US35707A

US35707A - Improvement in head-cushions to

Info

Publication number: US35707A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1862-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 1879-06-24

Description

UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. RICHARDS, OF NEVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT EN HEA-CUSHIONS TO |l-"REl/'EENH' SUNSTROKE.

Sperilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,7017, dated June 24, 18":2.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States of America` and a resident of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Anti-Sunstroke Cushion; and I do hereby declare the same to be fully described in the following specification, and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l is a side View, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section ol' it.

It is intended that the said cushion shall be worn on the top of the head of a person, and either in his hat or cap, or by being bound or otherwise fixed on thehead. Its purpose is to prevent what is termed sunstrokej7 and for the use of persons whose occupations or necessities require exposure to the sun in either tropical or temperate climates having very warm weather. My said invention is of great value, it being effectual for the obj eetfor which it is intended.

The nature of my invention consists in a layer or stratum' of a nonconductor of heat arranged and combined with one which is a retainer or absorbent of moisture, the whole being combined with or held together by layers of cloth or other material, and so as to constitute a cushion to be worn on the head.

In carrying out my invention I employ a cushioucase, A, containing two chambers or compartments, a b, separated from one another by a linen partition, c. One side, d, of the cushion I make of liannel, and the other, e, I make of linen cloth. Between the two layers c c oflinen, or in the compartment b, I place a stuffing, B, of sponge or other equivalent liquid-absorbent. The compartment a, I stuff or fill with cork C in small pieces. The edges ofthe layers oi'lihen and flannel are to be sewed or connected together and properly hound. The whole may be quilted, like an ordinary cushion. Zhen applied to the top of the head of a person, the layer e of linen is to be next to the same. This brings the cork uppermost, 0r over the sponge, the latter being nearer the head.

If before applying the cushion to the head it be dipped into cold water and subsequently squeezed, so as to express a large part of the water absorbed by it, we shall find, after it may have been placed on the head, that the iiannel and cork will be very slow conductors of the heat of the rays of the sun when suffered to fall upon them or on the annel, or on the top of the hat or cap in which they may be. The natural heat of the head will create a slow evaporation of the moisture of the sponge. This evaporation not only tends to abstract heat from the head, but to remove more or less of what may accumulate in the cork.

The refrigerating effects of the cushion on the tissues and brain of t-he head of a person during very warmand sunny weather will tend to preserve them in their normal condition, and thus obviate any danger of sunstroke.

These refrigerating-cushions I specially in tend for the use of persons belonging either to the army or navy. They may, however, be employed to excellent advantage by any others when exposed to the rays of the sun.

I claim- A head-protecting cushion made and to be used substantially in manner and for the purpose as hereinbefore specified.

VM. H. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

It. I-I. `EDDY, F. I. HALE, Jr.