IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING HATS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, in the City of Hamburg, Germany, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING HATS." A communication from Theodor
Simis, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix
Engel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th October
1879.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING HATS." A com-
munication from Theodor Simis, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of hat leathers, that
is, the inner lining of hats, and has for its purpose to impart a certain elasticity to
the " leather," so as to make a hat "fit" for heads of different size and shape, and
at the same time to produce a circulation between the outer air and the air inside
the hat when the latter is put on, that is, provide for ventilation.
The bat leather or lining consists of a band or strap of leather or wax cloth of
curved shape, to the middle part of which and on that side facing the hat a smaller
band or strap of leather or wax cloth is fastened by means of an india rubber solu-
tion or other suitable glue. The lower edge of the small band or strap must exactly,
or very nearly so, face the lower edge of the hat leather, and the said band extends
from the front (middle) of the hat leather to about half way round. After both
bands or straps have been connected to each other in the aforesaid manner a number
of perforations of about one sixteenth inch wide and one half inch in height are
punched through both straps, and an elastic indiarubber band or a flat spiral spring
is then placed lengthway and at slight tension between both the straps and hat
leather, and the ends of the band or spring are fastened to the hat leather. The
hat leather prepared as before described is then fastened to the hat (sewed on) as
usually, and with the perforated part placed in front of the hat. The elastic band
or spring draws the perforated part of the strap inward and forms an elastic lining,
which makes the hat fit to very different sizes and shapes of heads, whilst the air
can enter into the hat through the bottom and upper enlarged ends of the
perforations.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd April 1880.
"
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING HATS." A com-
munication from Theodor Simis, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of hat leathers, that
is, the inner lining of hats, and has for its purpose to impart a certain elasticity to
the "leather" so as to make a hat "fit" for heads of different size and shape, and
at same time to produce a circulation between the outer air and the air inside the
hat when the latter is put on, that is, provide for ventilation.
The hat leather or lining consists of a band or strap of leather or wax cloth of
curved shape, to the smaller part of which and on that side facing the hat a smaller
band or strap of leather or wax cloth is fastened by means of an india rubber
solution or other suitable glue or attachment. The lower edge of the small band
or strap must exactly, or very nearly so, face the lower edge of the hat leather, and
the said band extends from the front (middle) of the hat leather to about half way
round. After both bands or straps have been connected to each other in the afore-
said manner a number of perforations of about one sixteenth inch wide and one
half inch or more in height are punched through both straps, and an elastic india
rubber band or a flat spiral spring is then placed lengthway and at slight tension
between both the strap and hat leather, and the ends of the band or spring are fastened
to the hat leather. The hat leather, prepared as before described, is then fastened
to the hat (sewn on) as usually, and with the perforated part placed in front of the
heat. The elastic band or spring draws the perforated part of the strap inward,
and forms an elastic lining, which makes the hat fit to very different sizes and
shapes of heads, whilst the air can enter into the hat through the bottom and upper
enlarged ends of the perforations.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents an outside view of a hat
furnished with the new lining; Figure 2 is a section through same, showing the
lining A; Figure 3 is a plan, showing the hat seen from below; Figure 4 is part of
the leather or lining when stretched out in a plane, showing the curved shape and
the different parts forming the Invention; Figure 5 is a vertical section through the
front part of the lining; and Figure 6 is an outside view of the lining before the
perforations have been inade; the latter Figure is represented on a smaller scale
than the other Figures of the Drawing.
A is the main part of the hat leather or lining, to the inner side of which (that
side facing the hat when being fastened) is attached by means of india rubber
solution or other suitable substance a smaller strap a of leather, waxcloth, or other
suitable material. This part a may reach from one end of leather A to the other
end, but in most cases it will be sufficient if it extends only in front of the hat to
about one third or one half of length of the leather A, as is shown in the
Drawing. The lower edge of a is level with the lower edge of A, and the curve or
shape of a must at this lower edge correspond with the curved edge of part A, as
will be understood with reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6. The fastening of a to A
should be only along the upper and lower edge of a, or above and below that part
which is perforated. After a and A have been secured to each other, as before
described, the upright perforations e of about one sixteenth inch in width, and of a
height varying according to the degree of elasticity required, from about half inch
to one and a half inches or more, are cut out from the doubled band A, a. This
may be done by means of a punch fastened to one jaw of a tongue in cutting one
perforation after the other, or by means of a press and punch, in which case all
perforations of one lining may be cut out at same time by one stroke of the
press.

page_text: Along the middle of a, between A. and a, an elastic band or flat spring c is then
passed through, and the ends of this band outside of a are fastened or secured
to A.
The lining thus prepared is attached (sewn) to the inner side of the hat in a
similar way as the cominon hat leather, but when the edge of A has been sewn to
the edge of the hat that part of the lining furnished with the perforations is by the
action of the elastic band or spring c brought into shape, as is shown in Fig. 2.
This part projects into the inner space of the hat and forms an elastic and curved
quilt, which rests against the front of the head after the hat is put on. The outer
air can through the enlarged ends of the perforations enter the hat, as is indicated
by arrows shown in Fig. 2. By attaching ventilators to the sido or top of the hat
the circulation of air may be greatly increased.
The ends of band A can advantageously be inarked or divided by lines and
numbers, the former of which are shown in Figs. 4 and 6. These lines give a
simple means for the fitter to ensure the exactly equal length of both halves of
the lining from the middle when the same is cut to its proper length when fitted
to a hat.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, I
claim,―
The curved shape of hat leather or lining A, to which is fastened band a, both
parts being furnished with a number of perforations in combination with an inner
elastic band or flat spring c, the ends of which are fastened to A, the whole
forming an elastic lining for hats, as described and explained by the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
F. H. F. ENGEL. (L.S.)