Year: 1886

page_text: I BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of
23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by
Joseph John Byers of Brooklyn in the County of Kings and State of New York
in the United States of America, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide for the effective ventilation of water-
proof and other garments; and to this end the invention consists in the employment
of perforations in the shoulders and upper portions of the sleeves of the garment,
covered by epaulets or caps, so applied as to fit loosely over the said perforations
without closing the same or interfering with the free passage of air.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a garment
to which the improvement is applied. Figure 2 is a side view of the same with
the epaulette and cap turned up so as to expose the perforations in the shoulder
and sleeve. Figure 3 is a side view showing the epaulet in position and indicating
in dotted lines the location of the perforations underneath the same. Figure 4 is
a vertical section through the collar, shoulder and sleeve of the garment. Figure 5
is a horizontal section on the line V, V, Figure 4.
The invention is applicable to coats and cloaks of all descriptions, but for the
purpose of illustration is here shown as applied to a waterproof coat.
In the shoulder A and the upper portion a of the sleeve are portions F, F', of
perforated material, the perforations f. f¹, therein being covered respectively by an
epaulet B and a cap C which may be formed in one piece or in two pieces stitched
together, and are sewed to the garment along the upper end of the epaulet B and
the two sides of the same and also along the upper curved edge of the cap O, where
it extends in front and rear of the epaulet B, so as to leave the lower edge of the
cap, C detached from the sleeve a and to provide a clear and uninterrupted space
or passage al between the perforated material F, F, and the epaulet B and cap C,
communicating freely with the outer air under the lower edge of the cap. The
cap C rests upon a bridge of rubber or other material D, corrugated if desired, to
permit the free passage of the air. By this means the air is allowed to pass freely
through the perforations in the shoulders and sleeves of the garments and thus
ventilate the garment while the epaulet and cap protect the perforated shoulders
and sleeves from the weather without interfering with ventilation.
Other suitable means for allowing the air to pass freely may be used, but it is
preferred in practice to use a lining piece or stay G of any proper material having

page_text: perforations g, corresponding to the perforations f so attached to the body of the
garment at the shoulder and so constructed that the epaulet and cap will be
about thor of an inch or more larger, between the points b, b, than the
shoulder at said points, thus holding the epaulet loosely open above the perforated
material F.
The stay G is so arranged as to prevent any stretching or alteration and thus
prevents the closing of the space between the epaulet and the perforated material F,
when on the wearer.
A serious defect and imperfection has existed in means heretofore devised or
attempted for ventilating waterproof garments, partly by ill-judged location of
openings provided for the purpose, partly by lack of such construction as would
keep the passages open at all times while providing efficient protection from the
weather.
With my improved construction the passages are never closed while the garment
is on the person; and, moreover each movement, of the body and especially of
the arms of the wearer causes an ejection of air from beneath the epaulet and cap,
the place of which is supplied by hot air rising within the garment around the
body, so as to maintain a constant and free circulation especially while the wearer
is in motion; at which time unventilated waterproof garments become oppressive
and are highly detrimental to health by confining perspiration and exhalations
from the skin,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A garment having a shoulder A, sleeve a, portion F formed with perforations f
between the sleeve and collar, an epaulet of greater width than the perforated
portion embraced thereby, secured outside the marginal edges of the latter forming
the inner portion of an air-passage a', and a cap secured to the outer end of the
epaulet, of greater width than the portion of the sleeve embraced thereby, extending
down over the latter, secured to the sleeve at each side, and forming the outer
portion of the air-passage al substantially as described. .
2. A garment having a shoulder A formed with perforated portion F, f, sleeve a
having perforated portion F1, f1 epaulet B embracing the perforated shoulder
portion, and a cap secured to the outer end of the epaulet, embracing the per-
forated sleeve portion and secured to the sleeve; the epaulet with its cap being of
greater width. than the perforated portions, secured to the latter and forming the
air passage a¹ extending beneath the cap through the epaulet to the collar, sub-
stantially as described.
f.
3. A garment having a perforated shoulder, an epaulet and cap covering said
perforated shoulder and secured thereto on each side of the perforations, forming
an air-passage a¹, and a stay-piece imparting fullness to the epaulet and main-
taining the air passage between this and the perforated shoulder, substantially as
set forth.
4. A garment having a perforated shoulder, an epaulet and cap covering the said
perforated shoulder and a bridge D ou the shoulder forming a seat for the epaulet
substantially as set forth..