CERTAIN IM-. PROVEMENTS IN WATERPROOF AND OTHER GARMENTS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Stephen Oliver, of the City of Edin-
burgh, Clothier and Hatter, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IM-.
PROVEMENTS IN WATERPROOF AND OTHER GARMENTS."
Sealed the 19th February 1853, and dated the 30th December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Stephen
Oliver at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 30th December 1852.
I, ROBERT STEPHEN OLIVER, of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland,
Clothier and Hatter, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERPROOF AND OTHER GAR-
MENTS" to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the combination in such garments
of elasticity or adaptability to the movements of the body of the
wearer, with the means of ventilation, or provision for the escape of
heated air and the admission of fresh air, while at the same time
wet is excluded.
And this object is accomplished, in the first place, by means of
flat tubes or passages, or channels composed of waterproof cloth
or other suitable material, and adapted and applied to garments in
different parts of the same.

page_text: These tubes, or passages, or channels have openings formed in
them in various ways, always, however, arranged so as to admit of
the heated air occasioned by the warmth of the body passing into
and out of them, and likewise fresh air; also to prevent the
openings from admitting wet which may fall upon the outside of
the garment.
The object of my Invention is accomplished, secondly, by means
of openings made in different parts of the garments covered by in-
sertions of elastic india-rubber cloth, perforated or netted work, or
knitted work. These apertures are prevented from admitting rain
by the mode in which they are cut and adapted to the purpose.
And the object of my Invention is accomplished, thirdly, by
means of openings in the seams of the garments.
In all these several modes of accomplishing the object of my
Invention, the parts are formed, arranged, and distributed in the
garments so as to combine the above named elasticity with the
above named ventilation and at the same time to make due provi-
sion for the exclusion of wet.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Robert Stephen Oliver in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 28th June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ROBERT STEPHEN OLIVER, of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland, Clothier
and Hatter, send greeting.
the
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of December, in
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in
the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Stephen Oliver,
Her special license that I, the said Robert Stephen Oliver, my a
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Robert Stephen Oliver, my executors, adıministrators, and

page_text: 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN WATERPROOF AND OTHER GARMENTS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Stephen Oliver, 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 im-
mediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Stephen Oliver,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to
say):
My Invention of "Certain Improvements in Waterproof and
other Garments" is intended to provide the means of ventilating
such garments by allowing the heated air to escape from them, and
fresh air to enter into them, and pass through them while on the
body of the wearer, at the same time affording elasticity or adapta-
bility to the movements of the body, and excluding wet. And this
object is accomplished, in the first place, by means of flat tubes or
passages, or channels composed of waterproof cloth or other suitable
material, adapted and applied to different parts of garments.
One or more of such tubes are attached to the garment inside,
and extend from the top to the bottom of the same. They have an
opening at each end, and also several apertures in various parts.
There are also apertures formed on the outside of the garment at
the back of the tube, and these tubes may be likewise adapted and
applied to the arms and sides or other parts of the garment. A
flat tube may also be attached to the back part and side seams of
the garment, and have introduced into it a series of small angular
tubes opening outwards. By these means the heated air arising

page_text: from the body may pass into the tubes, and be carried off by the
current of fresh air passing through them; the wet being excluded
by means of angular shields of waterproof cloth placed behind a
series of openings in the seam of the garment; such shields having
apertures at either of their lower sides through which any rain
that enters may escape, and run down the outside of the garment.
The object of my Invention is accomplished, in the second place,
by means of openings made in different parts of the garments filled
or covered by insertions of elastic india rubber cloth perforated, or
of netted or knitted work. A moderate sized opening is made on
the under part of the arm, and another on the breast adjoining.
These openings are filled or covered by insertions of the above
named materials, and are prevented from admitting rain by their
being made to overlap each other very considerably, which arrange-
ment, in combination with the elastic material employed to cover
the openings, is sufficient to effect the purpose. Also the angular
position of the shoulder seam and the fall of the shoulder would be
calculated to exclude rain. In case of need, however, the shields
above referred to might be adapted to this part of the garment.
These openings so filled or covered, act reciprocally on each other
as valves, and by being brought into frequent play by the motion of
the arms of the wearer, cause a free escape of heated air from the
garment.
In adapting this part of my Invention to breeches and trowsers,
an opening of a moderate size is made in the upper part, extending
from front to back at the fork. This opening is covered with a
picce of india rubber cloth perforated, or with knitted or netted
work, extending a short distance beyond the aperture on all sides.
The movements of the legs of the wearer will cause a free ventilation
of the garment by means of these elastic covered openings..
And the object of my Invention is accomplished, in the third place,
by means of openings in the seams of garments.
A series of slits or openings are made in the seams of the back,
or sides, or arms, or other part of the body; these openings are
then covered with waterproof cloth on the inside of the garment.

page_text: And in order to exclude wet at the same time that ventilation is
produced, the pieces of waterproof cloth by which the openings are
covered, are diamond formed (one diameter of the diamond being in
the direction of the seam and the other at right angles to it), and
sewed to the inside of the garment in such a manner as to leave
an opening in a portion of the length of cach side of the diamond
figure. Also the seams of the garment are made considerably
broader than usual, with oblique or horizontal openings under
them, such openings being partially covered at a suitable angle
to prevent the admission of wet.
Leggings may be made susceptible of being ventilated by having
their seams opened and covered on this principle.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood
that I do not mean or intend to confine myself to the precise
arrangements of the parts of garments, nor to the precise materials
be used therein above described; but what I claim as of my
In-
vention is, the ventilation of garments so as to exclude wet, and so
far as is necessary to secure elasticity in them by means of flat
tubes and covered openings suitably distributed, and also openings
in or under the seams of garments as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Stephen Oliver, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of
June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-three
Witness,
JAMES SMITH.
ROBERT STEPHEN OLIVER. (L.S.)