UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..
ALBERT KOMP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.
IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC SKELETON HAT-FRAMES.
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 47.431, dated April 25, 1865.
'To all whom it may concern.'
Be it known that I, ALBERT KOM?, ot' the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Hat-Frame; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part ot' this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of the hatfraine; Fig. 2, an inside view of the clasp of the upper or lower circle ot' the hat-frame; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the fastening ot' the vertical stay to the circle; Fig. 4, a per spective View ofthe clasp for that purpose before it is pressed down Fig. 5, a perspective View of the clasp for that purpose before it is pressed down of a different construction from that shown in Fig. 4.
The'same letters ot' reference mark the same parts in these figures.
The nature of my invention consists in formii g a hat-frame ot' metallic wire, consisting ot' two horizontal circles or hoops connected with three or more vertical stays, as hereinafter described.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.
I employ for my frames the usual spring wire used for hoop-skirts. rlhe said springwire may be used either uncovered or covered, but I prefer the use of the latter, and I prefer to have braiding over the said wire.
The frame consists of two circles or hoops, A and B,which are made of said spring wire by the two ends of a piece being fastened together by clasps similar to those used in forming skirt-hoops, one mode of fastening the two ends of a wire together at I being exhibited in Fig. 2 by the metallic clasp K L, consisting of a piece of thin metal eut out so as to tit over the spring-wire, with points at each end pressed and fastened on and over the springwire. The points may be omitted, and
a plain thin metallic strip bent overthe wire at the point and pressed to the same will answer the purpose. The vertical stays C D E F are fastened to the upper and lower hoop, either by aV plain clasp, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, O P representing the horizontal, and R the vertical, part of the saine, and when this style ot' clasp is used the two pieces joined must overlap each other, as shown in Fig. 3; or, it`
the clasp exhibited by Fig. 5 is used, the two .pieces may join ush, this clasp being provided with a vertical tongue, S, emanating from the horizontal part of the same, O l, which is provided at each end with two aps or wings, U and T, turned to the other side of the horizontal wire to strengthen it laterally, and the tongue S being covered by the vertical part R of the clasp being turned over i", and thus strengthening the joint vertically. The clasps in either ease are tirinly pressed over the joints and adjoining parts. Theframe ofthe hat-body thus formed may be conneettd withthe rim on its lower hoop in the usual manner, and it is then covered by cloth or other material; 'or the hat-body frame may be covered and the rim formed of the covering material stii'ened in the usual manner.
The advantage of my hat-frame consists in its elasticity, rinness, and durability.
What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the United States, is-
Forming the frame for a hatbody out of hoop skirt spring-wire by forming two hoops, and by connecting the 'same with three or more vertical stays by means of clasps formed of thin metallic strips, each of said clasps being shaped into a horizontal part, O P, and a vertical part, R, cut to the required shape, and bent over and pressed to the joint, substantially in the manner and for tne purpose substantiall y as described.
A LBE RT KO M P.
Witnesses:
Uns. WEULE, Il. WEHLE.