US20070051642A1

US20070051642A1 - Transparent hat box

Info

Publication number: US20070051642A1
Application number: US11/210,643
Authority: US
Inventors: Carol Godwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-25
Filing date: 2005-08-25
Publication date: 2007-03-08

Abstract

The Transparent Hot Box presented herein and illustrated by FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is comprised as follows. Case 2 is molded from a transparent plastic material with side walls extending upwardly from an octagon-shaped floor section, whereby said side walls form an octagonal-shaped box. Base 6 extends from the outer face of the case's floor section and features an octagon shape with outer dimensions which are slightly less that those of case 2. Lid 4 is also formed from an octagonal-shaped transparent plastic material with dimensions which approximates those of case 2. Lid 4 has an outer face that features a recessed center section corresponding to the size and shape of base 6, and inner face that corresponds closely to the anterior edge of said case's side walls. Handle 8 is composed of a flexible length of cord or plastic mounted onto the side of case 2 via removable retaining posts 12; said posts install into apertures 10 in the case's side walls.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is preceded by provisional patent (filed) which embodies the present design.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to devices that provide storage and carrying devices for headwear. Past inventions have demonstrated a variety of headwear boxes that include the following designs. Kreuter D161,844 discloses a conical hatbox comprised of corresponding upper and lower halves. Miller U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,400 shows a rack for storing/displaying baseball-style caps featuring a translucent, cylindrical main section. Faulkstien U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,842 shows a collapsible square box for caps that features transparent windows. Hatcher U.S. Pat. No. 3,402,807 discloses a set of hat containers that can be stacked inside of a fitted bag. These references are typically shaped to fit either a baseball cap or a hat with a cylindrical crown. None of these references provide a headwear container that is simultaneously rigid, stackable, mildew resistant, completely transparent and capable of accommodating headwear of virtually any shape/size.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein provides features not seen in prior art. This container features a unique octagonal shape that accommodates a wider range of hats than the aforementioned types of designs. The flat facets of the side walls allow containers to be packed tightly alongside each other (cylindrical containers slide away from each other when packed together tightly). This shape also allows the containers to be stored on their sides if desired (cylindrical containers will roll if used in this fashion). Unlike other designs it is completely transparent to allow identification and display of the contents and seals out moisture to prevent mildew. This invention is also stackable and can be easily carried.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 depicts a frontal perspective view of a single unit of the invention with unattached lid and attached handle.
FIG. 2 depicts a frontal perspective view of two units of the invention, stacked together and containing headwear.
FIG. 3 depicts a cutaway view of a single unit and lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Description—Main Embodiment

The description presented herein and illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2 is comprised as follows. Case 2 is molded from a transparent plastic material with side walls extending upwardly from an octagon-shaped floor section, whereby said side walls form an octagonal-shaped box. Base 6 extends from the outer face of the case's floor section and features an octagon shape with outer dimensions which are slightly less that those of case 2. Lid 4 is also formed from an octagonal-shaped transparent plastic material with dimensions which correspond to those of case 2. Lid 4 has an outer face that features a recessed center section corresponding to the size and shape of base 6, and inner face that corresponds closely to the anterior edge of said case's side walls.
Handle 8 is composed of a flexible length of cord or plastic mounted onto the side of case 2. One embodiment to mount said handle consists of apertures 10 in opposing side walls of case 2 through which snap-in retaining posts 12 are installed.

Operation—Main Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows the device when not in use. Headwear is placed inside of case 2 and lid 4 is depressed onto the open end of case until inner face of lid engages the anterior edge of the case's walls. Unit can be lifted and carried via handle 8, or stacked by placing base 6 into the recessed center section of lid 4 of a second unit as in FIG. 2. Retaining posts 12 can be installed into apertures 10 in sides of case 2 if desired. This allows convenient carrying of the unit via handle 8. Ends of cord-type handle 8 can be tied around retaining posts 12 or the ends of strap-type handle 8 can be secured by retaining posts 12. Retaining posts can also be used to seal the apertures in the case to prevent the introduction of contaminants.

Claims

1. A storage system for headwear and the like comprising:

a) a box formed from a rigid, transparent or semi-transparent material, having side walls disposed in a fashion that creates an octagonal-shaped inner cavity and outer appearance;

b) said box featuring an open anterior end, a posterior end that is closed by a base, and a plurality of apertures within the side walls at its anterior end;

c) a base that completely encloses the posterior of said box, featuring an octagonal shaped central section that projects downwardly beyond the posterior edge of the box's side walls, while having a smaller circumference than said box.

2. A storage system as described in claim 1 that includes:

a) a octagonal shaped lid formed from a rigid, transparent or semi-transparent material, featuring an reverse face that can tightly engage the anterior edge of the box's side walls;

b) said lid featuring an obverse face with an octagonal shaped recess on its center, which can receive and engage the aforementioned base of another box as described in claim 1;

c) a removable handle means, formed from a length of material that is attached to the sides of the aforementioned box via removable retaining posts which fit into the aforementioned apertures in said box's walls.