US217768A - Improvement in ear-muffs - Google Patents

Description

H. E. BONH'AM. Ear-Muff.

No.`217.768.1 Patented July 22,1879.

Ilm/670%() 7" N,FETER5. PHOTO-LITHOGRPMER, WASHINGYON. D. C.

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRIET E. BONHAM, OF ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN EAR-MUFFS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,768, dated J nly 22, 1879; application tiled April 15, 1879.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRIET E. BONHAM, of St. Joseph, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Ear-Bluffs; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part ot' this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The drawing is a representation of my invention, showing the front of one of the ear-muffs and the back of the other.

The present invention has relation to earmuffs formed of a sin gie piece, and adapted to be attached around and over the ears of the wearer, and more particularly to that class knitted or woven from yarn or other similar material.

Previous to my invention the car-niuft's usually worn were provided with cords or strings for attaching under the chin and over the head ofthe wearer. These strings or cords did not possess the required elasticity to ai'ord comfort to the wearer, and when composed of rubber they would soon lose their elastic qualities 5 and, further, the cords would tend to irritate the iiesh when drawn very tight Linder the chin, making it very uncomfortable when moving the head.

This invention consists of an improved earmuft' having earpieces provided with central inside openings, with crocheted binding-edges, and crocheted head and chin cords crocheted to the ear-pieces and integral therewith, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents the mutfs, of Zephyr, Berlin wool, Germantown yarn, or other suitable material that will possess the required warmth. The mutfs A are crocheted from the center of the outer portion, c, and finished around the inside of the openings to receive the ears, and, if desired, may have a lining, b, of cloth or other suitable material.

The muifs are connected with a crocheted cord, o, integral with the mus, to pass over the head of the wearer, to prevent the danger of their being lost; also, crocheted cords d el,

also integral with the muffs, one upon each of them, to fasten under the chin.

The cords c d d, are themselves crocheted, and are also crocheted to the ear-pieces A A,

so that they are integral therewith, and not liable to become detached therefrom, as when sewed, and the crocheting of all the parts together presents a more pleasing appearance to t-he eye than when otherwise attached.

The cords c d d, being crocheted, possess the required degree of elasticity to adapt the mut'fs to be secured to diii'erent-sized heads, and also to prevent any discomfort to the wearer by the tautness of the cords under the chin. The crochet-stitch also gives the required elasticity to the muffs.

The ear-pieces A A are crocheted with cen tral openings, o o, for the ears to hold them in place thereon, and by employing the crochet stitch in lieu of knitting, as has heretofore been employed in the production of an earpiece, a continuous bindingedge is given the opening o without doubling the crochet-stitch, an'd the rubber cord usually employed around the binding-edge is dispensed with, the crocheted edge of the opening alone affording sufficient elasticity to hold the car-piece in place on the ear.

I do not desire to be understood as claiming, broadly, a knitted or woven ear-mutt', as I am fully aware that mufts of the above character are old.

I am also aware that it is old to construct amuff of cloth cut in several pieces and sewed together, and providin g such muis with strings to fasten under the chin or over`I the head. I therefore desire it understood that I do not claim, broadly, such construction of ear-mutfs; but,

Having fully described my invention, what .I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As an improved article of manufacture, the ear-mutt' described, consisting, essentially, ot' the ear-pieces A A, provided with crocheted binding-edges around their central inner openings, the connecting-bands c, and attachingcords d d, all said parts being crocheted and made integral one with another, substantially as andrfor the purpose specitied.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRIET E. BONHAM.

Witnesses W. W. SAVORY, L. NIED ORP,

Images