U.S. patent application number 12/342955 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-24 for method for elastic sweatband and headgear using the same.
Invention is credited to Tai-Kuang WANG.
Application Number | 20100154101 12/342955 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42263966 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100154101 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WANG; Tai-Kuang |
June 24, 2010 |
METHOD FOR ELASTIC SWEATBAND AND HEADGEAR USING THE SAME
Abstract
The present invention is an elastic sweatband including a fabric
surface, a peak portion and a trough portion, wherein the peak
portion and the trough portion are formed in a longitudinal
direction of the fabric surface. The peak portion and the trough
portion are paralleled and connected to each other. The peak
portion and the trough portion are across two ends perpendicular to
the longitudinal direction of the fabric surface respectively. When
a force is exerted on the elastic sweatband, a partial of vertical
height of the peak portion will be converted into the extension
length in the longitudinal direction, so as to provide the
extension length in the longitudinal direction of the elastic
sweatband.
Inventors: |
WANG; Tai-Kuang; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, PLLC
4000 Legato Road, Suite 310
FAIRFAX
VA
22033
US
|
Family ID: |
42263966 |
Appl. No.: |
12/342955 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/181.2 ;
2/181 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42C 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/181.2 ;
2/181 |
International
Class: |
A42C 5/00 20060101
A42C005/00; A42C 5/02 20060101 A42C005/02 |
Claims
1. An elastic sweatband, comprising: a fabric surface having a peak
portion and a trough portion in a longitudinal direction, the peak
portion and the trough portion paralleling and connecting to each
other, wherein the peak portion and the trough portion are
respectively across two ends perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction of the fabric surface.
2. The elastic sweatband of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional
shape of the peak portion includes a dome shape while the cross
sectional shape of the trough portion includes a line segment
parallel to the horizontal plane.
3. The elastic sweatband of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional
shape of the peak portion and the trough portion include a half
circle formed with an arc and two ends, one end of the peak portion
are connected to one end of the trough portion, such that the arc
of the peak portion and the arc of the trough portion face opposite
directions.
4. The elastic sweatband of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional
shape of the peak portion includes a rectangular shape while the
cross sectional shape of the trough portion includes a line segment
parallel to the horizontal plane.
5. The elastic sweatband of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional
shape of the peak portion includes a trapezoid shape while the
cross sectional shape of the trough portion includes a line segment
parallel to the horizontal plane.
6. The elastic sweatband of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional
shape of the peak portion includes a triangular shape while the
cross sectional shape of the trough portion includes a line segment
parallel to the horizontal plane.
7. The elastic sweatband of claim 1, wherein the cross sectional
shape of the peak portion includes an irregular form while the
cross sectional shape of the trough portion includes a line segment
parallel to the horizontal plane.
8. The elastic sweatband of claim 1, wherein the fabric surface
encloses a soft material in the longitudinal direction and is made
by means of kitting or weaving.
9. An elastic headgear comprising an elastic sweatband comprising a
fabric surface with a peak portion and a trough portion in a
longitudinal direction, the peak portion and the trough portion
paralleling and connecting to each other, wherein the peak portion
and the trough portion are respectively across two ends
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fabric
surface.
10. A method for an elastic sweatband, comprising the steps of:
providing a fabric surface having a longitudinal direction;
hot-pressing the fabric surface forming at least one trough
portion, such that the trough portion is across two ends
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fabric surface;
and forming at least one peak portion on the fabric surface,
wherein the peak portion parallels and connects to the trough
portion and the peak portion is across two ends perpendicular to
the longitudinal direction of the fabric surface.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising pre-pressing one
side surface of the peak portion so as to form a vertical height of
the peak portion.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming a plurality
of peak portions and a plurality of trough portions, each of the
peak portions and each of the trough portions parallelly connect to
each other and perpendicularly across two ends of the longitudinal
direction.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein hot-pressing the trough portion
includes hot-pressing the trough portions into different cross
sectional shapes simultaneously.
14. The method of the claim 10, wherein the fabric surface further
encloses a soft material in the longitudinal direction and is made
by means of kitting or weaving.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the fabric surface further
includes multiple layers of fabrics and is formed by means of
kitting or weaving.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an elastic sweatband and,
more particularly, to an elastic sweatband having a peak portion
and a trough portion, such that an extension longitudinal length of
the elastic sweatband is provided.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Caps are becoming part of human being's life. In occasions
such as exercises or going-out, people often utilize a cap/headgear
to shade the from sunlight, to absorb sweat or to prevent their
hairs from interfering with eyesight. Generally, a cap usually has
a cap visor to shade from the sunlight and a crown portion to
enclose the head. The cap is generally made of fabrics with good
absorption and provided with a stretchable elastic band, so that
the cap may fit the wearer's head properly and comfortably. Such a
cap allows the wearer to easily put on and to avoid the tense
feeling of having something tied to his/her head.
[0005] Caps serve the purposes of shading from rain or sunlight,
but also can be used to match clothing of various styles, thus
becoming an essential part of the clothing among consumers.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a desire to improve the extensibility
of the elastic bands which allows the wearer to wear the elastic
band products, such as headbands or headgears comfortably, without
feeling restrained or stressed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an objective of the present invention to provide an
elastic sweatband that includes at least one peak portion and
trough portion to expand in a longitudinal direction.
[0008] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
an elastic sweatband with increased ventilation, sweat absorption
and sweat drain.
[0009] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
a headgear/cap of adjustable size for different wearers.
[0010] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
a method for forming an elastic sweatband with one or more peak
portions and trough portions at any desired location of the
longitudinal direction.
[0011] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
an elastic sweatband with peak portions and trough portions in a
variety of shapes.
[0012] The present invention provides an elastic sweatband
including a fabric surface, a peak portion and a trough portion,
wherein the peak portion and the trough portion are formed in a
longitudinal direction of the fabric surface. The peak portion and
the trough portion are parallel and connected to each other and are
across two ends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the
fabric surface respectively. When a force is exerted on the elastic
sweatband, a partial of vertical height of the peak portion will be
converted into the extension length in the longitudinal direction,
so as to provide the extension length in the longitudinal direction
of the elastic sweatband.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the cross sectional shape of the
peak portion includes, but not limited to, a dome shape, a
rectangular shape, a trapezoid shape, a triangular shape and an
irregular form, while the cross sectional shape of the trough
portion includes, but not limited to, a line segment parallel to
the horizontal plane. In an exemplary embodiment, the cross
sectional shapes of the trough portion and the peak portion both
include a dome shape and each of the dome shapes has an arc and two
edges. One of the edges of the peak portion is connected to one of
the edges of the trough portion, and the arc of the peak portion is
oppositing to the arc of the trough portion. In addition, the
fabric surface may be formed of one or more layers of stretchable
and/or non-stretchable fabrics enclosing at least one soft material
by means of knitting or weaving. The soft material mentioned above
may include sponge, stretchable/non-stretchable fabric, cotton, or
the like. Further, if the material of the fabric surface is made
from stretchable fabrics or the like, the extension length of the
elastic sweatband is longer than that made from the non-stretchable
fabrics.
[0014] The present invention further provides a method for an
elastic sweatband including the steps of: providing a fabric
surface having a longitudinal direction; hot-pressing the fabric
surface to from at least one trough portion, such that the trough
portion is across two ends in the direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal direction of the fabric surface; forming at least one
peak portion on the fabric surface, wherein the peak portion is
parallel and connects to the trough portion and the peak portion is
across two ends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the
fabric surface.
[0015] The foregoing objects and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0016] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings, where a preferred structural embodiment incorporating
the principles of the present invention is shown by way of
illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a partial perspective view of the elastic
sweatband according to the present invention;
[0018] FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e and 2f are cross sectional views
illustrating the elastic sweatband according to different
embodiments of the present invention;
[0019] FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d are cross sectional exemplary views
illustrating the elastic sweatband according to other different
embodiments of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a state view when no external force is exerted
on the elastic sweatband of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a state view illustrating the elastic sweatband is
stretched under an external force according to the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 shows a schematical view of the elastic sweatband
applied to the headgear according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 7 shows a schematical view of the elastic sweatband
applied to the headgear according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 8 shows a schematical view of the elastic sweatband
applied to the headgear according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0025] FIG. 9 shows a schematical view of the elastic sweatband
applied to the headgear according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0026] FIG. 10a is a status view when no external force is exerted
on the headgear of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 10b shows a status view when an external force is
exerted on the headgear to stretch the headgear according to the
present invention;
[0028] FIG. 11a shows a first embodiment of the elastic sweatband
of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 11b shows a second embodiment of the elastic sweatband
of the present invention; and
[0030] FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of manufacturing the elastic
sweatband according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] The present invention provides a method for an elastic
sweatband and a headgear using the same, in which a peak portion is
provided with a vertical height to achieve the extension length in
the longitudinal direction of the elastic sweatband. In a
preferable embodiment, the present invention is applied to various
caps/headgears or headbands to accodomate a variety of head sizes.
In other embodiments, however, the present invention may be also
applied to clothing, dresses, adornments, accessories, or the
likes. Moreover, the fabric surface may be formed of stretchable or
non-stretchable fabrics or a mix of the both, wherein the material
of the fabric surface includes cotton, linen, wool, silk,
polyester, nylon, eye-lun, spandex, rayon and other elastic fibers,
or a combination thereof. In order to illustrate the present
invention, various embodiments and structures thereof are described
below and accompanied with drawings.
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an elastic sweatband of
the present invention. The elastic sweatband 100 includes a fabric
surface 110, at least one peak portion 120 and at least one trough
portion 140. The peak portion 120 and the trough portion 140 are
disposed in a longitudinal direction D of the fabric surface 110.
The fabric surface 110 encloses at least one soft material (not
illustrated) along the longitudinal direction D and is made by
means of knitting or weaving. The fabric surface 110 may be formed
of one layer or multiple layers of stretchable and/or
non-stretchable fabrics or a mix of the both, such as sponge,
cotton or linen. In other embodiments, however, the fabric surface
110 may also include only one peak portion 120 and only one trough
portion 140 in the longitudinal direction D of the elastic
sweatband 100. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the peak portions
120 are preferably parallel to and respectively connected to the
trough portions 140. The peak portions 120 and the trough portions
140 are respectively across both ends 110a and 110b perpendicular
to the longitudinal direction D of the fabric surface 110.
[0033] When the peak portions 120 and the trough portions 140 are
disposed on the fabric surface 110, the peak portions 120 and the
trough portions 140 are randomly or unrandomly distributed over the
entire longitudinal direction D between the two ends 110a and 110b
of the fabric surface 110. As FIG. 1 shows, the cross sectional
shape of the peak portion 120 is preferably a dome shape while the
trough portion 140 is a line segment parallel to the horizontal
plane. The line segment of the trough portion 140 connects to two
ends 110a and 110b of the peak portion 120 respectively. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 2a, however, the peak portion 120 includes
a half circle formed with an arc 122 and two ends 122a and 122b.
The half circle are further connected two line segments 124 (that
connects to two ends 122a and 122b) perpendicular to the horizontal
plane. Thus, the peak portion 120 together with the trough portion
140 form a wave-like portion. Accordingly, the fabric surface 110
includes at least one wave-like portion to form the elastic
sweatband 100.
[0034] In other embodiments, such as shown in FIGS. 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e
and 2f, the cross sectional shape of the peak portion 120 further
includes rectangular shape, trapezoid shape, triangular shape and
irregular form, while the cross sectional shape of the trough
portion 140 includes line segment parallel to the horizontal plane,
dome shape or other suitable shapes. As shown in FIG. 2b, the cross
sectional shapes of the peak portion 120 and the trough portion 140
both include a dome shape formed with an arc and two ends. One end
of the arc of the peak portion 120 connects to one end of the arc
of the trough portion 140, such that the arc of the dome shape of
the peak portion and the arc of the trough portion face opposite
directions. Please refer to FIGS. 2c, 2d, 2e and 2f, the cross
sectional shape of the trough portion 140 is a line segment
parallel to the level and further connects to one end of the peak
portion 120 to form, for example, rectangular shape, trapezoid
shape, triangular shape or irregular form, thus the combination the
peak portion 120 and the trough portion 140 to form various of
wave-like portions. The wave-like portions may have other cross
sectional shapes under different design or other
considerations.
[0035] Further, as shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c, the peak portion
120 in each wave-like portion may include a set of two peak
portions 120. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3d, however, the
wave-like portion includes a set of three or more than three of the
peak portions 120. As shown in FIG. 3a, one set of two peak
portions 120 includes an arc disposed between each two rectangular
shape peak portions 120, and then connects to a line segment of the
trough portion 140. As shown in FIGS. 3b and 3c, however, one set
of two peak portions 120 may include a tip disposed between each
two rectangular/trapezoid shape peak portions 120. In the present
embodiment, the tip is preferably disposed on the bottom end of the
wave-like portion and parallel to the line segment of the trough
portion 140. However, in other embodiments, the tip may be disposed
higher or lower than the line segment of the trough portion 140. As
shown in FIG. 3d, a triangular wave shape includes a set of three
peak portions 120. The set of three peak portions 120 include two
tips disposed there between and are parallel to the line segment of
the trough portion 140. Please be noted, the length of the peak
portion 120 is generally greater than the length of the trough
portion 140 because the peak portions 120 are mostly contributed to
the conversion of the extension length in the longitudinal
direction of the elastic sweatband 100 than the trough portion
140.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, the peak portion 120 has a vertical
height B, a width A and a total length L when no external force is
exerted on the elastic sweatband 100. As show in FIG. 5, the
vertical height B of the peak portion 120 contributes to the
extension length in the longitudinal direction when a force is
exerted on the elastic sweatband 100. In other words, the fabric
surface 110 of a non-stretchable fabric is stretched under an
external force, such that the vertical height B decreases X, and
the width A is increased to A+X. In the present embodiment, after
the stretch, the vertical height of the peak portion 120 becomes
B-X of the peak portion 120, and the width become A+X. Obviously,
partial vertical height B of the peak portions 120 is converted
into the extension length in the longitudinal direction of the
fabric surface 110, thus the length of the fabric surface 110 is
extended to "L+.lamda.X" in the longitudinal direction (.lamda. is
the number of the peak portions 120.) However, in other
embodiments, the fabric surface 110 of a stretchable fabric is
stretched under the external force. Either the trough portion 140
or the peak portion 120 can contribute to the extension length,
thus, the total extension length of the fabric surface 110 will
greater than the total extension length "L+.lamda.X." Accordingly,
the total extension length of the elastic sweatband 100 made of
stretchable fabric or the like will greater than the total
extension length of the elastic sweatband 100 made of
non-stretchable fabric or the like.
[0037] FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show several embodiments of the elastic
sweatband applied to headgears/caps according to the present
invention. Generally, the headgear/cap includes a visor 510, at
least one crown portion 520 and the elastic sweatband 100. The
elastic sweatband 100 is enclosed the fabric surface 110 by means
of weaving, kitting or other proper methods. As shown in FIGS. 6
and 7, the elastic sweatband 100 is wove on the inner edge of the
crown portion 520 of the headgear 500 in a ring shape. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 8, however, the elastic sweatband 100 may
only be wove in a segment on the rear of the inner edge 150 of the
crown portion 520. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a
wave-like portion combine the peak portions 120 and the trough
portions 140 is preferably only disposed on the rear of the
headgear 500, and the peak portions 120 preferably face the crown
space of the headgear 500. As shown in FIG. 9, however, the peak
portions 120 and the trough portions 140 may be distributed over
the entire elastic sweatband 100. In particularly, the elastic
sweatband 100 is woven between the visor 510 and the crown portion
520, such that the size of the headgear 500 is adjustable to fit
different wearers without feeling restrained or stressed.
[0038] FIG. 10a shows a status view of the elastic sweatband of the
present invention when no external force is exerted. As show in
FIG. 10a, the radius of the headgear 500 is D when no external
force is exerted. In other words, the peak portions 120 and the
trough portions 140 will not change their forms. On the contrary,
when a force is exerted on the headgear 500, the radius of the
headgear 500 becomes D', as shown in FIG. 10b. The peak portions
120 and the trough portions 140 of the elastic sweatband 100 will
expand respectively along the longitudinal direction to enlarge the
size of the crown portion 520. The radius D' of the headgear 500 is
obviously greater than the radius D. Therefore, the size of the
headgear 500 will finally accomnodate the wearer's head size when
the wearer wears the headgear 500. Accordingly, the elastic
sweatband 100 disposed on the headgear 500 can be automatically
adjusted to fit different wears by means of the peak portions 120
and the trough portions 140.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 11a and 11b, the present invention further
provides a method for the elastic sweatband. The elastic sweatband
100 is disposed inside the mold 200 of a manufacturing machine. The
mold 200 includes an upper die 210 and a lower die 260, wherein the
machine mentioned-above preferably includes hot-pressing mechanism,
high frequency heating mechanism, ultrasonic weave mechanism or
other proper mechanisms. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11a and
11b, one side of the upper die 210 preferably has a plurality of
protrusions 220 while the lower die 260 has a plurality of
contacting pillars 280. A plurality of grooves 250 disposed between
two protrusions 220 correspond to the contacting pillars 280. In
other embodiments, however, the upper die 210 may has only one
protrusion 220 while the lower die 260 may has one contacting
pillar 280 to make a single peak portion 120 and a single trough
portion 140. In the present embodiment, the contacting pillars 280
and the grooves 250 are preferably matched each other to form the
trough portions 140, and the protrusions 220 are preferably shorted
to leave some spaces between the contacting pillars 280 when upper
die 210 and are pressed together the lower die 260. In other words,
the shapes of the contacting pillars 280 and the grooves 250
together define the shape of the trough portion 140, and the shape
of the protrusions 220 defines the shape of the peak portion 120.
In other embodiments, however, the protrusions 220 may match the
inner surface of the lower die 260 to form the shape of the peak
portion 120, and the contacting pillar 280 may not perfectly match
the groove 250 to form the trough portion 140. In addition, the
shape of the mold 200 can be modified to form different peak
portions 140 and/or trough portions 140 shown in the mentioned
above embodiments.
[0040] When the mold 200 generates heat after electrified, the
protrusion 220 of the upper die 210 presses one side of the
sweatband 100 into the spaces between the contacting pillars 280,
in the meantime, the groove 250 and the top surface of the
contacting pillar 280 fit in to each other for a period of time,
such that the peak portions 120 and the trough portions 140 are
formed. In this embodiment, the shape of the protrusion 220 is
preferably designed to form a peak portion 120 with a dome shape
(the dome shape includes a half-circle with two vertical edges.).
The contacting pillars 280 and the grooves 250 together form the
line segment of the trough portions 140. In other embodiments,
however, the shapes of the peak portion 120 and the trough portion
140 of the elastic sweatband 100 may be formed utilizing different
molds 200 under different demand or other considerations.
[0041] Moreover, if the wave-like portion including one set of two
or more than two peak portions 120, the shape of corresponding
protrusion 220 of the upper die 210 may include three or more
shapes (not illustrated) to form the set of peak portions 120.
Likewise, the wave-like portion including one set of two or more
trough portions 140, the combination shape of the contacting
pillars 280 and the grooves 250 may include three or more shapes
(not illustrated) to form the set of the trough portions 140. In
the present embodiment, the peak portions 120 and the trough
potions 140 are formed by the press-protruding method of the mold
200. However, in other embodiments, the peak portion 120 and the
trough portion 140 may be formed by press-concaving method or other
methods.
[0042] As FIG. 12 shown, the method of the elastic sweatband 100
includes the steps of: Step 710, a fabric surface 110 having a
longitudinal direction is provided. In this step, the fabric
surface 110 is preferably enclosed at least one soft material (not
illustrated) in the longitudinal direction by meaning of knitting,
weaving or the like to form the elastic sweatband 100. The soft
material may include sponge, stretchable fabric, non-stretchable
fabric, cotton or other proper materials. In other embodiments,
however, the fabric surface 110 may be made of stretchable fabric,
non-stretchable fabric, single layer or multiple layers of fabric
beforehand without enclosing the soft material. Step 730 is
hot-pressing the fabric surface 110 to form at least one trough
portion 140, such that the trough portion 140 is across two ends
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fabric surface
110. Step 740 is forming at least one peak portion 120 on the
fabric surface 110, wherein the peak portion 120 is parallel and
connects to the trough portion 140 and the peak portion 120 are
across two ends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the
fabric surface 110. In the present embodiment, the fabric surface
110 is preferably hot pressed to form a plurality of similar shapes
of peak portions 120 or trough portions 140. In other embodiments,
however, the peak portion 120 and the trough portion 140 may be
formed by high frequency machines, ultrasonic weave machines or
other proper machines to form different shapes of the peak portions
120 or the trough portions 140 arranged on a portion of the
sweatband 100 or the entire sweatband 100. In addition, the present
embodiment further includes a step 720 of pre-pressing one side
surface of the peak portion 120 so as to form vertical height of a
peak portion 120. The vertical height is preferably concaved under
the line segment of the trough portion 140. In other embodiments,
the vertical height of the peak portion 120 may also protrude form
the line segment of the trough portion 140.
[0043] The shape of the protrusion 220 of the upper die 210 and the
contacting pillar 280 of the lower die 260 may be formed and
arranged in shape to form a plurality of similar or dissimilar
wave-like portion include the peak portion 120 and the trough
portion 140. The design of the shape of the mold 200 is not limited
to the present invention.
[0044] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *