TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the field of clothing designed to cover the head of a wearer.
BACKGROUND ART Clothing is traditionally used to protect a wearer's body from the surrounding environment, particularly adverse weather, strong sunlight, extreme heat or cold, precipitation, or wind. Clothing is also worn for safety, comfort, modesty, and to reflect religious, cultural, and social values of an individual. Often, clothing is adapted for specialized purposes in which a person wearing the clothing is engaged. Examples of clothing adapted for specialized purposes include a swimsuit, motorcycle leathers, high-visibility clothing, protective clothing, and so on.
One particularly important type of clothing is clothing used to cover a person's head and neck. These areas of the body are often left exposed after a person dresses himself or herself in the clothing articles that cover the main areas of the body, which traditionally are covered by pants and shirts or some form of dress or gown. Some clothing items, however, have been specifically designed to cover the head or neck. Examples include baseball caps, cowboy hats, bonnets, scarves, and the like. Other clothing items, while not specifically designed to cover the head or neck, have been adapted by the wearer for such purposes. Examples include bandanas, towels, rags, and so on.
Many type of head coverings exist which are primarily used for sweat absorption. The simplest of these is a head band. A head band is usually made out of a material that is elastic in nature and is stretched around the head, made in various sizes, or made with an adjustable fastener such as a hook and loop fastener. While head bands do help to absorb a person's sweat, head bands are often too bulky to be worn under other head coverings or have a tendency to not remain in place on the wearer's head.
A popular head covering worn by many athletes is a folded bandanna. The folded bandanna forms a triangle and the three corners are tied together typically in the back of the head. This head covering covers the entire top portion of the head, provides for good sweat absorption, and usually stays in place when worn under other head coverings. The drawback to bandanas heading coverings, however, is that the act of tying the three corners together can be time consuming and cumbersome and the knot formed by tying the three corners together can be uncomfortable when worn under another head covering. This is especially true when the head covering is a rigid type head covering used for protection such as a hat or football helmet.
Other types of head coverings exist primarily for protecting the head from direct exposure to the sun. Common examples may include cowboy hats, bucket hats, boater hats, and sombreros. While these head coverings do provide protection for the head from direct exposure to sunlight, these head coverings are often less ideal for covering the neck region of the wearer from such exposure. Further, they do not provide much if any absorbsion of the wearer's sweat to assist in aiding the natural cooling process of a person's body. Because none of the current head coverings provide protection for both the head and neck while operating to assist wearer in his or her own natural cooling process, a need for further improvement in the area of clothing articles for covering a person's head exists.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention discloses a clothing article for covering the head of a wearer. Embodiments of the clothing article include a closed band for attaching the article to a head of a wearer. The band is capable of being configured around the head and allowing the head to protrude through the band. These embodiments of the clothing article include a cape attached to a portion of the band. The cape is capable of being draped down a back of the neck of the wearer.
In some embodiments, the band of the clothing article may include a front region and a rear region. The cape of the clothing article may attach to the front region and accordingly may be capable of being draped back across a top of the head of the wearer and down a back of the neck of the wearer. In other embodiments, the cape of the clothing article may attach to the rear region and traverses down the neck of the wearer from the rear region.
Other embodiments of the article of clothing for covering the head of a wearer include a hood capable of flowing down a back of a neck of the wearer to a rear upper torso of the wearer and along the side of the head of the wearer. The hood includes a halo to affix the hood to a crown of the head of the wearer. The halo is connected to remaining portions of the hood along a portion of the halo and configured to allow the top portion of the head to protrude through the halo when worn by the wearer.
The present invention also discloses a method of covering a head of a wearer. The method includes attaching a closed band around a head of a wearer allowing the head to protrude through the band, draping a cape attached to a portion of the band down a back of the neck of the wearer and along sides of the head, and fastening the cape together in front of the wearer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain advantages and principles consistent with the invention. In the drawings,
FIG. 1A sets forth a line drawing illustrating a perspective view of an exemplary clothing article for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 1B sets forth a line drawing illustrating a perspective view of an exemplary clothing article for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 1C sets forth a line drawing illustrating a perspective view of an exemplary clothing article for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 2A sets forth a line drawing of the front view of the exemplary clothing article of FIGS. 1A-C.
FIG. 2B sets forth a line drawing of the right view of the exemplary clothing article of FIGS. 1A-C.
FIG. 3A sets forth a line drawing of the front view of an exemplary clothing article for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 3B sets forth a line drawing of the right view of an exemplary clothing article for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4A sets forth a line drawing illustrating a perspective view of an exemplary clothing article for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4B sets forth a line drawing illustrating a perspective view of an exemplary clothing article for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4C sets forth a line drawing illustrating a perspective view of an exemplary clothing article for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5A sets forth a line drawing illustrating a front view of an exemplary article of clothing for covering the wearer's head according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 5B sets forth a line drawing illustrating a right view of an exemplary article of clothing for covering the wearer's head according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 6 sets forth a line drawing illustrating an exemplary clothing article according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 7 sets forth a line drawing illustrating an exemplary clothing article according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 8A sets forth a line drawing illustrating a front view of still another embodiment of a clothing article according to the present invention.
FIG. 8B sets forth a line drawing illustrating a top view of still another embodiment of a clothing article according to the present invention.
FIG. 9A sets forth a line drawing illustrating a perspective view of an exemplary clothing article for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 9B sets forth a line drawing illustrating an exemplary cross-sectional view of a closed band useful in the exemplary clothing article according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 9C sets forth a line drawing illustrating an exemplary cross-sectional view of a closed band useful in the exemplary clothing article according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 9D sets forth a line drawing illustrating an exemplary cross-sectional view of a closed band useful in the exemplary clothing article according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 10 sets forth a line drawing illustrating an exemplary clothing article for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention.
FIGS. 11A-G set forth line drawings illustrating top views of exemplary clothing articles according to embodiments of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Exemplary embodiments of clothing systems for covering the head of a wearer are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, beginning with FIGS. 1A-C. FIGS. 1A-C sets forth a drawing illustrating a perspective view of a clothing article for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 1A-C illustrate an exemplary clothing article (100) for covering the head (102) of a wearer as it is placed on the wearer's head.
The exemplary clothing article (100) of FIGS. 1A-C is implemented as a garment for covering the head (102) of the garment's wearer. The clothing article (100) of FIGS. 1A-C is configured using a wicking fabric. A fabric is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial fibers and is often referred to as a ‘textile.’ A wicking fabric is a fabric that draws moisture into itself by means of capillary action. Capillary action occurs when the adhesive intermolecular forces between the liquid and a material are stronger than the cohesive intermolecular forces inside the liquid, thereby causing the liquid to disperse along the surface area of the material. Fibers useful in creating such wicking fabrics may be made from synthetic materials such as, for example, polyester and polyester-based microfibers and natural materials such as, for example, silk. These exemplary materials are useful because fibers made from these materials do not absorb moisture but transfer it well through capillary action.
The exemplary clothing article (100) of FIGS. 1A-C may be made in part or wholly from wicking fabric. In FIGS. 1A-C, the wicking fabric forms the surface of the clothing article (100) that touches the wearer's head (102) so as to draws moisture away from the wearer's head (102). The exterior surface of the clothing article (100) may be made from wicking fabric or some other material that allows the moisture in the clothing article to evaporate into the surrounding environment. While the moisture is primarily transported via capillary action, gravity also plays some role as a transport agent.
Optionally, the wicking fabric used to form the exemplary clothing article (100) of FIGS. 1A-C may include ultraviolet light absorbers. These ultraviolet light absorbers may be applied to the wicking fabric to block certain harmful radiation in sunlight from reaching the wearer's skin. Examples of ultraviolet light absorbers that may be useful in embodiments of the present invention may include compounds having benzotriazoles, more particularly chlorobenzotriazoles, or any other ultraviolet light absorber as will occur to those of skill in the art.
The exemplary clothing article (100) of FIGS. 1A-C includes a closed band (104) for attaching the article (100) to a head of a wearer. The exemplary closed band (104) of FIGS. 1A-C accomplishes this attachment capability by being implemented as a strip or section of material used to bind or confine the clothing article (100) to the wearer's head. The band (104) of FIGS. 1A-C is described as ‘closed’ because the band is configured as a permanent loop. In this manner, the exemplary band (104) of FIG. 1A-C is capable of being configured around a wearer's head in such a manner as to allow the head to protrude through the band. FIG. 1B illustrates the head of the wearer protruding through the band (104) as the closed band (104) is configured around the wearer's head.
In addition to assisting the clothing article (100) to remain in place on the wearer's head, the band (104) also helps prevent sweat or other moisture from dripping into the wearer's face. This feature is due to the capillary action of the wicking material as it draws moisture into the band (104) of FIGS. 1A-C and distributes such moisture throughout the band (104) and into the other parts of the clothing article (100). In applications where moisture may form or enter onto the head at a rate more rapid that the capillary action may be able to handle, a moisture sink may be incorporated into the band (104) of FIGS. 1A-C. This moisture sink may be implemented as a strip of chamois material or other moisture absorbing material incorporated along the inside of the band (104) of FIGS. 1A-C that touches the wearer's forehead or other portions of the head where moisture is likely to form.
The exemplary clothing article (100) of FIGS. 1A-C also includes a cape (106). The exemplary cape (106) of FIGS. 1A-C is a section of material attached to a portion of a clothing article (100) so as to fall freely. The exemplary cape (106) of FIGS. 1A-C is attached to a portion of the closed band (104) and is capable of being draped down a back of the neck of the wearer. In the example of FIGS. 1A-C, the cape (106) is attached the outer surface of the closed band (104), but readers will note that capes useful according to embodiments of the present invention may also be attached the inner surface of the closed band. The ability of the exemplary cape (106) to drape down the back of the wearer's neck is primarily shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. In FIG. 1B, the exemplary closed band (104) is placed on the crown of the wearer's head so as to allow the head to protrude through the middle of the band (104). The exemplary cape (106) of FIGS. 1B-C is attached to a front region of the band (104) and is draped back across a top of the head of the wearer, which protrudes through the band (104), and then down a back of the neck of the wearer as illustrated in FIG. 1C.
Turning to FIGS. 2A-B, FIGS. 2A-B illustrate line drawings of the front and right views, respectively, of the exemplary clothing article (100) of FIGS. 1A-C. FIGS. 2A-B illustrate how the exemplary clothing article (100) creates cooling regions or ‘pockets’ (108A and 108B) inside the cape adjacent to the wearer's neck. These pockets (108A and 108B) assist to cool the wearer in at least two ways. First, these pockets (108A and 108B) serve to catch airflow and direct it near the wearer's neck, thereby providing a cooling effect. This cooling effect is enhanced given that the neck is the location of the carotid artery, one of the major arteries moving blood through the body. Cooling the blood in this artery assists in lowering the overall temperature of the wearer, not just in the locale of the pockets (108A and 108B). In this manner, therefore, these pockets (108A and 108B) illustrated in FIGS. 2A-B serve as heat sinks for the body's heat to flow, thereby escaping the wearer's body and cooling the wearer. Second, as the cape (106) becomes wet with the wearer's sweat or by other means such as dousing the cape (106) with water, the evaporative process whereby that moisture in the cape (106) is transformed into a gaseous state consumes a energy in the form of heat, thereby lowering the temperatures of the cape (106) and cooling the air in the pockets (108A and 108B) adjacent to the cape (106).
The exemplary cape (106) of FIGS. 1A-C and FIGS. 2A-B is illustrated traversing outside of the closed band (104) at the rear region of the band (104), but readers will note that a cape used in clothing article according to embodiments of the present invention may also traverse inside of the closed band between the wearer's head and the band itself at the rear region of the band. For further explanation, consider FIGS. 3A-B that illustrate line drawings of the front and right views, respectively, of an exemplary clothing article (300) for covering a wearer's head according to embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary clothing article (300) in FIGS. 3A-B includes a closed band (304) for attaching the article (300) to a head of a wearer. The closed band (304) of FIGS. 3A-B is capable of being configured around the wearer's head and allowing the head to protrude through the band (304). The exemplary clothing article (300) in FIGS. 3A-B also includes a cape (306) attached to the front portion of the band (304) and that is capable of being draped down a back of the neck of the wearer.
In FIGS. 3A-B, the cape (306) is ‘tucked’ beneath the band (304) at the back of the wearer's head—as opposed to the cape (306) flowing over the outside of the band (304) at the back of the wearer's head as shown in FIGS. 2A-B. A wearer may choose between the configurations shown in FIGS. 2A-B and FIGS. 3A-B based on the activity in which the wearer is involved and the desired level of cooling that the wearer desires or requires for the activity. For example, tucking the exemplary cape (306) beneath the band (304) at the back of the wearer's head as illustrated in FIG. 3A-B helps prevent the cape (306) from flapping around and helps hold the clothing article (300) tighter around to the wearer's head. Such a configuration may be desirable in environments where the wearer is jarred back and forth due to vibration or other motion or where the environment is windy. Allowing an exemplary cape (106) to fall over the outside of the closed band (104) at the back of the wearer's head as shown in FIGS. 2A-B may be most suitable in a humid environment with little wind or air flow because untethered nature of the cape (106) being draped over the rear portion of the band allows air to enter under the cape (106) and into the region above the top of the wearer's head to assist in cooling.
In the exemplary clothing articles described in FIGS. 1A-C, 2A-B, and 3A-B, the exemplary cape attached to the front portion of the closed band and is capable of being draped back across the top of the wearer's head that protrudes through the band. In other embodiments of the present invention, however, the exemplary cape may attach to a rear portion of the closed band. For example, consider FIGS. 4A-C that illustrate an exemplary clothing article (400) for covering the head (402) of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention as it is placed on the wearer's head. The exemplary clothing article (400) of FIGS. 4A-C includes a closed band (404) for attaching the article to a head of a wearer. The band (404) of FIGS. 4A-C is capable of being configured around the head and allowing the head to protrude through the band (404). The exemplary clothing article (400) of FIGS. 4A-C also includes a cape (406) attached to the rear region of the closed band (404) and that is capable of being draped down a back of the neck of the wearer.
FIG. 4B illustrates that the cape (406) in this example does not cover the portion of the wearer's head protruding through the middle of the closed band (404). This configuration may be advantageous for those wearers desiring to shield portions of their face and neck from the environment, while having nothing that covers the top of their head. The exemplary band (404) transports moisture away from the wearer's head to the cape (406), where the moisture is evaporated. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4C, the clothing article (400) may be used in conjunction with a traditional head covering such as the baseball cap (408) or other such hat or head covering.
The cape of a clothing article according to embodiments of the present invention may be configured in a variety of ways to suit the particular interests or clothing tastes of a wearer. FIGS. 5A-B set forth line drawings that illustrate the front and right view, respectively, of a article (500) of clothing for covering the wearer's head according to embodiments of the present invention. The clothing article (500) of FIGS. 5A-B is implemented as a hood (502) capable of flowing down a back of a neck of the wearer to a rear upper torso of the wearer and along the side of the head of the wearer. The hood (502) of FIGS. 5A-B includes a halo (504) to affix the hood to a crown of the head of the wearer. The halo (504) of FIGS. 5A-B is connected to remaining portions of the hood (502) along only a portion (506) of the halo (504) and configured to allow the top portion (508) of the head to protrude through the halo (504) when worn by the wearer. The remaining portions of the hood (502) of FIGS. 5A-B are connected to the outside surface of the halo (504), but readers will note that the remaining portions of the hood useful in embodiments of the present invention may also be connected to the inside surface of the halo.
In the example of FIGS. 5A-B, the halo (504) is configured along the outside of the hood (502), but readers will note that is for example only, not for limitation. In other embodiments, a halo for use with clothing articles according to embodiments of the present invention may be configured along the inside of a hood. Further, in the example of FIGS. 5A-B, the hood (502) covers the top portion of the wearer's head when worn by the wearer, but in other embodiments, the hood may not cover the top portion of the wearer's head when worn.
The exemplary clothing articles of FIGS. 1-5 according to embodiments of the present invention have included a cape that flows downward across the sides of wearer's face and covers the back of the wearer's neck. In these embodiments, however, the cape is free to blow or flap in the wind to facilitate cooling. In some embodiments, however, a wearer may find it more advantageous for the cape to be restricted for such blowing or flapping motion. FIGS. 6 and 7 are line drawings that illustrate a clothing article according to embodiments of the present invention in which the cape is restricted in the front of the wearer.
FIG. 6 depicts a clothing article (600) that includes a closed band (604) for attaching the article (600) to a head of a wearer. The band (604) of FIG. 6 is capable of being configured around the head and allowing the head to protrude through the band (604). The clothing article of FIG. 6 also includes a cape (606) attached to a portion of the band (604) and that is capable of being draped down a back of the neck of the wearer.
The cape (606) of FIG. 6 has a first lateral cape portion (602A) and a second lateral cape portion (602B). Each of these lateral cape portions (602) of FIG. 6 includes a fastener (608), which corresponds with the fastener on the other lateral cape portion. These fasteners are capable of being connected together to position a portion of the cape (606) in front of the wearer below wearer's chin. The fasteners (608) in the example of FIG. 6 are implemented as snap-buttons, but readers will note that this is for explanation only, not for limitation. Other fasteners that may be useful in clothing articles according to embodiments of the present invention may also include buttons, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, or the like. Further, other embodiments may only need to utilize one fastener on one of the lateral cape portions to facilitate connecting the two lateral portions together. Examples of such fastening systems may include a hook fastening system such as, for example, those hook fastening systems used to hold medical bandages in place. These hook systems are made from thin strips of metal having hooks formed by punching portions of the metal strip down so as to engage the bandage when force is applied to unravel the layers of the bandage. Such a hook system may be sewn or otherwise incorporated into one of the lateral cape portions (602) so that the hook would engage the other lateral cape portion when a wearer connected the hook to that other lateral cape portion.
FIG. 7 depicts a clothing article (700) that includes a closed band (704) for attaching the article (700) to a wearer's head. The band (704) of FIG. 7 is capable of being configured around the head and allowing the head to protrude through the band (704). The clothing article of FIG. 7 also includes a cape (702) attached to a portion of the band (704) and that is capable of being draped down a back of the neck of the wearer. The cape (706) of FIG. 7 also has a first lateral cape portion (702A) and a second lateral cape portion (702B). Each of these lateral cape portions (702) of FIG. 7 includes fasteners (708), which corresponds with the fasteners on the other lateral cape portion. While the fasteners in FIG. 6 connect the lateral cape portion together in front of the wearer below wearer's chin, the fasteners (708) of FIG. 7 connect the lateral cape portions together in front of the wearer just beneath the wearer's eyes. This configuration in FIG. 7 provides more protection for the wearer's face from the surrounding environment.
FIGS. 8A-B are line drawings that illustrates front and top views of still another embodiment of a clothing article (800) according to the present invention. FIG. 8A depicts the exemplary clothing article (800) configured on the wearer's head, while FIG. 8B depicts the clothing article (800) spread out so as to see the shape from a top view. The clothing article (800) of FIGS. 8A-B includes a closed band (804) for attaching the article (800) to a head of a wearer. The closed band (804) of FIGS. 8A-B is capable of being configured around the head and allowing the head to protrude through the band as described above. The clothing article (800) of FIGS. 8A-B also includes a cape (806) attached to a portion of the band (804) and that is capable of being draped down a back of the neck of the wearer. In the example of FIGS. 8A-B, the cape (806) is attached to the front region of the band (804), but readers will note that this is for example only and not for limitation.
In the example of FIGS. 8A-B, the cape (806) has two lateral cape portions (802) that lay along-side the wearer's face when the clothing article (800) is being worn. Each lateral cape portion (802) has a fastener (808) for the connecting the two lateral cape portions (802) together. The shape of the cape (806) and the placement of the fasteners in FIGS. 8A-B allows a wearer to connect the two lateral cape portions (802) in such a manner so that only one of the lateral cape portions (802A) traverses the front of the wearer.
For further explanation of a closed band useful according to embodiments of the present invention, turn to FIG. 9A. FIG. 9A sets forth a line drawing that illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary clothing article (900) for covering the head of a wearer according to embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary clothing article (900) of FIG. 9A includes a closed band (904) for attaching the article (900) to a head of a wearer. The closed band (904) of FIG. 9A is capable of being configured around the head and allowing the head to protrude through the band (904). The exemplary clothing article (900) of FIG. 9A includes a cape (906) attached to a portion of the band (904) and is capable of being draped down a back of the neck of the wearer.
FIG. 9A illustrates a cross-section cutaway identified as ‘1’. FIGS. 9B-D set forth exemplary cross-sections of embodiments of the closed band (904) useful in the clothing article embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9A. The closed band (904) of FIGS. 9B-D is constructed from a single strip of a textile (908) that folded to form a loop and secured with stitches (910). In this manner, the closed band (904) forms a sleeve. This sleeve is then connected back on itself and secured in a loop configuration by the stitches (912). Because the closed band (904) in the examples of FIGS. 9A-D does not have an adjustable fastener, the textile (908) used to form the band (904) and the thread used in the stitches (910 and 912) is composed of stretchable fabric and fibers. Stretchable fabric is a term that refers to synthetic or natural fabrics which stretch. Stretchable fabrics typically stretch along one dimension (e.g., 2-way stretch fabrics), usually from selvedge to selvedge but can be stretched in other directions depending on the knit, or two dimensions (e.g., 4-way stretch fabrics). Examples of stretchable fabric include spandex, elastane, or jersey cloth. These examples and descriptions, however, are for explanation only, not for limitation. Any stretchable fabric as will occur to those of skill in the art may be modified to be useful in clothing articles according to embodiments of the present invention.
In FIG. 9B, the closed band (904) is divided into two sections (914A and 914B) by stitches (916) forming an upper chamber and lower chamber. In the upper chamber section (914A) of FIG. 9B, an elastic cord (918A) is added to provide additional elasticity to the band (904). Similarly, in the upper chamber section (914B) of FIG. 9B, an elastic cord (918B) is added to provide additional elasticity to the band (904). These elastic inserts (918A and 918B) may be implemented as elastomers such as, for example, polyisoprene (e.g., natural rubber), polybutadiene, polyisobutylene, polyurethanes, or any other such elastomers as will occur to those of skill in the art.
In FIG. 9C, the closed band (904) is composed of a single section that houses an elastic insert (920). As described above, this elastic insert (920) in the example of FIG. 9C may be implemented using any of a variety of elastomers. The cross-section depicted in FIG. 9C may be desirable over the cross-section depicted in FIG. 9B in embodiments where the band thickness from top to bottom is not thick enough to warrant multiple sections. In such bands that are thick enough, multiple sections as shown in FIG. 9B may be desirable to keep the elastic inserts (918A and 918B) and the outer text fabric (908) from getting warped out of place in relationship to one another. By breaking the band (904) into different section (914), the band resist the tendency of elastic insert (918) to rotation out of place inside the textile (908), which would more easily occur with the one chamber section in FIG. 9C.
Similar to FIG. 9B, the closed band (904) of FIG. 9D is divided into two sections (914A and 914B) by stitches (916) forming an upper chamber and lower chamber. The upper chamber section (914A) includes an elastic insert (918) to provide additional elasticity to the band (904), but the lower chamber section (914B) is empty. Leaving the lower chamber section (914B) empty may be advantageous where the cape (906) is sewn through the entire band (904)—that is, the cape (906) is sewn to both sides of the band (906) as formed by the textile fabric (908). Sewing through an elastic insert may be difficult or introduce errors in the manufacturing process for clothing articles according to embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, the example of FIG. 9D does not have an elastic insert in the lower chamber section (914B). Of course, readers will note that the cross-sections of the band (906) illustrated in FIGS. 9B-D are for example only and not for limitation. Other cross-sections may also be useful and the cross sections illustrated in FIGS. 9B-D may be combined in ways to form different cross-sections for the band as will occur to those of skill in the art.
The exemplary clothing articles for covering a wearer's head in the embodiments show in FIGS. 1-9 have included bands that were closed and were fitted on the wearer's head by stretching the band as the article is placed on the wearer's head, which in turn would shrink to fit snugly on the wearer. In other embodiments, the band of the clothing article may include an adjustable fastener. For further explanation, consider FIG. 10 that sets forth a line drawing illustrating an exemplary clothing article (1000) for covering the wearer's head according to embodiments of the present invention and that includes an adjustable band.
The exemplary clothing article (1000) of FIG. 10 is similar to other clothing articles designed according to embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary clothing article (1000) of FIG. 10 includes a closed band (1004) for attaching the article (1000) to a head of a wearer. The closed band (1004) of FIG. 10 is capable of being configured around the head and allowing the head to protrude through the band (1004). A cape (1006) is attached to a portion of the band (1004) in FIG. 10, and the cape (1006) is capable of being draped down a back of the neck of the wearer.
In the example of FIG. 10, the band (1004) is adjustable so as to allow a wearer to alter a circumferential length of the band (1004). The circumferential length is the length around the band (1004) as illustrated by arrow (1008) in FIG. 10. The band (1004) of FIG. 10 includes an adjustable slide fastener (1002) to permit the wearer to increase or decrease the circumferential length of the band (1004). The adjustable slide fastener (1002) of FIG. 10 maintains the desired circumferential length by friction. Readers will note that the adjustable slide fastener is merely one example of how a band useful according to embodiments of the present invention may be made adjustable. Other fasteners and mechanism as will occur to those of skill in the art may also be useful.
Capes useful in clothing articles according to embodiments of the present invention may take a variety of shapes. FIGS. 11A-G set forth line drawings illustrating top views of clothing articles according to embodiments of the present invention having capes with a variety of shapes. FIG. 11A depicts a cape (1100) that is shaped as a diamond. FIG. 11B depicts a cape (1102) that is shaped as a pentagon.
FIG. 11C depicts a cape (1104) that includes a rear cape portion (1104A), a first lateral cape portion (1104B), and a second lateral cape portion (1104C). The rear cape portion (1104A) of FIG. 11C is longer than the first lateral cape portion (1104B) and the second lateral cape portion (1104C).
FIG. 11D depicts a cape (1106) that includes a rear cape portion (1106A), a first lateral cape portion (1106B), and a second lateral cape portion (1106C). The rear cape portion (1106A) of FIG. 11D is longer than the first lateral cape portion (1106B) and the second lateral cape portion (1106C). The inner corners (1106D and 1106E) are configured in the cape (1106) of FIG. 11D to allow the cape (1106) to have less material at the wearer's shoulders when the cape (1106) is being worn. Having less fabric material at the wearer's shoulders prevents the cape (1106) from bunching up at the wearer's shoulders and may often be more comfortable for the wearer.
FIG. 11E depicts a cape (1108) that is shaped as a square. FIG. 11F depicts a cape (1110) that is shaped as a triangle. FIG. 11F depicts a cape (1112) that is shaped as a baseball home plate. As previously described, these embodiments of various capes useful for exemplary clothing articles according to embodiments of the present invention are for explanation and example only, not for limitation. Many other cape shapes may also be useful in for exemplary clothing articles according to embodiments of the present invention.
While certain exemplary embodiments have been described in details and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, which is determined by the claims that follow.
