IMPROVEMENTS IN COATS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO SLEEVES OF OTHER GARMENTS
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I JOSEPH
STOVEL, of Suffolk Place, Pall Mall East, in the County of Middlesex,
Tailor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eighteenth day of
October (One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine), in the thirteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Stovel, my exors, adñiors, or assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Joseph
Stovel, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Stovel, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the Islands
of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COATS,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO SLEEVES OF OTHER GARMENTS;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Joseph
Stovel, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of

page_text: Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Stovel, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists, first, of improvements in the manufacture of coats
by applying double fronts..
Secondly, my Invention consists of applying elastic fabrics or springs to
the writs or lower parts of the sleeves of coats and other garments, so that the
hands will pass readily through, and then the ends of the sleeve close around
the wrist without the same requiring to be buttoned.
In order that my Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
The object of the first part of my Invention is to protect the chest from
cold and the person from wet, when either driving or riding, and when tra-
velling, the outer front forming a complete covering for the knees. Coats
may also be made in this way for walking and all ordinary purposes; the
inner front, when desired, being of a different material from-the outer, will give.
it the positive appearance of two coats, and these (both inner and outer) may
be made of any shape. The method. I have adopted: in making is the fol-
lowing The inner coat is first made complete, in whatever shape it may be
deemed advisable. An additional front is then cut for each side; these are
attached to each other by a collar, and when so attached are placed on: the
inner coat, the bottom edge of the collar of the outer front being placed on
the seam of the collar of the inner front, and otherwise attached thereto by
the shoulder seams and front part of the arm-hole, from the termination of
that part of the arm-hole which is directly under, the arm, it is sewn about
six inches down, and from thence to the bottom' it buttons, so that it may be
easily loosened, giving freedom; and enabling the outer part to be applied to
the various purposes for which it is intended."
.The second part of my. Invention .consists of applying 'elastic fabrics or
springs to the wrists or lower part of coat sleeves, and also to sleeves of other
garments. For this purpose I leave the wrist open as heretofore, but 'in
place of having buttons and button-holes, 'or hooks and eyes, I introduce a
narrow portion of ribbon, composed of a warp of 'silk (or other non-elastic
fibre) and a weft of india-rubber, by which transverse elasticity is obtained;
and I sew such fabric on either side of the opening at the wrist, when the

page_text: parts are together or touching, by which means, when the hand is passing
through the wrist or lower part of the sleeves, the same will expand; but so
soon as the hand has passed, the wrist or lower part of the sleeve will
again contract and fit round the wrist of the person, the elastic fabric being
between the inner surface of the cloth of the sleeve and the lining of the
sleeve.
I would remark that in some cases, in order to obtain greater strength at
the lower part of the sleeve, I place a slip of india-rubber (preferring vul-
canized india-rubber) across the opening, and fold it within the lower end of
the elastic fabric before mentioned, and stitch such elastic fabric over the
strip of india-rubber.
I would state, although I prefer to use the manufacture of elastic
fabric above mentioned, I do not confine myself thereto, as others may be
used in carrying out this part of my Invention; and in place of india-rubber,
metal springs enclosed may be employed, but I think not so advantageously.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the details herein described, so long as the peculiar character of
either part of my Invention be retained; but what I claim is,-
First, the manufacture of coats with double fronts.
And, secondly, I claim the manufacture of the sleeves of coats with clastic
fabrics or springs introduced at the wrist.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Stovel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty.
Enrolled the Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and fifty.