Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 31st Dec., 1888
I, THOMAS WEBB, of Waterloo Road, Stockport, in the County of Chester, Manufac-
turer, (in part a communication to me from abroad by Thomas W. Bracher, of New
York, U.S.A. Manufacturer,) do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
-
This invention relates to that class of sweat bands which are provided with a spring
or reed or flexible backing to retain the distended or flaring edge of the band in
position.
Its object is to provide for the stitching on of the spring or reed so as to present a
more finished appearance to the work when finished. In the manner hitherto adopted
of attaching the reed to the leather with a lock stitch the stitch proceeds from the
innerside of the leather to the outer side making a puncture in the leather with a more
or less broken appearance on the outside or face whereas by the combinations which
form the subject of this invention the stitch proceeds from the front or outer side to
the back or inner side leaving a clear puncture on the front.
It consists of a sweat band having the spring reed or a flexible backing secured in
position by binding stitches of which the threads have their interlocked portion at the
extreme edge of the sweat band (or of the reed if placed at the edge of the band) so
as to largely cover the said edge the stitches passing through the leather from the
front to the back.
The invention is applicable to the several varieties of sweat bands of the type or
class above referred to such as these (a) which have the reed or spring placed at the
inner or under side near the edge, (b) which have the spring or reed placed directly
on the raw edge and there secured, (c) which have a flexible backing placed along the
inside of the said band, (d) which have a flexible strip or spring placed on the front
or wearing side of the band, (e) which have a flexible strip on the front or wearing
side and a spring along the edge of the band, (f) which have the spring or reed
covered by a soft or flexible material placed in any of the above mentioned positions.
It will be sufficient to describe the invention as applied to the case where the reed
or spring is placed on the inner side of the sweat band. The spring or reed is retained

page_text: in position by a series of binding stitches formed by means of two threads, thread x
and thread y. The thread x is passed and repassed through holes in the sweat band
from the outer to the inner side so that an immitation of hand lashing stitches is formed
on the face of the band while on the back or inner side the thread follows a zig zag
course. The thread y is interlaced or locked with the thread but runs along the raw
edge of the band, when the stitches are drawn tight the interlocking portions of the
two threads are situated over the outer edge of the sweat band or nearly so and
practically cover or conceal said edge. At the same time they form a convenient
medium for securing the sweat band to the hat.
From this explanation it will be seen that in addition to presenting a neater and
more finished appearance to the outer side or front of spring edge or flexible backed
leathers, it serves three distinct purposes first to cover the raw edges of the sweat band
by having the interlocking portions of the threads placed thereon; second to form a
medium for securing the sweat band to the hat and third to bind the spring or reed to
the surface of the sweat band.
In the other varieties of sweat band hereinbefore enumerated the interlocking stitches
such as hereinbefore described of the threads . y. form a binding or covering for the
uppermost part either of the single material or of the joint formed by the two and
serves the purposes already stated.
It will be understood that the spring or reed and the flexible backing have both
been used in sweat bands secured by other manner of stitchings so also has a locked or
intertwining stitch but without the combination of any secured material and in
themselves therefor form no part of this invention.
Dated this 24th Tahu…………. 1000

page_text: I, THOMAS WEBB, of Waterloo Road, Stockport, in the County of Chester, Manu-
facturer, (in part a communication to me from abroad by Thomas W. Bracher, of New
York, U.S.A., Manufacturer,) 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of sweat bands which are provided with a spring
or reed or flexible backing to retain the distended or flaring edge of the band in
position.
Its object is to provide for the stitching on of the spring or reed so as to present a
more finished appearance of the work when finished. In the manner hitherto adopted
of attaching the reed to the leather with a lock stitch, the stitch proceeds from the
inner side of the leather to the outer side making a puncture in the leather with a
more or less broken appearance on the outside or face, whereas by the combinations
which form the subject of this invention, the stitch proceeds from the front or outer
side to the back or inner side leaving a clear puncture on the front.
It consists essentially of a sweat band having the spring reed or a flexible backing
secured in position by binding stitches of which the threads have their interlocked
portion at the extreme edge of the sweat band (or of the reed if placed at the edge of
the band) so as to largely cover the said edge, the stitches passing through the leather
from the front to the back.
The invention is applicable to the several varieties of sweat bands of the type or
class above referred to, such as these :-(a) which have the reed or spring placed at the
inner or under side near the edge, (b) which have the spring or reed placed directly
on the raw edge and there secured, (c) which have a flexible backing placed along the
inside of the said band, (d) which have a flexible strip or spring placed on the front or
wearing side of the band, (e) which have a flexible strip on the front or wearing side
and a spring along the edge of the band, (ƒ) which have the spring or reed covered
by a soft or flexible material placed in any of the above mentioned positions.
The invention is fally set forth in the annexed drawings.
Referring to Figs. 1-5 a sweat band is shown having a reed or spring on its under
side near the edge, secured in position by binding-stitches. The binding-threads have
their interlocked portion at the extreme edge of the sweat-band, so as to cover said
edge and provide a means for conveniently securing the sweat-band in the hat or cap.
In these Fig. 1 is a face view.
Fig. 2 a rear view.
Fig. 3 top edge view.
Fig. 4 enlarged view of stitch.
Fig. 5 section of portion of hat and sweat band.
A is the sweat band either for hat or cap. B the spring or reed, the object of
which is to retain the distended or flaring edge of the sweat band in position.
The spring or reed B is placed on the inner side of the sweat band and is retained
in position by a series of stitches formed of two or more threads. As shown
throughout the drawings the binding stitches are formed by two threads a and b,
the thread a being passed and repassed through the holes c in the sweat-band in
such a manner that they form an imitation of handlashing stitches on the face of

page_text: he sweat-band (see Fig. 1,) while on the back or inner side said thread a follows
a zig-zag course as seen in Fig. 2. The thread 6 is interlaced with the thread a
in the manner shown in Fig. 4, and if the stitches are drawn tight the interlocking
portions of the two threads are situated over the outer edge of the sweat-band, or
nearly so, (see Fig. 3,) so that they practically conceal said edge, and at the
same time they form a very convenient medium for securing the sweat-band to
the hat.
From the foregoing it will be seen that in addition to presenting a neater and
more finished appearance to the outside or front of spring edge or flexible backed
leathers, the threads forming the stitches serve three distinct purposes :-(1) to cover
the raw edge of the sweat-band by having the interlocking portions of the threads
placed thereon, (2) to form a medium for securing the sweat-band to the hat, and (3) to
bind the spring or reed to the surface of the sweat-band.
In this sweat-band the spring, being on the inner side of the sweat-band, is
concealed, and when the sweat-band is secured in a hat or cap said spring is not liable
to produce a mark on the forehead of the person wearing the article.
In Figs. 6 to 10, a sweat-band is shown having the spring or reed placed
directly on the raw edge thereof, with one of the stitching threads running along
the outer edge of said spring and the other thread passing through the sweat-hand and
interlocking with the other thread along the edge of the spring, thereby holding said
reed securely on the raw edge of the band.
Fig. 6, represents a face view of a portion of the sweat-band.
Fig. 7, is an edge view of the same.
Fig. 8, is a perspective view of the band.
Fig. 9, is a cross section.
Fig. 10, is a similar view to fig. 9, showing a covering for the spring.
The spring or reed is placed directly upon the raw edge d, of the band A, as
clearly shown, and it is held in position on said raw edge by binding threads a, b,
as shown. The thread a runs along the spring B, and the thread b, passes through
the band and over the spring and interlocks with the thread a on the spring B, as
above described.
When these stitches are drawn tight they securely hold the spring B, upon the raw
edge of the band A. This spring B, thus covers the entire raw edge d, of the
band, and being securely attached to the band A, forms a substantial protector for said
raw edge and spring combined.
Said spring will not be uncomfortable to the wearer because it is practically
lush with the wearing face of the band, and therefore will not produce uneven pressure
pon the head.
The spring B, may be covered with a piece of fabric if so desired as indicated
in Fig. 10.
In Figs. 11 and 12 is shown a sweat-band having a flexible backing placed along
its raw edge, one thread of the stitching running along the joint of said backing
and said sweat-band and the other thread passing through the band and backing and
interlocking with the thread.
Fig. 11, is a view of the back of sweat-band.
Fig. 12, is a cross section on the line c, c, of fig. 11.
A flexible backing or slip B, is placed along the raw edge of the sweat-band and on
the inner side thereof. This flexible backing B, is retained in position along the raw
edge of the band A, by stitches formed by the threads a, b. The thread a, runs along
the joint of the band A, with the backing B, and the thread b, passes through the
band A, through the flexible backing or slip B, and interlocks with the thread a, along
the joint of A and B. The raw edge of the band A, may be beveled as in fig. 2, if
preferred. When the threads a, b, are drawn tight they securely bind the backing B,
on the raw edge of the band.
By passing the thread a, along the joint of A, and B, said joint is covered by
interlocked stitches which materially strengthen the sweat-band. This backing or
slip B, will be used as a medium for fastening the sweat-band in the hat.

page_text: This flexible backing or slip being placed on the raw edge of the band not only
covers said edge but a soft edged sweat-band is produced which will be found very
comfortable to the wearer.
In Figs. 13 and 14 the sweat-band shown has on its wearing side near its edge a
flexible strip held in place by stitches that bind the edge of the band.
This flexible strip will act to slightly stiffen the edge of the band and also to
ornament it.
Fig. 13, is a face view of a portion of the sweat-band.
Fig. 14, is a cross section on the line c, c, fig. 13 drawn on an exaggerated
scale.
A strip of flexible material B is placed along the wearing side of the band A,
and near its edge as shown. By "wearing side" is meant the side of the band
that rests against the head of the wearer. I preferably use flexible strips B, of
straw or other substance that contrast in colour to the band A, by which means the
band A, is ornamented. The flexible strip B, is held in position on the band A,
by means of stitches a and b which pass through the band A, over the edge of
said strip B, and over the edge of the band A, thereby binding the edge of the
strip B, and of said band.
Ι may also place on or near the raw edge of the band A a spring or reed D, which
is held in place thereon by the stitches a and b.
Although this strip B, is flexible it will nevertheless act to somewhat stiffen the edge
of the band. By making the strip B, thin and flat as shown it will present a smooth
wearing surface to the head.
It will be understood that the spring or reed and the flexible backing have both
been used in sweat bands secured by other manner of stitchings, so also has a
locked or intertwining stitch, but without the combination of any secured material,
and these separate parts in themselves therefor, form no part of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A sweat-band for hats and caps, having a thread, b, running along and covering
the raw edge thereof, a spring secured directly to said band near the edge by
thread a, passing through the band and over the edge thereof and interlocking with
the thread b, whereby a continuous protecting-cover is formed for the raw edge of
said band, substantially as described with reference to figs. 1 to 5.
2. A sweat-band having a spring B, placed directly on the raw edge thereof, a
thread a, running along said spring and a thread 6, passing through the band
and over the spring and interlocking with the thread a, as described with reference
to figs. 6 to 10.
3. A soft edge sweat-band having a flexible backing or slip B, placed along the
raw edge thereof, a thread a, running along the joint of said backing B, and said
sweat-band, and a thread b, passing through the band and through the slip or
backing B, and interlocking with the thread a, substantially as described with reference
to figs. 11 and 12.
4. A sweat-band having on its face or wearing side 6, near its edge a flexible strip B,
held in place by the stitches a and b, that bind the edge of said sweat band as described
and shown in figs. 13 and 14.
Dated this 7th day of October 1888
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.