IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TROUSERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Woolrich, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TROUSERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Woolrich at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1876.
ALFRED WOOLRICH, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
IN AND RELATING TO TROUSERS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention has for its object the manufacture of trousers in such manner
that they shall give way with the motions of the body as if they were elastic. For
this purpose,
1st. I cut out the cloth for the trousers in such manner that the principal strains
shall come as much as possible in a direction oblique to the thread of the cloth.
2nd. From a point under where the outside front suspender button is usually
fixed, round the back to the same point in the other side, in a horizontal plane, I
sew inside the trousers a strip of elastic material; this strip passes above the hip
bone.
In cutting out the trousers I cut the cloth away a little behind the hip in the
form of a V, sewing the two sides together, and thus forming a gusset. The result
of this arrangement is that I can make the trousers better fitting than is usually
the case, and the trousers giving with any strain, both with the elastic, and also in
a direction oblique to the thread of the cloth near the aforesaid gusset, there is no
longer any heavy strain on the suspender buttons when stooping.
ALFRED WOOLRICH, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
6
IMPROVEMENTS

page_text: they shall give way with the motions of the body as if they were elastic. For this
purpose,
-
1st. I cut out the cloth for the trousers in such manner that the principal
strains shall come as much as possible in a direction oblique to the thread of the
cloth.
2nd. From a point under where the outside front suspender button is usually
fixed, round the back of the same point in the other side, in a horizontal plane, I
sew inside inside the trousers a strip of elastic material. This strip passes above
the hip bone, and secures the position of the trousers, besides taking off the strain
on the shoulders occasioned by braces.
In cutting out the trousers I cut the cloth away a little behind the hip in the
form of a V, sewing the two sides together, and thus forming a gusset, as at A in
Drawing. I sew the seat piece in straight. The result of this arrangement is that
I can make the trousers better fitting than is usually the case, while the fork and
the seat being by this means rendered elastic, and the trousers giving with any
strain, both with the elastic band and also in a direction oblique to the thread of
the cloth near the aforesaid gussett, there is no longer any heavy strain on the
suspender buttons when stopping. I sew on the elastic band so that it shall be at
some tension when the cloth is pulled out flat, in other words, in such manner that
it can be pulled out from one to two inches, a strain equal to from 10 to 30 ounces
being all that is required. The cloth is nearly evenly gathered all the length of the
band.
The Drawing is a diagram of patterns for cutting out the trousers on a reduced
scale; no dimensions are given, as they differ with every individual.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of carrying it into effect, I
wish it to be understood that what I beleive to be new in the foregoing Specification
and accompanying Drawing, and what I desire to claim under the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The mode of cutting out trousers, substantially as described, so as to give
as much elasticity as possible.
2nd. The elastic band, sewn preferably inside the trousers, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Woolrich, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord 1876.
Witness,
JOHN T. EMMETT,
Clerk to W. P. Thompson,
Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.
ALFRED WOOLRICH. (L.S.)