IMPROVEMENTS IN PROTECTORS FOR THE HEAD
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Lawes, of .32, City Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Feather Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROTECTORS FOR THE HEAD." -A communication.
Sealed the 10th October 1854, and dated the 15th April 1854
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Lawes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
April 1854.
I, THOMAS LAWES, of 32, City Road, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby.
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROTECTORS
FOR THE HEAD" to be as follows:-
The improvements in protectors for the head, communicated to me, refer. to
a helmet or cap to be worn by children, in order to protect the head and face
from blows and contusions, in case of falling or striking against any hard
substance. This helmet is constructed of an open wicker-work form, to be
worn in-doors, although it may be covered close for out-door wear. It
is made of an elastic material, such as whalebone, cane, or quills, and
consists of a padded hoop to encircle the head, from which the elastic protector
bulges outwards all round to a size considerably larger than the head, and
again contracts to a small hoop at the top. This helmet is tied on and
worn as a cap. It is obvious, that on the child falling, the elastic bulged
protector comes in contact with the ground, and prevents the head and face
being injured.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Lawes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th October 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
LAWES, Feather Merchant, of 32, City Road, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteentli day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
him, the said Thomas Lawes, Her special licence that he, the said Thomas
Lawes, his executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as he, the said
Thomas Lawes, his 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PROTECTORS FOR THE HEAD," the same being a communication, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that he, the said Thomas Lawes, by an instrument in
writing under his 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that he, the said Thomas Lawes, does hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The improved protector for the head is so called, in consequence of the
material composing the same being placed or formed in such a manner as to
protect a child's head from the effects of a fall or blow.
This improved protector for the head or child's cap may be either lined or
covered, or not, according to circumstances or fancy. The manner in which
it is made is as follows, viz., the body of the cap A, as shewn in the Drawing
herewith, is formed of cane, straw, basket-work, or other material, and is so made
or formed as to thoroughly guard the child's head from being injured by falls
or blows. This is effected by the central part of the body of the cap A being
made of a much larger diameter than the upper and lower parts, as shewn at B

page_text: and C, and consequently projecting beyond them. The rim B forms the crown
of cap, and is attached to the upper part of body of cap A. The rim Cis made
the size of child's head, and is attached to the under side of body of cap A.
The central projecting part A of the body of the cap, surrounding and being
of a much larger diameter than the head, forms a hollow space between the
said central part A and the head of the child, and thus becomes a safeguard
to break the effect of any fall or blow to which it may be liable. The rims B
and C may be made of cane, straw, or, other material, and should be covered
with silk, cotton, or other material, interlined with wading or other pading.
The part D is the lining of the upper part of cap, with string case to regulate
the size. The bands E, forming the upper part, and terminating at the
button F, are of silk, cotton, or other material.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Lawes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
day of
in the year of our Lord
THOMAS (L.S.) LAWES.
The best and cheapest material hitherto found for making the basket-work
surrounding and guarding the head, as shewn at A in the Drawing, consists of
the quilly parts of feathers prepared for that
purpose.
THOMAS LAWES (ra)
THOMAS LAWES (1)