BEANIE WITH OPENING AND ADJUSTABLE CLOSURES

Abstract

A beanie for covering at a portion of the hair on the head of a person has at least one rear opening with opposite beanie portions on opposing sides of the opening. A plurality of spaced apart closures extend along the opposite beanie portions on opposing sides of the rear opening, and each of the spaced apart closures has open and closed positions so that the rear opening may be fully or partially open or fully closed depending upon the open or closed position of the closures. Preferably each closure provides a button on one side of the rear opening and a loop on the other side of the opening.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a beanie with an opening therein, and more particularly to a beanie with at least one rear opening having a plurality of individual closures space apart and extending along opposing sides of the opening.

Longer hair which is tied, braided, or otherwise secured in one or more elongate extensions or “tails” to the back of the head, has long been popular among women. Generally, such hair is gathered toward the upper back of the scalp, above the location of the rear portion of the band of a hat or cap or the lower edge of a beanie, if such is worn.

The result is that the gathering of the hair near the scalp, which by its nature forms a protruding bundle at that point, must be stuffed under the hat, cap or beanie, with the remainder of the hair extending outwardly and downwardly below the rear edge or band of the hat, cap or beanie. With closely fitting headgear of any type such a hair configuration can be somewhat uncomfortable for the wearer of the headgear.

Moreover, many men and women with longer hair also engage in various vigorous activities (e.g., jogging, etc.). Typically, a cap, hat or beanie is worn in colder conditions during such activities, and the hair is captured thereunder. This is especially true when a hooded windbreaker or the like is worn. The result is often that the longer hair absorbs perspiration due to the activity of the person, and becomes damp and uncomfortable as a result. Yet, there is generally no convenient alternative to allow the longer hair to remain free during such activities.

Accordingly, a need will be seen for headgear such as a beanie which provides a neat and attractive rear opening or openings for the passage of the hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is a beanie with at least one rear opening therein and individual closures spaced apart and extending along opposite sides of the opening so that the wearer's hair may extend through the opening in a pony tail for ease of wearing the beanie without bunching of the hair underneath the beanie.

Another object of the present invention is a beanie which is easy to store and comfortable in use in an attractive manner.

Still another object of the present invention is a beanie with at least one rear opening which may be fully or partially open or fully closed.

In accordance with the present invention, a beanie is constructed and arranged to cover at least a portion of the hair of a person. The beanie has at least one rear opening with opposite beanie portions on opposing sides of the opening. A plurality of closures are spaced apart and extend along the opposite beanie portions on opposing sides of the opening. Each of the closures has open and closed positions so that the rear opening may be fully or partially open or fully closed depending upon the open or closed position of the closures.

The plurality of closures may comprise buttons and opposing loops on the beanie adjacent the rear opening on opposite sides thereof. Preferably, all of the buttons are positioned on one of the opposite beanie portions and all of the loops are positioned on the other opposite beanie portion along the boundary of the rear opening. Four such spaced apart closures may be provided.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a pair of spaced apart rear openings are provided on the beanie, and a plurality of closures are spaced apart and extend along the opposite beanie portions on the opposing sides on each rear opening. The spaced apart closures have open and closed positions so that each rear openings may be fully or partially open or fully closed depending on the open or closed position of the closures. Preferably, the plurality of closures along each opening comprises a button on one side of the opening and a loop on the opposite side of each opening. All of the buttons preferably are positioned on one side of each opening and all of the loops are positioned on the other side of each opening. Two spaced apart closures may be provided along each opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Novel features and advantages of the present invention in addition to those mentioned above will become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a beanie with a rear opening having button and loop closures, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the button and loop closures in their closed position;

FIG. 7 is a right side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a left side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of an alternate beanie with a pair of spaced apart rear openings, each having button and loop closures, according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a right side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 13 is a left side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the beanie shown in FIGS. 1-10 with each of the button and loop closures in its fully open position as shown in FIGS. 1-5, and with a ponytail passing therethrough;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 15 showing the loop side of the of the fully open button and loop closures;

FIG. 17 is a rear elevational view showing the beanie of FIGS. 1-10 with the button and loop closures partially open, and with a ponytail passing through the partial opening;

FIG. 18 is a rear elevational view of the alternate beanie shown in FIGS. 11-14, but with each uppermost button and loop closure in its closed position and each lowermost button and loop closure in its open position, and with a ponytail extending through the lower part of each rear opening;

FIG. 19 is a fragmental view in elevation showing one of the buttons and its associated loop in an open position;

FIG. 20 is a cross-section plan view of the open button and loop closure of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 21 is a fragmental view in elevation, showing one of the buttons and its associated loop in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring in more particularity to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a beanie 10 having a rear opening 12 with a plurality of spaced apart closures 14 extending along opposite beanie portions 16 on opposing sides 18 of the rear opening 12. Each of the spaced apart closures 14 has open and closed positions, and FIGS. 1-5 show all of the closures in their open position.

FIGS. 6-10 are similar to FIGS. 1-5, but FIGS. 6-10 show all of the individual closures 14 in their closed position.

Preferably each of the plurality of closures 14 comprises a button 20 on one of the opposite beanie portions 16 and a loop 22 on the other of the opposite beanie portions. All of the buttons 20 are positioned on one side of the rear opening 12 while all of the loops 22 are positioned on the other side of the beanie. Four spaced apart closures 14 are shown along the opposing sides 18 of the rear opening 12.

The major portion of the beanie 10 may be knitted, but other material such as fabric and the like may be used to form the beanie.

FIGS. 11-13 illustrate an alternate beanie 10A having a pair of spaced apart rear openings 12A. Each opening has opposite beanie portions 16A extending along opposing sides 18A of each opening 12A. A plurality of spaced apart closures 14A extend along the opposite beanie portions 16A on opposing sides 18A of each rear opening 12A. Each of the spaced apart closures 14A along each opening 12A has open and closed positions so that each rear opening 12A may be full or partially open or fully closed depending upon the open or closed position of the closures. FIGS. 11-13 show all of the closures 14A in their open position.

Preferably each of the plurality of closures 14A along each rear opening 12A comprises a button 20 on one side of the opening and a loop 22 on the other side thereof.

All of the buttons 20A associated with each of the rear openings 12A may be positioned on one of the opposite beanie portions 16A while all of the loops 22A may be positioned on the other beanie portion of each opening.

The rear openings 12A are somewhat smaller than the rear opening 12 and two spaced apart closures 14A extend along each opening 12A.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate the beanie 10 with each of the button and loop closures 20, 22 in its fully open position, as specifically illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. A pony tail 24 extends through the opening 12 as shown. Depending upon the bulk of the poly tail 24 extending through the rear opening 12, all of the closure may remain open or one, two or three of the closures 14 may be closed. Accordingly, although the rear opening 12 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 is fully open, a partial opening is also contemplated depending upon the number of open or closed button and loop closures 20, 22.

FIG. 17 illustrates a partially open position of the closures 14 with the upper two buttons and loops 20, 22 closed and the lower two buttons and loops in their open position. In this arrangement the pony tail 24 extends through the rear opening 12, but only through the lower half of that opening.

FIG. 18 shows the alternate beanie of 12A of FIGS. 11-14, but with the upper-most button and loop 20A, 22A of each closure 14A in its closed position and each lower-most button and loop of each closure in its open position, and with a pony tail 24A extending through the lower part of each opening 12A.

FIGS. 19-20 illustrate one of the buttons 20, 20A and its associated loop 22, 22A in an open position while FIG. 21 is similar, but showing one of the buttons 20, 20A and its associated loop 22, 22A in a closed position.

Claims

1. A beanie constructed and arranged to cover at least a portion of the hair on the head of a person, at least one rear opening on the beanie totally surrounded by portions of the beanie with opposite beanie portions on opposing sides of the opening, a plurality of closures spaced apart and extending along the opposite beanie portions on opposing sides of the rear opening, and each of the spaced apart closures having open and closed positions whereby the rear opening may be fully or partially open or fully closed depending upon the open or closed position of the closures.

2. A beanie as in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of closures comprises a button on one of the opposite beanie portions and a loop on the other of the opposite beanie portions.

3. A beanie as in claim 2 wherein all of the buttons are positioned on one of the opposite beanie portions and all of the loops are positioned on the other of the opposite beanie portions.

4. A beanie as in claim 3 including four spaced apart closures.

5. A beanie as in claim 1 including a pair of spaced apart rear openings on the beanie each totally surrounded by portions of the beanie with opposite beanie portions on opposing sides of each opening, a plurality of closures spaced apart and extending along the opposite beanie portions on opposing sides of each rear opening, and each of the spaced apart closures of each opening having open and closed positions whereby each rear opening may be fully or partially open or fully closed depending upon the open or closed position of the closures.

6. A beanie as in claim 5 wherein each of the plurality of closures along each rear opening comprises a button on one of the opposite beanie portions and a loop on the other of the opposite beanie portions.

7. A beanie as in claim S wherein all of buttons along each opening are positioned on one of the opposite beanie portions of each opening and all of the loops along each opening are positioned on the other opposite beanie portion of each opening.

8. A beanie as in claim 7 including two spaced apart closures along each opening.