Patent Application
20190254457
This invention relates to an improvement in holders for storing headwear with brims.
Much of the prior art in the field of cap and hat storage has been apparatuses that hold several hats, into which the brim, crown, top, rear or other parts of the hat or cap are inserted or placed (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,137,157, 5,727,694, 5,480,073, 5,921,403, 5,240,123, 5,092,472, and 6,293,413). Other art uses a spring-loaded clasp into which the brim is inserted while holding the jaws open and then released by repeating the same process (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 831,627, 1,570,451, and 1,491,286). And yet in another type, the brim is inserted by pushing it into the spring-loaded jaws and then released by pulling it out (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,160,769 and 5,074,508). This prior art is either bulky, unappealing in appearance, ineffective, inconvenient or difficult to operate.
For persons who wear hats, storing them in a convenient, accessible place is a common problem. Typically, in the home, the hats are placed or stacked on a closet shelf, which makes them neither convenient nor easily accessible. While hat-holding devices are known in the art, none provide a practical, simple means of gripping the bill or brim and then releasing it. Moreover, many of the prior art devices are bulky, unsightly, and not modular. Moreover, many of the prior art devices are large structures intended to hold multiple hats of the same kind and used for display or team use.
Embodiments of the current invention are much more flexible in the type of hat that they can hold, as well as their ease of use and mounting method, and thus are particularly useful in the home or office. The current invention solves the aforementioned problems by providing a clamp having spring-loaded arms that can be mounted, for example, on the inside surface of a door, such on a closet, or on any flat surface. Depending on the number and size of hats, the number of clamps mounted and their spacing can be any convenient or desired pattern. In addition, the design of the current invention is such that it makes the process of inserting and removal of the hat much easier and more convenient than that of the prior art. By applying the clamp to the back of a closet door, for example, the space between the door and the clothes that otherwise would be wasted can now be used for hat storage. Furthermore, the clamps can be mounted at any convenient height, allowing hats to be stored within reach, rather than on a shelf, which is often too high to be easily accessible.
Embodiments of the current invention disclose an improved clamp for storing hats. The clamp includes a fixed arm and a movable arm, a shaft that acts as an axis about which the arms can pivot, and a spring that forces a pair of lower ends of the two arms to abut each other. On the upper portion of the movable arm, above the pivot axis, is an area that is pushed by the user to release a hat brim held by the lower ends.
The clamp can be coupled to a surface by mounting means such as one or more adhesive pads on the outside surface of the fixed arm, or, alternatively, one or more screws passing through that arm and into the mounting surface. A spreader element disposed between the arms, having one end hingedly coupled to the lower part of one of the arms and another end resting on a stop on the other arm, serves to hold the lower ends of both arms apart and open.
As the user inserts the brim of a hat to be held into the gap between the lower arms of the clamp, the brim contacts and pushes upwards the spreader element. Because of the upward force provided by the hat brim, the free end of the spreader swings upward, causing the spring to exert its force to quickly close the lower ends onto the brim. This action takes a minimum insertion force, yet the brim will be held tightly by the lower ends of the arms. Removal of the hat requires pushing the upper part of the movable arm of the clamp, thereby releasing the brim and resetting the lower ends into an open position for the next use, while the hat falls out of the clamp by force of gravity. In some embodiments, a spring may be coupled to the spreader, thereby adding force to the spreader to urge it into the extended position.
Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:
Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows.
As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiment are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.
According to one exemplary embodiment, and as shown in the Figures, a hat-retaining clamp is disclosed. The clamp includes a pair of arms, a movable arm 1 and a fixed arm 2, arranged in front-to-rear relation, with their inner surfaces facing each other. The arms 1 and 2 are pivotably coupled by a hinge 8, pivoting about the longitudinal axis of hinge 8. The fixed arm 2 may be coupled to any surface, for example a closet door or a wall, by any desired means, such as, for example, mounting pads 4 and 5. The mounting pads can be secured to fixed arm 2 by an adhesive, while the outward-facing surface of the mounting pads can also include an adhesive, which is covered by a release liner until ready for use. At that time, the liner is removed and the clamp can be pressed into place on a mounting surface. Alternatively, the clamp can be mounted on screws that are received in corresponding keyhole slits (not shown) defined in fixed arm 2. The surface to which the clamp is mounted may be a vertical surface, an angled surface, or otherwise oriented in any direction that enables the clamp to function as described herein.
A spreader 13, shown here in an intermediate position, may be a rod, a flap, or the like, and is pivotably coupled to movable arm 1 via pivot 17. A first end of spreader 13 is coupled to hinge 17, while the opposite end of spreader 13 is free and influenced by gravity, such that when it is not constrained, the spreader pivots towards a stop 14. Stop 14 is disposed on the inner surface of fixed arm 2. The distance between hinge 8 and stop 14 may be slightly greater than the distance between hinge 8 and pivot 17. Optionally, a groove 19 extends transversely across fixed arm 2 and is disposed proximate stop 14. While in this embodiment, spreader 13 is coupled to movable arm 1 while stop 14 and groove 19 are at fixed arm 2, the location of these elements could be switched between the two arms without detracting from the functionality of the clamp. Alternatively, stop 14 and spreader 13 may be positioned on the same arm, such that, when stop 14 engages spreader 13, the free end of spreader 13 is disposed slightly below pivot 17.
In some embodiments, the upper and lower ends of movable arm 1 may be angled with respect to the central portion of arm 1. The upper end of movable arm 1 may be angled towards fixed arm 2, so as to provide a more convenient range of movement for the user's finger as it depresses the upper end of arm 1. The lower end of movable arm 1 may be angled away from fixed arm 2, such that when the clamp is in a closed configuration, the lower end of movable arm 1 is substantially parallel to, or almost parallel to, the lower end of fixed arm 2. Such a configuration allows for greater surface contact between the gripping pads and the hat brim, thereby increasing the clamping force on the hat brim. An exemplary range of the angles between the ends of arm 1 and the central portion of arm 1 may be approximately 0°-10°, but would depend on the geometry of the particular implementation of the embodiments disclosed herein.
The next four figures show a sequence of operation.
Variations to the design of the described embodiments, with respect to dimensions, shape, arm travel distance, spring type, arrangement of elements, and so forth, may be contemplated and provided as desired without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, in some embodiments, the spreader may be provided as a hinged member pivotably coupled to both arms, with a hinge therebetween. In the extended position, the spreader hinge may be disposed slightly below the pivots, spreading the lower ends of the arms apart. In the withdrawn position, the spreader hinge may be disposed above the pivots, allowing the lower ends of the arms to be brought together. Furthermore, while the embodiments disclosed herein are described as being used with brimmed hats, it should be understood that the invention may be used with any type of object, including apparel and non-apparel items, that allows the invention to function as described herein.
The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
