Container for Mounting on Headgear

This application is filed in accordance with the decision in In re Gibbs, 168 USPQ 587 (CCPA 1971).

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container, box or other device, which may be mounted on a cap or other headgear.

2. Related Art

There are thousands of types of tackle boxes for fishing gear. Every type of container from old cigar boxes to the most sophisticated space age construction has been used to store tackle. Also intricate pocketed vest, floats and the like are used for tackle storage.

For the wade fisherman, storage space is at a premium. The pocket vest are useful and styrofoam hats or regular hats for storing hooks are commonly used. However, some items are not easily hooked on a hat, such as weights, touts, swivels, etc.

In addition to fishermen others frequently have their hands occupied or wish to keep them free, for example sports fans or children.

It is an advantage of the present invention that small items of fishing gear can be stored within easy reach in a box or container which is out of the way. It is a further advantage that the present invention adds storage space on a person in addition to those usually used. It is a further advantage that when used for fishing items kept in the present container can be expected to stay dry. It is a particular feature of the present invention that the box is easily carried with a person so long as they wear an appropriate cap or hat. A further advantage is that decorative, distinguishing or novelty items may be attached to headgear to be conspicuously obvious without interference with other activities.

Briefly, the present invention comprises a container or other device having a bottom with an opening in the bottom adapted to snap on to a button, or other knob like protrusion on headgear and the combination comprising said device and said headgear. More preferably the button or knob is located on a location on the headgear, such that it will be at approximately the apogee of the headgear in the normal upright position with the headgear in place on the wearer. Preferably the headgear will be a hat or cap and the button will be a button located at the upper center of the hat or cap. In another aspect of the invention the container may be permanently affixed to the headgear.

The opening in the bottom of the container may be nothing more than a plurality of intersecting cuts in the bottom of the container, which form a plurality of wedge shaped elements terminating at the intersection of the cuts, such that the wedges can be deformed to allow the button to pass through into the container then to seat under the bottom and hold the container firmly in place. Depending on the flexibility of the container bottom, a portion of the ends of the wedge shaped elements may be cut away, e.g., to form a circular opening. Also -the intersecting cuts may be slots.

The container may be made of any material and the bottom may be the same provided that there is sufficient flexibility and resilience for the button to pass through the opening and the wedge shaped elements to snap into place below the button.

FIG. 1 is a isometric view of the present container.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational cross section of the container in place on a cap.

FIG. 3 is a detail of one embodiment of the opening in the bottom of the container.

FIG. 4 is an alternative opening embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational cross section of a device in the form of a miniature baseball cap in place on a cap.

Referring to FIG. 1, the container 10 is a opaque plastic box with bottom 22, sides 25, 26, 28 and 30, drain holes 12, compartment walls 14, and hinged lid 16 with latch 18 which cooperates with stud 20 to fasten the lid down.

Located centrally in the container on bottom 22 is opening 32 which is formed by three intersecting slots 40 with a portion of the area adjacent to the intersection point being removed to form a hole 34. A suitable plastic for this is a medium density polypropylene which is rigid yet flexible thus allowing the individual tines 36 to deform upward when pressed by hand (not shown) on to a button 102 of cap 100 and to seat on the button as shown in FIG. 2. When the deformed tines 36 return to their normal position, they grasp the button 102 about attachment 104 which is positioned in the hole 34. Removing the container is the reverse operation, whereby the tines are deformed downward to allow the button to pass out of the opening. The button may be locked in place by the tines thereby permanently attaching the container and headgear, or the container and headgear may be glued, stapled or other wise attached together (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows an alternative type of opening 132 which uses intersecting slits 140 with a central hole 134. The lines 136 operate in the same manner as previously described to mount the container on the button hence on the cap.

The button 102 should be substantially smaller than the circumference 38 defined by the terminal end of the shortest intersecting slots 40. If the button is larger than this then it will not fit. The button can be substantially smaller, than the circumference 38 but larger than hole 34 or it will not hold the container in place. The cuts (slots or slits) can be substantially the same length or of different length. The container may be rectangular, square, round or any other shape and should be small as noted herein, however is some utilizations the container may be larger than the head of the wearer and serve as a sun shade as well as storage container.

Preferably the button on the cap is centrally located and at the apogee of the headgear.

A lid or other closure is an important feature of the present container since the person wearing the cap is going to move about, and look down, hence the closure is necessary to keep items from falling out of the container. The dimensions of the box may be about 4 inches square and be comfortable to wear. Boxes larger than that can be worn but they become unwieldy. Smaller boxes have less utility.

Although the box is designed for fishing tackle, any other item such as snacks, cigarettes, matches or the like may be carried therein. Furthermore the container may be worn on any occasion not just fishing.

Referring to FIG. 5, the device 110 is a opaque plastic ornament made in the shape of a miniature base ball cap, preferably in a team color with a team logo on it with bottom 22. FIG. 3 shows one bottom embodiment with opening 32 located centrally on bottom 22 which is formed by three intersecting slots 40 with a portion of the area adjacent to the intersection point being removed to form a hole 34. As described above the bottom is made of plastic which is rigid yet flexible thus allowing the individual tines 36 to deform upward when pressed by hand (not shown) on to a button 102 of cap 100 and to seat on the button as shown in FIG. 5. When the deformed tines 36 return to their normal position, they grasp the button 102 about attachment 104 which is positioned in the hole 34. Removing the container is the reverse operation, whereby the tines are deformed downward to allow the button to pass out of the opening. The button may be locked in place by the tines thereby permanently attaching the device and headgear. However in the preferred embodiment the device will not be permanently locked in place thus allowing the wearer to change the device, e.g. a miniature football (not shown) or football helmet for football season.