Patent Application
20240389699
The present invention uses multi-point locking straps to adjust the size of a cap.
Caps need a way to adjust the cap to fit different size heads. A number of caps exist on the market that use a variety of mechanisms to change and adjust cap size. One type of mechanism uses interlocking plastic straps commonly known as a “snap-back.” There are problems with the mechanism that uses interlocking plastic straps for adjusting the size of the cap. The first problem is the mechanism causes irritation and discomfort to the user due to the overlapping straps that create a protruding ridge. A second problem is the mechanism is visually unappealing because of the visible holes and overlapping plastic straps that create a cluttered appearance. The present invention corrects these problems by utilizing a flat and smooth visible surface. In addition, the blank strap surface allows for a variety of colors, designs, and messages. The cap can have more than one strap with the present invention with a different graphic on each one.
Caps with interlocking straps to adjust the cap size have a design with approximately a half-circle of no cap material in the rear of the cap. A mechanism changes the size of the cap by pulling the left and right sides of the half-circle toward each other which reduces the circumference of the cap. The present invention uses the same design for the cap with the approximately half-circle of no cap material in the rear of the cap with a new mechanism for pulling the left and right sides of the half-circle toward each other.
The present invention uses two fixed straps and each is attached to the sweatband of the cap on the inside of the sweatband. The fixed straps are attached to the sweatband on both sides of the approximately half-circle of no cap material using either sewing or adhesive. There is one removable strap that is placed across the space between the sides of the half-circle of no cap material in the rear of the cap. The ends attach to the fixed straps between the sweatband and the cap outside material.
The fixed straps can be either a female multi-point locking strap or a male multi-point locking strap. The removable strap can be either a female multi-point locking strap or a male multi-point locking strap. If the fixed strap is a female multi-point locking strap, the removable strap is a male multi-point locking strap. If the fixed strap is a male multi-point locking strap, the removable strap is a female multi-point locking strap.
The removable strap is attached to the fixed straps on both sides of the cap by inserting one or more protrusions on the male multi-point locking strap into the holes in the female multi-point locking strap. The holes and protrusions are positioned for the protrusions to be in the same pattern and aligned with the holes. The attachment remains permanent until the user pulls the straps apart to adjust the size of the cap. There is no damage to the straps when they are pulled apart.
The size of the cap is changed by changing the position of the removable strap based on where it is attached to the fixed straps. The removable strap will usually be moved an equal position on each side of the cap to have the center point of the removable strap in the center of the back of the cap. Changing the position of the removable strap occurs when the ends of the removable strap are moved and the protrusions are inserted into different holes. Moving the ends toward the front of the cap will shorten the removable strap and decrease the size of the cap and moving the ends away from the front of the cap will lengthen the removable strap and increase the size of the cap.
The removable strap can be customized in a variety of colors and can have different designs, graphics, images, and words printed on them.
Caps with interlocking plastic straps used as a mechanism to adjust the size of a cap have a design with a space of approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 in the rear of the cap 10. The interlocking plastic straps pull the left and right sides toward each other to adjust the size of the cap. The present invention uses the same design for the cap 10 with a space of approximately half-circle with no cap material 21 in the rear of the cap 10 and there is a new mechanism for pulling the left and right sides of the half-circle toward each other to adjust the size of the cap 10.
The present invention uses two types of straps which are a male multi-point locking strap 4 and a female multi-point locking strap 7. Both of these straps can be used as a fixed strap 27 and a removable strap 25.
The present invention has a fixed strap 27 attached to the inside wall of the sweatband 23 and the side that makes contact with the removeable strap 25 is the side not in contact with the sweatband 23 and the fixed strap 27 is attached on the left side and on the right side of the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 in the rear of the cap 10. The fixed strap 27 is attached to the sweatband 23 and does not change position. The width of the fixed straps 27 is in a substantially vertical plane.
The present invention uses a removable strap 25 and the ends are placed inside the sweatband 23 between the fixed strap 27 and the cap outside material 21 on both sides of the approximately half-circle with no cap material 21 in the rear of the cap 10. The width of the removable strap 25 is in a substantially vertical plane. The removable strap 25 can change position to adjust the size of the cap 10.
The female multi-point locking strap 7 and the male multi-point locking strap 4 can be used for both the fixed strap 27 and the removable strap 25. If the female multi-point locking strap 7 is used for the fixed strap 27, the male multi-point locking strap 4 is used for the removable strap 25, and if the male multi-point locking strap 4 is used for the fixed strap 27, the female multi-point locking strap 7 is used for the removable strap 25.
If the male multi-point locking strap 4 is used for the fixed strap 27, there are one or more protrusions 5 in the male multi-point locking strap 4 and there are one or more holes 8 in the female multi-point locking strap 7 which is used as the removable strap 25 and they are located in the ends of the female multi-point locking strap 7. If the male multi-point strap 4 is used for the removable strap 25, there are one or more protrusions 5 at the ends of the male multi-point locking strap 4 and there are one or more holes 8 in the female multi-point locking strap 7 that is used as the fixed strap 27. The protrusions 5 are inserted into the holes 8 to attach the two ends of the removable strap 25 to the fixed strap 27. The protrusions 5 are in the same pattern and alignment with the holes 8 to allow the protrusions 5 to be inserted into the holes 8.
The present invention places the straps with the protrusions 5 and holes 8 inside the sweatband 23 and they are not visible to give the cap a better aesthetic appearance. The fixed strap 27 with either protrusions 5 or holes 8 is not visible because the fixed strap 27 is hidden in the sweatband 23. It is only the removable strap 25 that has the possibility of having the protrusions 5 or holes 8 visible. The protrusions 5 and holes 8 on the removable strap 25 are positioned to insure they are not visible. In one embodiment, the protrusions 5 and holes 8 are placed on the ends of the removable strap 25 to insure they are hidden between the sweatband 23 and the material 21 on the outside of the cap 10.
The mechanism for adjusting the size of the cap for the present invention requires that the male multi-point locking strap 4 and the female multi-point locking strap 7 attach to each other when adjusting the size of the cap. The straps are attached by pressing the protrusions 5 on the male multi-point locking strap 4 into the holes 8 of the female multi-point locking strap 7. This mechanism keeps the straps attached to each other for as long as the user wants them attached but can be separated if the user wants to separate them by pulling them apart. Adjustments can be repeated multiple times without damaging the multi-point locking mechanism.
There are different embodiments for attaching the fixed strap 27 to the inside of the sweatband 23. In one embodiment, the fixed strap 27 is adhered to the sweatband 23 by sewing the fixed strap 27 to the sweatband 23. In another embodiment, the fixed strap 27 is adhered to the sweatband 23 with adhesive.
The method of sewing the fixed strap 27 may be difficult because it may be difficult for a needle to penetrate the fixed strap 27. In one embodiment, there are small rectangular holes around the perimeter of the fixed strap 27. In another embodiment, there are small circular holes around the perimeter of the fixed strap 27. In another embodiment, there are small oval holes around the perimeter of the fixed strap 27.
There are 2 embodiments for the orientation of the female multi-point locking strap 7 and the male multi-point locking strap 4 in the cap 10. In the first embodiment, the fixed strap 27 is the male multi-point locking strap 4 and the removable strap 25 is the female multi-point locking strap 7. In the second embodiment, the fixed strap 27 is the female multi-point locking strap 7 and the removable strap 25 is the male multi-point locking strap 4. These 2 embodiments are discussed below.
The protrusions 5 in the male multi-point locking strap 4 can have different shapes. In one embodiment, the protrusions 5 are cylinders. In another embodiment, the protrusions 5 are two or more cylinders of different diameter on top of each other with the diameter of each cylinder smaller than the previous cylinder as the protrusion 5 enters the hole 8. In another embodiment, the protrusions 5 are made of two or more cylinders of different diameter on top of each other with the diameter of each cylinder larger than the previous cylinder as the protrusion 5 enters the hole 8. In another embodiment, the protrusions 5 are cylinders with a partial sphere at the end that first enters the hole 8. In another embodiment, the protrusions 5 are cylinders with a partial sphere at the end that last enters the hole 8. In another embodiment, the protrusions 5 are truncated cones with a larger diameter at the end that first enters the holes 8. In another embodiment, the protrusions 5 are truncated cones with a smaller diameter at the end that first enters the holes 8. In another embodiment, the protrusions 5 are truncated cones with a partial sphere at the end with the smaller diameter of the truncated cone and the partial sphere is at the end that first enters the hole 8. In another embodiment, the cross section of the protrusions 5 are square. In another embodiment, the cross section of the protrusions 5 are rectangular. In another embodiment, the cross section of the protrusions 5 are oval. In another embodiment, the cross section of the protrusions 5 are triangular. In another embodiment, the cross section of the protrusions 5 are multisided.
The protrusions 5 can have different sizes. In one embodiment, the protrusion 5 is a cylinder and the diameter of the cylinder can vary between 1/64″ and ⅝″ and the length of the protrusion 5 can vary between 1/32″ and ⅝″. In another embodiment, the protrusion 5 is a truncated cone and the smallest diameter is the first part of the truncated cone to enter the hole and the diameter of the truncated cone that is first to enter the hole can vary between 1/64″ and ½″ and the diameter of the end that is the last to enter the hole can vary between 1/32″ and ¾″ and the length of the truncated cone can vary between 1/16″ and ⅝″.
The shape and dimensions of the holes 8 in the female multi-point locking strap 7 have the same pattern and alignment as the protrusions 5 in the male multi-point locking strap 4 and have a shape and size that will allow the protrusions 5 to be inserted into the holes 8 and keep the straps attached and not disengage unless there is an intentional pulling of the straps to disengage them. In one embodiment, the bottom of the holes 8 is at the bottom surface of the female multi-point locking strap 7. In another embodiment, the bottom of the holes 8 is above the bottom surface of the female multi-point locking strap 7.
In one embodiment, the holes 8 in the female multi-point locking strap 7 have dimensions and shape that allows for the protrusion 5 to be easily pushed into the hole 8 but it takes more force to remove the protrusion 5 from the hole 8. In one embodiment, the protrusion 5 has a circular shape part that can be pushed through a circular hole 8 in the female multi-point locking strap 7 with a substantially equal diameter as the circular shape part on the protrusion 5. The protrusion can be inserted into the hole because the disc will either compress or fold slightly when the protrusion 5 is pushed into the hole 8. The dimensions of the protrusion 5 and the hole 8 will keep the protrusion 5 from coming out of the hole 8 unless there is a deliberate effort to pull the protrusion 5 out of the hole 8.
In one embodiment, the shape of the hole 8 in the female multi-point locking strap 7 has a circular opening. The protrusion 5 is a truncated cone that is inserted into the hole 8. The smaller diameter end of the truncated cone is the first end to be inserted into the hole 8 and the diameter of the first end to be inserted is smaller than the diameter of the circular opening of the hole 8. The diameter of the end of the truncated cone that is the last end to be inserted into the hole 8 is larger than the diameter of the circular opening in the hole 8 which keeps part of the protrusion 5 from being inserted into the hole 8.
In another embodiment, the shape of the hole 8 in the female multi-point locking strap 7 has two different diameter circular openings with the smaller diameter being the diameter at the entrance of the hole 8 and the shape of the protrusion 5 on the male multi-point locking strap 4 has two different diameter cylinders with the larger diameter protrusion 5 being the first part of the protrusion 5 to enter the hole 8 and the diameter of the protrusion 5 to first enter the hole 8 is approximately equal to the diameter of the entrance of the hole 8.
The male multi-point locking strap 4 and the female multi-point locking strap 7 can be made with different materials. In one embodiment, they are made with cotton. In another embodiment, they are made with a synthetic material which can include polyester, nylon, polyester, rayon, polyethylene, and polypropylene. In another embodiment, they are made of plastic. In another embodiment, they are made of natural or synthetic rubber.
There can be more than one material attached together to make the male multi-point locking strap 4 and the female multi-point locking strap 7. In those embodiments, there is one material in the area of the strap that includes the protrusions 5 or holes 8 and one material for the balance of the strap. In one embodiment, the male multi-point locking strap 4 is made with two or more materials attached together. In another embodiment, the female multi-point locking strap 7 is made with two or more materials attached together. The attachment of the different materials can be with sewing, clasps, and adhesive.
The protrusions 5 can be made with different materials. In one embodiment, they are made with a synthetic material which can include polyester, nylon, polyester, rayon, polyethylene, and polypropylene. In another embodiment, they are made of plastic. In another embodiment, they are made of natural or synthetic rubber. In another embodiment, they are made of aluminum, steel, stainless steel, nickel, or a steel alloy.
In one embodiment, the removable strap 25 is a male multi-point locking strap 4 made with two materials. The ends with the protrusions 5 are made of plastic and the protrusions are made of plastic and the strap between the ends with the protrusions 5 is made with a synthetic material. The synthetic material is attached to the plastic material on the ends of the male multi-point locking strap 4 by sewing. In another embodiment, the removable strap 25 is a female multi-point locking strap 7 made with two materials. The ends with the holes 8 are made of plastic and the strap between the ends with the holes 8 is made with a synthetic material. The synthetic material is attached to the plastic material on the ends of the female multi-point locking strap 7 by sewing.
The male multi-point locking strap 4 and the female multi-point locking strap 7 can have different degrees of flexibility. In one embodiment, they have high flexibility. In another embodiment, they have medium flexibility. In another embodiment, they have low flexibility.
The length and width of the fixed strap 27 and removable strap 25 can have different dimensions and shapes. In one embodiment, the top view of the fixed strap 27 has a rectangular shape. In another embodiment, the top view of the fixed strap 27 has a parallelogram shape. In another embodiment, the top view of the fixed strap 27 has a trapezoid shape. In another embodiment, the top view of the fixed strap 27 has an oval shape. In another embodiment, the top view of the fixed strap 27 has an elongated oval shape. In one embodiment, the top view of the removable strap 25 has a rectangular shape. In another embodiment, the top view of the removable strap 25 has a parallelogram shape. In another embodiment, the top view of the removable strap 25 has a trapezoid shape. In another embodiment, the top view of the removable strap 25 has an oval shape. In another embodiment, the top view of the removable strap 25 has an elongated oval shape and this is shown in
The male multi-point locking strap 4 and the female multi-point locking strap 7 can have different thicknesses. In one embodiment, they have a thickness of less than 1/16″. In another embodiment, they have a thickness of 1/16″ to less than ⅛″. In another embodiment, they have a thickness of ⅛″ to less than ¼″. In another embodiment, they have a thickness of ¼″ and larger.
The male multi-point locking strap 4 and the female multi-point locking strap 7 can have different widths. In one embodiment, they have a width of less than ½″. In another embodiment, they have a width of ½″ to less than ⅞″. In another embodiment, they have a width of ⅞″ and larger. The male multi-point locking strap 4 and the female multi-point locking strap 7 can have different lengths. In one embodiment, the length of the fixed strap 25 is 1″ to 1½″. In another embodiment, the length of the removable strap 25 is 2″ to 6″.
There are numerous embodiments of the pattern of the protrusions 5 in the male multi-point locking strap 4 and the pattern of holes 8 in the female multi-point locking strap 7. The pattern and alignment of the protrusions 5 and holes 8 match with each other and the protrusions 5 can be inserted into the holes 8. In one embodiment, the pattern of protrusions 5 is a single line of 1-10 protrusions 5 with equal distance between the protrusions 5. In another embodiment, there is a single line of 1-10 protrusions 5 with unequal distance between the protrusions 5. In another embodiment, there is a single line of 1-10 protrusions 5 that are in contact with each other with no distance between the protrusions 5. There are embodiments with a pattern of a double line of protrusions 5. In one embodiment, the pattern of protrusions 5 is a double line of 1-10 protrusions 5 in each line with equal distance between the protrusions 5. In another embodiment, there is a double line of 1-10 protrusions 5 in each line with unequal distance between the protrusions 5. In another embodiment, there is a double line of 1-10 protrusions 5 in each line that are in contact with each other with no distance between the protrusions 5.
The upper corner of the sweatband 23 next to the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 in the rear of the cap 10 on both sides of the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 is fastened to the edge of the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 in the rear of the cap 10 to keep the sweatband 23 in a vertical position. In one embodiment, the sweatband 23 is fastened by sewing the upper corner of the sweatband 23 to the edge of the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 on both sides of the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 in the rear of the cap 10. In another embodiment, the upper corner of the sweatband 23 is fastened with a clasp to the edge of the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 on both sides of the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 in the rear of the cap 10. In another embodiment, the upper corner of the sweatband 23 is fastened with adhesive to the edge of the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 on both sides of the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 in the rear of the cap 10.
The size of the cap 10 is adjusted by changing the position of the removable strap 25. When moving the position of the removable strap 25, the ends of the removable strap 25 are detached from the fixed straps 27 by removing the protrusions 5 from the holes 8 and inserting the protrusions 5 into different holes 8. Moving the ends of the removable strap 25 toward the front of the cap 10 will decrease the length of the removable strap 25 between the sides of the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 in the rear of the cap 10 and decrease the size of the cap 10. Moving the ends of the removable strap 25 away from the front of the cap 10 will increase the length of the removable strap 25 between the sides of the approximately half-circle of no cap material 21 in the rear of the cap 10 and increase the size of the cap 10.
The removable strap 25 can be customized in a variety of colors and can have different designs, graphics, images, and words printed on it. There can be more than one movable strap 25 for a cap 10 with a different graphic on each one.
