IMPROVEMENTS IN HATS, CAPS, AND OTHER SUCH COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hutton, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Cap Manufacturer, trading under the Firm of Beckton and
Company, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HATS, CAPS, AND OTHER
SUCH COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD."
Sealed the 25th April 1862, and dated the 26th October 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hutton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th October
1861.
I, GEORGE HUTTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Cap
Manufacturer, trading under the Firm of Beckton and Company, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HATS, CAPS,
AND OTHER SUCH COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a method of forming the hat or cap elastic, so as
to fit heads of different sizes; for this purpose I employ coiled springs of
metal constituting a portion of the circumference of the article; and for the
same purpose I also employ strands of india-rubber, and work a covering of
cloth or other such material around them.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Hutton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
April 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HUTTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Cap Manufacturer,
trading under the Firm of Beckton and Company, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Hutton, Her special license that I, the said George
Hutton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Hutton, 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 HATS, CAPS, AND OTHER SUCH COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD,") upon the
condition, amongst others, that I, the said George Hutton, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Hutton, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to a method of forming the hat or cap elastic, so as
to fit heads of different sizes; for this purpose I employ coiled springs of
metal constituting a portion of the circumference of the article. The method
by which I carry my Invention into effect is shewn in the accompanying
Drawing.
Fig. 1 represents the band of the cap, the stiffening of which (if such be
used) is removed between the dotted lines a, the part between those lines
being of cloth or other such material, and is made full, so as to allow it to
expand and contract. This part is stitched according to the dotted lines b, so
as to form tubes, and within these tubes are placed springs of coiled wire.

page_text: Fig. 2 shews these springs at c, the front covering of the band being
removed in order to expose them. The ends of these springs are made fast
by sewing or otherwise to the parts a of the band to which the ends of the
stiffening are also attached.
Fig. 3 shews a side view of a cap, the springs being represented by the
dotted lines. When the cap thus constructed is placed upon the head the
springs become expanded, and are allowed to do so by the absence of the
stiffening at a, and by the fulness of the band at that part, and heads of
different sizes may therefore be fitted by the same size of cap.
I have in the accompanying Drawing shewn what is commonly called a
cap; but my Invention may, after the same manner, be applied to hats and
other coverings for the head. I have also shewn two springs only, but more
or less may be adapted, if desired.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be understood
that I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent,
the use of coiled springs of metal for the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Hutton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
GEORGE HUTION. (L.S.)