US5732858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Auto mold machine for hats
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1996-06-19
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Granted: 1998-03-31
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Expires: 2016-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A hat molding machine using advanced features will produce a completed hat form from an unshaped felt or wool configuration. The machine employs male and female hat molds. The female hat mold has embedded electric heating elements which are temperature controlled. Low pressure steam is piped into the female mold. Using three pneumatic cylinders and an automatic programmable air controller with timer for proper sequencing, a completed hat form shape including shape portion and flange brim portion results.
Inventors
- 👤 Mario A. Plastino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:08
CPC Classifications
A; A42; A42C; A42C1/00; A42C1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
339 words
A hat molding machine using advanced features to produce a completed hat form from an unshaped felt, wool or straw configuration form to a completed hat form shape including a crown shape portion and a flange brim portion, comprising: a male hat mold and a reciprocal female hat mold, said male hat mold having a first movable brim portion and a separate second movable crown portion, said first movable brim portion of said male hat mold advancable against a corresponding brim portion of said female hat mold, said second movable crown portion of said male hat mold separately advancable in sequence against said flange brim portion of said female hat mold, said male hat mold and said reciprocal female hat mold clamping the raw unshaped hat form in a tight cavity formed therebetween; said tight cavity between said male hat mold and said female mold being provided sequentially with a source of heat and a source of moisture vapor, said source of heat increasing the temperature of said male hat mold and said female mold to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time; said source of moisture supplying moisture vapor to said male hat mold at a predetermined pressure and temperature in a gaseous state for a second predetermined period of time; said source of heat and said source of moisture vapor being provided sequentially for said first and said second predetermined periods of time sufficient to squeeze the raw hat form to the desired completed hat shape; and, a means to vary the sizes of hats made therewith, said means comprising said a plurality of male crown molds corresponding to various sized hats, each of said male crown molds removably insertable within said male hat mold, said means further comprising a plurality of insertion members insertable within said female hat mold, said insertion members reducing a first predetermined volume of said female hat mold to a further smaller predetermined volume of said female hat mold, said further smaller predetermined volume corresponding to a smaller hat size.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
339 words
A hat molding machine using advanced features to produce a completed hat form from an unshaped felt, wool or straw configuration form to a completed hat form shape including a crown shape portion and a flange brim portion, comprising: a male hat mold and a reciprocal female hat mold, said male hat mold having a first movable brim portion and a separate second movable crown portion, said first movable brim portion of said male hat mold advancable against a corresponding brim portion of said female hat mold, said second movable crown portion of said male hat mold separately advancable in sequence against said flange brim portion of said female hat mold, said male hat mold and said reciprocal female hat mold clamping the raw unshaped hat form in a tight cavity formed therebetween; said tight cavity between said male hat mold and said female mold being provided sequentially with a source of heat and a source of moisture vapor, said source of heat increasing the temperature of said male hat mold and said female mold to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time; said source of moisture supplying moisture vapor to said male hat mold at a predetermined pressure and temperature in a gaseous state for a second predetermined period of time; said source of heat and said source of moisture vapor being provided sequentially for said first and said second predetermined periods of time sufficient to squeeze the raw hat form to the desired completed hat shape; and, a means to vary the sizes of hats made therewith, said means comprising said a plurality of male crown molds corresponding to various sized hats, each of said male crown molds removably insertable within said male hat mold, said means further comprising a plurality of insertion members insertable within said female hat mold, said insertion members reducing a first predetermined volume of said female hat mold to a further smaller predetermined volume of said female hat mold, said further smaller predetermined volume corresponding to a smaller hat size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 1, wherein said source of heat comprises at least one electric heating element embedded within said female hat mold, said at least one electric heating element being temperature controlled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 1, wherein said source of moisture comprises a source of low pressure steam piping the steam into said female mold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 3, wherein said source of low pressure steam is controlled by an automatic programmable air controller with a timer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 3, wherein said female mold includes an electrically controlled steam admission valve admitting the steam through a steam port near a base of said female mold, said steam source feeding the steam through a valve to a conduit in communication with said female mold for molding said hat between said male hat mold and said female hat mold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 2, wherein said at least one electric heating element comprises at least one heating rod element wrapped around said female mold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 6, further comprising a temperature sensor communicating with a thermostat to control said the temperature of said at least one heat rod element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 1, wherein said female mold and said male mold move pneumatically.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 1, wherein said female mold and said male mold move hydraulically.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 1, wherein said female mold and said male mold move electronically.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 8, further comprising a pneumatic console receiving compressed air from a source of compressed air, said pneumatic console providing the compressed air through at least one conduit to said male hat mold for moving said male hat mold toward said female hat mold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 5, wherein said conduit comprises a plurality of conduits, wherein one conduit of said plurality of conduits independently supplies compressed air against a crown portion of said male hat mold and at least one further conduit independently supplies compressed air against a brim portion of said male hat mold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 12, wherein said at least one further conduit comprises a plurality of further conduits supplying compressed air against the brim portion of said male hat mold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 11, wherein said source of compressed air is a stand alone portable air compressor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 11, wherein said source of compressed air is a connection to a permanent source of compressed air.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 11, wherein said at least one conduit includes at least one movable member moving said male hat mold between fully extended and fully retracted positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
140 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 16, wherein said movement of said at least one movable member is controlled by at least one limit switch, said at least one limit switch detecting relative positions of said movable members for moving said male hat mold in a fully extended or fully retracted position, said at least one limit switch connected to a circuit combining a signal for producing a delayed output where the duration of delay is set by an operator, said circuit having a further switch controlling the direction of said movable members, wherein during the sequence of operations, the movements of said male hat mold is selectively controlled, and an air controller controls said source of moisture vapor and said source of heat in a predetermined sequence for a desired duration of time to form the completed hat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 16, wherein said movement of said at least one movable member is controlled by at least one timer to selectively move said at least one movable member independent of other movable members, so that said crown portion of said male hat mold may move independently of said brim portion of said male hat mold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 1, further comprising a cooling rack for cooling the completed hat form when the completed hat form is removed from between said male hat mold and said female hat mold.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The hat molding machine as in claim 4, wherein said programmable air controller has entry and exit modules for routing compressed air from a compressed air source through a momentary control button to start a cycle of moving said male hat mold toward said female hat mold.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of making a hat from a raw hat body comprising the steps of: measuring the raw hat body for an appropriate size and selecting a male crown mold corresponding to the appropriate size from a plurality of various sized male crown molds; placing the raw hat body in a female mold; applying steam along with heat to the raw hat body; moving a movable brim flange mold down over the raw hat body; moving a male crown mold down over the raw hat body; leaving the hat thus formed in said molds for a predetermined time period; moving said male crown mold up away from the hat; moving said brim flange mold up away from the hat; and, cooling the hat thus formed on a cooling rack, wherein during the sequence of operations, said movements are sequentially controlled in conjunction with said steam and said heat in predetermined sequences for desired duration's of time to form a completed hat.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of making a hat from a raw hat body comprising the steps of: measuring the raw hat body for an appropriate size and selecting a male crown mold corresponding to the appropriate size from a plurality of various sized male crown molds; placing the raw hat body in a female mold; applying steam along with heat to the raw hat body; moving a movable brim flange mold down over the raw hat body; moving a male crown mold down over the raw hat body; leaving the hat thus formed in said molds for a predetermined time period; moving said male crown mold up away from the hat; moving said brim flange mold up away from the hat; and, cooling the hat thus formed on a cooling rack, wherein during the sequence of operations, said movements are sequentially controlled in conjunction with said steam and said heat in predetermined sequences for desired duration's of time to form a completed hat.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
180 words
A mold machine using advanced features to produce an item of a finished, pressed state, comprising: a male mold and a reciprocal female mold, said male mold having a first movable portion and at least one separate second movable portion, said first movable male portion advancable against a corresponding recess of a female mold, said first and said second movable male portions separately advancable in sequence against said female mold, clamping said item therebetween, a cavity between said male mold and said female mold being sequentially provided with a source of heat and a source of moisture vapor, said source of heat increasing the temperature of said male mold and said female mold to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, and, said source of moisture supplying moisture vapor to said male mold at a predetermined pressure and temperature for a second predetermined period of time, said source of heat and second source of moisture vapor being provided sequentially for said first and said second predetermined periods of time sufficient to squeeze the item to a desired completed pressed state.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
180 words
A mold machine using advanced features to produce an item of a finished, pressed state, comprising: a male mold and a reciprocal female mold, said male mold having a first movable portion and at least one separate second movable portion, said first movable male portion advancable against a corresponding recess of a female mold, said first and said second movable male portions separately advancable in sequence against said female mold, clamping said item therebetween, a cavity between said male mold and said female mold being sequentially provided with a source of heat and a source of moisture vapor, said source of heat increasing the temperature of said male mold and said female mold to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, and, said source of moisture supplying moisture vapor to said male mold at a predetermined pressure and temperature for a second predetermined period of time, said source of heat and second source of moisture vapor being provided sequentially for said first and said second predetermined periods of time sufficient to squeeze the item to a desired completed pressed state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-30 | 2001-09-29 | 2002-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-30 | 2005-09-29 | 2006-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-30 | 2009-09-29 | 2010-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |