Improvements in Breeches and Knickerbocker-breeches.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 19th July, 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breeches and Knickerbocker-breeches.
THOMAS DOUGHTY 13 Belgrave Road St. John's Wood N.W. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This ingenious invention is an improvement in breeches and knickerbocker (breeches)
and is constructed with elastics inserted in the breeches below the knees & in the bands
of the knickerbocker breeches, in place of, & superseding the fastenings in ordinary
use thereby dispensing with the necessity and trouble of buttoning at or below the knee
at the same time giving a a firmer protection than those in ordinary use.
Also my
invention is a great preventative (by allowing free circulation of the blood) of cramp
which often cause vericose veins" & cold feet.
1st Ontohan 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Breeches and Knickerbocker-breeches.
THOMAS DOUGHTY 13 Belgrave Road, St. John's Wood, N.W. & at 1 Brook Street,
Hanover Square, W., Tailor, 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:
ALALA
My said invention is an improvement in and applicable to breeches and knickerbocker
breeches and any like garment whether used for men or women which is usually
fastened at or below the knee and whether used for indoor or outdoor wear including
all forms of like garments used for hunting, shooting, fishing, polo, cycling, walking,
running and athletics of all kinds or for uniforms and liveries or for manual and other
labour or for actors or fancy costumes or for dancing or social purposes of any kind
now customary or possible in the future and to any garment of any analogous nature
in so far as touches my invention, although the same may be or come to be in use as
under garments whether for men or women and although the fastenings of the same
to which my invention is applicable may be at other parts of the body as well as the
knee (such as at the wrist, elbow, waist or elsewhere) and the said improvement
consists in the construction of the garment at the knee or other point where it is to
be fastened with an insertion of one or more pieces of elastic among or under the
cloth, leather, duck, corduroy, silk, drill, flannel, canvas, velvet, plush, kharkee,
linen or other ordinary material of so as to dispense with the inconvenience and trouble
of tying, buttoning, buckling, lacing, hooks and eyes, clasps, or other similar modes
of fastening before in use and so that the garments can be slipped on or off without
unfastening and with ease and comfort and so also that, when on, the cloth or other
material as aforesaid will keep its place and will have the appearance of being fastened in
the ordinary way and will at the same time give freedom to the movements of the muscles
and joints and it is a part of my invention that such insertion of elastic does not
encircle the whole joint or limb, but may be placed only under the part of the cloth
or other material where the fastenings would ordinarily come.
And that there may
be more than one layer of such elastic and that it may be distributed in various ways.
as for example, by a broad band with several narrow strips outside, (as in the elastic
web indicated by the letters m and n on the drawings herewith) or by a broad band with
small bands fastened at the edges of it or by a combination of bands of different
strengths and sizes in various ways including the combination and use of different
elastic materials, as for example, the use of indiarubber or any other substitute that
077

page_text: is or may be discovered therefor or webs made therewith either alone or with metal
springs or wires, and including the substitution where convenient of springs or wires
or bands of pure indiarubber or extensible materials for such elastic webs as are
indicated as being used in the drawings aforesaid, in whole or in part; and the
invention includes and provides for the use of buttons, laces, buckles, clasps, or other
usual contrivances, now or usually employed for fastening, so affixed as to conceal
the true method of fastening and to cause the garment to seem as if it were fastened
in the ordinary way; and includes and provides for the protection of the elastic so as
to be uninjured by wetting or washing; and is consistent with the use of other forms
of fastening at the same time in any combinations which may not conflict with the
general efficiency of the invention as aforesaid. And my method of constructing such
a garment as that represented in the said drawings is that I make the garment in the
ordinary way except that the buttons are sewn on a square or other suitable piece
of elastic web marked m on the said drawings which is sewn to the cloth a short way
on either side of the usual opening beside the knee (at or near the points there
marked A1 A2 A3 A) and I then insert over it a few light strips (marked thereon)
of elastic sewn on at or near the points there marked C1 C2 C3 C+ C³, so as to hold back
the free edge of the cloth and keep it in place, and attached at the other end at or near
the points marked B1 B and the corresponding points between: but the said arrange-
ment is capable of variation in the numerous ways indicated in the description and
Specification of my said invention, which I propose to adapt to the convenience of
customers as circumstances may require, including the use of a less broad piece of
elastic than the piece indicated as being used in the said drawings, and the use
of smaller strips, where convenient, and including the sewing in or otherwise inserting
the elastic at convenient relative points of the cloth or other inaterial, other than those
adopted in the said drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The combinations of elastic materials with cloth or other materials at the knee
or other joint as aforesaid in such manner as aforesaid, as distinguished from any
manner of employing elastic material in children's or other knickerbockers hitherto
in use.
2. The use of the said combinations in manner aforesaid so as to be consistent with
preserving the usual external fit and appearance of the outer surface of the breeches
or other garments as aforesaid.
3. The use of the said combinations in manner aforesaid in a manner permitting
the appearance of such other ordinary fastenings as may be in fashionable use or in
customary wear in manner aforesaid without the necessity of fastening and unfastening
such apparent fastenings as aforesaid.
4. The use of the said combinations as aforesaid so as to give the requisite fixity
of position without the saine constriction and pressure as are occasioned by the methods
of constructing knickerbockers hitherto in use (which said methods of constructing
children's or other knickersbockers I do not claim as any part of my said invention nor
lo claim as any part thereof such other uses of elastic materials in dress as are
hitherto in use such as belts of elastic web, or gores thereof, nor any such use of
materials of a partly elastic character such as knitted webs for drawers or stockings
as hitherto used and known.
5. The application, by means of my said improved method of combination as afore-
said, of elastic materials to many kinds of garments including leather and other riding
breeches in a manner hitherto entirely unknown.
Dated this 10th day of Inly 1800
THOMAS DOUGHTY