IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LINING OF HATS, HELMETS, SHAKOS, CAPS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Jacquot, of Bruxelles, Manufacturer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LINING OF HATS, HELMETS, SHAKOS,
CAPS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Sealed the 29th May 1855, and dated the 11th December 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Jacquot at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th December 1854.
J, FRANÇOIS JACQUOT, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LINING OF HATS, HELMETS, SHAKOS, CAPS, AND SIMILAR
ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
I construct linings for hats and other coverings of a tissue or looped fabric
of silk or other fibrous substance, or of a perforated sheet of caoutchouc
gutta percha, leather, or other suitable material, so as to allow of the passage
of air, and at the same time to present a light, soft, and elastic part to come
in contact with and to embrace the circumference of the head of the wearer.
The lining is made curved or convex on the interior surface which comes in
contact with the head, so as to form a sort of circular elastic cushion. This
may be effected by stretching the lining upon a light frame of metal, whale-
bone, or other suitable material, consisting of two rings united by light rods.

page_text: The fabric, being stretched and fixed to four points on one ring, and to several
points on the other ring, will assume a convex form in the interior. The rings
may be made of wire, bent round, and the ends inserted in a small piece of thin
metallic tube. The ends of the wires are adjusted in this tube, so as to bring
the ring to the required diameter, and the tube is then pinched in the middle,
so as to keep the ends of the wires sufficiently far apart. The elasticity of
the lining has a tendency to contract the diameter of these rings, and to pro-
duce a light and easy pressure without hurting the head. The exterior of the
hat or covering may also be of clastic or looped fabric, stretched or supported
on the same frame which carries the lining, and with a light ring of metal or
other suitable material round the rim. The sides, and crown or top, may be
sewn to a band or ring, or otherwise connected.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said François Jacquot in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th June 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANÇOIS
JACQUOT, of Bruxelles, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said François Jacquot, Her special licence that I, the said François
Jacquot, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said François Jacquot, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE LINING OF HATS, HELMETS, SHAKOS, CAPS, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said François Jacquot, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said François Jacquot, 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 following
statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, and to
the figures and letters marked thereon (that is to say) :-
I construct linings for hats and other coverings of a tissue or looped fabric
of silk or other fibrous substance, or of a perforated sheet of caoutchouc,
gutta percha, leather, or other suitable material, so as to allow of the passage
of air, and at the same time to present a light, soft, and elastic part to come in
contact with and to embrace the circumference of the head of the wearer.
The lining is made curved or convex on the interior surface which comes in
contact with the head, so as to form a sort of circular elastic cushion. This
may be effected by stretching the lining upon a light frame of metal, whale-
bone, or other suitable material, consisting of two rings united by light rods.
The fabric, being stretched and fixed to four points on one ring, and to several
points on the other ring, will assume a convex form in the interior. The rings
may be made of wire bent round, and the ends inserted in a small piece of
thin metallic tube. The ends of the wires are adjusted in this tube so as to
bring the ring to the required diameter, and the tube is then pinched in the
middle, so as to keep the ends of the wires sufficiently far apart. The elasticity
of the lining has a tendency to contract the diameter of these rings, and to
produce a light and easy pressure without hurting the head.
Figure 1 is an elevation or side view of one of my improved linings. The
dotted lines show the section of a hat to which the lining is applied. Figure 2
is a section of the hat and the lining. a and b are two rings of wire, connected
by the rods or stretchers c, which are shewn separately on a larger scale in
Figures 3 and 4. These stretchers c consist of thin flat strips of steel, to the
ends of which are rivetted small clips of copper or brass c', one of which is
shown separately in Figure 6. The wires a and b pass through these clips,
which sustain them at the proper distance apart. One of the stretchers is
made, as shewn in Figure 5, with clips c², the projecting parts of which are
bent into the form of small tubes or sockets, which serve to receive the extre-
mities of the wires a and b. A is a looped fabric, of silk or other suitable
material, which is attached to the rings a and b, which keep it stretched, so as
to present a convex surface in the interior, forming a soft elastic cushion which
comes in contact with the head of the wearer. The looped fabric allows of
ventilation, and of the passage of air and vapour.
Figure 11 shows a side view of another form of stretcher c, which consists
of a simple thin strip of steel bent round at each end to embrace the wires.

page_text: Figure 7 is a front view, and Figure 8 is a section, of another form of
stretcher, which is capable of being shortened and lengthened, for the purpose
of tightening and stretching the fabric A. This stretcher consists of two
strips of steel, m and n, shewn separately in Figure 9. The one strip n is
pierced with a row of small holes for receiving a pin o fixed to the strip m.
The strips m and n are placed together, with the pin o entering one or other
of the holes in the strip n; a little slide p is then slipped over the two
strips, so as to keep them together, and prevent the pin from getting out of
the hole. When it is required to lengthen or shorten the stretcher, the slide p
is slipped back, and the strips m and n are separated and placed together again
with the pin o in a different hole, and the slide p is again slipped over them.
Small clips c¹ for the reception of the wire rings are rivetted to the ends
of the straps m and n. Figure 10 shews a similar stretcher, furnished with
clips c², with short tubes or sockets, for the reception of the ends of the wires,
like the clips in Figure 5. The fabric A may be either a looped or woven
fabric of silk, or floss silk, or other fibrous substance, or an elastic india-rubber
fabric, or of other suitable material, as herein-before mentioned, having in all
cases the convex form in the interior, as herein-before described. These
linings are applicable to hats, helmets, shakos, caps, and similar coverings for
the head.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I claim
is, the construction of the linings of hats, helmets, shakos, caps, and similar
articles, in manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said François Jacquot, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.