An improvement in the Manufacture of Hats or Bonnets.
Year: 1885

page_text: An improvement in the Manufacture of Hats or Bonnets.
j
Patent:
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and C
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS
OR BONNETS to be as follows:-
"3
This invention relates to improvements in hats or bonnets for ladies, girls and
children. The external surfaces of the said hats or bonnets aro formed of Jersey
fabric applied and stretched over felt or other material the form of which may vary
according to fashion. It is known that this fabric which has meshes is made
in pieces.
In order to apply this fabric to a hat, the profile of which has often sharp and
irregular curves, I have recourse to a special method. The Jersey fabric by reason
of its structure adapts itself very readily to the inequalities in one or other direction
so that it can be applied exactly to the shape which serves to support it.
In carrying the said invention into practice I sometimes cut a piece of Jersey'
fabric of suitable shape to fit the hat.
The entire edge of the fabric is formed so as to prevent the said fabric from,
unravelling and to enable it to serve for the seam. A band is sewn to the lower
part of the shaped piece by a stitch which is an imitation of the meshes of the
Jersey fabric; care is taken in making this stitch to compress the upper meshes of
the band a little and to stretch slightly those at the lower portion of the shaped,
piece.
The hat of felt or other material being placed upon a shape or block of wood, the
cover of Jersey fabric is applied to it by stretching it regularly. Size is then
spread over the rim of the hat in order that the fabric shall be fastened to it in
such a manner that it is properly held upon the shape which serves to support it.
I can use Jersey fabric made of any suitable textile material, such as silk, wool,
cotton, or it may be made of mixed materials. The fabric may have a uniform
colour throughout or have designs formed upon it.
Dated thio 9th dor of Annil 199=
"

page_text: An Improvement in the Manufacture of Hats or Bonnets.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS OR
BONNETS" 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 improvements in hats or bonnets for ladies, girls and
children. The external surfaces of the said hats or bonnets are formed of Jersey
fabric applied and stretched, over felt or other material, the form of which may vary
according to fashion.
In order to apply this fabric, which has meshes, to a hat, the surface of which has
often sharp and irregular curves; I have recourse to the method hereinafter
described. The Jersey fabric, by reason of its structure, adapts itself very readily
to inequalities in one or other direction, so that it can be applied exactly to the
shape or body which serves to support it.
In the accompanying drawing
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are views showing the shapes of pieces of fabric with which
the hat shown in Figures 4 and 5 is covered.
Figures 4 and 5 are an elevation and plan of a hat constructed according to this
invention.
In covering a hat having the shape shown in Figure 4, I first cut a piece A of
Jersey fabric of the shape shown in Figure 1, and having at the upper part four
points a a aa. The entire edge of the piece A is chain stitched or otherwise
suitably formed so as to prevent the fabric from unravelling and to enable the said
edge to serve for the seam. I next cut a band or strip B of material, as shown in
Figure 2, which is sewn to the lower part of the piece A as shown in Figure 3 by a
stitch which is an imitation of the meshes of the Jersey. fabric.
Care must be taken in making this stitch to slightly compress the upper meshes
of the band B and to stretch slightly those at the lower portion of the piece A.
The extremities x x, y y are. next united by a continuous stitch; and the four
upper points aa aa are likewise connected by stitches, as shown in the finished
hat represented on a smaller scale in elevation Figure 4, and in plan in Figure 5.
In this manner a kind of cap or covering is formed which can, if desired, be so
finished that the seams will be quite invisible.
The hat of felt or other material being placed upon a block of wood or other
suitable substance the cover of Jersey is applied to it by stretching it regularly.
Size is then spread over the rim of the hat in order to fasten the fabric to it in
such a manner that it is properly held upon the shape which serves to support it.
Upon the top or crown of the hat the fabric assumes the form of a star, produced
by the converging seams of the points cut in the fabric.
I can use Jersey fabric. made of any suitable textile materials, such as silk, wool
or cotton, or it may be made of mixed materials. The fabric may also have a
uniform colour throughout or have designs formed upon it.
This invention is applicable to hats or bonnets of any style or shape.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is
The manufacture of a hat or bonnet comprising a covering of Jersey fabric
applied and fixed upon a shape or body of felt or other suitable material.
Deted this 90th dose of Ang 100% +