HAT WITH VELCRO ATTACHMENT PANELS AND VISORS OR BRIMS

Abstract

A baseball-style cap with panels and/or brim that can be detached and attached to change the appearance of the cap. The panel and brim pieces are attached to the cap by hook and loop fabric. The interior of the cap and/or under side of the brim may be equipped with hook and loop fabric to allow the attachment pieces to be stored when not in use.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/754,363 filed on Dec. 28, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of hats, specifically baseball-type caps constructed of a plurality of panels and a brim.

2. Description of the Related Art

Baseball-type caps are well known in the art, and often are constructed of a plurality of panels that join at a point at the cap's peak, and have a brim at the front of the cap. Such caps have long been used for displays of company or team logos and names. A number of attempts have been made to improve such caps to allow the attachment and removal of interchangeable logos and names. Most of these caps, however, provide for attachment and removal of smaller portions of the hat design, such as logos.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of hats now present in the prior art, the present invention provides for attachment and removal of coverings for entire panels and/or the brim. Such provisions allow the user to change the appearance of the hat and individually customize its look.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a hat that allows removal and attachment of individual panels and/or brim sections, which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art hats, either alone or in any combination thereof.

In one aspect of the present invention, a hat with changeable panels comprises one or more removable panels, a removable brim section, multiple attachment panels located on a cap base, and a brim. The removable panels may be directly attached to the attachment panels by a plurality of projections on a surface of the removable panel applied to a plurality of projections on an attachment panel. Likewise, a removable brim section may be attached to a brim by a plurality of projections on a surface of the removable brim section applied to a plurality of projections on a brim. The removable portions may be detached and reattached to the attachment portions by separating or applying the plurality of projections on the surface of the removable and attachment portions.

In another aspect of the present invention, a five or six panel hat with changeable panels comprises multiple connected attachment panels directly attached to a brim, wherein the brim and one or more of the attachment panels may be further comprised of loop fabric for attachment to a removable brim section and removable panels further comprised of hook fabric.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a hat with changeable panels comprises a cap base further comprised of multiple attachment panels, a brim attached to the cap base, one or more removable panels attached to one or more attachment panels, and a removable brim section attached to the stationary cap base.

In still a further aspect of the present invention a method for interchanging the appearance components of a hat is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of attaching multiple attachment panels together to form a cap base; attaching a plurality of projections to one or more of said multiple attachment panels; attaching a brim having a plurality of projections to said cap base; attaching removable panels having a plurality of projections to the attachment panels having a plurality of projections; and attaching a removable brim section having a plurality of projections to the stationary brim having a plurality projections.

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

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hat that allows for removal and attachment of decorative coverings for entire panels and/or brim sections.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a method of constructing hats that allow for removal and attachment of decorative coverings for entire panels and/or brim sections.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a review of the following specification and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a 6-panel cap with removable panels and brim detached;

FIG. 2 is a back side of the removable panel and brim sections attachable to the 6-panel cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the 6-panel cap with removable panels and brim attached;

FIG. 4 is a front side view of the removable panels and brim sections attachable to the 6-panel cap of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a 5-panel cap with removable panel and brim sections detached;

FIG. 6 is a back side view of the removable panel and brim sections attachable to the 5-panel cap of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a 5-panel cap with removable panel and brim sections attached;

FIG. 8 is a front side view of the removable panel and brim sections attachable to the 5-panel cap of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, a typical baseball-style cap is used as a platform for the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a 6-panel cap 92 may have two front “attachment” panels 10 and brim 12 completely covered with the “loop” 14 of a hook and loop fabric. The loop fabric 14 may either be attached to the existing fabric of a pre-constructed cap, or the loop fabric 14 may be used in lieu of the panel fabric.

More specifically, FIG. 1 shows a 6-panel hat 92 having a cap base 70 which may be comprised of multiple stationary panels 94, “attachment” panels 10, and a brim 18. “Attachment” panels 10 may be comprised of a first end 36 and a second end 60. On the front of the hat 92, the “attachment” panels 10 may have an outer surface 74 with a plurality of projections 76. In this embodiment, the plurality of projections 76 may be comprised of the “loop” fabric 14. Adjacent to the “attachment” panels 10 may be a brim 12. The brim 12, having an inner edge 42 and an outer edge 24, may connect to the second end 60 of the “attachment” panels 10. The brim 12 may be further comprised of an upper surface 58. The upper surface 58 may have a plurality of projections 76 also comprised by loop fabric 14. The loops 14 may provide a means of attachment of the removable “cover” panels 16 and removable brim 18 to the “attachment” panels 10 and brim 12.

The loop fabric 14 may be sewn into the attachment panels 10 and the brim 12. Alternatively, the loop fabric 14 may also be attached using an adhesive. The hook and loop fabric may be a Velcro® brand hook and loop-type fastener. Further, other attachment means may be used to attach the removable panels 16 and brim 18 to the hat 92. The means for attachment may include not only a hook-and-loop-type of fabric, but also removable adhesive, magnetic attachment, button attachment, and the like.

Depicted in FIG. 2 is the first surface 22 or “underside” of the corresponding removable or “cover” panels 16 and brim 18. The first surface 22 may be further comprised of a plurality of projections 76, which in this embodiment are shown as hook fabric 20. The “cover” panels 16 and brim 18 may be entirely covered with hook fabric 20. Further, the cover panels 16 and brim 18 may match the attachment panels 10 and attachment brim 12. The hook fabric 20 may be sewn into the removable panels 16 and brim 18 or attached using an adhesive.

The hook fabric 20 on the first surface 22 may then be applied to the loop fabric 14 on the attachment panels 10. The first end 44 of the removable panels 16 may be placed adjacent to the first end 36 of the attachment panels 10. Meanwhile, the second end 46 of the removable panels 16 may be placed adjacent to the second end 60 of the attachment panels 10 and the inner edge 42 of the brim. Likewise, the inner edge 78 of the removable brim 18 may be placed adjacent to the second end 60 of the attachment panels 10 while the removable brim 18 may rest upon the upper surface 58 of the attachment brim 12 so that the outer edge 24 of the brim 12 and the outer edge 80 of the removable brim 18 may be adjacent.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the second surface 30 or “top side” of the cover panels 16 and cover brim 18 both unattached and attached to the cap. The cover pieces line up with the attachment pieces so that the respective attachment panels and attachment brim are entirely covered when the cover pieces 16, 18 are in place on the cap 92. Also, as shown in both FIGS. 1 and 3, the brim edge 24 may be surrounded by a binding fabric, although any number of suitable brim edges may be used. FIG. 3 shows the 6-panel hat 92 with removable panels 16 and removable brim 18 attached. As such, the figure shows how the first end 44 of the removable panels 16 may be placed adjacent to the first end 36 of the attachment panels 10. Further, the second surface 30 of the removable panels 16 and brim 18 may now be outwardly visible on the hat 92.

FIG. 4 illustrates the second surface 30 or “topside” of the removable panels 16 and brim 18 prior to attachment to the attachment panels 10 and brim 12. The multiple removable panels 16 may provide an increased potential for variability. The figure also shows the curve of the inner edge 78 of the removable brim 18 intended to accommodate secure placement upon the attachment brim 12, such that the inner edge 78 and the outer edge 80 of the removable brim 18 may be neatly aligned with the inner edge 32 and outer edge 24 of the brim 12.

Although FIGS. 1 through 4 depict only the front two panels as being equipped with removable cover panels 16, the remaining panels of the cap may also be equipped with such removable panels. Likewise, although FIGS. 1 through 4 depict only the second surface or topside 30 of the brim as removable, the underside of the brim could also be equipped with a removable cover. Caps may also be equipped with removable panels/brims in any possible combination, such as every other panel, just the side panels, front and rear panels, or just the underside of the brim.

In addition, the interior of the cap may be equipped with the hook side of a hook and loop fabric, so that panels could be stored in the cap when not being worn on the outside. In such an embodiment, the interior of the cap may be equipped with a sweatband that flips down, so that after the panel sections have been attached to the interior of the cap, the sweatband could flip up to protect them from the sweat of the user. Similarly, the underside of the brim could be used to store an unused brim cover, or to allow the use of a specially designed brim underside.

FIG. 5 through 8 depict similar removable panels 32 and brim 34 in a 5-panel cap 40. Such caps use a single front panel with a V-shaped notch 90 in place of the two front panels of the 6-panel cap 92. As such, the cover panel and attachment panel require different configurations as depicted in the Figures. As shown in FIG. 5, the single front attachment panel 26 and attachment brim 28 are covered with a “loop” fabric 14.

Much like the 6-panel hat 92, the hat 5-panel hat 40 may be comprised of stationary panels 94, attachment panels 26, and an attachment brim 28. The attachment panels 26 may have a first end 66 and a second end 68 and may have an outer surface 50 further comprised of a plurality of projections 76 such as loop fabric 14. The attachment panels 26 with the loop fabric 14 may be placed adjacent to the brim 28, which may have an upper surface 52 also comprised of loop fabric 14. The brim 28 may be attached at its inner edge 62 to the second end 68 of the attachment panels 26.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first surface 48 or underside of the single front cover panel 32 and cover brim 34 are covered with the “hook” fabric 20. The first surface 48 may be comprised of hook fabric 20 which may attach to the loop fabric 14 on the outer surface of 50 of the attachment panel 26 and the upper surface 52 of the attachment brim 28. The first end 54 of the removable panel 32 may be placed adjacent to the first end 66 of the attachment panels 26, while the second end 56 of the removable panel 32 may be placed adjacent to the second end 68 of the attachment panels 26 and the inner edge 62 of the brim 28, such that the outer surface 50 of the attachment panels 28 may contact the first surface 48 of the removable panel 32. Likewise, the first surface 48 of the removable brim 34 may be placed above the upper surface 52 of the attachment brim 28 such that the inner edge 82 and outer edge 84 of the removable brim 34 may be adjacent to the inner edge 62 and outer edge 64 of the attachment brim 28, and the hook fabric 20 may attach to the loop fabric 14.

FIG. 7 illustrates the 5-panel hat 40 with removable panel 32 and removable brim 34 attached to the attachment panels 26 such that the first end 54 of the removable panel 32 and the first end 66 of the attachment panels 26 meet. The second surface 38 of the removable panel 32 and removable brim 34 may now be visible to those viewing the 5-panel hat 40.

As shown in FIG. 8, the second surface or top sides 38 of the cover panel 32 and brim 34 may be covered in the desired fabric to be worn on the outside of the hat 40. On the top side 38 of the cover panel 32, one side of the V-shaped notch 90 may have a small strip of “hook” fabric 20 attached to it so that when the two sides are moved together to close the “V,” one side may overlap the other, with the “loop” fabric 14 on the first surface 48 of the cover panel 32 laying atop the “hook” fabric 20. Thus the cover panel 32 may actually stick to itself when overlapped, giving the attached cover panel 32 a finished look, particularly if the “hook” fabric 20 matches or complements the top side 38 of the cover panel 32.

In an alternative embodiment, the hooks and loops on the cap and cover pieces could be reversed, with the hook portion on the cap and the loop portion on the covers.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the cover pieces need not cover the entire panel or the entire brim. The cover pieces could be a variety of logos, designs, or simply a series of letters to allow the user to spell out messages. Likewise, the attachment pieces need not cover the entire panels or the brim to which they are attached, they could cover partial areas.

While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept.

Claims

1. A hat comprising: wherein said stationary brim is attached to said stationary cap base.

one or more removable panels adapted to attach to a stationary cap base; and

a removable brim adapted to attach to a stationary brim;

2. The hat of claim 1, wherein one or more removable panels having a first end and a second end may be attached to said stationary cap base.

3. The hat of claim 1, wherein one or more removable panels having a first surface and a second surface may have a plurality of projections located on the first surface for attachment to said stationary cap base.

4. The hat of claim 1, wherein the cap base is further comprised of attachment panels having an outer surface with a plurality of projections for attachment to said removable panels.

5. The hat of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the removable panels may be applied to the outer surface of the attachment panels for attachment of the removable panels to the attachment panels.

6. The hat of claim 1, wherein the stationary brim having an inner edge and outer edge brim may be attached to the removable brim panel having an inner edge and outer edge.

7. The hat of claim 1, wherein the stationary brim may have an upper surface further comprised of a plurality of projections for attachment to the removable brim panel having a first surface and a second surface.

8. The hat of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the removable brim panel may have a plurality of projections for attachment to an upper surface the stationary brim.

9. The hat of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the removable brim panel may be applied to the upper surface of the stationary brim to attach the removable brim panel to the stationary brim.

10. A hat comprising:

multiple connected stationary panels attached to a stationary brim;

wherein said stationary panels may be further comprised of attachment panels; and

wherein said stationary brim has a plurality of projections for attachment to a removable brim panel and one or more said stationary panels have a plurality of projections for attachment to one or more removable panels.

11. The hat of claim 10, wherein there are six stationary panels.

12. The hat of claim 10, wherein there are five stationary panels.

13. The hat of claim 10, wherein the plurality of projections on the stationary panels and brim is further comprised of fastener loop.

14. The hat of claim 10, wherein the plurality of projections on the removable panels and removable brim panel is comprised of fastener hook.

15. The hat of claim 10, wherein the plurality of projections on the removable panels and removable brim panel may be applied to the plurality of projections on the stationary panels and stationary brim to secure the removable portions to the stationary portions.

16. A hat comprising:

a cap base wherein said cap base is further comprised of multiple connected stationary panels;

a stationary brim attached to one or more said stationary panels;

one or more removable panels attached to one or more said stationary panels; and

a removable brim panel attached to said stationary brim.

17. The hat of claim 16, wherein the stationary panels are further comprised of one or more attachment panels having a plurality of projections and multiple stationary panels without a plurality of projections.

18. The hat of claim 16, wherein the stationary brim has a plurality of projections.

19. The hat of claim 16, wherein the removable panels have a plurality of projections.

20. The hat of claim 16, wherein the removable brim panel has a plurality of projections.

21. The hat of claim 16, wherein the removable panels may attach to the stationary panels by applying the plurality of projections on the removable panels to plurality of projections located on the stationary panels.

22. The hat of claim 16, wherein the removable brim panel may attach to the stationary brim by applying the plurality of projections on the removable brim panel to the plurality of projections located on the stationary brim.

23. A removable panel for a cap, comprising:

a first end and a second end, said ends being attachable to a base of said cap; and

a first surface having a plurality of projections for attachment to said base.

24. The panel of claim 23, wherein the plurality of projections attach the removable panel to said base.

25. The panel of claim 23, wherein the plurality of projections comprises loop fabric.

26. The panel of claim 23, wherein the plurality of projections comprises hook fabric.

27. A method for interchanging the appearance components of a hat, the method comprising:

attaching multiple stationary panels together to form a cap base;

attaching a plurality of projections to one or more of said multiple stationary panels;

attaching a stationary brim having a plurality of projections to said cap base;

attaching removable panels having a plurality of projections to the stationary panels having a plurality of projections;

attaching a removable brim panel having a plurality of projections to the stationary brim having a plurality projections.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of attaching multiple stationary panels together may be accomplished by sewing.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of attaching multiple stationary panels together may be accomplished by using adhesive.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of attaching the stationary brim to the cap base may be accomplished by sewing the brim to the stationary panels.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of attaching the stationary brim to the cap base is accomplished by using adhesive to bind the brim to the stationary panels.

32. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the attachment of a plurality of projections is to the panels accomplished by using adhesive.

33. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the attachment of a plurality of projections to the panels is accomplished by sewing.

34. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein attachment of the plurality of projections on the removable panels may be accomplished by applying the plurality of projections on the removable panel to the plurality of projections on the stationary panels.

35. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the attachment of the plurality of projections on the removable brim may be accomplished by directly applying the plurality of projections on the removable brim panel to the plurality of projections on the stationary brim.