Cap With Adjustable Accessories

Abstract

Headgear that includes a crown and one or more accessories. The accessory or accessories can be removably attached to virtually any location of the external or internal surface of the crown.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and is a continuation-in-part of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/560,752, which was filed on Nov. 16, 2006, by the same inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to headgear which includes a crown and detachable accessories.

2. Description of the Related Art

A popular type of headgear is the cap which typically includes a crown and a visor. The crown sits on and covers the head while the visor projects from the crown. In sunny conditions, the visor can shield the eyes from the sun.

While the majority of caps on the market today have the visor permanently attached to the crown, caps with detachable visors have become known. Various benefits can be achieved with a detachable visor. For instance, the visor and the crown can be provided with hook-and-loop material which allows the visor to be placed at different locations peripherally of the lower edge of the crown. It is also possible to replace one visor with another, or to place a visor on a crown upside-down, in order to change the appearance of the cap. Moreover, a detachable visor enables a crown to be worn without a visor and, conversely, enables a visor to be worn without a crown.

In one form of cap with a detachable visor, part of the external surface of the crown is provided with hook or loop material to permit the attachment of different insignias to the crown. The visor may also be provided with hook or loop material for the same purpose.

Despite the variety of caps with detachable visors, there are those who would like a cap with greater flexibility. For example, there are individuals who constantly strive to place detachable visors in new and unusual positions on a crown. Moreover, the ability to place an audio player, keys, currency, or other personal effects in a location other than one's pockets while jogging or otherwise being physically active is desirable. Also, providing a cap adapted to receive detachable accessories, wherein the cap looks as much as possible like a “regular” cap, is believed to be advantageous in some markets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention resides in headgear. The headgear comprises a crown having an internal surface arranged to face the head of a wearer of the crown. The crown also has an external surface which is substantially coextensive with the crown and is arranged to face away from the head of the wearer. The headgear additionally comprises an accessory for attachment to the crown, first coupling means on the external surface of the crown and second coupling means fast with the accessory. The first coupling means and the second coupling means are designed for removable attachment of the accessory to the external surface of the crown at substantially all locations of the external surface,

The headgear may further comprise additional coupling means on the internal surface of the crown for removable attachment of the accessory to the internal surface.

The headgear can also comprise a flange fast with and transverse to a visor. Such flange has opposed major surfaces, and the second coupling means is provided on one of these major surfaces. The other of the major surfaces may be provided with additional coupling means for removable attachment of the visor to the crown.

The headgear can further comprise additional accessories for attachment to the crown and additional coupling means fast with the additional accessories for removable attachment of the additional accessories to the crown.

Another aspect of the invention resides in a headgear kit. The kit comprises a crown having an internal surface arranged to face the head of a wearer of said crown. As before, the crown further has an external surface which is substantially coextensive with the crown and is arranged to face away from the head of the wearer. The kit additionally comprises a plurality of accessories for attachment to said crown, first coupling means on the external surface of the crown and second coupling means fast with each of the accessories. The first coupling means and the second coupling means are designed for removable attachment of each of the accessories to the external surface of the crown at substantially all locations of the external surface. The kit also comprises means holding the crown and the accessories together as a package.

Additional coupling means can be provided on the internal surface of the crown in the kit for removable attachment of the accessories to such internal surface.

An additional aspect of the invention resides in a method of manipulating headgear.

The headgear in one embodiment of the method includes an accessory and a crown having an external surface substantially coextensive with the crown and arranged to face away from the head of a wearer of the crown. This embodiment of the method comprises the steps of attaching the accessory to a first location of the external surface of the crown, removing the accessory from the first location, and repeating the attaching and removing steps at a plurality of additional locations of the external surface of the crown. Each of the additional locations is different from the other of the additional locations and from the first location.

The crown used in the current embodiment of the method has an internal surface arranged to face the head of a wearer of the crown and the current embodiment of the method further comprises the step of attaching the accessory to such internal surface.

The headgear in an additional embodiment of the method includes two accessories and a crown having an external surface substantially coextensive with the crown and arranged to face away from the head of a wearer of the crown. This embodiment of the method comprises the steps of attaching a selected accessory to a first location of the external surface of the crown, and attaching the other accessory to a second location of such external surface different from the first location. The step of attaching the other accessory to the second location is performed while the selected accessory is attached to the first location.

The crown in the present embodiment of the method once again has an internal surface arranged to face the head of a wearer of the crown and the present embodiment of the method can further comprise the steps of removing the selected accessory from the first location of the external surface of the crown and attaching the selected accessory to the internal surface of the crown.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be forthcoming from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of headgear according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a crown forming part of the headgear of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the crown of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a flange mounted on a visor constituting part of the headgear of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a headgear kit in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view illustrating visors of the kit of FIG. 5 attached to a crown of the kit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of a crown according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a further embodiment of a crown in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 4 but shows another embodiment of a flange.

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9 but illustrates an additional embodiment of a flange.

FIG. 11 illustrates an additional embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Considering FIG. 1, the numeral 10 identifies headgear in accordance with the invention. The headgear 10 is here a cap of the type frequently referred to as a baseball cap, and the cap 10 includes a crown 12 and a visor 14. The crown 12 and the visor 14 can be removably or releasably attached to one another, that is, the visor 14 can be attached to the crown 12 and subsequently detached therefrom without damaging the crown 12 or the visor 14. When the crown 12 is being worn, the crown 12 rests on and covers the head of a wearer of the cap 10.

Turning to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, the crown 12 comprises six generally triangular panels 16 which are joined to one another in a conventional manner, and the panels 16 meet at an apex of the crown 12. As seen in the plan view of FIG. 2, the apex of the crown 12 is at the center of the crown 12. The crown 12 has an external surface 18 which faces away from the head of a wearer of the crown 12, and a button 20 is affixed to the external surface 18 at the apex of the crown 12. The external surface 18 is essentially coextensive with the crown 12, that is, the external surface 18 runs across essentially the full extent of the side of the crown 12 which faces away from the head of a wearer of the crown 12. Stated in another manner, the area of the external surface 18 as seen in the plan view of FIG. 2 is essentially equal to the area of the crown 12 as seen in this plan view.

Considering FIG. 3, the crown 12 further has an internal surface 22 which faces the head of a wearer of the crown 12. Similarly to the external surface 18 of the crown 12, the internal surface 22 is essentially coextensive with the crown 12.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the crown 12 is provided with six apertures 24 which are located in the vicinity of the button 20. The apertures 24 run between the external surface 18 and the internal surface 22 of the crown 12 and function to ventilate the head of a wearer of the crown 12. One of the apertures 24 is disposed in each of the panels 16 of the crown 12, and the apertures 24 are arranged in a circle which surrounds the button 20.

Returning to FIG. 3, the crown 12 has an opening through which the head of a wearer can enter the interior of the crown 12. The crown 12 has an edge 26 which circumscribes the opening and faces downward when the crown 12 is being worn. A band 28 is affixed to the internal surface 22 of the crown 12 adjacent to the edge 26, and the band 28 has an exposed major surface provided with the hook portion 30 of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means. The hook portion 30 covers essentially all of the exposed major surface of the band 28.

The internal surface 22 of the crown 12 has a curvature in circumferential direction of the crown 12. The band 28 is elongated in circumferential direction of the crown 12 and, in such direction, has a curvature conforming to the circumferential curvature of the internal surface 22 of the crown 12.

Turning again to FIG. 1, the visor 14 is formed with a flange 32 which is fast with and transverse to the visor 14. The flange 32 is elongated and has a curvature in longitudinal direction thereof. The flange 32 has a major surface 34 which is complementary to the band 28 inside the crown 12, and the major surface 34 will be referred to as a front major surface since it faces the front of the visor 14. The front major surface 34 is provided with the loop portion 36 of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means, and the loop portion 36 covers essentially all of the front major surface 34. The visor 14 can be removably or releasably attached to the crown 12 by placing the loop portion 36 of the flange 32 against the hook portion 30 of the band 28. When the visor 14 is attached to the crown 12 in this manner, the cap 10 has the appearance of an ordinary cap.

The crown 12 and visor 14 are further designed so as to permit the visor 14 to be removably or releasably attached to the crown 12 at virtually any location of the external surface 18 of the crown 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, essentially all of the external surface 18 of the crown 12 is formed with the hook portion 38 of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means.

Referring to FIG. 4, the flange 32 of the visor 14 has a major surface 40 which is located opposite and faces away from the front major surface 34 of the flange 32. The major surface 40 will be referred to as a rear major surface since it faces away from the front of the visor 14. Essentially all of the rear major surface 40 of the flange 32 is covered by the loop portion 42 of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means. The flange 32 of the visor 14 can be removably or releasably attached to virtually all locations of the external surface 18 of the crown 12 by bringing the loop portion 42 of the rear major surface 40 into contact with the hook portion 38 of the external crown surface 18. It is also possible to attach the visor 14 to virtually any location of the external surface 18 of the crown 12 by placing the loop portion 36 of the front major surface 34 against the hook portion 38 of the external crown surface 18.

The crown 12 may be used with a single visor, or with two or more visors, which can be removably or releasably attached to virtually all locations of the external surface 18 of the crown 12.

FIG. 5 illustrates a kit 44 containing the crown 12, the visor 14 and two additional visors 14a and 14b. A flange 32a is fast with and transverse to the visor 14a while a flange 32b is fast with and transverse to the visor 14b, and the flanges 32a,32b are elongated and curved like the flange 32 of the visor 14. The flange 32a has a front major surface 34a which is essentially entirely covered by the loop portion 36a of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means, and the flange 32a further has a rear major surface 40a which is likewise essentially entirely covered by a loop portion of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means (the loop portion of the rear major flange surface 40a is not visible in the drawings). Similarly, the flange 32b has a front major surface 34b which is essentially entirely covered by the loop portion 36b of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means, and the flange 32b also has a rear major surface 40b which is again essentially entirely covered by a loop portion of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means (the loop portion of the rear major flange surface 40b is not shown in FIG. 5). The loop portions 36a,36b of the front major surfaces 34a,34b of the flanges 32a,32b, and the non-illustrated loop portions of the rear major surfaces 40a,40b of the flanges 32a,32b, are designed such that the flanges 32a,32b can be removably or releasably attached to the band 28 on the internal surface 22 of the crown 12 and to virtually any location of the external surface 18 of the crown 12.

The kit 44 comprises a confining element 46 which holds the crown 12 and the visors 14,14a,14b with their flanges 32,32a,32b together as a package. By way of example, the confining element 46 could be a box or plastic container.

The visors 14,14a,14b may have different colors. For instance, the visor 14 can be blue, the visor 14a white and the visor 14b red.

The visors 14,14a,14b can be provided with one or more symbols such as letters, numbers and illustrations. The visor 14a of the kit 44 is formed with a legend as indicated by LEGEND while the visor 14b is provided with an insignia as denoted by the circled I.

Similarly, one or more symbols such as letters, numbers and illustrations can be removably or releasably attached to the external surface 18 of the crown 12 by providing the symbol or symbols with the loop portion of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means. As indicated in FIG. 5 by the circled I on the crown 12, an insignia is mounted on the external surface 18 of the crown 12 by way of the loop portion of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means.

FIG. 6 shows one manner of using the crown 12 and the visors 14,14a,14b of the kit 44.

The visor 14 is turned upside-down and attached to the external surface 18 of the crown 12 by placing the rear major flange surface 40 of the visor 14 against the external surface 18. The visor 14 is mounted on the crown 12 near the apex of the crown 12 with the flange 32 of the visor 14 running circumferentially of the crown 12.

With the visor 14 positioned on the crown 12, the visor 14a is mounted on the crown 12 by attaching the front major flange surface 34a of the visor 14a to the band 28 on the internal surface 22 of the crown 12. The visor 14a is then disposed on the crown 12 in a manner in which visors are normally worn.

The visor 14b is attached to the external surface 18 of the crown 12 by bringing the front major flange surface 34b of the visor 14b into contact with the external surface 18. The visor 14b is mounted on the crown 12 so that the flange 32b of the visor 14b runs up-and-down along the crown 12 while the visor 14b projects from the crown 12 in a direction transverse to the visor 14a. The visors 14,14a remain attached to the crown 12 during mounting of the visor 14b on the crown 12. The loop portion of the rear major flange surface 40b of the visor 14b is visible in FIG. 6 and denoted by 42b.

The visor 14a may be detached from the crown 12 and replaced by either the visor 14 or the visor 14b. The visor 14a can then be mounted on the external surface 18 of the crown 12 or set aside for future use.

It is further possible to detach both the visor 14a and the visor 14b from the crown 12 and to move the visor 14 to the position previously occupied by the visor 14b. The visor 14 can subsequently be moved to at least one additional position on the external surface 18 of the crown 12 which differs from the positions previously occupied by the visor 14. Moreover, the visor 14 can be placed in the position vacated by the visor 14a by attaching the front major flange surface 34 of the visor 14 to the band 28 on the internal surface 22 of the crown 12.

The external surface 18 of the crown 12 need not be essentially completely covered by the hook portion 38 of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means in order to permit attachment of the visors 14,14a,14b to virtually any location of the external surface 18.

FIG. 7 shows that the external surface 18 of the crown 12 can be provided with a series of discrete strips 48 which extend radially of the crown 12 and the external surface 18. The strips 48 converge in a direction towards the button 20 of the crown 12, and each of the strips 48 has an exposed major surface formed with the hook portion 50 of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the external surface 18 of the crown 12 may be provided with a series of spaced concentric rings 52 running circumferentially of the crown 12 and the external surface 18. Each ring 52 has an exposed major surface formed with the hook portion 54 of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means.

While the rear major flange surface 40 of the visor 14 is shown in FIG. 4 to be essentially entirely covered with the loop portion 42 of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means, this is not necessary.

Considering FIG. 9, a strip 56 having a surface area smaller than that of the rear major flange surface 40 of the visor 14 is affixed to the rear major flange surface 40. The strip 56 is elongated and extends longitudinally of the rear major flange surface 40, and the strip 56 has an exposed major surface which is provided with the loop portion 58 of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means. The strip 56 is surrounded by an area of the rear major flange surface 40 which is free of fastening or coupling means.

Referring to FIG. 10, it is further possible to mount a series of spaced strips 60 on the rear major flange 40 of the visor 14. The strips 60 run transversely of the rear major flange surface 40, and each of the strips 60 is formed with the loop portion 62 of hook-and-loop fastening or coupling means. Each strip 60 is bordered by at least one area of the rear major flange surface 40 which is free of fastening or coupling means.

The designs of FIGS. 9 and 10 can be used for the exposed major surface of the band 28 on the internal surface 22 of the crown 12, the front major flange surfaces 34,34a,34b of the visors 14,14a,14b and the rear major flange surfaces 40a,40b of the visors 14a,14.

Turning to FIG. 11, a hat or cap 70 having a crown 72 and a visor 74 is shown. It should be understood that the hat and crown can be separate pieces (such as in a kit embodiment) or provided as a unitary whole. The crown 72 has an internal surface arranged to face the head of a wearer and an external surface arranged to face away from the head of the wearer. In one preferred embodiment, the crown is constructed of an unbroken loop fabric, such as VELTEX-brand fabric. Thus, the crown 72 is adapted to engage a hook-and-loop type fastener without having a “fuzzy” or “rough” appearance, thereby making the crown appear to be part of a “regular” cap. The visor 74 also may constructed from an unbroken loop fabric.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the exterior of the crown 72 is made from an unbroken loop fabric. However, the interior of the crown has a hook fastener 76 disposed therein, as seen through cut-away portion 78. Likewise, visor 74 is made of an unbroken loop fabric except for flange 80, which contains loop fastener 82 in this embodiment. Thus, fastener 82 may be attached to fastener 76 so that the crown 72 and visor 74 are unified. Also shown is a “flange-less” visor 83, which may be reversibly attached to crown 72 through loop fastener 84.

In addition to visor 74, accessories (pocket 86 and audio player case 88 having earphone 89) may be reversibly attached to crown 72 and/or visor 74 as indicated by arrows C1, C2, V1, and V2, respectively. Both pocket 86 and case 88 are shown from the front and back so that the hook-and-loop fastening means 90 are shown. Hence, the cap 70 is very versatile in its ability to store various implements.

As in the embodiments disclosed above, the cap 70 of FIG. 11 may be provided as a kit that includes crown 72 and a plurality of accessories for attachment to the crown, such as visors 74 and 83, pocket 86, and case 88, and means 96 for holding the crown and accessories together as a package. Because the contents of the kit are designed for removable attachment at substantially all locations of the external and/or internal surface of the crown and/or visor(s), a hat may be customized for use in a large variety of situations.

For example, a user may place her keys and money in pocket 86 and then attach the pocket to the interior (underside) surface of visor 74 while engaging in exercise. Alternatively, while attending a baseball game, the user may attach visor 74 in its “normal” position for a time. If at some point the user wanted to sport a “rally cap” look, the visor may be detached and re-attached at the back of crown 72 without removing the cap. Additional “looks” also may be created, such as a “shark” (visor 83 placed in the middle of the crown) or a “mouse” (multiple visors 83 placed on the crown to resemble ears), limited only by the number of accessories available for attachment and the user's imagination.

Headgear in accordance with the invention is versatile. A single accessory can be attached to the crown in a conventional fashion, for example, a single visor can be attached to the crown in such a manner that the crown and the visor resemble a conventional cap. Alternatively, one or more visors or other accessories may be attached to the external and/or internal surface of the crown at virtually any locations of the external surface. The accessories can be positioned right-side-up, upside-down or sideways. It is further possible to attach one or more visors to the external and/or internal surface of the crown and to attach another accessory, such as a pocket or holder, to the visor or to the crown. Thus, the headgear possesses a high degree of customization potential.

Various modifications are possible within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. Headgear comprising:

a crown that covers the top of a head of a wearer and having an internal surface arranged to face the head of said wearer of said crown and an external surface arranged to face away from the head of the wearer, said external surface being substantially coextensive with said crown;

a visor having a flange fast with and transverse to said visor, said flange having opposed major surfaces both including a first coupling means; and

second coupling means on said external surface of said crown;

said first coupling means and said second coupling means being designed for removable attachment of said visor to said external surface of said crown at substantially all locations of said external surface.

22. The headgear of claim 21, further comprising additional coupling means on said internal surface for removable attachment of said visor to said internal surface.

23. The headgear of claim 21, further comprising an additional visor having additional coupling means fast with said additional visor for removable attachment of said additional visor to said crown, said coupling means being designed such that said additional visor extends in a direction transverse to said crown at all locations of attachment thereto.

24. The headgear of claim 22, further comprising an additional visor having additional coupling means fast with said additional visor for removable attachment of said additional visor to said crown, said coupling means being adapted such that said additional visor extends in a direction transverse to said crown at all locations of attachment thereto.

25. A headgear kit comprising:

a crown that covers the top of a head of a wearer and having an internal surface arranged to face the head of said wearer of said crown and an external surface arranged to face away from the head of the wearer, said external surface being substantially coextensive with said crown;

a plurality of visors for attachment to said crown;

first coupling means on said external surface of said crown;

second coupling means fast with each of said visors, said first coupling means and said second coupling means being designed for removable attachment of each of said visors to said external surface of said crown at substantially all locations of said external surface, and said second coupling means being designed such that each visor extends in a direction transverse to said crown at all locations of attachment thereto; and

means for holding said crown and said visors together as a package.

26. The kit of claim 25, further comprising a flange fast with and transverse to at least one of said visors, said flange having opposed major surfaces, and said second coupling means of said at least one visor being provided on one of said major surfaces, the other of said major surfaces being provided with additional coupling means for removable attachment of said at least one visor to said crown.

27. A method of manipulating headgear which includes at least two visors and a crown that covers the top of a head of a wearer and having an external surface substantially coextensive with said crown and arranged to face away from the head of said wearer of said crown, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching one of said visors to a first location of said external surface of said crown; and

attaching the other of said visors to a second location of said external surface of said crown different from said first location, the step of attaching the other of said visors being performed while said one visor is attached to said first location;

wherein each of said visors is attachable to said external surface of said crown at substantially all locations of said external surface such that said visors extend in a direction transverse to said crown at all locations of attachment thereto.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing a flange fast with and transverse to at least one of said visors, said flange having opposed major surfaces both including coupling means for removable attachment of said at least one visor to said crown.