U.S. patent application number 10/860259 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for headwear with ponytail pull through.
Invention is credited to Alcala, Lydia M..
Application Number | 20050268927 10/860259 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35446346 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050268927 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Alcala, Lydia M. |
December 8, 2005 |
Headwear with ponytail pull through
Abstract
The present invention provides a head covering having a
generally tubular member sized appropriately to encircle a user's
head. An upper periphery of the tubular member is closed in order
to cover the head. A rearward potion of the tubular member defines
an aperture sized to enable the user to pull their hair through the
aperture. In an additional embodiment of the present invention, a
pattern for headwear is provided. The pattern includes a main body
potion, a plurality of cooperating, generally triangular-shaped
portions extend upwardly and downwardly from the main body portion,
and two generally circular cutouts on each edge of the main body
portion. A ponytail hair piece attached on the inside of the
headwear in the proximity of the generally circular cutouts,
enhances the appearance of the ponytail when the hair is pulled
through the aperture. In a further embodiment, the ponytail hair
piece comprises colorful hair pieces.
Inventors: |
Alcala, Lydia M.; (Chicago,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul E. Schaafsma, Novus IP, LLC
Suite 221
521 West Superior
Chicago
IL
60610
US
|
Family ID: |
35446346 |
Appl. No.: |
10/860259 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/53 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 8/34 20130101; A42B
1/225 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/053 |
International
Class: |
A45D 008/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Headwear, comprising: a generally tubular member sized
appropriately to encircle a user's head; an upper periphery of the
tubular member closed in order to cover the head; a rearward potion
of the tubular member defining an aperture sized to enable the user
to pull their hair through the aperture; and a decorative ponytail
hair piece extending from the inside of the headwear through the
aperture.
2. The headwear of claim 1, further wherein the ponytail hair piece
comprises hair extensions designed to match the hair color of the
user's hair.
3. The headwear of claim 1, further wherein the ponytail hair piece
comprises decorative colors to add highlights to the user's
hair.
4. The headwear of claim 1, further wherein the headwear is
comprised of a soft bulky deep-piled knitted or woven fabric.
5. A pattern for headwear comprising: a main body potion; a
plurality of cooperating, generally triangular-shaped portions
extend upwardly and downwardly from the main body portion; and two
generally circular cutouts on each edge of the main body
portion.
6. The pattern of claim 5, further including four cooperating,
generally triangular-shaped portions extend upwardly and downwardly
from the main body portion.
7. The pattern of claim 5, further including a ponytail hair piece
attached on the inside of the headwear in the proximity of the
generally circular cutouts.
8. The pattern of claim 7, further wherein the ponytail hair piece
comprises hair extensions designed to match the hair color of the
user's hair.
9. The pattern of claim 7, further wherein the ponytail hair piece
comprises decorative colors to add highlights to the user's
hair.
10. The pattern of claim 5, further wherein the pattern is
comprised of a soft bulky deep-piled knitted or woven fabric.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a protective head covering
which has a ponytail pull through with decorative hair
enhancement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Head coverings of various styles and shapes have for some
time been worn for protection and as a fashion accessory. Caps are
often part of a coordinated outfit worn for some particular
athletic activity such as skiing, roller skating, jogging or the
like. One problem is that when a wearer actively engages in
physical or athletic activities of this type, the cap may become
askew or may be entirely dislodged from the user's head.
[0003] The prior art includes various headgear apparel which
accommodate a ponytail. For example, baseball-type caps with an
opening formed in its back portion--typically to allow for use of
an adjustable size band--allowing a ponytail to extend
therethrough, are known. Some baseball-type caps in the prior art
add a second, dedicated opening to accommodate the user's ponytail.
Baseball-type caps are also known that add a separate hair band to
surround the user's ponytail. In addition, headbands with and
without visors having a split elastic band to hold the band on the
user's head and to allow for a ponytail to be pulled through are
known.
[0004] One drawback from these devices is that they are relatively
complicated to manufacture, often needing several manufacturing
steps combining several different pieces as well as adding separate
elastic bands, visors, bills, etc. Another drawback is that most of
these devices are directed at warm weather activities such as for
example baseball, softball, tennis, etc.
[0005] What is thus needed is article of clothing that is designed
to keep the head of the user warm while accommodating a user's pony
tail. Such protective head covering should include decorative
ponytail enhancement. Such device should be relatively simple to
manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Headwear in accordance with the present invention provides
warmth to the head of the user warm while accommodating a user's
pony tail. Headwear in accordance with the present invention
includes decorative ponytail enhancement. Headwear in accordance
with the present invention is relatively simple to manufacture.
[0007] The present invention provides a head covering having a
generally tubular member sized appropriately to encircle a user's
head. An upper periphery of the tubular member is closed in order
to cover the head. A rearward potion of the tubular member defines
an aperture sized to enable the user to pull their hair through the
aperture. In an additional embodiment of the present invention, a
pattern for headwear is provided. The pattern includes a main body
potion, a plurality of cooperating, generally triangular-shaped
portions extend upwardly and downwardly from the main body portion,
and two generally circular cutouts on each edge of the main body
portion. A ponytail hair piece attached on the inside of the
headwear in the proximity of the generally circular cutouts
enhances the appearance of the ponytail when the hair is pulled
through the aperture. In a further embodiment, the ponytail hair
piece comprises colorful hair pieces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example headwear in
accordance with the present invention.
[0009] FIGS. 2-4 are schematic diagrams showing the relatively
simple manufacturing steps utilized to make an example headwear in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an example
headwear 10 in accordance with the present invention is seen. The
example headwear includes a generally tubular member 12 sized
appropriately to encircle a person's head. An upper periphery 14 of
the tubular member 12 is closed as explained in more detail below,
in order to cover the head and maintain the warmth of the person. A
rearward potion 16 of the tubular member 12 defines an aperture 18
sized to enable the user to pull their hair through the aperture 18
in the form of a ponytail. A ponytail hair piece 20 is provided
extending from the inside of the headwear through the aperture 18.
This ponytail hair piece 20 can take several forms, including but
not limited to hair extensions designed to match the hair color of
the user's hair to extend the length of the hair or as decorative
colors to add highlights to the user's hair.
[0011] The headwear must have properties sufficient to warm the
user and to maintain the headwear on the user's head. In addition,
the headwear must be sufficiently flexible to allow an often
substantial volume of hair to be pulled through the aperture but
still be sufficiently resilient to maintaining the hair in a
ponytail after the hair has been pulled through the aperture. Prior
art devices typically attach a separate hair band to the headwear
in order to provide sufficient flexibility to allow an often
substantial volume of hair to be pulled through the aperture but
still provide sufficient resiliency to maintain the hair in a
ponytail. Of course, the addition of separate hair band adds
significant complexity and expenses in the manufacturing process of
the prior art.
[0012] In order to provide warmth to the user, to maintain the
headwear on the user's head, and to allow sufficient flexibility in
the aperture to allow an often substantial volume of hair to be
pulled through the aperture but still provide sufficient resiliency
to maintain the hair in a ponytail, it has been discovered that a
soft bulky deep-piled knitted or woven fabric commonly referred to
as fleece oriented in the appropriate direction as described below
provides these qualities. For example, Polartec.RTM. brand
polyester fleece available from Malden Mills, Lawrence, Mass., can
be used. Alternatively, Malden Fabric Style 200 Weight Fleece can
be used.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 2, a flat generally rectangular pattern of
fleece fabric 25 in accordance with the present invention is seen.
The fleece fabric can be cut into the pattern using regular
scissors or a rotary cutter. If using a rotary cutter, it is best
to use a 45 mm or a 60 mm blade because the depth of the blade will
not shift the lower layer of fabric when you are cutting. The
pattern includes a main body potion 27. A plurality of cooperating,
generally triangular-shaped portions extend upwardly 29 and
downwardly 31 from the main body portion 27. In a preferred
embodiment, there are four upwardly extending generally
triangular-shaped portions 29 and four downwardly extending
generally triangular-shaped portions 31. Four half generally
circular cutouts 33 are provided, with two on each edge of the
pattern. The fabric is oriented such that the more resilient axis
is orientated vertically; provided, however, it is understood that
the use of the terms "vertically" and "horizontally" herein are not
limitation, but rather used for ease of reference in describing the
Figures.
[0014] Initially, the flat fabric is folded in half with the
horizontal edges joining each other. This is seen in FIG. 3. The
four half generally circular cutouts are joined to define two
generally circular cutouts. The fabric is then hemmed, including
the two generally circular cutouts, along this edge sewing close to
the raw edge using a straight stitch or a topstitch using a double
needle. The fleece fabric can be sewn using a {fraction (12/80)}
sewing machine needle and synthetic thread. If sewing on a serger,
use of four threads and a differential feed is recommended. When
sewing on a standard sewing machine, the pressure on the presser
foot should be loosened and a slightly longer than medium stitch
length should be used.
[0015] After the hemming is completed, a first set of the plurality
of generally triangular shaped portions extending from the main
body portion are pulled through the now cylindrically shaped
garment and joined together with the second set of generally
triangular shaped portions extending from the main body portion. In
addition, the two generally circular cutouts are joined together to
define a single generally circular aperture. The two sets of
generally triangular shaped portions are then hemmed together,
including the two generally circular cutouts, using a straight
stitch or a topstitch using a double needle. The resultant headwear
is seen in FIG. 4. Finally, the ponytail hair piece 20 is sewn into
the inside of the headwear in the proximity of the aperture so as
to extend through the aperture with the user's hair. This is seen
again in FIG. 1.
[0016] While the invention has been described with specific
embodiments, other alternatives, modifications and variations will
be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it will be
intended to include all such alternatives, modifications and
variations set forth within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims.
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