Headgear with an adjustable visor

Abstract

Headgear with an adjustable visor capable of being changed to various shapes according to a wearer's preference is disclosed. The adjustable visor has an elongated core member provided at a peripheral edge of the visor, enabling the wearer to deform, restore, or retain the shape of the visor, and an outer cover that covers the core member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to headgear with an adjustable visor, and more specifically to headgear, such as a cap, hat, or sun-visor, having an adjustable visor capable of being changed to various shapes according to a wearer's preference.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A cap having a visor enabling a wearer of the cap to change the curve of the visor is disclosed in Korea Utility Model Registration No. 20-0282340. A thin metal sheet is attached to the visor of the cap, so that the wearer may change the curve of the visor by only bending both sides of the visor up and down in a front view, and the curve may be retained. Therefore, the visor of the cap has limitations in that only the entire curvature of the visor can be changed, and it cannot manifest various shapes.

[0005] Further, since the thin metal sheet is attached between the fabric cover and the interlining of the visor, it forms a raised portion on the visor, defiling or degrading the appearance of the cap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-described drawbacks of conventional headgear.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide headgear having an adjustable visor that allows a wearer to bend or change the shape of the visor portion freely to various shapes according to a wearer's preference.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide headgear having an adjustable visor that is capable of being changed and retained in the changed shape.

[0009] It is still another object of the present invention to provide headgear having an adjustable visor that has a smooth appearance or a raised shape along its peripheral edges according to the design necessities.

[0010] To achieve these and other objects, as embodied and broadly described herein, headgear according to the invention includes:

[0011] a headband portion or a crown portion covering a head of a wearer; and

[0012] a visor portion projecting from the headband portion or the crown portion to block sunlight, the visor portion comprising an adjustment member provided at a peripheral edge of the visor portion, enabling the wearer to deform, restore, or retain the shape of the visor portion.

[0013] The adjustment member preferably has an elongated core member that enables the shape of the visor portion to be retained, and an outer cover that covers the core member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The accompanying drawings provide a further understanding of the invention, and together with the Detailed Description, explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cap according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 3 shows a view illustrating a cap according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 4 shows a view illustrating a cap according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a view illustrating a cap according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0020] FIG. 6 shows a view illustrating a cap according to the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals indicate the same elements herein.

[0022] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cap 1 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention has an adjustment member, which enables a wearer to deform, change, restore, or retain the shape of a visor portion.

[0023] The cap 1 has a crown portion 3 covering a head of a wearer, and a visor portion 5 projecting from the crown portion to block sunlight. The visor portion 5 has upper and lower covers 7, 9 on its upper and lower sides, and an interlining 11 provided between the upper and lower covers 7, 9. The upper and lower covers 7, 9 are preferably made of fabric or cloth. In some cases, it is possible that the upper and lower covers are not provided. The interlining 11 functions to retain the shape of the visor portion 5 in order to block sunlight.

[0024] The visor portion 5 has a peripheral edge that is opposite to an edge joined to the crown portion 3. A core member 21 is elongated along the peripheral edge. The core member 21 can be wire like in shape and deformable. An outer cover 23 covering the core member 21 and a connecting member 25 connecting the outer cover 23 to the interlining 11 are further provided. In the first preferred embodiment, the outer cover 23 and connecting member 25 are integrally formed. The connecting member 25 is fixed while the upper and lower covers 7, 9 are sewn together.

[0025] The core member 21 is made of metal or a nonmetal material having plasticity, so that it may be bent by a wearer and retained in the bent shape. The outer cover 23 is preferably made of fabric or synthetic resin having good elasticity to accept the core member 21. Especially when the core member 21 is broken, the outer cover 23 prevents the core member 21 from protruding outside in order to enhance the safety of the wearer.

[0026] It is noted that the material of the core member 21 or outer cover 23 is not limited by the above-described material, and it may be selected from any suitable material. The core member 21 and outer cover 23 are preferably formed in thin and elongated shapes to easily join the interlining 11 along the peripheral edge of the visor portion 3. The connecting member 25 is also elongated along the outer cover, and it may be made of the same material as that of the outer cover 23. The connecting member 25 is joined to the interlining 11 by bonding, sewing, or other suitable methods that are adapted for the material of the interlining and connecting member. FIG. 2 illustrates that the connecting member 25 is sewn on the interlining 11.

[0027] When a wearer bends or deforms the visor portion 3 of the cap 1 into a desired shape, the core member 21 is bent and then retained in the desired shape. Thus, the interlining 11 or visor portion 5 is also retained in the desired shape. The core member 21 is provided along the peripheral edge of the visor portion 5, enabling the wearer to bend the visor portion 5 freely into any desired shape in any direction, as well as to change the angle of the visor portion 5. Therefore, the wearer may wear the cap 1 with various visor shapes according to her or his preference.

[0028] Although a cap with crown and visor portions is implemented in the first preferred embodiment, it may be embodied as a sun-visor without a crown portion, as well as a hat with a brim.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 3, a cap 1 according to a second preferred embodiment is shown, illustrating an example in which an adjustment member of the cap 1 is joined under an interlining 11. The cap 1 according to the second preferred embodiment is similar to that of the first preferred embodiment, except that a connecting member 25 is joined under the interlining 11 along the peripheral edge of the visor portion 5 by bonding, sewing, or other suitable methods. Accordingly, any raised portion is not seen from the upper side, resulting in a smooth appearance of the cap 1.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a cap 1 according to a third preferred embodiment, illustrating an example in which an adjustment member of the cap 1 is joined between two interlinings 11. The cap 1 according to the third preferred embodiment is similar to that of the first preferred embodiment, except that a connecting member 25 is joined under the two interlinings 11 along the peripheral edge of the visor portion 5 by bonding, sewing, or other suitable methods.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a cap 1 according to a fourth preferred embodiment, illustrating another example in which an adjustment member of the cap 1 is joined to an interlining 11. The cap 1 according to the fourth preferred embodiment is similar to that of the first preferred embodiment, except that two connecting members 25 are formed. The interlining 11 is inserted between the two connecting members 25, and then joined to the connecting members 25 along the peripheral edge of the visor portion 5 by bonding, sewing, or other suitable methods.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 6, a cap 1 according to a fifth preferred embodiment is shown, illustrating another example in which an adjustment member of the cap 1 is provided along a peripheral edge of a visor portion 5.

[0033] The visor portion 5 has upper and lower covers 7, 9 on its upper and lower sides, and an interlining 11 provided between the upper and lower covers 7, 9. The upper and lower covers 7, 9 are sewn with two stitch lines 51, 53, resulting in an inner space 55 among the upper and lower covers 7, 9 and two stitch lines 51, 53, along the peripheral edge of the visor portion 5. Then the adjustment member is inserted into the inner space 55. The adjustment member of the fifth preferred embodiment has a core member 21 and an outer cover 23 covering the core member, without any connecting member as is in the first preferred embodiment. The cap 1 according to the fifth preferred embodiment has an advantage in that the adjustment member is simply formed and it is not necessary to join it to the interlining.

[0034] Further, the adjustment member may have a thickness that is the same as or thinner than that of the interlining in any of the above preferred embodiments, when the design of the cap requires a smooth appearance at the visor portion. Otherwise, it is possible that the adjustment member may be thicker than that of the interlining, according to the design necessity.

[0035] The present invention provides headgear having an adjustable visor so that a wearer may change the visor portion to various shapes according to the wearer's preference.

[0036] Although the present invention is implemented as a cap in the preferred embodiments as describe above, the present invention may be a hat, a sun-visor, or other various kinds of headgear having a visor portion, not being limited to the cap. For example, the invention may include a headband and a sun-shield with the core member located on a periphery of the sun-shield. The sun-shield may take the shape of a face sun visor, a brim surrounding the head or some other shape, such as a visor for the face and a visor for the back of the neck.

[0037] The core member has been shown with a circular cross section. However, the core member can have a different cross section shape, such as a rectangle.

[0038] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Headgear, comprising:

a headband portion for a head of a wearer; and

a visor portion projecting from the headband portion to block sunlight, the visor portion comprising an adjustment member provided at a peripheral edge of the visor portion, enabling the wearer to one of deform, restore, and retain the shape of the visor portion.

2. Headgear as recited in claim 1, wherein the adjustment member comprises:

an elongated core member that enables the shape of the visor portion to be retained; and

an outer cover that covers the core member.

3. Headgear, comprising:

a headband portion for a head of a wearer; and

a visor portion projecting from the headband portion to block sunlight, comprising:

upper and lower covers connected to the headband portion;

at least one interlining that is inserted between the upper and lower covers; and

an adjustment member, provided at a peripheral edge of the visor portion, enabling the shape of the visor portion wearer to be bent or retained.

4. Headgear as recited in claim 3, wherein the adjustment member is inserted and fixed between the upper cover and the lower cover.

5. Headgear as recited in claim 3, wherein the adjustment member comprises:

an elongated core member that enables the shape of the visor portion to be retained; and

an outer cover that covers the core member.

6. Headgear as recited in claim 5, wherein the adjustment member further comprises:

at least one connecting member that connects the interlining to the outer cover.

7. Headgear as recited in claim 6, wherein the connecting member is joined to one of an upper face of the interlining and a lower face of the interlining.

8. Headgear as recited in claim 5, wherein the interlining comprises at least two interlinings, and wherein the connecting member is joined between the interlinings.

9. Headgear as recited in claim 6, wherein the connecting member is joined to both an upper and a lower face of the interlining.

10. Headgear as recited in claim 3, wherein the adjustment member has a thickness that is the same as or thinner than that of the interlining.

11. Headgear as recited in claim 3, wherein the adjustment member has a thickness that is thicker than that of the interlining.

12. Headgear, comprising:

a crown portion covering a head of a wearer; and

a visor portion projecting from the crown portion to block sunlight, the visor portion comprising an adjustment member provided at a peripheral edge of the visor portion, enabling the wearer to deform, restore, or retain the shape of the visor portion.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a headband;

a sun-shield attached to the headband and having a periphery; and

a deformable member attached to the periphery of the sun-shield and allowing the sunshield to be freely deformed along a periphery.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said peripheral deformable member comprises:

a wire-like core; and

a cover covering the core and attached to the periphery of the sun-shield.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising a connecting member joined to the cover and attached to the sun-shield.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the sun-shield comprises one of a visor and a brim.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, further comprising a crown attached to the headband.

18. An apparatus, comprising a sun-shield having a deformable member located along a periphery of the sun-shield and allowing the sun-shield to be freely deformed along the periphery.