Improvements in and connected with Leggings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Leggings.
JOHN BOWER SMITH The Rylands Golden Hillock Road Birmingham
Commercial Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention consists of a frame made of metal or other suitable material to
attach to the lower edge of a waterproof legging or gaiter in such a way as to
embrace the foot at the heel and instep covering as much of the front of the
foot as is required-with springs at the side that shall permit of the front lifting
and closing of its own accord in the action of pedalling a cycle or walking so that
& current of air can pass freely up the leg and out at the top so as to liberate
perspiration.
At the heel of the frame may be attached a screw to fix a spur for horse
riding.
My invention includes a cape on each knee when cycling or riding with cork or
other studs on the underside to raise the material from the knee & secure ventilation
there being a space of about half inch between the material forming the cape, and
the riders clothing-so that an uninterupted current of air can pass up the legging
on the forward movement of the pedal and the toe is depressed, when the front of
the legging opens and admits the current-then it passes under the cape amongst
the studs and out at the upper end.
Dated this Fifth day of July 1894.
Improvements in and connected with Leggings.
I, JOHN BOWER SMITH, of The Rylands, Golden Hillock Road, Birmingham,
Commercial Traveller, 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 waterproof leggings or coverings for the leg, and has
for one of its objects, a self-ventilating covering, and for another object, a weather
protection for the knees.
Thus, my invention consists essentially of two parts, viz., a legging part and a
knee covering or cape.
In the first part, the movement of the foot keeps the legging taut, and allows the
front part of the open end to gape or leave a space between itself and the foot for
the ingress of cold air, which is forced up the interior of the legging by the down-
ward movement of the said foot, which acts as an air forcer by upwardly displacing
the air lying within its path, hence an intermittent and forced current of air
entering the legging and being conducted upwards, so that all humidity, perspiration
or moisture is condensed and deposited on the interior surface of the covering.
To accomplish this, the lower part of the legging is provided with a stretcher
frame, which is adapted to embrace or comprehend the fore part or instep and back
Price 8d 1

page_text: of a boot. Through the medium of this frame, the hooded fore part of the legging
or covering is kept taut, and so also is the legging, which is attachedly connected
at its upper end to the stocking, knickerbockers or trousers.
In the second part of my improvements consist of a cape shaped piece of water-
proof material, with an apron front whose lower part preferably overlaps the
Jegging top, so that air leaving the legging below it, is conducted under the apron
and up the inside of the cape by the said cape standing away from the knee or leg
through the medium of lifts or spaced or separated ribs.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a legging and knee cape in
use upon the leg.
Figure 2 represents the self-ventilating legging in action, or, as it were, pumping
air through its interior.
Figure 3 represents the said legging opened out, showing the framing at the
lower open end.
Figure 4 represents, upon an enlarged scale, the extreme lower part of the said
legging, showing more clearly the construction and arrangement of the stretching
compound frame embracing the boot.
Figure 5 represents a topside plan, partly in horizontal section upon the line
of Figure 4.
Figure 6 represents an underside plan of the knee cape, and Figure 7 is a
transverse section of the same upon the dotted line A.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
In the legging part of my invention, a is the body part of the legging, preferably
made of a piece of waterproof material, folded tube-wise and buttoned at the
overlapping meeting edges, with the lower front part having a hood or apron a¹³,
whilst the lower back a³, is open in common with the terminal or lower front part,
which parts are fitted with a compound stretcher frame b, consisting of a semi-hoop
shaped back, with the ends twisted into loops around pulley shaped rivets or
carriers ; are instep frame members whose upper ends are connected together
or united by a rivet or other connection 64, having a hook 6°, which is adapted to
engage with the lace c³, of a boot or shoe c, which is embraced by the frame, and
by this connection, the frame is kept rigid to the boot, and the material of the
legging is kept taut or on the stretch, so that the foot moving about the ankle as a
centre, takes the boot away from the front underside edge of the apron of the
legging.
The metal of the lower parts 63, of the instep frame members is then twisted into
spring coils, around the pulley or button rivets 63, and then continued into a
boot-front frame 6', which back and front frames are attachedly connected to the
material of the lower open end of the legging.
By connecting the front frame 67, to the instep members ³, by coiled springs b",
the front frame is made to turn about the said coils 68, as a centre, and so always
keep the material at the front of the legging on the stretch.
To tie in the frame laterally, and to prevent the legging rising, an understrap d
connects the two opposite sides of the frame at the instep part.
In riding leggings, the back frame may be adapted to carry a spur.
The legging is connected at its upper part, to the trousers, knickerbockers or
stockings by an elastic strap or suspender.
In the knee cape part of my invention, fis an apron, preferably made of water-
proof material; and provided with straps f¹, for its attachment to the knee, and
fare ribs at the middle part with intervening air spaces f³, between and at the
two opposite sides of them."
Instead of ribs, I may employ stud lifts, undulations or the like.
My invention is particularly applicable for use when cycling, riding or walking
in wet or dirty weather, and if necessary, the legging may be provided with rib or
stud lifts, so as to form ventilating channels or spaces for the upward circulation of
cool air.

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 :-
First. A legging or leg cover, with the lower open end stiffened, or the material
thereof kept taut or in a given position, whereby the same is made self-ventilating
when in use, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. A legging or leg covering, with the lower open end of the same
stiffened, or the material thereof kept taut or in a given position, by a compound
skeleton framing, constructed, arranged and provided substantially as described and
set forth.
Thirdly. In ventilating knee capes and leggings, providing the inside surfaces
of the same with spaced lifts, substantially as and for the purpose described and set
forth.
Dated this 7th day of November 1894
JOHN BOWER SMITH,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.