A New or Improved Cycling Skirt for Ladies' Wear.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Cycling Skirt for Ladies' Wear.
I, DAVID SMITH LEGG, of 79 Lavender Hill, London, S. W. Foreman Tailor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved cycling skirt for ladies' wear which
though divided and possessing all the advantages of the divided skirt has the
appearance of an ordinary walking skirt.
In accordance with this invention the skirt is divided, and is attached to the soat
seam and leg scams of the knickerbockers, and also round the bands so preventing
the folds of the skirt hanging beyond the axle. No part of the skirt can then be
caught in the spokes of the wheel and consequently danger from that source is
entirely prevented. I cut the skirt sufficiently circular to allow perfect freedom of
action, and I have no superfluous cloth under the rider thereby the operations of
mounting and dismounting are much facilitated, and no likelihood of entanglement
can occur.
When dismounted the skirt hangs around the wearor in natural folds and bas
every appearance of being a full skirt, the division does not shew, nor are the
knickerbockers seen, hooks and eyes or loops being provided by which the opening
folds are held together.
Dated this 21st day of October 1895.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76 Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A. New or Improved Cycling Skirt for Ladies' Wear.
I DAVID SMITH LEGG of 79 Lavender Hill, London, S.W., Foreman Tailor
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 a new or improved cycling skirt for ladies' wear which
though divided and possessing all the advantages of the divided skirt presents the
appearance of an ordinary walking skirt.
In accordance with this invention the skirt is divided and is attached to the sent
seam and inside leg seams of the knickerbockers and also at the waist band; ao
preventing the folds of the skirt hanging beyond the axle. No part of the skirt
can then be caught in the spokes of the wheel and consequently danger from that
source is entirely prevented.
The skirt is cut sufficiently full to allow. perefect freedom of action but avoiding
any superfluous cloth under the seat of the rider thereby the operations of mounting
and dismounting are much facilitated and no likelihood of entanglement can
occur.
When dismounted the skirt drapes around the figure of the wearer in natural
folds and has every appearance of a full skirt, the division does not show nor are
the kuickerbockers scen. Hooks and eyes or loops are provided whereby the
opening folds are held together.

page_text: In the drawings annexed hereto there is illustrated the construction of the
combined skirt according to this invention.
Fig. 1 represents the pattern from which one leg and half body of the knicker-
bockers are cut.
Fig. 2 represents one half part of the full patern for the skirt.
Fig. 3 represents the front view of the skirt and as fastened at the back whilst
being worn.
Fig. 4 represents in back view the skirt brought together around the figure but
not actually fastened.
Fig. 5 is a somewhat similar back view to that shown in Fig. 4. but with one
side of the full skirt material oponed out for diagramatic illustration and showing
particularly the free edge of the skirt unattached to the inside seam of the leg of
the knickerbockers.
The parts of the half knickerbockers as shown in Fig. 1, represents at w the
upper edge of the half waist which is gathered into the half of the waist baud,
being gores for taking in the fullness and used as required in making the fit.
The parts b, b', are brought together to the crutch and c, c, to the knee band of
the knickerbockers.
Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, y is the portion to be attached to the
one half of the waistband and y' is a gore for taking in the fullness of the material.
From the gore a³ to the point & the scat seam is attached to the soat seam of
the knickerbockers.
Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, it should be first stated that the dotted
line 2, 2, is used to indicate that one half of the skirt only is shown. Fig. 3 shows
clearly the front fold d of the skirt of continuous material but each side said fuld d
there is a pleat d'. The portion from b³ to o' of the skirt is brought over from the
front side of the skirt around the back of leg of the knickerbockers, and is attached
to the back inside leg seam of the knickerbockers, this is done on each side so
forming a bell skirt nearly enclosing the knickerbocker. Figs. 4 and 5 is the
back opening or planquet hole of the knickerbockers (provided with button holes
and buttons for fastening and at 9 there is made a pleat of the skirt at each aide of
the placquet hole e for giving fullness to the fold of the skirt at the back and so
allowing of the attachment of fold retaining books and eyes or loops as required,
to retain the divided back of the skirt closed over the placquet hole, this being
represented approximately by Fig. 4, which shows the back view of the skirt and
knickerbockers brought together but not fastened.
As shown by Fig. 6 the length of material from 6 to o' is to be attached to the
back of the inside seam of the leg of tho knickerbockers and that from , to a', to
the seam of the seat of the knickerbockers but dividing substantially as indicated
in Fig. 4, but closing as in Fig. 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The new or improved cycling skirt for ladies' wear constructed and combined
as and for the purpose herein set forth substantially as described in reference to
the accompanying drawings.
2. In a cycling skirt as herein set forth the attachment of the skirt portion to
the inside leg seam and partially to the seat seam of the knickerbockers for the
purpose set forth.
3. In a cycling skirt as herein set forth the combination of the placquet e with
the pleats g, of the skirt with their attachments substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
Agents for Applicant.