Apparel apparatus – Forming – pressing – molding – and stretching – Forms
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-07
2001-07-03
Mohanty, Bibhu (Department: 3741)
Apparel apparatus
Forming, pressing, molding, and stretching
Forms
C223S024000, C223S025000, C223S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253973
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to hat shaping arrangements, and more specifically to inflatable arrangements that ease installation and removal of a baseball-styled cap.
BACKGROUND ART
Head gear commonly known as baseball caps is often worn during play and other athletic activities during which this piece of wearing apparel is apt to be soiled. Once this soiling happens, it is necessary to launder the cap to rehabilitate it back toward its original condition. If washed by conventional means, it is necessary not only to dry the cap after laundering, but to also properly shape the cap during the drying process. The shaping is not only pertinent to the body of the cap, but can be equally important with respect to the bill of the cap. Currently, no adequate products meet this need, especially not for the consumer markets.
In view of the above described deficiencies associated with the use of known designs for hat drying products, the present invention has been developed to alleviate these drawbacks and provide further benefits to the user. These enhancements and benefits are described in greater detail herein below with respect to several alternative embodiments of the present invention.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention in its several disclosed embodiments answers the needs described above with respect to hat shaping arrangements, particularly with respect to shaping arrangements for baseball-styled caps, and further incorporates additionally beneficial features. The present invention provides a product suitable for consumer markets and can be readily used even in residential settings for drying and shaping baseball-style caps that have become wet either because of their use or because of their being laundered.
Generally, the present invention is a hat shaping arrangement including an inflation assembly and an inflatable bladder assembly. The bladder assembly contains an air receiving space and an air port. In its deflated state, the bladder assembly substantially conforms to the interior circumference of a hat to be shaped. The inflation assembly is connected to the air receiving space through the air port. The inflation assembly is used to input air pressure to the air receiving space through the air port to extend the bladder assembly toward conformance with the inside of the hat to be shaped; thereby facilitating the retention of the shape of the hat. The inflation assembly is also used to release air pressure from the air receiving space through the air port allowing the bladder assembly to deflate away from conformance with the inside of the hat to be shaped.
In a preferred embodiment a substantially airtight air receiving space is formed between a semi-rigid, dome-shaped underlying form and an elastic bladder membrane. In that embodiment, a piston and cylinder manual inflation assembly is used to inflate and deflate the bladder assembly. A pressure relief value is included for expediting deflation.
In another embodiment, a securing clip is configured for releasably securing the hat. Typically, the hat will be secured at the bill. The securing clip includes at least one operating member adapted to transition the clip between open and closed configurations through use of a biasing spring that urges the clip to a normally closed state. In a further embodiment a support structure is incorporated into the hat shaping arrangement. In one configuration the support structure is a base. In another configuration, the support structure is a brace bar and a stand. In each of these configurations, the support structure includes features for supporting the inflation assembly.
In one approach to creating the air receiving space, the bladder membrane is secured to the underlying form using a securing strand and a groove receiver. In another alternative for securing the bladder membrane to the underlying form to create a substantially airtight air receiving space, a receiving groove is defined in the peripheral portion of the underlying form. In each of theses alternatives, a securing strand is configured to fit snugly within the groove receiver/receiving groove, with the bladder membrane secured between the securing strand and the groove receiver/receiving groove. In a final embodiment, the bladder assembly includes a non-inflatable underlying form and a separately inflatable overlying bladder.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2667291 (1954-01-01), Petrich
patent: 2921727 (1960-01-01), Lopez
patent: 3465927 (1969-09-01), Belokin, Jr.
patent: 3777951 (1973-12-01), Newsteder
Kilpatrick & Stockton LLP
Mohanty Bibhu
LandOfFree
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