Untitled record

Application filed May 17.1802. Serial No. 433,353. (No model.) nary elastic webbing, and the inelastic member is composed of a strip of textile material folded centrally between its ends and stitched 5 5 along the edges to form a tubular sheath or casing, which incloses the elastic webbing continuously throughout its length. The sheath is formed throughout its length with numerous transverse ruffles, flutes, or crimps 60 3 in such manner that, while the sheath is inelastic, it can be extended lengthwise to accommodate the lengthwise expansion of the elastic webbing.

The webbing is provided at one end with a 65 loop 4, which engages a finger-ring 5, of any material suitable for the conditions required. The opposite end of the webbing is provided with a loop 6, which engages a safety-pin 7, lying between the free-folded extremities 8 of 70 the tubular sheath or inelastic strip. The safety-pin is adapted to be attached to a dressskirt, and the finger-ring is adapted to be placed on one of the fingers of the wearer’s hand for the purpose of supporting the dress- 75 skirt in an elevated position, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 3. When the article is in use, it will expand or contract as the hand is raised or lowered and the skirt, when heavy, will be nicely balanced. 80

The finger-ring at one end of the elastic webbing is a very desirable feature in that it, can be placed on one finger, preferably the small or little finger, and thus enable the skirt to be conveniently and quickly raised, low- 85 ered,or adjusted without materially interfering with the free use of the hand for other purposes.

The ruffled, fluted, or crimped construction of the textile tubular sheath or inelastic strip 90 ornaments the article, imparts a handsome and distinguishing appearance thereto, and fulfills the conditions required to cover, conceal, and protect the elastic web or strip continuously throughout its length, and prevents 95 the latter from chafing or otherwise damaging the dress-skirt.

The tubular sheath or inelastic strip may be composed of silk, satin, or any other textile material, and its color may be largely varied 100 to suit the conditions required or the color or shade of the dress-pattern.

In dancing and running the elastic nature of the dress-elevator is advantageous in that

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josephine Asten, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented 5 new and useful Improvements in Dress-Skirt Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

Various contrivances for elevating dressskirts have heretofore been proposed; but io they are not generally used, since objections reside in all, particularly owing to their expensive construction or their inconvenience of manipulation, the annoyance of adjusting them to raise a skirt more or less, and the diffi15 culty of placing them under perfect control and of operating them withoutawkward movements on the part of the user.

The ordinary chains, tapes, or strings are objectionable and unsatisfactory in that it is 20 incon venientto dispose of that portion thereof remaining in the hand after portions have been taken up to raise a dress-skirt, and a piece of ordinary elastic webbing would not present a desirable appearance, besides being 25 inconvenient tomanipulate. 'A skirt-elevator which avoids these objections, possesses simplicity of construction, is economical, ornamental, and always under control of the user, and which will yield lengthwise and be sus30 ceptible of convenient and quick manipulation at all times to instantly raise or lower tlie dress-skirt without interfering with the free use of either hand for other purposes while walking, running, or dancing is a desirable 35 and useful article which will recommend itself and be appreciated by all women. This I accomplish by my invention, which consists in the features of construction and combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described 40 and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which—

Figure 1 is a view illustrating my invention applied to a lady’s skirt. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the improved skirt-eleva45 tor, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

The improved skirt-elevator comprises an elastic member 1 and an inelastic member 2, which incloses the elastic member to conceal, 50 cover, and protect the same, while permitting it to expand and contract lengthwise. The elastic member is composed of a strip of ordi8

478,076 it is rendered susceptible of yielding lengthwise to accommodate the movements of the body and of the skirt, and the same is true in a measure in walking.

. If the dress-skirt while held in a raised position, as in Fig. 3, should meet any obstructions, the. elevator will yield lengthwise, and thus avoid tearing or damaging the dressskirt, in which respect my invention possesses io utility and is practicable and satisfactory in use.

The construction of the skirt-elevator renders it capable of being made comparatively short, as it will contract and expand to per15 mit free rnovement of the hands and arms without being an incumbrance, and the skirt can be instantly raised or lowered by a simple movement of ond hand, in which respects the improved article is superior and more 20 satisfactory and efficient than ordinary devices for this purpose.

The free extremities 8 of the sheath constitute flaps, which serve to cover and conceal the safety-pin by which the skirt-elevator is 25 attached to the dress-skirt, and one of these flaps retains the safety-pin from direct contact with the dress-skirt.

I haVe illustrated an ordinary safety-pin as the fastening device by which to detachably 30 eonnhct the skirt-elevator with a dress-skirt, as this fastening is simple, efficient, economical, and quickly manipulated; but I do not wish to be understood as confining myself to any particular fastening for this purpose, as 35 various other devices can be employed.

The improved skirt-elevator is simple in construction and can be economically manufactured, while it presents a very ornamental appearance and is always under control of the user through the medium of a finger-ring 40 engaging one of the fingers. This feature adapts the article to be quickly manipulated ; for raising, lowering, or adjusting the dressskirt, as occasion may demand, while leaving , the hands free to be used for any desired pur- 45 ¹ pose.