US586039A

US586039A - Helmet

Info

Publication number: US586039A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1914-07-06

Description

J. R. HOPKINS 8: R. S. WRIGHT.

HELMET (No Model.)

Patented July 6. 1897 UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

JAMES R. HOPKINS AND ROBERT S. WRIGHT, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS H ELM ET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,039, dated July 6, 1897. Application filed February 23, 1897. $erial No. 624,667. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 4 Be it known that we, JAMES R. HOPKINS and ROBERT S. WRIGHT, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firemens Hats, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates generally to firemens hats or helmets, and particularly to that character or kind of hats set forth in Letters Patent of the United States granted to J. R. Hopkins, No. 560,213, dated May 19,

The object of the invention is to provide such improvements in firemens hats of the class mentioned as will increase their durability and wearing qualities and render them waterproof to the highest degree or extent, whereby they will act to prevent their wearers from being injured from falling timber or other articles and to prevent the water from the hose from wetting the firemen.

It is also the object to provide certain other improvements in the construction of hats of the type aforesaid, as will more fully appear from the following specification.

Heretofore it has been the practice to form the crown of the hat and the cape or brim of two pieces of some light metal, such as aluminium, and to rivet the two together at the base of the crown. This, however, is objectionable in that it is practically impossible to form a joint that is permanently watertight, and hence water trickles between the edges of the crown and the cape onto the face, head, and neck of the wearer and endangers his health and life, especially in cold and freezing weather.

Hence our invention consists of a firemans hat or helmet in which the crown and cape or brim are formed integrally of a single sheet of metal, whereby not only is the crown strengthened, but water is effectually pre vented from leaking onto the face and body of the wearer, said hat or helmet being provided with means, as a groove, to receive and maintain a sweat-band or pad in place.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which like characters indicate like parts in all of the figures.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 represents in plan view our improved hat or helmet without the strengtheningribs. Fig. 2 represents the hat in perspective view. Fig. 3 represents a vertical longitudinal section through the hat. Fig. 4 represents the ribs detached. Fig. 5 represents a policemans helmet.

In the drawings the crown a and the brim or cape b are all died out of a single integral plate of aluminium. The crown is formed with corrugations, which add great strength to the structure without materially increas ing its weight, while the cape or brim is formed with a bead c at its edge and one or more beads c at a short distance therefrom to increase the strength thereof. At the base of the crown and in a plane slightly above the plane of the junction of the crown and the brim we form a continuous groove a.

The pad or sweat-band cl may be of any desired material of a thickness and texture to cushion the metallic crown against the head and prevent it from injuring or hurting the wearer, and in the lower edge thereof it is formed with a seam to receive an endless wire d, which when crowded into the groove a holds the band or pad in place.

The ribs 6 e are cast integrally and are provided at their junction and at their ends with prongs 6 e respectively, which are driven into the crown and then beaded over to rivet the ribs in place. The lower ends of the ribs are constructed to be sprung over the bead formed by the groove a and are provided with recesses e for this purpose.

By constructing a hat in accordance with the above description we are enabled. to obtain several important results.

The crown and cape being formed of asingle plate of metal prevent the water received by the cape from leaking through ontothe head and neck of the wearer, and thus obviate one of the most objectionable features incident to a construction in which the cape and crown are riveted together. The integrality of the crown and cape strengthens them both and increases their rigidity and durability. Again, by forming the groove in the crown above the plane of its juncture with the cape the sweat-band or cushioning-pad is not exposed to wear and is entirely concealed when the hat is being worn, whereas in previouslyconstrueted hats the pad or band projected below the crown and was exposed to view or else required an additional separate riveted strip of metal to receive it.

The ribs being formed or cast integrally possess great strength, and by their rigidity prevent heavy articles, such as timber, slate, glass, &c., from breaking or cutting them and injuring the head of the fireman.

Of course while we describe our improved hat as a firemans hat or helmet, We do not necessarily confine its use to firemen alone, as it is well adapted for policemen as well, and in Fig. 5 we have shown it in the shape best adapted for them as well as for cavalrymen, infantrymen, and others.

What we claim is- A firemans hat, comprising a metallic crown, a metallic cape, formed integrally with the crown, and projecting outwardly therefrom, said crown being formed with a groove opening on the inner face thereof and located above the juncture of the crownwith the cape, and a sweat-baud having its lower end held in said groove.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 10th day of February, A. D. 1897.

JAMES R. HOPKINS. ROBERT S. WVRIGHT.

Witnesses:

A. D. HARRISON, MARoUs B. MAY.