improvements in the method of and means for Ventilating Hats, Helmets, or other similar Head Coverings.
Year: 1886

page_text: improvements in the method of and means for Ventilating Hats,
Helmets, or other similar Head Coverings.
I, CHARLES POTTER of 47 Greek St Stockport in the County of Chester, Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of and means for ventilating
hats, helmets, or other similar head coverings and has for its objects, firstly to
produce in such head coverings a better circulation of air than heretofore has been
the case, by mechanically and automatically drawing a cool current of air into the
lower part, and forcing or expeiling the same through the ordinary eyelet, generally
employed in the top of a hat, helmet, or other similar head covering.
Secondly to give the wearer the greatest comfort & ease by enabling him to
regulate the admittance or amonnt of cool air required.
Thirdly to employ such means, in a manner that they will not be noticed much
and will not give the hat an unsightly appearance.
Fourthly, the employment of such means, which are not likely to get out of order,
which can easily & rapidly be fixed to and changed from one hat or head covering
to another and which are not expensive.
My invention consists principally in the employment of a fan at a suitable place
inside a hat or similar head covering.
This fan may be of any suitable form, preferably wing-shaped, rocking or
oscillating on a centre or spindle, and is caused to work automatically through the
slightest move of the head, by the employment of levers, springs or other suitable
means, preferably a pendulum, imparting a to and fro motion to the said fan by
each move of the head. The said fan & motion for actuating the same I fix into a
frame or flue which latter at its lower portion is formed with one or more air holes,
air chamber and valve, by which latter the amount of air to be drawn through the
hat, helmet, or other similar head covering can easily be regulated to a nicety.
Opposite to the said holes & air chamber and outside the body of the hat, helmet
or other similar head covering I employ underneath the bow of the ordinary band
an air inlet chainber.
This air inlet chamber corresponds in shape to that of the bow or otherwise, in
order to make it invisible and is formed, on the aide next to the hat body, with one

page_text: .
or more hollow studs corresponding in number and size to the holes formed in the
lower portion of the said frame or flue.
When fixing the fan into a hat, helmet or other head covering, the said frame or
flue is put in the place already indicated and the ends of the hollow studs of the
said air inlet chamber are passed through holes previously formed in the body of
the hat or other similar head covering.
The free ends of the hollow studs, which may either be formed with lips or a
thread, are then bent over or fastened to the frame or flue by means of a nut
whereby a simple, secure and rapid fixing of the ventilator to the hat, helmet or
other similar head covering is effected.
Instead of utilizing the said fastening (hollow studs) as a passage for the air from
the outside to the inside of a hat, helmet or other similar bead covering, separate
holes for the passage or inlet of air, and other separate means for fastening the air
inlet chamber and frame or flue to the body of the hat, may be used if found more
convenient.

page_text: Helmets, or other similar Head Coverings.
I, CHARLES POTTER of 47 Greek St. Stockport in the County of Cheshire Agent,
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:-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of and means for ventilating.
hats, helmets or other similar head coverings and has for its objects, firstly to
produce in such head coverings a better circulation of air than heretofore has been
the case, by mechanically and automatically drawing a cool current of air into
the lower part, and forcing or expelling the same through the ordinary eyelet
generally employed in the top of a hat, helmet or other similar head covering.
Secondly to give the wearer the greatest comfort.and ease by enabling him to
regulate the admittance or amount of cool air required.
Thirdly, to employ such means, in a manner that they will not be noticed much
and will not give the hat an unsightly appearance.
Fourthly, the employment of such means, which are not likely to get out of
order, which.can easily & rapidly be fixed to and changed from one hat or head
covering to another and which are not expensive.
And in order that this invention may be better understood I have caused to be
appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation and Fig. 2 a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is
a side view & Fig. 4, a vertical cross section of a ventilator constructed according
to my invention.
Fig. 5 a vertical section & Fig. 6 a side view of a silk hat showing the ventilator
fixed in position. Figs. 7 & 8 are enlarged, detached side views of the pendulum
mechanism and modification thereof.
Fig. 9 is a cross section of what is known as a “Tuson Helmet" and showing
the ventilator applied thereto.
Figs. 10 & 11 are front views & Figs. 12 & 13 vertical cross sections & Figs. 14,
15, 16, 19 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 & 28, detached views, cross sections & plans,
respectively, of the modification of my invention.
Figs. 17 and 18, are, a front view & vertical cross section respectively of the air
inlet chamber, suitable for helmets of Lancers & Dragoon Guards.
Fig. 25, is a sectional front view of an air inlet chamber with self-acting
fasteners.
My invention consists principally in the employment of a fan a at a suitable
place inside a bat or similar head covering.
This fan may be of any suitable form, preferably wing-shaped, see Figs. 2. 4. 7.
8. 14 and 15 rocking or oscillating on centres or a spindle b, and is caused to work
automatically through the slightest move of the head, by the employment of
levers, springs or other suitable means, preferably a pendulum c, imparting a to
and fro motion to the said fan a by each move of the head.
'
น
3

page_text: The said pendulum is suspended from a bracket b¹ either by passing the upper
end thereof through a hole formed in the bracket 61, see Figs. 2, 4, 7 or as shown
in Fig. 8 by forming the pendulum of flat spring steel and connecting its upper
end rigidly to the bracket b¹. The latter construction of pendulum has for its
object to ensure a working of the same in a slanting or inclined position and is
especially applicable when the fan is intended for helmets as seen in Fig. 9.
In order to obtain a to and fro motion of the fan a the same is formed with two
arms a reaching a suitable distance below its centre of oscillation or spindle' b to
which is attached a diagonal rod c¹ see Figs. 2. 4. 7 and 8, or which arms may be
formed into a bridge c³ having a diagonal slot c³ see Fig. 16 around or through
which the pendulum c passes respectively the lower end of the latter being
provided with a suitably shaped weight, thus causing the pendulum c to actuate
the fan a on the slightest move of the head.
For the purpose of producing a noiseless action of the pendulum I provide the
frame, flue, or casing, d, with buffers d² of soft material, or spring buffers of
'suitable construction at each side or end respectively in order to prevent the
pendulum striking the case, see Fig. 2. and to add to the lightness of the fan a
when made wing-shaped, and easy working, I form the same with a frame which
I fill up with some very light and stiff paper, a³, or other material.
In place of the diagonal rod c¹ or slot c³, the lower portion or bridge of the fan a
may be formed with one or more diagonal or curved recesses in which the
pendulum is arranged to work, thus imparting to the fan a an intermittent
motion.
The fan a and motion for actuating the same I fix into a frame, flue, or casing d,
which latter at its lower portion is formed with one or more air holes e, air
chamber and valve f being adjustable by means of the spring handle f¹ by
which latter the amount of air to be drawn through the hat, helmet or other
similar head covering can easily be regulated to a nicety.
The upper portion of the frame, flue or casing d I suitably perforate see Figs. 1
and 2 to permit the air drawn in to escape to the top or outlet of the hat, etc.
Instead of employing a wing-shaped fan to oscillate or rock on a horizontal
spindle or centres as described, the same may be arranged to work on a vertical
spindle or centres, see Figs. 14 & 15 and formed with a double wing, the pendulum
mechanism for working the same, being similarly arranged as described before, or
a rotary fan see Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13, may be employed within a frame, fluc
or casing & respectively.
The fan illustrated in Figs. 10 & 12 may be fixed to the front portion or on the
sides of the head covering, so as to receive the current of air through an eyelet or
bunch of parallel tubes see Figs. 20 & 21 by means of which & the assistance of
claw-like points see Fig. 12, the casing d is fastened to the hat & which conducts
the air against a cone m the latter distributing it so as to be easily caught by
the fan l.
The amount of air to be drawn in, can be likewise regulated from the inside, by
means of the knob m¹ and rotary disc valve m².
Opposite to the said air holes e and air chamber d¹, and outside the body of the
hat helmet or other similar head covering, see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6, I. employ
underneath the bow g see Figs. 5 & 6 of the ordinary band, an air inlet chamber h
This air inlet chamber corresponds in shape to that of the bow, or otherwise,
in order to make it invisible, and is formed, on the side next to the hat body, with
one or more studs h' corresponding in number and size to the holes e formed in the
lower portion of the said frame, flue or casing or air-chamber d.
When fixing the fan into a bat, helmet or other head covering, the frame, flue or
casing of the same is placed in the desired position & the ends of the hollow studs h
of the said air inlet chamber h are passed through holes previously formed in the
body of the hat or other similar head covering.
The free ends of the hollow studs h¹ which may either be formed with lips i see
Figs, 2 & 4 or thread, are then bent over, or fastened to the frame, flue or casing

page_text: by means of a nut; see dotted line Fig. 2, whereby a simple secure & rapid fixing
of the ventilator to the hat, helmet or other similar head covering is effected.
Instead of utilizing the said fastening (hollow studs) has a passage for the air
from the outside to the inside of a hat, helmet or other similar head covering,
separate holes for the passage or inlet of air, and other suitable means for fastening
the air inlet chamber, and frame, flue or. casing, to the body of the hat, etc, may be
used if found more convenient.
When applying the fan to helmets with the chain mail or other inside supports,
close fitting on the head, I find it more convenient to have the air inlet valve for
regulating the supply of air to be drawn into the helmet, arranged outside, and,
in the air inlet chamber thereof. Figs. 17 & 18 illustrate the arrangement for such
purpose. The face of the same being formed with two or more round or square or
other holes o respectively, behind, which is arranged to be slid up and down, a
slide n¹ being kept tight against the inside of the face of the air inlet h, and in
the required position by means of a spring c attached thereto and knob f¹ to
which the said slide n is attached respectively.
Fig. 26 represents a modification in the employment and action of the wing
shaped fan.
The wing a being attached to a spring e¹, which is suitably fastened
to the side or back of the flue, casing or frame d, and the free end of the wing
slightly weighed with sealing wax, or lead, etc, in order to cause the wing a to
vibrate on the movement of the head to the position indicated in dotted lines.
When desirable to stop the fan a from working I use a spring peg e² see Fig. 24,
by means of which I fasten the pendulum against the flue, casing or frame & see
Fig. 19 by putting the peg e' into a hole formed therein.
Figs. 27 and 28 show a fan which may be employed at the top or other places
in the hat, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The same has a double wing a fixed
to a horizontal spindle b rocking in the sides of the frame or casing d and having
also a pendulum c.
In order to prevent the fan from working, if found necessary, a small trough is
arranged in which the pendulum moves, and when turned and brought parallel to
the spindle b, impedes its motion.
In order to ensure a quick and self-acting fastening of the frame, flue or casing
of the fan, to the hat, etc, I form the hollow studs h¹, see Figs. 13 and 25, on the
lower portion or air chamber d of the frame, flue or casing d.
These hollow studs h¹ I form with a flange p and the inner side of the air inlet
chamber with a corresponding number of elongated holes p¹ the upper end of
the same being narrower and exactly the same in size as the diameter of the flange
of the said studs h¹, while the lower end is just large enough to permit the flange p
to enter into the air inlet chamber h.
In front of each side of the hole p' I fix a spring clip q which is formed to partly
surround the narrow part of the stud h¹ & to keep the frame, flue, or casing d in
position and when pushed downwards, will permit the same to be drawn out of the
lower or under portion of the holes p¹..
The fan is fixed to or removed from the head covering in the following manner.
These hollow studs on the back of the lower portion of the case are pressed
through holes in the hat. The self fastening inlet is then simply pressed down on
these flanged tube ends; and the spring curve of this inlet, firmly holds the two
together in the desired place. It is removed only by strong pressure upwards
under the bottom of the inlet outside.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
& in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim, is :-
First. The use & employment of a fan, for ventilating bats, helmets, or other
head coverings, working mechanically and automatically, on the slightest move of
the head taking place, substantially in the manner described and illustrated in the
drawing.

page_text: Second. The use & employment of either a wing-shaped or rotary, or other
suitably shaped fan, actuated by a pendulum spring or other medium or direct by
a current of air substantially as described & illustrated in the annexed drawing.
Third. The use and employment of a fan, as named in the preceding claims,
either with or without a frame or casing, fixed in any position to any portion of
the hat for the purpose specified.