IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SKIRT OF LADIES RIDING HABITS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I JOHN BUSVINE of 4 Brook Street London W. in the County of Middlesex,
Ladies' and Gentlemen's Tailor, do hereby declare the nature of the said inven-
tion for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SKIRT OF LADIES RIDING HABITS " to bo as
follows:-
The improvements in the skirt of ladies riding habits constituting this invention
consists firstly in so making the skirt that in ovent of the wearer being thrown
it shall not be liable to catch in or on the pommels of the saddle; and secondly, in
an improved way for holding down the skirt in its proper place.
I am aware that various devices have been proposed to effect the first part of
this invention but I believe without perfect success.
According to the first part of this invention I cut out a tapered breadth from
the skirt as now made or make an opening in it (which alone is not novel) pre-
ferably on the right side from the bottom to above the knee and secure the two
edges of the opening to one or two close fitting knee sleeves by buttons or other
suitable means On the rider putting on the habit the knee sleove or sleeves is or,
are drawn over the riding trousers and consequently both edges of the opening are
secured and held down to one or both legs of the wearer.
Or the edges of the opening may be attached to the riding trousers by any
suitable means; in either way, the fastenings may be such as to admit of the skirt
being readily detached from the knee sleeve or slceves, or trousers The knee
aleeves may either be made as and drawn on like ordinary trousers; or be open
and fitted with buttons or other means to fasten them round the leg or legs.
The objects of the knee sleeve are twofold. First to attach the skirt to, to hold
it in its proper place; and secondly to ensure that in the event of the rider falling
that the skirt, will be certainly drawn away clear of the saddle, and prevent it
catching.
An apron may be provided to button over the opening when desired, or the
opening may be closed by buttons or other suitable fasteners.
It is also proposed instead of sewing the seams in the skirt in the usual way.
to join some or all of them by means of adhesive gelatine, solution of India rubber,
or slight sewing that would snap if the habit should hang on the pommel of the .
saddle,

page_text: According to the second part of this invention. In the skirt of habits as now
made it is usual to use an elastic tape sewn on to the inside and formed with a
loop for the foot. This arrangement has the disadvantage of dragging the skirt
from where the tape is sewn on causing creases and folds which completely spoil the
"set" and is attended with discomfort to the rider; furthermore it is unsuitable to
the carrying out of the first part of this invention.
According to my plan I dispense with the usual elastic tape and loop and
substitute a kind of shoe having a firm sole upon which the foot rests the upper
part of this shoe is attached to the inside of the front of a skirt made according to
this invention but it may with advantage be applied to the skirt of habits as
ordinarily made the sole holding out and supporting the skirt preventing creases
and folds and dragging and also assists in drawing away the skirt clear of the
pommels in case of accident.
I JOHN BUSVINE of 4 Brook Street London W, in the County of Middlesex
Ladies' and Gentleman's Tailor do hereby declare the nature of my said inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE-SKIRT OF LADIES RIDING HABITS" and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The improvements in the skirt of ladies riding habits constituting this invention
consists firstly in so making the skirt that in event of the wearer being thrown
it shall not be liable to catch in or on the pominels of the saddle and secondly, in
an improved way for holding down the skirt in its proper place.
I am aware that various devices have been proposed to effect the first part of
this invention but I believe without success.
According to the first part of this invention I make an opening in the skirt on
the right side from the bottom to above the knee and secure one or both edges of
the opening to one of two close fitting "knee sleeves"-as I term them-by
buttons, sewing, or other suitable fastenings. Through the upper part of this
opening the pommels, will come, and it-the opening, must consequently be made
in that part of the skirt and of suitable size, for same.
Or in place of "kuee sleeves" the edges of the opening may be attached to the
riding trousers by buttons or other suitable fasteners, proferably so that the skirt
may be readily detached from the trousers when desired..
When." knee sleeves are used I prefer to stitch them firmly to the inside of the
habit and near to edge or edges of opening. The knee sleeves may either be made
as, and drawn on like ordinary trousers over the riding trousers when putting the
habit on, or be open and fitted with buttons or other suitable fasteners to fasten
them round the leg or legs of wearer.

page_text: The objects of the "knee sleeves" are two fold. First to attach the skirt to, to
hold it in its proper place, and secure the edges of the opening; and secondly,
to ensure that in event of the wearer falling, particularly on the left side, that
the skirt will bo certainly drawn away clear of the saddle, and 'thus prevent it
catching.
An apron may be provided to button over the opening when desired; or the
opening may be closed by buttons or other suitable fastenings, when the rider is
dismounted.
According to the second part of this invention. In the skirt of habits as now
made it is usual to use an elastic tape sewn on to the inside and formed with a loop
for the right foot. This arrangement has the disadvantage of dragging the skirt
from where the tape is sewn on causing creases and folds which completely spoil
the "set" and is attended with discomfort to the rider, furthermore it is unsuitable
to the carrying out of the first part of this invention.
According to my plan I dispense with the usual elastic tape and loop for
the right foot and substituto a kind of shoe for the foot. The upper part of
this shoe is attached by sewing to the inside of front of skirt, the solo or stiff
material of the shoe holding out and supporting the skirt preventing creases and
folds, and dragging, and also assists in drawing away the skirt clear of the pommels
in ovent of accident.
This kind of shoo may with advantage be applied to skirts as ordinarily made in
place of the usual loop.
To enable my invention to be clearly understood I will describe the same by aid
of the accompanying drawings in which the same letters of referonce denote the
same parts in the different figures.
Figure 1 is an inside view of side of habit that comes next to the horse according
to one plan of part of this invention.
Figure 2 is outside view of same the interior parts being shown by dotted lines.
Figure 3 is an inside view of side of habit shewing another plan of carrying
out part of this invention.
3
Figures 4 and 5 are detached views of parts shown in the preceeding figures.
a is side of habit skirt, b opening in same for pommels to come through, c, con-
tinuation of opening laced together preferably by an elastic cord passing through
cyclets or rings sewn on inside near edges of opening; e and o¹ "knee sleeves
stitched to skirt where shown by dotted lines f; circular line g shows a piece of
inner lining of strong calico, h, shoe for right foot, i usual elastic loop for left
foot, k, lappet for button to enable the opening b and continuation c, to be partially
closed when desired.
Figure 1 shews how I use one knee alceve e, with the continuation c closed by
preferably an elastic cord laced through eyelets or rings, but any kind of cord that
will readily snap may be used.
Figure 3, shews how I propose to use two knee sleeves, in this plan the opening b,
and continuation c, is differently cut to that shown in the preceeding figure, and
no Incing is necessary to retain the edges of the opening as they are held in their
proper place by the two knee sleeves e and e', being stitched near edges of same,
and retained in a suitable position by legs of wearer, assisted by shoe h, and
usual loop i.
In this plan I provide a covering or apron (not shown in drawings) to be buttoned
over the opening b and c when the rider is dismounted.
An equivalent for the knee sleeves might be one or more bands of a suitable
material attached to the inside of the skirt us, and to act like the knee sleeves.
The shoe h may either be made with a firm sole for the foot to rest upon
attached in any suitable manner to an upper of any suitable material, the latter
being sewn to the skirt as and where shown. Or the shoe may be made without
a firm sole and the whole of it made of any stiff material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I would observe that

page_text: to simply cut a piece out from a skirt as shown at b, and to continue the opening
to bottom of skirt as shown at c is not new and I lay no claim to the same alone,
but what I consider novel and declare that I claim is-
1-In the skirt. of ladies riding habits the use of one or of two knee sleeves or
equivalents, attached to skirt, to assist in drawing the skirt away from the saddle
in event of accident.
.2 The combination of one knee sleeve or equivalent attached to skirt of habit
opening b, continuation c and lacing & used as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
3-The combination of two knee sleeves or equivalents, opening b, and con-
tinuation c, used as and for the purposes herein before described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
:
4-Attaching riding trousers to the skirt of a riding habit to act as knee
sleeves.
5-Attaching riding trousers to the edge or edges of the opening b, or of con-
tinuation c to act as knee sleeves as hereinbefore described.
6-With the skirt of ladies riding habits made with an opening, the use of an
apron to button over same.
"
7-With the skirt of ladies riding habits, the use of the shoe h, made and used