Bracket system for hats

A hat bracket supports hats having a bill extending from a crown. The bracket has a back plate which may have bores therethrough. The back plate connects at an upper portion to a top arm which extends forwardly and downwardly relative to the back plate. A bottom arm extends forwardly and upwardly relative to the back plate and provides a hat support, such as a whale tail, onto which a rear of the crown is supported with the bill extending upwardly and prevented from outward rotation by the top arm. Multiple brackets may be connected together.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to bracket(s) for holding and/or displaying hat and ball caps and more specifically, the invention pertains to storage, organization and/or protection of hats and ball caps, so when utilized, the invention may provide protection of the integrity of a hat shape as originally manufactured, provide variety of configurations for organization of more than one hat or ball cap and/or allow for infinite connection of multiple devices to benefit a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hat hangers are well known. Typically, hangers are utilized to organize groups of hats as a space saving measure. Most hat hangars engage the hat by the bill, bead or back of the hat. Generally, there are individual hanging posts that accommodate garments as well as hats, a single device with multiple mounting points that can be strapped or hung to doors and walls. Either configuration or most other available hat hanging devices do not take into consideration the strongest point on a hat and engage that point when hanging or storing. As a result, the original configuration of the hat is altered over time and loses its shape and integrity as the bill, bead or back are stressed.

Current devices typically allow for hats to be hung on a single post or mount, side by side. Single posts or mounts provide no options for hanging multiple hats. Single posts are often mounted on doors and walls. Other devices in the marketplace provide options for a defined number of hats to be mounted on one device but are limited to the number of contact points pre-determined by the manufacturer. Improvements would be helpful over the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bracket for at least some embodiment for organizing and preserving hats or caps (such as baseball caps). Many embodiments of the present invention are designed to overcome these realities and/or limitations created by currently available devices. The present invention may engage the hat or ball cap on the front back of the bill where the crown meets the bill. The natural balance point of the hat may be in this position, so stress to the bill, bead and/or back of the hat may be eliminated. The width of the contact point, “Whale tail”, is designed to distribute focus along the back of the bill and/or to provide additional strength and balance to potentially protect the integrity of the hat.

The device may be designed to accommodate a single hat or ball cap, a single hat or ball cap collapsed back under, 3 hats collapsed and/or folded under per each device or level and/or stacked hats at each level. The device is designed to connect from the top and bottom with a unique trapezoid sliding and locking design allowing for an infinite number of connections and hats or ball caps to be mounted.

The device may be designed such that while one unit is attached to a flat surface, additional device units can be attached without the need to remove the “anchored” device unit already mounted.

The device may be attached to any flat surface via permanent and temporary means. The device may be attached back to back, top and bottom screw holes are provided to ensure maximum strength and versatility.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a schematic representation of a side view of the present preferred embodiment of the present invention of a bracket8having a back plate10connected at a bottom portion12of the back plate10to a bottom arm14which upwardly extends relative to the bottom12of the back plate10to support a hat thereon. Additionally, a top arm16connects to an upper portion18of the back plate10and then downwardly extends therefrom to keep the bill of a hat from pulling off the bracket8.

FIG. 2shows a more detailed version of the bracket8. A first connector20such as a male connector and/or trapezoidal slide lock is shown at the upper portion18even extending above the upper portion18of the back plate10and is connectable to a second connector22such as a female connector trapezoidal slide lock at a lower portion19of back plate10so as to be able to connect multiple brackets8to one another in vertical relationship.

The top arm16may have a medallion15angularly connected to upper portion18such as a marketing medallion24connected at an angle26for at least some embodiments.

The bottom arm14may include a whale tail28which extends upwardly relative to the back plate10. Other embodiments may have other constructions. The rear of the back plate10is illustrated inFIG. 3having a first bore30and a second bore32which may receive screws or other connector so as to connect a back plate10to a vertical surface such as a wall, door or other appropriate structure. Additionally, the first connector20may have a nipple34which may be received in a recess36of second connector22(or visa versa) for connecting multiple brackets in a vertical arrangement one another with first connector20being received within second connector22if so constructed. Other embodiments may have different connectors22,24at the top and bottom portions such as upper and lower portions18,20,22of back plate10or otherwise.

FIG. 4shows multiple brackets8disposed in back to back arrangements. When connected in such a manner, the respective bores30and32may align with one another for such as connect together. Meanwhile, this figure also shows the connection of a top connector20to a lower connector22for vertically connecting brackets together as illustrated.

A front view is shown inFIG. 5of two brackets8connected together. One will see that port38in the top arm16may be useful to direct a screw40through the hole30and screw42as illustrated being directed through the hole32in the back plate10as well for connecting to a vertically extending surface44which could be a wall, door other structure. With the bracket8connected to a vertical surface44, multiple hats may be now installed if so desired as may be explained in further detail below. One will observe that the whale tail28may have a curved surface46which may extend a width48which is illustrated significantly wider than back width50of back plate10.

FIG. 6appears to be almost virtually identical toFIG. 2.

FIG. 7shows a perspective view showing the marketing medallion24which may have a display area52which could appear above a bill of a hat when installed which will be explained in further detail below. A support ridge54forward of the back plate10may provide additional structural stability and/or provide wells56,58about the openings30,32to receive the connectors such as with an injected molded or other configuration to provide additional strength. Other embodiments have different constructions.

FIG. 8shows a front view similar toFIG. 5of a single bracket and multiple brackets.

FIG. 9shows a bracket8with a hat60illustrated in phantom with bill62being received behind upper arm16which may have shoulder64connected to leg66which then connects to the marketing medallion24in an angular manner as illustrated or otherwise while providing a port38for accessing a screw40through the opening30. The leg66may be angled relative to the shoulder64for this embodiment as well. Meanwhile, the hat60may be engaged at a front back of the bill where the crown contacts the whale tail28or other rest. The whale tail28may engage the hat60on the front back of the bill62and/or along a rear of the crown68of such a contact could eliminate stress on the bead70, bill62, and/or back of the hat60while providing a relatively large contact surface46to spread across the crown68so as to not deform the crown68, bill62, etc., due to contact. Additionally, by having the whale tail28extend past the back plate10, additional balance is provided to the crown68for the hat60. The whale tail28or other support preferably has a width48extending at least half a width of bill62if not further. Whale tail28may angle almost diagonally upward from base9to be somewhat c-shaped with back plate10for some embodiments.

FIG. 7-9shows a trapezoidal nature of a male connector20having a trapezoidal cross section72as could be received internal to slot74of a female second connector22as by being slid in from either of the sides76and/or78so that then the nipple34could engage the recessed36to assist in securing the connectors20,22in position. Other connectors20,22may connect differently than the one illustrated. Multiple hats may be stacked on a single bracket8, the backs of the hats could be folded (or not), possible as provided by the manufacturer.

Marketing medallion24by display arm52could be utilized for branding, marketing and/or other purposes.

FIG. 11shows two brackets8connected together (a first and a second bracket) with three hats60(with back folded onto crown68) on the top bracket8supported by the whale tail28. The bottom bracket8has three hats60supported by crowns68in a typical stacked position.