A Waistcoat Protector, Preventing the Fraying, Soiling, or other Damage to which the Front of a Waistcoat is Liable in Ordinary Wear.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Waistcoat Protector, Preventing the Fraying, Soiling, or other
Damage to which the Front of a Waistcoat is Liable in Ordinary
Wear.
WILLIAM GEORGE HOWARD and CHARLES EDWARD NORTH both of 13 Edith
Road, Queen's Road, Peckham, London in the County of Surrey, Clerks do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
We provide a piece of cloth, or any other suitable material, of the shape of a
triangle with concave base and with such base notched in the middle similarly to
the bottom of the front of an ordinary waistcoat. We intend that such piece of
cloth or any other suitable material shall be folded and "pleated" down the middle,
that is to say, in a straight line from the apex to the aforesaid notch in the base,
and that such fold or "pleat" be furnished in the front with buttons and button-
holes (or imitation button holes) after the manner of the lower part of an ordinary
waistcoat front. We also provide the waistcoat protector" at the back with
certain U-shaped clips of suitable material (preferably steel) sewn, or otherwise
fastened to the fold or "pleat "--such clips to hold the "waistcoat protector
the waistcoat between the buttons of the waistcoat. We also intend that the
corners at the base of the "waistcoat protector" shall be tucked up under the bottom
of the waistcoat and there held in position by certain hooks sewn, or otherwise
fastened, to the said ends-such hooks clutching the lining of the waistcoat.
to
We also provide the "waistcoat protector with certain arc-shaped strips of
suitable material (preferably steel) to be sewn, or otherwise fixed, to its back
causing the "waistcoat protector" to adhere closely to the waistcoat.
outh N 1801
WILLIAM GEORGE HOWARD.
CHARLES EDWARD NORTH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Waistcoat Protector, Preventing the Fraying, Soiling, or other
Damage to which the Front of a Waistcoat is Liable in Ordinary
Wear.
We, WILLIAM GEORGE HOWARD, and CHARLES EDWARD NORTH, both of
13 Edith Road, Queen's Road, Peckham, London, in the County of Surrey,
Clerks, 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 :-
It has been found that in the case of clerks and others whose occupation
necessitates their continually sitting at desks or tables, the front of the waistcoat
is worn or frayed where the latter comes in contact with the edge of the desk or
table.
Now the object of this invention is to provide a shield or protector that may be
readily attached to and detached from an ordinary waistcoat, the front of which it
is made to resemble so that unless examined closely, it cannot be distinguished
from the lower part of an ordinary waistcoat when the upper part of the wearer's
coat is buttoned over so as to hide the junction of the waistcoat and the
protector.
In carrying this invention into practical effect we provide a piece of cloth,

page_text: any other suitable material of the shape of a triangle, with concave base and with
such base notched in the middle similarly to the bottom of the front of an ordinary
waistcoat. Such piece of cloth or other suitable material is folded and "pleated
down the middle, that is to say, in a straight line from the apex of the aforesaid
notch in the base, and furnished in the front with buttons and buttons-holes (or
imitation button-holes) after the manner of the lower part of an ordinary waistcoat
front. We also provide the "waistcoat protector at the back with certain
U-shaped clips of suitable material (preferably steel) sewn or otherwise fastened
to the fold or "pleat"-such clips to hold the "waistcoat protector" to the
waistcoat between the buttons of the waistcoat. It is intended that the corners
at the base of the "waistcoat protector" shall be tucked up under the bottom of
the waistcoat and there held in position by certain hooks sewn, or otherwise fastened
to the said ends-such hooks clutching the lining of the waistcoat.
We also provide the "waistcoat protector' with certain arc-shaped strips of
suitable elastic material (preferably steel) to be sewn or otherwise fixed to its
back causing the "waistcoat protector" to adhere closely to the waistcoat.
It is obvious that the device herein before described may be suitably stiffened
by the insertion of suitable stiffening material between the above mentioned
facing-material and the lining which is employed to cover the arc-shaped strips of
steel or other material. One arm of each U-shaped clip will of course protrude
through the lining in order to engage with the edge of the waistcoat to which the
"protector" is attached.
And in order that our invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice we will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying sheet of drawings of which
Figure is a front view; Figure 2 a back view, and Figure 3 a section at the
line, y of Figure 1 of a waistcoat protector constructed according to this
invention.
The triangular piece of cloth, or other suitable material A is curved at its base,
which is notch at the centre at a similarly to the bottom of the front of an ordinary
waistcoat. A "pleat" is formed down the centre of the material from the apex
to the said notch in the base so as to resemble in appearance the overlapping edges
of the front of an ordinary waistcoat. This resemblance is increased by a line of
stitching cand by buttons d, and real or imitation button-holes e placed near the
edge of the pleat. The device is suitably stiffened by the insertion of canvas or
other stiffening material, and is suitably lined at B. Slightly curved strips of steel,
whalebone, or other suitable elastic or spring-like material are inserted between
the facing A and lining B with the object of causing the " protector" to adhere
closely to the waistcoat to which the device is attached. The curvature of these
elastic strips is best seen at Figure 3 of the drawings. Suitable U-shaped clips
of steel or other suitable material are secured to the back of the protector in such
manner that their free arms may be readily inserted between the buttons of the
waistcoat over which the device is worn, in order to secure it in position. It will
be readily understood that the arms of these clips that are sewn or otherwise
attached to the protector may be covered by the lining B, as shewn in the
drawings. The lower corners h, i, are provided at or near their extremities with
sharp hooks k.
In use the protector is applied to the front of the waistcoat and the free ends of
the clips are inserted between the buttons thereof. The corners, i, are then
turned up under the bottom of the waistcoat with the lining of which the hooks k
engage and thereby prevent the return of the said corners h, i. In Figure 2 of the
drawings one corner is shewn turned up as herein before described. In place of
the hook any other suitable means of attachment may be employed. In some
cases we have found that a piece of plush, velvet, or wire-card may be used with
advantage as these rough surfaces cling to the lining of the waistcoat without
damaging the same.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The general arrangement and construction of a waistcoat protector, made to
closely resemble the lower part of an ordinary waistcoat, and provided with means
by which it may be attached to the same, substantially as hereinbefore set forth
and described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of Wabruary 1899
"
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.