An Improved Cycling Skirt.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 26th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
An Improved Cycling Skirt.
I, SUSAN EMILY FRANCIS, of 54, Lambton Quay, Wellington, in the Colony of
New Zealand, Spinster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to skirts worn by ladies when riding upon bicycles
and similar vehicles, and the object of the invention is to provide a skirt which
may have an ordinary appearance when the wearer is walking and when required
for riding may be easily and rapidly adjusted to provide room for the vertical
movement of the legs without dragging the knees or unduly exposing the legs
of the rider.
It is well known to lady cyclists that the ordinary skirt is uncomfortable when
used for riding and by the movement of the legs is unavoidably raised to an
undesirable degree.
According to this invention the shape of the skirt closely follows existing forms
but I provide two gussets in front to give fullnesses where required for the move-
ment of the knees. The gussets are formed in any ordinary manner as by inserting
a piece of material shaped as required.
When the skirt is used for walking, the gussets which would otherwise be
unsightly, are hidden by buttoning or otherwise fastening the edges of the gussets
together, when the skirt has the appearance of an ordinarily cut skirt. These
said edges may be so finished and trimmed, and the buttons so arranged as to
be ornamental and conform in a great measure to existing fashions.
Dated this 31st day of December 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
I, SUSAN EMILY FRANCIS, of 54, Lambton Quay, Wellington, in the Colony of
New Zealand, Spinster, 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 skirts worn by ladies when riding upon bicycles
and similar vehicles, and the object of the invention is to provide a skirt which
may have an ordinary appearance when the wearer is walking and when required
for riding may be easily and rapidly adjusted to provide room for the vertical

page_text: movement of the legs without dragging the knees or unduly exposing the legs
of the rider.
It is well known to lady cyclists that the ordinary skirt is uncomfortable when
used for riding and by the movement of the legs is unavoidably, raised to an
undesirable degree.
According to this invention the shape of the skirt closely follows existing forms
but I provide two gussets in front to give fullnesses where required for the move-
ment of the knees. The gussets are formed in any ordinary manner as by inserting
a piece of material shaped as required.
When the skirt is used for walking, the gussets which would otherwise be
unsightly, are hidden by buttoning or otherwise fastening the edges of the gussets
together, when the skirt has the appearance of an ordinarily cut skirt. These
said edges may be so finished and trimmed, and the buttons so arranged as to
be ornamental and conform in a great measure to fashions in vogue.
In order that my invention may be most easily understood reference will be
made to the accompanying drawings, on which,
Figure 1 is a front view of the skirt as worn when the wearer is walking.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the same as worn when the wearer is riding a
cycle.
Figure 3 is a front view shewing the skirt unfastened for adjusting upon the
wearer.
Figure 4 is a back view of the skirt showing the ordinary saddle gore.
Figure 5 is a representation of the pattern of the half back
Figure 6 is a representation of the pattern of the side piece.
Figure 7 the pattern of the half front.
Figure 8, the pattern of a band.
Figure 9 is a section in diagrammatic form of the skirt.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the views.
In making a skirt according to my invention the material is cut out to the
shape of the patterns shewn in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive. The half back (a) of
Figure 5 is then united by its edge (a¹, a²) to the side piece (6) of Figure 6 along
its edge (b1, b2), and the said side piece (b) is united by its edge (63, 64) to the half
front (c) of Figure 7 along its edge (c1, c2) and the band (d) of Figure 8 is united
by its edge (d, d²) to the half front (c) in the position shewn by dotted lines in
Figure 7. It will be readily understood by a skilled dressmaker that the material
is cut out in duplicate and that darts such as shewn by dotted lines at (65) in
Figure 6 must be introduced to shape the skirt to the figure of the wearer and that
the skirt may be lined and trimmed.
The buttons (f) of Figures 1, 2 and 3, are sewn to the side pieces (b) and when
the skirt is used for walking the bands (d) are buttoned as shewn in Figure 1,
but when used for riding the said bands are unbuttoned and allowed to go free.
In this manner fullnesses or gussets (a) are formed or the width of the skirt is
extended so that accommodation is provided for the knees of the rider to move
freely.
Figure 3 shews the top portion of the front piece and bands let down to adjust
the skirt upon the wearer. When in position the skirt is fastened by uniting the
hooks (3) Figure 3 to the eyes (c) upon the waistband (g). In order that the
skirt may be comfortable to use I further provide a saddle gore (h) Figures 4
and 9 formed by cutting the half side piece (a) as shewn by line (a³ and a¹). The
shape thus provided gives a comfortable seat and allows the skirt to fall grace-
fully upon each side of the machine.
An ordinary appearance is given to the skirt by making a pleat (a³) on each side
and the shape of the pleat is preserved when the wearer is riding by a piece of
lining (a) Figure 9 which is sewn to the back of the pleat and to the seam of
the gusset (a) as shewn by dotted lines (a8, a³, and a) on Figure 6, and (all)
on Figure 5, the edge (a) of the said piece (a) being sewn to the lining of the half
back (a) along the line (a¹¹).

page_text: Button holes (f) Figure 2 may be provided to engage a button suspended from
the knee of the knickerbockers of the wearer by a short elastic band, to keep the
skirt in place in a side wind.
The buttons (f) and hooks and eyes (c³ and 4) may be replaced by any ordinary
form of fastener, but I have shewn such fasteners as have proved to be most useful
in practice, and I wish it to be understood that I am aware a skilled person may
modify the details of the invention without departing from the spirit of the same.
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. In a cycling skirt gussets for providing freedom of movement for the knees
of the wearer and bands for closing said gussets whereby the skirt is made to
assume the appearance and shape of an ordinary walking skirt by reducing its
width, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
2. In a cycling skirt gussets for providing freedom of movement for the knees
of the wearer and bands for closing said gussets, and a front made with its top
portion to fall down with the top of the bands and gussets so that the garment may
be adjusted upon the wearer, substantially as and for the purposes set forth
herein.
3. In a cycling skirt gussets formed by shaping or biasing the edges (13, 14)
of side pieces (b) and the edges (c¹, c²) of the front piece (c), and bands (d) and
buttons (f) for closing the said gussets, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth herein.
4. The improved cycling skirt consisting of parts constructed arranged and
combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein and illustrated
upon the accompanying drawings.
Datod h 101 dow of Anonat 1900
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.