Abstract:
A hat-and-uniform caddy ( 1 ) has a caddy framework that can be disassembled for transportation and storage or assembled on site for storing, moving or transporting hats represented by boxes ( 21 ), uniforms, garments ( 8 ) and other primarily performer items and paraphernalia. Included on the caddy framework are multi-directional wheels that can include swivel casters ( 13 ) for its hand-pushing movement where used or where transported on a vehicle. The hat-and-uniform caddy can include storage space for receiving other items. Retainers that include retainer walls ( 11 ) and hanger-rod ( 5 ) notches ( 6 ) are provided to maintain clothes hangers ( 7 ) and optionally other items separated for protection against damage that includes wrinkling, smashing and dislodgement due to transportation conditions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to transportable caddies for containing hats, uniforms and related items neatly for transportation either assembled with the hats, uniforms and related items on them or unassembled for separate transportation and storage.  
           [0003]    2. Relation to the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Transporting and storing hats, uniforms and related items for bands, choirs, entertainers and various groups of performers has long been a time-consuming and often risky problem. It has been relegated to unreliable improvision by marching bands, choirs and other performers that travel to various destinations. Usually, hats, uniforms, related items and garments of performers and entertainers are transported and stored with inadequate care and inconveniently. They are often put in or on whatever clothes container, rack, rod, shelf, luggage or box that might be available at performance destinations or at base facilities. Although there are known garment-sales racks and permanent building facilities for garment storage, there is no known hat-and-uniform caddy for storing and transporting hats, uniforms, related items and garments conveniently, orderly and securely in a manner taught by this invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    Objects of patentable novelty and utility taught by this invention are to provide a transportable hat-and-uniform caddy which:  
           [0006]    can be assembled for transportation, storage or moving hats, uniforms, garments and related items positioned on the caddy;  
           [0007]    can be disassembled quickly and conveniently for storage and transportation of the caddy separately;  
           [0008]    can include storage space, hanger supports and other item containers predeterminedly;  
           [0009]    includes wheels for being moved in assembled mode;  
           [0010]    includes organizers which maintain protective separation of the hats, uniforms, garments and other items;  
           [0011]    can include lockable retainers of the hats, uniforms, garments and other items; and  
           [0012]    can be made light weight but strong.  
           [0013]    This invention accomplishes these objectives with a hat-and-uniform caddy having a caddy framework that can be disassembled for transportation and storage or assembled where used for storing, moving or transporting hats and garments that include uniforms on hangers. Included on the caddy are all-directional wheels for its pushing movement where used or where transported on a vehicle. The caddy can include storage space for receiving other items. Retainers and organizers on the caddy maintain the hangers and optionally other items separated for protection against wrinkling, smashing and dislodgement from being moved or transported. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    This invention is described by appended claims in relation to description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the following drawings which are explained briefly as follows:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side elevation view of a hat-and-uniform caddy having open sides and containing hats and uniforms in containers for protection;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway top view of the hat-and-uniform caddy having a single hanger rod;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the FIG. 2 illustration;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the hat-and-uniform caddy having two juxtaposed hanger rods;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the hat-and-uniform caddy having horizontal supports for containing hats at an end of one or more hanger rods;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side elevation view of the hat-and-uniform caddy having center wheels at a central position intermediate oppositely disposed end legs that are raised with a jack for the center wheels;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is the FIG. 6 illustration with the end legs lowered with the jack for resting the end legs on a floor;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cutaway view of a caster wheel attached to a corner of the caddy framework and having angle-beam construction for structural integrity with convenient assembly and disassembly;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top view of an end of the caddy framework having the angle-beam construction of the FIG. 8 illustration;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway end view of the caddy framework having the angle-beam construction with a perforated plate for a structural wall;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side view of the FIG. 10 illustration;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view of the hanger rod with independent notch keepers shown in open and closed modes to deter dislodgment of hangers during foreseeable movement of transportation conditions;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of the hanger rod with multiple notch keepers shown in open and closed modes;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 14 is a front-side elevation view of the hat-and-uniform caddy with see-through plastic sheeting attached at centers and fasteners at sides of openings to hat sections above hanger sections;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 15 is a partially cutaway back-side elevation view of the FIG. 14 illustration with a rear structural wall;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 16 is a front-side elevation view of the hat-and-uniform caddy with doors hinged to open and close at sides of openings to the hat sections and the hanger sections;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway back-side elevation view of the FIG. 16 illustration with the rear structural wall;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 18 is a partially cutaway end view of the hat-and-uniform caddy having a single hanger rod, structural ends, a structural back side and a plastic-sheeting front side;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 19 is a partially cutaway end view of the hat-and-uniform caddy having two juxtaposed hanger rods, structural ends, an inside structural wall, and a plastic-sheet covering on front and back sides;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway end view of the hat-and-uniform caddy having a single hanger rod, structural ends, a structural back side and doors on a front side;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 21 is a partially cutaway end view of the hat-and-uniform caddy having two juxtaposed hanger rods, structural ends, the inside structural wall, and doors on front and back sides;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 22 is a partially cutaway side elevation view of the hat-and-uniform caddy having a hanger rod with a bar keeper for retaining clothes hangers in notches of a hanger rod;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 23 is an exploded fragmentary and partially cutaway side view of the hanger rod of the FIG. 22 illustration with the bar keeper raised to allow the clothes hangers to be put into the notches;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 24 is the FIG. 23 illustration with the bar keeper lowered to prevent dislodgment of the clothes hangers from the notches;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 25 is a section view through section line  23 - 23  of FIG. 23; and  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 26 is a section view through section line  24 - 24  of FIG. 24.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0041]    Listed numerically below with reference to the drawings are terms used to describe features of this invention. These terms and numbers assigned to them designate the same features throughout this description.  
                                                        1.   Hat-and-uniform caddy            2.   Vertical supports            3.   Horizontal girders            4.   Horizontal supports            5.   Hanger rod            6.   Notches            7.   Clothes hangers            8.   Garments            9.   Swivel keepers           10.   Slide keepers           11.   Retainer walls           12.   Base framework           13.   Swivel casters           14.   End legs           15.   Floor surface           16.   Center wheels           17.   Jack           18.   Off-centered axle           19.   First side           20.   Second side           21.   Boxes           22.   First end wall           23.   Second end wall           24.   Side wall           25.   Roof wall           26.   Plastic sheets           27.   Fastening positions           28.   Inside structural wall           29.   Doors           30.   Hinges           31.   End angle beams           32.   Side angle beams           33.   Wheel fasteners           34.   Upright angle beams           35.   Upright fasteners           36.   End plate           37.   Angle braces           38.   Rod bases           39.   Bar keeper           40.   Wing nut           41.   Slot           42.   Bar riser                      
 
         [0042]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a hat-and-uniform caddy  1  has a caddy framework that includes vertical supports  2  attached to horizontal girders  3 . The horizontal girders  3  include horizontal supports  4  that are shelf like for containing items positioned on the caddy framework. At least one hanger rod  5  is supported horizontally on the vertical supports  2 .  
         [0043]    Retainers on the hat-and-uniform caddy  1  retain items thereon in place to deter damage that includes falling off, wrinkling, squashing, bending, breaking, contamination and unauthorized removal predeterminedly when being transported, stored and used selectively. The retainers include hanger notches  6  that are spaced apart predeterminedly for spacing of clothes hangers  7  to deter wrinkling from excessively close position of garments  8  that include uniforms hung on the clothes hangers  7 .  
         [0044]    Referring to FIGS.  12 - 13 , the notches  6  can include notch keepers selected from a class of notch keepers which can include swivel keepers  9  as depicted in notch-open and notch-closed modes in FIG. 12 and slide keepers  10  as depicted in notch-open and notch-closed modes in FIG. 13.  
         [0045]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 2  and  6 - 7 , the retainers on the hat-and-uniform caddy  1  for retaining items thereon in place include retainer walls  11  having predetermined heights above edges of the horizontal supports  4  for deterring items thereon from sliding off of the horizontal supports  4  when being transported on the hat-and-uniform caddy  1 .  
         [0046]    Referring to FIGS.  1 ,  3 - 11  and  14 - 21 , the vertical supports  2  include base framework  12  for supporting the caddy framework on floors of use areas and on transportation vehicles selectively. The base framework  12  can include wheels for directional movement of the hat-and-uniform caddy  1  selectively. The wheels can include swivel casters  13  that can be rotation-lockable.  
         [0047]    Optionally, as shown in FIGS.  6 - 7 , the base framework  12  can include end legs  14  that are oppositely disposed and have leg bottoms that are articulated to rest on a floor surface  15 . The wheels include center wheels  16  on oppositely disposed sides of the caddy framework at a central position intermediate oppositely disposed ends of the caddy framework and are extended predeterminedly further down from the caddy framework than the end legs  14 . The center wheels  16  can be mounted on a jack  17  for being lowered to extend the center wheels  16  further down from the caddy framework than the oppositely disposed end legs  14  and for being raised to extend less distance down than the oppositely disposed end legs  14  from the caddy framework selectively. The center wheels  16  can include the swivel casters  13 . The jack  17  can include an off-centered axle  18  as shown for raising and lowering the center wheels  16 .  
         [0048]    As shown in FIGS.  1 ,  6 - 7 ,  10 - 11 , and  14 - 21 , the horizontal supports  4  for containing items positioned on the caddy framework can be positioned vertically above the hanger rod  5 . The caddy framework includes hanger space that is extended vertically a predetermined distance intermediate the horizontal supports  4  and the base framework  12  for receiving garments  8  that include the select uniforms that are hung on the clothes hangers  7 .  
         [0049]    Optionally, as shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal supports  4  can be positioned at an end of the hanger rod  5 .  
         [0050]    The hanger space can be extended horizontally a predetermined distance intermediate a first side  19  and a second side  20  of the caddy framework for receiving a plurality of the hanger rods  5  juxtaposed side-by-side for hanging rows of the garments  8  that include the uniforms that are hung on the clothes hangers  7 . A plurality of two of the juxtaposed hanger rods  5  are shown in FIGS. 4, 19 and  21 . Single hanger rods  5  intermediate the first side  19  and the second side  20  of the caddy framework are shown in FIGS.  2 - 3 ,  10 ,  18 , and  20 .  
         [0051]    Hats, performance paraphernalia and various items not on the clothes hangers  7  and preferably in conventional plastic clothes-hanger bags as shown are represented by boxes  21  shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and  6 - 7 . The boxes  21  and the conventional plastic clothes-hanger bags are desirable generally for transporting and storing the hats and uniforms that can be positioned on the hat-and-uniform caddy  1 . As depicted in FIGS.  14 - 21 , however, a caddy cover articulated to cover the caddy framework and items positioned thereon can be made lighter, more convenient and more effective than the conventional individual bags and the boxes  21 . The caddy cover can be used with or without the conventional individual bags and the boxes  21 .  
         [0052]    Optionally, the caddy cover is intended to include a flexible-plastic bag that is sized and shaped to cover the entire hat-and-uniform caddy  1 . Preferably, as depicted in FIGS.  14 - 21 , however, the caddy cover includes one or more structural walls positioned and articulated for deterring change of angles of attachment of the vertical supports  2  to the horizontal girders  3  and for deterring structural bend and rupture of the caddy framework. They are beam stiffener and rupture members in beam relationship to the entire hat-and-uniform caddy  1 . The entire hat-and-uniform caddy  1  is articulated substantially as a channel beam in the embodiments shown in FIGS.  14 - 18  and  20 . It is articulated substantially as an I-beam in FIGS. 19 and 21.  
         [0053]    The structural walls can include one or more end walls with a first end wall  22  seen through a cutaway and a second end wall  23  surrounding the cutaway in FIGS.  18 - 21 . The structural walls can include a side wall  24  as depicted in FIGS.  15 - 18  and  20 . The structural walls can include a roof wall  25  as depicted in FIGS.  18 - 21 .  
         [0054]    In combination with the structural walls as shown in FIGS.  14 - 15  and  18 - 19 , the caddy cover can include plastic sheets  26  that are attached to the caddy framework at fastening positions  27  shown in FIG. 14 for being opened and closed selectively, which can include foldably. The plastic sheets  26  can be on a single side of a hat-and-uniform caddy  1  having a single hanger rod  5  as shown in FIGS.  14 - 15  and  18 . Optionally, the plastic sheets  26  can be on oppositely disposed sides that can include the first side  19  and the second side  20  of a hat-and-uniform caddy  1  having two hanger rods  5  with an inside structural wall  28  between the two hanger rods  5  for beam-like structural integrity as shown in FIG. 19.  
         [0055]    Optionally, in combination with the structural walls as shown in FIGS.  16 - 17  and  20 - 21 , the caddy cover can include doors  29  that are hinged to the caddy framework with hinges  30  shown in FIG. 16 for being opened and closed. The doors  29  can be on a single side of a hat-and-uniform caddy  1  having a single hanger rod  5  as shown in FIGS.  16 - 17  and  20 . Optionally, the doors  29  can be on oppositely disposed sides that can include the first side  19  and the second side  20  of a hat-and-uniform caddy  1  having two hanger rods  5  with the inside structural wall  28  between the two hanger rods  5  for beam-like structural integrity as shown in FIG. 21.  
         [0056]    A caddy cover can be a feasible option by its construction with relatively light material for both flexible and structural proportions thereof or by light-weight cross-corner members in combination with flexible material that can include a plastic bag for covering the entire caddy framework. Recommended material for light-weight structural walls  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 , and  28  includes burlap-reinforced resin. Burlap, also known as hessian cloth and made of jute fibers, has impact, weight, wear and cost advantages over glass fibers for reinforcing plastic for not only the caddy cover but also for the vertical supports  2 , the horizontal girders  3 , the horizontal supports  4  and the hanger rod  5 .  
         [0057]    As illustrated in FIGS.  18 - 21 , the hanger rod  5  can be attached directly to the first end wall  22  and to the second end wall  23  having adequate material strength and structural attachment as can be provided by construction with resin plastic reinforced with high-quality, preferably ten-ounce burlap produced proximate the Indian Subcontinent.  
         [0058]    Referring to FIGS.  8 - 11 , the hat-and-uniform caddy  1  preferably includes beam members that are joinable with assembly and disassembly fasteners for assembly for a use mode and for disassembly for a non-use mode predeterminedly. No suitable beam structure is precluded for the caddy framework as it is shown generally in FIGS.  1 - 7  and  14 - 21 . Recommended for the caddy framework, however, are end angle beams  31  that can be fastened to side angle beams  32  at least in part with single wheel fasteners  33 . Upright angle beams  34  then can be fastened to the end angle beams  31  with one or more upright fasteners  35 . With an end plate  36  that is suitably rigid or optionally with end braces for structural integrity, single fasteners can be used at comers for assembly and disassembly. The end plate  36  shown in FIG. 10 is perforated for light weight and optionally for insertion of pegs and hooks.  
         [0059]    As shown in FIG. 11, angle braces  37  can be employed for structural integrity for hat-and-uniform caddies  1  not having the structural walls  22 - 25  and  28  described in relation to FIGS.  14 - 21 . Shown FIGS.  10 - 11 , the hanger rod  5  can be attached to the end plate  36  with rod bases  38 .  
         [0060]    Referring to FIGS.  22 - 26 , a preferred notch keeper for retaining the clothes hangers  7  in the notches  6  is a bar keeper  39  that is juxtaposed linearly above the hanger rod  5  for being raised to an open mode as shown in FIGS. 23 and 25 to allow insertion of the clothes hangers  7  in the notches  6 . Then, as shown in FIGS. 22, 24 and  26 , the bar keeper  39  can be lowered down to or optionally over the hanger rod  5  to a closed mode for covering the notches  6  to prevent their dislodgment in transit and to deter their unauthorized removal when uniforms on the clothes hangers  7  are not being used. A wing nut  40  on a bolt in a slot  41  of a bar riser  42  as shown is representative a selection of bar locks that can include keyed locks for particular use conditions and preferences for keeping the bar keeper  39  in place. The bar riser  42  and wing nut  40  are optional to a selection of rotary and swivel risers that are foreseeable for maneuvering and locking the bar keeper  39  in open and closed modes.  
         [0061]    A new and useful hat-and-uniform caddy having been described, all such foreseeable modifications, adaptations, substitutions of equivalents, mathematical possibilities of combinations of parts, pluralities of parts, applications and forms thereof as described by the following claims and not precluded by prior art are included in this invention.