US2720984A - Weight actuated hat hanger - Google Patents

Description

1955 s. .1. GOTOWKA 2,720,984

WEIGHT ACTUATED HAT HANGER Filed Aug. 3, 1953 INVENTQR li'rz zwar 6010mm ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,720,984 WEIGHT ACTUATED HAT HANGER Stephen J. Gotowka, Detroit, Mich. Application August 3, 1953, Serial No. 372,046 6 Claims. (Cl. 211-30) The present invention consists in new and useful improvements in a hat hanger of the type generally formed of wire bent to the proper configuration and adapted to be suspended from wall hooks, cloak room hanger rods or on the backs of doors. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved hat hanger of this general type, wherein the hat is retained in position in the hanger by a gravity or weight actuated locking mechanism which engages the brim of a hat and prevents accidental displacement.

Heretofore, numerous efforts have been made to design wire hat hangers and in some instances these eiforts have been extended to include locking means. However, all of these previous constructions have proven either too complicated and expensive from the standpoint of economic manufacture or they have been diificult to operate.

It is therefore the primary object of my invention to provide a gravity locked hat hanger which is of extremely simple construction, requiring a minimum of wor"- ing parts and one which is easily operable in both the insertion and removal of a hat therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gravity locked hat hanger wherein the weight of the hat in position therein, is sufficient to actuate and retain the locking mechanism in engaging position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hat hanger of this type which is constructed of three component parts, each formed of a relatively simple one-piece Wire construction which is inexpensive and of a light weight which greatly facilitates its ease of handling.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gravity locked hat hanger wherein the locking mechanism imparts an extremely light gripping action against the brim of a hat, so as to avoid distortion, yet is sufliciently positive in action to firmly retain the hat in place until released.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the hanger, showing a retained hat in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the locking mechanism in engaging position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper portion of the hanger, showing the relationship of the three component parts, and

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the locking mechanism in both operative and inoperative positions.

As shown in all figures of the drawings my improved hat hanger is composed of three components, A, the suspension element, B, the main hat supporting element, and C, the locking mechanism. All three of these components are formed of suitable wire which may be of the type generally used in the manufacture of conventional wire coat hangers.

The suspension element A consists of a length of wire bent at one end to form a hook or other suitable hanger 4, the base of which terminates in a triangular configuration 5, the horizontal leg 6 of the triangle forming a pivot bar from which the remaining components are suspended. The end of the triangular shaped portion of the suspension element A is looped over the wire at the base of the hook 4 and secured as at 7.

The main supporting element B consists of a single length of wire twisted around itself to form a vertical leg 8, the base of which is bent outwardly at right angles as at 9 and then again bent upwardly at right angles to form a bifurcated crown engaging cradle 10. The cradle 10 as best seen in Figure 1, consists of two diverging arms 11, joined in a substantially V-shaped support for the crown of a hat H, the arms 11, being spaced sufficiently above the base 9 to accommodate the brim of a hat with the crown resting on the arms 11.

The upper ends of the twisted Wire forming the leg 8 are bent angularly to form diverging arms 12 which terminate in outwardly directed, axially aligned trunnions 13 for pivotally suspending the supporting element B, as will later appear.

The suspension element A and the hat supporting element B are operatively connected by the intervening yoke C, which forms a combined coupling and locking element. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the yoke C consists of a single length of wire, the central section 14 of which extends horizontally for a length substantially equal to the spacing of the trunnions 13 on the diverging arms 12 where it is transversely looped to provide axially aligned bearing members 15, for pivotally receiving the respective trunnions 13. The intermediate portion of the horizontal section 14 is bent to form two aligned loops 16, longitudinally spaced by an intervening portion 17 and adapted to be pivotally suspended from the horizontal leg 6 of the suspension element A.

The opposite free ends of the wire forming the locking mechanism C, are bent laterally from their respective loops 15 to form a pair of parallel hat brim locking arms 18. As seen in Figures 2 and 3 each of these arms is bent at an acute angle to form a short leg 19, then outwardly at substantially right angles and again downwardly at an acute angle to form a hat brim receiving recess 20. From the hat brim receiving portions 20 the wires are bent at an inwardly directed angle to form brim engaging arms 21, the free ends of which are adapted to embrace the web of a hat brim.

As before stated, the hat brim locking or gripping mechanism is gravity actuated and automatically retains a hat in place through a leverage arrangement which is responsive to the weight of the hat supporting element :8 and the hat retained therein. This gravity actuated of the suspension element A, the loops 16 permitting this pivotal movement. Thus, with no hat in place in the hat supporting element B, the parts automatically fall into the position shown in dotted lines. However, upon lifting the hat supporting element B, the locking mechanism C is rotated in counterclockwise direction causing the brim engaging arms 21 to be elevated clear of the vertical plane of the leg 8 of the hat supporting element B.

While in this position, a hat is inserted in the hat supporting element withthe lower portion of its brim resting in the base support 10 and the upper portion of its brim'lying within the. brim receiving portion 20 'of' the locking mechanism. Now, when the ha't'is released its weight, together with that of the'hat supporting'element B, causes the latter to resume its tendency to rotate the locking mechanism in a clockwise direction about its axis 6. When the free ends of the arms 21 engage the web of the hat brim they are prevented from further rotation and in this position, the oifset relationship of the two fulcrum points 6 and 13 together with the weight of the hat and hat supporting element B, result in a constant leverage action which maintains the engagement of the arms 21 with the web of the hat brim until the weight is relieved.

In order to remove the hat from the hat support, the element B is lifted slightly which in turn rotates the locking element C through the are shown by the arrows in 1 Figure 2, disengaging the locking arms 21 from the hat brim, whereupon the hat can be removed by simply lifting it out of the support B.

It will thus be seen that I haveprovided a very simple and efficient hat hanger which is positive in action and readily adaptable to fill many needs. The leverage action of the offset fulcrum points, responsive entirely to the force of gravity eliminates the need of any springs or clamps which have a tendency to disfigure the brim of the hat retained thereby. The feather weight, yet positive action of my improved locking mechanism is considered an important feature of the invention.

From the foregoing it is believed that my invention .may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be 'made in the details of con- 7 struction without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. "A hat retainer comprising a suspension element, a hat supporting frame and an intervening yoke operatively connecting said element and frame, said yoke having a central section provided with a main bearing portion pivotally suspending the yoke from a horizontal axis on said element, bearing means on said central section, parallel withand laterally offset from said main bearing portion, pivot means on said frame suspending the latter from said ofiset bearing means on the yoke, and hat gripping arms projecting from said central section, overlying said frame and rotatable with said yoke aboutthe axis of said main bearing portion, whereby the weight of said frame acts on said central section to normally urge said arms into gripping position.

2. A hat retainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said yoke is formed of a single length of wire, said main bearing portion and said offset bearing means consisting of loops in said wire and said gripping arms comprising the free ends of said length of wire.

3. A hat retainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hat supporting frame is formed of a single length of wire bent upwardly at its lower end to form a hat supporting cradle and bifurcated at its upper end, the bifurcations terminating in the frame pivot means for said oifset bearing means on the yoke.

4. A hat retainer as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe hat supporting frame and the yoke are each formed of. an individual length of wire bent to form the respective elements thereof.

5. A hat retainer comprising a suspension element, a hat supporting frame formed of a single piece of wire twisted upon itself and bent upwardly at its lower end to form a hat supporting cradle, with its upper free ends'diverging and terminating in oppositely disposed concentric V trunnions, an intervening yoke formed of a single length of wire bent .to form a pair of main bearing loops pivotally suspending the yoke from a horizontal axis of said element, and a second pair of loops parallel with and laterally offset from said first-named loops forming a second bearing means, the trunnions on said frame sus} pending the latter from said offset bearing means on the yoke, and hat .gripping arms projecting from said yoke, overlying said frame and rotatable with said yoke about the axis of said first bearing portion, whereby the weight of said frame acts on said ofiset bearing means to nor mally urge said, arms into gripping position.

6. A hat retainer as claimed in claim 5, wherein said arms are bent to form a brim receiving recess and terminate in inwardly directed brim engaging ends which'upon rotation of said yoke, under the influence of the weight of said frame, are normally urged to intersect the vertical plane of said frame.

1,655,609 James Jan. 10,1928

Didge Feb. 26, 1935

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