Apparel apparatus – Hat making – Blocks and forms
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-09
2001-03-06
Mohanty, Bibhu (Department: 3741)
Apparel apparatus
Hat making
Blocks and forms
C223S085000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196428
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention pertains to the general field of hat and cap hangers, and more particularly to a cap hanger which holds and displays at least two caps while maintaining the brims of the caps at a preferred curve of 176°.
BACKGROUND ART
One of the most widely used items of apparel is a hat, especially baseball-type caps. In addition to being used by sports teams during athletic events, baseball caps are worn by both men and women as part of their general wardrobe. Some of the reasons for the popularity of baseball caps are that they are lightweight and comfortable to wear, they come in almost any color and may include indicia which promotes a person's particular like, and they do not require much care to maintain in good condition.
Unfortunately, it is a result of this last reason that certain individuals require a solution to a problem. While baseball caps do not require much care, many people quickly destroy their caps due to severe mis-handling. As a result of their design, baseball caps are often simply thrown about or even folded or smashed when not being worn. Although many baseball caps can withstand this abuse up to a point, after an extended duration the caps become disfigured and un-wearable. Also, after repeated washing, or exposure to rain, when caps are simply left as-is to dry, they can become disfigured.
Obviously, if there were some way to store baseball caps, which would allow the caps to be maintained in a position similar to that of being worn on a person's head and that could keep the cap's brim at an angle of 176° for optimum sun-shading capability, it would be a beneficial. Additionally, it would be helpful if the caps could be stored along with a person's other clothes, while utilizing existing space, such as in a closet.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention however, the following U.S. patents were considered related:
PAT. NO.
INVENTOR
ISSUED
5,991,927
Barbaccia
Nov. 30, 1999
5,685,465
Berardis
Nov. 11, 1997
5,533,652
Levin
July 9, 1996
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,927 discloses a device that is comprised of a bill-shaping well with a bill locking portion at each of its first and second terminal ends. The bill of a cap fits into the device such that the bill locking portions frictionally hold the bill against the bill-shaping wall, thereby shaping the bill into the shape of the bill-shaping wall. The bill-support wall preferably further includes indicia and a transparent plastic card-holder for storing and displaying a baseball card.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,465 discloses a brim-shaping device for a baseball-type cap. The device is designed to create and maintain a desired curvature of the cap brim. The device is comprised of a mold that has a substantially hollow, curved body, and a curved shaping slot for insertion of the cap brim into the hollow, curved body. The mold may have slots running along its sides to allow for aeration of the cap when it is wet. The hollow mold is shaped to present the cap at a given angle, so that the cap portion is displayed above the brim as it rests in the shaping slot. The mold itself is attachable to a display rack, so that the shaping device can also double as a merchandising tool during the sale of the cap.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,652 discloses a device for bowing the brim of a cap and storing, transporting and/or displaying a cap. The device is comprised of a central body portion extending downward on each side and terminating with upward extending retention arms at each side thereof forming first and second receipt areas for the first and second side of the cap brim. The design of the central body causes the brim to be formed into a desired curve with an elastic band extending over the top of the brim from the first retention arm to the second retention arm. Slots can be disposed inward of one of the receipt areas allowing one side of the brim to form alternate brim receipt areas for different desired brim curvatures.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The combination cap hanger and brim curving device is designed to hold and display at least two “baseball-type” caps. While the caps are held on the device, the brims of the caps are maintained at a curved angle of 176°. Thus, when the caps are removed from the device, the brims substantially remain at the preferred 176° curve.
In its most basic design, the device is comprised of:
A. A substantially rectangular arched body having a middle portion, a first end and a second end,
B. An upstanding hook disposed at right angles to the body on the middle portion. The hook is configured to removably attach and retain the device on a receptacle such as a clothes rod, and
C. At least one circular hollow sleeve formed on each end of the body. Each sleeve has a diameter that is dimensioned to hold the cap with the cap brim rolled inward in a circular direction and inserted therethrough.
The arched body is inwardly tapered from the center of the middle portion to form an arch of 120°. The two ends of the body are each tapered and terminate with a point to add to the aesthetics of the device. The upstanding hook, which distends upward from a top side of the arch on the body, has an internal radial curve. This curve is proportioned to allow an interface with a clothes rod as typically found in a closet.
The preferred overall length of the device is 17.296 inches (43.932 cm) with the circular hollow sleeves having a preferred internal diameter of 2.850 inches (7.24 cm) and a depth of 1.50 inches (3.81 cm).
In view of the above disclosure, it is the primary object of the invention to produce a combination cap hanger and cap brim curving device that holds and displays “baseball-type” caps while maintaining the curve of the cap brim at a 176° angle.
In addition to the primary object of the invention it is also an object of the invention to produce a device that:
has a shape and dimensions that are similar to the general shape and dimensions of a typical clothes hanger. Thus, the device can be hung on a conventional clothes rod and commingled amongest other hung clothes found in a closet.
has a pleasing and aesthetic shape,
can be designed to accommodate at least two caps,
can be produced from a variety of materials including plastic, wood, metal and cardboard,
can be produced in a variety of colors to compliment a particular team color/cap,
allows a washed cap to drain of water,
allows the device to function as a means for merchandising and/or displaying the cap, and
is cost effective from both a consumer and a manufacturers point of view.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1
is an axonometric view of a combination cap hanger and cap brim curving device which includes a substantially rectangular arched body having a middle portion, a first end and a second end. Extending upward from the middle portion is a hook and near each of the ends is located a circular hollow sleeve.
FIG. 2
is an axonometric view of the device with a cap inserted into each of the sleeves. For clarity, the caps are shown in broken lines.
FIG. 3
is a top plan view of the device.
FIG. 4
is a front elevational view of the device.
FIG. 5
is a bottom plan view of the device.
FIG. 6
is a left-side elevational view of the device.
FIG. 7
is a right-side elevational view of the device.
FIG. 8
is a top plan view of a device that incorporates two sleeves on each end of the arched body.
FIG. 9
is a front elevational view of the device that incorporates two sleeves on each end of the arched body.
FIG. 10
is a perspective view of a typical baseball-type cap.
FIG. 11
is a front elevational view of the baseball-type cap shown with the brim angled at 176°.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 81025 (1930-04-01), Salzman
patent: D. 165988 (1952-02-01), Kupchik
patent: 2419723 (1947-04-01), Mack, Sr.
patent: 2457486 (1948-12-01), O'Grad
Cota Albert O.
Mohanty Bibhu
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