Ball cap display rack
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions fail to effectively display multiple ball caps at an optimal viewing angle, with most storage methods either obscuring the ornamentation or requiring caps to be nested, which conceals the design features.
Innovation Solution
A cap rack with a semicircular support band extending at an acute angle, equipped with clips and a button retainer, allowing multiple caps to be displayed at an angle with secure attachment to a support surface, and capable of variable capacity by interconnecting multiple strips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If caps are stored horizontally on shelves, then storage space is utilized, but the ornamentation is partially obscured by the cap's bill
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from horizontal shelf storage to vertical wall-mounted display. The support band extends upwardly at an acute angle from a vertically mounted base strip, positioning caps in a vertical dimension where the bill tilts downward and ornamentation faces forward for optimal visibility while maintaining storage capacity through multi-level configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing caps with the bill facing upward (horizontal position), the invention inverts the orientation by suspending caps vertically with the bill tilting downward. This inversion is achieved through the support band's acute angle configuration, which naturally positions the cap crown at the top and bill at the bottom, making the ornamentation on the crown fully visible.
2Loss of information
If caps are suspended at an angle for optimal viewing, then ornamentation visibility is improved, but storage capacity is reduced compared to horizontal shelves
Solution Approach 1:
The support band is designed with flexibility to accommodate caps of various sizes while maintaining the optimal viewing angle. The band can dynamically adjust to different cap dimensions through its elastic properties, ensuring consistent display quality across different cap types without compromising storage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple base strips and support bands can be vertically stacked and interconnected to create a multi-level display system. This nesting approach allows multiple caps to be displayed at different heights on the same wall space, maximizing storage capacity while maintaining optimal viewing angles for all caps in the vertical arrangement.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed storage solution is provided, then installation is simple, but adaptability to different cap collection sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into modular components: individual base strips with support bands that can be independently mounted on the wall. Each module can hold one or more caps, and additional modules can be added vertically to increase capacity. This segmentation maintains installation simplicity while providing adaptability to different collection sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The base strip and support band design serves multiple functions: it provides structural mounting to the wall, positions caps at the optimal viewing angle, secures caps through friction and geometric constraints, and allows for vertical stacking to expand capacity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components while adapting to various storage needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A cap rack includes a base strip having a substantially semicircular support band positioned thereon. The support band upwardly extends at a predetermined, acute angle relative to a vertical plane to restrain a ball cap in an optimal viewing angle. The support band includes a clip on each of two side portions and a button retainer on an upper portion for securing a folded cap crown. Multiple strips can be interconnected to form a rack having a larger capacity, if desired.