Improvements in or relating to Leggings, Gaiters, Spats, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Leggings, Gaiters, Spats, and the like.
I, THOMAS HENRY CLARKE, of Queen Square, Fermoy, in the County of Cork,
Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
It relates to improvements in leggings, gaiters, spats and the like all of which,
hereafter are designated and included in the term "legging" and its object is
to provide a simple, ready and efficient means for stiffening and fastening the
same, without there being a tendency to form wrinkles or creases in the front
portion thereof.
According to this invention the "legging" may be made of any suitable
material such as say leather or canvas, and being cut to the requisite size and
shape, say in one, two, or more pieces, which when in two or more pieces are
sewn together and are afterwards blocked to the required shape.
The vertical edges of the "legging" are made so that one edge overlaps
the other.
"TO STRENGTHEN OR STIFFEN LEGGING."
In the making of these "leggings" I use as a means of stiffening, a whole
piece of leather placed inside as a counter or strengthening piece starting at
the bottom and reaching upwards about half-way up the vertical edges and
then rising gradually to a point within about 2 or 3 inches of the top of
"legging" at centre or back being stitched to, or affixed with a strong solution
or cement to "legging." This prevents the possibility or probability of the
"legging" breaking or collapsing in wear.
(This I have had proved by very severe test and found the best results).
"TO SECURE LEGGING. No. 1 METHOD."
(1) As a means of fixing on to leg, the "legging" is placed in its proper
position, and firstly is secured by means of a small buckle & strap at top.
(2) A second strap without a buckle is stitched or fixed close to or alongside
the strap named in Para. 1, and of sufficient length (after winding downwards
and around the leg) to reach about halfway down the "legging."
"
(3) A third strap with a buckle at one end is used, and the end of this which
has not got the buckle on is stitched or fixed at the bottom part of "legging
and is of sufficient length (after winding upwards and around the leg) to reach
the strap named in Para. 2 above, and by attaching these two straps together
the "legging" is fixed; removing all creases and wrinkles.
This buckle when fixed should lie in a fairly straight line with the top one.
(4) The attaching or fixing of straps named in Para: 2 and 3 may be reversed

page_text: TO SECURE LEGGING. No. 2 METHOD."
Another way of fixing the " legging is to abolish strap No. 2 described in
Para. 2 of No. 1 method, and substituting a short strap, which is fixed 3, 4 or
more inches from top on outer vertical edge of legging" which meets the
buckle on strap described in Para. 3 of method No. 1 and by attaching these 2
straps in the same way as the others the "legging" is fixed in like manner.
Dated this 21st day of September 1899.
Improvements in or relating to Leggings, Gaiters, Spats, and the like.
I, THOMAS HENRY CLARKE, of Queens Square, Fermoy, in the County of Cork,
Ireland, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, 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 has for its objict improvements in or relating to leggings gaiters
spats and the like by which I provide a simple ready and efficient means for
stiffening and fastening such articles without there being a tendency to form
wrinkles or creases in the front portion thereof while by my improved fastening
the straps are caused to embrace the legging in such a manner that they are less
liable to slip from the required positions than in other leggings having this
class of fastening.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into effect I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which I have
fully illustrated my said improvements applied to a legging and from which its
application to other articles will be readily understood.
Figure 1 is a view of the legging when opened out to shew the interior face.
Figure 2 is a view of the legging when fastened as worn.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure, 2 but shewing a slight modification.
In carrying my invention into effect the legging A is made of any suitable
material such as leather canvas or the like which is cut to the required size and
shape in one two or more pieces and which in the case of those formed of more
than one piece are sewn together while the legging thus shaped is afterwards
blocked to the required form with the vertical edges one overlapping the other.
For the purpose of strengthening or stiffening such leggings the piece of
leather B is placed on the inside to form a counter or strengthening piece start-
ing all round the bottom and reaching to about half way up the vertical edges
at and gradually rising to a point near the top of the legging at the centre
or back being stitched to or affixed with a strong solution of cement to the
legging A by which means any possibility of the legging collapsing or breaking
in wear is prevented.
For fastening the legging an ordinary small strap and buckle C is attached to
the connecting edges at the top while a second strap E without a buckle is
attached as close to the top of the legging at as the aforementioned strap
will allow and is of sufficient length after being wound downwards around the
upper part of the legging to reach the centre between the top and bottom of
the legging or thereabouts while the end of the corresponding strap E¹ is stitched
or fixed on the opposite edge 2 of the legging close to the bottom at e² and is
of sufficient length to allow of being wound upwards around the legging until
the buckle end e³ is in a position to meet the end et of the top strap E i.c. at or

page_text: near the centre between the top and bottom of the legging and at the same time
in a position as far as possible in a vertical line with the buckle C above.
The straps E and E may be reversed so as to cause them to be fastened
the reverse way and I may obviate the use of the top strap E and in lieu
thereof provide the short strap F which is fixed on the outer vertical edge of
legging at or near the centre as shewn by Figure 3 in a position to meet the
buckle of the strap E by which means the legging can be secured as described
with regard to Figure 2.
In the case of leggings attached by spiral straps there is a tendency for the
legging to be pulled up or down on the side where the spiral presses against it
to obviate which I stretch securly a silk whipcord or other suitable loop such
as H which is hidden underneath the legging which when caught on to one
of the breeches buttons keeps the legging perfectly fair and square.
I am aware that leggings have been fastened by a single strap the one end of
which is attached at or near the bottom or top of the legging while the other
end after the strap has been wound round the legging is. buckled at or near the
top or bottom as the case may be but in such cases the winding of the strap
upon the inclined sides of the legging is difficult by reason of the length of
strap required which renders it liable to slip during the process of winding
while at the same time greater difficulty is experienced in getting it evenly
taut. Leggings have also been fastened with double straps one attached at the
top the other at the bottom and both winding round the legging in the same
direction but in this case the straps are not so evenly distributed over the sides
of the leggings and two separate buckles are required to fasten the said straps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be
understood that I am aware of the specification of Pullman's Patent No. 24893
of 1896, and that I lay no claim to anything described and claimed therein, but
I declare that what I claim is:
1st. Leggings gaiters spats and the like having an inside stiffening lining
with extension 62 in combination with straps C. E or F and E¹ attached re-
spectively to the top or centre of one vertical edge of the article and the bottom
of the opposite vertical edge each wound in opposite directions with a buckle
or equivalent fastening for securing the two ends of the straps E or F and E
together at or near the centre between the top and bottom of the legging sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated upon the
accompanying drawings.
2nd. In leggings gaiters spats and the like the combination consisting of two
straps E and E attached respectively to the top of the one vertical edge a and
the bottom of the other vertical edge a2 each wound around the article in oppo-
site directions with a buckle or equivalent fastening for securing the two ends
of the strap together at a point at or near the centre between the top and bottom.
of the legging substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.
3rd. In leggings gaiters spats and the like the combination consisting of the
fastening C the short strap F attached to the article A at or near the centre
of the vertical edge a the strap E' attached at or near the bottom of the
vertical edge a² in position for being wound around the article and provided
with a buckle or equivalent fastening for attachment to the strap F substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.
1000
LEWIS WM. GOOLD,
Agent for Applicant, 5, Corporation Street, Birmingham.