Improvements in the Construction of Shirt Fronts.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1899- Accepted, 5th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Shirt Fronts.
We, JOHN BUCKLEY EATON, of 33, Fargate, in the City of Sheffield, Hosier, and
FRANCIS HENRY WHITEHOUSE, of the same address, Assistant, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
per-
Our invention relates to improvements in the construction of shirt fronts by
which is meant the loose or detached fronts worn over or in front of shirts, and
usually made of linen.
The object of our improvements is first to improve the fit of the front to the
wearer in various parts, secondly to render the collar stud-hole more durable than
hitherto, and thirdly to facilitate the ironing of the front.
The various parts of our invention are illustrated in the annexed drawings, in
which Fig. 1, represents a front which is made in accordance with our invention,
and Fig. 2, show's the back of the same.
These fronts as usually made are very liable to crumple or "cockle" in the
upper part on each side, and on account of the method of ironing the neckband,
there is considerable difficulty in getting it to assume its proper position round
the neck of the wearer, that is, to conform to the angle of the neck and to that
of the collar.
In order to remedy these several defects, we make a portion of the edge of each
part of the front marked A, and A2, more flexible and thinner than the central
parts, by cutting away or otherwise removing the central portion of the three
fold fabric at that part.
This flexible edge portion may be crumpled without transmitting the crumple
to the face of the front.
We are aware that pieces of thin material have been attached by sewing them
to the front, and we therefore do not claim such attachments broadly.
To prevent a part of the shirt being seen above the top edge of the sides of the
front we attach on each side a flexible or expansible flap (of the same material) B
and B³, either affixed to the neckband C, only, or preferably having its bottom
edge returned and affixed also to the top edge of the sides, as indicated by the
dotted lines in Fig. 1, and shown in Fig. 2, by this arrangement the collar band C,
can be worn tighter or loose as desired without showing a gap.
To enable the neck or collar band C, to conform to the angle of the neck of
the wearer with ease and comfort, which is a well known difficulty as the collar
band is usually ironed flat with the front, we insert a flexible gusset D, on each side
preferably by removing the central thickness of the threefold fabric as before
described in relation to the parts A and A3, which enables the band C, to auto-
matically adapt itself, (that is without manipulation and possible crumpling of
the front) to the neck, and also to the band of the collar.
To render the collar stud-hole E, less liable to be damaged by the strain upon it,
and from the usual wear and tear, this being the first part of a front to give way,
we attach to the back or inside of the front a loop F, as an auxiliary to the stud
hole E.

page_text: This loop is made of cord, or the like, stitched at its ends to the front and of a
form through which the stud can be passed without difficulty, and which will bear
the bulk of any strain usually borne by the stud hole E, in the collar band C.
We also in the construction of our improved front, leave the two parts of the
front unattached at the lower part G as shown in Fig. 1, in order to allow each
part to be ironed separately where such parts overlap, but we make no claim
to this separately.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim, is:
1-1n a shirt front, the use of a second or auxiliary loop or stud hole, located
at the back of the stud hole in the neck band as hereinbefore described and
shown.
2 In a shirt front, a flexible gusset or part D, located between the neck
band C, and the front, for the purpose and substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown.
3-In a shirt front, the combination of the limp or flexible parts A and A2,
with the flaps or making up pieces B and B2, and the unattached points G, as
hereinbefore described and shown.
4-A shirt front combining all the characteristics hereinbefore described, and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 2nd day of June 1899.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicants, Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.