A SAFETY SKIRT for LADIES RIDING HABITS
Year: 1885

page_text: I HENRY NICOLL of 45 Warwick Street Regent Street London W Outfitter
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A SAFETY SKIRT for LADIES
RIDING HABITS to be as follows:-
With the object of preventing a rider being dragged when thrown, by the habit
catching on the saddle or pummels I fasten the skirt seam A B as shown in the
accompanying drawings Fig. I with spring catches and spring hooks and eyes
instead of sewing it up in the ordinary manner; by this means if the rider is
thrown and the skirt catches on the saddle the riders weight bursts open the
seam A B and she falls clear to the ground. Fig. II shows the form of spring
catch to be used at the top, bottom, and intervals, of the skirt where necessary to
keep the seam together; the spring catches are regulated to release at from 7 to
20 lbs strain as may be required and they are supplimented with the spring hooks
and eyes Fig. III which release at a less strain than the spring catches.
Dated this 31st day of December 1885.
HENRY NICOLL.
A Safety Skirt Or Ladies Riding Habits.
I HENRY NICOLL of 45 Warwick Street Regent Street London Outfitter do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for A SAFETY SKIRT FOR LADIES
RIDING HABITS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
With the object of preventing a lady being dragged when thrown, by the skirt
catching on the pommels of the saddle, I take a seam or seams running from the
waist downwards and instead of sewing it or them up in the ordinary manner
D

page_text: I fasten it or them together in such a way that the skirt presents no unusual
appearance and the fastenings are strong enough for all ordinary wear and use, but
in the event of the lady being thrown and the skirt catching on the pommels, her
weight bursts open the fastenings and she falls clear to the ground.
Fig. 1 shows a Habit skirt having a seam A B fastened with spring or other
releasing fastenings this seam is made to open throughout its length or as far as
necessary to permit the lady to fall clear.
Fig. 2 shows a form of spring fastening to be used at the waist and intervals
where necessary to keep the seam or seams together. The spring fastening consists
of two parts. The first, a metal case having a flange with holes for the purpose of
sewing it on this metal case contains a steel spring having a projecting bulb. The
second part is a notched bar of steel or other metal having a flange with holes at
the end for the purpose of sewing it on. In use the notched bar is pushed into
the case until the bulb of the spring holds the notch in the bar. The spring is
made of such strength and the depth of the notch is so regulated that the bar is
released at a strain of from 7 to 30 pounds as may be required in the different
positions.
Fig. 3 shows a form of spring fastening consisting of a small metal case with
holes for sewing on. On the lower side of the mouth of the case is a projection.
A bent steel snap with holes at one end for sewing on is pushed into the case until
a hollow or notch in the free end of the snap fits into the projection in the case.
The spring snap is made of such strength and the depth of the hollow in its free
end is so regulated that the fastening releases at from 2 to 7 pounds strain. This
form of fastening is intended to be used between and to supplement wherever
necessary the spring fastenings shown in Fig. 2.
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. The manner of A safety skirt for ladies' riding habits, adapted for preventing a
lady from being dragged in the manner hereinbefore described, that is to say, by
fastening up a seam or seams of the habit skirt in such a way that in the event of a
fall and the habit catching on the pommels the lady's weight bursts open the fastenings
sufficiently to allow her to fall clear to the ground.
2. The shape and design of the spring fastenings as shown in Fig's. 2 and 3.
HENRY NICOLL.

page_text: I HENRY NICOLL of 45 Warwick Street Regent Street London W Outfitter
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A SAFETY SKIRT FOR LADIES
RIDING HABITS to be as follows:-
With the object of preventing a rider being dragged when thrown, by the habit
catching on the saddle or pummels I fasten the skirt seam A B as shown in the
accompanying drawings Fig. I with spring catches and spring hooks and eyes
instead of sewing it up in the ordinary manner; by this means if the rider is
thrown and the skirt catches on the saddle the riders weight bursts open the
seam A B and she falls clear to the ground. Fig. II shows the form of spring
catch to be used at the top, bottom, and intervals, of the skirt where necessary to
keep the seam together; the spring catches are regulated to release at from 7 to
20 lbs strain as may be required and they are supplimented with the spring hooks
and eyes Fig. III which release at a less strain than the spring catches.
100
HENRY NICOLL.

page_text: I fasten it or them together in such a way that the skirt prevents no unusual
appearance and the fastenings are strong enough for all ordinary wear and use, but
in the event of the lady being thrown and the skirt catching on the pommels, her
weight bursts open the fastenings and she falls clear to the ground.
Fig. 1 shows a Habit skirt having a seam A B fastened with spring or other
releasing fastenings this seam made to open throughout its length or as far as
necessary to permit the lady to fall clear.
Fig. 2 shows a form of spring fastening to be used at the waist and intervals
where necessary to keep the seam or seams together. The spring fastening consists
of two parts. The first, a metal case having a flange with holes for the purpose of
sewing it on this metal case contains a steel spring having a projecting bulb. The
second part is a notched bar of steel or other metal having a flange with holes at
the end for the purpose of sewing it on. In use the notched bar is pushed into
the case until the bulb of the spring holds the notch in the bar. The spring is
made of such strength and the depth of the notch is so regulated that the bar is
released at a strain of from 7 to 30 pounds as may be required in the different
positions.
Fig. 3 shows a form of spring fastening consisting of a small metal case with
holes for sewing on. On the lower side of the mouth of the case is a projection.
A bent steel snap with holes at one end for sewing on is pushed into the case until
a hollow or notch in the free end of the snap fits into the projection in the case.
The spring snap is made of such strength and the depth of the hollow in its free
end is so regulated that the fastening releases at from 2 to 7 pounds strain. This
form of fastening is intended to be used between and to suppliment wherever
necessary the spring fastenings shown in Fig. 2.
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. The manner of preventing a lady being dragged by fastening up a seam or
seams of the habit skirt in such a way that in the event of a fall and the habit
catching on the pommels the lady's weight bursts open the fastenings sufficiently
to allow her to fall clear to the ground.
2. The shape and design of the spring fastenings as shown in Fig's. 2 and 3.