Iμ- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Stopford, of Bristol, in the County of
Gloucester, Hat and Cap Manufacturer, for the Invention of "Iμ-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE
HEAD."
Sealed the 21st July 1863, and dated the 23rd January 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Stopford at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
January 1863.
I, CHARLES STOPFORD, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, Hat and
Cap Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE
HEAD," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of hats
and other coverings for the head, whereby the ventilation thereof and other
advantages are obtained. A band of suitable material is attached by the
lower part thereof to the interior of the band of the hat or other covering for
the head, the upper part of such internal band being left loose and uncon-
nected with the side crown or corresponding portion of the hat or other covering
for the head, so as to leave a space between the same for the free passage of air,
which is admitted through perforations or apertures in the band of the hat or
other covering for the head. At the top of the hat or other covering for the

page_text: head is an aperture or apertures covered with any suitable pervious material,
a free and continual current of air being thus obtained from the perforations
in the band of the hat or other covering for the head into the interior thereof,
the heated air being allowed to escape through the before-mentioned aperture
or apertures at the top. The perforations in the band of the hat may be
covered and protected externally by a band formed of any suitable pervious or
ventilating material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Stopford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd July 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
STOPFORD, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, Hat and Cap Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Stopford, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
Stopford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Stopford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD," upon
'the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Stopford, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Stopford, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-

page_text: My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
hats and other coverings for the head, whereby the ventilation thereof and
other important advantages herein-after. mentioned are obtained.. In the
interior of the hat or other covering for the head is placed a band of suitable
material, the same being of less depth than the side crown, and attached by
the lower part thereof to the interior of the band of the hat or other covering
for the head, the upper part of such internal band being left loose and uncon-
nected with the side crown or corresponding portion of the hat or other
covering for the head, so as to leave a space between the latter and the
internal band for the free passage of air. In order that the air may have
free ingress to the space between the side crown and the said internal band,
the band of the hat or other covering for the head is perforated or made with
apertures therein, such perforations or apertures extending either entirely
round the band or only partially round the same. The said perforations or
apertures in the band of the hat may be covered and protected externally by a
band formed of silk or other textile material, so woven or manufactured as to
be pervious to the air, and thus allowing it to pass through the perforations or
apertures. At the top of the crown of the hat or other covering for the head
is an aperture or apertures covered with any pervious material adapted for the
passage of the air through the same. An uninterrupted current of air is thus
obtained into the interior of the hat or other covering for the head, the same
entering through the said perforations or apertures in the band thereof, and
passing between the side crown and the internal band before mentioned, and
the air having thus become heated escapes through the aperture or apertures
at the top of the crown. I have not particularly specified the materials of
which the said internal band may be constructed, as the nature and require-
ments of the same will be known to any person conversant with the manu-
facture of hats.
It will be manifest that by the method of construction herein-before
described, the head of the wearer of a hat or other covering for the head so
constructed will be kept cool, while as the bead touches only the inside band,
grease and the results of perspiration are prevented from passing through the
body of the hat or other covering for the head to the silk, plush, or other
covering of the external part thereof.
Another important advantage of my said Invention is also the great ease of
fit which is secured to the wearer of a hat or other covering for the head so
constructed as aforesaid, as the head presses only against the internal band,
and does not come in contact with the hard body.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-

page_text: tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion, that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as my
Invention is, the construction of hats and other coverings for the head, in the
manner herein-before substantially set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Stopford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
CHARLES STOPFORD. (L.S.)