in Wearing Apparel for the Protection of the Skirts of Ladies' Dresses or the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 25th Feb., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by FANNIE ST. CLAIR, of the City and State of New
York, in the United States of America.]
in Wearing Apparel for the Protection of the Skirts
of Ladies' Dresses or the like.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman 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 in the present instance to an improved protector designed to
cover the lower portion of petticoats skirts and dresses during inclement weather so as
to prevent their becoming soiled or muddied.
It consists of a skirt formed of ordinary cloth or any suitable material made so as
to fit and be tied around the waist. To the lower edge of this skirt there is stitched
or otherwise attached to a wide protecting strip or piece of gossamer or rubber cloth
or equivalent material. This skirt with the protecting piece is made considerable
longer than the skirt of an ordinary dress or petticoat so that it can be turned over
the bottom edges of the skirts and be brought up on the outside, thus enclosing and
protecting them. A sliding cord in the lower edge of the protecting piece forms a
suitable take up and when the said protecting piece has been drawn up to the proper
position the cord may be tightened and tied.
In lieu of this sliding cord or in addition to it as may be desired other fastening
devices such as hooks or buttons may be provided, the essential feature of this inven-
tion being, the skirt having the protecting strip piece or extention which is adapted
to fold over the petticoats and skirts or the lower part thereof for the purpose of
protecting them.
Referring to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification
Figure 1 is a general view of the protecting strip in use and
is contional view thereof out of use

page_text: In the drawing A represents a skirt of any suitable material to the lower end of
which is stitched or otherwise attached a wide piece or strip B of protecting material
which is preferably gossamer or other waterproof material.
This protecting picce B is of sufficient width to extend a considerable distance
below the skirts of the dress of the person wearing it. At a point C it is folded
turned and brought over on the outside of the skirts D to be protected A sliding
cord E worked in the lower edge of the protecting piece B can then be drawn and
tied so as to enclose the bottom of the skirts and prevent the protecting piece B from
falling.
In addition to or in place of the cord E there may be provided hooks or buttons F
for better security.
It will readily be seen that an article of apparel such as is hereinbefore described
will be very useful and efficient in protecting ladies dresses or the like from injury by
mud during bad weather.
There may be a piece of whalebone or like material as at G between the skirt and
protecting piece for supporting the means by which the protector is supported.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my this Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is.
First The combined skirt and protector consisting of a skirt A having means by
which it is supported from the waist, and the protector B forming an extension to the
skirt having means by which its lower edge-is-supported on the skirt substantially as
shown and described.
Second The combined skirt and protector consisting of a skirt A having means by
which it is supported from the waist and the protector forming an extension to the
skirt having a sliding cord E for securing it substantially as shown and described.
Third The combined skirt and protector consisting of a skirt A having means by
which it is supported from the waist and the protector forming an extension to the
skirt having means by which its lower edge is supported on the skirt and the whale-
bone or the like between the skirt and protector for supporting the means by which
the protector is supported substantially as shewn and described."