Improvements in Ladies' Skirts for Cycling and Ordinary Wear.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Feb.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ladies' Skirts for Cycling and Ordinary Wear.
i
I, SEBASTIAN JAMES SELLICK, of 23, High Street, Weston-super-Mare, Tailor and
Outfitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
>
My invention relates to improvements in ladies' skirts which will render them
equally adapted for cyclists, tourists, and ordinary wear; and has for its object to
provide a skirt that will have all the comfort and convenience of a divided skirt with
a smooth seat for the saddle, and yet in walking, will be indistinguishable from ap
ordinary skirt.
.
My invention consists in making the back part of the skirt with a curved seam
like ordinary breeches, but instead of sewing up each leg separately, the front parts
only are sewn together from the fork downwards, a fly being left on each side
of the seam to form a covering or semi-knicker for the legs, the front part of the
curved seam being continued from the fork, and the fly extended to make an inner
band or support for the waist, which will keep the front part of the curved seam
tightly against the figure; the back of the skirt is continued from the fork vertical
seam round each leg to the front, forming complete protection; when not in wear,
the band and covering fly hang loosely from the back, but when put on, the band is
drawn forward between the legs and fastened round the waist, the outer or ordinary
skirt band being fastened in the usual manner.
My invention and the means employed for carrying the same into effect, will be
more fully described in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is the (entire) front of the skirt, the fold or centre being indicated by the
dotted line;
Fig. 2 is one of the side pieces, and
Fig. 3 is half the back;
Fig. 4 is a perspective sketch of a skirt complete, the outer portions being in
light or broken lines, to show more clearly the band or apron which falls in front of
the legs.
The edges A of the front are joined to the edges B of the side pieces, and the edges C
of the side pieces to the edges I) of the back; the two curved edges E F G of the
back are joined together, and the seam continued down the front F H, and this forms
the entire body of the skirt; in putting it into the ordinary band, the seam E is
taken as the centre of the back, and the parts E I are made into box pleats to give
the necessary fulness at the back, the edges of the pleats being laid close together to
cover the seam E; the ends K of the inner band are fitted with a buckle, button, or
other fastening to secure them at the back, and the outer band is fastened at the side
in the usual manner.
The pockets and other accessories for cycling or tourists' use may be added as in
ordinary skirts.
The skirt being made as described, it is put on and fitted in position round the
waist, and the front or apron part will hang loosely at the back from the point F
until the wearer puts her hand down and draws it forward, the band K is then put
round the waist and fastened at the back, which keeps the seam E F G (forming the
trouser seat) tightly round the bones of the pelvis, rendering the skirt warm and

page_text: comfortable, requiring no further adjustment, always in place either for cycling or
walking, and presenting all the appearance of an ordinary graceful and well-fitting
-skirt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a ladies' skirt for cycling and ordinary wear, making a curved seam from the
waist at the back to the centre of the front, like, as in ordinary trousers, but joining
the two parts by a vertical seam instead of making separate legs, and continuing the
-skirt on each side round the front to form a partially enclosed knicker for each leg,
substantially as described and shown.
2. In a skirt for cycling and walking, making the front and vertical seam with a
wide band or fly to partially cover the wearer's legs, and extending the upper part
of the band to fasten round the waist to keep the curved seam tightly round the
pelvis, substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
3. A cycling and tourists' skirt made to fit round the body like trousers, but with
abutting pleats at the back to cover the shape and presence of the seam, to give the
comfort and convenience of a divided skirt, whilst retaining the appearance of an
ordinary skirt, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Deted this 0th day of Jannan 1807
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.