Improvements in Skirt Lifters.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Skirt Lifters.
I, ROBERT HARRY TOOKEY of Bridgen Villas, Forty Hill, Enfield in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to an appliance for lifting the skirt of a dress. A cord
having at its end a hook or spring link attached to a ring or loop fixed to the lower
part of the skirt is passed through a catch attached to the waistband, this catch
having a clamping lever which, aided if necessary by a spring, holds the cord when
it is strained by the weight of the skirt, but which can be released by the pressure
of the finger allowing the skirt to drop. There may be two cords and holders for
them, one on each side, and the two cords may be connected by a horizontal part,
by pulling down which, both sides of the skirt can be raised. In order to raise the
middle of the back of the skirt or the middle of a train higher than the sides, the
single central cord may branch into three, one central attached to a ring or loop on
the skirt lower than the attachments of the other two, so that on pulling up the
central cord the middle of the skirt is raised before the side parts. Instead of
branching the single central cord into three, it may be passed through a ring
attached to the skirt at some height above the lower attachment of the cord, and
may have on it a cross bar or stop which, as the middle of the skirt is raised comes
up to the ring and carries it up with it, thus raising the skirt towards its sides ag
well as at its middle.
Dated this 21st day of March 1892.
ABEL & IMKAI,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Skirt Lifters.
I, ROBERT HARRY TOOKEY of Bridgen Villas, Forty Hill, Enfield in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 an appliance for lifting the skirt of a dress. A cord
having at its end a hook or spring link attached to a ring or loop fixed to the lower
part of the skirt is passed through a catch attached to the waistband, this catch
having a clamping lever which, aided if necessary by a spring, holds the cord when
it is strained by the weight of the skirt, but which can be released by the pressure
of the finger allowing the skirt to drop. There may be two cords and holders for
them, one on each side, and the two cords may be connected by a horizontal part,
by pulling down which, both sides of the skirt can be raised. In order to raise
the middle of the back of the skirt or the middle of a train higher than the sides,
a single central cord may branch into three one central attached to a ring or loop
on the skirt lower than the attachments of the other two, so that on pulling up the
central cord the middle of the skirt is raised before the side parts. Instead of
branching the single central cord into three, it may be passed through a ring
attached to the skirt at some height above the lower attachment of the cord, and
may have on it a cross bar or stop, which, as the middle of the skirt is raised comes
up to the ring and carries it up with it, thus raising the skirt towards its sides as
well as at its middle,

page_text: Fig. 1 represents a central cord D and two branch cords attached by hooks or
spring links E to ring F, one situated centrally at the bottom of the skirt and the
others higher up so that on pulling up the cord by the knob G the middle of the
skirt or it may be a train is first raised and afterwards the side parts. The cord is
held by the catch A, hereinafter more fully described, attached to the waistband.
As shewn in Fig. 2, there are two branches D of the single cord which passes
through two of the catches A so that on depressing the cord between the catches
both sides of the skirt are raiseñ. As shewn in Fig. 3 the cord D passes through
a ring M attached to the skirt at some height above the bottom, and on the cord
is fixed a cross piece L so that on pulling up the cord the bottom of the skirt is
first raised and then, when L comes to bear against M, the skirt is raised bodily.
Fig. 4 represents in back view and edge view one form of the catch A made with
its upper part B to hook on to the waistband.
Figs. 5 and 6 are views of the catch with the front cover removed to shew the
interior, and
Fig. 7 represents in front and edge views the catch with strap C of leather,
webbing or the like which may be sewn on the waistband.
Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the cord D passes over an arched piece H and under
a serrated lever I which is urged by a blade spring J as shewn in Fig. 5 or by a
helical spring N acting on an upwardly projecting arm I' as shewn in Fig. 6. In
either case the lever I can be raised by the hand applied to the arm K, allowing
the skirt to descend as far as permitted by the knob G.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what: I
claim is :-
A skirt lifter consisting of a cord, which may have branches, attached by
hooks or their equivalents to rings sewn to the skirt and passed through a catch
attached to the waistband holding the cord by means of a spring lever which can
be disengaged by hand, substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of August 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.