Improved Means for Retaining Ladies' Skirts in Position when Cycling.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 30th Apr.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Retaining Ladies' Skirts in Position when
Cycling.
We, ESTHER MATTHEWS, of 172, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Married Lady,
and CATHERINE CARTER, Brampton House, Havelock Road, Bell Vue, Shrewsbury,
Spinster, 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 for improved means for retaining ladies skirts in position when
cycling has for its object an improved device for retaining ladies skirts in position
and prevent disarrangement by the wind and other causes and consists of a
strip of spring steel covered with suitable material and secured to the lining of the
skirt towards the front so as to impart a certain amount of stiffness thereto while
there is sufficient flexibility to allow of the ordinary motions of the limbs.
The strip of spring steel is preferably covered with thread or suitable material
having a small margin on either side by which it is secured to the lining by
stitching or otherwise, so as to extend down the front of the skirt for about 12 inches
from the band to a few inches from the bottom of the skirt. The ends of the strip
are brass bound and provided with eyelet holes at each end. The strip is attached
at each end to the skirt by stitching through the eyelet holes and by means of the
covering as above described intermediate of the ends.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 is a per-
spective view showing a ladies skirt fitted with this invention the skirt being shown,
partly removed, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the strip of spring metal.
A strip a of spring steel covered with suitable material b is secured to the lining
of the skirt c as shown by stitching the said covering 6 having a small margin b₁
at each side by which the attachment is effected. The device is preferably arranged
at the front of the skirt so as to impart a certain amount of stiffness thereto. The
edges of the metal are preferably provided with a brass binding d at each end so
that there are no sharp ends or corners and eyelet holes e are also formed adjacent
to the ends. The brass binding d is preferably of greater length at the upper
end a¹ of the strip a than at the lower end a²,
The strip a is arranged with its upper end a¹ about 12 inches from the band c¹ of
the skirt while its lower end a² is a few inches from the bottom edging c² of the
skirt.
Owing to the brass binding d the side stitching on the margins 61 stops short
some distance from each end where the eyelet holes e serve for effecting the
necessary attachment. A certain amount of play is therefore allowed and prevents
injury to the skirt.
It will thus be seen that a certain amount of stiffness is imparted to the skirt,
sufficient to retain it in position and prevent disarrangement by the wind and other
causes when cycling while there is sufficient flexibility to allow of the ordinary
motions of the limbs. *

page_text: 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) An improved means for retaining ladies skirts in position when cycling
consisting of a strip of spring metal covered with suitable material and secured
to the front of the skirt so as to extend from about twelve inches from the band
to a few inches from the bottom of the skirt, the attachment to the skirt being
effected at each end by means of eyelet holes and intermediate of said ends by
means of the covering material, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
(2) An improved means for retaining ladies skirts in position when cycling,
consisting of a strip a of spring metal having covering b with margins 61, brass
Lound ends & and eyelet holes e the said strip a being secured at the front of the
skirt with its upper end a¹ about twelve inches from the band c¹ of the skirt and its
lower end a few inches from the bottom c of the skirt and the attachment at the
ends being effected by means of the eyelet holes e and intermediate of said ends by
means of the margins 61 of the covering 6 substantially as described with reference
to the drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 9th day of March 1898
b
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicants.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicants.