An Improved Cycling Skirt.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Cycling Skirt.
We, EDWARD BARNES, GEORGE BARNES, ARTHUR BARNES, FREDERICK BARNES,
and JAMES VINCENT, Ladies' Tailors and Outfitters, all of Old Christchurch Road,
Bournemouth, Hampshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
at
This invention relates to an improved skirt for ladies' use, the same being
particularly adapted to meet the requirements of a skirt which shall be equally
serviceable both for cycling and for walking exercise, and, in both cases, shall
be graceful in appearance; while, as regards its use as a walking skirt, it shall
be convenient in every way as and shall appear as such; and, as regards
its use as a cycling skirt, it shall fall freely, entirely and gracefully
around the cyclist both the front and at the sides and back,
covering and enclosing from view the cycle saddle and the sitting
accommodation, while, nevertheless, permitting of the cyclist's unimpeded
and free pedalling action without any liability of the skirt riding up with the
action of the limbs or of its being blown up either before or behind, and providing
every facility for mounting and dismounting the cycle, and avoiding any flapping
of the skirt and also the ungraceful appearance due to the bunching up of the
skirt so frequently observable from the rear of lady cyclists using ordinary walking
costumes while cycling and also the annoyance and inconvenience of any display
of the limbs or of the undergarments, so enabling the cyclist to enjoy the pursuit
of the pastime of cycling while ensured of a becoming and graceful appearance.
The improved skirt is represented on the accompanying drawings, in which;
Fig. 1, represents a back view of the skirt; Fig. 2, represents a side view thereof;
Figs. 3, and 4, represent similar views to Figs. 1, and 2, respectively, but of the
skirt turned inside out; Fig. 5, represents a back view of the skirt with the back
parts of the outer skirt part turned outwardly to show the inner skirt part; and
Figs. 6, and 7, represent sectional plans on about the lines, A-B, C-D), respec-
tively, Figs. 1, and 2.
The improved skirt is characterized by being made in two separate skirt parts
which are separately attached and separately depend from the waist band and
are secured or held together by clastic bands at the sides and back arranged to
operate as hereinafter, described, the skirt parts being respectively adapted and
being adapted to co-operate as hereinafter more particularly referred to.
a7,
The one skirt part, a, serves as an entirely surrounding or outer part, and is open
behind where it is doubled back along the line, a¹, on each side, to the lines, a²,
at which its edges are left free. At intervals, however, the edges, a², are sewn,
as at a³, to elastic bands, b, the ends of which are respectively sewn to the adjacent
outer fold of the back of such skirt part, as at a, and to the adjacent side seams,
of such skirt part, as at 5, the elastic bands passing around the sides of such
skirt part, within the same, and serving to draw the skirt, front backwards and
downwards and to prevent the skirt sides from flapping outwards when cycling.
At a lower part, the two inner folds of the back of such skirt part, a, are con-
nected together by an elastic band, 61, which is sewn to each thereof, as at aº,
and tends to draw the folded back parts of such skirt part together, and to fold
the same over such of the folds of the inner skirt part as are enclosed by such band.

page_text: The other part, c, of the skirt serves as an inner back or partly surrounding
skirt part in addition to the skirt part, a, and is arranged within the latter,
extending around the sides and forwardly thereof to the lines c¹, adjacent to the
side seams, a7, of the skirt part, a. This inner skirt part, c, in line with the
respective elastic bands, b, and adjacent to its side edges, c, is formed with eyes
or pockets, c, through each of which one of the bands b, passes, so as to cause the
inner skirt part, c, to be secured to the outer skirt part a at the sides of the skirt
by an elastic and self adjusting connection. The inner skirt part is also in
line with the elastic band, 6', connecting the inner fold of the outer skirt part,
made with other eyes or pockets, c³, through which the band 61, is passed, so
as to cause the lower and hinder part of the inner skirt part, c, to be enclosed
by the back folds of the outer skirt part a, as aforesaid, by means of an elastic
and self adjusting connection.
When in use as a walking skirt, the elastic bands, b, b¹, serve to draw the skirt
parts well to the figure, the lowermost band drawing the open parts of the back
of the outer skirt part together, and causing the midwidth of the inner skirt part
to be drawn and to fold between the pockets, c³, with which it is formed. In
like manner, when in use as a cycling skirt, the back of the outer skirt part can be
conveniently opened apart to allow of the inner skirt part being sat upon without
any strain upon the outer skirt part, the sides of which are caused by the elastic
bands, b, to lie close to the figure, while the open back parts of the outer skirt part
are caused to close together so as to cover and hide from view the cycle saddle
and the bend of the body at the sitting accommodation, by the band, 61, and the
free and natural fall of such open back parts.
d, represents the waist band to which the skirt parts, a, b, are separately attached
and from which they separately depend, and e, represents ankle straps connected
to the seams, a', and which aid in keeping the lower parts of the outer skirt part
close to the person and from riding or blowing up. The front of the outer skirt
part is also lined with satin or some other smooth fabric to facilitate the leg action,
while, nevertheless, avoiding any liability of the rising legs lifting the skirt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is;-
The hereinbefore described improved cycling skirt, serving also as a walking
skirt, the same being characterized by being made in two separate skirt parts,
separately attached to and depending from the waist band, the one serving as an
entirely surrounding or outer skirt part open behind, and the other serving as
an inner back or partly surrounding skirt part arranged within the outer skint
part and discontinuous at the front, the outer skirt part being fitted with elastic
bands connecting its rear and side parts and passing through eyes made in the
inner skirt part adjacent to its side edges and serving to draw the skirt parts
well to the figure and to secure the same together, with an elastic and self adjust-
ing connection, and also with an elastic band connecting its rear parts and passing
through eyes made in the hinder part of the inner skirt. part and serving to draw the
open back parts of the outer skirt part together and to cause them to fold over
and enclose the hinder part of the inner skirt part, substantially as herein before
described.
DAY, DAVIES, & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C. Agents for the Applicants.