IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF GARMENTS OR OVERALLS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Fagg and Jesse Fagg, both of No. 29,
Haymarket, in the County of Middlesex, Boot Makers, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF
GARMENTS OR OVERALLS."
Sealed the 16th November 1869, and dated the 18th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Fagg and
Jesse Fagg at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 18th May 1869.
We, THOMAS FAGG and JESSE FAGG, both of No. 29, Haymarket, in
the County of Middlesex, Boot Makers, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATER-
PROOF GARMENTS OR OVERALLS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of
waterproof garments of various descriptions, whether intended to cover
the body entirely or in part, the object being to provide a means of
ventilation, whereby the escape of heated air and moisture will be effected,
and a current of cool air be admitted.
At present in the use of waterproof garments such as overalls, or
over coats more especially, great inconvenience is experienced from the

page_text: want of escape of the natural moisture exuded from the body in the
form of perspiration, and thus an objection exists to the wear of such
garments.
Now by our Invention we obviate this disadvantage by the application
to the garments of a series of elastic tubes of vulcanized india-rubber or
other material of a suflicient thickness and strength to resist any ordinary
compression, but still of sufficient clasticity to yield freely to the move-
ments of the wearer. These tubes are attached to the interior of the
garments by strips, bands, or coverings, coated with adhesive solution,
or they may be attached by other means.
In the case of waterproof trowsers, including coverings for the feet,
two or more tubes may be attached within the back and front of the
garment at the waist and continued to the fork or leg, or even to the
parts covering the feet, the result being that the heated and moistened
air will ascend through the tubes, and that cool dry fresh air will descend,
and therefore maintain comfort to the wearer, after the manner of
ordinary garments, where from the texture of the fabric the perspiration
is allowed to escape.
In applying the tubes to overalls and overcoats various positions may
be determined, for example, the tubes may extend from the waist to the
sides of the collar, or they may be arranged in an oblique line or curve
from the waist to the breast under the button flaps, so as to be free from
the effects of rain. In the arms of the garment the tubos may be
applied and continued to the breast with the same result, and in those
garments which completely cover the body to the neck of the wearer
the tubes may be conducted from the neck downwards, to various positions
in the garment. The tubes may be semicircular or half round with
branches and perforations on their flat surfaces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Fagg and Jesso Fagg in the Great Seal 30
Patent Office on the 18th November 1869.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, tho said Thomas Fagg and Jesse Fagg, Her special licence
that we, the said Thomas Fagg and Jesse Fagg, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Fagg and
Jesse Fagg, our 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 "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF GARMENTS OR OVERALLS," upon
thic condition (amongst others) that we, the said Thomas Fagg and
Jesse Fagg, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, 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 Thomas Fagg, do hereby declaro
the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacturo
of waterproof garments of various descriptions, whether intended to
cover the body entirely or in part, the object being to provide a means
of ventillation, whereby the escape of heated air and moisture will be
effected, and a current of cool air be admitted.
At present in the use of waterproof garments, such as overalls or
overcoats more especially, great inconvenience is experienced from the
want of escape of the natural moisture exuded from the body in the form
of perspiration, and thus an objection exists to the wear of such garments.
. Now by our Inventionn we obviate this disadvantage by the appli-
cation to the garments of a series of elastic tubes of vulcanized india-
rubber or other material of a sufficient thickness and strength to resist
any ordinary compression, but still of sufficient clasticity to yield
freely to the movements of the wearer. These tubes are attached

page_text: to the interior of the garments by strips, bands, or coverings, coated
with adhesive solution, or they may be attached by other nieans.
In applying the Invention to waterproof trowsers, including coverings
for the feet, two or more tubes may be attached within the back and
front of the garment at the waist and continued to the fork or leg, or
even to the parts covering the feet, the result being that the heated
and moistened air will ascend through the tubes, and that cool dry fresh
air will descend, and therefore maintain comfort to the wearer, after
the manner of ordinary garments, where from the texture of the fabric
the perspiration is allowed to escape.
In applying the tubes to overalls and overcoats various positions may
be determined, for example, the tubes may extend from the waist to
the sides of the collar, or they may be arranged in an oblique line or
curve from the waist to the breast under the button flaps, so as to be
free from the effects of rain. In the arms of the garment the tubes
may be applied and continued to the breast with the same result, and
in those garments which completely cover the body to the neck of the
wearer the tubes may be conducted from the neck downwards to various
positions in the garment. The tubes may be semicircular or half round
with branches and perforations on their flat surface.
In order that our said Invention may be completely understood we
annex the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents an inside
view of an overcoat with the tubes applied, Fig. 2 being an outside
view of the front, and Fig. 3 a similar view of the back.
The tubes are here shewn arranged in the most convenient manner,
those applied to the neck being in the form of broad rings made by a
continuous band or length of rubber gathered into folds, thus main-1
taining a space between the collar and the neck of the under garment
for the escape of heated air and moisture. The main tubes consist
either of .hollow cylinders of india-rubber, fixed to the garment by an
overlapping hand and by adhesive waterproof solution, or of flat
sheets or strips gathered up into folds to form tules, and then caused to
adhere to the garment; the backs of the tubes are perforated with a
series of small holes, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for the escape of air
and moisture; or if the flat strips are used and gathered up into folds a
second strip may form tho back and be perforated with holes in like
manner. Either plan may be adopted as most convenient.
In Fig, 1, a is a tube attached to the middle of the back of the

page_text: overcoat, the branch tubes b, b, communicating therewith, all being
secured by the overlapping fabric c and by india-rubber solution. The
branch tubes are composed of flat strips of caoutchouc 6', on which the
pieces are made to adhere, presenting round surfaces on a flat baso,
the whole being cemented by solution to the garment. The tube a is
perforated on tho outside of the garment with a number of ventilating
apertures, as shewn in Fig. 2, so that the heated air and moisture may
escape from the interior of the garment. The ventilation of the chest,
shoulders, and arm pits is shewn by the main tubes d, d, passing from
cach side of the chest over the arms and down behind the shoulders;
these tubes receive a number of branches e, e, conducting the heated
air to the main tubes, which are perforated in like manner to the tube a
on the outside of the garment, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3. is the
collar ventilator, consisting of a flat strip of caoutchouc, on which a
second strip is made to adhere, the same being gathered into folds,
and the bottom of each fold being attached to the flat strip, which
is fastened to the inside of the collar by adhesive solution or otherwise.
Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the collar ventilator detached from the
coat, and shewing the arrangement of tubes or outlets, which not only
act as a perfect means of escape of air, but keep the garment itself free
from actual contact with the under coat, thus aiding the current of
air. So also with all the other tubes and branches, while affording
channels for the flow of heated air and moisture, they preserve a space
between those parts of the garment and the undercoat, which is most
important to aid their effectual operation.
It will be observed in the outside views that the body of the
garment is made in the first instance with suitable open spaces, to
which the main tubes are applied on the interior surface, and thus the
apertures in the tubes become freely exposed to the external air.
The application of the Invention to trowsers, leggings, or other
descriptions of garments to include the feet, will be comprehended
from the example given, the principle being the same in all cases.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, we would remark in con-
clusion that we do not limit ourselves to the exact arrangement of tubes
and branches which we have shewn, as the same may obviously be varied
in many ways according as taste or experience may suggest, for instance,
instead of the branches descending obliquely into the back or other

page_text: main tube, they may ascend thereto, or be attached in a horizontal
position; but what we claim and desire, to be secured to us by the
herein in part recited Letters Patent is, the application to waterproof
garments or overalls of a series of tubes and branches in connection
with apertures formed thereon for the purpose of ventilating such
garments, and freeing them from heated air and moisture while being
worn, substantially in the manner herein specified and shown by the
Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Fagg, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
THOMAS FAGG. (L.S.)