Improvements in and in connection with Stands or Holders for Displaying Hats, Bonnets, and other articles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Stands or Holders for
Displaying Hats, Bonnets, and other articles.
I, SARAH ETTA LOUISA WILSON, of No. 248 North Eighth Street, in the City
of Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, United
States of America, Lady, 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 certain improvements in display stands or holders for
bats and bonnets, and will first be described and then pointed out in the claims.
Figure 1 is a side view of the holder supported on a vertically-adjustable rod;
Figure 2 is a side view of the holder supported in an inclined position by a
Suitable hook-prong;
Figure 3 is a section of the handle of the holder shown on a larger scale;
Figure 4 is a view of one of the expanding prongs of the holder showing two
rollers;
Figure 5 is a view of the same parts but showing only the one roller ;
Figure 6 is a top view of the ferrule-cap;
Figure 7 is a bottom view of the ferrule-cap detached from the handle and also
showing the ends of the prongs in said cap;
Figure 8 is a view of the handle-end which enters the ferrule-cap;
Figure 9 is a view of the hook attached to the inclined prong, the latter in
section.
The letter, a, designates the spring prongs made of a wire bent in the form of a
loop which has an end, a¹, provided with a roller, b, of rubber, cork or other
material; two rollers may be employed as in Figure 4, or but one, as in Figure 5.
These rollers may be round as shown or any other shape and serve as movable
or antifriction cushions against which the hat will come in contact.
The two extremities, a³, of each spring-prong are in close contact and enter and
fit tight in a hole, c, of proper size in the top of a metal ferrule-cap, D; the
ends project into the cap to which they may be secured by solder or otherwise.
A handle, E, of wood or other material has an end on which the ferrule-cap is
secured provided with three side grooves, f, to receive the ends, a³, of the spring-
prongs, see Figures 3 and 8, and the ferrule-cap, D, with the spring-prongs
attached is slipped on the end of the handle so as to have the said spring-ends, a²,
occupy the grooves, f, and then the ferrule-cap is secured to the handle by pins, g.
It is a desideratum to have the holder which comprises the spring-prongs and
the wood-handle, supported by a connection with the handle in such a way as will
facilitate and make convenient its removal from the support and also enable it
to be again replaced on the support. To this end I provide the body of the
handle with a longitudinal bore, h, and the end of the handle with a flared or
funnel-shaped guide, j, leading to such bore.
It will be seen that the point-end of a rod, m, or the end of a hook, n, may
enter the bore, h, in the handle and thus support the holder in any desired
position, and the holder may be readily removed from the support, mi, or, n, by a
person grasping the handle, E, and lifting it off. When about to replace the
holder, it is only necessary to put the end of the handle on the point-end of the
rod or hook and the funnel-shaped guide, j, will so direct it as to cause the said
point-end to enter the bore, h.
The ring, i, and corrugations, k, are shown in Figure 1 and serve to hold the
spring-prongs more or less contracted to fit different sized hats.
The inclined hook-prong, n, has a shank to which a double hook, o, is attached,

page_text: see Figures 2 and 9; this double hook serves to support and display the ribbons
or other bonnet trimmings.
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 :
1st. A hat and bonnet stand comprising the spring-prongs each having its free
end in the form of a loop, provided with a loose roller, b, and the other end of
the prong secured to a suitable handle.
2nd. In a hat and bonnet stand, the combination of a handle provided at one end
with side grooves, f; a ferrule-cap, D, provided in its top with holes, c, and
secured to the handle; and spring-prongs each having its free end in the form of
a loop and the other end having its two extremities in close contact and entere‹i
into the said holes in the cap-top and occupying the side-grooves in the handle as
set forth.
3rd. In a hat and bonnet stand, the combination of a handle provided with a
body-bore and a funnel-shaped end-guide, j, leading to said bore; spring-prongs
each having a loop at its free end and the other end secured to the handle;
and a support having an end-prong to enter the bore of the handle.
4th. The combination of an inclined hook-prong; a double-hook attached to the
shank of said prong; and a hat-holder supported by the inclined part of said
prong.
Dated this 31st day of October 1892.
SARAH ETTA LOUISA WILSON.