U.S. patent application number 13/372217 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-15 for adjusting strap for headwear piece.
The applicant listed for this patent is Robert Kronenberger. Invention is credited to Robert Kronenberger.
Application Number | 20130205473 13/372217 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48944380 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130205473 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kronenberger; Robert |
August 15, 2013 |
ADJUSTING STRAP FOR HEADWEAR PIECE
Abstract
A headwear piece with a crown defining a receptacle for a
wearer's head. The crown has an exposed outside surface, a
circumferential inside surface that bears against a wearer's head,
and an opening bounded by an edge, including spaced edge portions.
A strap assembly has first and second strap parts, each with a
length, connected one each to one of the opening edge portions. The
first and second strap parts are releasably joinable to each other
in at least first and second different predetermined operative
relationships. The first strap part has a first surface with a
first area facing outwardly and away from a wearer's head and
exposed to view with the headwear piece in a worn position. The
first surface has discrete ornamentation thereon.
Inventors: |
Kronenberger; Robert;
(Deerfield, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kronenberger; Robert |
Deerfield |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48944380 |
Appl. No.: |
13/372217 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/209.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/248 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/209.13 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/22 20060101
A42B001/22 |
Claims
1. A headwear piece comprising: a crown defining a receptacle into
which a wearer's head is directed with the headwear piece in a worn
position, the crown having an exposed outside surface, the crown
having a circumferential inside surface that bears against a
wearer's head and an opening bounded by an edge including spaced
edge portions; and a strap assembly comprising first and second
strap parts, each with a length, connected one each to one of the
opening edge portions, the first and second strap parts releasably
joinable to each other in at least first and second different
predetermined operative relationships in which: a) the strap
assembly has first and second different lengths; and b) the crown
has first and second different sizes attributable to the length of
the strap assembly changing, the first strap part having a first
surface with a first area facing outwardly and away from a wearer's
head and exposed to view with the headwear piece in a worn
position, the first surface having discrete ornamentation
thereon.
2. The headwear piece according to claim 1 wherein the discrete
ornamentation is coordinated with an appearance of the exposed
outside surface.
3. The headwear piece according to claim 1 wherein the
ornamentation comprises an identification of an entity responsible
for designing, making, and/or distributing the headwear piece.
4. The headwear piece according to claim 1 wherein the first
surface is made from a rubber-based material.
5. The headwear piece according to claim 1 wherein the first strap
part has a first body, the second strap part has a second body, and
there are cooperating parts on the first and second bodies that are
joinable and separable by respectively moving the first and second
strap parts towards and away from each other substantially in a
line extending through a wearer's head with the headwear piece in a
worn position.
6. The headwear piece according to claim 1 wherein the first body
comprises a first component and a second component, the first
component defining the first surface and joined to the second
component.
7. The headwear piece according to claim 6 wherein the discrete
ornamentation is formed on the first component by making a
three-dimensional impression in the first component.
8. The headwear piece according to claim 7 wherein the first
component is made from a first material and the second component is
made from a second material that is different than the first
material.
9. The headwear piece according to claim 8 wherein the first
material is softer than the second material.
10. The headwear piece according to claim 9 wherein the first
material is a rubber and the second material is a hard plastic.
11. The headwear piece according to claim 8 wherein the first
component is formed by a compression molding process and the second
component is formed by an injection molding process.
12. The headwear piece according to claim 6 wherein the first and
second components each comprises a flat strip with oppositely
facing surfaces, the first surface defining one of the oppositely
facing surfaces on the first component.
13. The headwear piece according to claim 12 wherein one of the
oppositely facing surfaces in each of the first and second
components is a flat surface and the flat surfaces are facially
presented, and bonded, to each other.
14. The headwear piece according to claim 12 wherein the oppositely
facing surfaces on the second component each has an area that is
substantially the same as the first area.
15. The headwear piece according to claim 5 wherein the cooperating
parts on the first body comprise openings, the first body comprises
a first component and a second component, the first component
defining the first surface and joined to the second component, and
the openings in the first body extend through the first and second
components.
16. The headwear piece according to claim 11 wherein the first
component is formed by compression molding material with first and
second different colors.
17. The headwear piece according to claim 11 wherein the first
component is compression molded directly against the second
component.
18. The headwear piece according to claim 11 wherein the first and
second components are separately formed and bonded to each
other.
19. The headwear piece according to claim 18 wherein there is an
adhesive layer between the first and second components that bonds
the first and second components together.
20. The headwear piece according to claim 1 wherein the
ornamentation is at least one of: a) a word identification of a
person, place, or thing; b) a logo; and c) a depiction of a person,
place, or thing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to headwear and, more particularly,
to a headwear piece with an adjusting strap through which the size
of the headwear piece can be changed.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Headwear is commonly made with the capability to be adjusted
in size by an end user. Many different types of structures have
been utilized to change the effective circumference of a "crown"
that extends around a wearer's head.
[0005] Baseball-style caps are commonly made with a size adjustment
capability. In one particular form, the crown is interrupted around
its circumference to produce an opening, typically at the back of
the crown. Separate strap parts project from spaced portions of an
edge, that bounds the opening, and are selectively engageable with
each other in different overlapped relationships to change the
circumferential gap dimension and thus the overall size of the
crown.
[0006] Commonly, a series of nibs is provided on one of the strap
parts to cooperate with openings on the other of the strap parts.
The nibs and openings are spaced from each other at the same, and
constant, circumferential intervals so that they can cooperate with
each other to maintain a plurality of different overlapped
relationships which produce different overall effective strap
lengths.
[0007] The nibs and apertures are configured and relatively
dimensioned so that each nib can be pressed through an aligned
aperture and frictionally maintained therewithin. To allow this to
occur, the nibs are made with a generally cylindrical shape with a
stepped diameter, including a leading head portion that has a
larger diameter than a neck between the head and strap body. As a
head is pressed through an opening, the head is radially compressed
and/or the cooperating opening is enlarged to allow passage of the
head through the opening. Thereafter, residual forces in the
materials cause a slight spring-back that captively secures the
body, on the strap part defining the opening, between the head and
the body of the strap part upon which the nibs are formed.
[0008] When it is desired to change the effective strap length, the
nibs are pried out of their respective openings by drawing the
strap parts away from each other. Material deformation allows the
separation to occur in substantially the same manner as when the
strap parts are connected.
[0009] Since baseball-style caps are commonly worn while users are
engaged in athletic events or other physical activities, it is
common for a wearer to adjust the strap parts so that the cap is
fit tightly upon the wearer's head. This produces a substantial
force upon the joined strap parts. As a result, designers of these
caps typically have chosen to use hard plastic materials that are
molded as through an injection molding process. Since plastics
suitable for this use are hard and have somewhat limited
flexibility, it has been common to make these strap parts
relatively thin so that they conform readily to the curvature of
the wearer's head without producing any significant discomfort.
[0010] The headwear industry, and particularly that segment that
focuses on the baseball-style cap category, has become increasingly
competitive. This type of cap is worn by a wide range of users.
Whereas at one point the baseball-style cap was worn primarily by
athletes performing in their sport, such baseball-style caps are
now accepted garb even in the work environment. Thus, appearance is
one highly focused upon area that purveyors of this type of
headwear seek to distinguish themselves with.
[0011] The appearance of the adjustable straps, as described above,
has been a focal point for the many decades that this basic
construction has existed. The most common way to improve the
aesthetics of the adjustable straps has been through the strategic
selection of color. Blending of the strap into the remainder of the
crown may make it less prominent and acceptable for most purposes.
However, the adjustable strap continues to stand out, particularly
since it is highlighted by the relatively large crown opening
across which it spans.
[0012] Heretofore, improving adornment of the exposed portions of
the strap parts has been limited principally to controlling color.
The minimal thickness of the strap parts that allows them to
readily conform and also be practically sewn into the crown makes
it impractical for these parts to have any molded adornment that
might make them more visually appealing.
[0013] One attempted solution to the aesthetic problem has been to
incorporate separate adornment pieces that might be put in place by
the end user. Examples of such structures are shown in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,003,640; 5,287,559; 5,315,714; 5,428,844; 5,499,402;
5,950,242; and 6,006,362.
[0014] While the attachments that can be assembled by an end user
offer many options for different visual appearances, these type of
systems have a number of drawbacks.
[0015] Generally, these structures are required to be put in place
by a wearer after a size is selected by strategically
interconnecting the strap parts. Thus, if a wearer wishes to change
size, he/she must separate the adornment structure and thereafter,
in a separate step, separate and reconnect the strap parts. While
this may be a mere inconvenience to a casual wearer, to an athlete,
this may be a more significant problem. Baseball players often wish
to make size adjustments while they are on the field. The need to
remove the adornment system makes a "quick" adjustment difficult or
impossible.
[0016] Still further, these add-on adornment piece(s) may add
undesired weight and bulk to the headwear piece. The adornment
pieces generally have a component that resides between the joined
strap parts and the wearer's head. This may produce a localized
discomfort.
[0017] Additionally, the presence of this component between the
strap parts and the wearer's head makes adjustment more
complicated. That is, the wearer must preliminarily select a size
that is comfortable, then attach the adornment, and thereafter
re-place the headwear piece to again test for comfort. This
potentially becomes a trial and error exercise which is an
inconvenience.
[0018] Still further, the add-on adornment pieces may undesirably
become a focal point upon the headwear piece. Whereas the intent
may be to mask the adjustment strap, the added parts inherently
become obvious by their added presence. This is true since
typically the designer of the headwear piece wishes to have a
streamlined shape, whereas the addition of the adornment produces a
localized projection that is unlikely to satisfactorily blend with
the overall original aesthetics.
[0019] In spite of the fact that this strap appearance has been an
aesthetic issue, and in spite of the attempted efforts to improve
the aesthetics of headwear at the strap location, virtually every
headwear piece with the adjustable strap configuration is made with
nothing more than a solid color that at best is coordinated with
colors on the rest of the crown, to blend thereinto.
[0020] In the highly competitive headwear industry, designers are
constantly seeking ways to distinguish their products. In spite of
this long-existing problem, and many attempts to address the same,
the industry has always reverted to the same adjustable strap
construction because of a lack of a viable alternative.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] In one form, the invention is directed to a headwear piece
with a crown defining a receptacle for a wearer's head. The crown
has an exposed outside surface, a circumferential inside surface
that bears against a wearer's head and an opening bounded by an
edge including spaced edge portions. A strap assembly has first and
second strap parts, each with a length, connected one each to one
of the opening edge portions. The first and second strap parts are
releasably joinable to each other in at least first and second
different predetermined operative relationships in which: a) the
strap assembly has first and second different lengths; and b) the
crown has first and second different sizes attributable to the
length of the strap assembly changing. The first strap part has a
first surface with a first area facing outwardly and away from a
wearer's head and exposed to view with the headwear piece in a worn
position. The first surface has discrete ornamentation thereon.
[0022] In one form, the discrete ornamentation is coordinated with
an appearance of the exposed outside surface.
[0023] In one form, the ornamentation is an identification of an
entity responsible for designing, making, and/or distributing the
headwear piece.
[0024] In one form, the first surface is made from a rubber-based
material.
[0025] In one form, the first strap part has a first body, the
second strap part has a second body, and there are cooperating
parts on the first and second bodies that are joinable and
separable by respectively moving the first and second strap parts
towards and away from each other substantially in a line extending
through a wearer's head with the headwear piece in a worn
position.
[0026] In one form, the first body has a first component and a
second component. The first component defines the first surface and
is joined to the second component.
[0027] In one form, the discrete ornamentation is formed on the
first component by making a three-dimensional impression in the
first component.
[0028] In one form, the first component is made from a first
material and the second component is made from a second material
that is different than the first material.
[0029] In one form, the first material is softer than the second
material.
[0030] In one form, the first material is a rubber and the second
material is a hard plastic.
[0031] In one form, the first component is formed by a compression
molding process and the second component is formed by an injection
molding process.
[0032] In one form, the first and second components each is in the
form of a flat strip with oppositely facing surfaces. The first
surface defines one of the oppositely facing surfaces on the first
component.
[0033] In one form, one of the oppositely facing surfaces on each
of the first and second components is a flat surface. The flat
surfaces are facially presented, and bonded, to each other.
[0034] In one form, the oppositely facing surfaces on the second
component each has an area that is substantially the same as the
first area.
[0035] In one form, the cooperating parts on the first body are in
the form of openings. The first body has a first component and a
second component, with the first component defining the first
surface and joined to the second component. The openings in the
first body extend through the first and second components.
[0036] In one form, the first component is formed by compression
molding material with first and second different colors.
[0037] In one form, the first component is compression molded
directly against the second component.
[0038] In one form, the first and second components are separately
formed and bonded to each other.
[0039] In one form, there is an adhesive layer between the first
and second components that bonds the first and second components
together.
[0040] In one form, the ornamentation is at least one of: a) a word
identification of a person, place, or thing; b) a logo; and c) a
depiction of a person, place, or thing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of headwear piece
having a strap assembly, according to the present invention, with
cooperating first and second strap parts in joined
relationship;
[0042] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the headwear piece in FIG. 1;
[0043] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, rear, perspective view
of the headwear piece in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the strap parts
separated;
[0044] FIG. 4 is a view as in FIG. 3 from a slightly different
perspective;
[0045] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, rear elevation view of
the headwear piece in FIGS. 1-4 with the strap parts joined as in
FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0046] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, partial cross-sectional view
showing cooperating connectors on the separate strap parts;
[0047] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, rear elevation view of the strap
parts in FIG. 1 in joined relationship;
[0048] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of strap parts,
according to the present invention, and cooperating connectors on
the strap parts;
[0049] FIG. 9 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of
separate components making up one of the strap parts and defining
ornamentation thereon;
[0050] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of one of the strap
components taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9;
[0051] FIG. 11 is an end elevation view of the components of FIG. 9
joined through an adhesive layer;
[0052] FIG. 12 is a view as in FIG. 11 wherein the components are
joined by being formed, one against the other;
[0053] FIG. 13 is a generic representation of components that make
up one of the strap parts with ornamentation thereon;
[0054] FIG. 14 is a view as in FIG. 6 showing a modified form of
connectors;
[0055] FIG. 15 is a view as in FIGS. 6 and 14 and showing a further
modified form of connectors;
[0056] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a modified form of headwear
piece, according to the present invention; and
[0057] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a still further modified
form of headwear piece, according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0058] In FIGS. 1-5, one exemplary form of headwear piece, into
which the present invention is incorporated, is shown at 10. The
headwear piece 10 consists of a crown 12 that defines a receptacle
14 into which a wearer's head is directed with the headwear piece
10 in a worn position. A rim/bill 16 projects forwardly from the
crown 12.
[0059] The crown 12 has an exposed outside surface 18 upon which
ornamentation 20 is applied. The ornamentation 20 may be in the
form of one or more of: a) a selected color; b) a color
combination; c) a discrete design; d) discrete lettering; e) a
discrete logo, etc. The ornamentation 20 may be coordinated with
ornamentation 22 shown on an exposed surface 24 of the rim/bill 16.
The precise nature of the ornamentation 20, 22 is not critical to
the present invention and gives the headwear piece 10 a particular
appearance that is selected to appeal to an end user's needs and
preferences.
[0060] The crown 12 is typically defined by a plurality of
triangularly-shaped gores 26 that are sewn edge-to-edge to produce
a cup shape for the receptacle 14. The rim/bill 16 is sewn to the
gores 26 at the front of the headwear piece 10.
[0061] The crown 12 has a circumferential inside surface 28 that
bears against a wearer's head with the headwear piece in a worn
position thereon. An opening 30 is formed through the bottom 32 of
the crown 12. The opening 30 is bounded by an edge 34, including
circumferentially spaced bottom edge portions 36, 38.
[0062] A strap assembly at 40 is made up of first and second strap
parts 42, 44, each with a length extending in a circumferential
direction.
[0063] The first strap part 42 has an end 46 connected to the edge
portion 36 through one or more lines of stitching 48. The second
strap part 44 has an end 50 connected to the other edge portion 38,
likewise through one or more lines of stitching 52.
[0064] Referring initially to FIGS. 6 and 7, the first and second
strap parts 42, 44 are releasably joinable to each other in at
least two, and preferably a plurality in excess of two, different
predetermined operative relationships in which the strap assembly
40 has different lengths L, as seen in FIG. 7. By varying the
length L, the circumferential distance between the edge portions
36, 38 is changed, as a result of which the effective
circumferential dimension of the inside surface 28 is changed,
thereby changing the "size" of the headwear piece 10.
[0065] The precise structure for releasably joining the strap parts
42, 44 is not critical to the present invention. In FIG. 8, the
connecting structure is shown schematically to be made up of one or
more connectors 54 on the strap part 42 and one or more connectors
56 on the strap part 44. The strap parts 42, 44 are connected to
the crown 12, as previously described. Preferably the connectors
54, 56 are of a nature that the connectors 54, 56 are engaged and
disengaged by respectively pressing the strap parts 42, 44 against
each other and drawing the strap parts 42, 44 away from each other,
generally along a line extending through the wearer's head with the
headwear piece in a worn position.
[0066] One specific form of the connectors 54, 56 is shown in FIGS.
1-6. In those Figures, the first strap part 42 is shown with a
first body 58 in the form of a flat strip with a flat surface 60
that faces inwardly towards a wearer's head with the headwear piece
10 in a worn position. The second strap part 44 has a second body
62 in the form of a flat strip with oppositely facing flat surfaces
64, 66.
[0067] The connectors 56 are in the form of nibs, each with an
enlarged head 68 with a rounded leading portion 70 and a reduced
diameter neck 72. The connectors 56 project in cantilever fashion
from the surface 66 and are spaced at regular intervals I along the
length of the strap part 44.
[0068] The connectors 54 are in the form of openings, each with a
diameter D that is slightly less than the diameter D1 of the heads
68 on the connectors 56. The connectors/openings 54 are preferably
equal in number to the nibs/connectors 56 and are spaced at the
same lengthwise intervals I.
[0069] Accordingly, the first and second strap parts 42, 44 can be
placed in a first relationship, wherein all of the nibs/connectors
56 are alignable with a connector/opening 54. By pressing the
nibs/connectors 56 into the connectors/openings 54, the heads 68
deform radially inwardly and/or the body surfaces 74 surrounding
the connectors/openings 54 enlarge to allow passage of the heads 68
through the connectors/openings 54.
[0070] With the flat surface 66 upon the second body 62 facially
abutted to a facing surface 74 on the first body 58, the head 68
aligns with a locally, radially enlarged seat portion 76. The
residual forces in the heads 68 caused by their deformation allows
them to enlarge towards an undeformed state. As this occurs, the
first body 58 becomes captive between the heads 68 and the second
body surface 66.
[0071] The length L is minimized with the seven depicted
connectors/nibs 56 each extending into one of the
connectors/openings 54. In an alternative relationship, less than
seven of the nibs/connectors 56 are aligned with and directed into
the connectors/openings 54, which thus results in a lengthening of
the strap assembly 40 and an increasing of the headwear piece size.
It is preferred that at least two of the connectors/nibs 56 project
into a like number of connectors/openings 54 so that the strap
parts 42, 44 are blocked from pivoting relative to each other as
could occur if but a single connector/nib 56 was directed into a
single connector/opening 54.
[0072] Accordingly, the strap parts 42, 44 can be releasably joined
to each other through a simple press fit step. By drawing the strap
parts 42, 44 away from each other, the strap parts 42, 44 can be
separated and moved out of operative relationship with each other,
as shown in FIG. 4.
[0073] It should be understood that the nibs and cooperating
openings could be provided in a reversed orientation. While
contemplated by the invention, this is not preferred since it is
desirable that the nibs not project in a manner whereby they might
contact the wearer's head with the headwear piece in a worn
position, as might cause discomfort to the wearer.
[0074] The strap part 42 has a first surface 78 facing oppositely
to the surface 60 and outwardly and away from a wearer's head. The
first surface 78 has a first area that is exposed to view with the
headwear piece 10 in a worn position. The first surface 78 has
discrete ornamentation thereon, shown generically at 80 in FIG. 1
within the dotted lines.
[0075] The ornamentation 80 may take up the entire viewable area of
the first surface 78, or any part thereof.
[0076] The nature of the ornamentation 80 is also not limited.
Generally, it is coordinated with the ornamentation 20 and/or 22,
respectively on the crown 12 and rim/bill 16.
[0077] The ornamentation may take virtually any form. Exemplary
are: a) a word identification of a person, place, or thing; b) a
logo; and c) a depiction of a person, place, or thing. Within this
group is the anticipated use of institutional/team names and
logos.
[0078] Alternatively, the ornamentation may be in the form of an
identification of an entity responsible for designing, making,
and/or distributing the headwear piece 12.
[0079] Since it is anticipated that substantial forces will be
placed upon the strap parts 42, 44, urging them away from each
other, typically this type of strap part is made from a hard
plastic material using an injection molding process. In this
embodiment, it is preferred, although not required, that the second
strap part 44 be injection molded from such hard plastic. The
precise identification of plastics is not critical herein, as one
skilled in the art would know how to make such a selection to
afford the optimal strength and bendability of the body 62, while
producing connectors/nibs 56 that are not prone to shearing under
the anticipated forces. The second part 44 with this construction
would normally, but not necessarily, be made by an injection
molding process.
[0080] It is possible to place the ornamentation 80 on the strap
part 42 that might be made from a single layer. For example, a hard
plastic material could be utilized with the adornment 80 separately
applied thereto after formation.
[0081] Alternatively, a mold could be constructed so that the
ornamentation 80 is pre-formed thereon to facilitate production of
the strap part 42 in one step through injection molding.
[0082] More preferably, the first strap part 42 is made from a
softer material that lends itself to compression-type molding.
Compression-type molding, as used herein, is intended to encompass
a molding process wherein a material is not required to be injected
under high pressure into a mold cavity. Instead, a mold with a
pre-formed shape, defining the ornamentation, can be pressed
against the strap material to change the shape thereof to conform
to the mold part. In essence, a running strip of the material might
be stamped to have the three-dimensional ornamentation aspect. A
rubber-based material is suitable for this purpose. However, other
materials that readily lend themselves to three-dimensional shaping
are contemplated.
[0083] In a preferred form, the first body 58 is made with first
and second components 82, 84, as shown additionally in FIGS.
9-11.
[0084] The second component 84 may be made in the same manner as
the second strap part 44, as by using a hard plastic and through
injection molding. This is not a requirement. The first component
82 is then made with a second material that is different than the
material making up the second component 84. The material making up
the first component 82 may be made from a softer component, such as
rubber or other material, that lends itself to reshaping through
compressing molding.
[0085] The first component 82 has a flat surface 86 that can be
brought into confronting relationship with a flat surface 88 on a
second component 84. The surfaces 86, 88 may be maintained together
by an adhesive layer 90. The second component may be thinner than
the second body whereby, with the components 82, 84 joined, the
first and second strap parts 42, 44 have similar bending
characteristics.
[0086] In this embodiment, the ornamentation at 80 takes up
substantially the entire area of the first surface 78. The
ornamentation 80 is shown to have a three-dimensional aspect. That
is, ornamentation parts 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d, 80e are all raised
components that are decorative in nature. The adornment component
80e is shown as a raised logo. The adornment components 80b, 80c
are raised components, respectively identifying a city and team.
Adornment component 80b is a raised border. The rectangular
adornment component 80a encompasses the connectors/openings 54.
[0087] An additional ornamental feature is a background thickness
92 from which the raised adornment components 80a-80e project.
[0088] The first component 82 may be constructed so that the
background thickness 92 has a different color than the ornamental
components 80a-80e to produce a color contrast that highlights the
ornamental components 80a-80e.
[0089] In this embodiment, the connectors/openings 54 are through
openings whereby the heads 68 become exposed at the ornamentation
component 80a. The exposed head portions can be made from a
contrasting color to again afford a unique visual aspect.
[0090] In this embodiment, the first component 82 has an exposed
area the same as the area of the surface 88 on the second component
84. As noted above, it is not necessary that the ornamentation
occupy the full exposed first area of the first strap part 42.
[0091] With the described arrangement, the components 82, 84 can be
separately formed and joined. As an alternative, as shown in FIG.
12, the first component 82 might be mold formed directly against
the second component 84 rather than in a separate formation
step.
[0092] As shown in FIG. 13, the invention contemplates that the
first strap part 42 may consist of the second component 84 and any
type of component 82', regardless of how it is applied to the
component 84, with ornamentation thereon. The component 82' might
be an adhesively bonded label with or without a three-dimensional
aspect.
[0093] The invention contemplates many variations of the above
structure. As examples, as shown in FIG. 14, connectors/openings
54', corresponding to the connectors/openings 54, can be made only
partially through the body 58', whereby the heads 68' are not
exposed to view. The necks 72' are slightly shorter so that the
heads 68' capture the corresponding second component 84' in
conjunction with the surface 66'.
[0094] In a further variation, as shown in FIG. 15, the necks 72''
are shown even longer so that the heads 68'' project fully through
the connectors/openings 54''.
[0095] The invention is not limited to the particular
baseball-style cap configuration shown for the headwear piece 10. A
modified form of headwear piece 10' is shown in FIG. 16 in the form
of a visor having the conventional construction. That is, the crown
12' has an opening 94 therein. The headwear piece 10' utilizes
strap parts 42''', 44''' corresponding to the strap parts 42, 44.
In this embodiment, the ornamentation at 80''', within the dotted
lines, takes up only a part of the exposed surface area.
[0096] In FIG. 17 a further modified form of headwear piece is
shown at 10'', which includes a crown 12'' as with the headwear
piece 12, but without a forwardly projecting rim/bill.
[0097] The headwear piece 10'' utilizes first and second straps
42'', 44''''. The ornamentation 80'''' consists of discrete
components at spaced locations that do not take up the entire
exposed surface area on the strap part 42''
[0098] The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended
to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the
invention.
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