Improved Process and Apparatus for Blocking Hat-bodies.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1896-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process and Apparatus for Blocking Hat-bodies.
We MORITZ SILBER and EPHRAIM BRANDT, both Hat Manufacturers of
119 Grüner Weg, Berlin Germany do hereby declare the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The present invention comprises a novel process and apparatus for blocking hat
bodies. According to the same the hat body is clamped by the rim between two
rings hinged to a table in which is arranged a steam receptacle, said rings being
capable of being thrown over so as to lie concentrically over the said steam chamber
with the crown of the hat downwards in the same, when this has been done a
form or block is placed within the two rings which clamp the hat brim and said
form pressed down into the hat body by means of suitable clamping screw in the
upper of the two rings. Steam is then turned on and the hat body properly
steamed. As soon as it is finished the rings are thrown back and two other rings
advantageously arranged at the opposite side of the steam chamber are thrown
over with a second hat when the process is repeated.
And in order to render the present specification more easily intelligible, reference
is had to the accompanying drawing in which similar letters of reference denote
similar parts throughout the several views:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of a table provided with the apparatus
forming the present invention, one of the right hand side rings being thrown over
the steain chamber,
Fig. 2 is a similar elevation with the rings at both sides of the steam chamber
thrown back,
Fig. 3 is a plan,
Fig. 4 a detail side elevation of the hat form and
Fig. 5 a plan of Figure 4.
In the table A a steam chamber a is formed below the surface of the table and
at each side of this chamber is arranged a set of two rings d d and ff', said sets
being hinged to the table at y and respectively, and capable of being turned
round on their hinges to fit concentrically or thereabouts over the upper surface of
the steam chamber. The upper of the rings d' or f¹ are provided with a clamping
screw each as at i, said screw being arranged centrally on the said ring and
advantageously supported on an arm has may be seeu at Figure 3. The steam
chamber a is provided with a steam pipe connection b having stop cock c. The hat
form or block o which serves to give the hat the proper form may be clearly seen
from Figures 4 and 5.
The invention is carried out in the following manner :-
The first ring d is turned over to lie on the top of the steam chamber a, then the
hat body is laid, crown downwards with its brim lying on said ring d, the second
ring d' is then turned over and clamps the rim of the hat body being secured to
the lower ring by means of the clamps m pivoted on the said lower ring.
The hat form or bleck o is now inserted in the rings, said form having a cross
at its upper surface or opening as shown at Figure 5. The clamping or
pressure screw i of the ring d' is adapted to press on the centre of this cross and
thus force the block down into the hat until its upper surface is about flush with
the upper surface of the lower riug.

page_text: When this has been accomplished steam is turned on and the hat body properly
steamed. The rings are then thrown back and whilst the hat is being taken out
of the same the other rings ff may be employed to steam the next hat body.
Each workman is advantageously provided with two such tables to serve so that
the process of blocking the bodies will take place with much greater despatch thau
hitherto, when it was accomplished by hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A process for blocking hat bodies, which consists in clamping the hat body,
by means of its rim between hinged rings dd', ff, suspending the same in the
steam chamber placing the form or block in the hat body and pressing the same
downwards by means of a pressure screw attached to the upper or lower ring
and after having properly steamed the hat turning the same together with the rings
back in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.
2. An apparatus for carrying out the process covered by Claim One which
consists of a table having therein a steam chamber a, pivoted rings d d¹ and ƒ f¹
at either side of said chamber and arranged as specified, a clamp or pressure screw
on one of each of the rings of a pair, and clamps on the other of said rings to
clamp the two together, and a hat block to be inserted in the hat in the manner
and for the purpose substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.