IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HATS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wood, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HATS."
led the 11th August 1876, and dated the 10th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wood at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1876.
JAMES WOOD, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster.
CONSTRUCTION OF HATS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
The object of this Invention is to make a hat adjustable in size and form and at
the same time to secure perfect ventilation. For these purposes the body of the hat
is made rather larger than the size of the head, and the leather band or head lining
is only stitched to the body for about three-quarters of the circumference, the
portion passing round the forehead being left loose and one end of this portion
being entirely free. This free end of the leather lining is provided with an adjust-
able fastening so that it can be attached to the body of the hat at various points,
and by these means the lining can be contracted or expanded to fit heads of varying
sizes.
C
It will be obvious that this part of the leather lining being free from the body is
flexible and will accommodate itself to any form of head, and as there is a space left
open between the leather and the body of the hat a perfect ventilation is secured.
Various means of adjusting and fixing the free end of the leather may be adopted,
such as a small rack and spring, or a pin and a small notched bar, or a screw or (if
preferred) the free end of the leather may be attached by means of a piece of elastic
web so as to be self-adjusting without departing from the characteristic feature of
my Invention, which is to leave the leather lining unstitched at the front, and to
provide simple means of adjusting the size of the same to the head at the same
time that this part of the leather being flexible will accommodate itself to the
form.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th October
1876.
JAMES WOOD, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster, Hat Manufacturer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HATS.
My Invention consists in the improvements herein-after described in making hats
adjustable in size and form and at the same time to secure perfect ventilation. For
these purposes the body of the hat is made rather larger than the size of the head,
and the leather band or head lining is only stitched to the body of the hat for about
three-quarters of the circumference, the portion passing round the forehead being
left loose and one end of this portion being entirely free. This free end of the
leather lining is provided with an adjustable fastener so that it can be attached to
the body of the hat at various points, and by these means the lining can be con-
tracted or expanded to fit hats of varying sizes. It will be obvious that this part of
the leather lining being free from the body of the hat is flexible, and will accomodate
itself to any form of head, and as there is a space left open between the leather and
the body of the hat a perfect ventilation is secured. Various means of adjusting
and fixing the free end of the leather lining may be adopted, as for instance it may
be attached by means of a piece of clastic web so as to be self-adjusting.
A modification of this Invention is that of a hat being made in such a manner
that a regulator is fixed either in the inside or outside of the brim of the hat for
the purpose of forming an adjusting or self-adjusting hat.
Having now, described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which the
same is or may be constructed, I wish it to be understood that my claim is for the
construction of an adjustable or self-adjusting hat for the purposes and in the manner
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wood, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy civ
Witness.
EDWARD POLLARD,
Accountant,
Burnley.
JAMES WOOD. (L.S.)