AN IMPROVED MODE OF RENDERING HATS, CAPS, AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD SELF-VENTILATING
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Thomas White, of Queen's Terrace, Hammer-
smith, Army Accoutrement Maker, and George Roberts, of Great Peter
Street, in the City of Westminster, Miner, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED MODE OF RENDERING HATS, CAPS, AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE
HEAD SELF-VENTILATING."
Sealed the 5th December 1854, and dated the 10th October 1854.
George IoD
Petition, on the 10th October 1854.
We, HENRY THOMAS WHITE, of Queen's Terrace, Hammersmith, Army
Accoutrement Maker, and GEORGE ROBERTS, of Great Peter Street, in the City
of Westminster, Miner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF RENDERING HATS, CAPS, AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR
THE HEAD SELF-VENTILATING," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a mode of providing for the free circulation of
air within hats or other coverings for the head when in use. In carrying out
this Invention (supposing it to be applied to a hat), we slightly increase the
diameter of the hat, to permit of its fitting the wearer when our ventilator is
applied thereto. The inside of the hat we line (to the depth of half an inch,
more or less, from the brim,) with a flat helical spring, which will act as a
filling or elastie padding round the head, and this we attach to the hat and

page_text: cover in such a manner that the edges will permit of the free passage of air
through the spring when the hat is being worn; or, instead of making the air
passage of a flat helical spring, it may be composed of wire otherwise bent,
so as to form an elastic or yielding band, and afford a space for the passage of
air into and out of the hat near the brim when it is in use. The band may
with advantage be constructed with one edge broader than the other, to suit
the shape of different heads. This band or lining may surround the head
entirely or only partially, as preferred..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Thomas White and George Roberts in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 10th April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
THOMAS WHITE, of Queen's Terrace, Hammersmith, Army Accoutrement
Maker, and GEORGE ROBERTS, of Great Peter Street, in the City of West-
minster, Miner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of October, 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 us, the said
Henry Thomas White and George Roberts, Her special licence that we,
the said Henry Thomas White and George Roberts, our executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Henry Thomas White
and George Roberts, our 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 "AN
IMPROVED MODE OF RENDERING HATS, CAPS, AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD
SELF-VENTILATING," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Henry Thomas White and George Roberts, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, 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 inne
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Henry Thomas White and George.
Roberts, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say)
- This Invention relates to a mode of providing for the free circulation of air
within hats or other coverings for the lead when in use. In carrying out
this Invention (supposing it to be applied to a 'hat), we slightly increase
the diameter of the hat, to permit of .its fitting the wearer when our ven-
tilator is applied thereto, and line the inside thereof near the brim (to the
depth of half an inch, more or less,) with an elastic cushion, composed of
fine wire, twisted into the shape of a flat helical spring or otherwise, and this
we attach to the 'hat, and cover in such a manner that the edges will permit
of the free passage of air through the elastic cushion when the hat is being
worn.
. In the accompanying Drawing the mode of carrying out our Invention is
shewn under various forms.
Fig. 1 shews in longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 in plan view, a hunting cap,
fitted according to our Invention; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a hat
similarly provided. a, a,
is the elastic cushion, formed of fine wire, coiled or
twisted, so as to yield to the pressure of the head when the сар is worn, and
yet offer a free passage through it for a current or currents of air. The
construction of this cushion will be best seen in the enlarged detached views,
Figures 4, which represent a portion of the cushion or ventilating wire padding,
in side view, edge view, and cross section. This cushion a is inserted between
the leather band the body c of the cap, and, for the convenience of fitting heads
of different shapes, it may with advantage be made with one edge broader than
the other. To facilitate the fixing of the cushion a in its place, we propose to
envelope it in folds of bobbin net lace, crape, or other light material, which
will permit of the free passage of air through it, and will allow of the attach-
ment being readily effected by sewing the cushion to the lining. By referring
to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the cushion is continued completely round the
inside of the cap; but this is not absolutely necessary, as a perfect venti-
lation may be effected by attaching a cushion of the kind above described to
the back and front of the hat or cap lining, as shewn in the plan view, Fig. 5.
When a hat, cap, or helmet fitted with our improved ventilating cushion
is worn, the forward movement of the wearer, whether in riding or walking,
will cause a current of air to strike against his brow. The air will then find

page_text: its way through the cushion a (as shown by the arrows, Figures 1 and 3,)
to the interior of the hat, cap, or helmet, and; driving before it the heated
air contained therein, will force it out through the back part of the cushion.
In cases where leathers of the usual depth are applied to hats, it would be
convenient to pierce them, as shewn at Fig. 3, to ensure the free passage of
the air into and out of the hat.
We would remark that the construction of the cushion may be modified in a
variety of ways as respects its form without affecting the ventilating principle,
which our Invention is designed to carry out in an efficient and economical
manner, and without necessarily involving an alteration in the constructing of
the hat, cap, or other covering for the head.
Having now described the nature of our Invention of "An Improved Mode
of Rendering Hats, Caps, and other Coverings for the Head Self-Ventilating,"
and set forth the manner of carrying the same into effect, we wish it to be
understood that, under the above in part recited Letters Patent, we claim
applying to hats, caps, and such other coverings for the head as require the
like ventilation, elastic metal pads or cushions which will permit of the passage
through them of currents of air, as above explained.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Thomas White and George
Roberts, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Tenth day of
April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-five.
Witness,
FRED. WALKDEN,
66, Chancery Lane.
HENRY THOMAS WHITE. (L.S.)
GEORGE ROBERTS.
(L.S.)