IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIRTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIRTS." A communication from abroad by Messieurs
Gagnol and Clerc, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 10th October 1879, and dated the 19th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIRTS." [A communication
from abroad by Messieurs Gagnol and Clerc, of Paris, France.]
This Invention is designed to provide shirts so made that they will open on one
side, and which need not be furnished with either buttons or button holes. Shirts
made according to the said Invention are exceedingly convenient in use, and
possess numerous advantages which will be readily understood.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I make the breast portion of the-
shirt known as and hereinafter called the shirt-front in one single piece, which,
however, forms part of the shirt itself, and I provide the opening on one side
(generally on the left hand side) instead of in the usual manner, namely, in the
middle of the shirt front; care must be taken not to continue the opening to the
bottom of the latter, as the firmness of the same would in that case be impaired.
The shirt front is made to cross or lap over a piece of the linen or other material of
which the shirt is made, suitably placed on the opposite side of the shirt to form
one of the sides of the opening, but it is not fixed to this piece of material. The
opening terminates at a suitable point of the lower part of the shirt front, from
which point the latter is sewn to the body of the shirt downwards, consequently
the point of attachment is arranged exactly as in ordinary shirts, and the strain
which exists there cannot disarrange either the position or appearance of the shirt
front. The upper part of the shirt front terminates in a flap or tongue of suitable
form and length to exactly fit the lower part of the collar, and this tongue is
secured in an opening of suitable size provided beneath the left shoulder piece of
the shirt. With shirts having turned down collars the said opening is not required,
as the flap or tongue will be held securely if simply placed under such collar. The

page_text: shirt collar is also kept in proper position by the said flap or tongue, whether the
latter is merely placed under it or secured in the opening under the shoulder piece,
the cravat or necktie also assisting in keeping it in place.
In some cases for greater security, and especially when detachable collars are
used, button holes may be provided on the collar flaps in the usual position.
The simplicity and security of a shirt so made are obvious, and all the incon-
veniences attending the use of divided shirt fronts and false fronts are avoided.
Shirt fronts made according to this Invention may be ornamented in any manner
that may be desired, such as by embroidery or otherwise, and such ornamentation
may be effected exactly in the middle of the same, which is impossible in shirts
made in the usual manner with open fronts by reason of the overlapping, which is
necessary in such shirts.
It will be understood that if the shirt has no collar it is necessary to arrange
the opening under the shoulder piece, and the flap or tongue which is to enter the
same in the same manner as when the shirt is made with an upright collar. In all
cases the piece of material over which the shirt front coming up to the middle of
the latter takes the place of the ordinary lower band of the shirt collar, and
the collar will therefore be held firmly in place, the overlapping part being always
sufficient for the purpose.
The said Invention may be applied to shirts of all kinds, whatever may be the
material of which they are made, or their size or manner of ornamentation.
The shirt wrists or cuffs may also be made without buttons or button holes if
desired, but this feature is not of great importance.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
October 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIRTS." A communication
from abroad by Messieurs Gagnol and Clerc, of Paris, France.
This Invention is designed to provide shirts which require no buttons or button
holes, and which open on one side, such shirts being exceedingly convenient in use,
and possessing numerous advantages, which will be readily understood.
According to the said Invention I make the breast portion of the shirt, known as
and hereinafter called the shirt-front, in one single piece, which moreover forms
part of the shirt itself, and I arrange the opening on one side (generally on the left
hand side) instead of in the usual manner, namely, in the middle of the shirt front;
care must be taken not to continue the opening to the bottom of the shirt front, as
the stiffness or firmness of the same would in that case be impaired. The said
shirt front crosses or overlaps a piece of the linen or other material suitably placed
on the opposite side of the shirt to form one of the parts adjacent to the opening,
but the shirt front is not fixed to this piece of material. The upper part of the
shirt front terminates in a flap or tongue of suitable form and length to exactly fit
the lower part of the collar, and this tongue is secured in an opening or slit of
suitable size provided beneath one (preferably the left) shoulder piece of the shirt.
In shirts with turned down collars the said opening is not required, as the flap or
tongue will be held securely if simply placed under such collar. The collar is also
kept in proper position by the said flap or tongue, whether the latter is merely
placed under it or secured in the opening under the shoulder piece, the cravat or
necktie also assisting in keeping it in place.
In some cases however for greater security, and especially when detachable
collars are used, a button hole may be provided in the collar flap in the usual
position.
The simplicity and security of a shirt made as above described are obvious, and
all the inconveniences attending the use of divided shirt-fronts and false-fronts are
avoided. Shirt-fronts made according to this Invention may be ornamented as
desired by embroidery or otherwise. The embroidery may occupy a position exactly
in the middle of the shirt front, a position which is impossible in shirts made in
the usual manner with open fronts, by reason of the necessary overlapping of the
same.
The accompanying Drawing shews two forms or examples of shirts made
according to this Invention without buttons or button holes, the one having a stand
up collar, and the other a turned down collar.
Figure 1 shews the shirt with the stand up collar with its front fastened.
Figure 2 shews the same with its front open or unfastened.
Figure 3 shews the shirt with the turned down collar with its front fastened.
Figure shews the same with its front open.
As will be seen in these Figures the shirt-front a is formed of a single piece, and
opens at the left side; it overlaps or covers. to any desired extent the part b
adjacent to the edge of the opening, which is not extended to the bottom of the
front, but only to the point c, below which the shirt front is sewn upon the body of
the shirt, consequently this part of the shirt is arranged exactly as in ordinary
shirts, and the strain which it exerts cannot disarrange the position or impair the
appearance of the shirt-front.
The upper part of the latter replaces the upper band of the neck of the
shirt; it has exactly the required contour to fit the neck, and terminates in the
tongue d, which is introduced into the opening or slit e formed beneath the

page_text: shoulder piece f of the shirt, as shewn in Figure 2, or which is simply passed under
the collar if it is turned down as in Figure 3.
If separate or detachable collars are to be used with these improved shirts it will
be easy to provide at the points g, h, at the top of the front, and of the piece which
it overlaps, button holes for the attachment of such collars.
If desired the cuffs of these shirts may be made without buttons or button-holes,
but this arrangement is not practically of very great importance.
It will be understood that if the shirt has no collar it is necessary to arrange the
opening or slit of the shoulder piece and the flap or tongue which is to enter the
same in the same manner as when the shirt is made with an upright or stand-up
collar. In all cases the piece of material which the shirt front overlaps or crosses,
extending to the middle of the latter, performs the same office as the ordinary
lower band of the shirt collar, and the collar will therefore be held firmly in place,
the overlapping part being always sufficient for this purpose.
The said Invention may be applied to shirts of all kinds, whatever may be the
material of which they are made or their size, or manner of ornamentation.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
A shirt without buttons or button holes, and made to open at the side of the
front, as shewn in the Drawing, which front is formed of a single piece, and does
not open along its entire extent, and terminates with a tongue so formed and
arranged that if the shirt has an upright collar, or no collar, it may be inserted in a
slit or opening on the shoulder, while if the shirt has a turned down collar the top
of the front may be placed under the same, all substantially as described, and for
the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)