US2803015A

US2803015A - Inflatable hat

Info

Publication number: US2803015A
Application number: US454900A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milone Samuel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-09-09
Filing date: 1954-09-09
Publication date: 1957-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1974-08-20

Description

Aug. 20, 1957 Filed Sept. 9, 1954 s. MILONE 2,803,015

INFLATABLE HAT 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. SAMUEL. MILONE Aug. 20, 1957 s. MILONE 2,303,015

INFLATABLE HAT I Filed Sept. 9, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 SAMUEL MILONE W M S. MILQNE INFLATABLE HAT Aug. 20, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 9, 1954 INVENTOR. SAMUEL MILO NE A TTORNEYS United States Patent "O INFLATABLE HAT Samuel Milone, Camden, N. J.

Application September 9, 1954, Serial No. 454,900

3 Claims. (Cl. 2--177) This invention relates to a structure having a noninflatable crown and an inflatable brim. While the principles of the invention are embodied in a hat, as hereinafter described, they may also be embodied in such articles as sun shades, umbrellas, distress signalling devices, and so forth.

An-important object of the invention is to provide an inflatable hat which is light in weight and suficiently compact when folded in the deflated form to permit it to be carried in a pocket or purse. Afurther object of the invention is to provide a'hat having an inflatable brim including such channels and air passages as to permit the inflation thereof by mouth in a matter of seconds. t

Another object of the invention is to provide an inflatablehat whichcan be inexpensively manufactured vby simple sealing; operations from a wide variety of relatively. thin, light-weight, colored or uncolored plastic sheets. e p a These and other objects will become more apparent as the following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hat in the inflated K form as worn; V .1

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hat in the deflated and folded form;

Figure 3 is a plan view of two plastic sheets sealed in the first stage of making the hat;

i Figure 4 is'a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating the plastic-sheets in the final stage of making the hat;

Figure 5 is a plan view ofone form of hat made in accordance with the invention;

Figure '6 is a view similar to'Figure 5 and illustrating a second form of hat; 1

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 and illustrating a third form of hat;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5 and illustrating a fourth form of hat;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 5;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure 6;

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 11--11 of Figure 7;

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of the brim and illustrating the mouthpiece and valve;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14--14 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14 and illustrating the closed position of the valve;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of the brim and illustrating the attachment of the string thereto; and

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of Figure 16.

Specific reference will now be made to the drawings ice wherein similar reference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

The present hat, which may be of any desired shape and dimensions, comprises a non-inflatable crown 10, an inflatable brim 12, a mouthpiece 14 carried by the brim, a valve 16 to close off the mouthpiece and a string 18 to attach the hat to the head. His preferred that the entire hat be fabricated of two sheets or plies of a light weight plastic such as the vinylites.

Referring first to the form of hat illustrated in Figures 5 and 9, the same comprises two relatively thin

non-porous sheets

20 and 22 appropriately sealed to form a two-ply crown 10 to which is attached the inflatable brim. In the sealing process the sheets forming the brim portion are seamed at predetermined locations. One seam 24 encircles the crown and closes off the latter from the brim. Another seam 26 appears adjacent the outer margin of the brim. The intermediate seams 28 are concentrically arranged and extend from the crown to the margin of the brim. The seams 28, in efieet, ereateconcentric inflatable channels 30.

The channels 30 are intercepted by a radial air passage 32 which communicates with the mouthpiece 14. By making the radial air passage 32 directly communicative with the mouthpiece, the channels 30 of the brim are each rapidly inflated. Because the" channels 30 are coextensive with the entire brim, a relatively rigid brim is provided which resists flexing in a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of the hat.

To effect a closure of the mouthpiece after inflation of the brim, a simple and effective valve means is employed. This consists of a reinforced slot 16 in the brim mouthpiece and brim is relatively thin and is closed off as at 36.

The attaching string 18 is attached at its ends to the brim. An aperture 38 is provided in the brim at one of the concentric seams 28 and on both sides of the crown. The ends of the string 18 are extending through the apertures and knotted thereat as at 40,-a washer 42 being interposed, between the knot and the brim. A slide snuifer 44 may be used to adjustably close the string 18 about the chin of the wearer.

The form of hat shown in Figures 6 and 10 is identical with that of Figures 5 and 9 except that the concentric channels 46 are intercepted by a plurality, preferably .four, radial air passages 48 which communicate with the channels, one of which radial air passages communicates directly with the mouthpiece 14. This construction inflates more rapidly than the structure shown in Figures 5 and 9.

The form of hat shown in Figures 7 and 11 is somewhat like those shown in Figures 5, 9 and 6, 10, except that the air passages intercepting the channels are radially discontinuous or staggered. Thus, the

plastic sheets

20 and 22 are sealed in the brim portion to provide seams 50 that are concentrically spaced about the crown but are discontinued at predetermined circumferential spaces as at 52 to provide generally radially extending but radially discontinued or staggered air passages which communicate with the channels, one of which passages communicates directly with the mouthpiece. Because the air passages 52 are not open fully from the margin to the crown along a radius, the inflated brim is more resistant to flexing in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the hat than is the case with the forms of the hats shown in Figures 5, 9 and 6, but the air passages permit very rapid inflation of the channels.

The form of the hat shown in Figures 8 and 12 is like those previously described except that the plastic sheets and 22 are sealed in the brim portion to form a continuous spiral seam 54. This seam creates a spiral channel 56 which is coextensive with the brim and which communicates with the mouthpiece. Because of the absence of radial air passages, this structure does not inflate as rapidly. It also requires specialized sealing apparatus thereby increasing the unit cost thereof.

In the manufacture of the hats shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, a pair of relatively thin

plastic sheets

20 and 22 are sealed together. Before sealing, the sheets are cut to the desired size and shape, are laid one on the other, and a 90 piece is cut out therefrom as shown in Figure 3. The sheets are sealed to provide the concentric seams 28, the inner and

outer seams

24 and 26 and the various air passages intercepting the concentric seams depending upon the form of invention being made.

Seams

58 and 60 are also produced at the cut out portion. This sealing operation is effected by lowering a die on the superimposed sheets for a predetermined short period of time, the die being provided with ribs corresponding to the seams. The die may either be heated or the sealing operation may be effected electronically. The

seams

58 and 60 are joined and seamed as a unit at 62, Figure 4, to provide the final hat with a conical crown 10 which may have a pointed or rounded crown.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it is understood that a skilled artisan may make minor variations without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An inflatable hat construction fabricated of two flat coextensive sheets of material in the shape of three quarters of a circle, a radial seam uniting the opposed radial edges of the sheets to give the same a circular configuration and extending continuously from the center of the circle to the periphery, a continuous marginal seam joining the peripheral edges of said sheets, a continuous inner seam of circular shape spaced inwardly from said marginal seam and joining the sheets together therealong to define a central crown portion and a surrounding outer brim portion of the hat, the sheets when connected by the radial seam providing an integral crown portion of generally conical shape, a plurality of substantially concentric intermediate seams disposed between said marginal and inner seams and joining together said two sheets of material along lines extending concentrically in said brim portion of the hat to define therein a plurality of concentric air passages, each of said intermediate seams being interrupted at predetermined locations circumferentially of the brim portion to provide openings affording fluid communication between adjacent passages, and means defining an inlet opening extending through said marginal seam to the outermost air passage in said brim portion to supply air to all of said concentric passages in the brim portion whereby the latter may be inflated and disposed in a generally flat plane.

2. A hat in accordance with claim 1 wherein the inter ruptions providing said openings in each intermediate seam areoffset circumferentially with respect to the interruptions in the next adjacent seam.

3. An inflatable hat construction fabricated of two flat coextensive sheets of material in the shape of threequarters of a circle, a radial seam uniting the opposed radial edges of the sheets to give the same a circular configuration and extending continuously from the center of the circle to the periphery, a continuous marginal seam joining the peripheral edges of said sheets, a continuous inner seam of circular shape spaced inwardly from said marginal seam and joining the sheets together therealong to define a central crown portion and a surrounding outer brim portion of the hat, said sheets when connected by the radial seam providing an integral crown portion of generally conical shape, a plurality of substantially concentric intermediate seams disposed between said marginal and inner seams concentrically thereof and defining in the brim portion of the hat a plurality of concentric air passages, each of said intermediate seams being constituted by a series of discontinuous adhesions between the two sheets of material, the gaps in said intermediate seams between said adhesions providing openings interconnecting said adjacent concentric passages to afford fluid communication between said adjacent concentric passages, and means defining an inlet opening in fluid communication with one of said concentric passages in said brim portion to supply air to all of said concentric passages in the brim portion whereby the latter may be inflated and disposed in a generally flat plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 882,686 Ireland et a1. Mar. 24. 1908 2,418,069 Delano Mar. 25, 1947 2,673,349 Key Mar. 30, 1954 2,684,483 Kwake July 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 270,418 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1950 153,025 Australia Aug. 31, 1953