A Garment suitable for Producing New Effects in Gymnastic Performances.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1395
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1895-4ccepted, 12th Oct., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Garment suitable for Producing New Effects in Gymnastic
Performances.
I, HARRY STELLING, Gymnastic Artist, of 433, Strand, in the County of London,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object, to produce new effects in performances on the
horizontal bar or other gymnastic suspension apparatus.
For this purpose I provide a dress which is similar in appearance to a night
gown, and so constructed, that a person wearing it while performing on the
horizontal bar may slip down through it and disappear, without detaching the said
garment from the horizontal bar.
The said gown has wide and long sleeves, each of which is strengthened by an
inner lining provided at the upper end with a hook suitable for suspending the said
gown. The lining extends down to the shoulders and chest, so as to form a kind of
undervest; it serves to produce greater frictional resistance, while the body is
slipping down, and it prevents the gown from being torn. The upper part of each
lining may be reduced to the width of a strap, and the hook is attached to its end
in such a manner, that it can be easily concealed by the hand while the person
hangs on the horizontal bar.
At a convenient moment of his performance on the horizontal bar, the person
suddenly takes his hands off the bar, so as to drop through the gown, and then lie
on the floor, while the gown remains suspended from the bar.
Dated this 4th day of January 1895.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
Agents for the Applicant.
A Garment suitable for Producing New Effects in Gymnastic
Performances.
I, HARRY STELLING, Gymnastic Artist, of 433 Strand, in the County of London,
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:-
This invention has for its object, to produce new effects in performances on the
horizontal bar or other gymnastic suspension apparatus.
For this purpose I provide a garment which may be similar in appearance to a
night gown, shirt, wide coat or blouse, and is so constructed, that a person wearing
it during his performance on the horizontal bar may slip down through it and
disappear, without detaching the said garment from the horizontal bar.
The said garment has wide and long sleeves, each of which may be strengthened
by an inner lining and is provided at the upper end with a hook or other means
suitable for suspending the said garment. Said lining extends down to the
shoulders and chest, and so prevents the dress from being torn.
It may serve also
to produce greater frictional resistance, while the body is slipping down. The

page_text: upper part of each lining may be reduced to the width of a strap, and the hook is
attached to the sleeve or to the liuing in such a manner, that it can be easily
concealed by the hand, while the performer hangs on the horizontal bar.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 represents a man suspended from a horizontal bar and wearing a garment
similar to a night gown embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 shows the garment suspended from the bar, and the performer in the act
of slipping out from the same.
Fig. 3 shows the position of the suspension hook in relation to the hand,
Fig. 4 shows a sleeve provided with lining and suspension hook,
Fig. 5 represents a somewhat different performance with a dress having the shape
of an overcoat, the performer being drawn out of the same by another man who
gets hold of his legs.
Fig. 6 shows the performer wearing a coat (as shown in Fig. 5) which is provided
with the suspension hook and with an enormous scarf bearing a large jewel.
In the drawings A represents the new garment, B a sleeve strap carrying at its
extremity the hook H, D the lining to which the strap B is attached, and which
may have the shape of an undervest.
If the garment is otherwise made strong enough, a lining or suspension strap
need not be used, and in some cases the performer may wear a pair of wide
gloves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. A garment for gymnastic performances having sleeves provided with means
for suspending the garment from a horizontal bar, the whole being constructed and
arranged in such a manner, that the means of suspension may be concealed by the
hands of the performer and that the latter may drop through the garment after
having released his hands, substantially as described.
2. A garment for gymnastic performers, consisting of a wide gown, coat or
blouse, the sleeves of which are provided with hooks adapted to suspend the
garment from a horizontal bar and to be concealed by the hands of the performer,
substantially as described.
3. In a suspension garment for gymnastic performances, substantially as described,
a pair of sleeves provided with hooks and with straps or linings to prevent the
garment from being torn.
Dated this 28th day of August 1895.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents.