US2087158A

US2087158A - Hat block

Info

Publication number: US2087158A
Application number: US68312A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest A Lindsey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-03-11
Filing date: 1936-03-11
Publication date: 1937-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1954-07-13

Description

July- 13, 1937. i

E. A. LINDsl-:Y 2,087,158

HAT BLOCK Filed March 11, 195e ,lllll"ll.,."' 3 .ci g 47 3 4 s. ,Z/V-'Z 0- 4 0'!! 0 A 9 Q .1 12 l f2 ,o 1a' ff a ATTORN EY Patented July 13, 1937 UNirEo STA-rss PATENT OFFQE 3 Ciaims.

This invention relates to hat blocks and its general object is to provide a block that is primarily designed for use in cleaning hats of all sizes, in that it is adjustable to nt the same, vincluding the crown and brim thereof, in a manner so that the crown is held in a stretched condition and the brim adequately supported, to allow both to be thoroughly cleaned in an easyand expeditious i manner with very little effort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hat block that can be readily adjusted, is selfsupporting and is not only simple inY construction and inexpensive to manufacture but is extremely eicient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention indetail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which: Figure l is a vertical sectional View taken through the hat block which forms the subject matter of the present invention and illustrates the same supported upon a box or other container which is utilized to house the block when not in use.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a detail view illustrating the block supported upon a flat surface such as a table or the like.

Referring to the drawingin detail, it will be noted that the body of my block is made up of sections arranged in cooperative association, and the front and rear sections I are similar in shape, while the side sections 2 are likewise similar, therefore it will be seen that the body includes two pair of sections, the sections I being relatively larger than the sections 2 and each section is provided with a top portion 3 shaped for fitting association. The body is hollow as shown in Figure 1, and I have shown a coil spring l for each pair of sections, to connect the sections of a pair together, in that the springs are secured to the sections through the instrumentality of screw eyes 5.

The sections I and 2 are of course arranged together in substantially oval configuration to t the crown portion of a hat and for that purpose the upper surface of the top portions are rounded,

and the vertical portions of the sections are curved.

`A base plate 6 is provided for the block, and

each section is secured thereto through the mep diurn of screws or the like 'I arranged in slots 8,

whereby the sections are slidably mounted for movement toward and away from each other, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figure l.

In order to adjust the sections with respect to each other I employ a screw shaft 9 having a threaded portion which extends through an opening centrally arranged in the base plate 6, and depending from the base plate about the opening is a bearing for a thumb nut E6 which is threaded on the shaft. The upper end of the screw shaft 9 is reduced and secured thereto is a head I I having ears extending therefrom and arranged in cooperating pairs to have pivotally secured between the same the upper ends of links l2, while the opposite ends of the links are pivotally secured between like ears of brackets I3, the latter being fixed to the sections, there being a bracket for each section, with the result it will be seen that when the shaft 9 is moved downwardly the sections are moved away from each other and when the shaft is lmoved upwardly the sections are moved toward each other.

The upper or headed end of the shaft 9 is held in a position above the brackets I3, by the coil springs 4 which hold the sections associated, consequently the links will always be held above their dead center. Formed on and depending from adjacent the outer edge of the base plate 6 are bosses I4 having openings therein which extend through the plate which are substantially oval shape, and received in the openings are the depending portions or legs I 5 of supporting members which are of substantially right angled formation, but the upper portions are disposed at a slight upward inclination, and are slightly curved to provide aJ seat for a ringlike form I6 to support the brim of the hat, as shown. The form I6 is conoavo-oonvex, and is of a size to be disposed over the block and to allow ample space between the inner side of the opening of the form and the block. The legs I5 are adjustably mounted in the bosses I 4 and are held in adjusted positions through the instrumentality of thumb screws I 'I. B'y that construction, it will be apparent that the form is movably supported to t hats having crowns of various heights.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of supporting member and while this form includes a leg I8, the remaining portion is disposed at a right angle with respect to the leg.

Figure 3 also illustrates the supporting member having its leg received by a suitable supporting means such as a table or the like, but I prefer to have my device supported upon the upper end of a boX or container i9, and in that event the outwardly directed portions of the supporting members are received by the upper edges of the walls of the container as clearly shown in Figure 1. When in that position, the outer side of the crown of a hat A, as well as the upper surface of the brim can be cleaned.

By having the brim form i@ loosely mounted, it will be obvious that it can be readily reversed, so that the underside of the brim can be cleaned, and to accomplish that purpose, the hat is removed from the body, the'form EE reversed and the hat is then disposed crown downwardly with the brim contacting the form.

The container is of a size to receive the device when not in use, and when it is desired to dispose the same therein, the supporting members I5 are moved to the dotted line position of Figure 2.

While I have stated that my device is primarily designed for use in supporting a hat whereby the latter can be readily cleaned, it will of course be understood that it can be used for stretching hats, merely by placing the block in the crown of the hat and rotating the thumb nut EB for moving the sections away from each other.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of V -the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A hat block comprising a body including a plurality of sections disposed in fitting association with respect to each other, flexible means for holding the sections together, means for adjusting the sections for movement toward and away from each other, base means receiving the sections with the latter mounted for movement thereon, brim receiving means surrounding the body and spaced therefrom, supporting means for the body and brim receiving means and including legs mounted for adjustment through the base means, and means engageable with the legs for holding the supporting means in adjusted positions.

2. A hat block comprising a crown receiving body including a plurality of sections mounted for fitting association with respect to each other, spring means for holding the sections together, screw means for adjusting the sections for movement toward and away from each other, base means for the sections with the latter mounted for movement thereon and connected thereto, a concavo-convex brim receiving means surrounding the body and spaced therefrom, supporting means for the body and brim receiving means and extending through the base means, means for adjusting the supporting means with respect to the base means, and a container for housing the block and adapted to have the supporting means mounted thereon for supporting the block in position for use.

3. A hat block comprising a sectional crown receiving body, means for adjusting the sections for movement toward and away from each other, a concavo-convex brim receiving means surrounding the body and spaced therefrom, said brim receiving means being reversible, base means for the body and having the sections connected thereto, supporting means for the body and brim receiving means and including legs slidably mounted through the base means for adjustment with respect thereto, and means engageable with the legs for holding the supporting means in adjusted positions.

ERNEST A. LINDSEY.