Improvements in Hats and Hat Leathers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hats and Hat Leathers.
I JOHN EATON of Swallow Street Stockport in the County of Chester Machinist
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The objects of this invention are to improve the ventilation of the hat and to
make it elastic and easy fitting.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to
the annexed sheet of drawings and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1. on the drawing is a perspective view of the interior of a hat showing the
application of iny invention thereto.
Fig. 2 is a section of the leather drawn full size, and Fig. 3 is a front view of a
portion thereof.
In the interior of the body of the hat, at that part which fits over the forehead
I make a series of vertical grooves of flutings the open ends of which are shown
at a on Fig. 1.
These grooves are made preferably by means of heated dies provided with vertical
ribs or projections which are pressed into the inner surface of the hat so as to
indent the felt and form the said grooves at the time of (or after) pressing the
hat into shape.
C
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Opposite to each of these grooves I cut or punch through the leather ba slit or
slits which, when the leather is sewn into its place, will come exactly opposite to
the aforesaid grooves or flutings a and as the lower ends of the latter are open the
air which freely enters these grooves or flutings can pass up the grooves and through
the slits or cuts c in the leather b, to the interior of the hat and will naturally
circulate and escape by the usual ventilating opening or openings in the crown
thereby ensuring a thorough ventilation without any unpleasant draught.
For the purpose of preventing the leather 6 from being pressed closely against
the inside of the hat and so impeding the ventilation I impress or emboss indents d
therein which project on the inner side thereof as shown at Fig. 2 so as to keep
the leather away from the inside of the hat, or studs or buttons may be attached
to the leather for this purpose.
In addition to this at the side of the hat I make additional similar slits and
indentations at the sides of the leather as shown at e on Fig. 1. and opposite to
these slits I cut or punch corresponding slits through the body of the hat, which
not only assist the ventilation but also from their vertical position allow of a certain
amount of expansion of the hat at this part, so that the hat is both cool and easy
fitting.
And in some cases I make these slits in the hat and in the leather at the back
also, or if preferred they may be carried all round when a very easy and elastic fit
is required.
In the case of silk hats I cut the cloth covering of the brim (where it is turned
into the hat) to form the grooves beneath the leather.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is,
First. The combination in a hat of indented vertical grooves made round the brow
or other mort on the inside thereof with corresponding slits made thronoh the leather.

page_text: Secondly. I claim the combination of vertical slits made through the felt or other
material round the body at or near its junction with the brim, with corresponding
slits made through the leather and
Thirdly. claim in combinatian with the slits made through the leather indenta-
tions embossed or pressed in the leather, or ornamented studs or buttons inserted
in the same, and projecting on the inner side so as to keep the leather away from
the inside of the liat.
Dotad this 2nd of August 1880
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for the Applicant.