Patent Application
20210251326
Devices, caps, and headwear adapted to be worn on the forehead such as caps and visors have existed for of years. Currently, such devices, caps, and headwear suffer from a number of drawbacks, including the inability to alter or modify the devices, caps, and headwear after purchase.
Accordingly, there remains a need for devices, caps, and headwear that allow for component interchangeability as well as a sturdy means to attach various component of the devices, caps, and headwear. This need and other needs are satisfied by the various aspects of the present disclosure.
Disclosed herein, in various aspects, are caps and headwear articles having a crown portion and various interchangeable visor portions.
In one aspect, a headwear article can comprise a crown having a rear portion and a front portion that cooperate to define a circumference of the crown. The rear portion and the front portion of the crown can have respective outer surfaces and respective inner surfaces that cooperate to define a receiving space that is configured to receive a portion of a head of a user. A first magnetic material can be coupled to the front portion of the crown. A visor can have a shade portion and an upwardly extending lip portion. The shade portion can have a rear edge to which the upwardly extending lip portion is coupled. The upwardly extending lip portion can have a front surface and a rear surface. A second magnetic material can be coupled to the upwardly extending lip portion of the visor. At least one of the first magnetic material or the second magnetic material can comprise a magnet. The upwardly extending lip portion of the visor can have a shape that is complementary to a shape of at least a portion of the front portion of the crown. The crown and the visor can be configured to be selectively and releasably coupled to one another through magnetic attraction between the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material.
In one aspect, disclosed herein are caps comprising: (a) a crown including an annular base shaped to fit the head of a wearer; (b) a removable or interchangeable visor having first and second opposing major surfaces, and including an outwardly extending arcuate flange hinge-connected along an inside edge of the first and second major surfaces of the visor; (c) first and second cooperating attachment members located respectively on the flange and on the crown proximate the base for removable attachment of the visor to the crown; and (d) the flange being movable at said hinge connection between a first visor attachment position on the crown wherein the first major surface of the visor faces upwardly during wear, and a second visor attachment position on the crown wherein the second major surface of the visor faces upwardly during wear; and (e) a liner formed on an inside surface of the crown proximate the base for residing adjacent to the flange of said visor, and providing a comfort barrier between the first and second attachment members and the forehead of the wearer.
In one aspect, disclosed herein are caps comprising: (a) a crown including an annular base shaped to fit the head of a wearer; (b) a reversible visor having first and second opposing major surfaces, and including an outwardly extending arcuate flange hinge-connected along an inside edge of the first and second major surfaces; (c) a zipper assembly including first and second rows of teeth located respectively on the flange and on the crown proximate the base, and a movable slide operatively connected to the first row of teeth for mating the first and second rows of teeth together; (d) the flange being movable at said hinge connection between a first visor attachment position on the crown wherein the first major surface of the visor faces upwardly during wear, and a second visor attachment position on the crown wherein the second major surface of the visor faces upwardly during wear; (e) a liner formed on an inside surface of the crown proximate the base for residing adjacent to the flange of said visor, and providing a comfort barrier between the first and second attachment members and the forehead of the wearer; and (f) stiffening means carried by said visor for stiffening said visor upon attachment to the base of said crown.
In one aspect, disclosed herein are caps comprising (a) a crown including an annular base shaped to fit the head of a wearer; (b) a reversible visor having first and second opposing major surfaces, and including an outwardly extending arcuate flange hinge-connected along an inside edge of the first and second major surfaces; (c) a zipper assembly including first and second rows of teeth located respectively on the flange and on the crown proximate the base, and a movable slide operatively connected to the first row of teeth for mating the first and second rows of teeth together; (d) the flange being movable at said hinge connection between a first visor attachment position on the crown wherein the first major surface of the visor faces upwardly during wear, and a second visor attachment position on the crown wherein the second major surface of the visor faces upwardly during wear; (e) a liner formed on an inside surface of the crown proximate the base for residing adjacent to the flange of said visor, and providing a comfort barrier between the first and second attachment members and the forehead of the wearer; and (f) stiffening means carried by said visor for stiffening said visor upon attachment to the base of said crown.
In one aspect, disclosed herein are headwear articles comprising: a crown having a rear portion and a front portion that cooperate to define a circumference of the crown, the rear portion and the front portion of the crown having respective outer surfaces and respective inner surfaces that cooperate to define a receiving space that is configured to receive a portion of a head of a user; a first magnet coupled to the front portion of the crown; a visor having a shade portion and an upwardly extending lip portion, the shade portion having a rear edge to which the upwardly extending lip portion is coupled, the upwardly extending lip portion having a front surface and a rear surface; and a second magnet coupled to the upwardly extending lip portion of the visor, wherein the upwardly extending lip portion of the visor has a shape that is complementary to a shape of at least a portion of the front portion of the crown, and wherein the crown and the visor are configured to be selectively and releasably coupled to one another through magnetic attraction between the first magnet and the second magnet.
Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. In some optional aspects, the advantages of the invention can be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The present invention can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, examples, drawings, and claims, and their previous and following descriptions. However, before the present devices, systems, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, systems, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.
The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention in its best, currently known embodiment. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects of the invention described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not in limitation thereof.
As used throughout, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a magnet” can include two or more such magnets unless the context indicates otherwise.
Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.
As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.
The word “or” as used herein means any one member of a particular list and also includes any combination of members of that list.
As used herein, the term “substantially” means that the described characteristic is within about 15%, about 10%, about 5%, or about 1% of the specified value. For example, if a surface is “substantially parallel” to a specified orientation axis, then the surface is oriented at an angle that is within about 15%, within about 10%, within about 5%, or within about 1% of being parallel to the specified orientation axis.
The terms “first,” “second,” “first part,” “second part,” and the like, as used herein, do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, and are used to distinguish one element from another, unless specifically stated otherwise.
Moreover, it is to be understood that unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is in no way intended that an order be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basis for interpretation, including: matters of logic with respect to arrangement of steps or operational flow; plain meaning derived from grammatical organization or punctuation; and the number or type of aspects described in the specification.
Described herein are modified baseball styled caps/hats with a modification involving the brim, visor, bill, or peak having the ability to interchange with magnets, metal, hook and loop, or snap buttons, thus personalizing the appearance of the head covering. The invention can be worn to display sports related teams and or themes, catchy designs, companies logos or any other logos of other organizations. This product could be an eye catching accessory which could garner a great deal of attention and may be fashionable. The disclosed caps and headwear articles could appeal to anyone who wears caps/hats. When manufactured the disclosed caps and headwear articles can comprise a standard baseball cap/hat that may be produced from a multitude of fabrics including cotton, wool or even polyester and blends of different fabrics. The flat bottom portion of the brim, visor, bill, or peak can be produced with plastic or cardboard core. The upturned portion of the brim, visor, bill, or peak can comprise a sweatband with exposed magnet fitted by adhesive. The upturned lip can be equipped with metal, hook and loop strips or snap buttons. Furthermore, the disclosed caps and headwear articles can be produced in an array of colors, shapes and sizes. The magnet, metal, hook and loop or snap buttons can be firmly placed within the front inside of the crown, dome, or beanie of the hat as well. The disclosed designs can allow the brim, visor, bill, or peaks upturned lip to firmly connect within the inside front of the crown, dome, or beanie thus fitting flush without exposing the function.
Described herein, in various exemplary embodiments and with reference to
A visor 40 can comprise a shade portion 42 and an upwardly extending lip portion 46. The upwardly extending lip portion 46 can have a front surface 48 and a rear surface 50. The shade portion 42 can have a rear edge 44 to which the upwardly extending lip portion 46 is coupled. Optionally, the shade portion 42 and the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40 can be coupled via integral formation (e.g., formed as a unitary, monolithic component). In further aspects, the shade portion 42 and the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40 can be coupled via stitching, adhesive, or suitable other fastening means. The upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40 can have a shape that is complementary to a shape of at least a portion of the front portion 28 of the crown 20. For example, the front portion 28 of the crown 20 can have a curvature that is generally shaped to match a portion of the head of the user, and the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40 can have a corresponding curvature. Optionally, the lip portion 46 can extend perpendicularly, or generally perpendicularly, from the shade portion 42 of the visor 40. The lip portion 46 can optionally extend along the entire rear edge 44 of the shade portion 42 of the visor 40. In further aspects, the lip portion 46 can extend along only a portion of a length of the rear edge 44. In still further aspects, the lip portion 46 of the visor 40 can comprise a single continuous element. In further aspects, the lip portion 46 of the visor 40 can comprise two or more separate tabs that extend from the shade portion 42 of the visor 40 that cooperatively define the lip portion 46.
In various aspects, it is contemplated that at least on fastener can be configured to couple the visor 40 to the crown 20. In this way, one of the crown 20 or the visor 40 can be interchanged to form various combinations of headwear articles. For example, the at least one fastener can comprise hook material that is associated with one of the visor or the crown, and loop material can be associated with the other of the visor or the crown. The hook and loop can thereby cooperate to couple the crown to the visor. In further aspects, the at least one fastener can comprise one or more snap fasteners, one or more buttons, one or more zippers, one or more releasable adhesives (optionally, releasable and reusable adhesives, such as pressure sensitive adhesives), or one or more magnets. In still further aspects, a plurality of different types of fasteners can be used. For example, the headwear article can comprise hook and loop as well as one or more magnets. In further aspects, the headwear article can comprise only a single type of fastener (e.g., only magnetic material).
In some aspects, a first magnetic material 30 can be coupled to the front portion 28 of the crown 20. A second magnetic material 60 can be coupled to the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40.
As described herein, a “magnetic material” should be understood to include both one or more magnets and a material that is configured to magnetize in the presence of a magnet to thereby cause a magnetic attraction to said magnet. In various optional aspects, the magnet(s) can comprise one or more rare earth magnets, one or more ferrite magnets, one or more flexible magnets, or any other suitable magnet type (e.g., permanent magnets). The magnetic material that is configured to magnetize in the presence of a magnet can include, for example, a ferromagnetic material. Such material can be formed in an elongate strip, as a plurality of discrete segments, or in any other suitable shape for magnetically coupling to one or more corresponding magnets. For example, in one exemplary, optional aspect, the first magnetic material can comprise a plurality of magnets that are spaced along the circumference of the crown, and the second magnetic material can extend along the lip portion of the visor. In another exemplary, optional aspect, the second magnetic material can comprise a plurality of magnets that are spaced along the length of the lip portion 46, and the first magnetic material (e.g., a strip of ferromagnetic material) can extend along a portion of the circumference of the crown 20.
Accordingly, in some aspects, the first magnetic material 30 can comprise at least one magnet, and the second magnetic material can comprise a material that magnetizes in the presence of a magnet. Optionally, the first magnetic material 30 can comprise a single magnet. In further aspects, the first magnetic material 30 can comprise a plurality of magnets. In further optional aspects, the first magnetic material 30 can comprise a material that magnetizes in the presence of a magnet, and the second magnetic material 60 can comprise at least one magnet. Optionally, the second magnetic material 60 can comprise a single magnet. In further aspects, the second magnetic material 60 can comprise a plurality of magnets. In still further aspects, each of the first magnetic material 30 and the second magnetic material 60 can comprise one or more magnets. In these aspects, it is contemplated that the each magnet of the first magnetic material 30 can have its polarity aligned for magnetic attraction to a respective magnet of the second magnetic material 60. In aspects in which the first magnetic material 30 and second magnetic material 60 each comprise at least one magnet, it is contemplated that the first and second magnetic material can secure the visor to the crown in a particular position (e.g., in which the polar axes of the corresponding magnets are coaxial or generally coaxial). In contrast, in an embodiment in which, for example, the first magnetic material comprises a magnet, and the second magnetic material comprises a ferromagnetic strip that extends along the length of the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40, it is contemplated that the visor can couple to the crown in a plurality of different alignments (e.g., different offsets along the circumferential surface of the crown 40).
In some aspects, the first magnetic material 30 can be associated with an inner surface 32 of the front portion 28 of the crown 20. In some aspects, the second magnetic material 60 can be associated with the front surface 48 of the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40. In these aspects, it is contemplated that the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40 can be at least partially (optionally, entirely) received within the receiving space 34 of the crown 20. Such a configuration can further enable the head of the user to apply a force against the visor 40 to press the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40 against the crown 20 to thereby further retain the visor 40 to the crown 20.
In further aspects, the first magnetic material 30 can be associated with the outer surface 24 of the front portion 28 of the crown 20. In some aspects, the second magnetic material 60 can be associated with the rear surface 50 of the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40.
In some optional aspects, the first magnetic material 30 can be at least partially embedded within the front portion 28 of the crown 20. In further optional aspects, the first magnetic material 30 can be entirely enclosed within material of the front portion 28 of the crown 20. For example, the crown 20 can comprise an element 72 that defines at least a portion of the inner surface 32 of the front portion 28 of the crown 20. The first magnetic material 30 can be disposed between the element 72 and the outer surface 31 of the front portion 28 of the crown 20. The element 72 can comprise, for example cloth, foam, or other material that can form a pocket 74 (or a plurality of pockets). Optionally, the pocket(s) can be closed via stitching, adhesive, or other suitable fastener with the first magnetic material 30 therein. In still further aspects, the first magnetic material 30 can be overmolded within polymer. That is, at least a portion of the crown can be formed via molding with the first magnetic material 30 embedded therein during the molding process. In further aspects, the crown 20 (e.g., element 72) can cover and/or enclose only a portion of the first magnetic material 30.
It is contemplated that by enclosing the first magnetic material 30 partially or entirely within the front portion 28 of the crown 20, the headwear article can have a clean look (hiding the magnetic material). Further, partially or entirely embedding the first magnetic material 30 within the front portion of the crown 20 can form a smooth surface that can optimize comfort for the user.
In some optional aspects, the second magnetic material 60 can be at least partially embedded within the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40. In further optional aspects, the second magnetic material 60 can be completely enclosed within material of the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40. For example, the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40 can comprise a front portion 76 and a rear portion 78 that cooperate to define an interior volume 80 within which the second magnetic material 60 can be disposed. In optional aspects, the front portion 76 and rear portion 78 can be coupled together via stitching 70 or other suitable fastener. In still further aspects, the second magnetic material 60 can be overmolded within polymer. That is, at least a portion of the visor 40 can be formed via molding with the second magnetic material 60 embedded therein during the molding process. In further aspects, the visor 40 (e.g., front portion 76) can cover only a portion of the second magnetic material 60. In further aspects, the first and second magnetic materials are not visible in when the cap and visor are fastened together. In further aspects, the first and second magnetic materials are not visible in when the cap and visor are not fastened together. In further aspects, only one of the first and second magnetic materials are visible in when the cap and visor are not fastened together.
It is contemplated that magnetic attraction can enable coupling between the crown 20 and the visor 40 without requiring the user to apply an external force to establish the fastening. In contrast, other fasteners (e.g., snap fasteners, hook and loop, buttons, zippers, etc.) require a user to apply a force to establish the connection. It is contemplated that the complementary shapes of the upwardly extending lip portion 46 of the visor 40 and the inner surface 32 of the front portion 28 of the crown 20 can allow users to consistently and reliably establish proper connection between the two components simply by placing the crown over the visor or sliding the lip portion of the visor within the crown. In this way, the crown or the visor can easily and quickly be swapped out, thereby speeding up assembly time over other types of fasteners. Still further, by using magnets, potential errors in assembly (e.g., misaligned snaps or offset hook and loop) can be avoided. In yet further aspects, magnets can be used to establish initial alignment, and at least one additional, nonmagnetic fastener (e.g., snaps or hook and loop) can further establish a secure coupling. In further aspects, nonmagnetic fasteners can be omitted so that the crown and visor are coupled only magnetically.
A method of assembling a headwear article 10 can comprise positioning the first magnetic material 30 proximate to the second magnetic material 60 to establish magnetic attraction so that the crown 20 is magnetically coupled to the visor 40. For example, the front portion of the upwardly extending lip portion of the visor can be positioned within the receiving space and against the inner surface of the front portion of the crown. As another example, the rear surface of the upwardly extending lip portion can be positioned against the outer surface of the front portion of the crown. Optionally, the coupling between the crown and the visor can be established solely with magnetic attraction forces and without application of additional force by the user. In further optional aspects, a nonmagnetic fastener can be used to further establish the coupling between the crown and the visor. The visor can be decoupled from the crown (e.g., by pulling the visor from the crown to break the magnetic coupling). A second visor can be coupled to the crown to form another crown-visor combination. In further aspects, a second crown can be coupled to the visor to form another crown-visor combination.
Exemplary Aspects
In view of the described device, systems, and methods and variations thereof, herein below are certain more particularly described aspects of the invention. These particularly recited aspects should not, however, be interpreted to have any limiting effect on any different claims containing different or more general teachings described herein, or that the “particular” aspects are somehow limited in some way other than the inherent meanings of the language literally used therein.
Aspect 1: A cap, comprising:
Aspect 2: A cap according to aspect 1, wherein said first and second attachment members comprise a zipper assembly including first and second rows of teeth located respectively on the flange and on the crown proximate the base, and a movable slide operatively connected to the first row of teeth for mating the first and second rows of teeth together.
Aspect 3: A cap according to aspect 2, wherein the slide includes first and second teeth receiving openings formed at opposite ends thereof for receiving, respectively, a leading end of the second row of teeth to mate the first and second rows of teeth together.
Aspect 4: A cap according to aspect 1, wherein said first and second attachment members comprise complementary hook and loop fastener strips.
Aspect 5: A cap according to aspect 1, wherein said first and second attachment members comprise complementary snap fasteners.
Aspect 6: A cap according to aspect 1, and including stiffening means carried by said visor for stiffening said visor upon attachment to the base of said crown.
Aspect 7: A cap according to aspect 1, wherein the first and second major surfaces of the visor include respective display insignia.
Aspect 8: A cap, comprising:
Aspect 9: A cap according to aspect 8, wherein the slide includes first and second teeth receiving openings formed at opposite ends thereof, each of said openings for receiving a leading end of the second row of teeth to mate the first and second rows of teeth together, whereby the flange of the visor is removably attachable to the crown in either of the first or second visor attachment positions.
Aspect 10: A cap according to aspect 8, wherein the first and second major surfaces of the visor include respective display insignia.
Although several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed hereinabove, and that many modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims which follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the described invention, nor the claims which follow.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62995768 | Feb 2020 | US |
