In recent years, hooded garments have become a popular item of clothing. While the origin of the hood can be traced back to medieval times and the hooded robes worn by monks, today hoods have widespread appeal. The hooded sweatshirt, often called a hoodie, in particular is now a well-entrenched item of apparel in popular culture and is a staple of fashion for the millennial generation. Hoods are also common on jackets, capes, shirts, dresses, and many other items of clothing and are now as likely to be seen on a fashion show runway as they are at an athletic event. Typically, the hood will come with a drawstring that encircles the opening at the front-facing portion of the hood. The drawstring may be pulled and tied below a wearer's chin in order to keep the hood on during wind or movement.
Billed caps, such as a traditional baseball cap, have also seen a surge in popularity. An item that originally served the utilitarian purpose of using its bill or brim to block the sun from an athlete's eyes is now worn regularly by millions of users both indoors and out. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 43 million baseball hats are sold in the United States every year, and the annual hat sales industry revenue is over $2 billion. The billed caps have a front banner portion that often includes the logo of a baseball or other sports team, such as the New York Yankees or the San Francisco Giants. The banner portion may also contain other images, such as the logo of a business or organization, a motto or phrase, a name, picture or drawing, or it may simply be blank. The caps are often worn for the purpose of promoting a product or idea, for making some sort of statement, and/or for demonstrating a sense of style. In recent years, the banner has even been used to promote political candidates and to associate oneself with a political party or philosophy. For whatever the reason, it is generally important to the wearer that the banner of the cap be visible to others.
Recently it has become in vogue to wear a billed cap under a hood. Though both fashionable and functional, the wearing of the two items together poses some difficulties. For example, in order to keep the hood secure on the head, the wearer typically must pull and tie the drawstring of the hood which will often result in the top of the hood covering the banner of the billed-cap. Furthermore, one of the advantages of a hood is that the hood is attached to the back of a garment thereby allowing the hood to be removed from the head in a simple motion. When removed from the head, the hood remains attached to the garment and both hands remain free. However, when a cap is worn under a conventional hood, this advantage is lost because the cap is not attached to the garment. After the cap is removed from the user's head, it must be held in the user's hand or set down in a place where it can be easily lost or stolen.
Therefore, there is a need for a system that allows a hood and a billed cap to the worn together in a convenient and/or comfortable manner. It is further desirable to be able to wear a hood and a billed cap together in a manner that does not obstruct the banner portion of the cap. It is still further desirable to be able to keep a billed cap attached within a hood when the cap and hood are doffed. And it is additionally desirable to be able to hold accessories with a hood and/or cap.
The present invention satisfies these needs. In one aspect of the invention, a system is provided that secures a cap within the hood of a hooded garment.
In another aspect of the invention, apparel comprises a hooded garment, a cap having a front, and a securing system associated with the hood of the hooded garment, wherein the securing system comprises a band that contacts the front of the cap and secures the cap to a wearer's head when the hood is up and that secures the cap within the hood with the hood is down.
In another aspect of the invention, an article of apparel comprises a hooded garment, and a securing system associated with the hood of the hooded garment, the securing system comprising a band that extends across the opening of the hood to secure one or more objects within the hood, wherein the band has a length, a width and a thickness and wherein the width of the band in the vertical direction when the hood is up is about 1.125 inches or less.
In another aspect of the invention, an article of apparel comprises a hooded garment, and a securing system associated with the hood of the hooded garment, the securing system comprising a band that extends across the opening of the hood to secure one or more objects within the hood, wherein the band is removably attachable to the interior of the hood.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of wearing a hooded garment comprises providing a band within the interior of the hood, positioning the band in front of a cap to secure the cap against a wearer's head when the hood is up and to secure the cap within the hood when the hood is down.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of wearing a hooded garment comprises providing a band within the interior of the hood, positioning the band in front of a cap to secure the cap against a wearer's head when the hood is up and to secure the cap within the hood when the hood is down, and adjusting the length of the band.
These features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings which illustrate exemplary features of the invention. However, it is to be understood that each of the features can be used in the invention in general, not merely in the context of the particular drawings, and the invention includes any combination of these features, where:
The present invention relates to an article of apparel and a method of wearing an article of apparel. In particular, the invention relates to a hooded garment and a securing system for holding an item in the hooded garment. Although the invention is illustrated and described in the context of being useful for securing a cap within the hood, the present invention can be used in other ways, as would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the present invention should not be limited just to the examples and embodiments described herein.
In accordance with the apparel 100 of
The securing system 140 offers several advantages over conventional hoods that lack a securing system 140. For example, with the securing system 140, the hood 110 can be maintained on top of the head of a wearer without having to use a drawstring. Drawstring attachments can be uncomfortable and cumbersome. In addition, often a drawstring will pull a hood to a greater extent in a forward direction than a wearer desires. A forward-pulled hood can cover the eyes and/or may cover too much of the cap 105. In addition, tying and untying the drawstrings can be inconvenient and difficult, particularly when the user is engaged in an activity or has items in his or her hands. Furthermore, many wearers find it fashionable to wear their hood 110 more on the back portion of the head. With the securing system 140 of the present invention, the hood can be secured at a lower position on the head than would be easily accomplished using a drawstring.
As illustrated in
The band 145 of the securing system 140 can take any of various forms such as those that will be described herein. The band may be a solid piece of material or may be made of several different pieces. In one version, the band may include an elastic portion over at least a portion of its length so that the band asserts an elastic pressure against the cap 105 when in use. In one version, the entire band 145 may be elastic. The band 145 may include a center portion 155 that contacts the front of the cap 105 and side portions 160 that are closer to the hood 110. In one version, the center portion may be made of an elastic material while the side portions may be made of a material that is less elastic. In another version, the center portion may be less elastic than the side portions. For example, in one particular version, the band 145 may include elastic side portions 160 and an inelastic transparent central portion 155. In yet another version, a combination of elastic and less-elastic materials can be used throughout the length of the band 145. Examples of materials that may be used in the band 145 and other parts of the securing system 140 include elastic materials such as one or more of polymers of isoprene, cauotchouc, polyisoprene, bungee cords or straps, elastomers, elastin, styrene butadiene, polyacrylics, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, neoprene, mesh, polyurethane, natural rubber, monomer of isoprene, latex, lycra, emulsion styrene butadiene rubber, and the like, and/or less elastic materials such as one or more of cork cambium, strings, threads, wood, plastic, animal skin or hyde, hair, plant or tree roots, spider webbing, hemp, organic hemp, cotton, Kevlar, carbon fiber, fiberglass, proteins, metal, mud, stucco, other fabrics, a hook and loop fastener, such as Velcro, solar panels and reflectors, polytetrafluoroethylene, stretched polytetrafluoroethylene, and the like.
The band 145 may be attached 150 to the hood 110 in any conventional manner. For example, the band 145 may be sewn or glued to the inside of the hood 110 or may be attached by a removable means, such as buttons, snaps, clips, hook and loop fastener such as Velcro, ties, knots, loops, adhesives, magnetics and the like. The band 145 may be attached 150 to the hood 110 in any desirable position. For example, the securing system 140 may be designed so that the band 145 is located where it rests across a wearer's forehead, just above the nose, just below the nose, or across the mouth or chin when the hood is worn without a cap, depending on the position the wearer wants the hood to reside when in use. As should be evident, if the band is attached so that it lands in a lower position, when the band 145 is used to secure a cap 105, wherein a mating hook and loop fastener is affixed to the cap to prevent the cap from separating from the hood or the hood garment, the hood 110 will rest further back on the head. Similarly, a higher positioned band 145 will result in a more forward resting hood 110 in use. In one version, the attachment mechanism 150 can include a way to adjust the position of the band 145, such as by providing different buttons within the inside of the hood 110 or by providing a large hook and loop fastener region that allows the band 145 to be adjustably positioned.
In one version, the securing system 140 may be designed and dimensioned to provide a desired effect. For example, as shown in
In another version similar to the design shown in
Alternative securing system 140 designs may be employed to maintain and/or highlight the image 170 or the message of the image 170. For example, the band 145 may be a color or design that is part of or highlights the image 170. Alternatively or additionally, the band 145 may include a banner area on its central portion 155 and/or side portions 160. The banner area on the band 145 may be printed one or more images, such as an image similar to or complementary to the image 170 on the cap 105.
A version of the securing system 140 is shown in
Another version of the securing system 140 is shown in
In another version, the band 145 of the securing system 140 may be made of a material that is not elastic. In this version, the band 145 may loosely be positioned in front of the cap 105 to help keep the cap from falling out of the hood. Alternatively, the band 145 may include an attachment mechanism for attaching it to the cap. For example, the band 145 may include one or more of a button, sewn thread, staples, weaves, ties, adhesives, bonds, melted rubber or the like, sleeves, magnets, braids, a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro, or the like to help attach it to the cap 105.
In one version, the hooded garment 115 comprises a hooded rain or wind jacket, such as a golfer's rain jacket. In this version, the securing system 140 can help secure a golfer's cap on the golfer's head during a rain and/or wind storm. Many professional golfers are paid for wearing a company's logo on their cap, but the logo often can go unseen when the golfer must wear a hood in inclement weather. With the garment 115 according to this version of the invention, the golfer can display his or her hat in any weather condition. The band 145 and/or other parts of the securing system 140 can be made of a water resistant material, such as stretched polytetrafluoroethylene or Gortex.
The securing system 140 may also be used without a cap 105. For example, in one version of use, the securing system 140 serves as a system for keeping the hood on a wearer's head at a desirable location without the need to use a drawstring. In another version, the securing system 140 can be used to secure an object other than a cap 105 to the user's head. For example, a user who is exercising may want to wear a towel around their head to pick up sweat. Alternatively, ice or an ice pack could be held against an injured portion of a user's head using the securing system 140 and band 145. As should also be evident from viewing
Another version of the system 100 according to the invention is shown in
In use, a wearer of the version of
Another advantage of the securing system 140 as shown in
Another version of the securing system 140 is shown in
The one or more attachment mechanisms 265 may be used to conveniently store any desired product or implement. For example,
In another version, the dangling member 250 can be used separately. For example, as shown in
In another version, the band 145 with or without a dangling member 250 can be removed from the hood 110 and used separately. For example, the band 145 can be used as a lanyard. In one particular version, the band 145 can be a lanyard having laminated name tag that can clip to the end of the band 145. Alternatively, the lanyard can be used to clip keys or other items, such as by use of a carabiner.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with regard to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible, and alterations, permutations and equivalents of the version shown will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. For example, the cooperating components may be reversed or provided in additional or fewer number. Also, the various features of the versions herein can be combined in various ways to provide additional versions of the present invention. Furthermore, certain terminology has been used for the purposes of descriptive clarity, and not to limit the present invention. Therefore, any appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein and should include all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/645,960, filed on Jul. 10, 2017, entitled HOOD WITH CAP-SECURING SYSTEM, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/493,686, filed on Jul. 11, 2016, entitled HOOD WITH CAP-SECURING SYSTEM, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62493686 | Jul 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15645960 | Jul 2017 | US |
Child | 17011185 | US |