US2517187A - Hat crown corrugating machine - Google Patents

Description

1950 J. A. FARNWORTH :rm. 2,517,187

HAT CROWN CORRUGATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1948 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

John A. Fornworth Alfred G. Keeshu Attorney Patented Aug. 1, 1950 OFFICE HAT CROWN oonrlnoa'rmo MACHINE John A. Farnworth, Stamford, and Alfred G. Keeshan, Newtown, Conn, assignors to Mac Laehlan Hats Limited, Inc., South Norwalk, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application March 4, 1948, Serial No. 13,046

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in hat crown corrugating machines, and more particularly to an improved machine for impressing the inner face of a hat crown adjacent the band line with corrugations designed to impart built-in ventilating, easy fitting and hatconforming properties to the hat in wear.

Various means and methods for ventilating the inner crown space of a hat during wear as well as for improving the fit and ability of the hat to conform to the individual head shape of the wearer, have been suggested heretofore, but, generally speaking, such havenot been acceptablelto the trade for various reasons, such as expensive construction, ineffectiveness, buyer resistance, et cetera. Recently, it has been found that the desirable aims of such prior sug estions are simply achieved through the provision of vertical corrugations impressed or otherwise formed in the inner face of the hat crown adjacent the band line thereof, i. e. the line of junction between the crown and brim, and which open through the brim to provide air passages to the inner crown space. When such corrugations are formed in the front quarter of the crown, they also serve to cushion the hat in the portion of the crown which engages the forehead of the wearer, thereby also to impart easy fitting and self-conforming properties to the hat in wear.

Stated broadly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified method of and machine for impressing such corrugations in the inner face of ahat crownedjacent the band line thereof, and preferably in the front quarter of the crown, which is speedy, foolproof and requires no special skill to operate. The improved machine for forming such corrugations is also characterized by relatively simple yet rugged construction, by a minimum number of working parts, and by simple and thoroughly dependable operation.

Other objects and features of advantage of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description both of the method and of a preferred machine embodiment for. carrying out such method as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a hat crown corrugating machine according to the invention, with the corrugating head inlraised or inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a broken-away side elevation of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the machine with 2 z the corrugatinghead lowered to its operative or closed position; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along line of Fig. 3. I f Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate likeparts throughout the severa1 views,a hat crown corrugating machine according to the invention essentially com prises a fixed horizontal base or ,brimplate Ill and a corrugating head generally designated :12. The base plate I I1 is supportedjin a box-like sup: porting frame or base shown tocomprise upright side walls l4,l4a, end walls 15, [5a, and a bottom Wall I6, being spaced upwardlyfrom said bottom 7 wall at least the depth of a hat crown. The base plate is moreover provided with an oval crownreceiving opening llshaped to correspond to the conventional oval of a hat crown. As seen in Fig. 4, the upper surface of the base.is dished or concaved. to correspond to the .scope of the. brim of 'ahat supported in the inverted or crown down position, with crown extending through the openingll shown in dotted lines.

, Preferably, the base plate isformedasfan aluminum casting of substantial thicknesaalthough it may be cast or machined from other suitable metals having high heat conductivity. Due to the substantial thickness of the base plate, the edge of the crown-receiving opening ll therein has substantial vertical height, thereby to provide a vertical backing or abutment surface ;of corre sponding substantial vertical height for: a hat crown extending throughthe opening. An electric heating element 18 (Fig. 31) is inserted in a 1 suitable aperture provided therefor in the relatively forward portion of the base plate, thereby to heat the plate in the, region thereof bounding the front quarter edge of the crown, opening.

The corrugatinghead l2 preferably comprises a part-oval crown block cast from aluminum or equivalent heat conductive metal ,whose working surface,,.by reference to Figs. 1 and 3,,has curvature corresponding to the parteovalcurvature cf the front quarter portion of thecrown opening I! and hence, of the front quarter of ahat crown insorted in said opening. Formed in the part-oval working surface of the crown block, as by casting or machining, are a plurality of vertical flutes or ribs 29, hereinafter referred to as vertical core rugations. As seen in Fig. 51, the depth of the crown block below the band line is approximately one inch; hence, the corrugations '20 are adapted to impress the inner crown surface of ahatwith corrugations extending verticallyfrom the band line thereof the distance of approximately one 3 inch, it being understood that this distance may be varied, plus or minus. The crown block is moreover formed with a base band or collar 22 of slightly greater diameter than the body of the crown block, the vertical corrugations of the latter being continued to extend the vertical depth of said collar, thereby to provide a stepped shoulder 23, which is serrated or slotted when viewed from beneath, as in Fig. I. Said shoulder is adapted to engage against the under brim surface of the hat thereby to impress shortlength corrugations into the under brim surface as well as in the crown inner surface. The head is heated as by two spaced heating units 24, 24a embedded or set into the crown block as indicated in Fig. 1.

According to the invention, the corrugating head I2 is mounted for movement from a normally raised or inoperative position in which it is disposed well above the base plate In to an operative or working position wherein the head extends into the opening I! of the base plate and has pressure engagement with a hat crown disposed in said opening. To effect this motion, the head is fixedly clamped to the duplex arms 26a, 26b of a swinging arm assembly 26, preferably by means of spaced clamps 21a, 211) which embrace the duplex arms 26a, 26b and secure the same against coacting, spaced clamp seats 21c, 21d which may be cast integral with the head but which are shown to be secured against the head by set screws 21c, 21 The clamps 21a 212) are secured to their seats by binding screws 28a, 281) which also serve to secure a spacer bar 29 extending between the duplex arms of the arm assembly and thus maintaining constant spacing therebetween.

At its rear end, the arm, assembly ( duplex arms 26a, 26b) is hingedly connected to the base by means of a hinge connection generally designated 3B and which may comprise duplex fixed and movable hinge parts 3|, 32, respectively, whereby the arm assembly may be lowered from an upright position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to a horizontal position shown in Fig. 4. The duplex hinge part 32 also provides for limited sliding motion of the arm assembly relative thereto, and to limit such motion the duplex arms 26a, 26b are each provided with pairs of spaced stop pins 33, 33a, the spacing between which determines the amount that the arm assembly can slide relative to the hinge part 32.

The arm assembly 26 carries a forwardly extending locking arm 34 disposed intermediate the forward portions of the duplex arms 26a, 28b thereof, the rearward end of which is formed as a hub 34a pivotally connected by pin 34b to the part-oval crown block of the head. The free forward end of the locking arm is adapted to extend over the front wall I of the base and is formed with downwardly depending ears or bifurcations 35, 35a which pivotally mount a handle 36 on a transverse pin 3'! extending between said ears. The grip end of the handle may be weighted with lead or by other suitable weighting means, and its end which connects to the arm extension 34 is formed as a cam-shaped locking head 36a adapted to lockingly cooperate with a keeper bar 38, for the purpose of locking the head in pressure contact with the crown of a hat positioned in the opening I1.. As seen in Fig. 3, the locking arm 34 adjacent its inner or pivoted end is adapted to seat in the space between the clamp seats 21c, 21d, the spacer bar 29 limiting swinging movement Of. th linki g arm relative to arm assembly 26, as is particularly desirable when the head is in the raised, inoperative position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 4, the keeper bar 33 may be vertically disposed, and is pivoted intermediate its end by a pin 33 extending between ears 40, 40a projecting forwardlyv from a bracket plate 4| secured against the front l5 of the machine base. At its upper corner, the keeper arm is formed with a nose 42 which overhangs a curved edge recess 43 adapted to seat the locking head 31a of the handle. The keeper arm is so biased by means of tension springs M, Ma operative between its lower end and a spring mounting bar 45 that its upper end tends to swin counter-clockwise (Fig. l).

By further reference to Figs. 1 and 4, the bracket plate 4| is provided with forwardly extending horizontal ledges 46, 48a against which the heads of screw bolts ll, Ma carried at the forward or free ends of the duplex arms 26a, 26b are adapted to rest when the head is lowered to its WOIkil'lg position within the aperture ll of the base plate. Engagement of bolt heads on ledges thus determines the depth of insertion of the head into the aperture, with the bolts providing limited adjustment of the depth of insertion of head into base plate opening. It will be observed that the bolt heads may slide forwardly on said ledges as the corrugating head is drawn forwardly in its lowered position.

To lower the corrugating head I2 from its raised or inoperative position illustrated in 2 to its working position illustrated in Fig. 4, the handle 36 is grasped and the head mounting arm assembly swung forwardly, the corrugating head being thereby projected into the base plate opening ll. position, the arm assembly moves downwardly under its weight in the hinge part 32 until stop pin 33 abuts the hinge part. Accordingly, forward movement of the lowered arm assembly and corrugating head is required to bring the latter into pressure contact with the inner face of the crown of a hat inserted into the base plate opening. This forward movement may be initiated as by drawing the arm assembly in forward direction manually, with the handle 36 raised or partially raised so that its cam-shaped locking head 36a may clear the nose 42 of the keeper bar 38. Handle 36 is then swung downwardly, with the result that its locking head 36a seats in the concave recess 43 of the keeper bar, with final lowering movement of the handle moving it to an over-center position under the bias of springs 44, 44a effective on its locking head, and simultaneously drawing the corrugating head forwardly against the force of said springs into pressure contact with the hat crown surface. Due to the over-center positioning of the handle and locking head 36, the corrugating head remains locked in its closed position so long as the handle 36 is maintained in its down position.

When it is desired to unlock the machine, the handle 36 is swung upwardly, with the result that the corrugating head retracts slightly in rearward direction by an amount sufficient to cause its corrugated working surface to move out of engagement with the hat crown, whereupon the arm and head may be returned to their upright or inoperative position.

Preliminary to impressing corrugations in the inner crown surface of a hat by a corrugating machine as described in the foregoing, it is preferred to apply a light stiffening composition It will be observed that in the raised to the hat in the front quarter of -itsinner crown at the band line thereof, the 'hat being then left to dry thoroughly. With the base plate ill -and corrugated head l-2 electrically heated to a temperature of approximately 200", the hat is then placed in the machine, crown-down and with the front of the underbrim"tothe'front of the machine. The frontporticn; or the i'DDBT/C'IGWH is then lightly sponged with water. I r

The arm assembly ,26 is now brought down to project the heated head into the crown, and the headis then drawn forwardlyinto pressure contact withthe hat crown, being securely locked byoperation of thehandletfi. The hat is "maintained under heat and the pressure of the corrugating head for approximately two minutes. This results in the desired corrugations being permanently pressed into the inner crown face of the front quarter portion of thehat ad- 'jacent the band line, and preferably aisoior ra short distance on to the under brim surface.

The handle 36 is then released and the arm returned to its upright position. The hat is removed from the machine and given the usual steaming and pouncing operations and, finally, it is finished, trimmed, and the sweat leather or band applied in well known manner. The corrugations remain in the hat and, although masked by the sweat band, provide a multiplicity of vertical passages or channels between the inner crown surface and the sweat band through which air may circulate to the inner crown space when the hat is worn, and which also impart a cushioning effect to the front or forehead-engaging portion of the hat crown, thereby to improve its fit as well as the ability to conform itself to the individual head shape of the wearer.

Without further analysis, it will be observed that the improved machine of the invention achieves the impressing corrugations into the inner surface of a hat crown as described in simple manner, is relatively fast and sure yet foolproof, and requires no special skill in its operation. The improved machine is also characterized by relatively few parts, inexpensive yet rugged construction, and thoroughly dependable operation.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, a base including a metallic base plate having an oval opening therein for receiving the crown of a hat supported on said plate in inverted position, a corrugating head including a part-oval crown block whose working surface has curvature corresponding to that of the front quarter inner face of the hat crown adjacent its band line and is provided with vertical corrugations, means carried by said base plate and said head for heating the same, and means mounting said head for movement from a normally inoperative to an operative position wherein it is disposed in said opening and its corrugated working surface is in pressure contact with said inner face of the hat crown.

2. In a machine of the character described, a base including a metallic base plate having an oval opening therein for receiving the crown of a hat supported on said plate in inverted position,

a corrugaiting head including a part-oval crown block whose working-surface hascurvature correspondingto .that'oi :the front quarter inner face o'fthe hatcrown adjacent its band line and is provided with vertical corrugations, means carried by said base plate and said head forheating the same,.means normally supporting "said head in an inoperative position, and means in- -cluding-said last means for efi-ecting movement of the head into said opening andthence into pressure engagement with said inner faceof the hatcrown. i 73. In armachine of the character described, a base including a metallic base plate having an oval opening therein for-receiving the crown of a hat supported on said plate in inverted position acorrngating head including apart-oval crown block whose working surface has curvature corresponding to that of the front-quarter" inner face of the hatcrown adjacent itsband lineand is provided with vertical corrugations, means carried by said base plate and said head for heating the same, means mounting said head for swinging movement from a raised inoperative position to a lowered position wherein it is disposed within said opening and thereupon for horizontal movement into pressure engagement with said inner face of the hat crown.

4. In a machine of the character described, a base including a metallic base plate having an oval opening therein for receiving the crown of a hat supported on said plate in inverted position,

a corrugating head including a part-oval crown block whose working surface has curvature corresponding to that of the front quarter inner face of the hat crown adjacent its hand line and is provided with vertical corrugations, means carried by said base plate and said head for heating the same, an arm mounting said head intermediate its ends and being itself mounted for swinging and sliding movement, the construction and arrangement being such that the head may be lowered into and raised from said opening, and when the head is moved into said opening, it may be drawn forwardly into and retracted out of pressure engagement with said inner face of the hat crown.

5. In a machine of the character described, a base including a metallic base plate having an oval opening therein for receiving the crown of a hat supported on said plate in inverted position, a corrugating head including a part-oval crown block whose working surface has curvature corresponding to that of the front-quarter inner face of the hat crown adjacent its band line and is provided with vertical corrugations, means carried by said base plate and said head for heating the same, an arm mounting said head intermediate its ends and having a hinge connection with the base providing for lowering and raising movements of the arm and head relative to base plate, and for sliding movement thereof relative to hinge connection, and cooperating means on arm and base and being operative in the lowered position of the head to impart forward sliding movement thereto, thereby to actuate the head into pressure engagement with said inner face of the hat crown.

6. In a machine of the character described, a base including a metallic base plate having an oval opening therein for receiving the crown of a hat supported on said plate in inverted position, a corrugating head including a part-oval crown block whose working surface has curvature corresponding" to that of the :front quarter inner faoe of the hat-crown adjacent its band'lineand is provided with vertical corrugations; means carried by said base plate and said head for heating the same, an arm to which the head is fixedly said arm and on said base for causing .a. final pressure engagement of head on crown surface and for securely locking the head in such pressure engagement.

"7. A hat crown corrugating machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein the locking means comprises a handle pivoted to the free end of the arm and having a cam-shaped locking head, and

a spring-biased keeper member adapted to be engaged by and t0, 1OCkthe'ha,nd1e in lowered position.

r 5 JOHN A. FARNWORTH.

ALFRED G. KEESHAN.

. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

JUNITEDI s'rATEs PATENTS Number Date V Name 343,438 Crane June'8, 1886 -500,682 Vallee jet a1 July 4, 1893 -.-1891,-642 Teitzmann June 23, 1908 1,350,687 Turner Aug. 24, 1920 2,015,416 Toohey et a1. Sept. 24, 1935 2,047,230-= Schneider July 14, 1936 2,190,807' Steinberger 1 Feb. 20,1940

Snowdon Dec. 15, 194.2

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