IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND CONTRIVANCES FOR VENTILATING HATS, CAPS, AND OTHER HEAD GEAR, AND IN THE TOOLS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Atkins, of 37, Powis Square, Westbourne Park,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS
AND CONTRIVANCES FOR VENTILATING HATS, CAPS, AND OTHER HEAD GEAR,
AND IN THE TOOLS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH,'
22
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Atkins at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th May 1877.
"
THOMAS ATKINS, of 37, Powis Square, Westbourne Park, in the County of Middle-
sex. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND CONTRIVANCES FOR VENTILATING HATS,
CAPS, AND OTHER HEAD GEAR, AND IN THE TOOLS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."
The first part of this Invention relates to the use of and application to hat,
caps, and other head gear of valvular discs or diaphragms which may be made of
any elastic material, and cut into various forms, forming valves, flaps, or tubes,
capable of setting air or vapour in motion by a slight movement of the head. For
this purpose in making such discs or diaphragms I employ a tool with a series of
rings of steel or other cutters or tools, and I remove portions of such tools or cutters
by which india-rubber or other elastic material may be cut or perforated either in
square, circular, or other forms.
The various parts not cut through form elastic links or connections, the centre
retaining a button or any ornamental substance, acting as a pendulum, by the
weight of which agitation, or oscillation, or any movement of the head will open
and shut the said passages in proportion to the amount of such movement, thus
opening and shutting the said valves or passages, and thus drawing in and expelling
air or vapours to and from the interior chamber of the hat or other covering for the
head. By this process I secure a supply of pure air to the interior of hat or
chamber, and also expel the foul air given off in perspiration from the head.
The said valves or agitators may be made of any convenient size to carry on
sufficient agitation for ventilating a hat or other covering for the head to be used

page_text: in polar, temperate, or tropical regions, thus changing the air and keeping the head
cool.
There is a small curved distributor made of any suitable material, the object
being to distribute and mix the air while the weight is oscillating.
Another part of this Invention relates to the perforating of the lining of said
hats, caps, or other head gear. The said lining may be pierced or cut by similar
tools, cutters, or apparatus as used for the ventilator, and the lining may be
adapted to the curvature of the head, offering porosity through the different passages
from the extremities to the centre. A central elastic ring is employed, and a cross
band over the centre is attached, when desired, to the pendulum or bob of the
ventilator, thus securing ventilation, and action, and circulation of air over the
entire surface of the head of the wearer when in action. The length of the con-
nection may be increased or diminished at pleasure by a sliding loop.
Another part of this Invention relates to the arrangement and application of a
second crown, perforated and attached to the lining of a hat by any simple con-
trivance, by which the said noveable crown may be attached or detached at will.
The second crown may be attached by small india-rubber bands to give elasticity
to the entire surface, and may be made of any elastic or solid material, such as
paper, calico, cloth, or other suitable material. The said lining or second crown
being suspended by elastic bands or straps will ventilate the chamber of any hat,
cap, or other head gear.
For securing free passage of air through the crown I attach a small ring con-
taining gauze wire or pierced metal, paper, or any porous material, for protecting
the said passages from entrance of rain or moisture from the exterior.
I employ a covering by which the peak or point of helmets or other military head
gear may be raised by small rivets and washers or screws, thus affording sufficient
surface for the inlet and outlet of air.
Another part of this Invention relates to the use and application of a tube, of
any convenient length, and made of any suitable material connected with the
perforated aperture in the hat, the said tube to be furnished with a partition or
partitions, and may be carried up in helmets to any desired height, and may be
made to slide telescopically, thus insuring ventilation, with or without the oscillating
apparatus above described,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Atkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th November
1877.
THOMAS ATKINS, of 37, Powis Square, Westbourne Park, in the County of Middle-
sex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND CONTRIVANCES FOR VENTILATING HATS,
CAPS, AND OTHER HEAD GEAR, AND IN THE TOOLS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN CONNECTION TITEREWITH."
The first part of this Invention relates to the use of and application to hats,
caps, and other head gear of valvular discs or diaphragms, which may be made of
any elastic material and cut into various forms, forming valves, flaps, or tubes,
capable of setting air or vapour in motion by a slight movement of the head. For
this purpose in making such discs or diaphragms I employ a tool with a series of
rings of steel, or other cutters or tools, as shewn by Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the
Drawings hereto annexed, and I remove portions of such tools or cutters by which
india-rubber or other elastic or non-elastic material may be cut or perforated, either
in square, circular, or other forms, as shewn by Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the
Drawings.
The various parts not cut through form elastic links or connections, the centre
retaining a button a, or any plain or ornainental substance, acting as a pendulum,
by the weight of which agitation, or oscillation, or any movement of the head will
open and shut the said passages in proportion to the amount of such movement,
thus opening and shutting the said valves or passages, and thus drawing in and
expelling air or vapours to and from the interior chamber of the hat or other
covering for the head. By this process I secure a supply of pure air to the interior
chamber of a hat or other covering for the head, and also expel the foul air given
off in perspiration from the head.
The said valves or agitators may be made of any convenient size to carry on
sufficient agitation for ventilating a hat or other covering for the head to be used
in polar, temperate, or tropical regions, thus changing the air and keeping the head
cool.
A small curved or flat distributor may be employed in combination with the
oscillating weight a, made of any suitable material, the object being to distribute
and mix the air while the weight is oscillating.
Another part of this Invention relates to the perforating of the lining of the said
hats, caps, or other head gear. The said lining may be pierced or cut by similar
tools, cutters, or apparatus as used for the ventilator, and the lining may be adapted
to the curvature of the head, offering porosity through the different passages from the
extremities to the centre. A central elastic ring is employed, and a cross band over
the centre is attached, when desired, to the pendulum or bob of the ventilator, thus
securing ventilation and action and circulation of air over the entire surface of the
head of the wearer when in action. The length of the connection may be increased
or diminished at pleasure by a sliding loop.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Drawings show pieces of india-rubber, leather,
paper, or any elastic or non-elastic substance to be attached to the interior of the
hats or other head gear, either by wires or gum, rivets or screws, in any convenient
manner, said leathers to be cut in parts, as shown, for giving elasticity to the
same.
I attach a knob or pendulum a, or it may be a small mariner's compass, of sufficient
weight to produce oscillation when the hat or other hollow covering for the head is
in motion.
Figures 11, 12, and 13 show sections of ventilating valves as applied to the
interiors of hats in accordance with my Invention.
Figure 14 shows a plan of a ventilating valve, which may be of any convenient

page_text: diameter. The inner rim represents a tube having three or more cuts b, b, to enable
the diaphragm to discharge or suck in any quantity of air contained therein.
Figure 9 shows a diaphragm of larger diameter, to be applied in like manner to
Figure 14, and shown in section at Figure 15. The dotted lines indicate the
amount of oscillation of the ventilator.
In carrying out my Invention the ventilating diaphragm may have a map, chart,
and mariner's compass attached thereto for reference, their diameter being extended
to within a small space of the rim of the hat.
Figure 16 shows a plan of such apparatus fixed, and Figure 17 shows the ventila-
ting valve applied to a helmet or any globular head gear.
Figure 18 shows a ventilating valve arranged with two flaps, made of india-rubber
or other elastic material, for operating by their own specific gravity when in
motion.
Figure 19 shows a section of a metal tube to be attached to helmets, and may be
made to slide telescopically, acting as a blow pipe, as shown by the arrows, and
arranged with a partition in the centre, up-and-down currents being caused by the
motion given to the head gear.
Figure 20 shows several views of a disc ventilator containing horse-hair, gauze,
wire, or other porous substance to be used, of any required diameter, and which may
be attached or detached either by clips or screws, which latter facilitate removal to
admit of repairs.
I attach the wires or other convenient appliances to the lower part of the plate or
screw for securing the diaphragm, compass, or pendulum required for producing
motion in said hat or other head gear, as shewn in section at Figure 15.
Figure 21 represents a self-acting ventilator, consisting of a flat plate with a fine
spiral spring working upon a central rod or stem for producing motion, which may
be combined with Figure 20, and attached or detached at pleasure.
Figure 4 shows several views of cutting apparatus suitably arranged for cutting
holes in hats of any required diameter.
Cutters of different diameters are attached by screws for securing cutters made of
thin steel. The brass rims are secured by screws, and the parts are made bevel for
tightening, slackening, or removing said cutters, as shewn in the vertical section.
It will be seen by reference to the Drawings that a spiral spring is arranged around
a rod of upper part A, so as to work telescopically, carrying a piston for being
screwed down to the lower part B of the apparatus, with the top of the hat between
them; the screw entering the lower part forces the cutters and cuts an opening
through the hat or other head gear. The lower part may be attached to a handle,
to be held by the hand, inside the hat.
Figure 2 shows several views of a roller with a series of ribbon or thin steel
cutters arranged for cutting slits in linings for bats or other coverings for the head
in accordance with my Invention.
It will be seen that parts of the said cutters are removed, which admits of spaces
being left to give elasticity to any substance that may be cut by this process, as
shewn by Figure 10. These cutters may be used by hand, or may be attached to
rotary machinery, and they may be caused to travel upon a bed of wood, metal, or
other material. By means of this machine leathers or linings for hats and other
head gear may be cut with mathematical precision, to enable the wearer to adapt
said leathers or linings to the curvature of the head.
It will be seen in the lower part of Figure 10 that a line is drawn, which may bc
doubled or tucked in internally, and may be attached to the hat either by sewing,
gum, or any suitable adhesive substance.
.
The small apertures are intended to afford spaces for ventilation when the said
leathers or linings are fixed in the hat or other head gear, and may be padded to
any convenient thickness for imparting softness and elasticity to the wearing parts
of the said leathers or materials used for this purpose, as illustrated in section of a
hat in Figure 15.

page_text: A small band is drawn through the upper part of the said leathers or linings,
forming a curvature to be adapted to the head, and to admit air through the porous
band of the hat, as shown.
It is intended by this arrangement that the weight of the hat shall rest on
the network of leather or lining that is adapted to the curvature of the head, thus
preventing any undue pressure being brought to bear on any part of the rim of the
hat on the head.
In order to give free circulation to the air, I adapt a porous band for securing
ample ventilation...
As this Invention is intended to remove undue weight bearing around the temples
or any portion of the head, I attach small hooks and eyes with a double elastic band for
fitting round the ear, for securing the hat from being blown off the head by the wind.
Figuro 3 shows several views of a series of cutters, placed at different distances
apart and screwed together for cutting leathers or other elastic material by ribbon
or thin steel cutters, and may be used by hand or may be attached to rotary
machinery, the said cutters to be fitted with curved knives to cut the vandyked
odges, as seen in plan, Figure 10.
It is intended that the ribbon steel cutters used in carrying out this Invention
shall supersede the thick, cumbersome, and expensive cutters as now adopted in the
piercing and cutting business, and may be employed in various branches other than
the hat trade.
The said cutters may be adapted for cutting leathers or other materials at any
desired angle for securing the object of this Invention.
Another part of this Invention relates to the arrangement and application of a
second crown, perforated and attached to the lining of a hat by any simple con-
trivance by which the said moveable crown may be attached or detached at will.
The second crown may be attached by small india-rubber bands to give clasticity
to the entire surface, and may be made of any elastic or solid material, such as paper,
calico, cloth, or other suitable material. The said lining or second crown being
suspended by elastic bands or straps, will ventilate the chamber of any kind of hat,
cap, ot other head gear.
For securing free passage of air through the crown I attach a small ring containing
gauze, wire, or pierced metal, paper, or any porous material for protecting the said
passages from entrance of rain or moisture from the exterior.
I employ a covering by which the peak or point of helmets or other military head
gear may be raised by small rivets and washers, or screws, thus affording sufficient
surface for the inlet and outlet of air.
Another part of this Invention relates to the use and application of a tube of any
convenient length, as shown at Figure 19, and made of any suitable material,
connected with the perforated aperture in the hat, the said tube to be furnished with
a partition or partitions, and may be carried up in helmets to any desired height,
and may be made to slide telescopically, thus securing ventilation with or without
the oscillating apparatus above described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I do not intend to confine
myself to the exact details herein-before described, nor do I claim separately any of
the parts which are well known and in common use; but what I claim is,―
First. The improved arrangement and application of self-acting ventilating valves
or contrivances for ventilating hats, caps, and other head gear, or coverings for the
head, arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before
described and represented in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,
20, and 21 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Secondly. I claim the improved arrangement of cutters and apparatus for cutting
and forming the parts of self-acting ventilating valves or contrivances for ventilating
hats, caps, and other coverings for the head, substantially in the manner herein-

page_text: before described, and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Atkins, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
THO. ATKINS. (L.S.)