Improved Articles of Wearing Apparel for the use of Cyclists, Athletes, and others.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Articles of Wearing Apparel for the use of Cyclists,
Athletes, and others.
I, MARY JOSEPHINE DONAGHY, of Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Ireland,
Lady, 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:-
My invention relates to improved articles of wearing apparel for the use of cyclists,
athletes and others, and the object is to provide headgear and also protection for the
elbows, knees, shoulders, and other parts of the wearer, in such form that they will
protect the wearer's head and other parts, in case of falls or other similar accidents. The
invention is particularly intended for the use of cyclists, athletes and others who are
liable to accidents and injury by falling or coming into violent concussion with the
ground or with surrounding objects.
In carrying my invention into effect, I proceed in or in about the following manner.
I form the cap or other headgear, knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle or other protector of
any suitable material, such as plain or covered indiarubber, which will readily adapt
itself to the part it is intended to cover, and I provide the outer surface with plain,
tubular, cellular, ribbed, corrugated, or other hollow parts which can be inflated with
air, and so form a cushion like surface for the protection of the part over which the
article is worn. In order to more clearly indicate the nature of my invention, I
make reference to the accompanying drawings in which. Fig. 1, shews a side view of
a cap.
Fig. 2, being a cross section of it. Fig. 3, is a side view of a knee
protector.
In Figs. 1 and 2, the part a fits the wearers head, and the space b between a and
the outer surface c is inflatable and may either be made cellular or plain as in
Figs. 1 & 2. In Fig. 3, the inflated part e is shewn of cellular form. Inflating valves f
may be provided wherever needed. Provision may be made for ventilation by eyelet
holes (or other means) y placed at intervals round the brim, and between the brim
and crown, these holes forming air inlets and establishing communication between
the wearers head or other part and the surrounding atmosphere. An inflatable brim
such as Figs. 1 and 2, may be provided if desired. An inflatable Tam o Shanter
would be the simplest kind of article to embody my invention as applied to head
covering. Tbe inflated parts may be covered and ornamented in any suitable
manner, or according to the wearers fancy. Inflatable protectors for other parts than
the head and knee may be constructed in a similar manner.
As my invention is capable of considerable modification without departure from its
main and essential features, I do not restrict myself to the precise shapes, configura-
tion, relative proportions or disposition of parts, as mentioned in the above specification
or exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
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

page_text: other parts of the wearer in such manner as to be inflatable and form cushion-like
coverings for the parts to be protected, the whole substantially as described in the
above specification, and exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
2. The improved articles of wearing apparel for the use of cyclists, athletes, and
others, the said articles being constructed substantially as described in the above
specification and exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of August 1897.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.