Improvements in Dress Skirt Suspenders.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dress Skirt Suspenders.
I, MARY ALSTON, of Finnart, Kilmun, in the County of Argyle, North Britain,
Gentlewoman, 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the formation and arrangement
of suspenders or appliances for suspending or holding up the skirts of ladies
dresses.
My invention consists principally in providing means for attachment to the lower
part of a skirt at two points, the attaching appliances consisting of adaptations of
what are known as safety pins, and being suspended by cords, chains, or bands, from
a belt, or from a waist band, the two suspending cords, chains, or bands being
secured to the belt or waist band in a manner to be kept at a definite distance apart.
With the "double suspension" the lifting effect extends so far round the skirt as to
allow of the height of lift being moderate; and with it is practically done
away with the objectionable swinging action which occurs with single suspenders.
My invention may be practically carried out in a variety of ways; and some
examples are delineated upon an accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings
which are hereinafter referred to.
In the example shown in Figure, 1, the two "safety" or shielded pins, A, are
attached to cords, B, of silk or other suitable material; and the cords, B, are united
to or formed in the same piece with a cord, C, which is of sufficient length to pass
round the waist and have the ends tied together. The part, D, between the points
of attachment of the cords, B, to the waist cord, C, is strengthened by sewing two
parts of the cords together, or in any other convenient way, the said points of
attachment being fixed so that the distance between the cords, B, may not vary.
The pins, A, are by preference shaped as shown, so as to hang with their pointed
parts horizontal; and they may be of any suitable metal, and, if desired, electro-
plated with any desired metal or enamelled. Any other suitable form of pin may
be employed.
In the modification shown in Figure, 2, the two pins, A, are attached to chains, E,
which depend from hooks, F, formed on metal pieces, G, fixed at suitable distances
apart upon a belt, H. The chains, E, are made with some links longer than the
others, for convenience in linking-up or shortening, by engaging any lower links
upon the hooks, F.
In the modification shown in Figure, 3, the pins, A, are attached to chains, E, as
in the modification shown in Figure, 2, and the chains engage on hooks, F, but these
hooks are upon metal pieces, J, which are shaped to serve as larger hooks for
engaging upon a belt, or for being hooked upon the waist band of a skirt. The
hook pieces, J, are connected by a chain, K. or it may be any other suitable piece,
for determining the proper distance apart of the chains, E.
The hook, F, is by preference shaped as shown in edge view in Figure, 4, that is,
with a part near the point bent inwards so as to be in contact with the plate and
thereby prevent the chain from being jerked out of the hook, the hook being sprung
open when entering or withdrawing the link of the chain. The hook, F, in the
modification shown in Figure, 2, is similarly shaped.

page_text: 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 :-
"
In dress skirt suspenders the providing of means for attachment to the lower part
of a skirt at two points, the attaching appliances consisting of "safety
or shielded
pins suspended from a belt or waist band, by cords, chains, or bands, which are
secured in a manner to be kept at a definite distance apart, substantially as herein-
before described.
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of March 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.