U.S. patent application number 11/004178 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-08 for headwear piece.
Invention is credited to Suen Ching Yan.
Application Number | 20060117460 11/004178 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36572489 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060117460 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yan; Suen Ching |
June 8, 2006 |
Headwear piece
Abstract
A headwear piece comprises a crown portion having side flaps and
an open back adapted to easily pass through a user's bundle of
hair, and a visor portion conjoined with the crown portion. An
elastic headband portion is operatively affixed at the juncture of
the crown and visor portions. The headband portion is adapted at
each end to engage one of the side flaps. The engaged side flaps
are used to resiliently clip the crown portion onto a user's
head.
Inventors: |
Yan; Suen Ching; (Carson,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CISLO & THOMAS, LLP
233 WILSHIRE BLVD
SUITE 900
SANTA MONICA
CA
90401-1211
US
|
Family ID: |
36572489 |
Appl. No.: |
11/004178 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/209.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/0182 20210101;
A42B 1/225 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/209.3 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/20 20060101
A42B001/20 |
Claims
1. A headwear piece, comprising: a crown portion having side flaps
and an open back adapted to pass through a user's bundle of hair; a
visor portion conjoined with said crown portion; and a
substantially elastic headband portion operatively affixed at the
juncture of said crown and visor portions and adapted at each end
to engage one of said side flaps, said engaged side flaps being
used to resiliently clip said crown portion onto a user's head.
2. The headwear piece of claim 1, wherein said crown and visor
portions are adapted for application of insignia.
3. The headwear piece of claim 1, wherein said headband portion
includes a resiliently shaped strip being enclosed in a casing,
said resiliently shaped strip having a first end and a second
end.
4. The headwear piece of claim 3, wherein said resiliently shaped
strip is made of plastic.
5. The headwear piece of claim 3, wherein said resiliently shaped
strip is made of metal.
6. The headwear piece of claim 3, wherein said casing is
flexible.
7. The headwear piece of claim 3, wherein said resiliently shaped
strip has a substantially arc-shaped configuration in a first
unstretched state.
8. The headwear piece of claim 7, wherein said first and second
ends of said substantially arc-shaped strip move away from each
other to accommodate the curvature of a user's head.
9. The headwear piece of claim 8, wherein said first and second
ends of said substantially arc-shaped strip retract toward each
other until said substantially arc-shaped strip resumes said first
unstretched state.
10. The headwear piece of claim 7, further comprising a padded
sweatband being affixed to one side of said casing.
11. The headwear piece of claim 10, wherein said affixed padded
sweatband is adapted to cushion the pressure exerted by said
substantially arc-shaped strip against a user's head.
12. The headwear piece of claim 11, wherein said padded sweatband
is disposed along the entire circumference of said headband
portion.
13. The headwear piece of claim 11, wherein said padded sweatband
is adapted to cover portions of said headband portion.
14. A headwear piece, comprising: a crown portion having first and
second side flaps and an open back adapted to pass through a user's
bundle of hair; a visor portion conjoined with said crown portion;
and a headband portion operatively affixed at the juncture of said
crown and visor portions and including a resiliently shaped strip
and a padded sweatband being enclosed in a casing, said resiliently
shaped strip having first and second ends and a substantially
arc-shaped configuration in a first unstretched state, said first
and second ends being adapted respectively to engage said first and
second side flaps, said engaged side flaps being used to
resiliently clip said crown portion onto a user's head.
15. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said substantially
arc-shaped strip is made of plastic.
16. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said substantially
arc-shaped strip is made of metal.
17. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said casing is
flexible.
18. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said padded sweatband
is sandwiched between said substantially arc-shaped strip and said
casing.
19. The headwear piece of claim 18, wherein said padded sweatband
is affixed to an interior surface of said casing.
20. The headwear piece of claim 18, wherein said padded sweatband
is affixed to said substantially arc-shaped strip.
21. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said first and second
ends of said substantially arc-shaped strip move away from each
other to accommodate the curvature of a user's head.
22. The headwear piece of claim 21, wherein said first and second
ends of said substantially arc-shaped strip retract toward each
other until said substantially arc-shaped strip resumes said first
unstretched state.
23. The headwear piece of claim 18, wherein said padded sweatband
is adapted to cushion the pressure exerted by said substantially
arc-shaped strip against a user's head.
24. The headwear piece of claim 19, wherein said padded sweatband
is adapted to cushion the pressure exerted by said substantially
arc-shaped strip against a user's head.
25. The headwear piece of claim 20, wherein said padded sweatband
is adapted to cushion the pressure exerted by said substantially
arc-shaped strip against a user's head.
26. The headwear piece of claim 18, wherein said sweatband is
disposed along the entire circumference of said substantially
arc-shaped strip.
27. The headwear piece of claim 18, wherein said sweatband is
adapted to provide padded cover for portions of said substantially
arc-shaped strip.
28. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said padded sweatband
is made from a moisture absorbing material.
29. The headwear piece of claim 10, wherein said padded sweatband
is made from a moisture absorbing material.
30. The headwear piece of claim 1, wherein said open back is
substantially omega-shaped.
31. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said open back is
substantially omega-shaped.
32. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said crown and visor
portions are adapted for application of insignia.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Headgear, such as visors and baseball hats, has been in use
for quite some time. Baseball hats and visors typically include
some sort of strip fastener in the back which helps maintain the
headgear on the head of a user. Some visors implement clip-on
fasteners. Once fastened on a user's head, the baseball hat
conventionally provides a relatively small cutout at the back of
the crown portion for ventilation purposes.
[0002] It is fairly common for wearers of such hats and visors to
bundle their hair into one of more "pony tails" if the wearers have
long hair. The pony-tail hair style enables the wearer to pull a
portion of his/her hair, proximal to the scalp, tightly over the
head while allowing a distal bundled portion of the hair to extend
out from the hat or visor.
[0003] Baseball hats provide full protection of the upper head
portion from the elements, but fail on the ease of use scale for
wearers with long hair. Securing a baseball hat on a user with a
pony-tail hair style is a relatively complicated procedure. The
user normally struggles to pass the thick pony-tail bundle of hair
through the small back cutout of the hat before attempting to
secure the strip fastener in the back. Pony-tail hair styles are
easier to handle with clip-on visors. However, such visors do not
provide any protection of the upper head portion from the
elements.
SUMMARY
[0004] Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are generally
directed to a headwear piece.
[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the headwear
piece comprises a crown portion having side flaps and an open back
adapted to pass through a user's bundle of hair, and a visor
portion conjoined with the crown portion. The headwear piece also
comprises a substantially elastic headband portion being
operatively affixed at the juncture of the crown and visor
portions. The headband portion is adapted at each end to engage one
of the side flaps. The engaged side flaps are used to resiliently
clip the crown portion onto a user's head.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
headwear piece comprises a crown portion having first and second
side flaps and an open back adapted to pass through a user's bundle
of hair, and a visor portion conjoined with the crown portion. The
headwear piece also comprises a headband portion being operatively
affixed at the juncture of the crown and visor portions. The
headband portion includes a resiliently shaped strip and a padded
sweatband being enclosed in a casing. The resiliently shaped strip
has first and second ends, and a substantially arc-shaped
configuration in a first unstretched state. The first and second
ends are adapted respectively to engage the first and second side
flaps. The engaged side flaps are used to resiliently clip the
crown portion onto a user's head.
[0007] These and other aspects of the invention will become
apparent from a review of the accompanying drawings and the
following detailed description of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention is generally shown by way of reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a headwear piece in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the headwear piece of
FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line
3-3 of FIG. 2; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in accordance with an
alternative embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The detailed description set forth below in connection with
the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary
embodiments and is not intended to represent the only forms in
which the exemplary embodiments may be constructed and/or utilized.
The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps
for constructing and operating the exemplary embodiments in
connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be
understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may
be accomplished by is different embodiments that are also intended
to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0014] Some embodiments of the invention will be described in
detail with reference to the related drawings of FIGS. 1-4.
Additional embodiments, features and/or advantages of the invention
will become apparent from the ensuing description or may be learned
by practicing the invention. In the figures, the drawings are not
to scale with like numerals referring to like features throughout
both the drawings and the description.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a headwear piece 10 in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Headwear piece 10 includes a flexible crown portion 12, a
relatively rigid visor portion 14 conjoined with crown portion 12,
and a substantially elastic headband portion 16 (FIG. 2). Headband
portion 16 is operatively affixed at a juncture 18 (FIGS. 1-2) of
crown portion 12 and visor portion 14, i.e. it helps maintain the
overall shape of headwear piece 10 during and after use. Headband
portion 16 is configured to resiliently contact a user's head
portion when headwear piece 10 is placed on a user's head. Crown
portion 12 is configured to provide a partial close-fitting head
covering. Visor portion 14 is adapted to shade and protect the eyes
of a user from the elements. Visor portion 14 generally maintains
its shape when headwear piece 10 is worn or stored by the user.
Visor portion 14 may be constructed from an appropriately
configured plastic insert being wrapped in flexible material that
is suitable for application of insignia. Other materials may be
used to construct visor portion 14, provided such other materials
do not depart from the intended scope of the present invention.
[0016] Crown portion 12 includes a curved front wall 20 (FIG. 1)
which concludes in the back with a pair of side flaps 22, 24 (FIG.
2). Front wall 20 and side flaps 22, 24 are provided at one end
with a reinforced rim portion 26 which defines the borders of a
sizable back opening 28 (FIG. 2) of headwear piece 10. Back opening
28 is of a substantially omega-shaped configuration that is adapted
to accommodate bundle(s) of user's hair passing there through in a
loose or "pony tail" arrangement(s) and the like. Back opening 28
helps ventilate the part of a user's head that is covered by crown
portion 12 during use. Crown portion 12 may be made from a
plurality of flexible material sections sewn together to form a
partial covering for the forehead, temples, and upper head portion
of the user. Alternatively, crown portion 12 may be made from an
appropriately configured contiguous piece of flexible material. In
each case, the flexible material is suitable for application and
display of commercial and/or personal insignia such as logos,
advertising and/or the like. Insignia may be applied by various
means such as, for example, embroidering, stamping, painting,
screen-printing and/or the like.
[0017] Headband portion 16 may be constructed from a resiliently
shaped plastic or metal strip 30 being enclosed in a flexible
casing 32, as generally depicted in FIG. 3. Strip 30 may be
enveloped loosely or tightly within casing 32, as needed. Strip 30
may be made from other suitable materials, as needed. Strip 30 has
a substantially arc-shaped configuration in its natural unstretched
state. When headwear piece 10 is being placed on a user's head,
arc-shaped strip 30 expands sufficiently to accommodate the
curvature of the user's head. Expansion is generally defined by the
ends of resilient strip 30 moving away from each other, as
necessary. When headwear piece 10 is being displaced from a user's
head, the ends of resilient strip 30 retract toward each other
until arc-shaped strip 30 resumes its natural unstretched
state.
[0018] Each end of strip 30 is received by a respective side flap
(22, 24) with each side flap being adapted to securely retain the
same. When headwear piece 10 is worn on the user's head, side flaps
22, 24 frictionally adhere crown portion 12 to the user's head,
i.e. exhibit "clip on" functionality. When worn, the clip-on
headwear piece 10 may be quickly and easily adjusted by the user,
as needed. The clip-on side flaps 22, 24 allow crown portion 12 to
conform comfortably to the user's head. Back opening 28 provides
additional comfort by easily accommodating a wearer's long hair. No
time and/or effort are expended fastening headwear piece 10 in the
back, as conventionally practiced.
[0019] Flexible casing 32 may be provided with an external padded
sweatband 34, as generally shown in FIG. 3. Sweatband 34 may be
affixed to an exterior surface of casing 32 via glue, stitching,
hook-and-loop fastener(s) and/or the like. When affixed, padded
sweatband 34 interfaces with the user's hair and helps prevent
moisture from reaching arc-shaped strip 30 when headwear piece 10
is being worn by the user. Sweatband 34 may be disposed along the
entire circumference of headband portion 16 or may cover portions
of headband portion 16, as needed. Sweatband 34 may be made from
any suitable moisture absorbing material such as foam, cotton
and/or the like. Sweatband 34 helps cushion the inward (toward the
user's head) pressure exerted by stretched arc-shaped strip 30 when
headwear piece 10 is being worn by the user. Headband portion 16
may be used with or without sweatband 34, as needed.
[0020] In accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of
the present invention, a headband portion 36 includes a resiliently
shaped plastic or metal strip 38 and a padded sweatband 40 being
enclosed within a flexible casing 42, as generally illustrated in
FIG. 4. Strip 38 and padded sweatband 40 may be enveloped loosely
or tightly within casing 42, as needed. Strip 38 may be made from
other suitable materials, provided such other materials do not
depart from the intended purpose of the present invention. Strip 38
has a substantially arc-shaped configuration in its natural
unstretched state. Strip 38 (FIG. 4) functions in the manner
generally described hereinabove in reference to strip 30 of FIG.
3.
[0021] Padded sweatband 40 is sandwiched between arc-shaped strip
38 and flexible casing 42, as generally illustrated in FIG. 4.
Sweatband 40 may be affixed to an interior surface of casing 42 via
glue, stitching, hook-and-loop fastener(s) and/or the like.
Sweatband 40 may also be affixed to arc-shaped strip 38 via glue
and the like. Alternatively, sweatband 40 may be sandwiched between
arc-shaped strip 38 and flexible casing 42 without being affixed to
either one, i.e. it may be simply in frictional contact with both
of them.
[0022] When headwear piece 10 incorporates headband portion 36
(instead of headband portion 16 and sweatband 34 of FIG. 3), padded
side 44 (FIG. 4) of headband portion 36 interfaces with the user's
hair and provides comfort to the user during use. Sweatband 40 may
be disposed along the entire circumference of arc-shaped strip 38.
Alternatively, sweatband 40 may be configured to provide padded
cover only for portions of strip 38. Sweatband 40 may be made from
any suitable moisture absorbing material such as foam, cotton
and/or the like. The thickness and/or quality of padding used may
be varied, as needed. Padded side 44 (FIG. 4) of headband portion
36 helps cushion the inward (toward the user's head) pressure
exerted by stretched arc-shaped strip 38 when the headwear piece is
being worn by the user.
[0023] A person skilled in the art would appreciate that exemplary
embodiments described hereinabove are merely illustrative of the
general principles of the present invention. Other modifications or
variations may be employed that reside within the scope of the
invention. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation,
alternative configurations may be utilized in accordance with the
teachings herein. Accordingly, the drawings and description are
illustrative and not meant to be a limitation thereof.
[0024] Moreover, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest
possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the
terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as
referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive
manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or
steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements,
components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Thus, it is
intended that the invention cover all embodiments and variations
thereof as long as such embodiments and variations come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *