Improvements in Dress-holders.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Apr., 1890-Accepted, 24th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dress-holders.
I, EDMUND LYNN SHAPLEY of 121, Cheapside in the City of London Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an appliance whereby the skirts of ladies dresses can be
heightened at will so as to prevent them from touching the ground or for other
purposes.
The invention consists of a band made of any suitable material with two or more
studs or hooks fixed at suitable distancos apart at or near the centre and on either
side of the studs or hooks at suitable distances apart are made eyeletted holes. Upon
the said band at a short distance from each end are fastened two or more appendages
of any suitable material so made as to admit of cords being passed through them &
fastened at the lower end onto which end of each appendage are attached suitable
clips. The cords are carried from the upper end of each appendage and passed
through the eyletted holes in the band and have suitable fastenings affixed to the
ends of the cords. Kings or similar contrivances are attached to the inside of the
skirt of the dress at suitable points The said band is affixed to the top of the skirt
and the above mentioned clips are fixed on to the said rings fastened to the dress.
To bring my invention into operation the cords are drawn up until the dress is of the
desired height and are then secured to the said studs by means of the fastenings
attached for the purpose to the ends of the cords. The dress is lowered by simply
detaching the fastenings at the end of the cords from the studs or hooks on
the band.
Dated this Second day of August 1889
EDMUND LYNN SHAPLEY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dress-holders.
I, EDMUND LYNN SHAPLEY of 121 Cheapside in the County of London Manu-
facturer 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 refers to appliances as hereafter described whereby the skirts of
ladies dresses can be raised or lowered from the upper part thereof when required
with greater facility than heretofore.
In the waistband of a dress there are eyelet holes through which cords are rove
leading and attached to the upper back portion of the skirt; these cords pass through
sleeves or casings of fabric attached at their upper ends to the waistband and con-
sequently these sleeves or casings contract in length as the cords are drawn through
the eyelet holes or apertures while at the same time the dress skirt is raised and
friction by the cord on the dress or dress lining is obviated.
The invention will be best understood by further describing same with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view shewing my invention applied to the waistband of a
dress with the cords in their normal position and where the dress band fastens at
the back.
Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but shewing the cords in the
position they assume when the dress is raised.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a dress skirt shewing my invention applied
thereto.

page_text: Figure 4 is a perspective diagram view especially shewing the invention where the
band opens and fastens at the side.
Figure 5 shews a costume with the dress in the normal position, and Figure 6
shews the same costume with the dress skirt as raised by appliances constructed
according to my invention.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are drawn on a smaller scale than Figures 1 and 2, and
similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.
A is the dress band, B B are the eyelet holes or apertures therein, CC are the
cords proper each of which is doubled as shewn and threaded through the eyelet
holes B. At the bend of each of the cords there are hooks D or their equi-
valents such as rings or something to take hold of; when hooks are employed
they may conveniently be hooked when not in use into an eyelet hole in the band
as shewn.
The ends of each of the cords C pass through the eyelet holes B at the back of
the band and downwards each separate end of the cord C passing through fabric
sleeves E E the upper ends of such sleeves being sewn onto the waist band A
while the lower ends of the sleeves E together with the cords C are secured to
clips or plates F the latter being sewn to the skirt and the sleeves E may also
be sewn to the dress or lining whereby they are attached to the dress skirt.
Instead of the hooks 1) there may be studs on the waistband to which the cords
may be looped or secured.
To raise the skirt of the dress when the cords are in the position shown at
Figures 1, 4 and 5, all that is necessary to do is to unhook the hooks D and pull
each of the cords thereby causing them to travel through the eyelets B and to
contract or draw up together the fabric sleeves E into the position shewn at
Figure 2 when the cords are secured by tying the ends or by hooking the hooks
into the eyelets or over the studs or in any other convenient way. This done
the skirt of the dress is raised from the ground into the position shown at Figure 6
not being looped up from the bottom of the skirt but lifted from the top, without
disarranging the symmetry of the dress. The dress is lowered to and permitted
to assume its normal position by simply undoing or detaching the fastenings of
the cords.
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 :-
:
First In dress holders or dress suspenders the combination with a dress skirt
having a waistband A of the eyeletted holes B, cords C C and fabric sleeves E
the said cords C being threaded through the eyeletted holes B, the cord ends
depending at the back passing through sleeves E and fixed to the skirt of the
dress whereby the latter may be raised from the upper part of the said skirt as
set forth.
Second: In dress holders or dress suspenders the fabric sleeves E in combina-
tion with the cords C substantially as and for the purposes herein before described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third: In dress holders, a waistband with metal eyelet holes B therein for the
passage of cords whereby the skirt of a dress is drawn up or let down sub-
stantially as herein before described and particularly with reference to Figures 1, 2
and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
.
Fourth: The dress holders or dress suspenders constructed arranged and acting
substantially as and for the purposes set forth together with any mere modification or
modifications thereof.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1800
EDMUND LYNN SHAPLEY.
By Brewer & Son,"
EDMUND LYNN SHAPLEY.
By Brewer & Son,"
33, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.