IMPROVEMENTS IN CRINOLINES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Catherine Séraphine
Schneider at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th August
1881.
CATHERINE SERAPHINE SCHNEIDER, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CRINOLINES."
The Invention relates to improvements in crinolines for ladies' dresses, whereby
they are rendered comparatively invisible and indeformable, and the train may be
extended or drawn in at pleasure.
The crinoline is composed of a horse hair fabric of suitable shape united down
the front by tape strings, lacing, or otherwise. At the back part of this crinoline
is arranged a series of stiffeners consisting of strips of steel crossing each other at
a slight angle, and of others placed horizontally and parallel to each other. Inside
the said crinoline, and extending from side to side thereof, is a division formed of
material similar to the crinoline itself, and also furnished with steel stiffeners. In
the lower part of this division, and vertically in the middle thereof, an opening is
left furnished with elastics and tapes, whereby the two edges of the said opening
may be brought closer together or separated at will, whereby the train part of the
crinoline may be extended or drawn in at pleasure, as above mentioned.
This horse hair crinoline or shape is covered with a petticoat of any suitable
material, which takes exactly the form of the crinoline beneath it, and is laced
thereto at the upper part, being buttoned together down the front and back, or
otherwise fastened, so that it can be easily detached from the crinoline for the
purpose of being washed without interfering with the crinoline itself in any way.
The petticoat may be furnished with flounces or pleats at pleasure, and may be
secured to the waist by a draw string, an elastic band, or otherwise in the usual
way.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Catherine Séraphine Schneider in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th February 1882.
CATHERINE SERAPHINE SCHNEIDER, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CRINOLINES."
The Invention relates to improvements in crinolines for ladies' dresses, whereby
the said crinolines are rendered comparatively invisible and indeformable, and the
train may be extended or drawn in at pleasure.
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereto annexed represents an external elevation of a
crinoline made in accordance with this Invention, as seen from behind; Figure 2,
an internal elevation of the same, as seen from the front; Figure 3, a side elevation
of the same, showing the attachment of a dress skirt or petticoat thereto, part of
the said dress skirt or petticoat being removed to show the crinoline beneath it
more clearly; and Figure 4, a section through the crinoline on line X, X, of
Figures 1, 2, 3.
The crinoline is composed of a horsehair fabric A. of suitable shape, sometimes
called a crinolette. At the back part of this crinoline or crinolette arranged a
series of stiffeners B, B, consisting of strips of steel, whalebone, cane, or other
suitable material crossing each other at a slight angle, and of other similar
stiffeners C, C, placed parallel to each other. Inside the said crinoline, and extending
from side to side thereof, is a division D formed of material similar to the crinoline
itself, and also furnished with steel or other suitable stiffeners E, E. In the lower
part of this division, and vertically in the middle thereof, an opening F is left,
furnished with elastics G, G, and tapes H, H, by means of which the two edges I, I,
of the said opening may be brought closer together or separated at will, whereby
the train part of the crinoline may be extended or drawn in at pleasure, as above
mentioned, and is kept away from the legs of the wearer.
This horsehair crinoline or shape is covered with a petticoat or skirt J of any
suitable material, which takes exactly the form of the crinoline beneath it, but
renders the steel or other framework thereof comparatively invisible. It is laced
or otherwise secured to the upper part or waist band of the crinoline, being buttoned
or otherwise fastened together down the front or back, or both, so that it can be
• easily detached from the crinoline for the purpose of being washed or renewed
without interfering with the said crinoline in any way. The petticoat or skirt
may be furnished with flounces or pleats J, buttoned or otherwise attached thereto
at pleasure, and may be secured to the waist along with the crinoline by a draw
string, an elastic band, or otherwise in the usual way. In order to prevent the
deposit of dirt on the inside of the back part of the crinoline from the heels of the
wearer, and to prevent the heels from catching in the elastics and tapes G, H, of
the division D, a flounce K (shown partly removed in Figure 2 of the Drawings in
order to show more clearly the crinoline behind it) may be buttoned or otherwise
attached inside the lower part of the division D, so as to cover and protect its
elastics and tapes. This flounce-K can readily be removed for the purposes of
washing or renewal when required. The petticoat or skirt J may be fastened to
the crinoline or crinolette at the sides by means of the tapes L.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,―
First. The employment in the crinoline or crinolette A of the division D arranged
and applied thereto, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
Drawings hereto annexed and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: Second. The combination of the skirt or petticoat J with the crinoline or
crinolette A, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the Drawings
hereto annexed and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Catherine Séraphine Schneider, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.