Hat brim press

Claim 2

A hat brim press comprising: a base plate including a planar top surface portion for supporting the bottom of a hat brim; a cover plate including an annular, planar bottom surface for engaging the top of the hat brim; said cover plate defining a central opening encircled by said bottom surface and adapted to accommodate a crown attached to the hat brim and a notch in said bottom surface and intersecting said central opening, said notch adapted to accommodate an adornment supported by the brim; and fastening means connecting said base plate and said cover plate and manually adjustable to produce between said top surface portion and said bottom surface forces directed orthogonally thereto, said forces pressing the hat brim between said top surface portion and said bottom surface so as to retain the hat brim in a planar form.

Claim 3

A hat brim press according to claim 1 wherein said cover plate further defines a pair of cover cutouts intersecting opposite edges of said opening; and said base plate defines a central aperture aligned with said central opening and a pair of base cutouts intersecting opposite edges of said central aperture and each aligned with a different one of said cover cutouts.

Claim 4

A hat brim press according to claim 2 wherein said notch is spaced substantially uniformly between said cover cutouts.

Claim 5

A hat brim press according to claim 3 wherein said central opening has the form of an eclipse, said notch is aligned with the major axis thereof, and said cover cutouts are aligned with the minor axis thereof.

Claim 6

A hat press according to claim 4 wherein said fastening means comprises a plurality of fasteners each connected between said base plate and said cover plate at spaced apart positions thereon.

Claim 7

A hat brim press according to claim 5 wherein said base plate further defines a plurality of spaced apart base tab portions extending outwardly from said surface portion, said cover plate further defines a plurality of cover tab portions each aligned with a different one of said base tab portions, and each pair of said aligned base and cover tab portions is connected by one of said fasteners.

Claim 8

A hat brim press according to claim 6 wherein one of said fasteners comprises hinge means permitting relative pivotal movement between said base plate and said cover plate in the planes defined by said planar top surface portion and said planar bottom surface.

Claim 9

A hat brim press according to claim 7 wherein said fasteners other than said one fastener each comprises a nut and bolt assembly.

Claim 10

A hat brim press according to claim 8 wherein predetermined ones of said tabs define open ended slots, each receiving one of said bolts and accommodating movement thereof during said relative pivotal movement between said base and cover plates.

Claim 11

A hat brim press according to claim 9 wherein said predetermined one of said tabs comprise both base and cover tabs.

Claim 12

A hat brim press comprising: a base plate including a planar top surface portion for supporting the bottom of a hat brim; a cover plate including an annular, planar bottom surface for engaging the top of the hat brim; said cover plate defining a central opening encircled by said bottom surface and adapted to accommodate a crown attached to the hat brim; and fastening means connecting and aligning said base plate in positions engaging the hat brim and said cover plate and manually adjustable to produce between said top surface portion and said bottom surface forces directed orthogonally thereto, said forces pressing on diametrically disposed portions of the hat brim between said top surface portion and said bottom surface so as to retain the hat brim in a planar form, and wherein said fastening means comprises hinge means permitting relative pivotal movement between said base plate and said cover plate out of said aligned positions in the planes defined by said planar top surface portion and said planar bottom surface.

Claim 13

A hat brim press comprising: a base plate including a planar top surface portion for supporting the bottom of a hat brim; a cover plate including an annular, planar bottom surface for engaging the top of the hat brim; said cover plate defining a central opening encircled by said bottom surface and adapted to accommodate a crown attached to the hat brim; and fastening means connecting and aligning said base plate in positions engaging the hat brim and said cover plate and manually adjustable to produce between said top surface portion and said bottom surface forces directed orthogonally thereto, said forces pressing on diametrically disposed portions of the hat brim between said top surface portion and said bottom surface so as to retain the hat brim in a planar form, and wherein said fastening means comprises hinge means permitting relative pivotal movement between said base plate and said cover plate out of said aligned positions in the planes defined by said planar top surface portion and said planar bottom surface.

Claim 14

A hat brim press according to claim 11 wherein said cover plate further defines a pair of cover cutouts intersecting opposite edges of said opening; and said base plate defines a central aperture aligned with said central opening and a pair of base cutouts intersecting opposite edges of said central aperture and each aligned with a different one of said cover cutouts.

Claim 15

A hat brim press according to claim 11 wherein said fastening means comprises a plurality of fasteners each connected between said base plate and said cover plate at spaced apart positions thereon.

Claim 16

A hat brim press according to claim 13 wherein said base plate further defines a plurality of spaced apart base tab portions extending outwardly from said surface portion, said cover plate further defines a plurality of cover tab portions each aligned with a different one of said base tab portions, and each pair of said aligned base and cover tab portions is connected by one of said fasteners.

Claim 17

A hat brim press according to claim 14 wherein said fasteners other than said one fastener each comprises a nut and bolt assembly.

Claim 18

A hat brim press according to claim 15 wherein predetermined ones of said tabs define open ended slots, each receiving one of said bolts and accommodating movement thereof during said relative pivotal movement between said base and cover plates.

Claim 19

A hat brim press according to claim 16 wherein said predetermined one of said tabs comprise both base and cover tabs.