Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 5th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1896
We MARY ELIZABETH PEASE and SARAH ANNE PEASE both of Sunnyside,
Grove Road, Harrogate, Yorkshire, Gentlewomen, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved skirt available also as a cape for lady
cyclists.
The rational dress now greatly adopted by lady cyclists has one or two objections
inasmuch that when the lady is dismounted her lower garments and figure are too
much exposed.
Now the object of our invention is to obviate these disadvantages by the
formation of a cape like garment which can be secured round the neck as a cape or
be secured round the waist as a skirt and occupy a position under the usual "fall"
of the tunic but to a lower level. The garment can be readily put on by first
suspending the front from a hook or other fastener.
Our cape
and skirt garment is preferably made of a light or thin waterproof
fabric of the desired pattern to coincide with the colour or texture of the dress,
it is of circular shape with a clear opening at say the front, to be secured by
buttons hooks and eyes or other fasteners in its depth to overlap and with a band in
which a running cord or tape is arranged for drawing the band in to the required
diameter or size of waist when worn as a skirt and of the neck of the wearer when..
worn as a cape the band being so made that when drawn in for the neck it gives the
appearance of a Ruché collar.
The duplex garment thus made can when not in wear be rolled for attachment to.
a cycle or be folded and be carried in the cycle pouch or it can be suspended in a
rolled up condition from a lady's waistbelt.
Dated this on day of r
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said M. E. & S. A. Pease.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said M. E. & S. A. Pease.
UUMI LIE
Improved Skirt, available also as a Cape for Lady Cyclists.
We, MARY ELIZABETH PEASE and SARAH ANNE PEASE, both of Sunnyside,
Grove Road, Harrogate, Yorkshire, Gentlewomen, 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 improved skirt available also as a cape for lady
cyclists.
The rational dress now greatly adopted by lady cyclists has one or two objections
inasmuch that when the lady is dismounted her lower garments and figure are too
much exposed.
The object of our invention is to obviate these disadvantages by the formation of
a cape like garment which can be secured round the neck as a cape or be secured
round the waist as a skirt and occupy a position under the usual "fall" of the tunic
but to a lower level.

page_text: The garment can be readily put on by first suspending the front from a hook or
other fastener.
Our cape and skirt garment is preferably made of a light or thin waterproof
fabric of the desired pattern to coincide with the colour or texture of the dress; it
is of circular shape with a clear opening at say the front, to be secured by buttons,
hooks, and eyes, or other fasteners in its depth to overlap, and with a band in
which a running cord or tape is arranged for drawing the band in to the required
diameter or size of waist when worn as a skirt, and of the neck of the wearer when
worn as a cape, the band being so made that when drawn in for the neck it gives
the appearance of a Ruché collar.
The duplex garment thus made can, when not in wear, be rolled for attachment
to a cycle or be folded and be carried in the cycle pouch, or it can be suspended in
a rolled up condition from a lady's waist belt.
The invention is clearly represented in the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 plan of skirt-au-cape in an open condition as if laid upon a floor.
Figure 2 view with upper portion partially drawn in by the running tape to form
a waist band capable of being secured around the waist by tape only, by button or
other fastener only, or by both tape and button, or other fastener.
Figure 3 represents the skirt-au-cape, as a cape, the upper portion being drawn
in at the neck to pleat the band portion and make it look like a Ruché collar.
Figure 4 represents a lady on a bicycle with the article worn as a cape, the
length being sufficient to cover and protect her knees and lower limbs, or nearly so
while riding and also to fall gracefully over the saddle and seat.
Figure 5 illustrates the article when worn as a skirt, the band portion and runner
tape being hidden by the fall of the tunic and gives the appearance of the skirt of
an ordinary walking costume.
The invention thus far is of importance to lady cyclists. It is preferable to
make it of light waterproof or rainproof material of reverse colours, say a check
and a plain to suit or approach the usual colour of garments generally worn, so
that on dismounting if the article be in wear as a cape its removal and securing
round the waist would in a few moments convert it into a skirt without making the
wearer unlike others in the vicinity.
A, material of circular shape.
B, lap edges provided with button or other fasteners C, C.
D, ends of running tape in channel near top end of material A.
E, neck or waist band which can be drawn in like a ruffled collar or Ruché collar,
to stand up, or it can be folded down.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The improved skirt available also as a cape for lady cyclists as shown, said
article being constructed or made up and from suitable material as and in the
manner described.
2. As an article or outer garment for lady cyclists wear, the drawing or gathering
in of the neck portion by a running. tape in order that the neck part proper of the
material shall form a collar, or a waist band at the will of the wearer, as and for
the nurnoses explained
The 5th day or March 1890.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Mary Elizabeth Pease and
Sarah Anne Pease.