Patent Application
20180255859
The invention relates to the field of headwear such as hats and caps that are interconvertible between a head-covering configuration, such as a cap, and a coverless configuration, such as a visor, to provide varying appeal, aesthetics, look, function, and/or uses of the headwear.
Caps, hats, and other kinds of headwear are useful for a variety of purposes, yet each type of headwear is best suited for one or a few specific purposes while not being considered suitable for some other purposes. It would be more cost effective to have convertible headwear that can be selectively configured as different types of headwear. Also, in the course of wearing a cap, the wearer may become too hot and wish to wear a visor for the benefit of keeping his or her eyes shaded from the sun, while staying cooler than they would be with a cap. It can be inconvenient to carry around two headwear items. Accordingly, caps that can be converted to visors and then back to a cap have been proposed in the prior art. An example of this type of headwear is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,852, issued to Murray on Mar. 19, 1991. However, Murray fails to completely achieve the look of a standard visor when its top covering portion is removed as an unsightly bulge remains at the back of the headband. Therefore, the need remains for a cap that converts to a visor and more fully achieves the look of a standard visor.
The present invention is directed to a headwear item that is interconvertible between a head-covering configuration, such as a cap, and a coverless configuration, such as a visor, while more fully achieving the look of a standard visor.
Embodiments of the present invention have many advantages over the prior art. The cap of Murray positions the button at the top of the cap against the wearer's forehead when the cap of Murry is in the visor configuration, which could cause pressure against the wearer's forehead and thus discomfort to the wearer. The semi-rigid backing of the headwear of the present invention helps the headwear maintain a desired shape when the headwear is in the visor configuration giving a neater and tidier appearance. The sweatband of the headwear of the present invention, with its wider sweatband frontal portion and elastic properties, helps keep the upper head-covering portion neatly and securely tucked away when the headwear is in the visor configuration. This arrangement avoids the hook and loop fastener portion provided near the top button of the cap of Murray, which would attract undesirable fibrous debris. The uniform width of the headband of the headwear of the present invention avoids the unsightly bulge at the back of the headband of Murray when the headwear is in the visor configuration. In the present invention, the line of separation between the upper head-covering portion and the headband portion starts much closer to the frontal portion and/or bill of the headwear as compared to the cap of Murray. This feature allows the upper head-covering portion to be rolled up more easily and more tightly into a smaller package.
Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item comprising:
a bill; and
a head-covering portion comprising:
a frontal portion adjacent the bill that extends upward from the bill so as to be positioned over the forehead of a wearer when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the frontal portion having left and right corners adjacent the bill;
an upper head-covering portion contiguous with the frontal portion;
a headband portion extending in a band from the left corner of the frontal portion to the right corner of the frontal portion such that the headband portion and the frontal portion cooperatively form a closed loop that can fit around the wearer's head and help retain the headwear on the wearer's head, the headband portion having a upper edge, the upper edge of the headband portion having a left portion extending from the frontal portion toward the back of the wearer's head on the left side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the upper edge of the headband portion having a right portion extending from the frontal portion toward the back of the wearer's head on the right side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer; and
fastener means for releasably securing the left portion of the upper edge of the headband portion and the right portion of the upper edge of the headband portion to the upper head-covering portion, the fastener means having a released configuration and a secured configuration,
wherein the upper head-covering portion can be rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion to allow the headwear item to be placed in a coverless configuration when the fastener means is in the released configuration, and
wherein the headwear item is in a head-covering configuration when the fastener means is in the secured configuration.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the fastener means includes one or more fastener systems, each of the fastener systems comprising two sets of teeth capable of interengaging each other and a slide for selectively engaging or disengaging the two sets of teeth.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item comprising:
a bill; and
a head-covering portion comprising:
a frontal portion adjacent the bill that extends upward from the bill so as to be positioned over the forehead of a wearer when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the frontal portion having left and right sides;
an upper head-covering portion contiguous with the frontal portion;
a headband portion extending in a band from the left side of the frontal portion to the right side of the frontal portion such that the headband portion and the frontal portion cooperatively form a closed loop that can fit around the wearer's head and help retain the headwear on the wearer's head, the headband portion having a upper edge, the upper edge of the headband portion having a left portion extending from the frontal portion toward the back of the wearer's head on the left side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the upper edge of the headband portion having a right portion extending from the frontal portion toward the back of the wearer's head on the right side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer;
a semi-rigid backing panel provided behind the frontal portion, wherein the backing panel has a bottom edge, and wherein the backing panel is attached to the frontal portion by an attachment proximate the bottom edge of the backing panel and the bottom edge of the frontal portion; and
fastener means for releasably securing the left portion of the upper edge of the headband portion and the right portion of the upper edge of the headband portion to the upper head-covering portion, the fastener means having a released configuration and a secured configuration,
wherein the upper head-covering portion can be rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion to allow the headwear item to be placed in a coverless configuration when the fastener means is in the released configuration,
wherein the headwear item is in a head-covering configuration when the fastener means is in the secured configuration, and
wherein the backing panel maintains at least a visible portion of the frontal portion in a desired shape when the headwear item is in the coverless configuration.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the head-covering portion has a bottom edge comprising at least a bottom edge of the frontal portion, the headwear item further comprising a sweatband in the form of a strip having a bottom edge, the sweat band being attached to the head-covering portion by an attachment proximate the bottom edge of the sweatband and the bottom edge of the head-covering portion, the bottom edge of the sweatband being coextensive with at least a portion of the bottom edge of the head-covering portion that is larger than and includes the bottom edge of the frontal portion, the sweatband being of relatively greater width at least over the frontal portion so as to form a pocket for receiving the upper head-covering portion when the upper head-covering portion is rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the sweatband has elastic properties so it can expand to receive the upper head-covering portion when the upper head-covering portion is rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion such that the sweatband will exert pressure helping to keep the upper head-covering portion rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item comprising:
a bill; and
a head-covering portion comprising:
a frontal portion adjacent the bill that extends upward from the bill so as to be positioned over the forehead of a wearer when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the frontal portion having left and right sides;
an upper head-covering portion contiguous with the frontal portion;
a headband portion extending in a band from the left side of the frontal portion to the right side of the frontal portion such that the headband portion and the frontal portion cooperatively form a closed loop that can fit around the wearer's head and help retain the headwear on the wearer's head, the headband portion having a upper edge, the upper edge of the headband portion having a left portion extending from the frontal portion toward the back of the wearer's head on the left side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the upper edge of the headband portion having a right portion extending from the frontal portion toward the back of the wearer's head on the right side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer,
wherein the head-covering portion has a bottom edge comprising at least a bottom edge of the frontal portion;
a sweatband in the form of a strip having a bottom edge, the sweat band being attached to the head-covering portion by an attachment proximate the bottom edge of the sweatband and the bottom edge of the head-covering portion, the bottom edge of the sweatband being coextensive with at least a portion of the bottom edge of the head-covering portion that is larger than and includes the bottom edge of the frontal portion, the sweatband being of relatively greater width at least over the frontal portion so as to form a pocket for receiving the upper head-covering portion when the upper head-covering portion is rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion; and
fastener means for releasably securing the left portion of the upper edge of the headband portion and the right portion of the upper edge of the headband portion to the upper head-covering portion, the fastener means having a released configuration and a secured configuration,
wherein the upper head-covering portion can be rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion to allow the headwear item to be placed in a coverless configuration when the fastener means is in the released configuration, and
wherein the headwear item is in a head-covering configuration when the fastener means is in the secured configuration.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the sweatband has elastic properties so it can expand to receive the upper head-covering portion when the upper head-covering portion is rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion such that the sweatband will exert pressure helping to keep the upper head-covering portion rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item comprising:
a bill; and
a head-covering portion comprising:
a frontal portion adjacent the bill that extends upward from the bill so as to be positioned over the forehead of a wearer when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the frontal portion having left and right sides;
an upper head-covering portion contiguous with the frontal portion;
a headband portion extending in a band from the left side of the frontal portion to the right side of the frontal portion such that the headband portion and the frontal portion cooperatively form a closed loop that can fit around the wearer's head and help retain the headwear on the wearer's head, the headband portion having a upper edge, the upper edge of the headband portion having a left portion extending from the frontal portion toward the back of the wearer's head on the left side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the upper edge of the headband portion having a right portion extending from the frontal portion toward the back of the wearer's head on the right side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer; and
fastener means for releasably securing the left portion of the upper edge of the headband portion and the right portion of the upper edge of the headband portion to the upper head-covering portion, the fastener means having a released configuration and a secured configuration,
wherein the upper head-covering portion can be rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion to allow the headwear item to be placed in a coverless configuration when the fastener means is in the released configuration,
wherein the headwear item is in a head-covering configuration when the fastener means is in the secured configuration, and
wherein the headband portion has a width and wherein the width of the headband portion at any point along its length is less than or about equal to the width of the headband portion adjacent the frontal portion.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item comprising:
a bill; and
a head-covering portion comprising:
a frontal portion adjacent the bill that extends upward from the bill so as to be positioned over the forehead of a wearer when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the frontal portion having left and right sides;
an upper head-covering portion contiguous with the frontal portion;
a headband portion extending in a band from the left side of the frontal portion to the right side of the frontal portion such that the headband portion and the frontal portion cooperatively form a closed loop that can fit around the wearer's head and help retain the headwear on the wearer's head, the headband portion having a upper edge, the upper edge of the headband portion having a left portion extending from the frontal portion toward the back of the wearer's head on the left side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the upper edge of the headband portion having a right portion extending from the frontal portion toward the back of the wearer's head on the right side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer; and
fastener means for releasably securing the left portion of the upper edge of the headband portion and the right portion of the upper edge of the headband portion to the upper head-covering portion, the fastener means having a released configuration and a secured configuration,
wherein the upper head-covering portion is detached from the headband portion when the fastener means is in the released configuration such that the upper head-covering portion can be rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion to allow the headwear item to be placed in a coverless configuration when the fastener means is in the released configuration,
wherein the headwear item is in a head-covering configuration when the fastener means is in the secured configuration,
wherein the headband portion has a left lateral portion and a right lateral portion, the left lateral portion extending in a band from the frontal portion proximate the bill toward the back of the wearer's head on the left side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the right lateral portion extending in a band from the frontal portion proximate the bill toward the back of the wearer's head on the right side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the left lateral portion terminating in a terminal end located distally from the frontal portion, the right lateral portion terminating in a terminal end located distally from the frontal portion, the headband portion further comprising a left strap portion and a right strap portion, the left strap portion being attached to and extending from the terminal end of the left lateral portion, the right strap portion being attached to and extending from the terminal end of the right lateral portion, the headband portion further comprising fastening means for releasably and adjustably fastening the left strap portion and the right strap portion together such that the headband portion and the frontal portion cooperatively form a closed loop that can fit around the wearer's head and help retain the headwear on the wearer's head, and
wherein the terminal end of the left lateral portion and the terminal end of the right lateral portion are free from and not connected to each other than through their connection through the frontal portion and are each independently movable relative to the frontal portion when the left strap portion and the right strap portion are disengaged from each other and the upper head-covering portion is detached from the headband portion.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item comprising:
a bill or brim; and
a head-covering portion comprising:
a frontal portion adjacent the bill that extends upward from the bill so as to be positioned over the forehead of a wearer when the headwear is worn by the wearer;
an upper head-covering portion contiguous with the frontal portion, the upper head-covering portion having a left bottom edge and a right bottom edge;
a headband portion having a left lateral portion and a right lateral portion, the left lateral portion extending in a band from the frontal portion proximate the bill toward the back of the wearer's head on the left side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the right lateral portion extending in a band from the frontal portion proximate the bill toward the back of the wearer's head on the right side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer, the left lateral portion terminating in a terminal end located distally from the frontal portion, the right lateral portion terminating in a terminal end located distally from the frontal portion, the headband portion further comprising a left strap portion and a right strap portion, the left strap portion being attached to and extending from the terminal end of the left lateral portion, the right strap portion being attached to and extending from the terminal end of the right lateral portion, the headband portion further comprising fastening means for releasably and adjustably fastening the left strap portion and the right strap portion together such that the headband portion and the frontal portion cooperatively form a closed loop that can fit around the wearer's head and help retain the headwear on the wearer's head while allowing the size of the closed loop to be varied to fit a variety of head sizes, the left lateral portion having a top edge, and the right lateral portion having a top edge,
wherein the left bottom edge of the upper head-covering portion extends from the frontal portion to the terminal end of the left lateral portion on the left side of the upper head-covering portion, and the right bottom edge of the upper head-covering portion extends from the frontal portion to the terminal end of the right lateral portion on the right side of the upper head-covering portion;
a left fastener assembly comprising a left upper set of teeth, a left lower set of teeth, and a left slide, the left upper set of teeth being provided and distributed along the left bottom edge of the upper head-covering portion, the left lower set of teeth being provided and distributed along the top edge of the left lateral portion, the left slide being movable between a closed position near the terminal end of the left lateral portion and an open position near the frontal portion, a maximum number of the left upper set of teeth being in engagement with the left lower set of teeth when the left slide is in the closed position of the left slide such that the left bottom edge of the upper head-covering portion is attached to the top edge of the left lateral portion, a minimum number of the left upper set of teeth being in engagement with the left lower set of teeth when the left slide is in the open position of the left slide such that the left bottom edge of the upper head-covering portion is detached from the top edge of the left lateral portion; and
a right fastener assembly comprising a right upper set of teeth, a right lower set of teeth, and a right slide, the right upper set of teeth being provided and distributed along the right bottom edge of the upper head-covering portion, the right lower set of teeth being provided and distributed along the top edge of the right lateral portion, the right slide being movable between a closed position near the terminal end of the right lateral portion and an open position near the frontal portion, a maximum number of the right upper set of teeth being in engagement with the right lower set of teeth when the right slide is in the closed position of the right slide such that the right bottom edge of the upper head-covering portion is attached to the top edge of the right lateral portion, a minimum number of the right upper set of teeth being in engagement with the right lower set of teeth when the right slide is in the open position of the right slide such that the right bottom edge of the upper head-covering portion is detached from the top edge of the right lateral portion,
wherein the upper head-covering portion can be rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion to allow the headwear item to be placed in a coverless configuration when the left slide and the right slide are in their respective open positions, and
wherein the headwear item is in a head-covering configuration when the left slide and the right slide are in their respective closed positions.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the upper head-covering portion has a rear recess, the left bottom edge of the upper head-covering portion extends from the frontal portion to the rear recess on the left side of the upper head-covering portion, and the right bottom edge of the upper head-covering portion extends from the frontal portion to the rear recess on the right side of the upper head-covering portion.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the terminal end of the left lateral portion and the terminal end of the right lateral portion are free from and not connected to each other than through their connection through the frontal portion and are each independently movable relative to the frontal portion when the left strap portion and the right strap portion are disengaged from each other.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the headband portion has a width and wherein the width of the headband portion at any point along its length is less than or about equal to the width of the headband portion adjacent the frontal portion.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the left lateral portion and the right lateral portion each have a bottom edge, and the frontal portion has a bottom edge, the bottom edge of the left lateral portion, the bottom edge of the right lateral portion, and the bottom edge of the frontal portion collectively define a bottom edge of the head-covering portion, the headwear item further comprising a sweatband in the form of a strip having a bottom edge, the sweat band being attached to the head-covering portion by an attachment proximate the bottom edge of the sweatband and the bottom edge of the head-covering portion.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the sweatband and the bottom edge of the sweatband are coextensive with the bottom edge of the head-covering portion.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, further comprising a semi-rigid backing panel provided behind the frontal portion, wherein the backing panel has a bottom edge, and wherein the backing panel is attached to the frontal portion by an attachment proximate the bottom edge of the backing panel and the bottom edge of the frontal portion.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the upper head-covering portion can be rolled up and tucked in between the sweatband and the backing panel when the upper head-covering portion is stowed behind the frontal portion in the coverless configuration.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the headwear item is a cap when in the head-covering configuration and the headwear item is a visor when in the coverless configuration.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the terminal end of at least one of the left and right lateral portions has an opening so as to form a sleeve for receiving a portion of the free terminal portion of one of the left or right strap portions attached to the terminal end of the other of the left and right lateral portions.
It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a headwear item in accordance with any of the previously described aspects of the present invention, wherein the recess has a top edge, wherein the head-covering portion comprises six panels sewn together along seams, the six panels including a left front panel, a left lateral panel, a left rear panel, a right front panel, a right lateral panel, and a right rear panel, each of the panels being attached to each adjacent one of the panels along seams that extend from a central portion of the upper head-covering portion to the bottom edge of the head-covering portion except that the left rear panel is attached to the right rear panel along a seam that extends from the central portion of the upper head-covering portion to the top edge of the recess, wherein the left lateral portion of the headband portion includes lower portions of the left lateral panel and the left rear panel that are exclusively lower in height than the top edge of the recess relative to the bottom edge of the head-covering portion, and wherein the right lateral portion of the headband portion includes lower portions of the right lateral panel and the right rear panel that are exclusively lower in height than the top edge of the recess relative to the bottom edge of the head-covering portion.
These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be further elucidated by the following Detailed Description, drawing figures, and Claims.
Referring to
The frontal portion 106 is located adjacent the bill 102 and extends upward from the bill 102 so as to be positioned over the forehead of a wearer when the headwear 100 is worn by the wearer. The upper head-covering portion 108 is contiguous with the frontal portion 106. The upper head-covering portion 108 has a left bottom edge 122, a right bottom edge 124.
The headband portion 110 extends in a band from the left side of the frontal portion 106 to the right side of the frontal portion 106 such that the headband portion 110 and the frontal portion 106 cooperatively form a closed loop that can fit around the wearer's head and help retain the headwear 100 on the wearer's head. In the illustrated embodiment, the headband portion 110 extends in a band from the left corner of the frontal portion 106, which is adjacent the bill 102, to the right corner of the frontal portion 106, which is also adjacent the bill 102. Accordingly, the line of separation between the upper head-covering portion 108 and the headband portion 110 starts much closer to the frontal portion 106 and/or bill 102 of the headwear as compared to the prior art. This feature allows the upper head-covering portion to be rolled up more easily and more tightly into a smaller package.
The headband portion 110 has an upper edge. The upper edge of the headband portion 110 has a left portion extending from the frontal portion 106 toward the back of the wearer's head on the left side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer. The upper edge of the headband portion 110 also has a right portion extending from the frontal portion 106 toward the back of the wearer's head on the right side of the wearer's head when the headwear is worn by the wearer.
Fastener means are provided for releasably securing at least the left portion of the upper edge of the headband portion 110 and at least the right portion of the upper edge of the headband portion 110 to the upper head-covering portion 108, the fastener means has a released configuration and a secured configuration. The upper head-covering portion 108 can be rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion 106 to allow the headwear item to be placed in a coverless configuration when the fastener means is in the released configuration. The headwear item 100 is in a head-covering configuration when the fastener means is in the secured configuration.
The fastener means for attaching the upper head-covering portion 108 to the headband portion 110 can be one or more zippers. In the illustrative embodiment, two zippers 134 and 142 are used. Alternatively, one or more hook-and-loop (VELCRO®) fastener systems may be employed instead of zippers. As can be seen in
In the illustrated embodiment, the headband portion 110 has a left lateral portion 112 and a right lateral portion 114. The left lateral portion 112 extends in a band from the frontal portion 106 proximate the bill 102 toward the back of the wearer's head on the left side of the wearer's head when the headwear 100 is worn by a wearer. The right lateral portion 114 extends in a band from the frontal portion 106 proximate the bill 102 toward the back of the wearer's head on the right side of the wearer's head when the headwear 100 is worn by a wearer. The left lateral portion 112 terminates in a terminal end 126 located distally from the frontal portion 106. The right lateral portion 114 terminates in a terminal end 128 located distally from the frontal portion 106.
The headband portion 110 further comprises a left strap portion 116 and a right strap portion 118. The left strap portion 116 is attached to and extends from the terminal end 126 of the left lateral portion 112. The right strap portion 118 is attached to and extends from the terminal end 128 of the right lateral portion 114. The headband portion 110 further includes fastening means 120 for releasably and adjustably fastening the left strap portion 116 and the right strap portion 118 together such that the headband portion 110 and the frontal portion 106 cooperatively form a closed loop that can fit around the wearer's head and help retain the headwear on the wearer's head while allowing the size of the closed loop to be varied to fit a variety of head sizes.
The left bottom edge 122 of the upper head-covering portion 108 extends from the frontal portion 106 to the terminal end 126 of the left lateral portion 112 on the left side of the upper head-covering portion 108. The right bottom edge 124 of the upper head-covering portion 108 extends from the frontal portion 106 to the terminal end 128 of the right lateral portion 114 on the right side of the upper head-covering portion 108.
The left lateral portion 112 has a top edge 130, and the right lateral portion 114 having a top edge 132. The left fastener assembly 134 comprises a left upper set of teeth 136, a left lower set of teeth 138, and a left slide 140. The left upper set of teeth 136 is provided along the left bottom edge 122 of the upper head-covering portion 108. The left lower set of teeth 138 is provided along the top edge 130 of the left lateral portion 112. The left upper set of teeth 136 is distributed along the left bottom edge 122 of the upper head-covering portion 108. The left lower set of teeth 138 is distributed along the top edge 130 of the left lateral portion 112. The left slide 140 is movable between a closed position near the terminal end 126 of the left lateral portion 112 and an open position near the frontal portion 106. A maximum number of the left upper set of teeth 136 are in engagement with the left lower set of teeth 138 when the left slide 140 is in its closed position such that the left bottom edge 122 of the upper head-covering portion 108 is attached to the top edge 130 of the left lateral portion 112. A minimum number of the left upper set of teeth 136 are in engagement with the left lower set of teeth 138 when the left slide 140 is in its open position such that the left bottom edge 122 of the upper head-covering portion 108 is detached from the top edge 130 of the left lateral portion 112. The minimum number can include zero, but is typically in the range of one to five teeth.
The right fastener assembly 142 comprises a right upper set of teeth 144, a right lower set of teeth 146, and a right slide 148, the right upper set of teeth 144 is provided and distributed along the right bottom edge 124 of the upper head-covering portion 108. The right lower set of teeth 146 is provided and distributed along the top edge 132 of the right lateral portion 114. The right slide 148 is movable between a closed position near the terminal end 128 of the right lateral portion 114 and an open position near the frontal portion 106. A maximum number of the right upper set of teeth 144 are in engagement with the right lower set of teeth 146 when the right slide 148 is in its closed position such that the right bottom edge 124 of the upper head-covering portion 108 is attached to the top edge 132 of the right lateral portion 114. A minimum number of the right upper set of teeth 144 are in engagement with the right lower set of teeth 146 when the right slide 148 is in its open position such that the right bottom edge 124 of the upper head-covering portion 108 is detached from the top edge 132 of the right lateral portion 114.
The upper head-covering portion 108 can be rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion 106 to allow the headwear item 100 to be placed in a coverless configuration when the left slide 140 and the right slide 148 are in their respective open positions. The headwear item 100 is in a head-covering configuration when the left slide 140 and the right slide 148 are in their respective closed positions. In the illustrated example, the head-covering configuration corresponds to a typical baseball style cap and the coverless configuration corresponds to a visor and headband assembly with no covering for the top of the wearer's head, which is referred to herein as simply a visor.
In the illustrated example, the upper head-covering portion 108 has a rear recess 150 to facilitate the adjustment of the strap portions 116 and 118. The left bottom edge 122 of the upper head-covering portion 108 extends from the frontal portion 106 to the rear recess 150 on the left side of the upper head-covering portion 108. The right bottom edge 124 of the upper head-covering portion 108 extends from the frontal portion 106 to the rear recess 150 on the right side of the upper head-covering portion 108.
In the illustrated example, the fastening means 120 is a strap slide 152 with a generally rectangular frame and a central bar. The central bar is held in a loop formed from the left strap portion 116. The right strap portion 118 is threaded through the strap slide 152 passing under each side of the strap slide frame and over the central bar of the strap slide. The right strap portion 118 is securely held in place relative to the strap slide 152 by frictional engagement with the strap slide 152. The engagement between the right strap portion 118 and the strap slide 152 can be loosened to allow the strap slide 152 to be repositioned along the right strap portion 118 to thereby allow the adjustment of the size of the headwear 100. Other fastening means suitable for this purpose include, without limitation, a plurality of adjustment holes in one strap portion in conjunction with a buckle on the other strap, a clasp in place of the strap slide 152, a plurality of adjustment holes in one strap portion in conjunction with a plurality of pegs on the other strap that snap into the holes, and a hook and loop fastener with complementary portions of the fastener each being fixedly attached to a respective one of the strap portions.
The terminal end 126 of the left lateral portion 112 and the terminal end 128 of the right lateral portion 114 are free from and not connected to each other except through their connection through the frontal portion 106 and are each independently movable relative to the frontal portion 106 when the left strap portion 116 and the right strap portion 118 are disengaged from each other.
The headband portion 110 has a width and the width of the headband portion 110 at any point along its length is less than or about equal to the width of the headband portion 110 adjacent the frontal portion 106.
The left lateral portion 112 and the right lateral portion 114 each have a bottom edge, and the frontal portion 106 has a bottom edge. The bottom edge of the left lateral portion 112, the bottom edge of the right lateral portion 114, and the bottom edge of the frontal portion 106 collectively define a bottom edge of the head-covering portion 104. The headwear item 100 further comprises a sweatband 154 in the form of a strip having a bottom edge.
The sweatband 154 in the form of a strip and has a bottom edge. The sweatband 154 is attached to the head-covering portion 104 by an attachment proximate the bottom edge of the sweatband 154 and the bottom edge of the head-covering portion 104. The bottom edge of the sweatband is coextensive with at least a portion of the bottom edge of the head-covering portion 104 that is larger than and includes the bottom edge of the frontal portion 106. The sweatband 154 is of relatively greater width at least over the frontal portion 106 so as to form a pocket for receiving the upper head-covering portion 108 when the upper head-covering portion 108 is rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion 106.
Preferably, the sweatband 154 has elastic properties so it can expand to receive the upper head-covering portion 108 when the upper head-covering portion 108 is rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion 106 such that the sweatband will exert pressure to help keep the upper head-covering portion 108 rolled up and stowed behind the frontal portion 108. The sweatband 154 is preferably made of elastic, absorbent material, for example, stretch terry cloth, Spandex or any other known suitable elastic, absorbent material.
In the illustrated embodiment, the sweat band 154 is attached to the head-covering portion 104 by an attachment proximate the bottom edge of the sweatband and the bottom edge of the head-covering portion 104. The sweatband 154 and the bottom edge of the sweatband 154 are coextensive with the bottom edge of the head-covering portion 104.
The headwear item 100 further comprises a semi-rigid backing panel 156 provided behind the frontal portion 106. The backing panel 156 has a bottom edge, and the backing panel 156 is attached to the frontal portion 106 by an attachment proximate the bottom edge of the backing panel 156 and the bottom edge of the frontal portion 106.
The upper head-covering portion 108 can be rolled up and tucked in between the sweatband 154 and the backing panel 156 when the upper head-covering portion 108 is stowed behind the frontal portion 106 in the coverless configuration. The headwear item 100 is a cap when in the head-covering configuration and the headwear item 100 is a visor when in the coverless configuration.
In the illustrated example, the terminal end of at least one of the left and right lateral portions 112 and 114 has an opening 158 so as to form a sleeve for receiving a portion of the free terminal portion of one of the left or right strap portions 116 or 118 attached to the terminal end of the other of the left and right lateral portions 112 and 114.
The recess 150 has a top edge. The head-covering portion 104 comprises six panels sewn together along seams, the six panels including a left front panel 160, a left lateral panel 162, a left rear panel 164, a right front panel 166, a right lateral panel 168, and a right rear panel 170. Each of the panels being attached to each adjacent one of the panels along seams that extend from a central portion of the upper head-covering portion 108 to the bottom edge of the head-covering portion 104 except that the left rear panel is attached to the right rear panel along a seam that extends from the central portion of the upper head-covering portion 108 to the top edge of the recess 150. The left lateral portion 112 of the headband portion 110 includes lower portions of the left lateral panel 162 and the left rear panel 164 that are exclusively lower in height than the top edge of the recess 150 relative to the bottom edge of the head-covering portion 104. The right lateral portion 114 of the headband portion 110 includes lower portions of the right lateral panel 168 and the right rear panel 170 that are exclusively lower in height than the top edge of the recess 150 relative to the bottom edge of the head-covering portion 104. The headwear item 100 also includes eyelets or vent holes 172 and a top button 174.
“Semi-rigid” as used herein means that the backing panel remains erect when supported at its bottom edge while being sufficiently flexible and resilient so as not to cause discomfort to the wearer while returning to its original shape when removed from the wearer's head. A semi-rigid backing panel will generally maintain its shape without causing discomfort to the wearer in normal use. In the illustrated embodiment, the backing panel is made of a flexible and resilient plastic.
In another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the strap portions 116 and 118 may be replaced by an elastic strip extending between the terminal end 126 of the left lateral portion 112 and the terminal end 128 of the right lateral portion 114.
The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but includes any and all embodiments within the scope of the appended claims both literally and under the doctrine of equivalents.
This application is a continuation of International Application Number PCT/US2017/033179, filed on May 17, 2017, which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/337,458, having a filing date of May 24, 2016, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62337458 | May 2016 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2017/033179 | May 2017 | US |
| Child | 15980239 | US |
