Improvements in Knitted and Woven Stockings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitted and Woven Stockings.
I, SARAH FRANKS, of No. 23, Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in knitted and woven stockings and has
for its object to dispense with the necessity for the employment of garters in order
to retain the stocking in position upon the leg.
It is well known that the use of elastic or other garters completely encircling
the leg is very injurious to health and various devices have therefore been suggested
in lieu thereof but they have all been more or less of an impracticable nature from
various causes.
According to my invention I dispense with the employment of a separate or
other continuous band of india rubber or other material to encircle the leg and in
lieu thereof I form the stocking around a portion of its circumference with a
thickened strip or strips of knitted fabric formed by several courses of a close
stitch of ribbed or other work and I arrange the thickened strip or strips in
front of the stocking and in a position just below or in positions below and above
the knee.
By these means I obtain the necessary contraction of the stocking around the
leg to retain the same in position, and I, at the same time, avoid any injurious com-
pression of the limb, whilst I also obtain a supporting means which may be washed
with the stocking in the ordinary manner without deterioration.
Dated this 11th day of December 1891.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
· COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Knitted and Woven Stockings.
I, SARAH FRANKS, of No. 23 Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My said invention relates to improvements in knitted and woven stockings and
has for its object to dispense with the necessity for the employment of garters or
stocking suspenders.
It is well known that the use of any ligature round the leg impedes circula-
tion and is consequently injurious to health, whilst suspenders are uncomfortable
and inconvenient.
According to my invention, a half-band or half-garter is formed in the stocking
itself, either just above the knee or just below it or both above and below it, by
knitting or weaving a narrow strip or narrow strips in that part or in those parts
of a comparatively fine stitch and of a deeper ribbing than the rest of the stocking,
so that the half-band or half-garter or the half-bands or half-garters contracts or
contract more than the remaining portion of the stocking.
By this simple means, the stocking is kept in place without any further appliance,
for though the ribbed strip or strips are so much more elastic than the rest of
the stocking that they readily stretch to the circumference, yet, when the stocking
is on the leg owing to the fineness of the stitch and the peculiarity of the ribbing

page_text: in the before mentioned strip or strips, the said strip or strips contract and thus
serve to maintain the stocking in the desired position. The stocking when on the
leg is slightly fulled in front and slightly stretched at the back, so that at the back
of the leg where the veins are situated and where a ligature is injurious there is
comparatively no pressure.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. represents part of a human leg enveloped in a stocking having my
invention applied thereto, and,
Figures 2 and 3 are similar views to Figure 1, but representing slight modifica-
tions thereof.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figure 1. a. represents the leg and b. represents the stocking which
is formed with the usual welt b¹.
The stocking b. in addition to the usual welt b' is formed around a portion of its
circumference with a strip, or there might be several strips, 6* of knitted or woven
fabric of a comparatively fine stitch and of a deeper ribbing than the rest of the
stocking, and this strip b* is arranged in the front of the stocking and in a
position just below the knee 62 so as to form a contraction immediately above the
calf of the leg.
.
In the example given at Figure 2. two strips * of knitted or woven fabric are
formed in the stocking b. one of such strips being located above the knee and the
other below so as to constitute a contraction above each of the enlargements
formed by the knee and calf of the leg.
In the example given at Figure 3. the strip 6* of knitted or woven fabric below
the knee is dispensed with, whilst the strip /* above the knee is relied upon to give
the necessary support to the stocking b.
By these means, I obtain the necessary contraction of the stocking around the
leg to retain the same in position, and I, at the same time, avoid any injurious
compression of the limb whilst I also obtain a supporting means which may be
washed with the stocking in the ordinary manner without deterioration.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A stocking formed around a portion of its circumference either above or
below or both above and below the knee with a strip or strips of knitted or
woven fabrics of a comparatively fine stitch and of a deeper ribbing than the
remaining portion of the stocking, substantially as herein shown and described and
for the purpose stated.
Dated this 12th day of September 1892.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.