Patent Application
20250120467
The present invention relates to a cap with a displaceable peak, in particular a modifiable, rearrangeable, multi-use cap.
Increasing numbers of people wear caps. There are accordingly many different peak arrangements for caps, ranging from soft to hard, and varying in length, form, shape, and width.
Given their prevalence it can be difficult to distinguish many caps from one another, and many users may therefore wish to customise or rearrange their favourite cap to obtain different peak arrangements whilst maintaining the fit.
US 2018 0 103 707 (SEU) discloses an interchangeable head apparel system.
US 2015 0 189 938 (REINHART) discloses an article of headwear including a crown component, a brim component, and an elongated attachment component configured to attach the brim component to the crown component.
US 2008 0 115 257 (HERNANDEZ) discloses headgear comprising: a crown that covers the top of a head of a wearer and visor having a flange fast with and transverse to said visor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,246A (BILLY) discloses a cap with a removable visor.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cap with a displaceable peak comprising: a crown having a peripheral edge defining a head receiving opening; a displaceable peak; and at least one fastening means arranged to permit the removable fastening of the displaceable peak to the crown with the displaceable peak extending outwardly from the crown; characterised in that the at least one fastening means comprises a zipper with a first part of the zipper located within a pocket that is provided on the crown and a second part of the zipper is located on the displaceable peak; wherein the pocket is elongate and substantially rectangular with an open lower edge and at least three closed edges, so that the pocket hides the zipper and wherein the pocket comprises hook and loop material to close at least its lower edge.
In this way a wearer can change the peak provided on the crown to alter the appearance of the cap or may wear the crown as a hat without a peak. As the zipper is hidden it is not obvious that the cap is capable of rearrangement.
The cap is formed from a crown and a peak. The crown is substantially dome shaped and has a peripheral edge defining a head receiving opening. The crown has a pocket in which the peak is connected to the crown to form the assembled cap.
The pocket is preferably only part of the way around the crown and is intended to correspond to the peak.
In a preferred embodiment the pocket is provided along a peripheral edge of the crown.
The pocket contains the first part of the zipper that receives the peak which has the second part of the zipper. In this way when the first and second zipper parts are connected (zipped together), they are connected within the pocket so that the zipper is encased by the pocket and no part of the zipper comes into contact with the wearer.
The pocket also serves to provide structural support for the attachment of the peak to the crown, so that the peak remains in the desired position and does not droop or fold when worn. In some embodiments the pocket may be reinforced with a layer of material to enhance the structural shape of the crown.
The pocket includes hook and loop material such as Velcro® to at least close the open lower edge of the pocket when a peak is not in position. When no peak is attached the first zipper part can be completely hidden by being closed in the pocket by engaging the hook and loop means on the pocket.
The hook and loop means in the pocket may also provide a secondary fastening means for securing the peak to the crown in use. For example, part of the second zipper on the peak, or the peak itself, may include corresponding hook and loop means to engage with the hook and loop means on the pocket in order to provide the secondary fastening means when a peak is connected to the crown. The secondary fastening means helps attach the peak more securely and provides more structural support at the point of connection.
Various different peaks may be provided for attachment to the crown to form the cap. For example, peaks of different shapes, sizes, colours, or materials may be provided to enable a wearer to create caps with different appearances.
Typically the peaks may have structural strengthening within the peak, for example plastic, metal, or cardboard to shape the peak.
In some embodiments the crown also has structural strengthening. For example, all or part of the crown may include structural strengthening to main the shape of the crown.
In some embodiments the structural strengthening is displaceable in either or both the peak and crown so that it can be removed enabling the cap to be rolled or scrunched into a more compact format and to enable the parts to be washed separately from the structural strengthening parts. For example cardboard structural strengthening sheets may be enabled to slide out of the peak or the crown so that they are not damaged during washing.
As the peaks are separable from the crown, the crown, which is directly in touch with a wearer's head, can be washed separately. This is advantageous as the peaks as typically less likely to require cleaning and can therefore only be washed when required. This thereby minimises any risk of the peak becoming misshaped or discoloured due to washing.
In some embodiments the crown has a sweatband component. In a preferred embodiment the sweatband may be displaceable from the crown, for example being connected by hook and loop means so that the sweatband can be easily removed, cleaned, or exchanged.
In some embodiments the cap may provide a segmented assembly that includes selectively detachable crown components, sweatband components on an inner face of the crown and peak components. In this way a wearer can select components to form a cap of their choice.
In some embodiments the crown has two or more layers. For example the crown may have an inner dome shaped portion and an outer cover portion securable to the inner dome shaped portion. The inner and outer portions are connected, for example using snap fasteners. An outer face of the cover may be decorated to enable a wearer to further personalise the cap. For example the cover may display a pattern or emblem.
In some embodiments an inner portion may be made of elastic material to secure and hold a wearer's hair within the inner portion so that the hair is held close to the scalp. The elastic material may be a tension flexed stretchable porous material built inside an outer cap.
In some embodiments the cap may include two or more fastening means and thereby two or more pockets around the crown enabling more than one location for a peak and the option for two or more peaks to be connected to the crown at one time.
As the peak can be removed from the crown the cap is collapsible and may be compacted by folding or scrunching to conveniently fit in a shirt pocket or a pair of trousers where the peak is removed and laid against part of the crown. For example the crown may be folded to be parallel to the peak.
In some embodiments the cap may be provided with a storage container to carry part of the cap. For example the storage container may hold an array of peaks, so a wearer can change the appearance of the cap. Alternatively the storage container may be adapted to store at least one crown and two or more peaks so that the cap can be stored when not worn and so that a wearer can configure different variations of the cap.
The storage container may be adapted to be easily carried by a wearer, for example the storage container may be bag. In some embodiments the storage container may have a moulded section, or sections, for holding parts of the cap. Ideally the storage container has carrying straps for carrying the container so that it can be carried or attached to a belt or arranged around a wearer's waist.
Preferably the crown has a securement means to secure the cap on the user's head. Preferably the securement means are adjustable, so as to allow for variation in user head shape and size.
In some embodiments the securement means include an elastomeric material so that at least the perimeter edge of the crown is elasticated to fit the cap securely to the wearer.
In some embodiments the securement means includes connecting parts that have more than one securement position. The connecting parts may have a plurality of distinct or discrete securement positions that change the circumference of the perimeter of the crown. For example the crown may comprise a known pin and hole arrangement adjustable securement means.
In another embodiment the cap may have a securement mechanism that enables easy adjustment when the cap is donned. For example the crown may include a cable adjustment mechanism that allows a length of cable provided around the crown, or between two parts of the crown to be adjusted to alter the circumference of the opening to the crown. Typically the mechanism has a locking spindle in communication with a dial that is turned in a first direction to tighten the cap about a wearers' head (reducing the circumference of the opening of the crown) and turned in a second direction to loosen the cap around the wearer's head (increasing the circumference of the opening of the crown). In this way the dial is turned to fit the opening to a wearer's head and the locking spindle ensures the cable is locked in place so that the cable retained in a locked position.
In some embodiments the securement means, or at least part of the securement means, are removable from the crown.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:
With reference to the
A peak 1 is connected to the crown by a fastening means 3 arranged to permit the removable fastening of a peak 1 to the crown 2 at a position proximate the peripheral edge of the crown. The peak 1 extends outwardly from the crown 2.
The fastening means 3 is a zipper 5 formed from a first zipper part 41 and a second zipper part 4.
The first zipper part 41 is arranged with the pocket 14 wherein at the peripheral edge (opening) of the crown 2, and a second part of the zipper 4 is located on the peak and connects to the first part 41 in the pocket 14.
In this way the pocket 14 hides the zipper 4, 41 in use.
The pocket 14 runs along the front part of the peripheral edge 2A of the crown 2. The pocket 14 is elongate and rectangular with an openable lower edge 14A, a seamed top edge 14B, and two closed ends 14C. The pocket 14 runs across the front two segments 6 of the crown 2. The ends 14B of the pocket 14 are located in the middle of the next two segments 6 (see
The user 100 is advantageously enabled to use the crown 2 with a number of different peaks 1 and/or without a peak without anyone being aware of other potential arrangements.
The zipper 4, 41 has a shuttle 21 for engaging and disengaging the teeth of the zipper parts 4,41.
The back face of the pocket 14 lies against a wearer's head when the crown is donned. The back face of the pocket 14 may comprise a covering layer such as sweatband or similar absorbent, flocked and/or comfortable material. In this way the covering layer is presented to the wearer's head, protecting from the fastening means 3.
In particular reference to the pictured embodiments 99, 199, 299, 399,499 there is provided a substantially fabric, multiple segment crown 2 formed by six fabric triangular segments 6 joining at their points at a top of the crown 2, which has a topmost button stud 10. The segments 6 have rivet perforations 8 for airing the head, and internally the seams between the segments 6 have bands 13 covering them (see
The crown 2 has an adjustment means 9 at a back section of the peripheral edge 2A. The adjustment means 9 comprises a discontinuation in the peripheral edge 2A and arcuate indentation into the rear segment of the crown 2. The peripheral edge (opening) is continued by a plastic tab 11 with a row of apertures 11A from one side of the indentation and a rigid tab 12 with buttons 12A from the opposing side of the indentation. Buttons 12A on the rigid tab 12 are inserted to apertures 11A to form a continuous opening on the crown 2 that receives the wearer's head.
With reference to the embodiment 499 as shown in
The adjustable securement means 9 comprises a connection comprised of a cable 71 arranged between a cog housing 72 and a locking spindle 73. The cable 71 is wound around and secured to the locking spindle 73 in a circular plastic housing 75 on a first side of a substantially semi-circular gap 15 extending upwards into the crown from the peripheral edge 2A of the crown 2. The cable runs across the gap 15 and is wound around the loose spinning cog housing 72 on the opposing second side of the gap 15 and back to the first side of the gap. The cable 71 is permanently secured at a securement point 74 to the peripheral edge of the crown.
It is appreciated that the wound cable may be concealed under a cover or within the housing 75 so that it is not visible in use and cannot become tangled in a wearer's hair or garment or become caught.
This adjustable securement means 9 thereby allows the wearer 200 to adjust the crown 2 circumference in use, by turning the locking spindle 73 so as to accommodate the peak that is in place on the crown, even whilst wearing.
The locking spindle 73 may be sprung, for example so as to release the lock.
In this way it may be envisaged that the wearer is enabled to adjust the crown 2 circumference comfortably and precisely in use, so as to better accommodate the peak 1 in use and resulting shape of the crown 2.
The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.
