produce a safety riding skirt, that is to say, a skirt which will not catch on the
pommel of the saddle in the event of the rider being thrown or unseated, and
secondly, to make such a skirt in such a way that it will fit closely and comfort-
ably to the figure of the wearer and will be practically self-adjusting.
My invention consists in the combination with a pair of knickerbockers,
Lreeches or knickerbocker-breeches of a habit skirt, the whole of the front of
which, as also the back from the waist to the bottom of the seat, is made like an
ordinary habit skirt. At the seat the skirt back is shaped to fit in and around the
breeches seat to which each back edge of the skirt is sewn at or near to the fork,
thence along the respective leg seams until just above the knee from whence
both back halves of the skirt are loose to the bottom with sufficient material to
lap well over the lower part of the legs of the wearer and to clear the pommel
when in the saddle. When dismounted, the flap on the right side inay be
fastened by a button or equivalent means on the left hip so as to cover the open-
ing behind.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a garment
made according to my invention showing the flap A on the right side in the
unfastened and fastened positions by the full and dotted lines respectively; Fig. 2
is a similar view of same viewed from a different point the flap A being shown
secured to the fastening B on the left hip: Fig. 3 shows the position the parts
would assume when the rider is mounted viewed from the right side, that is to
say, the side next the horse. The same letters of reference where they occur are
used to denote the same or corresponding parts in all the figures.
The breeches C, or the knickerbockers or knickerbocker-breeches as the case
may be, are complete in themselves and are made to fit the wearer and furnished
with a waist band c and suitable fastening devices of the ordinary character to
Outside these breeches C is the skirt D),
keep them in position on the wearer.
the front D1 of which is cut and made in the ordinary way from the waist band d
to the bottom and is entirely separate from the unconnected with the
breeches C. The back 12 of the skirt also is cut and made in the ordinary way,
as far as from the waistband to the seat, at which part each half back of the skirt
is cut with a seat portion. These two seat portions are sewn together and to
the seat-seam of the breeches at or near to the fork . From the fork each
part of the skirt-seat is sewn separately to the respective leg seams of the right
and left legs of the breeches down to just above the knees, say about the position
marked in the drawings. Of course the seams from the fork to need not
exactly coincide in position with the breeches leg seams, but, starting from the
fork they may be continued at a slight angle to the leg seams if the shape of the

page_text: wearer requires or if it is found desirable. From the point the back of the skirt
is open at the bottom, the left or rear half 13 beng cut practically straight
as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, while the other half is cut with a wide loose flap A
which commences at is unconnected with the breeches and is downwardly
curved as shown at a or is otherwise suitably shaped in or along the top edge so
as to form a loop to surround the pommel.
From the foregoing it will be understood that the back of the skirt is con-
nected to the breeches from the seat to just above the knees, and that the entire
lower part of the skirt forms an apron from the knees downwards. The position
of the parts in Fig. 3 will now be understood.
When the rider is mounted and viewed from the outer or left side the skirt
will appear to be an ordinary riding skirt. On the inner or right side, that is to
say, next to the horse, the flap A will fold in next to the saddle as shown, the curve
or other suitably shaped part fitting around the pommel. The rider's right
foot when placed in a foot strap or loop of the ordinary kind on the inside of the
skirt will keep the latter down in its proper position. The rear part D of the
skirt is, by its connection to the left leg of the breeches, partially wrapped round
the rider's left leg and will be kept in proper position by the rider passing the
left foot through a loop such as the loop E.
When dismounted the rider can, by passing the tab F, on the flap A, over the
bottom Bon the left hip of the skirt, seoure the flap A in such a position as to
conceal the seat and legs of the breeches. Other suitable fastening means may
be adopted in place of the tab and button.
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. A riding-habit skirt having a pair of knickerbockers, breeches or knicker-
bocker-breeches therein to which each half of the skirt back is secured at the seat
from the fork to the knees and from thence hangs free, the right half back skirt
being cut with a flap the top edge of which is downwardly curved or otherwise,
suitably shaped to admit the nommel of the saddle substantially as described
and illustrated and for the purpose stated.
2. A riding-habit skirt comprising a complete pair of knickerbockers, breeches,
or knickerbocker-breeches cut to fit the wearer, a partial skirt having a seat
portion cut on each half back by which it is sewn to the breeches fork and leg
seams to just above the knees from whence the skirt is open at the rear and free
of the breeches the right half skirt having a flap with a curve or other suitably
shaped part therein to surround the ponimel of the saddle, substantially as
described and illustrated and for the purpose stated.
3. The combination with a pair of knickerbockers, breeches, or knickerbocker-
breeches, of a partial habit-skirt secured to the breeches fork and leg seams and
open behind and having on the right half back a flap with a downward curve or
other suitably shaped part substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set
forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. A riding-habit skirt cut and made substantially in the manner and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Doted this 28th law of Cantonion 1907
F. W. GOLBY,
36 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicant.