Improvements in and relating to Hat Boxes or Cases.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Hat Boxes or Cases.
I, JOHN WILLIAM HYLAND of 32 Cheapside in the City of London in the
County of Middlesex, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved box or case for storing or carrying hats,
more especially applicable to tall or silk hats, and is also intended to be used
instead of a hat peg in offices and like places. The objects being to preserve hats
from dust and damage and to produce a cheap and efficient box or case for the same.
In constructing a box or case according to this invention I take a rectangular or
other suitably shaped box made of mill-board, papier-maché, wood, leather, metal
or other material or combinations of these materials, one end of which is hinged
at the top or bottom and capable of being opened outward into the same plane as
the top or bottom of the box. The top of this said box is divided transversely
into two parts, the one next to the hinged or flap end being hinged to the other
part and so constructed as to act as a lid and also to secure the end flap in its
closed position or I may dispense with the top lid or opening in some cases.
On each of the inner sides, near to, and parallel with the top I form or fix pieces
of wood or other suitable material to act as narrow ledges or shelves on which the
hat is supported by the side edges of its brim. These said ledges or shelves may be
made hollow to hold a brush, pad or similar articles. From this it will be
understood that the hat is placed in the box crown downwards.
The size of the box or case will naturally depend to a certain extent on the
kind of hat for which it is intended and also if adapted for two or more hats, but
in any case it is of such a depth that the crown or top of the hat when in position
does not touch the bottom of the box or case
A handle is fixed on the box or case in any convenient position and I may also
provide a lock or catch for securing the lid.
Dated this 29th day of October 1891.
JOHN WILLIAM HYLAND.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Hat Boxes or Cases.
1, JOHN WILLIAM HYLAND of 32 Cheapside, in the City of London, in the
County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved box or case for storing or carrying hats
more especially applicable to tall or silk hats and is also intended to be used instead
of a hat peg in offices and like places.
The objects being to preserve hats from dust and damage and to produce a
cheap and efficient box or case for the same.
In constructing a box or case according to this invention I take a rectangular
or other suitably shaped box, made of mill-board, papier-maché, wood, leather metal
or other material or combipations of these materials, one end of which is hinged.
at the top or bottom and capable of being opened outward into the same plane as
the top or bottom of the box.
The top of this said box is divided transversely into two parts, the one next to

page_text: the hinged or flap end being hinged to the other part and so constructed as to.
act as a lid and also to secure the end flap in its closed position, or I may dispense
with the top lid or opening in some cases.
On each of the inner sides, near to and parallel with the top I form or fix pieces
of wood or other suitable material to act as narrow ledges or shelves on which
the hat is supported by the side edges of its brim. These said ledges or shelves
may be made hollow to hold a brush, pad or similar articles. From this it will
be understood that the hat is placed in the box crown downwards.
The size of the box or case will naturally depend to a certain extent on the
kind of hat for which it is intended and also if adapted for two or more hats but
in any case it is of such a depth that the crown or top of the hat when in
position does not touch the bottom of the box or case.
A handle is fixed on the box or case in any convenient position and I may also
provide a lock or catch for securing the lid.
I will now more particularly describe it making reference to the accompanying
drawing, in which
Figs. 1 and 2 are end and side views respectively of my improved hat box.
Fig. 3 is an end view with the box open and showing the hat in position
Fig. 4 is a side view of same and
Fig. 5 a plan with the lid and flap partly open.
Figs. 6 and 7 are end and side views respectively of a modification of my box
also partly open.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawing. The
rectangular box A has one of its ends B hinged on the bottom edge thereof at a as
shown. The top of the box A is divided transversely into two parts, the part C
(which may conveniently be a third of the length of the top) being hinged at a¹
so as to act as a lid and also to secure the end flap B in its closed position.
On each of the inner sides of the box A near to and parallel with the top,
ledges or shelves D are fixed or formed of any convenient shape or size, their
function being to support the hat by the side edges of its brim as shown.
These said ledges or shelves DI prefer to make hollow as shown and capable of
holding small articles, such as a hat brush, pad or the like. The ledges or shelves D
may also be formed in one piece, and extend round the back end of the box, but I
prefer to make them somewhat shorter than the length of the box, as shown on
the drawing.
In some cases they may simply consist of two short blocks of wood or other
material secured near the middle on each side in any convenient manner.
It will be seen that the ledges or shelves D are slightly higher than the hat
(measured from the top edge of the brim to the crown) so as to keep the crown
from touching or scraping on the bottom of the box A when being placed therein.
In the modification of my invention as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the accom-
panying drawing, I dispense with the top lid C and hinge the end or flap B to
the top of the box A at a³.
A handle a of any convenient shape may be fixed to the top of the box A
and any convenient form of lock or catch may also be fitted.
A looking-glass or mirror may also be fixed in any convenient position on the
lid C or on the end or flap B.
I do not limit myself to the shape or form of the box or of the ledges or
shelves hereinbefore described and shown but hold myself at liberty to make such
changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my said
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a hat box or case, the combination of the ledges or shelves, either made

page_text: hollow or otherwise; with an end flap, and with or without a top lid, as and for
the purposes hereinbefore described and shown.
2. A hat box or case constructed as described and shown on the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 11th day of March 1892
JOHN WILLIAM HYLAND.

page_text: Fig. 2.
axas
-C
B
ar
B
as
A &
A-
D
LA
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