Hat storing container

Abstract

A hat storing container formed in the shape of a vertically oriented cylindrical housing. The housing has a front, cap receiving door, and a rear accessory door. An upwardly angled hat holding platform is held in place on the forward part of the bottom of the housing by a hinge member so that the user can open the front door, tilt the platform forward, and have easy access to the hats being stored. A recessed handle is incorporated into the flat top of the housing. In the preferred embodiment, an LED light is positioned to illuminate the front of the first hat being stored.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of storage containers and more specifically to a hat storing container.

Baseball caps are a well known type of hat that are worn by people of all ages. The hats are comprised of a cap portion and an attached brim or bill portion that is designed to shade the user's eyes from direct sunlight. In recent times, baseball style caps have become a popular fashion statement and many people collect the caps for wearing on different occasions and for display in ones home or office. Therefore it would be useful to provide a storage and carry housing that can contain a plurality of baseball style hats so that a person can carry them from one place to another or simply display them while at home or in an office.

Obviously, a wide variety of carry type containers are currently available today that could be used by a person to transport or store one or more hats.

However, the containers currently available can not store, and have easy access to a plurality baseball style hats in a compact and rigid housing by placing the hats on a hinged upwardly slanting platform within the housing.
Additionally, current hat containers do not allow the hats to be stored in their most compact geometry with any excess space being utilized for storing accessory items that are accessible by a separate access door.
Additionally, no current hat containers are cylindrically shaped to match the contour of the brim of a standard baseball cap.
Additionally, current hat containers do not have the ability to allow the user to display the forward most hat in a manner that can be easily seen.
Finally, no current hat container has a built in LED light that allows the hats stored in the container to be illuminated while being displayed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a rigid hat storing container that removably retains a plurality of baseball type caps.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat storing container that allows the user easy access to the hats being stored.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat storing container that is lockable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hat storing container that includes a built in carry handle.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hat storing container that allow a person to see the front most hat being stored.

Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a hat storing container that allows the front most hat to be illuminated by an LED light.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat storing container that includes an additional storage compartment for sports or music related items.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat storing container that stores the hats in a compact manner.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a rigid hat storing container comprising: a housing, a hat holding platform, a cap brim retaining member, a platform hinge member a platform hinge support member a front door hinge member, a front housing door, a rear housing door, a rear door hinge member, a rear door retaining member, a recessed carry handle and a locking hasp; said housing being approximately cylindrical in shape and having a flattened rear portion, a flat bottom plate and a flat top plate; said flat top housing plate including said recessed carry handle, said housing also having a front door aperture and a rear door aperture; said cylindrical shape being vertical in orientation said front door filling in said front door aperture and held in place on one side by said front door hinge member and on the opposite side by said locking hasp; said platform hinge support member fixedly attached to the towards the front of said bottom plate; said hat holding platform attached to said platform hinge support member by said platform hinge; said hat holding platform being radiused at its front to match the curvature of a standard baseball cap, said hat brim retaining member fixedly attached to the front portion of said hat holding platform said hat holding platform oriented at upward angle from front to back so that a plurality of baseball style hats, whose cap portions are folded in on themselves, can be stacked on the platform and held in place by said hat brim retaining member and said rear housing door filling said rear door aperture is held in place on the bottom side by said rear door hinge, and on the top side by said rear door retaining member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side section view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the hinged platform in the forward position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention with the door open.

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the invention 100. The housing is relatively cylindrical in shape and vertical in orientation having a curved front portion 5, a flat rear panel 30, a flat top panel 2 and a flat bottom panel 21. The entire housing is shaped to store the baseball caps 14 in the most compact and efficient manner my matching the general radius dimension of the caps 14. Recessed portion 6 located on the top panel 2 surrounds a carry handle 4 that is flush with the top panel. A front door 18 is held in place on the right side by hinge member 8 and on the left side by standard lockable hasps 16, 17. At least a portion of the door 18 is made of transparent plastic so that the hats 14 inside can be clearly seen, especially the front most hat.

FIG. 2 shows a side section view that bisects the invention 100 in a vertical orientation. This view shows that each hat 14 is folded in on itself so that they can be nested in a compact way as shown. The hats 14 sit on a flat supporting plate 22. The hat brim 15 is prevented from falling forward by brim retaining member 13. The brim retaining member 13 is attached by a hinge 20 to hinge supporting member 10. The hat retaining housing is designed to hold approximately six hats 14, however, taller versions of the present invention 100 can be envisioned to hold a greater or lesser number of hats 14. A rear door 24 is hinged at the bottom of rear aperture 31 by hinge member 26. and can swing down as shown by dotted line 25. The rear door 24 is held in place by standard locking member 28 which can be rotated to open as shown by dotted lines 24. The space 46 created under hat supporting panel 22 can be used for holding sport accessories such as gloves and wrist bands, or the space 46 can be used for holding electronic devices or CD's. The flush carry handle 4 can also be seen within depressed area 6.

In the preferred embodiment, an LED light 12 is fixedly attached to the top edge of brim holding portion 13 and angled in such a way that it shines directly onto the front insignia portion 19 of the cap 14. The LED light 12 is powered by battery 42 and turned on or off by switch 40. Electrical wires 43 connect the light 12, battery, and switch 40 in a standard way. Alternately, the LED light 12 can be powered by a standard AC to DC adaptor, not shown. LED light 12 is shielded from view by light barrier 17. In this way, the user can highlight the front cap 14 and the invention 100 can act as a lit display case. The entire invention 100 can also be used as a night light.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the invention clearly showing rear door 24, hinge member 26 and standard locking member 28. The locking member can be rotated up as shown by dotted lines 29 to allow the door 24 to swing open.

FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of the invention 100 clearly showing the top panel 2 including carry handle 4 as well as the mostly cylindrical nature of the housing as formed by curved wall 5, and the flat nature of rear wall 30.

FIG. 5 is a side section view of the invention 100 with the door 18 in the open position, not shown, and shows how hat supporting panel 22 can swing forward making it easy for the user to have access to the hats 14 stored within the housing.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the invention 100 with the front door 18 swung open. This view shows how brim retaining member 13 retains hat brim 15 and conforms to the diameter of the brim 15. The large size of the door 18 allows the user to have easy access to all the hats 14 enclosed.

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the invention for further clarification.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. hat storing container comprising:

a housing;

a hat supporting platform; a cap brim retaining member; a platform hinge member a platform hinge support member

a front door hinge member;

a front housing door;

a rear housing door; a rear door hinge member; a rear door retaining member;

a recessed carry handle and

a locking hasp said housing being approximately cylindrical in shape and having a flattened rear portion a flat bottom plate and a flat top plate; said flat top housing plate including said recessed carry handle, said housing also having a front door aperture and a rear door aperture; said cylindrical shape being vertical in orientation said front door filling in said front door aperture and held in place on one side by said front door hinge member and on the opposite side by said locking hasp; said platform hinge support member fixedly attached to the towards the front of said bottom plate; said hat supporting platform attached to said platform hinge support member by said platform hinge; said hat supporting platform being radiused at its front end to match the curvature of a standard baseball cap; said hat brim retaining member fixedly attached to the front portion of said hat holding platform said hat supporting platform oriented at an upward angle from front to back of said housing so that a plurality of baseball style hats, whose cap portions are folded in on themselves, can be stacked on the platform and held in place by said hat brim retaining member and said rear housing door filling said rear door aperture and held in place on the bottom side by said rear door hinge and on the top side by said rear door retaining member.

2. Hat storing container as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an LED light affixed to the front of said hat supporting platform and oriented so that it illuminates the front portion of the most forward hat being stored;

said LED light powered by a battery or an AC to DC power adapter;

an on off switch mounted on the front of said housing turns said LED on and off;

said LED, on off switch and said battery connected in a standard way by electrical wires.

3. Hat storing container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical housing shape is determined by the diameter of the bill of said baseball cap and by the space needed to hold approximately 6 folded caps on said hat holding platform.

4. Hat storing container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said front door member includes a transparent portion to allow a person to easily see the said caps stored inside said container.

5. Hat storing container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hat supporting panel can be swung forward by the user to have easy access to all said hats supported by said holding plate.