Improvements in Skirt and Dress Forms.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 4th Mar., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by RUEL ROSS APPLETON, of Brooklyn, in the County
of Kings, and State of New York, in the United States of America, Gentleman.]
Improvements in Skirt and Dress Forms.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS carrying on business under the firm or style
of Harris and Mills of 23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, 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 dress and skirt form, which is made adjustable so as to
conform to any desired size or dimensions in the various parts of the dress, and it
applies to adjustable devices upon the skirt at the waist and hip as well as at the lower
edge of the skirt and to the bust and also the shoulders and collar.
The various means of adjustment will be hereinafter described relative to the
drawings.
This invention relates also to the insertion of measurements, or tape measures, in
certain parts of the frame and particularly at the hip, waist and bust whereby the
measurements may be easily made when the frame is adjusted to the proper size, with-
out the trouble and inconvenience of a separate tape measure.
The invention also relates to a dress skirt form which may be made separate and
manufactured independently of the form just described and constitutes a cheaper article
of manufacture as the bust in this case is omitted.
This invention also relates to improved means of folding the adjustable dress and
skirt forms so as to make them compact and thus decrease the cost of transportation,

page_text: the portability and the adjustability of these forms are the most important features of
this invention, as they increase its usefulness and enhance its commercial value for the
reasons above given.
The invention also relates to a packing case of a size sufficient to hold the skirt or
dress form when it is in its folded up condition. This case is cylindrical in form and
is closed at one end and open at the other end and is provided with a lid as will be
hereinafter described.
Referring to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the improved dress and skirt form.
Figure 2 represents a similar view of a modification embodying only the skirt
form.
Figure 3 is a view of the packing case for holding the form when in a closed
position.
In these drawings A represents a standard or pedestal provided with legs B preferably
three in number, which legs are pivotally connected to a sliding collar C which is
adjustable upon the standard A and which is provided with a thumb-screw 1) for
fastening the legs in any desired position. Pivotted to the legs B are also arms
or braces which are also pivotted to the standard A at its lower end when it is
desired to fold the legs up so that they will occupy less space. for transportation, the
thumb-screw D is loosened and the collar C, pushed upwardly upon the standard, which
movement will draw the legs and arms in close contact with the said standard and
thereby economize space.
In the devices shown in Figures 1 and 2 F represents the collar to which are
attached the braces G extending to the ribs I of the skirt-form and connected thereto
at points I. This point which is situated at the hip is encircled by a tape measure J
having a buckle K whereby it can be adjusted by drawing the said tape up or letting
it out as may be desired. The ribs H are also provided with downwardly extending
braces L which are attached to a sliding collar M. beneath which is a sliding follower N
having a thumb-screw M' for adjusting the collar M and locking it in any desired
position. For instance, if it is desired to enlarge the measurement of the hip, the
thumb-screw M is loosened and the collar M to which the braces L are attached, is
pushed up and the follower N which holds the thumb-screw M is also pushed up until
the desired spread at the hip is obtained when they may be set in position by tightening
the thumb-screw, this operation may be reversed when it is desired to decrease the
measurement of the hip. A corresponding adjusting movement is obtained through
the medium of the braces & collar F and sliding collar or follower F¹ provided with a
suitable thumb-screw Gas shown. By depressing these parts the same result is
obtained as in the operation just above described, viz. :-The enlargement of the hip
measurement.
Lower down upon the standard A is another part o provided with braces P said
braces being formed of two parts so as to have one slide upon the other for the purposes
of adjusting the length and can be held in place by means of the coiled slide P. These
braces or arms are attached to the ribs H and by sliding them in or out the spread
of the lower part of the skirt may be regulated. The vertical position of the sliding
collar Omay be regulated also by the follower Q which moves upon the standard A
and is provided with an adjusting thumb-screw Q. This arrangement also serves to
regulate the spread of the lower part of the skirt and any movement up or down of the
sliding collar O will draw in or push out all of the ribs H.
The upper parts of the ribs H are terminated at the waist H' at which point a second
tape measure device is inserted for the purpose of measureing the waist band. This
tape measure is also provided with a buckle Rand by means of this the said waist band
may be drawn in or let out as may be desired, for the upper parts of the ribs H are
elastic and will yield to the pressure of the tape which is threaded through them and
which holds them together and in a proper position relative to each other.
In the form shown in figure 1 the standard is made hollow and has inserted within
it a rod S surmounted by a knob S'. This arm extends downwardly in the hollow

page_text: standard A and its vertical position is controlled by a thumb screw T which extends
through an opening in the hollow standard and clamps the rod after it has been
adjusted to any desired height. This rod is for the purpose of holding and adjusting
the upper part of the dress form which constitutes the bust, shoulders and collar.
Immediately beneath the knob St is a bracket U which is attached to the collar plate U.
Immediately beneath the collar plate U¹ are the shoulder plates V and arm rings VI,
The breadth of the shoulder plates may be regulated by means of the supplementary
spring plates V which may be thrown in and out and clamped by means of the notches
or openings the ribs Yare attached to the shoulder plates and the lower parts of
said plates are adapted to regulate the spread of the ribs by pushing the said plates up
or down. A sliding collar X is provided to which are attached the sliding braces X¹ the
lengths of the said braces being individually adjustable as shown. By this means the
size of any part of the bust can be regulated. Braces Z' also extend to the collar Z
from the sides of the bust frame. A thumb-screw and follower W are provided for
holding the sliding collar X in position. A tape measure may be provided at the
largest part of the bust if desired. When it is desired to regulate the spread of the
bust frame the thumb-screw T is loosened and the knob S' is thrust down or drawn up
as may be desired. When the proper dimension has been reached the thumb-screw T
is tightened and the rod S is thereby clamped. This movement is obtained by virtue
of the knob S which bears upon the bracket U and through this medium upon the
upper part of the bust frame. The size of the collar may be regulated by means of the
collar plate U and the pin U which connects the two ends of said collar plate.
In figure 3 is shown a packing case which consists preferably of a cylindrical tube
of straw board or other suitable inaterial and provided with a lid for closing the case at
one end.
The construction of dress and skirt form hereinbefore described in relation to the
drawings may be easily folded up through the same means as are provided for
adjusting the size of the form at its various parts. The extreme position of this
adjustment will represent the parts as all folded together and occupying a compact
shape and the form is adapted when in this shape to be enclosed in the above described
packing case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improved skirt form made adjustable, substantially as shown and described.
2. The improved form for busts provided with means for adjustment, substantially
as shown and described.
3. The improved dress form which is provided with a means for adjusting the size
of the skirt and the size of the bust, substantially as shown and described.
4. The dress form having means of adjustment and having tape measuring devices
at the hip and waist whereby the said form can be adjusted and the measurements made
simultaneously.
5. The dress form consisting of combined form for busts and skirts and having tape
measuring devices situated at the hip waist and bust whereby these parts may be
adjusted and measured simultaneously.
6. A dress and skirt form having adjusting devices on the skirt, hip, waist, bust
shoulders and collar substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
7. The skirt form provided with ribs for holding the skirt and adjustable braces P
having slides P for regulating the spread of the skirt at any particular point.
8. The combination of the skirt form having a tape measuring device J with the
braces G and L and sliding collars M and F with their respective followers and
thumb screws.
9. The combination of the skirt form having the tape measuring device J and
buckle K with the tape R and buckle R' whereby the waist and hip may be both adjusted
and set to any desired size.
10. The combination in a dress form of the bust provided with the individually

page_text: adjustable braces X having sliding coils as shown and the collar X with means of
adjustment Wall arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
11. The combination of the bust frame with the collar plates U₁ and pin U".
12. The combination in the bust frame of the collar plate U the shoulder plates V
and the adjustable devices V, V, V, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially
as shown and described.
13. The combination of the bust frame, the rod S provided with knob S₁ the
bracket U and the thumb screw T by means of which the breadth of the bust frame may
be adjusted.
14. In the form shown in figure 1, the combination of the standard A either the
bust or skirt attached to it and sold in connection with it, whereby the other portion
may be added afterwards and placed in connection with it at any time.