Elastic headwear

Abstract

Elastic headwear has a head covering portion being stretchable in at least a circumferential direction thereof, and a visor portion connected to the head covering portion. The visor portion is stretchable in at least the circumferential direction of the head covering portion. The elastic headwear is capable of stretching throughout its whole portion since the visor portion as well as the head covering portion can be stretch in the circumferential direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to elastic headwear, and more particularly to elastic headwear that can accommodate a wider range of head sizes.

(b) Description of the Related Art

Conventional elastic headwear such as a cap and a hat includes an elastic crown portion and a stiffened visor portion which is coupled to the elastic crown portion. The elastic crown portion of the headwear is composed of a plurality of pieces which can stretch in a circumferential direction to accommodate a variety of head sizes. However, front pieces of the crown portion to which the stiffened visor portion is coupled are stiffened in order to retain the shape of the headwear, so only the remaining pieces of the crown portion can stretch according to the head size. Therefore, the conventional headwear fits a somewhat limited range of sizes, so it cannot cover head sizes from children to adults.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the prior art described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide elastic headwear having an elastic head covering portion being capable of stretching throughout its whole portion to accommodate a wider range of sizes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide elastic headwear having a comfortable fit regardless of head size.

To achieve these and other objects, as embodied and broadly described herein, elastic headwear includes a head covering portion being stretchable in at least a circumferential direction thereof; and a visor portion connected to the head covering portion. The visor portion is stretchable in at least the circumferential direction of the head covering portion.

The elastic headwear preferably has a stretchable lining, stitched or adhered to an inside of the head covering portion, for retaining a shape of the head covering portion.

The elastic headwear preferably has a stretchable sweatband connected to an interior circumference of the head covering portion. The stretchable sweatband comprises a plurality of line cutting sections. Each line cutting section is formed perpendicular to the circumferential direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of forming elastic headwear includes:

forming a head covering portion to be worn on a head of a wearer, the head covering portion being stretchable in at least a circumferential direction thereof; and

forming a visor portion connected to the head covering portion, being stretchable in at least the circumferential direction of the head covering portion.

Both the foregoing general description and the following Detailed Description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of elastic headwear according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the elastic headwear of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a stretchable sweatband which is applicable to the headwear of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of elastic headwear according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of the elastic headwear of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of elastic headwear according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, where like numerals of reference designate like elements throughout.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention has a crown portion 1 and a visor portion 3. The crown portion 1 serves to cover the wearer's head, and the visor portion 3, which is coupled to a front part of the crown portion 1, serves to shade the wearer's face and eyes when the cap is worn. The crown portion 1 is composed of a plurality of elastic pieces 1a-1f which have stretchability in at least a circumferential direction of the crown portion 1. Each elastic piece is not limited to fabric, but can be made of any kind of elastic material.

Stretchable linings 5 and 7 are stitched or adhered to the inside of the front pieces 1a and 1b of the crown portion 1 in order to retain the shape of the crown portion 1. The stretchable linings 5 and 7 have stretchability in at least a circumferential direction of the crown portion 1. The material of the linings 5 and 7 may be selected from stretch fabric or stretch synthetic resin.

The visor portion 3 is also stretchable in at least the circumferential direction of the crown portion, which is an arrow direction of FIG. 1. The material of the visor portion 3 may be selected from stretch fabric or stretch synthetic resin.

The crown portion 1 preferably has a stretchable sweatband 9 connected to an interior circumference of the crown portion, as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the sweatband 9 has a plurality of line cutting sections 9a along the lengthwise direction in order to stretch in a wider range. Each line cutting section 9a is preferably formed perpendicular to the lengthwise direction.

When a wearer wears the cap as shown in FIGS. 1-2, the cap stretches in the circumferential direction. Specifically, all pieces 1a-1f of the crown portion 1 stretch in the circumferential direction, so the visor portion 3 which is connected to the front pieces 1a-1b also stretch in the circumferential direction. The stretchable lining 7 as well as the sweatband 9 of the crown portion 1 also stretch in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the crown portion 1 may stretch throughout its whole portion, resulting in a wider stretch range to accommodate a variety of head sizes from children to adults.

Referring next to FIGS. 4-5, a hat according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The hat has a crown portion 10 and a visor portion 30. The crown portion 10 serves to cover the wearer's head, and the visor portion 30 is coupled to the crown portion 10 around its entire lower hem.

The crown portion 10 has stretchability in at least a circumferential direction thereof, and can be made of elastic fabric or any kind of elastic material.

The visor portion 30 is also stretchable in at least the circumferential direction of the crown portion, which is an arrow direction of FIG. 4. The material of the visor portion 30 may be selected from stretch fabric or stretch synthetic resin.

It is possible to apply a stretchable lining which is stitched or adhered to the inside of the crown portion 10 in order to retain the shape of the crown portion 10. A stretchable sweatband is also applicable to the interior circumferential of the crown portion 10, although is not shown in the drawings. It is possible to use the stretchable sweatband shown in FIG. 3.

The hat of FIGS. 4 and 5 stretches in the circumferential direction (an arrow direction in FIG. 4) when a wearer wears it. Specifically, the crown portion 10 stretches in the circumferential direction, so the visor portion 30 also stretches in the circumferential direction.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a visor cap according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The visor cap has a rim portion 11 for encircling the head, and a visor portion 31 coupled with a front side of the rim portion 11.

The rim portion 11 can be provided as either a single piece or as several pieces, which are stretchable at least in the circumferential direction.

The visor portion 31 is also stretchable in at least the circumferential direction of the crown portion, which is an arrow direction of FIG. 6. The material of the visor portion 3 may be selected from stretch fabric or stretch synthetic resin.

It is possible to apply a stretchable lining which is stitched or adhered to the inside of the rim portion 11 in order to retain the shape of the rim portion 11. A stretchable sweatband is also applicable to the interior circumferential of the rim portion 11, although is not shown in the drawing. It is possible to use the stretchable sweatband shown in FIG. 3.

Similar to the cap as shown in FIG. 1, the visor cap may stretch throughout its whole portion, resulting in a wider stretch range accommodating a variety of head sizes from children to adults, when a wearer uses it.

The present invention is not limited to the cap and hat described above, which merely show examples as a kind of application, and it may be applied to various other kinds of headwear.

As described above, according to elastic headwear of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, elastic headwear is capable of stretching throughout its whole portion since the visor portion as well as the head covering portion can stretch in the circumferential direction. The headwear has a wider stretch range accommodating a variety of head sizes from children to adults.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Elastic headwear comprising:

a head covering portion being stretchable in at least a circumferential direction thereof;

a visor portion connected to the head covering portion, being stretchable in at least the circumferential direction of the head covering portion.

2. The elastic headwear as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a stretchable lining being stitched or adhered to an inside of the head covering portion and retaining a shape of the head covering portion.

3. The elastic headwear as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a stretchable sweatband connected to an interior circumference of the head covering portion.

4. The elastic headwear as recited in claim 3, wherein the stretchable sweatband comprises a plurality of line cutting sections, each line cutting section being formed perpendicular to the circumferential direction.

5. The elastic headwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the head covering portion is a crown portion.

6. The elastic headwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the visor portion is connected to a front size of the head covering portion.

7. The elastic headwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the visor portion is elongated around an entire circumference of the head covering portion.

8. The elastic headwear as recited in claim 1, wherein the head covering portion is a rim portion.

9. A method of forming elastic headwear, comprising:

forming a head covering portion to be worn on a head of a wearer, the head covering portion being stretchable in at least a circumferential direction thereof; and

forming a visor portion connected to the head covering portion, being stretchable in at least the circumferential direction of the head covering portion.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

forming a stretchable lining which is stitched or adhered to an inside of the head covering portion, for retaining a shape of the head covering portion.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

forming a stretchable sweatband connected to an interior circumferential of the head covering portion.