U.S. patent application number 16/750660 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-29 for low fitting hairline cap.
The applicant listed for this patent is Richard J. Brown. Invention is credited to Richard J. Brown.
Application Number | 20210227914 16/750660 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004624756 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210227914 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown; Richard J. |
July 29, 2021 |
LOW FITTING HAIRLINE CAP
Abstract
A low-fitting hairline cap is disclosed. The cap includes an
indentation on each side that extends upward relative to the body.
The indentations enable a wearer of the cap to seat the cap in a
lower position on the head without being obstructed by the upper
ears.
Inventors: |
Brown; Richard J.;
(Scottsdale, AZ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Brown; Richard J. |
Scottsdale |
AZ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004624756 |
Appl. No.: |
16/750660 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/203 20130101;
A42B 1/0182 20210101 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/20 20060101
A42B001/20 |
Claims
1. A cap, comprising: a bill; and a body coupled to the bill, the
body having indentations arranged on opposite sides thereof, the
indentations extending upward into the body on each side of the
body for alignment around at least a portion of respective upper
ears of a wearer, the indentations enabling the wearer to obtain a
low profile fitting of the body while avoiding obstruction between
edges of the body and the upper ears.
2. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the indentations comprises
an upward curve.
3. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the indentations extend at a
forward portion of the cap from a region proximate where the body
and bill meet.
4. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the indentations is shaped
to conform with a shape of a ridge of an upper ear region.
5. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the indentations is
configured to extend underneath an outer portion of the respective
upper ear when a wearer dons the cap.
6. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the indentations is
configured to enable the wearer to wear the cap in a backwards
orientation without obstruction between the body and the upper
ears.
7. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the indentations is
configured to fit into a ridge between an outer ear and a head of
the wearer when the cap is in the lower position.
8. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the indentations comprises a
semi-rectangular or an oval shape.
9. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the indentations comprise a
maximally-upward portion relative to the body, the maximally-upward
portions being configured for positioning proximate respective
upper ears of a wearer.
10. A cap, comprising: a bill; and a body coupled to the bill, the
body comprising indentations in left and right sides thereof
extending upward into the body, the indentations being contoured to
provide room for upper ear regions of a wearer to enable the wearer
to don the cap in a lower position on the head that would otherwise
cause the upper ear regions to obstruct the body without the
indentations.
11. The cap of claim 10, wherein the indentations are contoured to
fit in ridges defined by the upper ear regions and a head of the
wearer.
12. The cap of claim 10, wherein the bill and body are configured
to sit in a lower position on a wearer's head than would otherwise
fit the wearer absent the indentations.
13. The cap of claim 10, wherein the indentations are further
configured to provide room for the upper ear regions when the
wearer dons the cap in a backwards orientation.
14. The cap of claim 10, wherein the indentations comprise upward
curves in the body proximate the upper ear regions when the wearer
dons the cap.
15. The cap of claim 10, wherein the indentations are bordered with
material on the body that is contoured to fit into a ridge between
each outer ear and the head when the wearer dons the cap in the
lower position.
16. A method for assembling a cap comprising a bill and a body, the
method comprising: forming the body to include a pair of upward
indentations contoured to fit proximate upper ears of an
anticipated wearer; and coupling the body to the bill, wherein the
indentations are configured to enable a wearer to don the cap in a
lower orientation on the head by providing additional spacing for
the upper ear regions.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the coupling the body comprises
stitching the body to the bill.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming the lower
edges of the body to fit lower on the head by an amount
proportional to the additional spacing accorded the upper ears by
the indentations.
19. The method of claim 16 further comprising forming the body to
fit the wearer in the lower orientation when the cap is worn in a
backwards orientation by the wearer.
Description
BACKGROUND
Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to caps, and in
particular to caps that can be worn low without unnaturally pushing
against the upper ears.
Background
[0002] It is commonplace for wearers of baseball, trucking and
other caps to don them in a lower position on the head than the cap
naturally lends itself to being worn. For example, certain wearers
may prefer anonymoty. Others prefer stylistically to wear the hat
in a low position on the head.
[0003] One problem with conventional caps is shown in FIG. 7, which
illustrates a conventional cap 700 including a round body 704 for
seating on the head, and a bill 706 coupled to body 704. Assuming,
as is often the case, that additional room exists between the head
of the wearer and the body 704 to wear the cap 700 in a lower
position, the body edges 711 tend to interfere with, and even push
out, the upper ears. Thus the wearer who desires to position the
cap 700 lower on the head must either wear the cap 700 with the
edge 704 of the body over the ears, or with the body edge 704
pressing against a ridge of the upper ear defined by the ear and a
side of the head. Both alternatives are uncomfortable, and feel and
look unnatural. Further, where the body edge 704 is worn flush
against the ridge of the ears, the ridge conventionally acts as an
obstruction that prevents the cap 700 from being worn any lower,
which can be an undesirable restriction for certain people.
SUMMARY
[0004] Various aspects of the disclosure are set forth herein.
According to one aspect of the disclosure, a cap includes a bill,
and a body coupled to the bill, the body having indentations
arranged on opposite sides thereof, the indentations extending
upward into the body for alignment around at least a portion of
respective upper ears of a wearer to enable the wearer to don the
cap in a lower position on a wearer's head without obstruction
between edges of the body and the upper ears.
[0005] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a cap
includes a bill, and a body coupled to the bill, the body including
indentations in left and right sides thereof extending upward into
the body, the indentations being contoured to provide room for
upper ear regions of a wearer to enable the wearer to don the cap
in a lower position on the head that would otherwise cause the
upper ear regions to obstruct the body without the
indentations.
[0006] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method for
assembling a cap comprising a bill and a body includes forming the
body to include a pair of upward indentations contoured to fit
proximate upper ears of a wearer, and coupling the body to the
bill, wherein the indentations are configured to enable a wearer to
don the cap in a lower orientation on the head by providing
additional spacing for the upper ear regions.
[0007] Other aspects will become readily apparent to those skilled
in the art from the following detailed description, wherein is
shown and described only several embodiments by way of
illustration. As will be realized by those skilled in the art,
concepts herein are capable of other and different embodiments, and
several details are capable of modification in various other
respects, all without departing from the present disclosure.
Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be
regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the low fitting cap and
features thereof in accordance with an embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the low fitting cap in accordance
with an embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a view of a person wearing the low fitting cap in
a forward orientation.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a view of a person wearing the low fitting cap in
a backwards orientation.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an exemplary flow diagram of a method for making a
low fitting cap in accordance with an embodiment.
[0013] FIGS. 6A-C are exemplary views of different shapes of
indentations in accordance with various embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a side view of a conventional cap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The detailed description set forth below in connection with
the appended drawings is intended to provide a description of
various exemplary embodiments of the concepts disclosed herein and
is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the
disclosure may be practiced. The term "exemplary" used in this
disclosure means "serving as an example, instance, or
illustration," and should not necessarily be construed as preferred
or advantageous over other embodiments presented in this
disclosure. The detailed description includes specific details for
the purpose of providing a thorough and complete disclosure that
fully conveys the scope of the concepts to those skilled in the
art. However, the disclosure may be practiced without these
specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and
components may be shown in block diagram form, or omitted entirely,
in order to avoid obscuring the various concepts presented
throughout this disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the low fitting cap 100 and
features thereof in accordance with an embodiment. Cap 100 includes
a body 104, and a bill 106 coupled to the body. Traversing the
perimeter of the body are body edges 111, a front portion of which
is generally coupled to the bill 106 via a stitching process or
other suitable assembly technique. Cap 100 may be a baseball cap,
for instance, or another type of cap.
[0017] In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, cap 100
includes indentations 102 (one obscured from view) formed into the
body 104 at opposite sides of the cap. The indentations 102 may be
contoured to extend in an upward and curved position into the body
for achieving an alignment around respective upper ears of a
wearer. Indentations 102 thus enable the wearer to seat the cap in
a lower position on a wearer's head while avoiding interference
that would otherwise occur between the body edges and the upper
ears in the absence of the indentations. In the example shown, the
indentation 102 extends from about the brim of the cap to a seam,
although narrow or broader indentations are possible.
[0018] A lower position on the user's head may, for example,
include a position in which the cap 100 can be seated on a wearer's
head with at least a portion of the body edges 111 at any point on
a circumference of the body 102 being positioned lower on the head
than a top surface of the wearer's ears, or alternatively,
positioned lower than the ridges of the upper ears. In this way,
indentations aligned with a wearer's ears enable the cap to be
seated lower without the body edges 111 causing uncomfortable
pressure to the ridges or otherwise pushing against the upper ears.
As described herein, the ridges of the upper ears include the inner
surface region connecting the head to the ear, such as where
eyeglass are often seated. Thus, for instance, the body edges 111
that are coincident with (i.e., that border) the indentations 102
on each side of the cap may be behind the upper ears, and either
gently seated on the ridges of the ears between the head and upper
ears, or positioned above the ridges of the ears as the user
desires. In either case, the cap can be worn lower on the head
without the body edges 111 pressing against the ridge of the ear as
in conventional caps, causing discomfort, pushing out of the ears,
and possible contortion of the cap material.
[0019] In other embodiments, the body edges coincident with the
indentations need not necessarily be obscured by the upper ears or
even in contact with the ridges of the ears, provided that the user
can wear the cap in a lower position as desired because of the
extra room accorded the user's ears via the indentations (see,
e.g., FIG. 4). Among other advantages, the indentations 426 obviate
the need for the user to attempt to fold the excess cap material
(including the body edges 111 or portions thereof) on a
conventional cap to achieve a lower fitting of the cap, or to seat
the fabric over the ears, in order to obtain the lower fitting,
both alternatives of which look and feel unnatural.
[0020] Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the indentations are
curved upward into the body for the purpose of allowing the wearer
to seat the cap lower than would otherwise be comfortably possible.
In various embodiments, the indentations 102 are broadly formed in
the cap 100 such that the indentations 102 begin at the forward
portion 108 adjacent the bill 106, gradually rise to a maximum and
then ultimately fall towards a seam 121 adjacent the end portion of
the indentation 102. This broadly shaped indentation 102 may be
used, for example, to enable a wearer to don the cap on backwards
and to still achieve a similar low orientation of the cap without
undue interference from the ears. However, it should be understood
that the indentations 102 need not take on the shape as shown in
FIG. 2, as other shapes may be equally suitable (see, e.g., FIGS.
6A-C).
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side view of the low fitting cap 200 in
accordance with an embodiment. As before, cap 200 includes bill
206, body, 204, and lower edges 225 of body traversing a perimeter
of body 204. In some embodiments, the rear of the body 204 may be
an open area that includes a strap (e.g., FIG. 4) with small
apertures or a clip to adjust sizing (not shown for simplicity).
This open area may interrupt the lower edges 225 of the body from
continuously traversing the perimeter.
[0022] Indentation 202 corresponding to a right side of a wearer's
ear (or left side, if the cap is worn backward, are shown in FIG.
2, as similar to FIG. 1. That is, in the embodiment shown, the
indentation are initially curved inward beginning at a forward
section 208 at a brim of cap 200 adjacent the bill 206, and may
continue to curve inward to a maximally upward portion 226, where
the indentation proceeds to curve back down until it terminates,
such as at or adjacent a seam as shown in FIG. 1. The size of the
indentations may be proportional to the amount of room available in
the body for a user to lower the profile of the cap 200 while worn,
or the indentation may be sized using other considerations. In
other embodiments, the width of the indentations 202 may be smaller
or longer, and the indentations 202 may be shaped differently
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
[0023] The indentations 202 enable the wearer to don the cap and
seat it in a low position while maintaining a streamlined and
comfortable fit around the ears. In addition, the indentations 202
can be used on different sized heads with similar results. The
wearer can simply adjust the strap in the back of the hat to make
the hat smaller or bigger, and the indentations 202 can remain in
place to accord the wearer additional room around the ear
region.
[0024] The identified maximally upward portion 226 may fit between
the upper ear and the head above the ridge, such that the upper ear
at least partially obscures maximally upward portion 226. In other
embodiments, the maximally upward portion 226 may reside just above
the ears, thereby freeing the ears from the impediment of the lower
edges 225 when the wearer dons the cap. The maximally upward
portion 226 may, but need not, be a single point or region. Rather,
in some embodiments such as where rectangular indentations or
indentations having other shapes are used, maximally upward portion
226 may be associated with a straight line, diagonal line, and the
like. In still other embodiments, the indentation 202 may be shaped
to conform with the general shape of an average person's ridge, so
as to provide a snug but comfortable fit when the cap 200 is worn
low.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a view of a person wearing the low fitting cap 300
in a forward orientation. Cap 300 includes a pair of indentations
to enable the wearer to seat the cap in a lower position 341
wherein the body is generally lower than the wearer's hairline, and
the bill is positioned over the forehead instead of at the
hairline. For example, the bill may be closer to the eyes of the
wearer.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows an upper ear region 363 that includes the upper
ear 392 and an inner ear region marked by the symbol A. The inner
ear region A includes the ear ridge (obscured from view). As noted
above, when the hat worn in a lower position 341, the edge of the
indentation may seamlessly fit underneath the upper ear 392.
Notably, if the indentation were absent from the cap 300, the body
edge 311 would significantly obstruct the inner ear region A,
thereby preventing the wearer from wearing the cap 300 in a low
position below the hairline at least because the cap fabric would
push against the ears of the wearer. In various embodiments, the
indentations in FIG. 3 may be placed at different locations above
the upper ear region 392 to prevent this obstruction and to enable
the wearer to comfortably wear the cap 300 in the desired low
position.
[0027] In other embodiments, the indentations may be configured
such that the cap can be flipped around. FIG. 4 is a view of a
person wearing the low fitting cap in a backwards orientation. As
can be seen, the orientation of the cap in FIG. 4 is angled
downward relative to the forward positioning shown in FIG. 3. The
indentations 402 in FIG. 4 nevertheless provide the wearer
additional room to seat the cap in a lower position that is at or
below the hairline. For example, in the front of cap 400 where the
sizing strap 409 is positioned, the cap 400 may be worn higher
depending on wearer preference. Conversely, the cap 400 may be worn
lower than usual in the mid and rear areas. Maximally upward
portions 426 of indentations 402 are shown for exemplary purposes
as being above the upper ears. However, this leaves room for the
wearer to seat the hat lower in alternative embodiments such that
the maximally upward portion 426 is between the upper ear region
463 and thus obscured from view by the upper ear region 463. Bill
406 can also be placed very low relative to the remaining portions
of cap 400, which is consistent with the preferences of various
users.
[0028] FIG. 5 is an exemplary flow diagram of a method for making a
low fitting cap in accordance with an embodiment. The cap may be
assembled using a variety of techniques, including automated
stitching processes, or in some embodiments, using adhesives to
connect together elements of the hat. At exemplary step 527, the
body of the cap is formed, such as by stitching together a
plurality of fabric elements at the designated seams. The body is
formed to include upward indentations as heretofore described. The
indentations may be pre-cut into the body, for example, or in other
embodiments the indentations may already be formed in the fabric
that is stitched together to form the body. In other embodiments,
the indentations are cut into the finished body and the loose
fabric is stitched or otherwise adhered to the body to create a
neat, refined look. As in exemplary step 578, the edges of the body
portion may be formed to fit a wearer in a lower position by an
amount that may be proportional to the additional spacing that is
accorded a typical upper ear region by the indentations. Stated
differently, the body edges may be adjusted accordingly to enable
the cap to be seated lower on a user's head as desired, limited
primarily by the width of the indentations. It should be noted that
most or all of step 578 may be performed simultaneously to, or
immediately thereafter, the forming of the body in step 577.
Alternatively, the edges may be adjusted in more detail in step 578
after the initial formation of the body and upper ears in step 577,
for example.
[0029] In step 579, the body formed in previous steps may be
connected or otherwise coupled to the bill to form the remainder of
the cap. This step may include stitching of the cap and the bill,
or fixably applying the two parts together using adhesives or other
fastening means. In some embodiments, the bill is formed prior to
or contemporaneous with the formation of the body, in which case
step 579 may temporally occur prior to one or both steps 577 and/or
578.
[0030] FIGS. 6A-C are exemplary views of different shapes of
indentations in accordance with various embodiments. As noted
above, while the indentations are primarily contoured by the use of
curves extending upward such as half ellipses or similar shapes,
including indentation 602a in FIG. 6A, other shapes are possible.
For example, an indentation 602B having a generally rectangular
shape for alignment about the upper ear region is shown in FIG. 6B.
Similarly, FIG. 6C shows a longer indentation 602C that may be more
suitable for use with larger caps. It should be understood that the
shapes in FIGS. 6A-C may vary, and any number of other shapes are
possible that can provide for a low profile hat on the head with a
streamlined fit.
[0031] The previous description is provided to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described
herein. Various modifications to the exemplary embodiments
presented throughout this disclosure will be readily apparent to
those skilled in the art, and the concepts disclosed herein may be
applied in other contexts and for different purposes. Thus, the
claims are not intended to be limited to the exemplary embodiments
presented throughout the disclosure, but are to be accorded the
full scope consistent with the language claims. All structural and
functional equivalents to the elements of the exemplary embodiments
described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come
to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are intended to
be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is
intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such
disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is
to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112(f), or
analogous law in applicable jurisdictions, unless the element is
expressly recited using the phrase "means for" or, in the case of a
method claim, the element is recited using the phrase "step
for."
* * * * *