Im- PROVEMENTS IN HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Knox Stuart, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Surgeon, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD."
Sealed, the 20th October 1853, and dated the 7th July, 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Knox Stuart
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th July 1853.
I, JOHN KNOX STUART, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of tho said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD" to be
as follows:--
This Invention relates to the construction of hats in such manner
that perfect ventilation may be secured therein whilst being worn. The
main body of the hat is constructed in the ordinary manner, except that
the upper part is removed, or the crown left off. Over this open top is
placed a crown piece of slightly larger diameter than the lower body
part. This top piece has a solid crown of the usual kind, and its open
end is entered a short distance over the open upper end of the body,

page_text: being supported thereon by pins or other holding picces, so as to leave
a narrow angular space all round between the contiguous junction
surfaces. In this way a clear space is left for ventilation. To stiffen
the rims, metal wire may be wound round the interior surfaces; and to
enable the wearer to adjust the extent of opening, slide pieces may be
fixed to allow the separate cover or crown piece to slide up or down,
accordingly as more or less ventilating area is required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Knox Stuart in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 7th January 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN KNOX STUART, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Surgeon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Knox Stuart, Her special
licence that I, the said John Knox Stuart, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigus, or such others as I, the said John Knox Stuart,
my executors, administrators, or 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 HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Knox Stuart, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said John Knox Stuart, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say:
My said Invention relates to the construction of hats in such manner
that perfect ventilation may be secured therein whilst being worn. The
main body of the hat is constructed in the ordinary manner, except that
the upper part is removed, or the crown left off. Over this open top is
placed a crown piece of slightly larger diameter than the lower body
part. This top piece has a solid crown of the usual kind, and its open
end is entered a short distance over the open upper end of the body,
being supported thercon by pins or other holding pieces, so as to leave
a narrow annular space all round between the contiguous junction
surfaces. In this way a clear space is left for ventilation. To stiffen
the rims, metal wire may be wound round the interior surfaces; and to
enable the wearer to adjust the extent of opening, slide pieces may be
fixed to allow the separate cover or crown piece to slide up or down,
accordingly as more or less ventilating area is required. And in order
that my said Invention may be properly understood I shall now proceed
to describe various applications of it as represented on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto attached. Figure 1, on the Sheet of Drawings is
a side elevation, and Figure 2, is a vertical section of a hat as
ordinarily constructed, except in as far as regards the application to it
of my Invention. Figures 3, and 4, are perspective views of two
varieties of caps, shewing the manner of adapting the same contrivance
to them. Figures 5, and 6, are vertical sections to correspond to
Figures 3, and 4. Figures 7, and 8, are side elevations, partially in
section, of a military helmet and hat also fitted with my ventilating
arrangement; and Figures 9, and 10, are vertical sections of a portion
of an ordinary hat, shewing additional modifications of my Invention.
In the arrangement represented in Figures 1, and 2, the body A, of the
hat is made in the usual manner, except that the crown is not in the
same piece with it, a narrow annular turn in piece being employed, as

page_text: at B. This turn in piece serves for the attachment of the actual
crown C, of the hat, which rests upon it. The crown C, is made of a
diameter slightly larger than that of the top of the cylindrical portion
.A, of the hat, and it is formed with a descending ring or fillet D,
surrounding the top of the body of the hat, and made of such dimen-
sions as to leave an annular air space between itself and the hat
body. Where covered by this fillet or cylinder the body A, of the hat
has a number of perforations E, thus affording an efficient means
of ventilation, whilst the external fillet or cylinder D, acts as a defence
from the weather. The arrangement just described is shewn as
applied to a cap of neat shape in Figures, 3, and 5. Here the
fillet D, is made with an ornamental undulating outline below. It
is obvious that this fillet may be made of any ornamental form or
design or depth, whether as regards the mere outline of its edges or the
mould and general shape, so long as the annular ventilating air space
is retained between it and the body of the hat. In Figures 4, and 6,
is shewn a neat form of summer cap. Here the body of the cap, which
is made in a separate piece from the crown, consists of a light frame-
work A, of whalebone, wire, cane, or other suitable material. This is
covered externally with oilskin, white linen, as is customary in tropical
climates, or of any material to suit the fancy of the wearer, and it is lined
in the usual manner. The vertical pieces of the framing are turned
over at the top, as at B, and connected by a circular piece of cane or
whalebone to act as a support to the crown piece C. This crown
simply consists of a piece of the external material of the cap stretched
upon a light frame, and having a descending fillet D, all round a little
larger than the body of the cap, and fitting upon the bent over pieces
of the cap body framing. The frame A, of the cap body extends above
the line of the covering which is at E, so that a free.communication is
made with the atmosphere through the space between the body covering
at E, and the crown C, and between the fillet D, and the body of the
cap. By this means a remarkably light cap is produced, in which a
perfect ventilation is secured, and which will consequently be peculiarly
suited for hot climates. In Figure 7, a military helmet is shewn, con-
structed on the principles of my Invention. In this case the shape of the

page_text: helmet admits of a very simple arrangement. The body of the helmet
is in two pieces, the lower one A, terminating at B, short of the top;
the other piece C, although a continuation of the same general form
as the lower part, is made of somewhat larger dimensions, so as to over-
lap the latter, descending as low as D. This upper covering piece C,
does not rest directly upon the lower part A, but is connected to it by
pins E; which keep the two portions of the helmet at short distances
asunder, thereby providing a free ventilating air space all round, as in
the applications already described. In the military hat represented in
Figure 8, the ventilating contrivance is precisely the same as that
described in reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5. In Figure 9, is
represented a modification capable of application to all the varieties
of head coverings already described. Here the hat body A, is made
to turn inwards at B, so as to form a narrow annular step; it is then
turned upwards again to form the cylindrical fillet C. It is finally
turned in at D, to form a ledge for the attachment of the crown E.
In this case the crown E, is made of precisely the same dimensions
that it would be in an ordinary liat, and the descending fillet piece F,
corresponds to a narrow section of the upper cylindrical portion of such
hat, and forms the continuation of the outline of the body A. Ac-
cording to this arrangement an annular space G, is left between the
inner cylindrical fillet C, and the outer one F. The inner one C, has
a series of perforations H, affording a means of communication between
the interior of the hat and the annular space G, which last communi-
cates with the external atmosphere by a narrow slit or space I, all
round between the bottom edge of the external fillet F, and the corner
B, of the hat body. The object of this contrivance is to do away with
the protruding of the fillet F, marked D, in Figures 1, to 8, beyond
the ordinary outline of the hat. In Figure 10, is represented an
additional modification likewise applicable to the foregoing varieties, and
comprehending a contrivance for regulating the amount of ventilation.
According to this modification the crown A, of the hat is secured to
the body B, by small screw staples C; held by brackets in the sides of
the hat body, so that by turning the screws the crown may be raised or
.lowered at 'pleasure. This Figure 10, also represents the hat as made

page_text: with a double crown, the inner crown D, being formed in one piece
with the body B; this inner crown is shewn perforated, and the ven-
tilation through these perforations is regulated by the height of the
crown A, above it, and they may be entirely closed by screwing the
crown A; close down upon the inner crown D. Perforations are
also represented in the top sides of the hat body B. These lateral
perforations may be used in combination with the perforated inner
crown D, or not, as may be deemed suitable. I may also remark, that
in Figures 2, 8, and 10, I have shewn only one row of lateral perfora-
tions, whilst in Figures 5, and 9, two such rows are represented; but
I do not confine myself to either plan, as the perforations may be
arranged in many ways, and may be varied in number, as may seem
fit to the maker. It is also obvious that the inner crown, as at D, in
Figure 10, may be dispensed with, as well as the lateral perforations,
the external crown A, being attached to the body B, either by adjust-
able screw staples, as at C, or by simple pins, in such a manner as to
leave an air passage all round over the edge of the body B, and down
between it and the outer fillet E. I may also further remark, that I do
not confine myself to any particular depth of fillet depending from the
crown, and I would in some cases carry this fillet down to within
a very short distance from the bottom brim of the hat, the fillet, in fact,
being in such a casc converted into a double or outer hat body, and in
all cases the perforations in the inner hat body may be carried down or
not to the bottom of the outer body or fillet. According to this last-
mentioned plan, the hat will in appearance differ very slightly, if at all,
from an ordinary hat, being simply a little larger in size. I also pro-
pose in some cases to make hats or other coverings for the head in the
manner described, with the crown in a separate overlapping piece, but
without any air space or perforations for ventilation, as this method is
an improvement in the construction of some descriptions of head
covering, independently of the facility it affords in obtaining a means
of ventilation.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine

page_text: or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of my
Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of hats and other
coverings for the head, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of constructing hats and other head
coverings with top descending fillets or rims, leaving free or partially
open annular spaces for ventilation.
Third, the system or mode of constructing head coverings with
separate crown or top pieces for the purposes herein-before described.
Fourth, the application and use of wire cloth or other permeable
material between the top of the internal hat cylinder and the crown, as
well as for covering the ventilating openings.
Fifth, the application and use of detached or separate crowns or top
pieces made flush with the main cylinder.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Knox Stuart, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
JOHN KNOX STUART, Surgeon. (L.S.)