Military hat box

May 7, 1940.

2,199,716

J. B. SH.'NBERGER

MILITARY HAT BOX Filed July 20, 1938

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Patented May 7, 1940

2,199,716

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,199,716 MILITARY HAT BOX John Baird Shinberger, Norfolk, Va. Application July 20, 1938, Serial No. 220,379 · ’- 3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to travelling bags; and more particularly to a travelling bag peculiarly adapted for storing and transporting military hats and caps.

β The main object of the invention is to provide a strong, light weight box adapted for transporting and storing military caps and hats, and in which such caps and hats may be secured in such fixed positions as to preserve the shapes of the 10 hats and caps and avoid wear and other deterioration caused by dust and moisture to which such articles are subject when improperly shipped and stored.

A further object of the invention is to provide 15 a partitioned hat box in which the military caps and hats are secured in such manner as to preserve their original shapes and smartness; and in which some of the partitions may be removed as desired.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a 25 hat box, embodying the present invention, and with the lids thereof in open position to disclose details of construction;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2—2 of Figure 1, with the lids in closed position 30 and with a cap positioned in the vacant upper compartment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3—3 of Figure 2 with caps and hats omitted; and

Figure 4 is a top plan of one of the cap support35 ing shape props positioned thereon, the upper part of the cap being removed to illustrate the invention clearly.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 5 designates generally the substantially 40 rigid body of the hat box, the open end of which is adapted to be closed by the hinged lids 6 and 7 provided with any suitable locking means (not shown) and with carrying handles 8. A center partition 9 is suitably secured to the end walls 45 10 and 11 of the box. The side walls 12 and 13 of the box have their inner surfaces provided with cleats 14 spaced apart to form grooves directly opposite similar grooves formed by cleats i 5 suitably secured to the opposite sides of the partition 50 9. The grooves thus formed by the cleats 14 and 15 are designed to receive slidably the partitions 16 and 17, either or both of which may be removed as desired.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the lower 55 left hand compartment is provided with a pair of (Cl. 206—8) parallel brim irons 18 and 19, the iron 19 being suitably secured to one' of the cleats 14 while the iron 18 is suitably secured on a spacing cleat 20 of substantially the same thickness as the opposite cleat 14. Obviously, the opposed cleats 14 δ and 20 should be of sufficient thickness to permit the brim of the hat H to slide under the inwardly projecting parts of the plates 18 and 19 for the purpose of holding the hat securely in position in its compartment. 10

Each of the other compartments of the box 5 has a cloth covered spring metal retaining strip 21 extending lengthwise and centrally of its compartment and suitably secured at its opposite ends, slightly spaced apart from its supporting 16 partition 9, or side 13 as the case may be, to receive frictionally a tongue 22 projecting laterally from a cap prop 23. The cap prop 23 extends at right angles tc the tongue 22, and perpendicular to the supporting wall or partition of the box 20 when in use. The prop 23 is provided with a pair of slots or notches 24 and 25 equi-distantly spaced from the ends of the prop and with their outer edges spaced apart at a distance somewhat less than the width of the cap band at points cor- 25 responding to the position of the ears of the wearer. This spacing of the slots 24 and 25 is designed to force inwardly the sides of the cap band and impart to the visor thereof an exaggerated pinched shape. This lateral pinching 30 prevents the visor from becoming flattened or fan-shaped when not in use, as would be the case where caps of this type are merely laid on a flat surface without any intermediate support.

The invention is not concerned with the par- 35 ticular materials from which the bag may be made. Preferably, it should be made of light, strong fibre commonly used at present in the construction of so-called “airplane luggage.” Tn any event, it should be of such material as to ⁴⁰retain its shape in order to avoid crushing of the contents thereof. The inner walls of the various compartments are preferably entirely covered with fabric or some suitable soft material to pre- ₄₅vent creasing of the contents and to give an attractive finished appearance to the interior of the bag.

The bag is designed to make it thoroughly satisfactory as a carrier for the hats of the military 50 man. The caps are kept separated from each other, and when the bag is closed are completely housed and protected. When the bag is open, the caps are readily accessible and exposed for identification and selection, but are held securely 55

2,199,716 located in supported position in their various compartments.

The removal partition adapts the bag for ready conversion in the carrying of articles of different 5 character, shape and sizes; and this feature of convertibility is secured without in any way complicating the structure of the bag. In its entirety, the bag is extremely simple in construction and strong and durable throughout.

While I have shown and described the bag in a preferred form, the invention is not to be considered as limited to this particular form nor in any other manner except as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.