IMPROVEMENTS IN PROTECTORS FOR THE BOTTOMS OF LADIES' DRESSES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Norwood & Frank Melvin Cutler, of
Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
but at present at 172, Islington, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROTECTORS FOR THE
BOTTOMS OF LADIES' DRESSES."-A communication from abroad by
Charles Murphy, of the Town of Camden, in the State of Maine,
Tnited Staton
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Norwood and
Frank Melvin Cutler at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 11th November 1874.
We, GEORGE NORWOOD & FRANK MELVIN CUTLER, of Boston, in
the State of Massachusetts, United States of America, but at present at
172, Islington, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROTECTORS FOR THE
BOTTOMS OF LADIES' DRESSES," to be as follows:-

page_text: !.
generally partially protected by braid trimmings. This braid however
holds the dirt and also rapidly frays away. It is to remedy this defect
that this our Invention is designed.
Our Invention consists in a band of india-rubber, india-rubber cloth,
or other suitable material for fastening in any suitable manner to the
inside of the bottom of a lady's dress so as to protect it from dirt and
undue wear and tear.
We prefer to use a strip of india-rubber cloth with one edge folded
over a cylindrical "wire" of india-rubber, and either sewn or (preferably)
firmly cemented by india-rubber or other solution to the body of the
strip. The beading thus formed constitutes the lowest part of the dress.
The remaining breadth of the strip of india-rubber cloth is sewn, hooked,
or otherwise fastened on to the inside of the dress, & thus forms a
protection to the same, and any dirt splashed against it by the feet or
otherwise can be washed off without trouble.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Norwood and Frank Melvin Cutler in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th May 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
NORWOOD and FRANK MELVIN CUTLER, of Boston, in the State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, but at present at 172, Islington,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-eighth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said George Norwood and Frank Melvin Cutler, Her
special licence that we, the said George Norwood and Frank Melvin Outler,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said George Norwood and Frank Melvin Cutler, our executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
> !).

page_text: 1
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROTECTORS
FOR THE BOTTOMS OF LADIES' DRESSES," a communication to us from abroad
by Charles Murphy, of the Town of Camden, in the State of Maine,
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said George Norwood and Frank Melvin Cutler, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said George Norwood and Frank Melvin
Cutler, do hereby declare the nature of our said 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 is designed to prevent the wearing out and soiling of
the bottoms of skirts, trousers, or other like articles of dress or clothing
worn in the streets or otherwise exposed to mud and dust, and to the
abrasion of hard surfaces.
usc.
The said Invention is chiefly intended as a skirt protector for ladies'
It is well known that the lower edges or portions of ladies' dresses
are very speedily worn out, and are always liable to be soiled when worn
out of doors. They have hitherto been provided with braid trimming to
protect them, but this braid holds the dirt and rapidly frays away.
Our Invention consists in a band of india-rubber, india-rubber cloth,
or other soft waterproof material formed with a beading or piping, or
otherwise thickened at its lower edge or bottom, and fastened in any
suitable manner inside the bottom of a skirt or other article of dress to
protect it from dirt and undue wear and tear.
We prefer to use a strip of india-rubber cloth with the lower edge
folded over an india-rubber cord, and either sewn or firmly cemented by
india-rubber or other solution to the body of the strip, but if desirable
we may use fibrous cord or string or other material to form the beading,
piping, or edging at the bottom of the protector. The beading thus
formed when the protector is worn constitutes the lowest part of the
dress. The strip of india-rubber cloth or other material of which the

page_text: protector is formed is sewn, hooked, or otherwise so fastened to the inside
of the dress as to afford the desired protection to the same, and any dirt
splashed against it by the feet or 'otherwise can be washed off without
difficulty. The said protector may have its bottom edge either straight
or curved to conform to the shape of the dress.
This Invention supplies a want long felt, and effectually preserves the
bottom of a dress and skirt from wearing and soiling. It keeps the
edges of the dress and skirt clean and dry, and being made of strong
waterproof cloth all mud, dust, and other dirt can be immediately
removed with a sponge or wet cloth, which without the protector would
be deposited upon the dress itself.
The solid strong india-rubber or other edging or beading of the pro-
tector prevents fraying or wearing of the binding or braid of the dress,
thus soon saving the cost of the protector, besides always presenting a
neat appearance.
The edging being solid and elastic greatly improves the set of the
train or skirt of the dress, causing it to fall in graceful folds and giving
it a stylish appearance.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to us
by our foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, 2
we wish it understood that we claim, a dress protector formed of india-
rubber cloth or other suitable material, with a beading or piping or
thickened portion on its lower edge and applied to a dress, as herein set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Melvin Cutler, for myself 2
and on behalf of the said George Norwood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
HY. JA. NOONE.
FRANK M. CUTLER. (L.s.)
'