Ponytail cap

Abstract

A cap having a visor and a passageway for a ponytail is described herein. The cap is composed of a body having a front portion, a back portion, side portions, and a lower peripheral edge. The back portion of the cap body includes an inverted U-shaped opening to define the passageway. A sweatband is coupled to the lower peripheral edge of the cap body, wherein the sweatband includes an elastomeric section. According to one exemplary embodiment, the visor can be obliquely coupled to a substantial portion of the lower peripheral edge. Also, in one exemplary embodiment, ribbons can be coupled to opposite ends of the passageway. The ribbons may be used for tying the ponytail or tied together for decorative purposes.

Description

BACKGROUND

Generally caps or hats are worn by wearers while engaging in outdoor activities as the bill of the cap or hat provides shading for the eyes of the wearer from the sun. Numerous types of caps have been available for a number of years having various features in order to fit a variety of head sizes and/or hairstyles. For those individuals that have long hair, it is common for them to bundle the hair into one or more “ponytails.” However, when individuals wear a ponytail, it is difficult for them to wear caps, as the ponytail interferes with the comfort and/or fitment of the cap on the head of the individual. Accordingly, various caps have been developed which utilize openings on the back or sides of the cap to allow the ponytail through the opening so that the cap better fits the head of the wearer. However, these caps and hats have not been altogether desirable from an aspect of being comfortably fitted to the head of the wearer. Also, the traditional bill of the cap is not sufficiently large to provide adequate shading of the eyes and/or face of the wearer.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments relate to caps having a front, back, and side portions. The cap also includes an inverted U-shaped opening on the back portion of the cap. The cap includes a visor that is obliquely coupled to a substantial portion of the body to provide adequate shading for an individual user. The cap also includes an elastic sweatband coupled to the lower peripheral edge of the body wherein the sweatband includes an elastomeric section. The elastomeric section allows the circumference of the cap to expand so as to accommodate users having different sized heads' hairstyles. Accordingly, an individual wearing a ponytail can comfortably wear the cap. In one exemplary embodiment, the cap may include ribbons that are coupled to the lower edge of the cap adjacent to the opening on the back of the cap that may be utilized for tying the hair for decorative purposes and providing additional securement of the cap on the wearer's head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of cap;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the cap shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the cap shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the cap shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the exemplary embodiments may be constructed and/or utilized.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 is directed to one exemplary embodiment of a ponytail cap 100. The cap 100 is composed of a bill or visor 104 and a main body, which is composed of a plurality of gores 101, 102, 103, 201, 202, 203. While the cap 100 of FIG. 1 has six gores, those familiar in the art will appreciate that the number of gores may be varied. That is, a plurality of gores may be used to form a hemispherical cap 100. In an alternate embodiment, the gores 101, 102, 103, 201, 202, 203 may also include air vents (not shown) for ventilation purposes.

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a plurality of materials may be used to form the gores of the cap. For instance, in one exemplary embodiment, multi-axially stretchable fabric may be used to form the gores in the cap. In another exemplary embodiment, unilaterally stretchable fabric may be used to form the gores of the cap. In yet another exemplary embodiment, a combination of multi-axially stretchable and unilaterally stretchable fabric may be used to form the gores of the cap.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cap 100 also includes a visor 104. The visor 104 is coupled to the lower peripheral edge of the main body. According to one exemplary embodiment, the visor 104 wraps substantially around the periphery of the cap 100 as shown in FIG. 4. In an alternate embodiment, the visor 104 may be coupled to a portion of the cap 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the visor 104 has a substantially large surface area and has a generally oval outline. Furthermore, the visor 104 has curved sides that provide additional shading for the wearer's face. As shown in FIG. 1, the visor is obliquely coupled to the main body of the cap 100. That is, the top edge of the visor 104 extends at a downward angle from the lower peripheral edge of the cap 100. In alternate embodiments, the visor 104 may extend from the cap such that the visor 104 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cap 100.

As shown in FIG. 4, a passageway 106 is positioned at the back of the cap 100 and is sized so that a ponytail can extend through the passageway 106 when the cap 100 is fitted onto the wearer's head. Also, as shown in FIG. 4 in one exemplary embodiment, the cap includes ribbons 105 that are adjacently affixed to the passageway 106. The ribbons 105 can be utilized for tying a bow or gathering of hair that extends through the passageway 106. As shown in the figures, the ribbons 105 are permanently affixed to the main body of the cap 100. According to one exemplary embodiment, the ribbons 105 may be reversibly attached to the cap by various means such as, but not limited to, Velcro or snap enclosures. In another exemplary embodiment, the ribbons 105 and the visor 104 may be made from material having the same color. In alternate embodiments, the ribbons 105 and the visor 104 may have different colors.

As shown in FIG. 3, a headband 300 is coupled to the lower periphery of the cap's main body. In one exemplary embodiment, the headband 300 may be of rather thin dimensions, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that the headband 300 may have varying dimensions. Also, the headband may be a one-, two-, or three-component band. In one exemplary embodiment, the headband 300 is a three-component elastic band as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/637,783, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In another exemplary embodiment, the headband 300 is a single, unfolded layer. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the headband 300 may be folded.

As shown in FIG. 3, the headband 300 terminates at the opening of the passageway 106. An elastic band 200 then spans the opening of the passageway 106. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the headband 300 and the elastomeric band 200 are separate pieces. In another exemplary embodiment, the headband 300 and the elastic band 200 may be a unitary structure.

The elastic band 200 allows for the expansion of the circumference of the cap 100 so that the cap 100 fits comfortably on the wearer of the hat. Also, the elastic nature of the elastic band 200 ensures that the cap 100 is snuggly fit on the wearer's head. Because the elastic band 200 is stretchable, the circumference of the cap 100 may be enlarged to accommodate varying user's head sizes. Additionally, given the elastic nature of the band 200, the band 200 may be moved downward to increase the opening size of the passageway 106. Accordingly, the cap 100 may be securely fitted onto the wearer's head as the top of the passageway 106 and the top of the band 200 may securely engage the user's hair and/or ponytail.

While exemplary embodiments of the cap have been described herein, it is recognized that additional variations may be devised without parting from the invented concept.

Claims

1. A cap comprising:

a body having a front portion, a back portion, side portions, and a lower peripheral edge, wherein the back portion includes an inverted U-shaped opening;

a sweatband coupled to the lower peripheral edge, wherein the sweatband includes an elastomeric section;

a visor obliquely coupled to a substantial portion of the lower peripheral edge; and

a first ribbon and a second ribbon coupled to opposite ends of the inverted U-shaped opening.

2. The cap of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a plurality of gores.

3. The cap of claim 2 wherein the body comprises six gores.

4. The cap of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric section of the sweatband spans the inverted U-shaped opening.

5. The cap of claim 2 wherein the visor, the first ribbon, and the second ribbon have a same color.

6. The cap of claim 1 wherein the body is formed from unilaterally stretchable fabric.

7. The cap of claim 1 wherein the body is formed from multi-axially stretchable fabric.

8. A cap comprising:

a plurality of gores defining a body having a lower peripheral edge, wherein the body includes a passageway sized to hold a ponytail;

a sweatband having an elastomeric section, wherein the elastomeric section of the sweatband spans the passageway;

a first ribbon and a second ribbon coupled to the body adjacent to the passageway; and

a visor obliquely coupled to the body, wherein the visor is generally oval-shaped.

9. The cap of claim 8 wherein six gores define the body.

10. The cap of claim 8 wherein wherein the visor, the first ribbon, and the second ribbon have a same color.

11. The cap of claim 8 wherein the body is formed from unilaterally stretchable fabric.

12. The cap of claim 8 wherein the body is formed from multi-axially stretchable fabric.

13. A cap comprising:

six gores defining a body having a lower peripheral edge;

an inverted U-shaped opening positioned along the lower peripheral edge of the body;

a sweatband having an elastomeric section, wherein the elastomeric section of the sweatband spans the inverted U-shaped opening;

a first ribbon and a second ribbon coupled to opposite ends of the inverted U-shaped opening; and

a visor has a generally circular outer radius and a U-shaped recess, wherein U-shaped recess is obliquely coupled to the lower peripheral edge of the body.

14. The cap of claim 13 wherein the visor, the first ribbon, and the second ribbon have a same color.

15. The cap of claim 14 wherein the body is formed from unilaterally stretchable fabric.

16. The cap of claim 13 wherein the body is formed from multi-axially stretchable fabric.