Supports: racks – Special article – Hat type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-30
2001-05-01
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Hat type
C211S113000, C211S207000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223910
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a display and storage device for caps having a soft foldable crown.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years there has been a rise in the popularity of caps having a soft, foldable crown. Such caps include baseball-style caps, that is, caps having a soft, flexible, generally hemispherical crown and a forwardly extending visor, as well as other styles such as bucket hats which may omit such a visor (all referred to collectively as “caps”). Typically the baseball-style caps include indicia emblematic of a wide variety of affinity groups such as sports teams, schools and the like. Many retail stores maintain a department or section where such caps are displayed. Some retail establishments are devoted primarily to the sale of such caps. In many instances the variety of caps to be displayed is substantial. It is desirable that the caps be displayed efficiently and in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Some establishments may wish to display a plurality of caps in close proximity to each other and in other cases it may be desirable to display the caps in a less dense array and in different display patterns. The ability to store and display such caps also is important to individuals who collect or otherwise maintain a number of different caps. Such users may desire to store their caps in a manner that displays the front of the cap and its indicia.
Various cap storage or display devices have been proposed such as, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,411,144 (Deupree), 5,566,837 (Lema), 5,624,041 (Van Druff) and 5,630,516 (Helman).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is embodied in one, and preferably a plurality of, individual cap holders, each holder being adapted to support and retain an individual cap in a manner that provides proper support for the cap while displaying the front of the cap. Each holder is adapted to support and display a cap with the cap being partially-folded so that the rear portion of the generally hemispherical crown lies folded against the interior of the crown. In one aspect of the invention the display and storage device also includes a spine that may be rigid or in the form of a flexible cord, to which one or more of the holders can be detachably connected. A plurality of cap holders can be attached to the spine at selectively spaced locations along the spine to enable variation in the display or storage pattern for the caps. The spine may be mounted in a vertical attitude in which the cap holders are vertically spaced or a horizontal attitude in which the cap holders are horizontally spaced or a combination of horizontal. The spine may be supported on a vertical wall or from an overhead connector to hang freely or may be attached to a self supporting base.
In another aspect of the invention each holder has a crown support on which the partially-folded cap is placed. The crown support is configured to provide a broad area of support to maintain the cap in its proper shape while it is stored in the device. A crown clip overlies the rear portion of the crown support and cooperates with the crown support to grip the folded cap. The cap can be slid into or out of a position between the crown support and the crown clip.
In another aspect of the invention the cap holders are configured to include a spine clamp by which the holder is easily attached to, detached from or slid along the spine. The spine clamp enables the pattern of holders to be varied as desired. The spine clamp can be released to enable adjustment of the vertical position or horizontal orientation about a vertical axis of the cap holder and the cap that it supports. The cap holders also can be mounted in a horizontal array by orienting the spine, or a portion thereof, horizontally. The cap holder includes a transverse channel adapted to detachably receive a horizontally oriented spine. As with the vertically mounted spine, the individual holders can be attached or detached from the horizontally oriented spine without disturbing the position of the other cap holders.
It is among the general objects of the invention to provide an improved device and system for storing and displaying such caps. Also among the objects of the invention are to provide a cap storage and display device for which the arrangement of caps displayed or stored is easily adjustable without requiring repositioning of other caps or cap holders in the display; to provide a cap storage and display device having a large capacity for storage and display of caps without obstructing the front of the caps; to provide a device in which the position and orientation of the caps is easily adjusted and enables infinite adjustment to any position and orientation; to provide a cap storage and display device having individual crown supporting holders in which the cap is easily slipped into or out of a securely retained position on the holder; to provide a cap storage and display device that can be placed in any location and to provide improved methods for storing and displaying such caps.
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Beck Benjamin J.
Breneman Samuel B.
Graf Ulrike A.
Harting David G.
Levin Gregg M.
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
Novosad Jennifer E.
Perfect Curve, Inc.
Stodola Daniel P.
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