IMPROVE- MENTS IN HAT BANDS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Smith, of Manor Road, Saint Mary's;
Newington, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HAT BANDS."
Sealed the 25th November 1859, and dated the 14th June 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th June 1859.
I, GEORGE SMITH, of Manor Road, Saint Mary's, Newington, in the County
of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HAT BANDS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to narrow hat bands such as, are commonly placed
and adjusted by a buckle at the brims of hats as an ornamental finish thereto.
Now, the object of this Invention is to render such said hat band useful
as well as ornamental, which I propose to effect in the following manner, that
is to say: I take a piece of ribbon or other material sufficiently long to go
twice or more times round the hat, to each end of this said band I affix a
buckle or other suitable fastening or ornament, one end of the ribbon being
passed through the second buckle or fastening previous to its being affixed
thereto, so as to form a loop, which, when passed over and around the hat,
and fastened in that position, shall present the appearance of an ordinary hat
band. The second or outer buckle or fastening being so formed as to be

page_text: capable of being instantly adjusted or released as required. The elongated
portion of the said band is intended to be used as a hat guard, which, when
out of use encircles the hat, and when required for use, it is only necessary to
unfasten the catch on this outer end of the band aud pass the same through
the button hole of the coat, thus combining the advantages of a hat guard and
band in one article, easily brought into use or concealed, and secured when
out of use without the chance of misplacing or losing the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th December 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
SMITH, of Manor Road, Saint Mary's, Newington, in the County of Surrey,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Smith, Her special licence that I, the said George Smith, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HAT BANDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Smith, 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 George Smith, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to narrow hat bands, such as are commonly placed

page_text: and adjusted by a buckle at the brims of hats as an ornamental finish thereto.
Now, the object of this Invention is to render such said hat bands useful as
well as ornamental, which I propose to effect in the following manner, that is
to say: I take a piece of ribbon or other material sufficiently long to go
twice or more times round the hat; to each end of this said hat band I affix a
buckle or other suitable fastening or ornament, one end of the ribbon being
passed through the second buckle or fastening previous to its being affixed
thereto, so as to form a loop, which, when passed over and around the hat
and fastened in that position, shall present the appearance of an ordinary hat
band, the second or outer buckle or fastening being so formed as to be capable
of being instantly adjusted or released as required. The elongated portion of
the said band is intended to be used as a hat guard, which, when out of use,
encircles the hat, and when required for use it is only necessary to unfasten
the catch on this outer end of the band, and pass the same through the button
hole of the coat, thus combining the advantage of a hat guard and band in one
article, easily brought into use or concealed, and secured when out of use
without the chance of misplacing or losing the same.
In order to explain this Invention as completely as possible, I now proceed
to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into
practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Drawing hereunto
annexed and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked thereon

page_text: practised, the other part of the ribbon at X is then passed over the part
which is around the hat, and finally the loop b of the buckle D is 'hooked on
the piece c of the buckle B, the elastic G.keeping it tight thereon, thus
presenting all the appearance of an ordinary single hat band. It will be
obvious that the ribbon A instead of being of one continuous piece of material,
may be formed of two pieces joined together, one piece may be of ribbon
encircling the hat permanently, and the other piece may be of silk, cord, or
öther material, elastic or otherwise, or partly elastic and partly rigid, as above
described. The main feature of novelty in this Invention consisting in making.
the hat guard to form a component part of the hat band, so that it cannot be
lost or misplaced as above stated.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my
said Invention of "Improvements in Hat Bands," together with the best
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I
would remark in conclusion' that I hereby declare my Invention to consist in,
and I claim the manufacturing of hat bands from any material, substantially
in the manner above particularly described, set forth, and represented by the
accompanying illustrative Drawing, whereby such said hat bands answer the
purposes of a hat band and a hat guard, as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
GEORGE SMITH. (L.S.)