IMPROVEMENTS IN HEAD MEASURING BANDS AND BOX FOR CONTAINING THE SAME
Year: 1879

page_text: 60
LETTERS PATENT to George Heath, of 393, Oxford Street, London, for the
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN HEAD MEASURING BANDS AND BOX FOR
CONTAINING THE SAME."
Sealed the 25th July 1879, and dated the 14th May 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Heath at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th May 1879.
GEORGE HEATH, of 393, Oxford Street, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEAD
MEASURING BANDS AND BOX FOR CONTAINING THE SAME."
My Invention relates, firstly, to an improved head measuring band, by means of
which the exact form and size of the head may be taken for the purpose of manu-
facturing hats, caps, or other head coverings.
Secondly, to the arrangement and construction of a box to receive the band, by
means of which the band may be forwarded either by post, rail, or other suitable
conveyance, without altering the form given to it in taking the measurement.
The head measuring band consists of one or more layers or strips of soft and
pliable metal, preferably tin, formed into a ring. When two or more layers or
strips are used, the internal layer or strip, that is to say, the one which comes in
contact with the head is wider than the others, and its two edges are doubled over
the edges of the other layers or strips. Upon each end of the band is fixed a
sliding piece through which the opposite ends slide. One of these sliding pieces is
provided with a slight projection for the purpose of pushing the slide backwards or
forwards, in order to expand or contract the band. The other sliding piece is
provided with a movable plate which bears against the outside surface of the band,
and which is acted upon by a set screw passing through the top of the sliding piece.
The head of this screw serves for pushing this sliding piece backwards and forwards
when adapting the band to the head for taking the measurement. By tightening
this screw, the movable plate is forced tight against the band, thus securing the
end and preventing it slipping after the measurement has been taken.
The facility with which the band is adjusted enables any person to take the
measurement of his own head, that is to say, the exact form and size.
The box for containing the band is made. of thin pieces of wood or other light

page_text: material, and fitted with a binged lid. It is slightly deeper than the width of the
band. A number of pieces of wood, thin metal, or other solid light material are
secured to the bottom of the box, and are provided with teeth, each piece somewhat
At
resembling a comb, and all of them converging towards the centre of the box.
one side of the box is fixed a piece of wood or other suitable material provided
with a vertical slot of about the same depth as the width of the band, and
sufficiently wide to freely admit the double thickness of the band at the part where
the two ends cross, the single thickness of the band entering into the space between
any two of the teeth of the different comb-like pieces. The size and form of the
head having been measured by the band, it is placed in the box as described,
preferably with the measuring edge, that is to say, the lower edge upwards, and it
is therefore impossible for the shape or size to be altered during transit. In the
centre of the box is fixed a screw, and when the band has been placed in position, a
piece of wood of the exact width of the box, and provided with a hole in the
middle for the passage of the screw is placed over the edge of the band, and secured
by a nut, thus preventing the band from shifting upwards. Two or more pieces of
wood or other light material of the exact height of the sides of the box are secured
to the bottom, so as to support the lid when closed and prevent it being broken
during transit. Two pieces of wood or other light material are secured, one at
either end of the lid, so as to bear upon the edge of the band lengthwise.
The box, together with the band, does not weigh more than twelve ounces, so
that it may be forwarded by post at a minimum cost.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Heath in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th August
1879.
GEORGE HEATH, of 393, Oxford Street, London. " IMPROVEMENTS IN HEAD
MEASURING BANDS AND BOX FOR CONTAINING THE SAME."
My Invention relates, firstly, to an improved head measuring band, by means of
which the exact form and size of the head may be taken for the purpose of manu-
facturing hats, caps, or other head coverings.
"
Secondly, to the arrangement and construction of a box to receive the band, by
means of which the band may be forwarded either by post, rail, or other suitable
conveyance, without altering the form given to it in taking the measurement.
•
The head measuring band consists of one or more layers or strips of soft and
pliable metal, preferably tin, formed into a ring. When two or more layers or
strips are used, the internal layer or strip, that is to say, the one which comes in
contact with the head, is wider than the others, and its two edges are doubled over
the edges of the other layers or strips. Upon each end of the band is fitted a
sliding piece through which the opposite ends slide. One of these sliding pieces is
provided with a slight projection for the purpose of pushing the slide backwards or
forwards, in order to expand or contract the band. The other sliding piece is

page_text: provided with a movable plate which bears against the outside surface of the band;
and which is acted upon by a set screw passing through the top of the sliding
piece. The head of this screw serves for pushing this sliding piece backwards and
forwards when adapting the band to the head for taking the measurement. By
tightening this screw the movable plate is forced tight against the band, thus
securing the end and preventing it slipping after the measurement has been taken..
The facility with which the band is adjusted enables any person to take the
measurement of his own head, that is to say, the exact form and size.
The box for containing the band is made of thin pieces of wood or other light
material, and fitted with a hinged lid. It is slightly deeper than the width of the
band. A number of pieces of wood, thin metal, or other solid light material are
secured to the bottom of the box, and are provided with teeth, each piece somewhat
resembling a comb, and all of them converging towards the centre of the box. At
one side of the box is fixed a piece of wood or other suitable material provided with
a vertical slot of about the same depth as the width of the band, and sufficiently
wide to freely admit the double thickness of the band at the part where the two
ends cross, the single thickness of the band entering into the space between any
two of the teeth of the different comb-like pieces. The size and form of the head
having been measured by the band, it is placed in the box as described, preferably
with the measuring edge, that is to say, the lower edge upwards, and it is therefore
impossible for the shape or size to be altered during transit. In the centre of the
box is fixed a screw; and when the band has been placed in position, a piece of wood
of the exact width of the box, and provided with a hole in the middle for the
passage of the screw, is placed over the edge of the band, and secured by a nut, thus
preventing the band from shifting upwards. Two or more pieces of wood or other
light material of the exact height of the sides of the box are secured to the bottom
so as to support the lid when closed, and prevent it being broken during transit,
Two pieces of wood or other light material are secured, one at either end of the lid,
so as to bear upon the edge of the band lengthwise.
The box, together with the band, does not weigh more than twelve ounces, so
that it may be forwarded by post at a minimum cost.
But in order that my Invention may be more clearly understood, I will proceed
to describe the same by the aid of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows a plan of the box containing the head measuring band; Fig. 2 shows
a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3, a transverse section of the same; Fig. 4 shows a
perspective view of the head measuring band, and Fig. 7 a modification of the
same.
A is the head measuring band consisting of one or more layers or strips of soft
and pliable metal, preferably tin, formed into a ring. When two or more layers or
strips are used, the internal layer or strip, that is to say, the one which comes in
contact with the head is wider than the others, and its two edges are doubled over
the edges of the other layers or strips, as shown in the cross section of the band at
Fig. 6. B is a sliding piece fixed upon one end of the band, and provided with a
slight projection for the purpose of pushing the slide backwards or forwards in
order to expand or contract the band. C is the other sliding piece fixed at the
other end of the band, and provided with a movable plate D which bears against
the outside surface of the band, and which plate is acted upon by the set screw E
passing through the top of the sliding piece. Fig. 5 shows a section of the sliding
piece C. The head of the screw E serves for pushing this sliding piece backwards
and forwards when adapting the band to the head for taking the measurement.
By tightening the screw E, the movable plate D is forced tight against the band,
thus securing the end and preventing it slipping after the measurement has been
taken. The two ends of the band pass through the respective opposite sliding
pieces, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. F is the box for containing the band, and G is
the lid of the same. H, H, are pieces of wood, thin metal, or other solid light
material secured to the bottom of the box, and provided with teeth, each piece
somewhat resembling a comb, and all of them converging towards the centre of the

page_text: box. I is a piece of wood or other suitable material provided with a vertical slot J
to admit the double thickness of the band where the two ends cross, the single
thickness of the band entering into the space between any two of the teeth of the
different comb-like pieces H, H. A screw K is fixed in the centre of the box, and
when the band has been placed in position, a piece of wood L of the exact width of
the box, and provided with a hole for the passage of the screw K, is placed over the
edge of the band, and secured by a nut MI, thus preventing the band from shifting
upwards. The measuring or lower edge of the band A is somewhat larger in
circumference than the upper edge, and this measuring edge is preferably placed
upwards in the box. N, N, are pieces of wood or other light material secured to the
bottom of the box, and of the exact height of the sides of the box, so as to support
the lid G when closed, and prevent it being broken during transit. 0, 0, are pieces
of wood or other light material secured to the lid G for the purpose of strengthening
it. P, P, are pieces of wood, cork, or other light material secured to the lid G, so as
to bear upon the edge of the band A lengthwise, when the lid is shut.
The modification of the head measuring band shown at Fig. 7 consists in making
the band with the two ends fastened together forming one continuous piece, so
that by having a set of different sizes, the exact shape of the head may be taken.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I consider to be
new, and therefore claim as my Invention is,―
First. The improved form of head measuring band, consisting of one or more
layers or strips of soft and pliable metal A, provided at the ends with the sliding
pieces B and C, through which the opposite ends of the band slide, substantially as
herein described and shown in the Drawings.
Second. The improved form of head measuring band consisting of one or more
layers or strips of soft and pliable metal A, the ends of which are fastened together,
substantially as herein described and shown at Fig. 7 in the Drawings.
Third. The improved form of box for containing the head measuring band,
substantially as herein described, and shown in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Heath, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord 1879.
Witness,
HERBERT J. ALLISON, Junr.,
Of the Firm of Allison Bros.,
Patent Agents,
41, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn.
GEORGE HEATH. (L.S.)