Improvements in Skirts for Lady Cyclists.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1896--Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Skirts for Lady Cyclists.
I, RICHARD THOMAS SMAILES, of 1 and 2 Moreton Terrace, South Kensington,
in the County of London, Manufacturer 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:-
The skirts usually worn by lady cyclists are apt to drag on the rider so as to
show the outline of the figure more prominently than is sometimes agreeable and
my invention is intended to remove this objection and by supplying a skirt which
while allowing the fullest freedom of movement will drape the figure gracefully,
to increase the popularity of cycling among those ladies who do not wish to
adopt the more advanced costume.
According to my invention the principal part of my improved pedaleuse skirt
is made in the usual manner but at the seam at each side of the breadth of
stuff forming the front of the skirt, I attach a piece or breadth, of preferably
the same material, the front edge of which is sewn into the seam or similarly
attached and the other edge of which is free, and the upper edge of which is
attached to the waist band, and so that such extra or loose pieces hang, when
the wearer is erect, as if they were parts of an ordinary skirt, and so that they
are not easily distinguishable as anything unusual, and, when the lady is on her
machine, such side-pieces hang loosely and slightly away from the wearer, not
being caught in on the seat, and consequently perfectly drape the sides where,
without such provision, the skirt usually draws more or less tightly over the
figure and between it and the seat.
I may provide such fullness or amplitude of material as is necessary to give
freedom of motion to the limbs in the cycling position and I may provide such
arrangement, or fastening, at the waistband as will prevent the waistband getting
out of its proper position.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings I have represented both the complete
skirt and the various pieces of which it is made viz.
Fig. 1 is a back view of the complete garment as it hangs when the wearer is
standing.
Fig. 2 is a like view when the wearer is on her machine.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the skirt showing the internal arrangements.
Fig. 4 is a perspective representation of the waistband and adjacent parts.
Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 represent the various pieces of which the skirt is made
previous to their being made up viz.: Fig. 5 is the front piece; Fig. 6 the back
piece; Fig. 7 is one of the side pieces of the skirt itself, that is to say the inner
side piece, and Fig. 8 is the outer side piece.
Fig. 9 is a side view of the complete skirt (but without its waistband).
Fig. 10 is a front view under like conditions.
Figs. 11 and 12 are representations of the skirt on a lady cyclist on and off the
machine respectively.
Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10 the skirt itself or that part of the
garment which entirely surrounds the wearer is formed of the pieces g, m and n;
b, b are the side pieces or apron-like attachments, the front edges b' of which are
sewn into the forward side seams c. c of the garment and the back edges d of which
are free as shewn more particularly in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9 and serve to drape the
figure when riding by hanging loosely over the saddle as shown in Figs. 3 aud 11.

page_text: In the sectional view Fig. 3 which shows the inside of the garment, is shown one
of a pair of bands k of elastic or like material each of which is intended to pass
round a leg of the wearer and fasten over a button provided for that purpose and
which serve to retain the skirt and prevent its being unduly displaced by wind or
otherwise.
For the sake of greater security against accidental displacement when cycling
I prefer to make the waistband as shown in Fig. 4 of two pieces e and f, of which
e entirely encircles the waist and fastens preferably with hooks and eyes, while f
which is attached to the back piece m of the skirt and is made strap like towards
its ends so as to pass through the two openings h h and fasten over the button j.
Referring now to Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, g in Fig. 5 is the front piece of the skirt,
to the seams c, c at the sides of which are attached both the inner side pieces n
(Fig. 7) and the outer side pieces 6 (Fig. 8) as are also the buttons for the bands k
on the inside of the skirt, m (Fig. 6) is the back piece and n, Fig. 7, one of the
inner side pieces. Darts 99 are cut at the upper part of the outer and inner side
pieces and n in order that they may fit the figure and be worked smoothly into
the waistband.
It will be easily understood that when the wearer is on her machine the outer
side picces b, bhang over the saddle in a free and graceful manner and as shown in
Fig. 11 and afford exactly the protection that is needed, and when she is off her
machine the garment hangs as shown in Fig. 12 and is not noticeably different from
any other tailor made skirt of usual construction.
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. The improvements in skirts for lady cyclists hereinbefore described and
shown in the drawings.
2. Skirts for lady cyclists having side pieces bb each attached to the skirt by
its front edge and hanging free at its back edge so as to drape the wearer's figure
effectually when she is on the saddle of the machine substantially in the manner
hereinbefore described.
3. In a lady's cycling skirt the combination of the side pieces bb cut and made
up as described, the waistband formed of the parts e and f and fastening as
described, the internal knee bands all as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
Dated the 24th day of June 1896.
R. T. SMAILES.