Improvements in Ladies' Dress Baskets, Travelling Trunks, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application 6th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 6th Nov.. 1899-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 6th Nov.. 1899-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ladies' Dress Baskets, Travelling Trunks, and
the like.
1, ELIJAH JOHN HART, of Russell Street, Higher Openshaw, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster Portmanteau Maker, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to improvements in ladies dress baskets travelling
trunks and the like the object being to arrange the interior of such baskets
or trunks in a different manner to that hitherto adopted, so as to avoid the
necessity of having to fold any dresses required to be placed therein and at the
same time to enable the baskets or trunks to be used for storing or conveying
other articles of wearing apparel.
In the ordinary dress baskets at present in use no provision exists for enabling
the dresses to be placed therein except by folding and consequently special
baskets have been made for holding dresses in a non-folded condition. These
however, are of a somewhat large and unweildy character and do not admit of
other articles being placed therein.
My invention is designed to avoid these defects and consists essentially in
providing a compartment at one side of the basket and another in the lid, both
of which are separated, by suitable partitions, hinged, sliding, pivoted or other
wise from the remaining or larger compartment of the basket, the space or com-
partment in the lid being provided with hooks or similar devices to which the
dresses are attached.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a dress basket of the ordinary type
I provide a compartment at one side, preferably that to which the lid or top of
the basket is attached and separate it from the main compartment by a vertical
partition which may be made of strawboard, wicker or other suitable material
or combination of materials. This partition may be hinged or pivoted at the
lower enu so that it may be drawn towards the front of the basket if required
and at the top end be provided with means, in conjunction with the body of
the basket, for holding the partition in a fixed position. Such means may
consist of hasps and eyes pivoted catches straps and buckles, cords or the 'like.
Instead of pivoting or hinging the partition it may be fixed or held in guides so
that in the latter case it could be entirely withdrawn if required. The exterior
of the basket top or lid is made in the usual way and hinged to the body of the
basket. The interior of the lid (or the body of the basket) has pivoted or hinged
to it preferably at the same side as the ordinary hinge or pivoting arrangements,
a second partition, the object of which is to make the lid of the basket into.a
second compartment which, however, communicates with the new compartment
in the body of the basket. This second partition may also be made of any

page_text: open
suitable material and its free end may be secured to the lid by any of the means
herein before referred to. Instead of being formed in one solid piece of wicker-
work or strawboard each partition may be made of
wickerwork or may even
consist of an open frame provided with bars or rods at intervals, but I prefer
the arrangement previously described. Again the compartment in the lid may
be separated from the one in the body of the basket by a hinged or pivoted
flap or side. In the interior of the lid compartment and preferably at the free
or front side I attach a strip of wood to which is fixed a number of hooks, spring
clips or the like on which the dress skirts are hung.
The compartments are made sufficiently wide to hold two or more dresses.
When the basket is in use the top is raised and the lid partition opened thus
leaving a continuous compartment, formed of the one in the body, of the basket
and lid, long enough for the average dress skirt. When the dresses are hooked
in position the lid partition is closed and secured thus separating the dresses from
the other compartments of the basket. When the lid is closed the upper portion
of the dresses fall with it thus leaving them suspended at a right angle, but not
folded in any way.
The basket may be provided with the usual fittings in addition to the com-
partments named and in conclusion I would have it understood that the improve-
ments herein referred to are applicable to many other kinds of trunks and boxes
either for ladies or gentlemens wearing apparel.
Dated this 4th day of February 1899
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR,
Swan Chambers, 69, Market Street, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.
DEAL FOTION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Ladies' Dress Baskets, Travelling Trunks, and
the like.
I, ELIJAH JOHN HART, of Russell Street, Higher Openshaw, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster Portmanteau Maker, 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:
This invention relates to improvements in ladies dress baskets travelling
trunks, and the like the object being to arrange the interior of such baskets
or trunks in a different manner to that hitherto adopted, so as to avoid the
necessity of having to fold any dresses required to be placed therein and at the
same time to enable the baskets or trunks to be used for storing or conveying
other articles of wearing apparel.
In the ordinary dress baskets at present in use no provision exists for enabling
the dresses to be placed therein except by folding and consequently special
baskets have been made for holding dresses in a non-folded condition.
Most
of these, however, are of a somewhat large unwieldy character and do not admit
of other articles being placed therein.
My invention, is designed to avoid these defects and consists essentially in
providing a compartment at one side of the basket and another in the lid, both
of which are separated by suitable partitions, hinged, sliding, pivoted or other-
wise from the remaining or larger compartment of the basket, or separated by
straps or the like the space or compartment in the lid being provided with hooks
or similar devices to which the dresses are attached.

page_text: My invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings which show two ways in which my invention may be carried out.
Fig. 1 is a cross section of a dress basket with the lid open and showing one.
way of carrying out the invention.
Fig. 2 a similar view with the lid shut, and,
Fig. 3 a longitudinal section of body of basket along line, y, of Fig. 1, with
the lid partially in elevation.
Figs. 4 to 6 show similar views of a basket constructed in accordance with
another form of the invention.
In carrying out my invention and referring first to the construction of basket
indicated in Figs. 1 to 3 I make the exterior body and lid of the usual form
from wicker or similar material covered with proofed canvas to resist wet. The
usual fittings such as encircling straps, leather corner pieces, leather lock covers
and straps are also provided. Instead of the whole interior of the body a
forming one compartment I provide a second compartment e at one side, pre-
ferably that to which the lid or top of the basket is attached, separating it from
the main compartment by a vertical partition d which may be made of straw-
board, wicker or other suitable material or combination of materials. This
partition may be hinged or pivoted at the lower end e so that it may be drawn
towards the front of the basket to the position indicated by dotted lines, if
required, and at the top end be provided with means, in conjunction with the
body of the basket, for holding the partition in a fixed position. Such means may
consist of hasps and eyes f, pivoted catches, straps and buckles, cords or the
like. Instead of pivoting or hinging the partition it may be fixed or held in
guides formed in or on the inside of the ends of the basket so that in the latter
case it could be entirely withdrawn vertically if required. The exterior of
the basket top or lid is made in the usual way and hinged to the body a of
the basket at g. The interior of the lid (or the body of the basket) has pivoted
or hinged to it preferably at the same side as the ordinary hinge or pivoting
arrangements of the lid b, a second partition & the object of which is to make
the lid of the basket into a second compartment: i, which, however, communicates
with the new compartment in the body of the basket. This second partition
may also be made of any suitable material and its free end may be secured to
the lid by any of the means herein before referred to, or be held in place by a
suitable spring catch secured to the front of the lid. Its lower edge is pivoted.
in slots formed at k in the lid the slots being so arranged that the partition h
can be readily lifted out and put on one side whilst the dresses are being hung
and afterwards be placed in position again. In order to cover the dresses at
Alse point the partition has depending from its lower edge a strip of fabric m
which is preferably though not necessarily weighted at its lower edge n so as
to keep it down. Instead of being formed in one solid piece of wickerwork or
strawboard each partition may be made of open wickerwork or may even consist
of an open frame provided with straps, bars, or rods at intervals. Again the
compartment in the lid may be separated from the one in the body of the basket
by a hinged or pivoted flap or side o, that can be turned down to bear against
and be secured to the hinged edge of the partition h. In this way a compart-
ment is provided in the lid entirely separate from the body of the basket if
required.
In the interior of the lid compartment e and preferably at the free or front-
side I attach a strip of wood to which is fixed a number of hooks p, spring clips
or the like on which the dress skirts are hung.
The compartments are made sufficiently wide to hold two or more dresses q
When the basket is in use the top is raised as shown in Fig. 1 and the lid
partition opened thus leaving a continuous compartment, formed of the one in
the body of the basket and lid, long enough for the average dress skirt. When
the dresses are hooked in position the lid partition is closed and secured, thus
separating the dresses from the other compartments of the basket. When the

page_text: lid is closed the upper portion of the dresses fall with it thus leaving them
suspended at a right angle as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, but not folded
in any way. is a tray of the usual construction but not so wide as usual,
supported by angle brackets s on the front of the basket and on the partition d.
Instead of forming the basket as in Figs. 1 to 3, I construct it as shown in
In this case the
Figs. 4 to 6 in which similar letters refer to similar parts.
compartment c is extended a little horizontally so as to enable the lower ends
of the dress skirts to pass under the top portion to which the partition dis
hinged, and so enable the basket generally to be made somewhat smaller than
is the case with that shown in Figs. 1 to 3. To facilitate the dresses passing
under, the basket may be rounded out by strawboard at the corner v.
In place
of the hasps and eyes to hold the partition d upright, I employ in this case
straps or webbing the front ends of which are secured to the front of the
basket and the back ends to the partition d. In place also of forming the lid
with a partition such as I use one or more straps or webbing secured to the
ends of the lid and adjustable at the centre by buckles. The straps or webbings
thus keep the dresses in place.
The improvements described take away very little, if any, from the holding
capacity of the baskets and yet enable dresses to be hung as in a wardrobe and
without folding. And in conclusion I would have it understood that the improve-
ments are applicable to other kinds of trunks and boxes either for ladies or
gentlemen's wearing apparel whilst the construction of baskets described may also
be used for gentlemen's wear solely.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A dress basket or the like provided with compartments or spaces in the
body and lid and intercommunicating so as to allow of dress skirts or other articles
of dress being hung therein instead of folded, substantially as described.
2. In a dress basket the combination with a compartment in the body of the
basket of a second compartment alongside thereof together with a compartment
or space in the lid formed by a hinged partition or by one or more straps or
webbings substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. The general arrangement construction and combination of parts forming
my improved dress basket substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to
3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts forming
my improved dress basket substantially as described with reference to Figs. 4 to
6 of the accompanying drawings.
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR,
Stephens Buildings, 62, Market Street, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicant.