Improvements in Combined Cloaks and Skirt Protectors.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combined Cloaks and Skirt Protectors.
A communication from abroad by MARTHA E. AMBERY and JEREMIAH WILBUR, of
Fishkill-on-the-Hudson, in the County of Duchess and State of New York,
United States of America, Dressmaker and Blacksmith respectively.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to devices for protecting women's skirts,-the bottom as well
as the upper portions-through the medium of a cloak or overgarment.
In constructing this class of skirt protectors, it has been the custom, heretofore, to
follow one or the other of several methods, which will be briefly described in order
that the new construction and its advantages may be the better understood.
According to one method, the overgarment is made somewhat longer than the
skirts, and is provided at its lower edge with eyes, and when this garment is on the
wearer, this lower edge is turned up inwardly, so as to enclose the bottom of the skirt
in a pocket, and then secured in place by hooking the eyes on to hooks on pendent
straps attached at their upper end to a waistband. This necessitates, of course, the
putting on of this waistband and its pendent straps under the skirts.
According to a second method, a pocket is formed on the inside of the overgarment
at its bottom, this pocket extending all around the bottom of the garment, and
opening upward. After the overgarment has been put on, the wearer tucks the
bottom of her skirts down into this pocket.
According to a third method, the protector is merely an annular band suspended
from the waist by four straps and adapted to be turned inward under the skirts, so
as to form an annular pocket. The strip is retained in its pocket form by means
of clasps, each formed of two pieces secured to the strip and connected by a spring
snap hinge. This protector is entirely independent of any overgarment, covering
the upper part of the person, and of course only protects the bottom of the skirts.
The combined cloak and protector possesses, it is believed, important advantages
over all of the devices described, in that it provides in one overgarment, protection
for the whole of the dress and may be put on and worn as a protector and removed
with as little inconvenience as an ordinary waterproof cloak or gossamer. Moreover,
it is especially constructed with a view to avoiding the crumpling of the skirts
incident to tucking them into a previously formed pocket.
In carrying out the invention, a lady's waterproof cloak is provided, constructed
in the ordinary or usual manner and made of extra length to provide a border all
around, which border is adapted to be turned up to receive within it and completely.
envelop the lower edge of the skirts. To hold up this border in its folded position,
a series of clasps are provided, which clasps may be of any suitable construction.
For this purpose, clasps are preferably employed consisting of hinged arms which
are attached, by sewing or otherwise, in extended vertical position, to the lower part
of the waterproof cloak, and, preferably, on the inside thereof. The length of the
lower of these arms, forming the clasps equals the breadth of the border, so that
when the latter is turned up, the bottom of the cloak will be at a suitable distance
from the ground. The lower end of the upper of these hinged arms is formed with
a spring clip, against which bears a projection on the inner end of the lower arm, so
that upon folding the arms together, the spring clip acts on the projection to throw
up the lower arm and cause the arms to be pressed together with the skirts enveloped
in the folded border between them.

page_text: To insure the hold or the clasp in folded position, the outer ends of the arms
thereof are provided, preferably, with spurs or teeth which press into the skirts and
engage the same. By means of the spring clasps, the border may be readily folded
or unfolded, and when folded will be securely held in place.
Dad: 10th 1
1000
F
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combined Cloaks and Skirt Protectors.
A communication from abroad by MARTHA E AMBERÝ and JEREMIAH WILBUR, of
Fishkill-on-the-Hudson, in the "County of Dutchess and State of New York,
United States of America, Dressmaker and Blacksmith respectively.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street Manchester, both
in the County, of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, 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 devices for protecting women's skirts-the bottom' as
well as the upper portions-through the medium of a cloak or overgarment.
In constructing this class of skirt-protectors, it has been the custom, heretofore,
to follow one or the other of several methods; which will be briefly described in order
that the new construction and its advantages may be the better understood.
'
According to one method, the overgarment is made somewhat longer longer than
the skirts, and is provided at its lower edge with eyes, and when this garment is on
the wearer, this lower edge is turned up inwardly, so as to enclose the bottom of the
skirt in a pocket, and then secured in place by hooking the eyes on to looks on
pendent straps attached at their upper end to a waistband. This necessitates, of course,"
the putting on of this waistband and its 'pendent straps under the skirts.
According to a second method, a pocket is formed on the inside of the over-
garment at its bottom, this pocket extending all around the bottom of the garment,
and opening upward. After the overgarinent has been put on, the wearer tucks' the
bottom of her skirts down into this pocket.
According to a third method, the protector is merely an annular band" suspended
from the waist by four straps and adapted to be turned inward under the skirts, so as
to form an annular pocket. 'The strip is retained in its pocket form by means of
clasps, each formed of two pieces secured to the strip and connected by a spring
snap hinge. This protector is entirely independent of any overgarment covering the
upper part of the person, and, of course, only protects the bottom of the skirts,
The combined cloak and protector possesses, it is believed, important advantages
over all of the devices described, in that it provides, in one overgarment, protection
for the whole of the dress and may be put on and worn as a protector and
removed with as little inconvenience as an ordinary waterproof cloak. Moreover,
it is especially constructed with view to avoiding the crumpling of the skirts
incident to tucking them into a previously formed pocket.
.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,
illustrative thereof, wherein;-
Figure 1 is a view, showing in use a lady's waterproof cloak, constructed in
accordance with this invention, partly broken away.
Figure 2 is a view of the lower portion of the cloak and skirts in position when
in use.
4
Figure 3 is a detail perspective of one of the clasps for holding the upturned skirt
of the cloak.
Figure 4 is a side view thereof in folded position with the bottom of the cloak.
Γ.

page_text: 1 represents a lady's waterproof cloak constructed in the usual or any suitable
manner and made of extra length, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, to provide
a border 2 which may be turned up to receive within it and entirely envelop the
lower edge of a skirt 3, as shown in Figures 1 any 2. To hold up the border 2
in this folded position, a series of clasps is provided, which clasps may be of any
suitable construction. As herein shown, they consist of hinged arms 4, which are
attached, by sowing or otherwise in extended vertical position, as shown at the left
hand of Figure 2 in dotted lines, to the lower part of the cloak 1. The length of
the lower arm 4 equals the breadth of the border 2, so that when the latter is
turned up, the bottom of the cloak will be at a suitable distance from the ground.
The lower end of the upper arm 4 is formed with a spring-clip 5, against which
bears a projection 6 on the inner end of the lower arm 4, so that, upon folding
the arms 4 together, the said clip 5 acts on the projection 6 to throw up the lower
arm 4 and cause the arms 4 to be pressed together with the skirts enveloped in the
folded border 2 between them.
To insure the hold of the clasp in folded position, the outer ends of the arms 4 are
provided, preferably, with spurs or teeth 7, which press into the skirts and engage
the same. By means of the spring-clasps, the border 2 may be readily folded or
unfolded, and, when folded, will be securely held in place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
foreign correspondents, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim a clasp with
a spring-snap hinge such as has been described, as similar clasps have been before
employed nor do I limit myself to the specific construction of the clasp as herein
shown. Overgarments-such as water-proof cloaks-have also been constructed, as
has been before stated, to be turned inward under the skirts in order to protect the
bottoms of the latter, and this I do not broadly claim; but I declare that what I
claim is :-
As an improved article of manufacture, a cloak having an extension at its
bottom to fold up inwardly and envelop the bottom of the skirt, and having also
a series of jointed clasps with springs at their hinges secured to the cloak, as
described, and serving to hold the extension of the cloak in its upturned position.
Dated this 10th day of April 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.