U.S. patent application number 10/177581 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-25 for detachable and stretchable rear belt band sports cap.
Invention is credited to Lee, Kyu Nam.
Application Number | 20030233696 10/177581 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29734438 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030233696 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee, Kyu Nam |
December 25, 2003 |
Detachable and stretchable rear belt band sports cap
Abstract
A detachable and stretchable rear belt strand sports cap is used
for any physical activities so as to help the wearer concentrate
and focus. The cap is adjustable and is capable of fitting wearers
having a range of different head sizes without hurting the wearers
head. The cap includes a multi gore shell that forms the crown
portion and a bill that connects to the crown. The stretchable and
detachable rear belt strand sports cap is configured to cover the
entire head of the wearer with the improvement being made at the
bottom back of the cap that gives a unique fastening stretch
mechanism to fit multiple head sizes. The belt band attached to the
right and left buckle allows easy detachment for custom
embroidering of designs and logos that was once unable to be
performed.
Inventors: |
Lee, Kyu Nam; (Los Angeles,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KYU NAM LEE
5727 RAVENSPUR DRIVE
APT. 207
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
CA
90275-3524
US
|
Family ID: |
29734438 |
Appl. No.: |
10/177581 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/195.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/195.2 |
International
Class: |
A42B 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed in the invention:
1. Two belt buckles made from a predetermined size and material;
one buckle located at the right back bottom and the other located
at the left back bottom.
2. Two fixing band made from a predetermined size and material; one
fixated at the right belt buckle and the other fixated at the left
belt buckle.
3. A belt band made from a predetermined size and material; wherein
the said belt band is attachable and detachable respectively.
4. Two belt pockets of a predetermined size; where one of the belt
pocket is adjacent to the right belt buckle on the right side and
the other belt pocket is adjacent to the left belt buckle on the
left side.
5. Purposes of using a single belt buckle at the right back bottom;
a fixing band made from a predetermined stretchable material and
size is fixated at the right belt buckle.
6. Purposes of using a single belt buckle at the left back bottom;
a fixing band made from a predetermined stretchable material and
size is fixated at the left belt buckle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a detachable and stretchable rear
belt band sports cap that has a unique uniaxial stretch mechanism
so that the constructed cap fits the head of the individual wearer
without the fastener becoming loose. The cap includes a multi-gore
shell forming a crown portion and a bill portion connected to the
crown. Moreover, the rear belt band allows easy detachment for
custom embroidering of designs and logos that was once unable to be
performed.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In the past, attempts have been made to provide a cap which
can fit wearers in a range of sizes. Such well known caps have used
a plastic adjustable-band strap, placed at the bottom back of the
cap for adjustment by the wearer. An open aperture area is disposed
above the portion of the cap where the plastic adjustable-band
strap is placed. This allows the wearer to make any necessary
adjustments without any significant bunching of the cap. Examples
of such caps are shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. These
caps are commonly referred to as multi-sized caps and are worn
widespread among cap wearers.
[0005] More often than not, multi-sized caps include a variable
plastic adjustable-band fastening arrangement by where the strap
consists of holes that snaps directly onto a receiving snap
receiver. The holes in these straps are specifically placed and
measured in increments of no wider than 1/8 inches to accommodate
the head size of the wearer. Typically, a variable plastic
adjustable-band fastener do not fit exactly to someone whose head
size is between two size numbers. An improper size to the wearer
lacks comfort and with time changes the shape of the cap. Past
multi-sized caps with the plastic adjustable-band fasteners have
been unable to be completely detachable and unable to be
embroidered on the request of the wearer. Retailers often had to
discourage customers from having designs embroidered at the rear
belt band.
[0006] Better fasteners have been available in the prior art.
Velcro fasteners that uses the hook and loop mechanism have been
introduced to provide a lightweight form of fastening mechanism for
individuals whose head sizes are between two sizes. It has also
eased some of the pain and pressure on the wearers head. A
disadvantage with the velcro strap fastener is that not only is it
bothersome, but the fastened element is more often than not undone
inadvertently, causing the cap to fall off from the individuals
head. Also, once the cap falls off of the individuals head, the cap
body wrinkles and distorts the cap. Like the plastic
adjustable-band, having a logo embroidered on the velcro fastener
was a question still to be solved.
[0007] Other fasteners used by everyday common multi-sized caps are
that shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 respectively. The buckle and the
single belt buckle fastener are both improvements made on the
original plastic adjustable-band fastener (FIG. 2) to provide
maximum harness onto the individual wearer. Unlike the original
plastic adjustable-band fastener, the buckle and single belt
fasteners are lightweight and do not inadvertently undo themselves
because the fasteners are tightly fastened to the belt band
regardless of excessive sweat caused from physical activities.
Although discomfort and some pressure can be sensed by the wearer,
this is only minimal compared to the original plastic
adjustable-band fastener.
[0008] One example of a known multi-sized cap that has made great
strides in foreseeing the problem of eliminating the pressure on
the wearers head is Cho (U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,540). According to
Cho's patent, a free size cap is disclosed to have a woven material
that uniaxially stretches in one direction. Cho's patent solves the
problem of detracting the aesthetic value of the cap. Typically,
caps that have been made to a single fixed size have the problem of
individuals with head size between two variable numbers that do not
provide with the exact fit. An improper adjustment in size lacks
comfort and with time, alters the overall shape of the cap. In such
cases, stores stocking such single size caps are then required to
carry a substantial stock of caps with different sizes. Although
Cho's patent argues the problem of providing an exact fit for
individuals whose head sizes lies between two size numbers; the
patent makes no references to the detachability of the rear band
for custom embroidery. Moreover, Cho's patent gets rid of the
fastening mechanism all together for a single uniaxially
stretchable material that is sewn along the circumference of the
cap.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,514 to Woehl references to a cap having
a rear gore in the crown of a stretchable material to provide size
adjustment or spanned by a tab which may be an elastic band, a hook
and loop fastener or a plastic adjustable-band fastener to variable
lengths. In this patent, the tab to which may be a velcro fastener
or a plastic adjustable-band fastener provides the feature to fit a
variety of head sizes. However, Woehl makes no references to in
alleviating the pressure at the back of the individuals head.
Additionally, the cap size adjustment used in Woehls' patent may
require an increased manufacturing cost compared to other common
caps.
[0010] Yan (U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,202) also foresees the problem by
making the cap multi-axially stretchable. The patent claims to have
some of the plurality of gores composed of multi-axially
stretchable fabric having a stretchable synthetic fiber woven in
the warp and weft of the said fabric. Although Yan improves the
patent made by Cho, Yan does not argue the developments from the
cap from falling down. During all physical exercise, the individual
wearing the cap must be able to concentrate the activity he or she
is pursuing without the worries of the cap from falling down from
the individuals' head. Yan argues only to the point of alleviating
the pressure on the individuals' head.
[0011] Past fastening mechanism such as the hook and loop fastener
(velcro fastener), plastic adjustable-band fastener and the
aforementioned Cho's, Woehls' and Yan's patents have failed to
solve the problem of having custom embroidery done along the rear
belt band of the fastener. The fastening mechanism used by today's
common multi-sized caps have only solved the problem of allowing
individuals whose head size is between two sizes a better and exact
fit and alleviating any pressure along the circumference of the
wears head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention is a sports cap that consists of a
detachable and stretchable rear belt band that is configured to
cover the entire head of the wearer with the improvements being
made at the bottom back of the cap that gives a unique fastening
stretch mechanism to fit multiple head size. The invention
overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of known multi-sized
caps and of fixed caps. The belt band attached to the right and
left belt buckle allows easy detachment for custom embroidering of
designs and logos that was once unable to be performed. Moreover,
the present invention eliminates excess hair from being tangled
with the fastener as the cap is worn by the individual.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of a regular sports cap;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a rear view of a regular sports cap with a plastic
adjustable fastener;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a rear view of a regular sports cap with a velcro
fastener;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a regular sports cap with a buckle
fastener;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a rear view of a regular sports cap with a single
belt buckle fastener;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a rear view of a regular sports cap with the
double belt buckle fastener and belt band for this invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a rear view of FIG. 6, the invention in question,
but without the attachment of the belt band.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a front view of the belt band.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the preferred embodiment of
the present invention is that of a sports cap with the improvements
being made on the fastener that provides a fit for various head
sizes and comfort while the individual pursues physical activities.
The fastening mechanism consists of a right belt buckle (Number 26)
and a left belt buckle (Number 14). A fixing band on the right
(Number 28) is fixated to the right belt buckle and a fixing band
on the left (Number 12) is fixated to the left belt buckle. The
detachable belt band (Number 35) is removable by undoing the right
and left belt buckles for custom designs preferred by the
individual wearer. A right belt pocket (Number 27) adjacent to the
right belt buckle and a left belt pocket (Number 13) adjacent to
the left belt pocket houses the excess belt band.
[0022] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
described and illustrated for purposes of clarity and example, it
should be understood that many changes, substitutions and
modifications to the described embodiment will be apparent to those
having skill in the art in light for the foregoing disclosure
without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
invention that is defined by the claim that will follow.
* * * * *