U.S. patent application number 11/711413 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-28 for hat or cap with hair strap.
Invention is credited to Liberty Suechong Chun.
Application Number | 20080201825 11/711413 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39714247 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080201825 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chun; Liberty Suechong |
August 28, 2008 |
Hat or cap with hair strap
Abstract
The present invention relates to elastic strap(s) that is
integral with a hat or cap that has an opening for long hair to
pass through. The strap fashionably secures the hair to hat thereby
preventing the hair from contacting the face and neck of the
wearer. The hair can be firmly or strongly held to the hat or cap
to allow the wearer to engage in strenuous sports activities such
as golf and tennis.
Inventors: |
Chun; Liberty Suechong;
(Honolulu, HI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Peter Chin
P.O. Box 8986
Honolulu
HI
96830-0986
US
|
Family ID: |
39714247 |
Appl. No.: |
11/711413 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/209.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/225 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/209.13 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/24 20060101
A42B001/24 |
Claims
1. A hat or cap comprising a front and rear portion, said rear
portion having an opening sized sufficiently to allow hair of a
wearer's head to pass therethrough, at least one elastic strap
means having at least one end positioned above said opening for
securing wearer's hair, said one end having attach/release means
cooperating with cooperating means on said hat or cap to define
quick attach/release means to the hat or cap, said strap means
further having an end fixed at a separate and discrete position on
said hat or cap opposite position of said cooperating means on said
hat or cap, said elastic strap means adapted to hold the hair above
said opening.
2. The hat or cap of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastic
strap means comprises at least two elastic strap means: a first
elastic strap means with a first quick attach/release means
positioned horizontally above said opening and a second elastic
strap means with second quick attach/release means horizontally
positioned above said opening.
3. The hat or cap of claim 2, wherein said first elastic strap
means has said first quick attach/release means positioned at one
end and said second elastic strap means has said second quick
attach/release means positioned at an end of said second elastic
strap means that is diagonally opposite of said first quick
attach/release means.
4. The hat or cap of claim 2, wherein said two elastic strap means
are positioned crisscross ("X" pattern) across said rear portion of
said hat or cap.
5. The hat or cap of claim 2, wherein said first quick
attach/release means is positioned substantially horizontally
across from second quick release means.
6. The hat or cap of claim 2, wherein a third elastic strap means
with a third quick attach/release means is positioned below lowest
end of said first and/or second elastic strap means.
7. The hat or cap of claim 1, wherein said rear portion is provided
with an adjustment means for adjusting the size of said hat or cap
to accommodate a wearer's head.
8. The hat or cap of claims 1, wherein at least one said elastic
strap means further comprises an outer sleeve.
9. The hat or cap of claims 2, wherein at least one said elastic
strap means further comprises an outer sleeve.
10. The hat or cap of claims 3, wherein at least one said elastic
strap means further comprises an outer sleeve.
11. The hat or cap of claims 4, wherein at least one said elastic
strap means further comprises an outer sleeve.
12. The hat or cap of claims 5, wherein at least one said elastic
strap means further comprises an outer sleeve.
13. The hat or cap of claims 6, wherein at least one said elastic
strap means further comprises an outer sleeve.
14. The hat or cap of claim 8, wherein said sleeve comprises fabric
or cloth.
15. The hat or cap of claim 9, wherein said sleeve comprises fabric
or cloth.
16. The hat or cap of claim 10, wherein said sleeve comprises
fabric or cloth.
17. The hat or cap of claim 11, wherein said sleeve comprises
fabric or cloth.
18. The hat or cap of claim 12, wherein said sleeve comprises
fabric or cloth.
19. The hat or cap of claim 13, wherein said sleeve comprises
fabric or cloth.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] There are no utility patent applications related to this
application.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP
[0002] No invention claimed in this application was made under
Federally sponsored research or development.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The invention relates to headwear and more particularly to
hats or caps having an opening that has an opening that allows
passage of a wearer's long hair there through. The invention
permits quick securing of a wearer's long hair to the hat or cap
away from the wearer's neck. This is accomplished without unwanted
snagging or binding of the hair when the hair is secured or
released from the hat or cap.
[0005] 2. Background Art
[0006] There have been numerous attempts to devise a hat or cap
that accommodates long hair:
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,838 B1 (Frank) illustrates the use of an
elastic band integral with a hat or cap. The band is looped around
the hair to hold the hair of the hat or cap wearer. There is no
disclosure or suggestion of the elastic strap means having a quick
release/attach to the hat or cap feature and of securing the hair
to the hat or cap as in the present invention. The present
invention does not use an elastic band to loop around the wearer's
hair of the type used in this patent.
[0008] Japan Publication 08-113813 (Satomi) shows rubber members
that are optionally attached to openings in a hat.
[0009] Japan Publication 2005-068622 (Yoshiko) shows an elastic
mesh structure that covers an opening in a hat that allows long
hair to pass through the hat.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,854 (Kronenberger) and U.S. Pat. No.
5,875,494 (Garnier et al) show a solution based on the use of a
second opening in a cap that is designed specifically for the
passage of long hair there through. They do not show or suggest the
elastic strap means or the manner by which the hair is secured to
the hat or cap of the present invention U.S. Patent Application
Publication 2006/0117461 A1 (Kelly) shows a hair accessory piece
that is detachably mounted in a cap.
[0011] U.S. Design Patents, D405,590 (Bartz) shows a decorative
band surrounding the opening in a cap.
[0012] U.S. Design Patent D474,576 S, shows a ponytail visor with
means to secure the ponytail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The invention relates to a hat or cap such as a baseball
style cap or cap with a visor having an opening through which long
hair of a wearer can pass thorough. The hair is gathered for
example in the form of a ponytail and fashionably secured to the
cap by elastic strap means provided on the cap. The user extends
the elastic strap means over the top of the gathered hair and the
strap's loose end is secured to the cap. The hair can thus be
firmly and strongly secured to the cap and away from the neck and
face of the wearer. This is especially advantageous to individuals
engaged in strenuous activities including sports such as golf or
tennis where the movement of long hair into the face and neck may
pose a nuisance and adversely affect one's game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective side view showing an embodiment in
which a single elastic strap means is used to secure the wearer's
hair to the cap.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the elastic strap and cap
shown in FIG. 1 embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1
with the elastic strap means opened.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of the elastic strap means in
extended condition.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows a bottom plan view of the elastic strap means
shown in FIG. 4.
[0019] FIG. 6 is an enlarged side plan or edge view of the elastic
strap shown in FIG. 4.
[0020] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which two (2) elastic strap
means are used on the cap.
[0021] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which two (2) elastic strap
means are arranges in a "X" or cross configuration.
[0022] FIG. 9 is an embodiment having three (3) elastic strap
means.
[0023] FIG. 10 shows sectional view of elastic strap means taken
along section 10-10 of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The hat or cap of the present invention is provided with
elastic strap means by which the long hair of the wearer can be
secured to the hat or cap away from the neck and face. The elastic
strap means in the embodiment shown in drawings is shown to cross
over the hair extending out from an opening in the hat or cap
thereby firmly holding the hair to the rear panel of the hat or
cap. The elastic strap means (13,17,20,23,26,29,32) is comprised of
the following elements: a fabric outer cover (12), elastic strip or
band (35), quick attach/release section (4,5,15,16,19,22,34,25,30
and 31) that cooperate with cooperating means (7 and 34) fixed on
the hat or cap to allow quick attachment and release. The example
shown in the drawings is a hook and loop type fastener such as
Velcro.TM.. The elastic strap means is fixed to the cap at one end
(5,14,18,21,24,27,28 and 33) and forms an integral part of the hat
or cap. The elastic strap means is/are positioned above rear
opening (10) in the rear portion of the hat or cap (1) through
which the gathered long hair exits. The rear opening (10) can be of
any shape desired. The hat or cap may have a bill, peak or visor
(2) in the front portion and adjustment means (8) for adjusting hat
or cap size in the rear portion. The adjustment means (8) can be a
strap and buckle configuration (9) as shown in the Figures.
However, any known or conventional means for adjusting the hat or
cap to fit the wearer's head can be used. The hat or cap may
optionally have vent holes (37) and be of gore or panel
construction (38).
[0025] One of the advantages of the present elastic strap is its
property of non-binding to hair. This is due in part to the use of
a sleeve which may be of fabric, cloth or cloth-like material (12)
that encloses the elastic material or band (35). The length of
which is at least long enough to accommodate the stretched out
length of the elastic material or band (35) and if desired can be
longer to maintain a fashionable gather or bunch-up appearance
similar to a scrunchy when the elastic strap means is extended,
such embodiment is shown in the drawings. The sleeve imparts a
fashionable flair to the hat or cap. It is noted that while FIG. 5
shows a seam (36), the sleeve can be seamless. The sleeve can be of
any desired color and may have any texture, or printed, painted or
otherwise applied design(s).
[0026] The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 employs a single elastic
strap means (3) to hold long hair gathered into a ponytail (11) as
shown. The elastic strap means is stretched and extended over the
ponytail and the quick attach/release section (4) of the strap is
attached to the cap, thus holding the ponytail onto the cap.
[0027] FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show embodiments employing 2 or more
elastic strap means, which are used when it is desired to hold the
hair more firmly to the hat or cap, and/or for thick or very long
hair.
[0028] FIG. 7 shows a parallel arrangement of the elastic strap
means. The quick attach/release sections (15,16) are located
diagonally across the cap opening (10) and from one another, like
wise for the fixed ends of the elastic strap means.
[0029] FIG. 8 shows an "X" or crisscross configuration for two
elastic strap means (20,23). The quick attach/release sections
(19,22) are positioned on opposite sides above cap opening (10) and
horizontally opposite one another.
[0030] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment employing three elastic
strap means: two in a "X" or cross pattern (26,29) and one elastic
strap means horizontally above opening (10) in cap (1).
[0031] It is noted in regard to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7,8
and 9, the placement of quick attach/release section can be varied
other than the manner shown, for example, the sections can be
located such that the sections are on the same side of the hat,
i.e., one above the other. It is further noted that other changes
may be made without departing from the spirit, scope and the
teaching of the invention.
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