A New or Improved Skirt Attachment for Use by Lady Cyclists.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Skirt Attachment for Use by Lady Cyclists.
I, CHARLES BRISTOW, of 54 Lambton Quay, in the City of Wellington, in the
Colony of New Zealand, Settler, 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 :-
This invention has reference to skirts used by lady cyclists, and has for its object
to provide an attachment whereby the skirt may be kept in its proper position
when the rider is facing the wind, thus ensuring that the skirt shall not rise to an
inconvenient or uncomfortable height or over the knees.
It is well known to lady cyclists that considerable difficulty is experienced in
keeping the skirt properly adjusted, and great discomfort and embarassment
frequently arises through the skirt being caught by the wind and blown over the
rider's knees.
Attempts have been made to overcome this disadvantage and drawback, such as
loops of elastic or other material attached to the skirt and slipped upon the leg.
These devices have objections, such as tearing the lining of the skirt, chafing the
legs and impeding the free action of the same.
It is the object of this invention to provide an attachment which shall leave an
unimpeded action to the legs both whilst pedalling, mounting or dismounting,
walking or running, and at the same time effectually prevent undue displacement
of the skirt, or dust from rising within the same.
The attachment may be made unobservable, or finished so as to have a fancy
appearance, is portable, may be readily attached to any ordinary skirt, be easily
and quickly detached, is light in weight, and inexpensive to manufacture.
With this attachment a skirt may be worn as short as desired without fear of an
undesirable exhibition, so that the rider's attention may be devoted wholly to
managing her machine and her mind relieved of all anxiety as to the condition of
the skirt.
The object of the invention is attained and carried into effect by fixing a band
of webbing to the lining at the front of the skirt and extending around the inside
of the same from one side seam to the other. A height of about nine inches from
the bottom of the skirt will be found a convenient one at which to attach the band,
but this height will vary slightly with the length of the skirt. Eyes are sewn to
this band at suitable distances to engage with hooks provided upon the attachment
proper. Any ordinary hooks may be used, but a hook of special construction, to
be hereinafter described, is preferred.
The hooks are attached to elastic springs arranged around the front of the
attachment to support the same, and a band at the back and garters and loops at
the sides support the back and sides respectively.
The attachment proper is cut in a special form and is designed to prevent.the
central portion from sagging when the rider is walking, and yet give freedom for
long stride.
In order that the invention may be most easily understood by one skilled in the
art to which it appertains, a description shall now be given in detail, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, whereon,-
Figure 1 is a representation of the pattern of the attachment.
Figure 2 is a view of the pattern of a large gusset,

page_text: .
removed.
Figure 7 is a front view of an eye and hook of special construction.
Figure 8 is a side view of the same.
Figure 9 is a plan of the hook.
Similar letters refer to similar parts.
Referring to the drawings, the band (a) with its eyes (a 1) is fixed by sewing or
otherwise inside the lining of the skirt (s) with the eyes preferably between the
lining and the band. The length of this band is made to correspond to the distance
from one side seam of the skirt to the other.
Hooks (b) engage with eyes (a 1) to support the attachment (d) in front, and
may be made in any ordinary form, but preferably as shown on Figures 7, 8, and 9,
where an extension (1) of the hook proper carried around the stem to prevent
the eye from disengaging except at the will of the rider. From the drawings it
will be seen that the eye will not be disengaged merely by falling when its move-
ment would be arrested by the extension (61), but must be carried and twisted
around the said extension before it can be removed. An ordinary spring hook for
example would answer the purpose, but the hook (6) is simple, being made in one
piece, is cheap and is not liable to get out of repair.
The hooks are attached to springs (c) of elastic, which in their turn are fastened
at (c) to the attachment (d) and a length of webbing (d 1) sewn thereon. The
springs (c) pass beneath a length of elastic (f) which is retained within a casing (fl)
except where it is crossed by springs (c) and at such places an eyelet hole is
provided as shown on Figure 4. The length of elastic (f) must equal length of
band (a), and a length of about seven inches will be found convenient for elastic (2)
for most sizes of attachments.
The back of the attachment is supported by a band (9) of webbing Figures 5
and 6 depending from a button (g 1) supplied upon the inside of the waist band of
the skirt. This band (g) is connected to a shorter length of webbing (92) by a
buckle (93) which is in a convenient position for attaching and detaching, the
band (9) being left upon the button (91) when the attachment is removed.
A stay (94) connects band (92) to gusset (2) to take strain off the material.
The sides of the attachment are supported by garters (h) connected to the
attachment by loops (1) and slipped upon the legs as shewn on Figures 5 and 6.
In making an attachment as herein before described patterns should be made as
shown on Figures 1, 2 and 3. On pattern (j) Figure 1, the line (1) shows the
division to receive the large gusset (2) Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6 and lines (3)
similarly show divisions for the small gussets (4) Figures 3 and 4.
Holes (k)
must be cut out through which to pass the feet.
The gussets (2) and (4) and band (d1) are first sewn into their proper
positions, casings (1), (5) and (1) made, attached, and supplied with their
elastics, braces (m) sewn on, springs (c) with their hooks and attachments having
been previously fixed in place and sewn on with band (d1).
It will be found that the elastic (6) in casing (5) in conjunction with the
supports and owing to the shape of the gusset (2) will raise the central portion
of the attachment (d) when the rider's feet are near together and thus keep it from
sagging and looking unsightly, but when the legs are separated the elastic will
give to allow the extended action without splitting the material. Braces (m)
are made preferably of webbing, and further secure the attachment from risk of
being split.
The attachment is adjusted upon the person in the following manner-
The button (91) having been provided upon the waist band as described herein,
and the band (g) attached thereto, the band (a) having been sewn upon the lining

page_text: of the skirt, the feet are passed through the garters (h) and holes (k), the garters
being adjusted just below the knees. The band (g) is then buckled to the short
length (92) and hooks (b) engaged with their eyes upon band (a). The elastic (k 2)
will draw up the material around the ankles and effectually exclude dust.
The attachment may be made in any material and colour, but preferably of nun's
veiling and black, and may be ornamented by lace or trimmings, and in such case
the lace must be attached in a position shewn by dotted lines (p) Figures 1 and 2,
in order to hide the ankles and escape entanglement with the pedals.
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,
1. A skirt attachment whereof the central portion is prevented from sagging by
a spring and gusset, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
2. A skirt attachment whereof the central portion is prevented from sagging by
a spring and gusset, and the dust excluded by an elastic band (k1) and gusset (j 4),
substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
3. A skirt attachment whereof the central portion is supported by hooks and
eyes attached to elastic springs and depending from a band attached to the lining
of the skirt, and supported at the back by a band (9), and at the sides by garters
and loops, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
4. A skirt attachment whereof the central portion is provided with a gusset and
elastic spring and braces (m) to prevent the material from being split, substantially.
as and for the purposes set forth herein.
5. A hook made with an extension partially surrounding its stem to prevent the
eye from disengaging except at the will of the operator, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth herein.
6. A skirt attachment ornamented with lace and the like to hide the ankles
without impeding the pedalling, substantially as and for the purposes set forth
herein.
7. A skirt attachment constructed, arranged and operating substantially as and
for the purposes set forth herein and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of January 1897.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.