Improvements in Women's and Children's Dress.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Women's and Children's Dress.
1 EMILY FRANCES BEHRENS of Newfield House Forest Hill Kent do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows: :-
Whereas hitherto skirts have been worn invariably entirely open at the lower edge,
I propose that the lower edge shall be closed, with the exception of two openings right
& left each large enough to admit of the leg passing through. The material at these
parts shall be rather longer than the rest of the skirt (which hangs between) in order
to provide for the formation of short drawers. The short drawers may have an elustic
passed through the hem at their lower extremity, or be gathered into a band, or any
other convenient arrangement be made for fixing their extremities at such a height
upon the leg, that the edge of the fold thereby created, shall be on a level with the
closed edge of the intervening portion of the skirt; the general effect being as much
like an ordinary walking skirt as possible.
This skirt may be of any length or width, with many, few or no folds or plaits.
The front & back widths may be of one piece of material without a seam at the lower
edge, or they may be of two pieces, of which the lower edges are united by a seam.
This seam may be curved without departing from the principle of the invention
though preferably horizontal. The said skirt may be fastened at the back or sides
& either attached or not to a bodice or the upper part of the dress it may also be
ornamented & be with or without pockets. The advantages of this form of skirt over
any other are, first & particularly, for cycling, for which it is perfectly adapted,
The saine
combining as it does, perfect safety, with comfort propriety & grace.
qualities which make this form of garment indispensable for lady cyclists, make it
desirable for every other purpose where a skirt without a train, would otherwise be
worn, & where freedom, lightness, & warmth, aro essential.
T
041 1000
EMILY FRANCES BEHRENS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Women's and Children's Dress.
I EMILY FRANCES BEHRENS of Newfield House Forest Hill in the County of Kent,
Gentlewoman, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved dress skirt for the use of women and children
and it consists in closing in the bottom of the skirt, in forming short drawers or
knickerbockers in the said closed bottom of the skirt, and in the use of a short
over-skirt attached to the lower end of the skirt covering the closed bottom of the
skirt and the short drawers or knicker-bockers.
I carry my invention into practical effect in the manner illustrated in the
accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a view in sectional front elevation of
my improved skirt, and Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof. Throughout
these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The skirt A may be formed of one or more pieces, and may be of any length or
width. If it is made of one piece the fold forms the closed bottom as shown in the
accompanying drawing. The skirt may be fastened at the back or sides, and is
provided with a suitable opening at the back as shown in the accompanying drawing.
At convenient positions in the bottom of the skirt are formed apertures to which are
attached short drawers or knickerbockers B, the lower edges of which may have

page_text: elastics passed through the hems, or they may be gathered into bands, or any other
method of adapting them to be fixed at any height upon the legs of the wearer may
be adopted.
It will be understood that the short drawers or knickerbockers are turned up within
the skirt, either completely as shown by the right hand one in Figure 1 of the
accompanying drawing, or only partially, as it is desired to raise or lower the bottom
edge of the skirt. At or near to the lower edge of the skirt A is attached an
over-skirt C the lower edge of which comes just below the lowest edge of the bottom
of the closed skirt A, thus giving it the appearance of an ordinary skirt.
It will be obvious that the skirt may be fastoned otherwise than at the back as
shown in the accompanying drawing, and also that it may be trimmed or ornamented
without affecting the essential feature of my invention.
I am aware that prior to the date of my invention undergarments have been made
with closed bottoms, and I do not broadly claim such, but
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 :-
1st. The improved skirt, substantially as herein described and shown by the
accompanying drawing.
2nd. A skirt having a closed bottom, short drawers or knickerbockers to adjust the
height of the bottom of the skirt, and the short over-skirt all combined, arranged, and
operating as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a skirt, the combination of the closed bottom, of the short drawers or
knickerbockers, and of the short over-skirt, all combined arranged and operating as
for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 29th day of July 1890.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.1.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, 70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.