FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a transporting or shipping containers. More specifically, the present invention is a hat transporting container that enables the hat to maintain the shape of the hat during transport.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order for a hat to be comfortable and aesthetically appealing, the hat must maintain the rounded dome shaped portion, also known as the crown of the hat, that will fit onto the head. Furthermore, a hat must also maintain the radial shape for the brim of the hat. During shipping, manufacturers often stack a plurality of hats together or surround a single hat with soft packaging material to protect the general shape of the hat. With larger brimmed hats, the shipping process becomes even more difficult and expensive due to the additional amount of packaging materials and larger boxes. For example, if a box is too cramped, the brim of the hat may become deformed and no longer appeal to the customer. If a box is too large, there may be excess packaging material waste.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a hat transporting container that may be used for a plurality of different hat styles, shapes, and sizes. To accomplish such a task, the present invention is a box enclosure provided with a lid. The box enclosure features a hollow dome shaped portion onto which the crown of the hat may be placed. The hollow dome shaped portion may comprise a variety of different embodiments featuring different contours for differently shaped hats. The hollow dome shaped portion also provides a more convenient way of storing the hat transporting container as they can be stacked on top of each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is in the opened position.
FIG. 2 is another top perspective view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is in the opened position.
FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is in the opened position.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is in the opened position.
FIG. 5 is another top perspective view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is in the opened position.
FIG. 6 is another top perspective view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is in the opened position and a hat is placed within the storage compartment.
FIG. 7 is another top perspective view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is in the closed position and a hat is placed within the storage compartment.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a hat transporting container that may be used for a plurality of different hat styles, shapes, and sizes. The present invention is preferably constructed of a cardboard material to allow for folding of components and to facilitate hinged connections. However, the present invention may be constructed of any material or combination of materials other than the cardboard without deviating from the scope of the present invention.
The present invention comprises a storage compartment 1, a central support 7, a cover 8, a crown opening 17, and a locking mechanism 18 as shown in FIG. 1-5. In reference to a general configuration of the present invention, the cover 8 is hingedly connected to the storage compartment 1 so that the present invention can be configured between an opened position and a closed position. The crown opening 17 concentrically traverses through a top panel 9 of the cover 8. The central support 7 is concentrically connected onto a base 2 of the storage compartment 1. The central support 7 functions as a securing platform to receive a crown of the hat and oriented toward the crown opening 17. When a hat is placed within the storage compartment 1 and the present invention is at the closed position, the crown of the hat traverses through the crown opening 17 while the top panel 9 encloses a brim portion of the hat. The locking mechanism 18 is integrated to the storage compartment 1 and the cover 8, wherein the locking mechanism 18 selectively engages and disengages the cover 8 into the storage compartment 1.
The cover 8 that is hingedly connected to the storage compartment 1 allows the user to configure the present invention between the opened position and the closed position. In reference to FIG. 2, the cover 8 further comprising a locking flap 12, a first flap 15, and a second flap 16. The locking flap 12 is hingedly connected to a distal end 11 of the top panel 9 as a proximal end 10 of the top panel 9 is hingedly connected to the storage compartment 1. In other words, the locking flap 12 and the connection point between the top panel 9 and the storage compartment 1 are oppositely positioned of each other. The first flap 15 and the second flap 16 are oppositely positioned of each other about the top panel 9. More specifically, the first flap 15 is perpendicularly connected to the top panel 9 and is extended from the distal end 11 to the proximal end 10. The second flap 16 is perpendicularly connected to the top panel 9 and is extended from the distal end 11 to the proximal end 10. Collectively, the locking flap 12, the first flap 15, and the second flap 16 allows the top panel 9 to be aligned with the storage compartment 1 during the closed position.
In reference to FIG. 1-3, the central support 7 is generally shaped into a crown portion of a hat so that the crown of the hat can be securely placed upon the central support 7. Furthermore, the central support 7 is shaped into a hallow body to reduce the total weight of the present invention and to allow vertical stacking of the present invention during storage.
In reference to FIG. 4, the present invention further comprises a first tab 13 and a second tab 14. More specifically, the first tab 13 and the second tab 14 are oppositely positioned of each other about the locking flap 12. The first tab 13 is hingedly connected to the locking flap 12, and the second tab 14 is hingedly connected to the locking flap 12. When the present invention is at the closed position, the first tab 13 and the second tab 14 further assist the alignment of the top panel 9 to the storage compartment 1.
The storage compartment 1 that provides the necessary storage area to place the hat further comprises a connector wall 3, a locking wall 4, a first channeled wall 5, and a second channeled wall 6 as shown in FIG. 4-5. More specifically, the connector wall 3, the locking wall 4, the first channeled wall 5, and the second channeled wall 6 are parametrically positioned around the base 2 and functions as a lateral wall for the storage compartment 1 thus laterally protecting the brim portion of the hat. The connector wall 3 is perpendicularly connected to the base 2 as the proximal end 10 of the top panel 9 is hingedly connected to the connector wall 3, opposite of the base 2. In other words, the connector wall 3 function as the intermediate structure that hingedly connects the storage compartment 1 and the cover 8. The locking wall 4 is perpendicularly connected to the base 2 and positioned opposite of the connector wall 3. The locking wall 4 functions as a structural wall for the adjacent positioning of the locking flap 12 during the closed position. The first channeled wall 5 is perpendicularly connected to the base 2 and is extended from the connector wall 3 to the locking wall 4. The second channeled wall 6 is perpendicularly connected to the base 2 and is extended from the connector wall 3 to the locking wall 4. When the present invention is at the closed position, the first channeled wall 5 and the second channeled wall 6 further assist the alignment of the top panel 9 to the storage compartment 1.
The locking mechanism 18 comprises a first locking tab 19, a locking gap 20, a second locking tab 21, and a locking opening 22 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. The first locking tab 19 and the locking gap 20 are centrally aligned along the locking flap 12. The second locking tab 21 and the locking opening 22 are centrally aligned along the locking wall 4. More specifically, the first locking tab 19 is hingedly connected to the locking flap 12 so that the first locking tab 19 can engage or disengaged with the locking opening 22. The locking gap 20 is delineated between the first locking tab 19 and the locking flap 12 thus allowing the second locking tab 21 to be engaged or disengaged with the locking gap 20. The second locking tab 21 is hingedly connected to the base 2 and outwardly extended from the locking wall 4. The locking opening 22 traverses through the locking wall 4 so that the first locking tab 19 can be engaged or disengaged with the locking opening 22. In other words, the locking mechanism 18 prevents accidental opening of the cover 8 as second locking tab 21 is engaged within the locking gap 20 and the first locking tab 19 is engaged within the locking opening 22.
When the present invention is at the opened position, as shown in FIG. 1-6, the user can access the storage compartment 1 as the top panel 9 is angularly positioned to the base 2. Furthermore, the first locking tab 19 and the locking gap 20 are positioned away from the second locking tab 21 and the locking opening 22. Once the present invention is at the opened position, the user can place a hat onto the central support 7 or remove a hat from the central support 7.
When the present invention is at the closed position, as shown in FIG. 7, a hat can be safely stored within the storage compartment 1 for shipping or storage purpose as the storage compartment 1 and the cover 8 securely positioned a hat within the present invention. As a result, the base 2 and the top panel 9 are able to fully protect the brim portion of the hat without any deformations.
In order to engage the cover 8 to the storage compartment 1, the top panel 9 is positioned parallel to the base 2 as the locking flap 12 is externally positioned to the locking wall 4. Then, the first flap 15 is internally placed within the storage compartment 1 and against the first channeled wall 5, and the second flap 16 is internally placed within the storage compartment 1 and against the second channeled wall 6. The first tab 13 is then inserted into a terminal end the first channeled wall 5 thus the fastening locking flap 12 into the first channeled wall 5 via the first tab 13. The second tab 14 is then inserted into a terminal end the second channeled wall 6 thus fastening the locking flap 12 into the second channeled wall 6 via the second tab 14. A bottom surface of the first tab 13 and the second tab 14 may be circularly or oval shaped so that the corresponding tab can easily inserted into the corresponding channeled wall. Then, the first locking tab 19 is engaged with the locking opening 22 thus maintaining the positioning of the locking flap 12. The second locking tab 21 is then engaged with the locking gap 20 to tighten the locking flap 12 onto the locking wall 4.
In order to disengage the cover 8 from the storage compartment 1, the second locking tab 21 is first disengaged from the locking gap 20. Then, the first locking tab 19 is disengaged from the locking opening 22 thus allowing the user to tilt the locking flap 12. Tilting of the locking flap 12 then disengages the first tab 13 from the first channeled wall 5 and the second tab 14 from the second channeled wall 6 so that the user can open the cover 8 away from the storage compartment 1.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Patent Application
20210353020
