Improvements in or relating to Gentlemen's Hat Boxes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1899
Compisto Specification Loft fth July 1800 Accented 19th Aug 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Gentlemen's Hat Boxes.
I, ALBERT JOSEPH PERRY, of 26, Duke Street, St. James', London, S.W., Hat
Case and Portmanteau Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to produce a hat box or travelling case for
gentlemen's hats adapted to hold a variety of hats of different shapes or styles
in the minimum amount of space.
For this purpose and according to this invention I arrange and construct the
hat box as follows:-
I make the outer case or box of or about rectangular form and advantageously
such box may be a cube or nearly so for instance, I will describe a case for use in
carrying out my present invention about 16 inches long, 15 inches wide and
16 inches deep, same being provided with a hinged lid and any suitable clasp
and strap or straps, etc., etc.
The upper part of the interior of this box or case is provided with a remove
able tray of any suitable depth to receive either hats or other desired articles
while the lower part of said box or case is arranged and constructed and fitted
or provided with fittings for carrying different hats as follows:-
In each of the four corners respectively I provide a vertically arranged corner
piece of a resilient or spring-like character; for instance these corner pieces may
be formed of cardboard or other suitable tubing or thin metal plate bent round
to suit my purpose and fixed into the corner in any suitable manner each such
corner piece extending to a suitable height say, one-half or two-thirds of the
depth of the box and each adapted to hold between same and the sides of the
box adjacent thereto the brim of the hat or other device for holding a hat as
hereinafter described.
I provide four slide pieces each one adapted to extend from one corner to the
other and lay parallel with the inside wall of the box or case and adapted to fit
and slide between said wall and the corner piece at each end thereof, and each
end of said slide is provided with a hinged or other suitable flap (which may be
lined or padded on the inner face thereof) each said flap being adapted to grip
and hold the brim of the hat between same i.e. when the said slide is placed in
position in the box the flaps thereof being thereby pressed by the corner pieces
firmly down towards the hat brim each such slide or base plate forming said
slide is provided with a horizontally extending block or support for the body
of the hat and of differing size and shape according to the character of the hat to
be carried thereon for instance each such horizontally extending block or device
may advantageously be made hollow with a cover thereto so as thus to form a box
or receptacle adapted to receive or hold collars, cuffs, or any other desired articles.
Thus with the vertical slide for holding a gentleman's ordinary tall silk hat
top" hat the said horizontally extending support may be of considerable
length and thus form a large sized receptacle as well as full support for the top
or

page_text: hat which would thus be held supported horizontally without touching the box
or case. The slide on the opposite side may carry a horizontal support rather
less in length to support thereon a military or sun helmet, while the said slides
on the other two sides would have still shorter blocks or supports thereon to
carry say, a straw hat on one and a collapsible opera hat such as the well-known
"Gibus" character on the other, thus these four hats would be supported in hori-
zontal position in the lower part of the case so that they could neither touch
the case or touch one another and all lay closely to one another and to the lower
part of the case while the horizontally extending blocks supporting same can be
utilised for carrying therein any desired articles and also the corner pieces being
formed tubular or hollow can be utilised for carrying brushes or any other
desired article adapted to be placed within same.
Thus each separate hat is mounted and supported independently of all the
others and can be independently moved or inserted without touching or inter-
fering with the others thus if all four slides are not required for use any of them
can be dispensed with and the space thus left vacant utilised in any other desired
manner or if desired the afore said slides and supporting blocks may be used
only for the large sized hats (top hats etc,) helmet while the hats of less
depth such as the folded "Gibus hat or the straw hat can be fixed in position
by simply sliding the brim of such hat behind the corner pieces in the case.
23
and
or
The aforesaid corner pieces may be made of such height as to form rests or
supports on which the aforesaid tray in the upper part of the case may be sup-
ported--such tray being cut away or arranged in any suitable manner for my
purpose.
Dated this 5th day of Tuna 1000
Improvements in or relating to Gentlemen's Hat BOXES.
I, ALBERT JOSEPII PERRY, of 26, Duke Street, St. James', London, S.W., Hat
Case and Portmanteau Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to bo performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to produce a hat box or travelling case for
hats more particularly gentlemen's hats, helmets or the like adapted to hold a
variety of such hats, helmets or the like of different shapes or styles in the mini-
mum amount of space or in very compact form-said box or case being also
adapted to hold other articles (including such articles as ladies' hats or bonnets
or the like) as well as said hats, helmets etc.
For this purpose and according to this invention I arrange and construct the
hat box as follows:-
I make the outer case or box of or about rectangular form and advantageously
such box may be a cube or nearly so for instance, I will describe a case for use
in carrying out my present invention about 16 inches long, 15 inches wide,
and 16 inches deep, same being provided with a hinged lid and any suitable
lock clasp strap or straps, etc, etc.
The upper part of the interior of this box or case is provided with a remov-
able tray of any suitable depth to receive either hats or other desired articles

page_text: while the lower part of said box or case is arranged and constructed and fitted
or provided with fittings for carrying different hats as follows:-
In each of the four corners respectively I provide a vertically arranged corner
piece of resilient or spring-like character and either removable or permanently
fixed; for instance these corner pieces may be formed of cardboard or other
suitable tubing or thin metal plate or wire or wirework bent round to suit my
purpose and fixed into the corner in any suitable manner each such corner piece
extending to a suitable height say, one-half or two-thirds of the depth of the
box and each adapted to hold between same and the sides of the box adjacent
thereto the brim of the hat or a slide or other device for holding a hat as here-
inafter described.
I provide slide pieces cach adapted to extend from one corner to the other and
lay parallel with the inside wall of the box or case and adapted to fit and slide
between said wall and the corner piece at each end thereof and each end of said
slide is provided with a hinged or other suitable flap (which may be lined or
padded on the inner face thereof) each said flap being adapted to grip and hold
the brim of the hat between same and the slide i.e. when the said slide is placed
in position in the box the flaps thereof being thereby pressed by the corner
pieces firmly down towards the hat brim. Each such slide or base plate forming
said slide is provided with a fixed hat rest (either with or without a removable
box or receptacle horizontally extending therefrom) for the body of the hat and
of different size and shape according to the character of the hat to be carried
thereon each such horizontally extending box being provided with a cover
thereto so as thus to form a receptacle adapted to receive or hold collars, cuffs,
or any other desired articles.
.66
Thus with the vertical slide for holding a gentleman's ordinary tall silk hat or
top" hat, the said horizontally extending box may be of considerable length
and thus form a large sized receptacle. The slide on the opposite side may
carry a sun helmet and be provided with a horizontally extending box rather
less in length; while the said slides of the other two sides may carry say a straw
hat in or on one and a collapsible opera hat (such as the Gibus hat) on the other,
and may be provided with still shorter boxes or none at all thereon: thus these
four hats would be supported (in horizontal position) in the lower part of the
case so that they could neither touch the case or touch one another and all lay
closely to one another and to the lower part of the case while the said removable
horizontally extending boxes can be utilised for carrying therein any desired
articles; and also the corner pieces being formed tubular or hollow can be utilised
for carrying brushes. or any other desired article adapted to be placed within
same.
Thus each separate hat is mounted and supported independently of all the
others and can be independently moved or inserted without touching or inter-
fering with the others, and if all four slides or corner pieces are not required
for use any of them can be dispensed with and the space thus left vacant
utilised in any other desired manner; or if desired the aforesaid slides and sup-
porting hat rests thereon may be used only for the large sized hats (top hat, etc.,)
and
helmet while the hats of less depth such as the folded "Gibus" hat or the
straw hat can be fixed in position by simply sliding the brim of such hat behind
the corner pieces in the case.
'or
The aforesaid corner pieces may be made of such height as to form rests
or supports on which the aforesaid tray in the upper part of the case may be sup-
ported such tray being cut away or arranged in any suitable manner for my
purpose.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a hat box and fittings there-
for according to this invention.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the hat box with one of the slides shown partly
withdrawn.
Fig. 2 is a plan on enlarged scale of such hat box,
°

page_text: Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a view-on a still larger scale-of one of the hat carrying slides
removed from the case.
Fig. 5 is a top edge view of Fig. 4 that is looking in the direction of the arrow 5
Fig. 4.
A is the box or case and A' is the lid thereof. a bed are four corner pieces
mounted (fixed or removable) in the four corners of such case advantageously
formed of resilient or spring-like material for instance cardboard.
B C D are three slides or devices adapted to be slid in and out of the case A
as shown, each of these slides being provided with a flap E at each end thereof,
between which flaps E and the slide B (or C or D) the brim or edge of the hat
or helmet is gripped and held.
F is a horizontally extending box which is provided with a cover F¹ as shown
so as thus to form a box or receptacle adapted to hold collars cuffs or any other
desired articles. This box or receptacle is advantageously made removable
from this slide, for instance the same may be made as a separate box adapted
to be wedged hung or held within the hat rest collar or ring G which device G
is fixed rigidly to its sides B or D respectively and may be adapted to spring
or give a little or may be provided with any suitable means to grip and hold
therein the aforesaid box F.
"
In the arrangement shown the box F on the slide B is shown rather longer
than the box F on slide D as the slide B is intended to receive a silk hat while
the slide D is intended to receive a military helmet; while the slide C is arranged
and adapted to receive a collapsible opera hat of the well-known "Gibus" char-
acter while the space along the side of the case between the corner pieces a b
is not shown provided with any slide às in the arrangement illustrated this
space is intended to receive an ordinary straw hat the brim of which is slid
done between the corner pieces a and b and the said side of the case direct; or a
slide with a central opening therein through which latter the crown of the
straw hat may be passed.
Thus each slide can be separately and independently withdrawn and the flaps E
thereof laid open (which flaps E may be padded or lined on the inside if desired)
the hat or helmet is then placed in position on said slide, the flaps E are then
laid over the brim and then the slide can be inserted in the case in the manner
shown in Fig. 1 and so on with each slide; thus each slide is separately mounted
in the case and held out of contact with one another or with the case and also
prevented from being injured in whatever position the case A may be placed
when closed while any hat can be withdrawn as and when desired without
disturbing the others.
I is the tab by means of which the slides B C D can be withdrawn.
If desired the case A may be made deeper than the arrangement shown, or
.constructed in suchwise as, to be adapted to receive an inner cover, tray, or box
or other device which would rest and be supported (within the case A) upon the
top edge of the four corner pieces a bed.
Any equivalent or other suitable means may be employed for mounting and
securing each hat on its slide if desired.
If desired I may provide a shield or screen (not shown) to enclose and protect
the top hat such shield being mounted and held in position by sliding the
edges thereof down behind the corner pieces which hold the slide carrying said
silk hat.
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. A box or case for holding gentlemen's hats or the like constructed with four
corner pieces such as a bed and provided with a series of slides such as B C D
each having flaps E on each end thereof to hold the hat or helmet thereon and

page_text: adapted to slide behind-and to be held in position by-the respective corner
pieces aforesaid, substantially in the manner hereinbefore set forth.
2. The improved arrangement and construction of boxes or cases--for holding
hats or the like-with vertical corner pieces a bed fixed inside thereof in com-
bination and acting in conjunction with slides such as B C D substantially in
the manner hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings hereto
annexed.
3. Constructing and providing cases or boxes-for holding hats or the like
with interior fittings arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein before set forth.
Dated this 5th day of July 1899.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
31, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.