Improvements in the Fitting and Ventilation of Hats, Helmets, and Caps.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left. 12th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Fitting and Ventilation of Hats, Helmets,
and Caps.
I, JAMES ROWE WILLOUGHBY, of 279, Tooley Street, Southwark, in the County
of Surrey, Hatter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to my invention the hat must be made larger than an ordinary close
fitting one so that a space is provided for flat springs to be placed at the sides,
forming a flexible band which holds the head with a soft and yielding pressure, and
by these means about three fourths of the circumference of the head and hat only
come in close contact. The forehead is not touched by the lining of the hat when
this is in position upon the head, and a clear space is left for ventilation. The
springs referred to are composed of slips of steel backed by three or more pieces of
india rubber tubing which become flattened when the hat is placed upon the head,
and form an elastic and well fitting band.
Datod this 19th day of May 1890.
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Fitting and Ventilation of Hats, Helmets,
and Caps.
I, JAMES ROWE WILLOUGHBY, of 279, Tooley Street, Southwark, in the County
of Surrey, Hatter, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in the fitting of hats, helmets and caps, in
order to provide better ventilation, and to afford assistance in retaining the same
firmly upon the head in boisterous weather, without marking, or indenting the
forehead by the pressure therefrom, as is the case with such articles of dress hitherto
made and used.
In order that my invention and the manner of carrying the same into effect may
be clearly understood, I have appended the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the types of elastic attachments forming the
subject of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a second method of arranging said elastic attachment, and
Fig. 4 is a side view of same.
Fig. 5 is a view of a hat as viewed internally from the brim, illustrating the
position of my attachments thereto and therein.
Fig. 6 is a vertical section of part of a silk or other like shaped hat, further
illustrating Fig. 5.
According to my invention, the hat, helmet, or cap, intended to be fitted with my
improvements must be made slightly larger than an ordinary close fitting one, so
that a space may exist between the forehead of the wearer and the lining of the
hat, helmet, or cap, large enough to permit the passage of a thin substance there
between, such for instance as a piece of cardboard, and to attain the maintenance of
such a space, I provide a piece of thin elastic metal A, upon which I fasten by
means of any suitable cement, or solution or by sewing to silk, or other like
material, previously placed around A, a series of short india rubber tubes B, placed
רנ

page_text: side by side, and at an equal distance apart, for a certain distance along one of the
flat sides of A, as shewn by Figs. 1 and 2. Two of the appliances formed by the
junction of A and B, are fastened by means of suitable cement, or solution or by
that of sewing within the hat, helmet, or cap C, under the lining thereof D, so that
the metallic part A is next the body of C, and B presented towards the head of the
wearer or rice versa as may be desired, and divided therefrom by the aforesaid
lining D.
The position within the hat, helmet or cap C in which I place the
appliances A. B. is that technically known as the "front shoulder" and two pieces
of one of the types adopted by me with the substance B presented to the head of
the wearer are shewn in position within C at Fig. 5, and one such appliance similarly
arranged within the sectional view of C Fig. 6, the lining D being in both cases
partly removed to shew the position of A. B.
Or I may arrange the india rubber B
so as to be in one piece, moulded or otherwise formed so as to present a number of
elastic edges towards the head of the wearer or towards the body C as may be
desired and fixed by means of suitable cement upon silk, or other textile fabric,
instead of metal. Such an a rangement is shewn at Figs. 2 and 3, in which A is
the silk, or other like fabric, and the india rubber. By this means I am enabled
to dispense with the use of cement or solution for attaching A to C as in the
previous method, and in lien thereof. I sew A to C with B presented to the wearer
or the body C as may be desired at the inside edge of the junction of the rim and
the body of the hat, previous to sewing in the lining D.
It will be understood that by placing the flexible appliances described within the
hat; helmet, or cap C, in the position shewn and described, that when C is placed
upon the head, the material B whether facing the head, or the body of the hat C
presents a soft and yielding surface to the head, sufficient to hold C firmly in
position, and by this means only three fourths, or thereabouts, of the circumference
of the head is in close contact with D, and the forehead absolutely not in touch
therewith, a clear space about equal to the thickness of an ordinary business card,
previously mentioned, being always maintained between the 'forehead and the
lining D, so that a perfect, and enjoyable ventilation always exists at the part of
the head where it is most needed.
The clastic material B in either of the methods described, yields to the pressure
imposed thereon when C is placed upon the head, and in boisterous weather, C may
be pressed farther upon the head without imparting pressure upon the forehead,
thereby avoiding the unpleasant consequences of an indent upon the forehead, or
the pain that usually attends such pressure.
I estimate the life of the substance B and the fixing thereof within C, to be
about equal to that of the hat, helmet, or cap, but should it be otherwise, A B,
whichever method be adopted, can be easily renewed, without any injury to C, and
with little trouble, or loss of time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. For improvements in the fitting and ventilation of hats, helmets and caps,
the use and application of the method and means of attaining the same substantially
as herein described and shewn..
Second. For improvements in the fitting and ventilating of hats, helmets, and
caps, the construction and use of an elastic pad or pads B mounted upon a metallic,
or textile base A, cemented or sewn thereto, fixed within a hat, helmet or cap C
under the lining. D, at or about the position shewn by Figs. 5, and 6,.substantially,
as and for the purposes herein set forth, and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of February 1891..
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant: