Improvements in Gloves for Cyclists, or other Travelling Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 26th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gloves for Cyclists, or other Travelling Purposes.
I, THOMAS RATCLIFFE, of Bull Entry, High Street, in the City of Worcester,
Glove Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in gloves, and is chiefly intended for
cyclists, but which may be found also very convenient under other travelling
conditions.
It is found that with cyclists for instance, that the use of ordinary gloves-where
the fingers are sheathed separately-the fingers are not kept warm and this also
prevents the hand itself becoming warm or retaining its heat.
Attempts have been made to remedy this by adopting what is known as a glove
sack which may be worn over or instead of the ordinary glove. By this means the
fingers themselves may lie together in an unbroken outer covering, and the natural
heat retained. This however is open to the objection that the hand is almost
entirely prevented from use.
In this my invention however, I obviate this by making the thumb upon both the
hands to be sheathed free and independent of the fingers as in ordinary gloves, and
in one or both, of the right or left han ls, I also make the fore finger only to be so
sheathed, thus the three remaining fingers are enclosed together.
By these means the cyclist for instance when wearing this my improved glove
upon the hand (usually the left) where required to manipulate his bell with the
fore-finger is able so to do, whilst the collective heat of the three remaining fingers
is sufficient to keep them warm. The same applies to driving, as the thumb and
fore-finger may be thus readily used without detracting from the collective heat of
the other fingers. Also for railway or other travelling where it is desirable that the
use of the thumb and finger should be so used it will be found of advantage. In most
cases it is only necessary that this forefinger division should be upon the one hand,
as that is sufficient for urgent or constant needs.
Dated this 4th day of October 1895.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Gloves for Cyclists, or other Travelling rurposes.
I THOMAS RATCLIFFE, of Bull Entry, High Street, in the City of Worcester,
Glove Manufacturer 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 relates to improvements in gloves, and more particularly intended
for cycling or driving, or other similar purposes.
It is found that in such cases where the hands are much exposed in cold weather,
those gloves which have the fingers sheathed separately, are not sufficiently warm.

page_text: On this account gloves have been in one common encasement, and these have been
found sufficiently warm. In these however there is a great objection because of
the almost uselessness of the hand whilst wearing the glove.
In this my invention, I overcome the difficulty as follows:-I have appended
hereunto a drawing, showing this my improved glove to which I will refer by
numbers of reference.
I make the glove to have the thumb sheath 1, separately from the fingers as in
ordinary gloves. I now further make the forefinger sheath 2, separate and distinct
from the sheath 3, which latter encloses and protects the remaining three fingers 4,
5 & 6, as seen in dotted lines.
This separate sheath 2, may be made either upon the right or left hand glove or
upon both, but usually it is only required upon the left hand.
By these means the cyclist can readily manipulate his alarm bell with the fore
finger, or in driving animals, the reins can be readily inanipulated with the thumb
and fore finger, or various other similar offices performed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination in hand gloves having the thumb sheath 1, of the fore finger
sheath 2, and the three finger sheath 3, substantially as set forth and shown and for
the purposes specified.
2. The combination in a hand glove with the body of the same, of the three
sheaths 1, 2 & 3 for the thumb, forefinger, and three remaining fingers respectively
as shown and described.
Dated this 25th day of October 1895.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.