The present invention relates to devices for protecting the hair and skin of the user, as the device exhibit the ability to be expandable, transferable and inserted to fit in various sized brim hats and fitted baseball caps. The inventions expandability is demonstrated by the use of a centralized flexible upper outer fabric between the two semi circular non woven structural fabric sides. The expansion and contraction of the devices allows the user to accommodate various sized hats and fitted baseball caps. Satin, sateen or silk fabrics utilized in the construction of the device are lightweight, flexible and commonly known and used for the protection of hair and skin.
In an effort to address the need for an individual to utilize an expandable yet insert-able device to protect hair and skin while wearing different brim style hats and fitted baseball caps, where hair doesn't lose essential oils, get tangled, or becomes susceptible to breakage, a number of apparatus have been developed. These inventions mainly focus on the ability to cover the head or hair of a user while wearing a hat or cap, protecting the head, but not the hair of a user. Other hat insert inventions focus on maintaining a hats structure, protecting the head from abrasions, or demonstrating hair protecting fabrics affixed and sewn to the inner side of a hat or baseball cap. The expandable fabric hat liner insert device demonstrates a non woven fabric crown with two semi circular sides, each connected by the method of sewing with a centralized flexible fabric, which allows the device to expand and collapse between the two sides to accommodate various sized hats and caps. The full underside of the apparatus is lined with the hair protecting fabric attached by the method of sewing. The circumference of the crown measures twenty seven and one half inches. The rear portion of the nonwoven fabric is enabled with a sewn grid for the purpose of modification in the event a sweatband bow seam is sewn into the hat or cap during its manufacturing process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,649 describes a cap insert for the maintenance of the hat structural shape. This invention does not address a means of protecting ones hair while in a fitted baseball cap or a brim style hat for hair and hat protection. The expandable fabric hat liner insert has the ability fit in multiple size hats with its centralized flexible fabric and expandable form, demonstrating an ability to be utilized by individuals with varied sized heads.
U.S. Pat No. 7,096,512 B2 describes a protective sports hat insert specifically designed to protect the head, made from reinforced fibers in a baseball cap. The protective sports hat insert does not address the ability to be adaptable in various style and sized brim hats like a Fedora and protect the users hair and skin from oils or hairs loss of moisture. The expandable fabric hat liner, while invisible to others, fits into fitted baseball caps as well as brim style hats to protect the users hair and hat. The underside hair protective fabric acts as a barrier between the hat and the expandable fabric hat liner insert outer crown to keep the hat clean from dirt or oils from the hair and skin.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an expandable, transferrable wearable apparatus for protecting hair and skin in brim style hats and fitted baseball caps. The protection of hair is an important aspect in men's and women's everyday life. Thousands of products are manufactured for the purpose of maintaining and protecting ones hair and skin. Various hats styles have different types of methods to protect the hair of the user. Coarse hair, and curly hair can get entangled, and tend to break off and lose essential oils while wearing hats. A popular fabric of felt is used in many brim hat styles today. Various types of felt brim style hats are mainly manufactured without a sewn in protective fabrics like satin or silk to protect hair and skin. Wearing of hats can also effect a person's hair by drying the hair of its essential oils, cause friction in which the hair begins to break off, and dry the skin, closest to the felt fabrics.
The invention allows for the user to be able to utilize their current hat by inserting the device inside the hat made of fabrics that will allow less friction of the hair, using non moisture absorbing fabrics, and reduce entanglements. The materials used are a natural fabric of silk or manufactured fabrics, such as satin or sateen.
The Preferred embodiment of the present invention is lightweight, small and compact in size made with two semi circular sides and a centralized flexible fabric sewn between them, allowing for the device to expand or collapse based on the users hat size.
The inventions left and right semi circular sides made from non woven fabric provides a overall crown structure for the device, which measures a total of twenty seven and a half inches in circumference. A central flexible fabric sewn in between each semi circular side allows for the device to expand and collapse when inserted into a hat or cap. The flexible hair protective fabric is sewn to the upper portion and to the underside of the device forming the hair protective layer between the felt hat fabric and the users head.
The inventions rear portion of the apparatus is outfitted with a sewn in grid of lines for the purpose of having the ability to be modified by cutting a small portion of the grid to accommodate a hat wherein the hats inner headband is sewn to a portion of the rear panel or sweatband bow.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be appreciated. There are additional feature of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detail description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.
Other advantages and features of the invention are described with reference to exemplary embodiments, which are intended to explain and not limit the invention and are illustrated in the drawings in which:
Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. In addition, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
The present invention provides a new and advantageous device for the protection of hair, skin, and the hat of the user. The parts list for the present invention includes the following:
Non woven fabric crown 1
Outer flexible connecting fabric 2
Fasteners 3
Ventilation holes 4
Underside hair protection fabric and trim 5
Modifiable sewn grid-lines 6
Referring to various figures and in particular
Referring to various figures and in particular
Referring to various figures and in particular