US1902313A - Hat box - Google Patents

Description

Mal-ch21, 1933. M. STRUBLE- 1,902,313

HAT BOX Filed April 6, 1931 INV Y WWJ Zea/ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES 'MABEL STRUBLE, or NEW YORK, N, Y.

' HAT Application filed April 6,

A My invention relates to hat boxes. One of the objects of my invention is to provide a hat box which is adapted to stand on end and which can be used in an analogous manner to a wardrobe trunk. At the same time, I aim to provide a hat box which is neat in appearance, easy to carry, and which keeps hats in fixed position.

The average hat box is of circular form with a fiat end cover. Hats are usually placed at random in such boxes, one in contact with another and without regard to movement of the -hats when the box is carried. It is awkward to carry such a box. Such a box is usually constructed to be carried with the cover up.

My improved hat box is preferably elongated between flat ends and carried by a handle on the curved side. This provides easy carrying. To prevent jostling of the hats when the box is carried by the side, I preferably provide hat retaining members. In order to give style to the box, I make it of oval shape and this shape combines with the manner of retaining the hats as I shall presently describe. My hat box may be stood on end and one or more hats may be removed without disturbing others.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing a preferred form of my novel hat box and on which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the outside of the hat box;

, Fig. 2 shows the hat box standing on end in position adapted to be used like a wardrobe trunk;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View 49 taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 1 is an end view of the outside of the hat box;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken-on the line 55 of Fig. 3 and showing a hat re- 43 taining member within the hat box;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a hat retaining member"-Figs. 5 and 6 showing the adaptation of the circular hat retaining member to the oval hat box;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion BOX 1931. Serial No. 527,964.

of a hat box showing a modified form of supporting means for hat retaining members;

Fig. 8 is a view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7. I

The hat box comprises parallel end pieces 10 and 11 made of fabric or leather or other suitable luggage material. These end pieces are preferably oval in shape as illustrated. In Fig. 1, line a represents the major axis of the oval and the line Y) represents the minor axis of the oval.

A side member 12," also of fabric, leather or other suitable material, connects the end pieces 10 and 11, being curved to conform' to the oval outlines of the end pieces 10 and 11. Side member 12 is at right angles to the end pieces. Inside corner angle stiffeners 13 made of leather, fabric or metal may be provided.

The side member 12 has an opening 14 therein which opening extends longitudinally of the hat box. The opening is preferably rectangular, as shown. The opening 14 is closed by a door 15. This door may be made integral with the side member 12 or it may be formed of a separate piece. The door is hinged to the side member adjacent the top end 11, as indicated at 16. Preferably the door is secured along the longitudinal sides of the opening by means of zippers comprising projections on the door and on the side member adjacent the opening, which projections co-operate with a sliding member to give a closure, in known manner. The bottom of the door may be fastened by snap members 17. It will be seen that the'opening 14 and the door 15 are substantially parallel to the plane through the major axes of the end pieces.

A handle 19 is provided on the side 12. This handle is approximately quarter way around on the side member from the door and is on'the portion of the side member of maximum curvature and substantially in the plane of the major axes ofthe oval ends. It will be seen that the hat box is adapted to be carried horizontally but, when in use, is adapted to stand on the bottom end 10. When stood on the bottom end, the door 15 may be raised and the contents of the hat box are accessible from the side. Knobs 20 may be provided on the bottom 10 for standing the hat box on the floor. Legs or knobs 21 may be provided to permit standing the hat box longitudinally with the handle 19 up.

Within the hat box is a plurality of hat retaining members 22. Each hat retaining member 22 comprises a circular frame 23 and cross members 24 on which is mounted a hat pad 25 to which a hat may be pinned. Hat retaining members 22 may be made of pieces of wire. At the back end of each hat retaining member is a prong or double hooked piece 26. As shown in Fig. 3, this hook piece extends upwardly from the member 22 when inclined, thence rearwardly and thence again upwardly. Secured to the top and bottom re-enforcing rings 13 by rivets or the like is a metal support or frame member 27' containing a plurality of holes 28. The prongs 26 may be inserted into the holes 28. The shape of the prongs is such that when they are inserted in the holes, the upper portions will rest against the back of member 27 and the lower portions will rest against the front of member 27 and thus the hat retaining members will be supported in inclined position.

It will be understood that the horizontal projection of an inclined circular member is an oval. Therefore by inclining the members 22, they can be made to fit the oval contour of the hat box. Furthermore, it will be seen that the box then prevents the members 22 from movin therein. With reference to Fig. 3, the pro ections 26 prevent the members '22 from swinging downward and the shape of the hat box prevents the members 22 from swinging upward. The hat box being of yieldable material, the hat retaining members can, however, be swung upward when the door is opened by pressing the side of the hat box outward. This, however, is not necessarysince the openings 28 can be, as shown, made wider than the width of the projectionsso that the hat retaining members can be removed and inserted by turning them,

so to speak, about a horizontal axis. It will be seen that the hat retaining members can be selectively placed within the'hat bag in various positions. Itwill be obvious that the hat retaining members may be of various shapes. I have shown in Fig. 3 several high hat retaining members and one low hat retaining member. It will thus be seen with the construction herein described that the hat box'can be carried horizontally and the hat retainingmembers will be held in position with the movement. Consequently, the hats'will be properly retained without contact with each other and in fixed positions. The hat retaining members may be covered by clothor-other' fabric. It will be seen that the hats can be readily'removed and inserted,

either by taking them off the hat retaining members or individually removing the hat retaining members with the hats thereon.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a modified form of hat retaining member in which a supporting member 30 is provided which has inturned edges engaged by friction members 31 between which is a spring 32. The spring 32 urges the members 31 against the supporting member 30 to hold the hat retaining member in position. Finger pieces 33 are provided which are hinged at 34 and which may be pressed together to compress the spring 32 and draw the members 31 together and away from the support 30 so that the hat retaining members may be moved up and down Within the hat box.

While I have described a preferred form of the invention, it will be understood that variations in structure may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be obvious that, while the oval form is preferred, I should not necessarily be limited to this exact shape. If desired, the portion of the bag adjacent the feet 21 may be flattened to form a supporting surface instead of using separate feet.

What I claim is:

1. A hat box comprising parallel oval end pieces, a side member curved to oval form connecting the end pieces. said side member having a door opening therein, a door adapted to close said opening, a handle on said side member, a circular hat retaining member, and means for holding said hat retaining member in the box in inclined position.

2. A hat box comprising parallel oval end pieces, a side member curved to oval form connecting said end pieces, said side member having an opening therein, a door for closing said opening, a circular hat retaining member having a diameter substantially equal to the major axis of said oval end pieces, and means to hold said hat retaining member in the box in'inclined position.

3. A hat box comprising parallel oval end pieces, a side member curved to oval form connecting the end pieces, said side member having an opening therein substantially parallel to a longitudinal plane through the major axis of the end pieces, a door adapted to close said opening, a handle on said side member substantially in alignment with said longitudinal plane, a circular hat retaining member having a diameter substantially equal to the major axis of said oval end pieces, and means to hold the hat retaining member in the box in inclined position. v

4. A hat box as set forth in claim 3 including feet on the curved side member opposite the handle for resting the hat box.

5. A hat box comprising end members of curved outline and a curved side member connecting the end members and having an opening therein, said hat box being constructed opening and movable upwardly to uncover the opening when the hat box stands on end, curved hat retaining members, and means to support said hat retaining-members in in-v clined position in said box so as to conform to the curvature of the side member.

6. A hat box comprising parallel oval end pieces, a side member curved to oval form connecting the end pieces, said side member having an opening therein, said hat box being constructed to stand on end, said opening being substantially parallel to a longitudinal plane through the major axis of the end pieces, a door for closingsaid opening, said door being movable upwardly to uncoverthe opening when the box stands on end, a handle on said side member substantially in alignment with said longitudinal plane, circular hat retaining members, and means to support said hat .retaining members in inclined position in said box so as to conform to the curva-\ ture of the side member.

7. A hat box comprising parallel oval end pieces, a side member of pliable material curved to oval form connecting said end pieces, said side member having an opening therein, a door for closing said opening, a circular hat retaining member, and means for selectively and removably positioning said hat retaining member in the box and holding the hat retaining member angularly with respect to said end pieces to contact and conform to the oval curvature of the side member whereby the hat retaining member serves to support the sidememberand the side member serves to hold the hat retaining member in place. p

8. A hat box comprising parallel oval end pieces of equal size, a side member of pliable material curved to oval form connecting said end pieces,-said side member having an opening therein, a closure for said opening, a supportmember in the hat box, a plurality of at retaining members comprising circular frame members of a diameter substantially equal to the internal width of the hat box measured along the major axis thereof, and

means for holding said hat retaining mem--- bers on said support member and limiting movement thereof toward one end of the hat box to an inclined position in which the circular frame makes substantially complete inside peripheral contact with the box whereby the hat retaining members support the side member, movement of the hat retaining members toward the other end of the hat box being restrained by said side member when the hat boxiis closed.

9. A hat box comprising parallel oval end pieces of equal size, a side member of pliable material curved to oval form connecting said 1 end pieces, said'side member having an opening therein, a closure for said opening, a support member in the hat box, a plurality of hat retaining members comprising circu lar frame members of a. diameter substantially equal to the internal width of the hat box measured along the major axis thereof, and means for holding said hat retaining members on said support member and limit ing movement thereof toward one end of the hat box to an inclined position in which the circular frame makes substantially complete inside peripheral contact with the box whereby the hat retaining members support the side member, movement of the hat retaining members toward the other end of the hat box being restrained by said side member when the hat box is closed, and said support mem ber being rigid and extending between and connected to said end pieces.

10.'A hat box comprising parallel oval end pieces of equal size, a side member of pliable material curved to oval form connecting said end pieces, said side member having an opening therein, a closure for said opening, a support member in the hat box, a plurality of bat retaining members comprising circular frame members'of a diameter substantially equal to the internal width of the hat box measured along the major axis' thereof, and means comprising recesses in said support member and pro'ngs on said hat retaining members for holding said hat retaining members on said support member and limiting movement thereof toward one end of the hat box to an inclined position in which the circular frame makes substantially complete inside peripheral contact with the box whereby the hat retaining members support the side member, movement of the hat retaining members toward the other end of the hat box being restrained by said side member when the hat box is closed.

11. A hat box comprising a rigid frame member, spaced oval end pieces secured to said frame member, said frame member being secured to said end pieces at one end of the minor axis of the oval, a side member of pliable material connecting the end pieces and having an opening therein opposite the frame member, a hat retaining member, and means for mounting 'said hat retaining member on said frame member, said hat retaining member being held in position jointly by the frame member and the side member whereby the hat retaining member constitutes a support.

the minor axis of the oval, a side member of pliable material connecting the end pieces and having an opening therein opposite the frame member, a circular hat retaining member, and means for mounting said hat retaining member on said frame member in downwardly inclined position with the frame member vertical so that the horizontal projection of the hat retaining member is an oval corresponding to the oval cross-section of the hat box whereby the hat retaining member supports the side member and the side mem ber holds thehat retaining member in position.

13. A hat box comprising parallel oval end pieces, a side member curved to oval form connecting the end pieces, said side member having an opening therein, said hat box being constructed to stand on end, said opening being substantially parallel to a longitudinal plane through the major axes of the end pieces, a door for closing said opening, said door being movable upwardly to uncover the opening-when the box stands on end, a handle on said side member substantially in alignment with said longitudinal plane, hat retaining members of circular form, and means for supporting said hat retaining members in said box in downwardly inclined position so that the circular hat retaining members conform to the oval shape of the box, the hat retaining members being held from upward movement by contact with the side member.

14. A hat box comprising parallel end pieces having a curved outline, a side member of flexible material connecting the end pieces and curved to conform with said outline, said side member formed with an opening therein, means for closing said opening, a hat retaining member having a curved outline, one of the axis of said hat retaining member being substantially equal to one of the axis of said end pieces and the axis of said hat retaining member at right angles to the first mentioned axis being at least as long as the corresponding axis of said end pieces, and means for holding said hat retaining member in the box in such position that it has peripheral contact with the curved interior of said side member.

15. A hat box comprising parallel end pieces having a curved outline, a side member of flexible material connecting the end piecesand curved to conform with said outline, said side member formed with an opening therein, means for closing said opening, a hat retaining member having a curved outline, one of the axis of said end pieces and the axis of said hat retaining member at right angles to the first-mentioned axis being greater than the corresponding axis of said end pieces, and means for holding said hat retaining member in the box in inclined position so that it has peripheral contact with the curved interior of said side member.

16. A hat box comprising parallel oval end pieces, a rigid member connecting and spacing said end pieces, a side member curved to oval form secured to said end pieces, said side member having an opening therein in alignment with one end of the respective minor axes of said end pieces, a closure member adapted to close said opening, a handle on said side member substantially in alignsignature.

MABEL STRUBLE.

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