of a Hat or other Head Covering.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 1st Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 3rd May, 1887.
of a Hat or other Head Covering.
I, THOMAS RAWSON of 114 Heaton Lane, Stockport, Paper Dealer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention relates to an appliance which when attached to the interior of a hat,
helmet or other head covering will prevent the same from compressing the head of the
wearer. In its simplest form the appliance consists of a leather strap attached to
the lining of the hat back and front so adjusted as regards length as to rest on
the top of the head and thus support the weight of the hat. To distribute the
weight of the hat more equally two or more straps may be used, attached to the
side thereof and converging towards the centre. The straps may be attached either
to the lining of the hat or to corresponding parts of the body thereof by buttons,
eyelets or other suitable means. At the junction the straps are connected to oblong
or circular rings which may be drawn together or separated by means of a screw
working in suitable bearings thereby enabling the wearer to regulate the position
of the hat according to the force of the wind or other circumstance. The strap or
straps may be either of leather, ordinary webbing, india rubber webbing, linen-
covered cork, or any other suitable material.
121 1
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance or "Bearer" to be Attached to the Interior
of a Hat or other Head Covering.
I, THOMAS RAWSON of 114 Heaton Lane, Stockport, Paper Dealer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an appliance which when attached to the interior of a hat,
helmet or other head covering will prevent the same from compressing the head of the
wearer. In its simplest form the appliance consists of a leather strap attached to the
lining or interior of the hat at the back and front or sides so adjusted as regards
length as to rest on the top of the head and thus support the weight of the hat. To
distribute the weight of the hat more equally two or more straps may be used attached
to the side thereof and converging towards the centre. The straps may be attached
either to the lining of the hat or to corresponding parts of the body thereof by buttons,
eyelets or other suitable means. At the junction the straps are connected by an
adjustable fastening thereby enabling the wearer to regulate the position of the hat
according to the force of the wind or other circumstances. The strap or straps may
be either of leather, ordinary webbing, india-rubber webbing, linen-covered cork, or
any other suitable material.
In the accompanying drawings figure 1 is a plan and figure 2 a side elevation of
the straps and fastening. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 and 6 are similar views of modifications
and figure 7 is a diagram showing a vertical section of the hat with the bearer in
place.
In the form shown in figure 1 the strap A is fastened at A¹ preferably by an eyelet
to the interior of the front of the hat and the two straps B are similarly secured at B¹
to the interior of the back of the hat.
These straps are connected together by an adjustable fastening which consists of the
two plates CC to which the straps are secured, and connected by the tightening
screw D and flat guide E, one end of the latter being secured to the plate C, while the
other end passes through a slot in the other plate C which travels. The screw D is
free to turn in the plate C but is otherwise held by its head and the collar D' or
equivalent means so that the plate must travel with the screw; the hole in the plate C¹¹
is screw threaded to act as a nut in which the screw turns. By turning the screw D
the plates C and C¹ may be drawn together or separated and the "position of the hat
adjusted at will.
The drawing shows the application to the hat of three straps but it will be under-
stood that two straps as in figure 3 or a single strap as in figure 5 will serve the same
purpose.
In the form shown in figure 3 two straps A and B are secured to the interior of the
hat in any suitable manner preferably as described above.
The strap B is secured to the plate C while the strap A preferably passes through a
half buckle or loop C2 in the plate and under one or more spring clips F hinged in

page_text: the plate, and provided with teeth H which grip the strap and hold it in the desired
position, see figure 4 where one of the turned up sides of the plate C is removed to
show the clips and springs.
When it is required to adjust the position of the hat, the spring clips F are pressed
down, when the strap is free to be adjusted.
Fig. 5 shows the application of a single strap one end of which is secured to the
plate I while the loose end passes through the plate I¹ and is attached to a spring
clip F by means of which the bearer may be adjusted. The plates I I' are secured
to the interior of the front and back of the hat in suitable manner.
Another modification would be a common strap and buckle the former secured at
each end to the hat.
The straps may be covered with plush or other ornamental covering if desired and
are preferably very flexible so as the more readily to adapt themselves to the shape of
the head.
A greater number of straps may be employed if desired radiating from a common
centre but the form of bearer described above is found to give very satisfactory results.
A pad may be used where the strap rests on the head.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
1. The method of supporting a hat or equivalent upon the head of the wearer by
means of a strap or equivalent inside the hat substantially as specified.
2. The combination with a hat or equivalent head covering of a hat bearer
substantially such as specified.
3. In a hat bearer the combination with two or more straps or equivalent such as A
and B of plates such as C C¹ and screw D the whole constructed and operating
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a hat bearer the combination with plates such as C C¹ and screw D of a flat
guide such as E substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. The complete hat bearer substantially as specified.