U.S. patent application number 10/842510 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-16 for stretchable band capable of retaining shape and headwear using the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Yupoong, Inc.. Invention is credited to Cho, Byoung-Woo.
Application Number | 20040250336 10/842510 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33509601 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040250336 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho, Byoung-Woo |
December 16, 2004 |
Stretchable band capable of retaining shape and headwear using the
same
Abstract
A stretchable band capable of retaining its shape, and headwear
using the same are disclosed. The stretchable band has a plurality
of warp yarns and weft yarns. Some warp yarns are stretchable
polyurethane yarns, while at least a part of the weft yarns are
monofilament yarns having shape-restoring properties. A plurality
of ventilated openings are formed on the band to provide passage of
air and moisture. The ventilated openings are formed along the
lengthwise direction such that a part of the first yarns are
omitted when weaving.
Inventors: |
Cho, Byoung-Woo;
(Yongin-City, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700
1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Yupoong, Inc.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
33509601 |
Appl. No.: |
10/842510 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/171 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D10B 2401/046 20130101;
A42C 5/04 20130101; D03D 15/56 20210101; A42C 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/171 |
International
Class: |
A41B 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 2, 2003 |
KR |
10-2003-0035386 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A stretchable band capable of retaining its shape, comprising: a
plurality of first yarns, at least a part of the first yarns being
stretchable; and a plurality of second yarns which are weaved with
the first yarns, at least a part of the second yarns having
shape-restoring properties.
2. The stretchable band as recited in claim 1, wherein the second
yarns having shape-restoring properties are monofilament yarns.
3. The stretchable band as recited in claim 2, wherein the
monofilament yarns have diameters of 50 deniers or more.
4. The stretchable band as recited in claim 2, wherein the second
yarns are selected from nylon, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET),
Polyethylene (PE), and Polypropylene (PP).
5. The stretchable band as recited in claim 1, wherein the
stretchable first yarns are polyurethane yarns, latex yarns or
spandex yarns.
6. The stretchable band as recited in claim 1, wherein the first
yarns are warp yarns and the second yarns are weft yarns.
7. The stretchable band as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of ventilated openings providing passage of air and
moisture.
8. The stretchable band as recited in claim 7, wherein the
plurality of ventilated openings are formed such that a part of the
first yarns are omitted when weaving.
9. The stretchable band as recited in claim 7, wherein the
plurality of ventilated openings are disposed along a lengthwise
direction.
10. The stretchable band as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
a pattern portion being ornamented with a predetermined
pattern.
11. A fabric article comprising the stretchable band of claim 1,
wherein the fabric article is capable of retaining a shape where
the stretchable band is applied.
12. Headwear comprising: a head covering portion covering a head of
a wearer; and a stretchable sweatband, provided at the interior
circumference of the head covering portion, being capable of
retaining a shape of the headwear and comprising: a plurality of
first yarns, at least a part of the first yarns being stretchable;
and a plurality of second yarns which are weaved with the first
yarns, at least a part of the second yarns having shape-restoring
properties.
13. The headwear as recited in claim 12, wherein the second yarns
having shape-restoring properties are monofilament yarns.
14. The headwear as recited in claim 13, wherein the monofilament
yarns have diameters of 50 deniers or more.
15. The headwear as recited in claim 12, wherein the stretchable
first yarns are polyurethane yarns.
16. The headwear as recited in claim 12, wherein the sweatband
further comprises: a plurality of ventilated openings providing
passage of air and moisture.
17. The headwear as recited in claim 16, wherein the plurality of
ventilated openings are formed such that a part of the first yarns
are omitted when weaving.
18. The headwear as recited in claim 12, wherein the sweatband
further comprises: a pattern portion being ornamented with a
predetermined pattern.
19. The headwear as recited in claim 12, wherein the headwear is
selected from a cap, a visor cap, and a hat.
20. A method comprising: providing a head covering portion of
headwear; and coupling a stretchable band to the interior
circumference of the head covering portion wherein the stretchable
band comprises: a plurality of first yarns, at least a part of the
first yarns being stretchable; and a plurality of second yarns
which are weaved with the first yarns, at least a part of the
second yarns having shape-restoring properties.
21. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the second yarns
having shape-restoring properties are monofilament yarns.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a stretchable band capable
of retaining its shape, and headwear using the same. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a stretchable band
that retains its shape through a shape-restoring property of the
used yarns, and headwear in which the stretchable band is
applied.
[0003] (b) Description of the Related Art
[0004] A stretchable band is generally used for a sweatband of a
cap. The band can provide a wearer with wearing comfort of the cap
because it has elasticity in a lengthwise direction, i.e.,
circumferential direction of the cap. However, a conventional
stretchable band is constructed by soft warps and wefts so that it
is hard to maintain the shape of the applied article. Specifically,
when the band is employed as a sweatband in headwear such as a cap,
it is difficult to retain the round shape of a lower circumference
of a crown portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the prior art described above, it is an object of
the present invention to provide a stretchable band which is
capable of retaining its shape through a shape-restoring property
of the yarns used.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide
headwear having a stretchable sweatband with properties to
evaporate perspiration outwardly as well as to retain its shape,
resulting in enhanced wearing comfort.
[0007] To achieve these and other objects, as embodied and broadly
described herein, a stretchable band capable of retaining its shape
has a plurality of first yarns and a plurality of second yarns
which are weaved with the first yarns. At least a part of the first
yarns are stretchable, while at least a part of the second yarns
have shape-restoring properties.
[0008] Preferably, the second yarns having shape-restoring
properties are monofilament yarns, and the stretchable first yarns
are polyurethane yarns.
[0009] The band preferably includes a plurality of ventilated
openings providing passage of air and moisture.
[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention,
headwear includes a head covering portion covering a head of a
wearer, and a stretchable sweatband provided at the interior
circumference of the head covering portion. The stretchable
sweatband has a plurality of first yarns, at least a part of the
first yarns being stretchable; and a plurality of second yarns
which are weaved with the first yarns, at least a part of the
second yarns having shape-restoring properties.
[0011] Both the foregoing general description and the following
Detailed Description are exemplary and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings provide a further understanding of
the invention, and together with the Detailed Description, explain
the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary cap implemented
by the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a band according to a first
embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a band according to a second
embodiment; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary visor cap
implemented by the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will
hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a cap has a crown portion 1 for being
worn on a head of a wearer, a visor portion 3 coupled to the crown
portion 1 for blocking sunlight, and a stretchable band 5 provided
at the interior circumference of the crown portion 1 for serving as
a sweat band. The present invention is not limited to the cap
having the crown portion 1 as shown in FIG. 1 which merely shows an
example as a kind of application, and it may be a hat, a visor cap
as shown in FIG. 4, or other various kinds of headwear. Further, it
should also be noted that a stretchable band according to the
present invention is not limited to headwear but may have various
applications to clothing, bags, footwear, and other various
articles.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 2, the stretchable band 5 is weaved of
weft yarns 7a and warp yarns 7b crossing one another. A part or all
of the weft yarns 7a are made of strands having shape-retaining
characteristics. It is also possible to employ stands having
shape-retaining characteristics as a part or all of the warp yarns
7b. The strands having shape-retaining characteristics are
preferably made of monofilament yarns with predetermined
shape-restoring properties which may be selected from nylon,
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene
(PP), and other synthetic monofilaments. The monofilament yarns
preferably have diameters of 50 deniers or more in order to obtain
suitable shape-restoring properties.
[0020] The stretchable band 5 is preferably stretchable along a
lengthwise direction (arrow direction in FIG. 2) such that a part
or all of the warp yarns are stretchable yarns such as polyurethane
yarns.
[0021] The stretchable band 5 further has a plurality of ventilated
openings 7 which are provided along the lengthwise direction. The
ventilated openings 7 can be made such that some warp yarns 7b are
omitted when weaving.
[0022] Textile portions 9 of the band 5 are referred to woven
portion where the ventilated openings 7 are not provided. The
textile portions 9 may adopt loop yarns such that the loop yarns
couple the weft yarns 7a and warp yarns 7b with one another to make
the textile portions 9 solid. The loop yarns are preferably
materials absorptive for sweat and moisture to enhance the merits
of goods such as headwear. The loop yarns are generally used, and
therefore their specific explanation is omitted.
[0023] Since the stretchable band 5 has shape-retaining
characteristics, it is applicable to various fabric articles whose
shapes are required to be retained.
[0024] When a wearer wears the cap as shown in FIG. 1, to which the
stretchable band is applied, the band 5 can have the cap retain its
shape and it stretches in the lengthwise direction to enhance
wearing comfort. When the wearer sweats, the ventilated openings 7
may facilitate passage of air and moisture to evaporate the sweat,
resulting in a more pleasant feeling for the wearer.
[0025] Further, the loop yarns of the textile portion 9 may enhance
the absorbent properties of the cap. The weft yarns 7a are weaved
substantially orthogonal to the warp yarns 7b in the lengthwise
direction (arrow direction in FIG. 2). Under some circumstances,
the weft yarns are referred to as the warp yarns, and vice
versa.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the present
invention will be described. A stretchable band 5 is similar to
that of the first embodiment, except for a pattern portion 10 which
is formed by separate pattern yarns. The pattern portion 10 is
ornamented with a company logotype, advertisement, trademark, or
other patterns. The pattern yarns are coupled to the textile
portion 9 of the band 5 using general patterning methods, and
therefore their specific explanation is omitted. Because the
pattern yarns are coupled to the textile portion 9 to make the
stretchable band 5 solid, the band 5 may have enhanced
shape-retaining properties. The second embodiment shows various
applications of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary visor cap incorporating the
band of the embodiments according to the present invention. The
visor cap has a rim portion 6 encircling the head, a visor portion
3 coupled with one side of the rim portion, and a stretchable band
5 of the present invention provided at the interior circumference
of the rim portion 6. The present invention may be implemented with
various kind of headwear including caps and visor caps. The band 5
is provided at the interior circumference of the crown portion 1 of
FIG. 1 or rim portion 6 of FIG. 4. Specifically, the band 5 is
provided at the entire circumference, or at a part of the
circumference.
[0028] Although the present invention is explained in reference to
headwear, it should be noted that the stretchable band according to
the present invention is applicable to headwear, clothing, bags,
footwear, and so forth. The stretchable band according to the
present invention may retain it own shape through shape-restoring
properties to improve the merit of textile goods.
[0029] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the present invention
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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