Patent Grant
8875316
The present disclosure generally relates to hats and costume and party apparel and/or accessories.
Costumes often make use of a hat to accomplish a desired look or image. For example, hats may be included as part of a package costume or a separately purchased accessory and may be associated with firefighter, police, superhero, sports player, and/or any other type of costume. Some costume hats may have a single configuration, such that they are sold in an already assembled and ready-for-use configuration (e.g., a solid plastic firefighter hat). Other costume hats may be sold in a collapsed form and may require some assembly prior to use. In addition to costumes, hats may be sold and used for other applications as well, such as for use with a party or gathering. For example, a hat may be sold for use with a birthday party and imprinted with a message such as “Happy Birthday!”.
One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method of producing a collapsible hat. The method includes forming a front portion of the collapsible hat, and forming at least one band portion of the collapsible hat extending from the front portion. The method further includes forming at least one first top portion extending from the at least one band portion, and forming a plurality of second top portions extending from the at least one band portion. The method further includes forming a connector in the at least one first top portion, and forming a slot in each of the plurality of second top portions configured to be coupled to the connector of the at least one first top portion at a single point in a use configuration of the collapsible hat to form a top portion of the collapsible hat. The single point at which the first top portion and the plurality of second top portions are configured to be coupled is proximate to a center of the top portion of the collapsible hat.
Another exemplary embodiment relates to another method of forming a collapsible hat. The method includes forming a front portion of the collapsible hat, and forming at least one band portion of the collapsible hat extending from the front portion. The method further includes forming at least one first top portion extending from the at least one band portion, and forming a plurality of second top portions extending from the at least one band portion. The method further includes forming a connector in the at least one first top portion, and forming a slot in each of the plurality of second top portions configured to be coupled to the connector of the at least one first top portion to form a top portion of the collapsible hat in a use configuration. In the use configuration, a first band portion end is coupled to a second band portion end, such that the band portion forms a circular base of the collapsible hat. At least one of the first top portion and the plurality of second top portions extend from at least one of a side and a back of the band portion in the use configuration.
Another exemplary embodiment relates to yet another method of producing a collapsible hat. The method includes forming a front portion of the collapsible hat, and forming at least one band portion of the collapsible hat extending from the front portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of top portions of the collapsible hat extending from the at least one band portion. The plurality of top portions are formed to be coupled at a single point in a use configuration of the collapsible hat to form a top portion of the collapsible hat. The single point at which the plurality of top portions are configured to be coupled is proximate to a center of the top portion of the collapsible hat.
Alternative exemplary embodiments relate to other features and combinations of features as may be generally recited in the claims.
The disclosure will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, in which:
Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.
Referring generally to the figures, a collapsible hat is shown and described. Collapsible hats made of cardboard or other similar material may be flat when the hat is not in use (e.g., in packaging in a store). The collapsible hats may then be formed via various methods (e.g., folding portions of the collapsible hat, using notches, tabs, or slots to insert portions of the collapsible hat into other portions, etc.). However, some methods of forming the hat into a use configuration may result in a cap that is not rounded. For example, some collapsible hats may be rectangular or box-shaped because of the limitations of forming the collapsible hat (e.g., folding or bending the cardboard material of the hat may not lead to a natural rounded shape).
Various embodiments disclosed herein provide a collapsible hat which may take the shape of a rounded hat (e.g., like a baseball cap) when formed. The collapsible hat may be stored in a flat configuration (e.g., the hat in its unassembled form may lay in substantially the same plane in a flat configuration) or may be formed into its use configuration. The collapsible hat in its flat configuration may include a front portion that when assembled is the front of the hat and a band portion that when assembled forms the base of the hat. The collapsible hat in its flat configuration further includes several top portions that are used to create the top of the hat in its fully formed state. One or more of the top portions or flaps of the hat include a connector and the other portions or flaps include slots that the connector may be inserted into for forming the top of the hat. The front portion, band portion, and top portions of the collapsible hat may be formed from a single piece of material. The material may be cardboard, according to an exemplary embodiment.
Referring to
Referring now to
The collapsible hat 100 may generally include two pieces of material, the brim 110 (e.g., a bill) and the main hat portion 105. In the illustrated embodiment, the main hat portion 105 includes a front portion 205, a band portion 215, and multiple top portions 220, 225, 230, and 235. In other embodiments, the main hat portion 105 may include fewer, more, or different portions and/or components than are illustrated in
The main hat portion 105 includes a front portion 205. The front portion 205 includes the slot 210 for coupling the brim 110 to the rest of the hat. The front portion 205 and/or other portions of the hat 100 may be shaped in any manner, and the shape may be based on the intended use of the hat 100. For example, in one embodiment, in its fully formed or use state, the front portion 205 may take a generally slightly rounded shape similar to the front of, for example, a baseball hat. In another embodiment, the front portion 205 may be configured to include a portion that rises vertically into the air, similar to the front of a firefighter's hat.
The main hat portion 105 also includes a band portion 215. The band portion 215 extends from both sides of the front portion 205 when the hat is in its flat form. When forming the hat, the band portion 215 is wrapped around and the ends 270 of the two sides of the band portion 215 are configured to be coupled together, forming the circular base of the hat (see, e.g.,
The hat 100 includes multiple top portions (e.g., flaps, panels, strips, etc.) 220, 225, 230, and 235 extending from the band portion 215. The hat 100 includes at least one top connector portion 220 that includes a connector 244, 246 (e.g., tab, peg, protrusion, etc.) at the top (e.g., the end of the top connector portion 220 that will be near an approximate center of the main hat portion 105 in the fully formed or use configuration) of the top connector portion 220. The hat 100 also includes at least one top slot portion (e.g., top slot portions 225, 230, and 235) that includes a slot (e.g., slots 240, 242, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256) at the top (e.g., the end of the top slot portion 225 that will be near an approximate center of the main hat portion 105 in the fully formed or use configuration) of the top slot portion 225. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in
Top portions 220, 225, 230, and/or 235 may have varying shapes and/or sizes, according to various exemplary embodiments. For example, in the exemplary embodiment shown in
Referring now to
The process 300 further includes assembling the base of the hat 100 and sliding the band portion tabs 270 together (step 310). Referring also to
By sliding the tabs 270 into one of the slots 260, 262, 264, or 266, the back of the hat 100 may be secured such that the hat more properly fits the user's head. The multiple slots 260, 262, 264, and 266 are used to adjust the size of the hat 100. For example, if the tab 270 is inserted into the slot 260, the hat size is smaller than if the tab 270 is inserted into the slot 266. Inserting the tab 270 into the slot 266 results in the hat 100 having a largest size configuration. Inserting the tab 270 into the slot 264 results in the hat 100 having a second-largest size configuration. Inserting the tab 270 into the slot 262 results in the hat 100 having a second-smallest size configuration, and inserting the tab 270 into the slot 260 results in the hat 100 having a smallest size configuration. In various embodiments, any numbers, size, and/or shape of slots may be used to provide size adjustability to the hat 100.
According to one embodiment, the tabs 270 may further be adjusted to hold the back of the hat in place. The tabs 270 may be folded, twisted, or otherwise adjusted such that the tabs 270 do not slip out of the slot. According to other embodiments, the tabs 270 may not be adjusted after insertion into a slot.
Referring further to
Referring back to the process 300 of
The process 300 of
The process 300 of
The process 300 of
The process 300 of
While the embodiments shown in the figures show two top portions with connectors and the other top portions with slots, it should be understood that the number of connectors and slots may be varied. For example, the collapsible hat may include one connector or more than two connectors into which slots are inserted over. As another example, the collapsible hat may include one or more portions with multiple connectors for which slots for every other portion are inserted over or multiple slots for which connectors may be inserted into. Further, while the embodiments shown in the figures illustrate the connectors and slots adjoining together at the top of the hat, it should be understood that the coupling of the connectors and slots may occur in another location of the fully formed hat (e.g., the front of the hat, back of the hat, etc.)
Referring now to
In the configurations shown in the figures, the top portions 220, 225, 230, and 235 completely cover the top of the hat 100 without any gaps. In the illustrated exemplary embodiments, the connectors 230 and slots 235 are coupled such that the top portions 220 and 225 meet at a single point at an approximate center of the main hat portion 105. In other embodiments, the top portions may be designed in such a manner that they meet at a single point that is not at an approximate center of the main hat portion 105 (e.g., a point that is closer to the back of the hat 100 in a use configuration). In some embodiments, the top portions may be configured to meet at multiple points, such that some connectors are coupled to slots at one point and other connectors are coupled to other slots at a second point.
Referring now to
The disclosure is described above with reference to drawings. These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments that implement the systems and methods and programs of the present disclosure. However, describing the disclosure with drawings should not be construed as imposing on the disclosure any limitations that may be present in the drawings. The present disclosure contemplates methods, systems and program products on any machine-readable media for accomplishing its operations. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented using an existing computer processor, or by a special purpose computer processor incorporated for this or another purpose or by a hardwired system. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” Furthermore, no element, component or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public, regardless of whether the element, component or method step is explicitly recited in the claims.
The construction and arrangement of the collapsible hat as shown in the various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.). For example, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
It should be noted that although the flowcharts provided herein show a specific order of method steps, it is understood that the order of these steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. It is understood that all such variations are within the scope of the disclosure.
The foregoing description of embodiments of the disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosure. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principals of the disclosure and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/083,279, filed Apr. 8, 2011, titled “COLLAPSIBLE HAT,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140109291 A1 | Apr 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13083279 | Apr 2011 | US |
| Child | 14142532 | US |
