Headwear piece

Abstract

A headwear piece comprises a crown portion having side flaps and an open back adapted to easily pass through a user's bundle of hair, and a visor portion conjoined with the crown portion. An elastic headband portion is operatively affixed at the juncture of the crown and visor portions. The headband portion is adapted at each end to engage one of the side flaps. The engaged side flaps are used to resiliently clip the crown portion onto a user's head.

Description

BACKGROUND

Headgear, such as visors and baseball hats, has been in use for quite some time. Baseball hats and visors typically include some sort of strip fastener in the back which helps maintain the headgear on the head of a user. Some visors implement clip-on fasteners. Once fastened on a user's head, the baseball hat conventionally provides a relatively small cutout at the back of the crown portion for ventilation purposes.

It is fairly common for wearers of such hats and visors to bundle their hair into one of more “pony tails” if the wearers have long hair. The pony-tail hair style enables the wearer to pull a portion of his/her hair, proximal to the scalp, tightly over the head while allowing a distal bundled portion of the hair to extend out from the hat or visor.

Baseball hats provide full protection of the upper head portion from the elements, but fail on the ease of use scale for wearers with long hair. Securing a baseball hat on a user with a pony-tail hair style is a relatively complicated procedure. The user normally struggles to pass the thick pony-tail bundle of hair through the small back cutout of the hat before attempting to secure the strip fastener in the back. Pony-tail hair styles are easier to handle with clip-on visors. However, such visors do not provide any protection of the upper head portion from the elements.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are generally directed to a headwear piece.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the headwear piece comprises a crown portion having side flaps and an open back adapted to pass through a user's bundle of hair, and a visor portion conjoined with the crown portion. The headwear piece also comprises a substantially elastic headband portion being operatively affixed at the juncture of the crown and visor portions. The headband portion is adapted at each end to engage one of the side flaps. The engaged side flaps are used to resiliently clip the crown portion onto a user's head.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the headwear piece comprises a crown portion having first and second side flaps and an open back adapted to pass through a user's bundle of hair, and a visor portion conjoined with the crown portion. The headwear piece also comprises a headband portion being operatively affixed at the juncture of the crown and visor portions. The headband portion includes a resiliently shaped strip and a padded sweatband being enclosed in a casing. The resiliently shaped strip has first and second ends, and a substantially arc-shaped configuration in a first unstretched state. The first and second ends are adapted respectively to engage the first and second side flaps. The engaged side flaps are used to resiliently clip the crown portion onto a user's head.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from a review of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is generally shown by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a headwear piece in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the headwear piece of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

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. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the exemplary embodiments in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by is different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Some embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the related drawings of FIGS. 1-4. Additional embodiments, features and/or advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description or may be learned by practicing the invention. In the figures, the drawings are not to scale with like numerals referring to like features throughout both the drawings and the description.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a headwear piece 10 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Headwear piece 10 includes a flexible crown portion 12, a relatively rigid visor portion 14 conjoined with crown portion 12, and a substantially elastic headband portion 16 (FIG. 2). Headband portion 16 is operatively affixed at a juncture 18 (FIGS. 1-2) of crown portion 12 and visor portion 14, i.e. it helps maintain the overall shape of headwear piece 10 during and after use. Headband portion 16 is configured to resiliently contact a user's head portion when headwear piece 10 is placed on a user's head. Crown portion 12 is configured to provide a partial close-fitting head covering. Visor portion 14 is adapted to shade and protect the eyes of a user from the elements. Visor portion 14 generally maintains its shape when headwear piece 10 is worn or stored by the user. Visor portion 14 may be constructed from an appropriately configured plastic insert being wrapped in flexible material that is suitable for application of insignia. Other materials may be used to construct visor portion 14, provided such other materials do not depart from the intended scope of the present invention.

Crown portion 12 includes a curved front wall 20 (FIG. 1) which concludes in the back with a pair of side flaps 22, 24 (FIG. 2). Front wall 20 and side flaps 22, 24 are provided at one end with a reinforced rim portion 26 which defines the borders of a sizable back opening 28 (FIG. 2) of headwear piece 10. Back opening 28 is of a substantially omega-shaped configuration that is adapted to accommodate bundle(s) of user's hair passing there through in a loose or “pony tail” arrangement(s) and the like. Back opening 28 helps ventilate the part of a user's head that is covered by crown portion 12 during use. Crown portion 12 may be made from a plurality of flexible material sections sewn together to form a partial covering for the forehead, temples, and upper head portion of the user. Alternatively, crown portion 12 may be made from an appropriately configured contiguous piece of flexible material. In each case, the flexible material is suitable for application and display of commercial and/or personal insignia such as logos, advertising and/or the like. Insignia may be applied by various means such as, for example, embroidering, stamping, painting, screen-printing and/or the like.

Headband portion 16 may be constructed from a resiliently shaped plastic or metal strip 30 being enclosed in a flexible casing 32, as generally depicted in FIG. 3. Strip 30 may be enveloped loosely or tightly within casing 32, as needed. Strip 30 may be made from other suitable materials, as needed. Strip 30 has a substantially arc-shaped configuration in its natural unstretched state. When headwear piece 10 is being placed on a user's head, arc-shaped strip 30 expands sufficiently to accommodate the curvature of the user's head. Expansion is generally defined by the ends of resilient strip 30 moving away from each other, as necessary. When headwear piece 10 is being displaced from a user's head, the ends of resilient strip 30 retract toward each other until arc-shaped strip 30 resumes its natural unstretched state.

Each end of strip 30 is received by a respective side flap (22, 24) with each side flap being adapted to securely retain the same. When headwear piece 10 is worn on the user's head, side flaps 22, 24 frictionally adhere crown portion 12 to the user's head, i.e. exhibit “clip on” functionality. When worn, the clip-on headwear piece 10 may be quickly and easily adjusted by the user, as needed. The clip-on side flaps 22, 24 allow crown portion 12 to conform comfortably to the user's head. Back opening 28 provides additional comfort by easily accommodating a wearer's long hair. No time and/or effort are expended fastening headwear piece 10 in the back, as conventionally practiced.

Flexible casing 32 may be provided with an external padded sweatband 34, as generally shown in FIG. 3. Sweatband 34 may be affixed to an exterior surface of casing 32 via glue, stitching, hook-and-loop fastener(s) and/or the like. When affixed, padded sweatband 34 interfaces with the user's hair and helps prevent moisture from reaching arc-shaped strip 30 when headwear piece 10 is being worn by the user. Sweatband 34 may be disposed along the entire circumference of headband portion 16 or may cover portions of headband portion 16, as needed. Sweatband 34 may be made from any suitable moisture absorbing material such as foam, cotton and/or the like. Sweatband 34 helps cushion the inward (toward the user's head) pressure exerted by stretched arc-shaped strip 30 when headwear piece 10 is being worn by the user. Headband portion 16 may be used with or without sweatband 34, as needed.

In accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a headband portion 36 includes a resiliently shaped plastic or metal strip 38 and a padded sweatband 40 being enclosed within a flexible casing 42, as generally illustrated in FIG. 4. Strip 38 and padded sweatband 40 may be enveloped loosely or tightly within casing 42, as needed. Strip 38 may be made from other suitable materials, provided such other materials do not depart from the intended purpose of the present invention. Strip 38 has a substantially arc-shaped configuration in its natural unstretched state. Strip 38 (FIG. 4) functions in the manner generally described hereinabove in reference to strip 30 of FIG. 3.

Padded sweatband 40 is sandwiched between arc-shaped strip 38 and flexible casing 42, as generally illustrated in FIG. 4. Sweatband 40 may be affixed to an interior surface of casing 42 via glue, stitching, hook-and-loop fastener(s) and/or the like. Sweatband 40 may also be affixed to arc-shaped strip 38 via glue and the like. Alternatively, sweatband 40 may be sandwiched between arc-shaped strip 38 and flexible casing 42 without being affixed to either one, i.e. it may be simply in frictional contact with both of them.

When headwear piece 10 incorporates headband portion 36 (instead of headband portion 16 and sweatband 34 of FIG. 3), padded side 44 (FIG. 4) of headband portion 36 interfaces with the user's hair and provides comfort to the user during use. Sweatband 40 may be disposed along the entire circumference of arc-shaped strip 38. Alternatively, sweatband 40 may be configured to provide padded cover only for portions of strip 38. Sweatband 40 may be made from any suitable moisture absorbing material such as foam, cotton and/or the like. The thickness and/or quality of padding used may be varied, as needed. Padded side 44 (FIG. 4) of headband portion 36 helps cushion the inward (toward the user's head) pressure exerted by stretched arc-shaped strip 38 when the headwear piece is being worn by the user.

A person skilled in the art would appreciate that exemplary embodiments described hereinabove are merely illustrative of the general principles of the present invention. Other modifications or variations may be employed that reside within the scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the drawings and description are illustrative and not meant to be a limitation thereof.

Moreover, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Thus, it is intended that the invention cover all embodiments and variations thereof as long as such embodiments and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A headwear piece, comprising:

a crown portion having side flaps and an open back adapted to pass through a user's bundle of hair;

a visor portion conjoined with said crown portion; and

a substantially elastic headband portion operatively affixed at the juncture of said crown and visor portions and adapted at each end to engage one of said side flaps, said engaged side flaps being used to resiliently clip said crown portion onto a user's head.

2. The headwear piece of claim 1, wherein said crown and visor portions are adapted for application of insignia.

3. The headwear piece of claim 1, wherein said headband portion includes a resiliently shaped strip being enclosed in a casing, said resiliently shaped strip having a first end and a second end.

4. The headwear piece of claim 3, wherein said resiliently shaped strip is made of plastic.

5. The headwear piece of claim 3, wherein said resiliently shaped strip is made of metal.

6. The headwear piece of claim 3, wherein said casing is flexible.

7. The headwear piece of claim 3, wherein said resiliently shaped strip has a substantially arc-shaped configuration in a first unstretched state.

8. The headwear piece of claim 7, wherein said first and second ends of said substantially arc-shaped strip move away from each other to accommodate the curvature of a user's head.

9. The headwear piece of claim 8, wherein said first and second ends of said substantially arc-shaped strip retract toward each other until said substantially arc-shaped strip resumes said first unstretched state.

10. The headwear piece of claim 7, further comprising a padded sweatband being affixed to one side of said casing.

11. The headwear piece of claim 10, wherein said affixed padded sweatband is adapted to cushion the pressure exerted by said substantially arc-shaped strip against a user's head.

12. The headwear piece of claim 11, wherein said padded sweatband is disposed along the entire circumference of said headband portion.

13. The headwear piece of claim 11, wherein said padded sweatband is adapted to cover portions of said headband portion.

14. A headwear piece, comprising:

a crown portion having first and second side flaps and an open back adapted to pass through a user's bundle of hair;

a visor portion conjoined with said crown portion; and

a headband portion operatively affixed at the juncture of said crown and visor portions and including a resiliently shaped strip and a padded sweatband being enclosed in a casing,

said resiliently shaped strip having first and second ends and a substantially arc-shaped configuration in a first unstretched state, said first and second ends being adapted respectively to engage said first and second side flaps, said engaged side flaps being used to resiliently clip said crown portion onto a user's head.

15. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said substantially arc-shaped strip is made of plastic.

16. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said substantially arc-shaped strip is made of metal.

17. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said casing is flexible.

18. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said padded sweatband is sandwiched between said substantially arc-shaped strip and said casing.

19. The headwear piece of claim 18, wherein said padded sweatband is affixed to an interior surface of said casing.

20. The headwear piece of claim 18, wherein said padded sweatband is affixed to said substantially arc-shaped strip.

21. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said first and second ends of said substantially arc-shaped strip move away from each other to accommodate the curvature of a user's head.

22. The headwear piece of claim 21, wherein said first and second ends of said substantially arc-shaped strip retract toward each other until said substantially arc-shaped strip resumes said first unstretched state.

23. The headwear piece of claim 18, wherein said padded sweatband is adapted to cushion the pressure exerted by said substantially arc-shaped strip against a user's head.

24. The headwear piece of claim 19, wherein said padded sweatband is adapted to cushion the pressure exerted by said substantially arc-shaped strip against a user's head.

25. The headwear piece of claim 20, wherein said padded sweatband is adapted to cushion the pressure exerted by said substantially arc-shaped strip against a user's head.

26. The headwear piece of claim 18, wherein said sweatband is disposed along the entire circumference of said substantially arc-shaped strip.

27. The headwear piece of claim 18, wherein said sweatband is adapted to provide padded cover for portions of said substantially arc-shaped strip.

28. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said padded sweatband is made from a moisture absorbing material.

29. The headwear piece of claim 10, wherein said padded sweatband is made from a moisture absorbing material.

30. The headwear piece of claim 1, wherein said open back is substantially omega-shaped.

31. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said open back is substantially omega-shaped.

32. The headwear piece of claim 14, wherein said crown and visor portions are adapted for application of insignia.