Many Hatty Returns » Wacky Hatty Inventions

A Triangular Hat Box

hatrevivalist — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:44:41 +0000

A very Nifty Triangular Hat Box

This is a design for a shipping hat box from a patent (443,397) filed in 1890. It’s a great design. The advantages cited were:

the fancy hat would not move around in any position – saving packing. and
more of these triangular boxes could be stored in the shipping room when compared with the rectangular variety.

This is great stuff to stimulate imagination. I do not know what the modern post office would do with such a packing container however.

I repeat this information on the legality of patents from my previous postings under the category Wacky Hatty Inventions.

If you are interested in patent protection you should visit the US Patent Office site. I did not research the patent laws as they applied in 1890. The bottom line is that provided you comply with certain conditions such as continuous filing with prescribed fees, under current laws you are protected for 10 years (twenty years prior to 1989). I am NOT a lawyer and I am definitely not giving you any legal advice. It’s complicated and before you assume you are in the clear you need to research similar patents that might be in force that “improve”on an earlier patent that may not be in force, such as the one in this post. In addition these patent and indeed,copyright (a different thing) laws are different even among the developed nations. So take care!

I present these inventions for amusement and education only.

Need a Sunshade for your hat?

hatrevivalist — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:21:35 +0000

I have seen the novelty hats with umbrellas on the top but here is a new one. It’s on old one from September 1904. So you have a narrow brim hat you too can turn it into a wide brim hat – just slip this gadget over the top. The gadget was designed to fold up like a fan. Devilishly clever those Edwardians. Does anyone know if this design was ever commercialized and whether there are any hats using this principle over one hundred years later?

I repeat this information from my previous postings

If you are interested in patent protection you should visit the US Patent Office sit e. I did not research the patent laws as they applied in 1904. The bottom line is that provided you comply with certain conditions such as continuous filing with prescribed fees, under current laws you are protected for 10 years (twenty years prior to 1989). I am NOT a lawyer and I am definitely not giving you any legal advice. It’s complicated and before you assume you are in the clear you need to research similar patents that might be in force that “improve”on an earlier patent that may not be in force, such as the one in this post. In addition these patent and indeed,copyright (a different thing) laws are different even among the developed nations. So take care!

I present these inventions for amusement and educatation only.

Measuring for your true hat size

hatrevivalist — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:28:30 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-W-wAngxYg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-W-wAngxYg

The video is a review of a piece on the O’Farrell Hat website on how they customize hat sizing using a Conformateur. The conventional way of measuring hat sizes is to use a tape measure and measure the head circumference. From that you can find the hat size from a geometric formula that assumes your head is perfectly round. Clearly this is mostly a false assumption and often one might have to get a bigger size to fit. This shows how a head can be measured properly allowing for different head shapes. In the Video I reference a patent for a similar piece.I will post about it it separately soon for your reference.

The following video is another use of a similar measuring device at Baron Hats in Hollywood. It’s in Spanish and you can use it for practice if you are learning Spanish as well. Enjoy! (About at the 39 second mark on the video).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UrKwOg8QfE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UrKwOg8QfE

Really Crazy Hats!

hatrevivalist — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:31:03 +0000

Concept hats that will drive you crazy with laughter

The Life.com site recently published a wild slide show with some really crazy hats.

Many of these hats were actually “worn” at the world famous Royal Ascot meet. Incidentally Royal Ascot is being held over this weekend. Undoubtedly an event on the Social Calendar in Aristocratic Britain and one where hat wearing by both men and women is mandatory. In women’s hats it is not generally believed that one should hold back and be too conservative.

Here is a list and a bit of a commentary on the hats displayed:

1. Mmmm Cheesy

A very (I mean very) large hat being a replica of a slab of blue cheese (made for a giant)

(Royal Ascot 2008)

2. King Kong would love this one

A felt hat shaped like a replica (a good one) of a Gorilla’s hand.

(1953)

3. Berry Nice

A dish of strawberries on a hat resembling the grill on one of those 1970s round barbeque’s.

(Ascot – date not given)

4. Gooooooaaall!

A very large replica of a soccer field

(Ascot 2004)

5. A big hit at the Office

A hat featuring rubber duckies and a large sign “I paid for this hat on expenses”.

(Ascot 2009)

6. Yes, the sink’s in there too

A large blue hat surmounted by a large replica bathroom

(Ascot 2008)

7. Just Say Naught

Fancy horse head hats

(Ascot 2007)

8. Someone is Very Patriotic

A very creative hat based on the British Union Jack flag and a heart motif – my personal favorite.

(Ascot 2007)

9. Guess who’s the butt of the joke?

A very large replica ashtray and cigarette

(Ascot 2007)

10. How Dainty: Watercress Sandwiches

A large helping of Watercress Sandwiches – Yummy

(Ascot 2008)

11. The Race is On

A kind of turban like hat with fake turf and very plastic looking horse models – tacky.

(Ascot 2006)

12. Staying Cool

A very large replica of a “99″Ice Cream cone – a British ice cream treat Vanilla ice cream in a cone with a Cadbury flake – a personal favorite treat – but not in a hat thanks.

(Ascot 2009)

13. Head Stands

A model of the stands at Ascot.

(Ascot 2008)

14. The World on her Shoulders

A strange collar with names of European Countries – not the whole world.

(Ascot 1973)

15. We bet this one got a great reception.

A large replica cell phone on a large brimmed blue hat – bizarre.

(Ascot 1992)

16. All that Jazz

Creative musical head wear featuring a very large trumpet.

(Sep 2005)

17. Our Daily Bread

Salvador Dali wears a replica loaf of bread.

(1958)

18. A Hat of Note

A creative hat made of sheet music

(Sep 2005)

19 We’ll be the Judge of that.

A trucker hat – how did THAT get in there?

Well many of the hats appeared or are due to appear at Royal Ascot. If you like Horse Racing and the whole ambiance of horse racing and the hat wearing you may also wish to check out another Life slide show featuring horse racing events and their fans from many eras and different countries many of the feature hats.

Check out the Life.com website for many great images and a nostalgic look at hat wearing in past periods.

Wacky Hatty Inventions: Keep it under Your Hat!

hatrevivalist — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:16:29 +0000

We have not had any Wacky Hatty Inventions lately. It is time for more.

This is a device, Patent # 675,700, June 4, 1901, designed to hide a hearing aid under a hat. In 1901 they were not very discrete. It affords the opportunity of carrying a receiver of unusually large size without attracting attention.

The ear tube is not really discreet.

Is there a modern application for this – forget iPods just keep a boom box under your hat!

You have to be careful if you want to use ideas from these patents as it is very likely they have been improved upon and used in subsequent designs which would have then be newly patented. I am presenting this information for entertainment and information and NOT as legal advice (I am not a lawyer for one thing).

I repeat this information from my previous postings

If you are interested in patent protection you should visit the US Patent Office sit e. I did not research the patent laws as they applied in 1901. The bottom line is that provided you comply with certain conditions such as continuous filing with prescribed fees, under current laws you are protected for 10 years (twenty years prior to 1989). I am NOT a lawyer and I am definitely not giving you any legal advice. It’s complicated and before you assume you are in the clear you need to research similar patents that might be in force that “improve”on an earlier patent that may not be in force, such as the one in this post. In addition these patent and indeed, copyright (a different thing) laws are different even among the developed nations. So take care!

Wacky Hatty Inventions:The Magnetized Hat Band

hatrevivalist — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:51:52 +0000

This is another in the series of Wacky Hatty Inventions. – The magnetized hat band – patent 459,942, brought to you by Fred H. Brown September 22, 1891

The idea here is to insert a magnetized hat band in side the hat next to the head. You may ask why?

“the nature of the invention is a pliable metallic strip or band made of carbonized steel quite thin to adapt it to be bent into semi circular or curved form, and provided with slots or openings to increase its pliability and enable it to be fitted to the heads of different shapes and sizes, said metallic band being magnetized with reversed poles at its ends for therapeutic purposes”.

I could not ascertain what it is supposed to have been therapeutic for. However, I wonder if it worked? The magazines of the day were full of “miracle”cures of all sorts. You can”t make those types of claims today. Interesting gadget?

Please refer to my previous Wacky Hatty Invention posts for cautions about patents in general.

I am NOT a lawyer and I present this information as education and entertainment.

Wacky Hatty Inventions: Protect your big hat from rain!

hatrevivalist — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:08:58 +0000

If you had one of those humongous Edwardian Hats it would have been a huge problem to protect it from the rain and snow. Here is an invention to do just that. It has the added bonus that you could have used it to protect from dust. I would be cautious about using an impermeable to store a hat with natural feathers. I am a believe in letting it breathe. You might also need protection from moths!

This is patent number 1,044,977 dated November 19, 1912. To quote from the application:

It is well known that nearly all kinds of trimmed hats such as are worn by ladies are liable to be more or less injured by exposure to the weather, and that it is desirable to have ready at hand some suitable means for covering such hats upon the coming up of a sudden shower.

This invention claims to be an improvement over previous designs. You have to be careful if you want to use ideas from these patents as it is very likely they have been improved upon and used in subsequent designs which would have then be newly patented. I am presenting this information for entertainment and information and NOT as legal advice (I am not a lawyer for one thing).

I repeat this information from my previous postings

If you are interested in patent protection you should visit the US Patent Office sit e. I did not research the patent laws as they applied in 1910. The bottom line is that provided you comply with certain conditions such as continuous filing with prescribed fees, under current laws you are protected for 10 years (twenty years prior to 1989). I am NOT a lawyer and I am definitely not giving you any legal advice. It’s complicated and before you assume you are in the clear you need to research similar patents that might be in force that “improve”on an earlier patent that may not be in force, such as the one in this post. In addition these patent and indeed, copyright (a different thing) laws are different even among the developed nations. So take care!

It is an interesting question as to whether hats can be worn in the rain or snow in general. I plan a future post on this question. Stay tuned.

Wacky Hatty Inventions:Cigar Holder for Hats

hatrevivalist — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:32:49 +0000

Here is an interesting invention, a cigar-holder for hats, patent number 963,869 dated July 12, 1910.

My reaction to this is why? What if you get caught in a rain storm? You get your cigars soggy. When you take your hat off to you really want to show your cigars? What’s wrong with your pockets?

This idea would have been an interesting idea for Velcro which was invented over 30 years later in 1941 by Swiss Engineer George de Mestral. Not much interest in cigars at the top of hats. Bullets perhaps, it was wartime. You would be in great danger of getting your head blown off – too dangerous!

I am presenting this stuff for amusement and education only.

Wacky Hatty Inventions: Big Hat Toy Bank

hatrevivalist — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:34:01 +0000

Metal Toy Banks were very popular in the late 19th century to encourage thrift in children. They were fun and collectible now. A lot of replica/reproductions have been produced so be careful when you buy one.

Here is an interesting bank which has a huge hat ready to be brought down on the head once the coins are deposited. This is a kind of reverse ducking stool?

Here it is, patent 13,401 dated November 7, 1882 by Charles Richel.

It’s a lot of fun. According to the description:

“The general feature of the design consists of the figure of a boot black sitting on his box, in front of a street hydrant, with outstretched hands holding a brush, between which and the top of the hydrant the coins are to be placed by the depositors for discharge into the bank, when another boy, standing behind the first, swings down a huge hat upon the head of the latter, the said figures being mounted on the top of the case or box of the bank” GASP!

A lot of fun but political correctness was not the order of the day. Please take it in the spirit of history.

It occurs to me that this big hat is a sort of variant of the famous ten gallon hat invented by the Stetson Company. I think the oversize hat is somewhat bigger. By the way the famous ten gallon hat does not hold ten gallons of liquid of course. According to the Stetson Hat site the hat holds three quarts of liquid. Hat abuse I say…

A word of caution about these patents. Although they may have expired there may be derivatives that are registered. See my previous post on this. This is presented for education and entertainment.

Wacky Hatty Inventions: The Bubble Hat

hatrevivalist — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:39:04 +0000

This one is wild folks. Imagine bubbles coming out of the top of your head!

It is intended to dispense soap bubbles for theatrical effect. The mechanism is concealed so there can be a “surprise” effect. According to the description in patent 1,021,323 published March 16, 1912:

This device is designed primarily for theatrical purposes and it is understood that a number of persons such as the members of a chorus may be equipped with such apparatus so they may together or singly cause bubbles to arise from their heads, either in conjunction with a song or otherwise. Thus, a strikingly novel scenic effect is produced which may be largely enhanced by having colored lights projected upon the bubbles.

I am not making this up and I have reproduced the illustration below. Sounds like a Monty Python skit to me. I do not think comedy was intended but it is pretty funny having a whole bunch of adults have bubbles coming out of their heads. “I’m forever blowing bubbles pretty bubbles from my head. They fly so high nearly reach the sky“(editorial from me). It is interesting that this invention was before its time the song “I’m forever blowing bubbles” did not officially come out until 1919. You can read about that song on the Parlor Songs website - just scroll down the page which has a list of other types of novelty songs!

Before you use any of the ideas from this series please check with your patent offices. Although this particular patent is expired there may have been an improved version subsequently filed in the US or other jurisdiction. Take care. This information is for entertainment only and definitely does not constitute legal advice!

Wacky Hatty Inventions: Retractable Visor

hatrevivalist — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:13:45 +0000

This series explores crazy wacky hat inventions past and present?
Some of them will seem strange and even very amusing. Here is one patent 893,548 from July 14, 1908. Essentially it is a folding retracting visor system – Folding Visor for caps and hats, invented by I Rosenfeld.
Here is a copy of the diagram that was filed in the patent approval.

You may have to right click on this to view the full diagram.

Essentially we have a regular sailor cap with two retractable fans each side. When opened the fans were to join in the middle to provide extra shade, they sit on the visor.

I do not know if this invention was commercialized. There is a great program on Canadian TV called the Re-Inventors where they actually rebuild these old inventions. Some of them are really crazy Stay tuned for more wacky hat inventions.

If you are interested in patent protection you should visit the US Patent Office sit e. I did not research the patent laws as they applied in 1908. The bottom line is that provided you comply with certain conditions such as continuous filing with prescribed fees, under current laws you are protected for 10 years (twenty years prior to 1989). I am NOT a lawyer and I am definitely not giving you any legal advice. It’s complicated and before you assume you are in the clear you need to research similar patents that might be in force that “improve”on an earlier patent that may not be in force, such as the one in this post. In addition these patent and indeed, copyright (a different thing) laws are different even among the developed nations. So take care!

I am presenting this stuff for amusement and education only.