US586033A

US586033A - Skirt

Info

Publication number: US586033A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1914-07-06

Description

(No Model.)

M. G. HARTMAN.

SKIRT.

No. 586,033. Patented Ju1y6,189\7.

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UNITED STATES PATENT UEErCE..

MARIA C. I-IARTMAN, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWYARE.

SKIRT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,033, dated July 6, 1897.

VApplication filed January 2, 1897.

To @ZZ whom t may concern. l

Be it known that I, MARIA C. HAETMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vilmington, in the county of Newcastle and State of DelawareJ have invented a new and useful Improvement in Skirts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure I is a side View, and Fig. II is a rear view, of a skirt according to my invention.

This invention relates to that class of skirts which are worn under the dress and over the petticoat by ladies for the purpose of supporting the dress-skirt according to the prevailing style; and its object is to so construct a skirt that it shall be self-supporting in a projecting form, as though it were supportedV by a bustle, and so that it shall, furthermore, be able to support in that form a dress worn over it.

To this end my invention consists inthe construction and combination of parts forming a skirt hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

5 represents the body of the skirt. This may be made of any suitable material, preferably hair-cloth or some kind of fabric having about the stiffness of hair-cloth.

The skirt-body is to be out to lit over the hips and the back of the wearer and hang to within a few inches of the ground in such a manner as to give the desired form toa dress worn over it, the upper portion of the skirt across the back and just below the waist projecting as though it were supported by a bustle. The skirt may have a placket 6, permitting it to be opened at the waist for putting on and taking off, and when adjusted ready for Wear the placket may be held closed in any usual manner, such as by a button 7,l

8 represents one or more hoops, preferably of thin elastic steel covered with fabric, such springs being for sale on the market. t These hoops are to pass around the skirt-body 5 near the bottom and be permanently secured thereto by sewing all the Way around.

9 represents one or more segmental springs, of the same material as the hoops, extending from side to side around the back of the skirt and secured permanently thereto.

serai No. 617,779. (No model.)

10 represents one or more springs of the same hoop material, each extending up one side of the skirt, across the back, where they are arched to support the projecting portion ll, and down the other side to and across the hoops 8 and closely sewed along the front edge of each to the skirt-body and rimly secured to the hoops 8 and to the endsI of the segmental spring 9. The hoops 8 normally distend the skirt to a circular form in the lower region and serve to distend a dress Worn over the skirt, While the dress, being of much greater circumference than the skirt, assumes graceful folds and ripples in walking, standing, or sitting. The hoops are not stiff enough to rigidly maintain a circular form under a heavy dress, as that would detract from the richness of the appearance of Woolen dresses; but by the aid of the skirt supporting them and of the downward extensions of the arched springs l0 the hoops keep the dress out of the way of the Wearers feet and yet permit it to hang gracefully.

The bustle-springs l() stand in the form of elliptical arches, and being secured all the Way to the skirt midway and nearly vertically down the sides thereof, and remaining untwisted because of their rear edges being free, 4the side portions normally support the central portion of the arches fully distended, and with one edge free they are so iexible as not to be felt when leaned against, yet their mechanical position in relation to the other parts enables very light springs to properly supporta dress worn over such a skirt. These springs -lO are secured only at the forward edge of each to the skirt-body, because if the other edge were sewed down closely the elasticity of the spring would be impaired by twisting it edgewise to the plane of motion.

The segmental springs` 9, secured at their` ends to the springs 10, operate with more effect in holding out the heavy back folds of a dress. The springs l0 arch upward so high asnot to interfere with the sitting down of the wearer, and their peculiar standing position permits them to swing freely toward the Wearers back, so as not to be felt when pressed against a chair-back, thus permitting natural movements with entire ease to the wearer. The hoops are on the outside of the skirt and IOO ` suit the most fastidious taste.

cannot be caught either in the front or rear by the Wearers shoes.

While this skirt is very light, simple, and inexpensive, it serves all the purposes of both a bustle and hoop-skirt, and all its advantages may be maintained when made of silk and ornamented with f'lounces, ruflies, or lace to It is so simple that it may be made without machinework, and the proportions and location of the fulled parts may be changed by the dressmaker to meet the prevailing fashion or to suit individual taste. This skirt does not cause the dress to swing objectionably in walking, and it does not puff the dress forward in sitting down.

Simplicity, ease, grace, and elegance are the characteristics developed in the hang of a dress Worn over this skirt.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. .A skirt comprising a body of flexible fabric,having a projecting portion near the waist; elastic hoopsaround and secured to the body near its lower end, and springs arched at the projecting portion and extending nearly vertically down the sides of the skirt and across near their ends to the nearly vertical springs,

substantially as described.

3. A skirt comprising abody of flexible fabric having a projecting portion near the waist, and narrow flat springs arched at the projecting portion and extending down the sides of the skirt and secured along one edge of each spring to the skirt, the other edge being free,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARIA C. HARTMAN.

Vitnesses:

SAMUEL D. FORBES, THOMAS R. LALLY.