Improvements in Crush-hats.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
Improvements in Crush-hats.
A communication from RICHARD LANGHAMMER, Hatter, of Magdeburg, in the
Empire of Germany.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent 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 :-
According to the mode of construction adopted hitherto in every mechanical
device for a crush-hat the setting or straining of the material between the crown
and brim and the fixing the crown in the open position, is secured by the pressure
of springs; whereas in this improved device which may be called spring-less, the
springs which are indispensable in the case referred to, find no place. The hat is
not opened by the sudden and violent reaction of relaxed springs but simply and
quietly by hand; the opening and fixing being effected by the stretching action,
on the jointed or knuckle-levers which are fixed to crown and brim, of sliding rods
thrust outwards over their dead points. The essential advantage of this new
invention over the spring mechanism is that there is no possibility of the mechanism
failing to act; further the annoyance of opening and closing and the effort required
therefor are materially diminished; and in particular the catches and hitches
between the mechanism and the hat-frame that so frequently occur from the violent
and sudden expansive action of the strong springs straining unduly the various
parts is for the most part if not entirely obviated.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention,
Figure 1 being an interior view of a crush-hat, without the lining, in the closed
position of the mechanism;
Fig. 2 a similar view with the mechanism in the open position;
Fig. 3 a vertical longitudinal section of Fig. 2; and
Fig. 4 a similar section of Figure 1.
9
which
In the drawings a a are knuckle-levers which at k and d respectively are jointed
to the ring of the hat-frame at crown and brim, and by their tension when open
serve to distend the hat-cover M. To the upper arms of these jointed levers are
fixed by means of the cross-links & the sliding rods c which are secured tangentially
in link-fashion to the crank-disc e at distances of 90° apart. This disc e admits of
being turned round to the extent of about 90° by means of a lever-handle
projects inwards through the crown of the hat-lining not shown on the drawings.
This quarter revolution being effected i.e. from the position of the parts shown in
Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 2, the sliding rods c pivotting at bare thereby
caused to move radially outwards and as c is attached to the knuckle-lever a with
its pivotting points d and k the said lever a is extended so that its working length
is increased, moving d and k apart, and thus distending the hat-cover M. When
the sliding rod c is turned so as to pass its dead point on the radial line of the
crank-disc, where its further and retrogressive motion would commence its progress
is arrested by the bow h, or by any other convenient and suitable means. At this
point it is brought to a dead stop, and no automatic return movement is possible, so
that the entire mechanism is therefore locked in the open position shown in Fig. 3.
In order to close the hat it is necessary to turn the crank-disc e by handle round
in the opposite direction, when the tension is relieved and the crown and brim
collapse upon the handle g.
On the central hinge or joint of the knuckle-lever a may be placed a small
coiled spring n acting in opposition to the extension movement of the sliding bars c
but the only object to be gained thereby is to retain the mechanism in the closed

page_text: position (Fig. 4) and prevent any sudden and unexpected expansion, otherwise than
expressly and by means of the handle g.
The crank-dise e for the sake of lightness is made of an open circular plate with
segmental openings between radial arms which may be sewn on to the crown of the
hat or otherwise suitably fastened thereto.
Herein, as well as in many other details, modifications can be made in the parts
without affecting the principle of the invention.
'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and. in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. Mechanism for crush-hats whereby the expansion and securing of the hat
when open is effected by means of knuckle levers such as a fixed to the brim and
crown of the hat-frame in combination with sliding rods c attached thereto and a
crank-disc e turned by a handle g whereby the sliding rods c are thrust radially
outwards and made secure by being pushed beyond their dead points on the crank
disc substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete crush-
hat mechanism substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 14th day of November 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.