Improvements in Fastenings or Suspenders for Cyclists' and the like Wearing Apparel.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fastenings or Suspenders for Cyclists' and the
like Wearing Apparel.
SAMUEL COOMBE and JAMES MAY, Tailors, of 6, Catherine Street, Exeter, in
the County of Devon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Its objects are to enable cyclists and others to wear trousers folded around
the leg just over the foot, to protect the trousers from injury by contact with any
part of the cycle without having the need to carry trousers clips, also to enable
the wearer to keep the trousers suspended when drawn up in an elevated position
under the knee, for the purpose of wearing them in the form of knickerbockers.
In order to accomplish these desirable objects, we use a piece of elastic or other
material inserted in or fastened to the hem of the trousers (inside), one end of
which is firmly attached to the hem, and the end which is not so attached is
fitted with a hook or eye, a button, or button hole, spring button or other suit-
able fastening, which will engage with a corresponding part of such fastening
attached to another part of the same hem, thereby holding the hem, and the
part of the trousers below the knee in such a position as to form a fold which is
made either vertically or diagonally in the trousers leg. In order to prevent
the fold from becoming disarranged or to give it a more smooth and neat appearance
one or more fastenings may be used with or without elastic in another part of
the inside of the trousers leg; or either of the folds may be fastened together
by button, hook, spring or other fastening without the use of elastic.
When elastic is used it may be fastened under the trousers hem, in such a
manner as to be wholly or partially concealed while not in use. When used it
is drawn through a hole in the hem made for the purpose. The trousers bottom
may be turned up or otherwise when such fastening is used.
The great convenience of these additions to trousers will be obvious, as it
will enable cyclists and others wearing trousers, to have the ready means either
of converting them into knickerbockers, or wearing them folded around the
ankles, without the risk of losing or mislaying these conveniences when most
required, thus preserving the trousers from much of the wear and tear to which
it would otherwise be subject.

page_text: Improvements in Fastenings or Suspenders for Cyclists' and the
like Wearing Apparel.
We, SAMUEL COOMBE and JAMES MAY, Tailors, both of 6, Catherine Street,
Exeter, in the County of Devonshire, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Considerable inconvenience and danger are occasioned to cyclists when riding
in trousers, owing to the liability of the legs of the trousers becoming caught
in some part of the machinery, when an accident is very likely to occur, or
if that be avoided, the material from which the trousers are made may be torn
or injured.
These drawbacks may be avoided by wearing knickerbockers or to some extent
by the use of clips, but it is often impracticable to wear knickerbockers, say for
instance when cycling to an office, and clips are very likely to be lost or mislaid.
when wanted.
This invention relates to trousers, and is designed in order to adapt an ordinary
pair for use by cyclists, either as knickerbockers or as trousers, but in the latter
case the ordinary loose clips are dispensed with.
According to this invention, we provide at or near the bottom of each leg
of the trousers, preferably inside, an elastic band, preferably fastened within
the hem and passing through a hole, the protruding end of such band being
provided with an eye. At a convenient distance from this eye is fastened a
hook and still further round is provided another eye.
When the trousers are to be clipped around the ankle, they are folded back-
wards on the outer side of leg and the last mentioned hook and eye fastened.
When they are to be used as knickerbockers the trousers are drawn up, folded
forward on the inside of the leg and the eye on the band fastened to the hook.
When fastened in position the slack portion of the trousers may be partly drawn
down, so that the fastening may be concealed, and the appearance of knicker-
bockers produced:
We may if found desirable, use more than one fastening device for each leg,
either in conjunction with elastic bands or not, to keep the folds of the trousers
more closely around the legs.
And in order that our said invention may be more clearly understood, we will
now proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings accompanying
this specification, in which Fig. 1 shews lower part of left leg of a pair of
trousers, with the hem turned up; Fig. 2 (which shews a right leg) the trousers
turned up and folded on the leg to form knickerbockers; Fig. 3 endless band:
Fig. 4 trousers formed into knickerbockers with endless band in position, Fig. 5
trousers clipped over ankle (left leg).
The same letters denote the same parts in all the views. a Fig. 1 shews a
hook attached to the trousers on the inside, 6 an eye fastened on the end of a
band of elastic (or other suitable material) e. The band is concealed in a
pocket in the hem d and is fastened to the trousers at its end c. The dotted
lines at e Fig. 1 shew another eye, fastened further round on the hem d.
The trousers are clipped as shewn at Fig. 5 by turning up the bottom hem d
only, and then folding over as shewn so that the eye e and hook a engage. The
fold is on the outside of the leg.
The trousers are formed into knickerbockers, by turning up the hem about
four inches, pulling up over the knee until the turned up part reaches just

page_text: below the knee, then folding what is turned up forward on the inner side of the
leg, the fold resting in the hollow of the leg, as in Fig. 2. Then the elastic c is
drawn out, and the eye b passed over the hook a.
The whole will then assume
the appearance shew at Fig. 2.
We may cover the hem over with an endless band, such as that shewn at Fig. 3
of the accompanying drawings (detached) and in Fig. 4 in position on the leg,
for which Letters Patent were granted to us dated the 18th December 1897,
No. 29989, or we may employ for this purpose a band such as that shewn at
Fig. 2 of the drawings accompanying the specification of the aforesaid Letters
Patent.
It will be understood that we may employ spring buttons or any other suitable
fastening devices in this invention, in place of the hook and eye above describe.
As a modification of the above, we may pass a band through the hem: each
end of such band protruding through holes in such hem, and then fasten the two
ends of such band together by a suitable fastening device. We prefer to fix
such band.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In trousers, the employment of fastening devices, attached at or near the
bottoms of the legs, for the purposes set forth.
2. The employment of a band, elastic or non elastic, fastened in and protrud-
ing through the hem of each leg of trousers, provided with one portion of a
fastening device, the other portion of such fastening device being attached to
the trousers, substantially as shewn on the drawings for the purposes set forth.
3. The employment of a band elastic or non-elastic, attached at or near the
bottom of each leg of trousers, provided with one portion of a fastening device,
the other portion of such fastening device being attached to the trousers for the
purposes set forth.
4. In trousers, the modification of our invention hereinbefore described, for
the purposes set forth.
Dated this 18th day of May 1899.