Patent Application
20160324249
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/158,863, filed May 8, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates generally to headwear and, in particular, to a headband that is or may be attached to the rim of a hat.
Hats are often worn for protection from the sun. Such hats typically feature crowns that are worn on the top of the head with brims attached to the front of the crown or all of the way around the crown. In addition, in warm temperatures or under other conditions when an individual tends to perspire, headbands are worn. A headband typically includes elastic material and is worn around an individual's head so as to pass over the forehead. This prevents perspiration from traveling down from a wearer's hair and into his or her eyes. The headband is typically made of a material that absorbs perspiration or moisture, such as terrycloth.
In view of the above, it is often desirable for an individual to wear a hat and a headband simultaneously. For example, a person may wish to wear both a hat and a headband for protection from the sun and to keep perspiration out of his or her eyes. To do so, however, the person has to put on and remove two articles of headwear. This may be particularly cumbersome when an individual is holding something with one hand or when the person's hands are dirty. Furthermore, having two separate articles of headwear makes it easier to lose one. The elastic material of the headband may also be uncomfortable for some wearers.
A hat may not fit properly if the individual is wearing a headband, and the combination of the hat and headband may not be aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore the hat may slide down over the face of the wearer if the front of the rim of the crown rests on the headband.
The portion of a hat that engages a wearer's forehead and hair may also become soiled, especially from perspiration or dirt such as during gardening. Washing the entire hat, however, could damage the hat or be burdensome. A moisture-wicking headband that is detachable from the hat for easy laundering and re-attachment is therefore desirable.
A need exists for a headband that addresses at least some of the above issues.
A hat provided with an embodiment of the sweatband or headband of the present invention is indicated in general at 10 in
A first strip of hook and loop material 22 (such as VELCRO) has been sewn around the inner periphery of the rim 16. Alternatively, the first strip of material 22 may be secured to the rim by adhesive or any other fastening method known in the art.
With reference to
A branding label 38 (
As shown in
The embodiment of the invention described above therefore provides a moisture-wicking headband that is detachable via a hook and loop fastener arrangement (such as VELCRO) for easy laundering and re-attachment. This provides a clean headband surface each time the hat is worn.
The hook and loop fastening of the headband also enables the headband to be easily removed from the hat for replacement, such as when the headband is worn out or the user wishes to change the appearance of the hat. For example, a set of headbands having different complementary decorative colors and/or patterns may be used with a hat to provide the hat with a variety of fashionable appearances.
While hook and loop material is illustrated for securing the headband into the hat, any other fastening material known in the art including, but not limited to, two-sided tape, snaps, buttons or adhesive, may be used.
Alternatively the headband may be sewn directly to the rim 16 of the hat for a permanent installation of the headband.
The present invention therefore offers a fashionable, economical and flexible way to incorporate a headband into a hat. Such a feature is quite useful when the hat is worn in high temperatures or during physical activities including, but not limited to playing sports, hiking or gardening
In addition, the headband of the present invention offers a quick and easy way to retrofit an existing hat to provide a “built-in” headband. For example, the headband may be sold as a kit that includes the headband of
In an alternative embodiment, the attachment surface of the headband may be directly provided (i.e. no hook and loop fastening material) with adhesive material that is covered by a protective sheet. The protective sheet is removed to secure the headband to the inner peripheral (or partial peripheral) of the rim so that the headband is attached in a more permanent fashion.
While the headband is shown as sized to fit around the periphery of the rim of the hat, it may alternatively be sized to just cover the wearer's forehead so that it does not traverse the inner periphery of the rim.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62158863 | May 2015 | US |
