Apparatus and method for a storing a baseball cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an efficient storage system for multiple baseball caps that preserves their shape and allows for compact storage.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mountable apparatus with angular openings that accommodate the cap bills, allowing for stacking without deforming the caps, and can support both flat and curved bills, using a trapezoidal-shaped cap support that attaches to a vertical surface for efficient storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If caps are stored in traditional containers or on shelves, then multiple caps can be stored, but the caps deform and lose their shape
Solution Approach 1:
The storage apparatus is divided into multiple individual cap slots, each providing dedicated support for a single cap. This segmentation allows each cap to be stored independently without deforming others, while still enabling compact wall-mounted organization of multiple caps.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus introduces intermediate support structures (dividers and backing supports) between caps that prevent direct contact and deformation. These intermediaries maintain the spatial relationship between caps and preserve their individual shapes while enabling compact storage.
2Volume of moving object
If caps are stacked for compact storage, then space efficiency improves, but the caps may deform under weight
Solution Approach 1:
The cap slots are designed with differentiated support zones: the front wall provides structural containment, the back wall supports the crown, and the bottom surface supports the bill. This localized quality distribution ensures each region of the cap receives appropriate support to maintain its shape during stacked storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus pre-configures support structures in the correct positions before caps are inserted. The dividers and backing supports are already in place to receive caps, ensuring proper alignment and shape preservation from the moment of insertion, preventing deformation before stacking occurs.
3Shape
If a rigid storage structure is used, then cap shape is preserved, but the structure cannot accommodate different cap bill shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The cap slot design incorporates universal support features that work with various cap types. The open front allows different bill styles (flat, curved, structured) to be inserted, while the back wall and bottom surface provide consistent support for all cap shapes, making the apparatus adaptable to multiple cap configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus transitions from two-dimensional shelf storage to three-dimensional wall-mounted vertical storage. This dimensional change allows caps to be stacked vertically with proper support at multiple levels, accommodating different bill shapes while preserving their forms through the added vertical dimension and distributed support structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a wall mountable apparatus that receives one or more baseball styled caps for compact storage.