IMPROVEMENTS IN-TROUSERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN-TROUSERS." A communication from abroad. by Jacob William Davis, of San
Francisco, State of California, United States of America.
Sealed the 7th June 1878, and dated the 5th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1878..
ALEXANDER MELville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TROUSERS." [A communication from
abroad by Jacob William Davis, of San Francisco, State of California, United States
of America.]
Trousers have been provided with stay pieces of canvas or other thin but strong
fabric for preventing undue stretching at the knee. Such pieces have been applied
by sewing their vertical edges to the leg seams, their top and bottom edges being
left free. The pieces were likewise contracted in width or cut narrower than the
contiguous portion of the front legs of the trousers, so that they might the better
relieve the cloth of strain.
Drawers have also been made with an additional thickness at the knee by
weaving or knitting in additional woof threads.
This Invention consists in providing the seat and knee portions of trousers
at the time the latter are being manufactured with permanent patch pieces which
are cut from the same cloth, and attached both on the sides and top and bottom,
that is to say, stitched around their entire edge, and lie with their face or nap side
in close contact with the inner or wrong side of the cloth composing the trousers,
so that when the seat or knees are worn through the same may be patched by
simply clipping the ragged edge, and sewing it to the body of the pieces under-
neath; these patch pieces also perform the function of stays to prevent ripping or
stretching of those portions of the trousers to which they are applied.

page_text: For this purpose the knee pieces may be extended over the seam, and secured
thereto in such manner as to stay and strengthen the same, and thus prevent
ripping. The lower edge of the seat piece, is similarly applied and secured to the
seams of the front legs, and for the like purpose.
The seat piece is made of two parts sewed together at the middle, and sewed to
the central seat seam, while its outer edge is sewed to the cloth composing the seat.
The lower edge of the piece likewise covers the leg seams, and thus strengthens the
seam, so that the trousers are not liable to rip at the crotch.
In the better kinds of trousers it is desirable the sewing thread shall not appear
on the outer or face side of the cloth; but in the cheaper kinds, since the sewing
machine will generally be used for attaching the patches, the thread will of course
appear on the face side of the cloth. The knee pieces are also similarly secured.
The upper and lower edges of the latter are further protected by a narrow strip
of thin cotton fabric, but this may be dispensed with.
a
The chief advantages of the improvement are these:- -When trousers, manufac-
factured for and sold ready made by the trade, are worn out on the seat or knee
it rarely happens that pieces of the original fabric can be obtained for patching
them, so that they must be either thrown aside or else patched with pieces of a
different quality or color. There is hence always a sacrifice either of economy or
appearances.
Whereas by the improvement trousers, although sold ready made, will be pro-
vided with patch pieces cut if practicable from waste portions of the same cloth
from which the trousers are made up, and hence of the same quality and color, so
that when the trousers have been worn through the only labor required in mending
will be to clip the ragged edge, and sew it neatly to the patch already secured in
place underneath it.
Again, the patch pieces act as stays or protectors for the seat and knee portions of
the trousers, preventing undue stretching and rapid wear of the cloth at those points
(since the same is a double thickness), and thus avoiding the deformity or ill shape
caused by bulging of the cloth, as when the cloth is a single thickness in the parts
above mentioned.
The knee patches also serve to protect the knees of the wearer, and prevent
their exposure to cold.
It is obvious the form of the seat and knee pieces may be varied without
departing from the Invention.
The improvement is particularly useful and applicable for boys', youths', and men's
trousers of the cheaper kinds.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd August 1878.
kr
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN TROUSERS." [A communication from
abroad by Jacob William Davis, of San Francisco, State of California, United States
of America.]
Trousers have been provided with stay pieces of canvas or other thin but strong
fabric for preventing undue stretching at the knee. Such pieces have been applied
by sewing their vertical edges to the leg seams, their top and bottom edges being
left free. The pieces were likewise contracted in width or cut narrower than the
contiguous portion of the front legs of the trousers, so that they might the better
relieve the cloth of strain.
Drawers have also been made with an additional thickness at the knee by weaving
or knitting in additional woof threads.
This Invention consists in providing the seat and knee portions of trousers at the
time the latter are being manufactured with permanent patch pieces, which are cut from
the same cloth, and attached both on the sides and top and bottom, that is to say,
stitched around their entire edge, and lie with their face or nap side in close contact
with the inner or ፡፡
wrong"
"side of the cloth composing the trousers, and with the
grain" or warp and woof threads running in the same direction; so that when the
seat or knees are worn through the same may be patched by simply clipping the
ragged edge, and sewing it to the body of the pieces underneath. These patch
pieces also perform the function of stays to prevent ripping or stretching of those
portions of the trousers to which they are applied.
<<
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a front view of a pair of trousers with the improvement applied, and
having the knee portion of one leg cut out to show the patch and stay piece;
Figure 2 is a side view of the same with the side of the leg cut out.
Figure 3 represents the seat patch applied to trousers.
"
"
A indicates the seat, and B the knee patches; they are cut from the same cloth
as the trousers proper, and so applied that the " grain or warp and woof threads
run in the same direction.
The nap or face side of the patches lies in close contact
with the inner or "
wrong side
of the cloth, and the pieces are secured by one or
more rows of stitches along the vertical sides, and across the top and bottom.
The knee pieces B may be extended over the seam, and secured thereto in such
nanner as to stay or strengthen the same, and thus prevent ripping. The lower
edge of the seat piece A is similarly applied and secured to the seams of the front
legs," and for the like purpose.
is
As shown in Figure 3 the piece A is made of two parts sewn together at the
middle and to the central seat seam, while its outer edge is sewn to the cloth C com-
posing the seat. The lower edge of the piece A likewise covers the leg seams,
and thus strengthens the seam, so that the trousers are not liable to rip at the
crotch.
In the better kinds. of trousers it is desirable the sewing thread shall not
appear on the outer or face side of the cloth; but in the cheaper kinds, since the
sewing machine will generally be used for attaching the patches, the threads will
of course appear on the face side of the cloth. The knee pieces B are also repre-
sented in Figures 1 and 2 as similarly secured. The upper and lower edges of the
latter (B) are further protected by a narrow strip a of thin cotton fabric, but this
may be dispensed with.
The chief advantages of the improvement are these:-When trousers, manufac-
tured for and sold ready made by the trade, are worn out on the seat or knee it
rarely happens that pieces of the original fabric can be obtained for patching them,

page_text: so that they must either be thrown aside or else patched with pieces of a different
quality or color. There is hence always a sacrifice either of economy or
appearance.
Whereas by the present improvement trousers, although sold ready made, will
be provided with patch pieces cut if practicable from waste portions of the same cloth
from which the trousers are made up, and hence of the same quality and color, so
that when the trousers have been worn through the only labor required in mending
will be to clip the ragged edge, and sew it neatly to the patch already secured in
place underneath it.
Again, the patch pieces A, B, act as stays or protectors for the seat and knee
portions of the trousers, preventing undue stretching and rapid wear of the cloth
at those points (since the same is a double thickness), and thus avoiding the
deformity or ill shape caused by bulging of the cloth as when the cloth is a
single thickness in the parts above mentioned.
The knee patches also serve to protect the knees of the wearer, and prevent their
exposure to cold.
The seat piece A is represented as circular in form, while the knee pieces B are
rectangular; but it is obvious the form may be varied without departing from the
Invention.
The improvement is particularly useful and applicable for boys', youths', and
men's trousers of the cheaper kinds.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, as a new article of manufacture, trousers
provided with permanent patch and stay pieces of the same cloth or fabric of which
the trousers are made up, said pieces being secured thereto when the trousers are
manufactured and arranged with the face or nap in close contact with the inner or
wrong" side of the cloth, and stitched around, the entire edge, as shown and
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)