Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 15th Oct.,
1898
My invention relates to improvements in skirt supporters, my object being to
provide a device of this class which shall be simple in construction, economical
in cost, reliable, durable, and efficient in use; and to these ends, the invention
consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be fully
understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an
embodiment thereof.
In this drawing
Figure 1 shows the lower part of a lady's skirt waist prepared for use with my
improved skirt supporter;
Figure 2 illustrates the upper part of a dress skirt provided with a loop for use
with the skirt supporter;
Figure 3 shows the device hooked into the loop of the skirt band when the first
step in attaching it has been taken;
Figure 4 shows the device in use, the belt being indicated in dotted lines;
Figure 5 shows the blank from which the device is formed.
Similar reference characters indicating coresponding parts in these views, let
the numeral 5 designate the skirt waist, to the back of which is attached a piece
of narrow tape 6 sewed to the garment at its extremities, and at the center, thereby
forming two loops A and B one on each side of the center. To the band 7 of
the skirt 8 is attached another piece of tape forming a loop C located in the center
of the skirt, but attached at one side of the placket opening where the skirt over-
laps sufficiently to bring the loop into the center. As shown in the drawing, the
skirt supporter consists of a thin bar or plate 9 provided at its center with an
upwardly projecting arm having an outwardly turned hook 10, and at its ex-
tremities with inwardly turned hooks 12. The hook 10 projects above the upper
edge of the bar 9, while the hooks 12 project below the upper edge of the bar.
When the device is applied, the skirt loop C passes around the base or arm of the
hook 10 on the outside engaging the bar 9 on the inside; the top of the
hook 10 engages the upper edge of the belt. The hooks 12 engage the loops A
and B of the waist, while the band 7 of the skirt passes between the hooks 12 and
the bar 9 which lies outside said band, while the hooks 12 are on the inside of the
band 7 (see Figure 4). The central portion of the bar 9 is provided with an
opening 13 and a projection 14 forming a convenient finger piece."
In applying the device, the central apertured portion of the bar is taken between
the thumb and finger and while the device is inverted the hook 10 being on the
inside and the hooks 12 on the outside the hook 10 is hooked into the loop C of the
skirt band. This position of the device is shown in Figure 3. The device is
then turned over by carrying the hook 10 upwardly on the inside.
The loop C

page_text: then slips to the base of the hook. 10, which it engages on the outside, engaging the
bar 9 on the inside, as heretofore stated. The hooks 12 are then hooked into the
loops A and B and the device is in place ready for the belt 15, which is indicated
in dotted lines (see Figure 4).
The blank illustrated in Figure 5 consists of a bar 9 provided with an arm 9 at
each extremity and an arm 9 in the middle. All these arms extend in the same
direction. The hook 10 is formed by bending the upper portion of the arm 9° out-
wardly and downwardly; the hooks 12 are formed by bending the arms 9" bodily
inwardly and downwardly below the lower edge of the bar.
It is evident that the device would be operative, or would hold the skirt waist
together if the hook 10 were not formed on the arm 9°, since this arm would
support the skirt, while the hooks 12 would prevent the waist from moving up-
wardly above the skirt band. The special function of the hook 10 is to prevent
the belt from slipping upwardly.
It must be understood that I do not limit the invention to the details of con-
struction shown in the drawing and herein set forth, as I am aware that mechanical
skill will suggest many different forms of construction without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
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 skirt supporter comprising a bar having an upwardly projecting skirt
supporting arm for engagement with the skirt and having inwardly and down-
wardly turned arms for engagement with the waist; substantially as described.
2. A skirt supporter comprising a bar having an upwardly projecting skirt
supporting arm extending from the upper edge and provided with an outwardly
turned hook, and a series of hooks turned inwardly and downwardly from said bar
for engaging the waist; as set forth.
3. A skirt supporter comprising a bar having a central upwardly projecting
skirt supporting arm whose upper portion is provided with an outwardly turned
hook, the extremities of said bar being provided with inwardly turned downwardly
projecting hooks for engagement with the waist; as set forth.
Dated this 29th day of August 1898.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicant, 17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.