IMPROVEMENTS IN BONNETS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Avery, of 32, Essex Street, Strand, London,
Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BONNETS AND OTHER
COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD."-A communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Avery at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
August 1856.
I, JOHN AVERY, of 82, Essex Street, Strand, London, Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BONNETS
AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD," a communication, to be as follows; and
consists in the use of springs or suitable springy materials (steel or steel wire,
chip, or gut being preferred,) encased in a soft, flexible, fibrous substance, such
as cotton, wool, hair, cord, or the like material. of a thickness required for the
article to which it is applied, to give form and elasticity thereto; or in strips of
woven fabric having some degree of stiffness and elasticity (muslin for
instance), and thus formed into rolls for use; or any or all of the said materials
may be incorporated directly with the material of which the bonnet is composed,
or in the foundation on which the bonnet is formed. In some cases the muslin
or other soft and flexible materials may be made into rolls, minus the spring or
springy materials; or the spring or springy materials may be used alone, or

page_text: merely covered by any suitable material to suit the color or other require-
ments of the bonnet to be produced; but as a general application, it is
preferred to use the springy and flexible materials in combination in the
construction and formation of bonnets, hats, caps, or such coverings for
the head.
the
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Avery in the Great Seal Patent Office on
30th January 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
AVERY, of 82, Essex Street, Strand, London, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Avery, Her special licence that I, the said John Avery, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Avery, executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BONNETS AND
OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD;" (a communication,) upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Avery, my executors, or administrators,
by an instrument in writing, under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Avery, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
This Invention consists in the use of a spring or springs, or of suitable
springy material (steel or steel wire, or gut, being preferred) encased in a soft,
flexible, fibrous substance, such as cotton, wool, hair, cord, or the like material,

page_text: of a thickness required for the article to which it is to be applied, to give form
and elasticity thereto; or in strips of woven fabric having some degree of
stiffness and elasticity (muslin for example), & thus formed into rolls for use; or
any or all of the said materials may be incorporated directly with the material
of which the bonnet is composed, or in the foundation on which the bonnet is
formed.
In some cases the muslin or other soft flexible materials may be formed into
rolls, minus the spring or springy materials, or the spring or springy materials
may be used alone, or merely covered with any suitable substance to suit the
colour or other requirements of the article to be produced; but as a general
application, it is preferred to use the springy & flexible materials in com-
bination in the construction and formation of bonnets, hats, caps, or such
coverings for the head.
I will now proceed to describe the application of this Invention more in
detail. At present covered iron wire or bonnet wire is used in the formation
and construction of bonnets, such as velvet, silk, satin, lace, fancy and other
straws, and also of bonnet shapes or foundations. Now this Invention consists
in altogether or in part dispensing with such wire in the construction of such
coverings for the head, and using a steel or other metal spring, or suitable
springy or elastic substance, to give form and flexibility thereto; and such
springs may be covered or plated with cotton, silk, or other suitable material,
as bonnet wire is now covered, or to suit the colour or other requirements of
the article to which it is to be applied. Slight springs or strips of springy or
elastic material may also traverse the front or other part of the bonnet shape
or foundation if required, either for support, or to give or preserve elasticity.
To secure a nice fit, elastic strings or bands may be placed where the bonnet
binds around the head, or in any part where required for the purpose; but I
prefer to connect the elastic with strings inside the bonnet, and by which it is
tied on the head. A piece of elastic material may also be placed at the back
of the head, so that a certain of bonnet may fit various sizes of heads.
Although in this description I have alluded only to certain kinds of bonnets,
it will be easily understood that the principle of construction is equally
applicable to other coverings for the head, with slight modifications.
I am aware that springs have been used in the construction of wigs and
caps to attach them to the head, and I am also aware that whalebone, cane,
and such like substances have been used in the construction of drawn bonnets
& caps, but not in the manner nor for the purpose herein described, and I
mention these applications of springs and other substances to explain that
I make no claim thereto.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said Invention, & the manner in
which it may be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein given, as they may be varied with-
out departing from the nature and intent of the Invention; but what I claim
is, the application of steel or other metal springs, or of suitable springy and
elastic substances, in the formation & construction of bonnets, shapes, or
foundations, hats, caps, or other such coverings for the head; and also covering
or plating the steel or other metal springs with cotton, silk, or other suitable
material when employed in the formation or construction of bonnets, shapes,
or foundations, hats, caps, or other such coverings for the head, as and for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Avery, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 30th day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JOHN AVERY. (L.S.)