US584106A - bristow - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) Z'Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. BRISTOW.

CYCLING SKIRT. No. 584,106. Patented June 8, 1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. BRISTOW.

OYOLING SKIRT.

No. 584,106. Patented June 8,1897.

INVENTEIF! VVITNEEES E5 Mud 1M MW UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

CHARLES BBlSTOlV, OF WELLINGTON, NEW 'ZEALAND.

CYCLING-SKIRT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,106, dated June 8, 1897.

Application filed January 13, 1897. Serial No. 619,089. (No model.)

To (all whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES BRISTOW, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 54: Lambtou Quay, in the city of Wellington, in the Colony of New Zealand, have invented a new or Improved Skirt Attachment for Use by Lady Cyclists, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to skirts used bylady cyclists, and has for its object to pro vide an attachment whereby the skirt may be kept in its proper position when the rider is facing the wind, thus insuring that the skirt shall not rise to an inconvenientor uncomfortable height or over the knees.

Itis well known to lady cyclists that considerable difiiculty is experienced in keeping the skirt properly adjusted, and great discomfort and embarrassment frequently arises through the skirt being caught by the wind and blown over the riders knees. Attempts have been made to overcome this disadvantags and drawback, such as loops of elastic or other material attached to the skirt and slipped upon the leg. These devices have objections, such as tearing the lining of the skirt, chafing the legs, and impeding the free action of the same.

It is the object of this invention to provide an attachment which shall leave an unimpeded action to the legs while pedaling, mounting or dismounting, walking or running, and at the same time effectually prevent undue displacement of the skirt or dust from rising within the same.

The attachment may be made unobservable or finished so as to have a fancy appearance, is portable, may be readily attached to any ordinary skirt, be easily and quickly detached, is light in weight, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With this attachment a skirt may be worn as short as desired without fear of an undesirable exhibition, so that the riders attention may be devoted wholly to managing her machine and her mind relieved of all anxiety as to the condition of the skirt.

The object of the invention is attained and carried into effect by fixing a band of webbing to the lining at the front of the skirt and extending around the inside of the same from one side seam to the other. A height of about nine inches from the bottom of the skirt will be found a convenient one at which to attach the band, but this height will vary slightly with the length of the skirt. Eyes are sewed to this band at suitable distances to engage with hooks provided upon the attachment proper. Any ordinary hooks may be used, but a book of special construction, to be hereinafter described, is preferred. The books are attached to elastic springs arranged around the front of the attachment to support the same, and a band at the back and garters and loops at the sides support the back and sides, respectively.

The attachment proper is cut in a special form and is designed to prevent the central portion from sagging when the rider is walking and yet give freedom for a long stride.

In order that the invention may be most easily understood by one skilled in the art to which it appertains, a description shall now be given in detail, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, whereon- Figure 1 is a representation ofthe pattern of the attachment. Fig. 2 is a view of the pattern of a large gusset. Fig. 3 is a view of the pattern of a small gusset. Fig. 4 represents the attachment laid out in a flat position and with its parts affixed. Fig. 5 is a side View of a right leg with the attachment in section. Fig. 6 is a front view of the attachment in position on the legs, the skirt being removed. Fig. 7 is a front view of an eye and hook of special construction. Fig. 8 is a side View of the same. Fig. 9 is a plan of the hook.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

Referring to the drawings, the band a, with its eyes a, is fixed by sewing or otherwise inside the liuing of the skirt 8, with the eyes preferably between the lining and the band. The length of this band is made to correspond to the distance from one side seam of the skirt to the other.

Hooks l) engage with eyes a to support the attachment d in front and maybe made in any ordinary form, but preferably as shown on Figs. '7, S, and 9, where an extension Z) of the hook proper is carried around the stem to prevent the eye from disengaging except at the will of the rider. From the drawings it will be seen that the eye will not be disenliable to get out of repair.

gaged merely by falling, when its movement would be arrested by the extension I), but must be carried and twisted around the said extension before it can be removed. An or dinary spring-hook, for example, would answer the purpose, but the hook b is simple, being made in one piece, is cheap, and is not The hooks are attached to springs c, of elastic, which in their turn are fastened at c to the attachment cl and a length of webbing d sewed thereon. The springs 0 pass beneath a length of elastic f, which is retained within a casing f, except where it is crossed by springs c, and at such places an eyelet-hole is provided, as shown on Fig. 4E. The lengthof elastic f must equal length of band a, and a length of about seven inches will be found convenient for elastic f for most sizes of attachments.

The back of the attachment is supported by a band g, of webbing, Figs. 5 and 6, de pending from a button g, supplied upon the inside of the waistband of the skirt. This band 9 is connected to a shorter length of webbing g by a buckle 9 which is in a convenient position for attaching and detaching, the band g being left upon the button g when the attachment is removed. A stay connects band g to gusset 7' to take strain off the material.

The sides of the attachment are supportec by garters h, connected to the attachment by loops It and slipped upon the legs, as shown on Figs. 5 and 6.

In making an attachment as hereinbefore described patterns should be made as shown on Figs. 1, 2, and 3. On pattern j, Fig. 1, the line j shows the division to receive the large gussetj Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6, and lines 7' similarly show divisions for the small gus sets 7' Figs. 3 and it. Holes must be out out through which to pass the feet. The gussets 3' and j and band cl are first sewed into their proper positions, casings f, 3' and k made, attached, and supplied with their elastics, braces m sewed on, springs c, with their hooks and attachments, having been previously fixed in place and sewed on with band (1. It will be found that the elastic j in casing 7' in conjunction with the supports and owing to the shape of the gusset 9' will raise the central portion of the attachment cl when the riders feet are near together, and thus keep it from sagging and looking unsightly, but when the legs are separated the elastic will give to allow the extended action without splitting the material. Braces m are made, preferably, of webbing, and further secure the attachment from risk of being split.

The attachment is adjusted upon the person in the following manner: The button 1 having been provided upon the waistband. as described herein, and the band 9 attached thereto, the band at having been sewed upon the lining of the skirt, the feet are passed through the garters h and holes 7c, the garters being adjusted just below the knees. The band 9 is then buckled to the short length y and hooks b engaged with their eyes upon band a. The elastic k will draw up the ma terial around the ankles and effectually cs clude dust.

The attachment may be made in any material and color, but preferably of nuns-veiling and black, and may be ornamented by lace or trimmings, and in such case the lace must be attached in a position shown by dotted lines 19, Figs. 1 and 2,'in order to hide the ankles and escape entanglement with the pedals.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of in ysaid in vention and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I claim is 1. In combination, the skirt, the attachment secured to thefront thereof and having leg-openings, and means for holding the rear of the attachment, said means being independent of the rear of the skirt, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the skirt, the attachment having leg-openings and secured to the front of the skirt, and the band 9 connecting the rear of the attachment with the skirtband independent of the rear of the skirt, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the skirt, the attachment secured to the inside of the front thereof and having leg-openings, the band 9 extending from the free rear part of the attachment to the skirt-band and the garters connected to the sides of the attachment, the said garters supporting the sides of the attachment independentof the skirt while the band supports the rear of the attachment independent of the skirt, substantially as described.

CHARLES BRISTO\V.

W'itnesses:

D. O. TENNENT, F. 0. WILSON.

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