US744882A - Skirt-former. - Google Patents

Description

'PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

S. STRATTON.

SKIRT FORMER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29.1903.

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llhirrln ra'rhs Patented November as, 1903.

SADIE STRATTON, OF THREEOAKS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-TI-IIRDS TO GEORGE A. KNIGHT AND W. W. SWARTS, OF BALBEG, INDIANA.

SKIRT-FORMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,882, dated November 24, 1903.

Application filed April 29, 1903.

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SADIE STRATTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Threeoaks, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Skirt-Former,of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in devices for holding ladies skirts in proper form and position, especially against the action of the wind, and is designed to be worn beneath light or heavy skirts in order to keep the front in proper shape.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be Worn practically as a separate garment and over which any skirt may be fitted when desired.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the skirt holder or former in position. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the same looking through the inner face as showing the arrangement of the strengthening and reinforcing or stiffening ribs.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout both figures of the drawings.

The device forming the subject of the present invention is designed to be worn beneath the front of a skirt in order to hold the same in proper shape, and especially to resist the action of the wind, it being designed to hold the skirt-front from creasing.

The device comprises a lattice-like framework formed of crossing ribs or strips 1, of metal, whalebone, featherbone, or like material, arranged diagonally and united to each other at intersecting points. The opposite edges of the former are arranged on divergent lines from the waist down, and at the lower end is a binding 4, formed of any suit- Serial No. 154.869. (No model.

able material, a similar binding being continued around the opposite edges of the former up to the waist-line, where they are united to a suitable waistband 5. At intermediate points between the opposite edge bindings are reinforced strips 8 8, constituting substantially vertical ribs, which are also attached to the diagonally-disposed ribs or stiffening members 1. The skeleton struc' 6o tnre formed by the ribs is covered with a light cloth, as indicated at 10, and the several ribs or stiffening members are united thereto throughout their entire length, while the intermediate stiffening-bars 8 and 8, before referred to, may be formed by seams uniting a sectional covering material.

The strengthening-ribs or stiffening members are preferably arranged in two crossing sets, one of which extends from one edge of the former to the intermediate rib 8, while the second extends from the opposite edge of the former to the second rib 8, so that at the central portion the structure will be sufficiently rigid to prevent creasing of the skirt, while the spaced disconnected projecting ends of the strengthening and stiffening ribs will permit the wearer to assume a sitting po sition without inconvenience and without disarranging the skirt or the former In practice the waistband is tied or otherwise secured around the waist of the wearer, and after the skirt has been put on its lower edge is connected to the opposite edges of the lower portion of the former, suitable tabs 15 being provided for the purpose and through which safety-pins or other securing devices may be passed.

The device constitutes in itself a complete article of manufacture, which may be made of various sizes and worn with skirts of any character, being of especial value when skirts of very light material are worn.

In practice it is preferred to place the top row of strengthening or stiffening ribs some 5 distance below the waistband in order to bring the same below the lower edge of the corset.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. A skirt former or holder having a plutoo rality of stiffening-ribs arranged in crossed lines, a waistband secured to said skirt-former at a point above the terminal portions of the stiffenin -ribs, and means for securing the lower portion of the former to the skirt.

2. A skirt former or holder including a waistband, a flexible portion connected to the waistband, and a plurality of intersecting stiffening-ribs secured to said flexible portion at a point some distance below the waistband.

3. A skirt former or holder comprising a plurality of flexible members, intersecting strengthening and stiffening ribs extending across the central portion between the inner flexible members, said ribs being continued out in parallel lines to the outer strengthening-strips to thereby form side or edge portions less rigid than the intermediate portion,

} and means for securing said former or holder in place.

4. A skirt former or holder comprising a flexible covering formed of a plurality of connected sections united by substantially vertical seams of which said seams form strengthening members, a binding extending around the side and the lower edges of the covering, a Waistband secured to the top of the covering, a plurality of sets of stiffening or strengthening ribs extending from the respective seams to the opposite edge bindings and'crossing each other between the seam-lines, the uppermost strips being at a point below the waistband, and securing-tabs disposed at the opposite lower edges of said former, to thereby provide a skirt-attaching means, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the" foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SADIE STRATTON.

Witnesses:

EMMETT F. BEDDING, 'WILLIAM K. SAWYER.

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