Uniform cap

Nov. 13, 1951

H. LEV

UNIFORM CAP .

Filed Jan. 19, 1949

2,575,114

<img file="US2575114A_D0001.tif" />

Patented Nov. 13, 1951

2,575,114

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,575,114

UNIFORM CAP

Harry Lev, Chicago, III.

.Application January 19, 1949, Serial No. 71,750

Claims.

This invention which relates generally to a uniform cap having a frame whereon may be fitted a flexible cover, is concerned more particularly with a distending band or grommet for the cap cover and with the means for attaching the same to an upstanding supporting stay.

The grommet herein disclosed is tubular in cross section and made from a rubber-like material that is both flexible and resilient. Its two ends are coupled to produce an endless band, and for this purpose I may employ a short plug whose opposite end portions are fitted snugly within the hollow proximate end portions of the grommet. To support suchan endless grommet at the front of the cap an upstanding stay is used and connected to the grommet by means of fingers which are bent around and clinched upon the grommet in the region of the coupling plug. The gripping fingers of the stay thus serve to support the grommet and, of equal importance, they enhance securement of the ends of the grommet to the coupling plug. This novel means whereby the grommet, plug, and. supporting stay arenoordinated to perform several functions at once is highly desirable; a strong: fastening is thereby produced, and because of its simplicity, dual function, and ease of assembly, such a construction results in great economy together with a much improved uniform cap.

My invention has for its primary object the provision of a novel means of coupling the two ends of a flexible tubular grommet so as to form an endless band and, at the same time and by the same means, connect with .an upstanding Supporting, stay at the front .of the cap. A.further object is to provide a grommet and stay assembly which is simplified and economical to produce.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a uniform cap of the general type to which my invention applies;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary central vertical section through the front portion of the cap;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, looking from the front, showing the grommet, the supporting stay, and the holder therefor; and

Fig. 4 which is a fragmentary perspective view, looking from the rear and partly broken away to exhibit certain parts in section, shows the grommet, the coupling plug therein, and the supporting stay.

The present cap may be conventional in that it comprises, in combination, an endless frame F, made desirably of fiber, plastic, or the like, (Cl. 2—195)

This frame, which optionally may be fabriccovered, furnishes on its inner face a mounting for a holder H in the form of a plate which is transversely bowed and from which tines 10 ⁵ may be struck outwardly to traverse the frame for clinching upon its outer face. In some such way as this the holder is secured fixedly to the frame.

A pair of endwise-bowed bars 11 is also struck ¹⁰ out to lie spaced from the holder plate to which they remain connected at their ends. These bars which are. disposed inwardly of the holder furnish a mounting for the bowed lower end 12 of an upstanding stay S in the form of a strap 16 which may be slidably fitted to the inside Of the bars against the inner face of the plate to extend upwardly of the frame. A stay-holder assembly of this kind is suggested as appropriate in connection with the present invention. The stay ²⁰ in its upper end region is inclined forwardly in accordance with usual practice;

An elongated slot 17 is formed in the upper end region of the stay from whose top is inwardly curved a pair of spaced fingers 18 which are ²⁵ disposed oppositely of the longitudinal center of the stay. The lower finger 1.9, also curved, is struck inwardly from the stay at the upper end of the slot 17 at a point intermediately of the top fingers. The ^curvatures of all three fingers 30 are concentric, and together, i. e. one top finger and the lower finger, they extend through an arc of approximately 180°. A tip 20 upstands straight from the lower finger 19, and other tips 21 depend straight from the top fingers 18, all the tips 35 being coplanar. The fingers and tips thus formed and positioned define between them an imaginary opening having .a configuration which is substantially D-shaped or half-round.

There is also provided: a grommet &gt;G which fits 40 within the tip portion of the cap cover G for distension thereof . This grommet which is made from a suitable rubber-like material is both flexible and resilient, and preferably tubular and D-shaped or half-round in cross section. The 45 two ends of the grommet are releasably coupled together so as to provide an endless band, and for this purpose I may employ a plug 22 an inch or two long whose opposite end portions are adapted to be inserted into the hollow ends of 50 the grommet for frictional engagement therewith. Desirably this grommet is of the same material and cross section (internally) as is the tubular grommet itself so as to provide therefor a solid core throughout the region of the coupling. 5S The stay S is secured to the grommet by means

2,578,114 of the fingers 18 and 19 which may be pressed toward the grommet for pressure engagement therewith. The two top fingers 18 then compress the top of the grommet downwardly while clinching it on the inner side at spaced points one near each end of the grommet; while the lower finger in the center upwardly compresses the lower side of the grommet and clinches its inner side at substantially the point of juncture of the grommet ends. All three fingers compress the grommet tightly against the plug 22 so as to securely lock the ends of the grommet together and in addition securely fasten the stay to the grommet.

The means herein disclosed for coupling the grommet ends to each other and to the supporting stay is, of course, applicable to various types of stays, the one herein illustrated and described being chosen by way of example only.