US3473168A

US3473168A - Hat with crown shaping and inclination means

Info

Publication number: US3473168A
Application number: US631693A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul G Gallin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-04-18
Filing date: 1967-04-18
Publication date: 1969-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1986-10-21

Description

HAT WITH CROWN SHAPING AND INCLINATION MEANS Filed April 18, 1967 P. G. GALLIN 2 Sheets-Sheet PAUL G GALUN ATTORNEYS.

HAT WITH CROWN SHAPING AND INCLINATION MEANS Filed April 18, 1967 P. G. GALLlN Oct. 21, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet FIG. 2

} FIG. 4

FIG. 3

INVENTOR PAUL G. GALLIN United States Patent 11.5. C]. 2-195 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hat of separable construction in which a removable cover for a main frame assembly is maintained in a selected shape and in a chosen form by a partially deformable rim shaping member in cooperation with a front tab and a crown shaping panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention pertains to hats adapted for dis-assembly, the hats being generally of the type employed in uniforms and the like.

Description of the prior art It has heretofore been known to provide hats wherein an internal shaping rim is frictionally engaged within a circular portion of a crown. Such prior shaping devices have included annular wire or plastic loops. These prior art loops have been difficult to install without damage thereto, have been unduly sharp at their edges thus creating an unnatural eifect in the asembled hat, and have been of short life and limited adjustability.

Additionally, many previously known crown shaping devices have been permanently afiixed, integral and necessary parts of a forward brim or peak of the cap, and therefore unavailable in caps lacking in such brims or peaks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a hat of the uniform or military variety wherein the crown shaping means is independent of any other portion of the hat and thereby provides a shaping means adapted for employment in hats lacking in a peak or brim portion.

A basic objective of the invention concerns the provision of a hat shaping crown formed of a material of annular cross section and having a deformable portion held in place by the wearers head and positively locating the shaping member to avoid a dishevelled or non-uniform position in use.

Still another objective concerns the provision of a shaping member which is readily deformed for assembly or dis-assembly from the hat without danger of damage to either the shaping member or the hat.

A further objective concerns the provision of a noncomplex component of a hat adapted to incline the crown portion of the hat from front to rear and independent of a peak or brim portion of the hat.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification, when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a dis-assembled perspective view showing a hat constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, medial cross section of the assembled hat;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially Patented Oct. 21, 1969 along the section line 33 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view similar to the forward portion of FIGURE 2, but showing the positions of the components as the hat is worn.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in more detail, a hat constructed and assembled within the scope of the invention is designated therein by reference numeral 10. A main component of the hat is a sub-frame assembly 12 which includes an annular main frame 14 formed of any suitable hat frame material such as rigid fiber, cardboard, or the like. The main frame 14 includes an inner side 16 and an opposite outer side 18 which, as shown in FIG- URE 3, includes a top portion 20 and an opposite, bottom portion 22. The main frame 14 has overlapped reinforcing sections about the top 20 and bottom 22 thereof, the top reinforcing section 24 being secured thereabout by lines of stitching 26, or other suitable connection means, and the bottom overlapped reinforcing section 28 being secured in place by stitching 30. The bottom overlapped section 28 includes an outer positioning ring 32 best shown in FIGURE 1 and serving as a limit stop for the assembled components.

Secured about the inner side 16 of the main frame 14 by a line of stitching 34 is an internal sweat band 36 formed of heavy fabric, leather, or the like. As shown in FIGURE 2, the sweat band 36 may have ventilation openings 38 formed therein and is free at its upper edge 40 for a purpose described in more detail below.

The sub frame assembly 12 further includes a top inclination assembly 42 comprising a generally rectangular front tab 44 formed of relatively rigid material such as plastic, or the like, and having a top edge 46 shaped to the approximate desired contour of the forward portion of the assembled hat and a base portion 48 ailixed to the outer side 18 of the main frame by an overlying, first afiixing panel 50 held in place thereon by staples 52 or other suitable fastening means. Connected to the front tab 44 at a rebent forward portion 54, is a crown shaping panel 56 having an enlarged central portion 58 and an extended and reverted rear portion 60 secured at its distal end 62 to the outer side of the main frame by a second overlying afiixing panel 64 as shown in FIGURE 2. If desired, the section 58 may have a protective inner cover 66. The angle of inclination of the crown shaping panel is selected by the height of the front tab from the main frame 14.

It will be observed in FIGURE 2 that the crown shaping panel, adjacent the point of connection with the main frame at its end 60 includes an acute bend portion which extends outwardly a substantial distance from the main frame. This extension of the acutely bent portion of the shaping panel functions to stretch the assembled crown portion of the hat and to ensure its correct alignment with the front portion of the hat.

A cover for the hat, formed of fabric or the like is designated in the drawing by reference numeral 68 and includes a circular crown portion 70 with a generally circular rim portion 72 merging with the crown at a rim edge 74. The rim portion has a depending, annular cover band 76 secured thereto which, as shown in the drawings, is adapted for positioning about the main frame 14.

A connector band, preferably formed of an elastic or stretchable material and also of annular form is provided. The connector band 78 fits over and frictionally engages against the cover band 76 to secure the cover 68 in place on the frame.

An important component of the invention comprises an annular cover rim shaping member shown per se in FIG- URE l and therein identified by reference numeral 80. The rim shaping member 80 is initially of annular form and is formed of a mesh, flexible and deformable material having a plastic memory adapted to return it to the annular form shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 1 upon release of pressure therefrom. In use, the shaping member 80 has a forward, downwardly bent, U-shaped portion 82 which, as shown best in FIGURE 3, is normally aligned with the front panel 44 and is disposed between the inner side 16 of the main frame and the sweat band 36.

In use, the portion 82 is compressed between the sweat band 36 and the frame 14 by pressure of the head H'of the wearer. This effectively holds the shaping member in place, while, at the same time, effectively shaping the rim portion of the hat. It will be observed that, by virtue of the semirigid form of the shaping member, damage to the hat is effectively avoided. There are no sharp corners or edges to tear or cut the rim of the hat, and the shaping member 80 is entirely independent of the remaining parts of the hat.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hat structure for wearing on the head of a wearer, the hat structure being of the uniform variety, the structure comprising:

an annular sub-frame assembly including a main frame having an inner side and an outer side, a top and a bottom;

a sweat band connected to the inner side of the main frame about the bottom;

a sub-frame assembly including a top inclination assembly having a front tab connected to the outer side of the main frame, a crown shaping panel secured to the front tab and extending therefrom to the outer side of the main frame at a diametrically opposite position and connected thereto;

the crown shaping panel including an acute bend portion extending outwardly of the main frame;

a cover having a crown portion with a generally circular rim portion, and having a depending cover band encircular rim portion, and having a depending cover band encircling the outer side of the main frame;

a connector band engaged about the cover band and the main frame; and

a resilient annular cover rim shaping member, said cover rim shaping member being disposed within said rim portion of said cover and having one portion engaged within said acute bend portion of said crown shaping panel and a second portion disposed behind said front tab, said cover rim shaping member being of a circumferential length causing said second portion thereof to deform downwardly behind said front tab while the remainder thereof yieldably biases said rim portion of said cover outwardly to stiffen and hold the shape thereof.

2. The hat structure defined in claim 1, wherein said second portion of the cover rim shaping member extends downwardly between said main frame and said sweat band so as to be deformed therebetween by the wearers head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 554,600 2/1896 Hirschberg. 2,038,828 4/1936 Conley. 2,389,689 11/ 1945 Scheppler 2-195 2,393,270 1/1946 Schlesinger 2 2,536,135 l/l951 Lev 2-l95 3,164,842 1/1965 Weinstein 2195 FOREIGN PATENTS 121,810 8/ 1946 Australia.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner GEORGE H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner