BRIM COVER

Abstract

A brim cover is provided. The brim cover may adapt the appearance of a hat as well as protects a brim of the hat. The brim cover may include a top surface and a bottom surface that connect along a closed portion of a first edge to form an opening to a cavity between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the cavity is shaped to receive a brim of a hat. The top surface and the bottom surface may include a graphic area and a lighting component. The graphic area may include a design and/or message. A user may then place the brim cover on the brim so as to adapt the appearance of the hat as well as protect the brim. The user may then remove the brim cover and place the brim cover on a different hat.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/897,603, filed 30 Oct. 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to interchangeable covers for hats and, more particularly, an interchangeable slip-cover for a hat brim that enables a user to stylize or re-stylize their hat while protecting and keeping the brim straight and clean.

Currently, when a user's hat loses its shape and clean look or when the user otherwise wants a particularly new shape, look and/or feel for their hat, the user is unable to change the hat's appearance, unless they employ the expensive practice of regularly buying a new hat.

As can be seen, there is a need for an inexpensive device or method of maintaining the shape and clean look of hat brims that may enable the user to adapt the hat's appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an brim cover comprises: a top surface comprising an edge and a bottom surface comprising an edge, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are connected along a closed portion of the edges of the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are disconnected along an open portion of the edges forming an opening to a cavity between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the cavity is shaped to receive a brim of a hat.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of adapting the appearance of a hat comprises: providing a brim cover comprising: a top surface comprising an edge and a bottom surface comprising an edge, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are connected along a closed portion of the edges of the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are disconnected along an open portion of the edges forming an opening to a cavity between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the cavity is shaped to receive a brim of a hat; and placing the brim cover onto a brim of the hat and thereby removably attaching the brim cover to the hat.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in use;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in use;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional detail view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention along ling 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a brim cover that adapts the appearance of a hat as well as protects a brim of the hat. The brim cover may include a top surface and a bottom surface that connect along a closed portion of a first edge to form an opening to a cavity between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the cavity is shaped to receive a brim of a hat. The top surface and the bottom surface may include a graphic area and a lighting component. The graphic area may include a design and/or message. A user may then place the brim cover on the brim so as to adapt the appearance of the hat as well as protect the brim. The user may then remove the brim cover and place the brim cover on a different hat.

In certain embodiments, the graphic areas may be made of transparent material. In such embodiments, the brim cover may include an insert having a design or message. The insert may be secured within the cavity so as to be displayed from at least one graphic area. If the user would like to change the design or message, the user may remove the insert and replace the insert with a new design or message.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention may include a brim cover 10. The brim cover 10 may include a top surface 30 and a bottom surface 32. The top surface 30 may include a graphic area 14 and at least one lighting component 22. The top surface 30 and the bottom surface 32 may include a first edge 36. The top surface 30 and the bottom surface 32 may be connected along a closed portion 31 of the first edge 36 forming an opening to a cavity 12 in between the top surface 30 and the bottom surface 32. In certain embodiments, the top surface 30 and the bottom surface 32 may be constructed to be a unitary construction. The closed portion 31 may have a semi-circular shape formed to fit a desired brim 18 of a desired hat 16.

The brim cover 10 may be made of cloth material, such as but not limited to, textile fabrics, knitted fabrics, non-woven fabrics, polyester fibers, acrylic, plastic and the like, which provide sufficient firmness and adaptability to conform to the brim 18 shape of the hat 16. The hat 16 may include, but not be limited to, a baseball cap, an equestrian helmet, a deer stalker, a kepi, a Greek fisherman's cap, and the like. The brim 18 may join the hat 16 at a connection point 17.

In certain embodiments, the graphic area 14 may be integrated into at least a portion of the top surface 30. The graphic area 14 may include any image, design, message and anything that a user would like to display from the graphic area 14.

In certain embodiments, the graphic area 14 and or portion of the top surface 30 may be made of a transparent material such as a clear polymer, such as, but not limited to, a clear vinyl sheet or plastic sheet. In certain embodiments, the graphic area 14 may include a graphic insert that may be made of printable material. The graphic insert may be placed within the cavity 12 so as to display the insert through the transparent material. The graphic insert may include, but is not limited to, any image, design, message and anything that a user would like to display from the transparent material.

In certain embodiments, the at least one lighting component 22 may be integrated into at least a portion of the top surface 30. The at least one lighting component 22 may include light emitting diodes (LEDs), LED strips and the like. In certain embodiments, the at least one lighting component 22 may be integrated into at least a portion of the bottom surface 32. In certain embodiments 20, the at least one lighting component may run along a portion of the first edge 36. In an alternate embodiment 24, the at least one lighting component 22 may run along a portion of the closed portion 31, along a portion of the top surface and or along the bottom surface 32.

In certain embodiments, a graphic area 34 may be integrated into at least a portion of the bottom surface 32. The graphic area 34 may include any image, design, message and anything that a user would like to display from the graphic area 34.

In certain embodiments, the graphic area 34 and or portion of the bottom surface 32 may be made of a transparent material such as a clear polymer, such as, but not limited to, a clear vinyl sheet or plastic sheet for displaying the insert as disclosed above through the transparent material.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The brim cover 10 disclosed above may be provided. A user may slide the cavity 12 onto the brim 18 of the hat 16 to adapt a different look and/or shape as well as to protect the brim 18. The user may then remove the brim cover 10 from the hat 16 to apply to a different hat brim.

In certain embodiments, the user may affix a design to the insert. The user may place the insert through the opening and into the cavity 12 so as to display the insert through the graphic area 14 and/or the graphic area 34 when using the brim cover 10.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A brim cover comprising:

a top surface comprising an edge and a bottom surface comprising an edge, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are connected along a closed portion of the edges of the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are disconnected along an open portion of the edges forming an opening to a cavity between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the cavity is shaped to receive a brim of a hat.

2. The brim cover of claim 1, further comprising a graphic area comprising at least one of a color, a design, and a message, wherein the graphic area is affixed to a portion of the top surface.

3. The brim cover of claim 1, further comprising a graphic area comprising at least one of a color, a design, and a message, wherein the graphic area is affixed to a portion of the bottom surface.

4. The brim cover of claim 3, further including a lighting component integrated into at least a portion of the top surface.

5. The brim cover of claim 4, further including a lighting component integrated into at least a portion of the bottom surface.

6. The brim cover of claim 3, wherein a portion of the top surface comprises a transparent material.

7. The brim cover of claim 3, wherein a portion of the bottom surface comprises a transparent material.

8. The brim cover of claim 6, further comprising a graphic insert within the cavity so that the graphic insert is displayed through the transparent material on the top surface.

9. The brim cover of claim 7, further comprising a graphic insert within the cavity so that the graphic insert is displayed through the transparent material on the bottom surface.

10. The brim cover of claim 1, wherein the edges of the opening comprise a semi-circle shape formed to align with the connection point of a brim and a hat.

11. A method of adapting the appearance of a hat comprising:

providing a brim cover comprising: a top surface comprising an edge and a bottom surface comprising an edge, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are connected along a closed portion of the edges of the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface are disconnected along an open portion of the edges forming an opening to a cavity between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the cavity is shaped to receive a brim of a hat; and

placing the brim cover onto a brim of the hat and thereby removably attaching the brim cover to the hat.