An Improved Trousers or Stocking Clip.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1891–Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Trousers or Stocking Clip.*
I, WILLIAM RADCLIFF BIRT Junior of 4, High Street, Birmingham, Warwick-
shire, India Rubber Manufacturer, 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 consists in the hereindescribed improved trousers or stocking clip
for use by cyclists and others to secure the trousers round the wearers ankles or
other part of the leg, or to hold up the stockings by clipping the same around
the legs.
I will describe my invention by referring to the accompanying drawing on
which
Fig. 1 represents a trousers or stocking clip constructed according to this
invention;
Fig. 2 shews the same with the inner elastic webbing part in the position which
it occupies when the clip is in use;
Fig. 3 shews, on a smaller scale, how the said clip is used as a trousers clip and
Fig. 4 shews a modification of my invention.
My said improved trousers or stocking clip consists of a strip of steel wire bent
into a circular or oval shape so as to form a spring steel band a (of the kind which
is now well known) of a size suitable to clip round the trousers when folded round
the ankle as shewn in Fig. 1; or of a size to clip round any other part of the leg.
Inside this clip a I provide a strip of elastic or elastic webbing b which is secured
at or near the ends c d of the clip (see Fig. 1) and to the two intermediate points e
and This can be done by sewing or binding the elastic or elastic webbing and
the clip together through the holes c d e and f in the clip. The length of the
strip of elastic or elastic webbing b is such that when it is secured to the clip a as
above described the elastic or elastic webbing will be in tension as shewn in Fig. 1.
When the ends of the clip overlap as shewn in Fig. 4 the elastic or elastic webbing
is secured to the clip a short distance from the overlapping end as at g.
My improved clip is used to clip either the trousers or stockings round the leg in
any of the ways which other spring clips are used which have not the elastic or
elastic webbing part b.
When the complete clip formed as above described and shewn in Fig. 1 is placed
in position to secure the folded trousers round the wearer's ankle as shewn in Fig. 3,
or to secure the stockings, the elastic or elastic webbing part 6 is by the wearer's leg
pressed outwardly so as to conform with the shape thereof as shewn in Fig. 2 and
thus cause the clip to hold the trousers or stockings in place much more securely than
when, as heretofore, the clip a is used without the elastic or elastic webbing part b.
Moreover the use of the elastic or elastic webbing part 6 in combination with the
steel clip part a as above described enables the clip to hold securely and to be used
on legs of a smaller size than those on which the spring band part a would hold if
used without the elastic or elastic webbing part b.
It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the number of points where
the elastic or elastic webbing part b and the clip part a are secured together, as they
may be secured together at more or less than the four points shewn without departing
from the nature of my invention.
When extra strength is required the elastic or elastic webbing part b may be
made in two or more thicknesses.

page_text: 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 combination with a spring 'metal trousers or stocking clip of the kind
herein referred to of a strip or strips of elastic or elastic webbing fixed at intervals
inside thereof for the purpose and substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. The improved trousers or stocking clip for cyclists and others herein before
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, consisting of the steel spring
band a furnished with the inner elastic or elastic webbing part b substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 24th day of September 1891.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.