Sports Cap with Rotatable Crown

Abstract

A sports rally cap, comprising a crown member configured to rotate around its own vertical axis and to rotate around a horizontal axis of a brim. The crown member includes a plurality of sports theme logos. A brim includes on its inner surface a T-head shaped male track means for slidably engaging a compatible inter-locking bracket-shaped female channel track means that is attached to a headband member of a visor. The visor member comprises a bill having at least one logo displayed on its upper surface. The crown is configured to rotate around the head of an individual wearer person, wherefore the visor member being stably positioned on the head of the individual wearer person. The individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by rotating the crown until an appropriate logo appears to suit a rally theme.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present application relates, in general, to headwear apparel, and more particularly to hats and caps with adjustable and rotatable crowns.

2. Description of Some Prior Art

Baseball-style caps are a common constituent of apparel worn by fans at sporting events and at rallies. Sporting a baseball-style cap at a sports event or a club is a longstanding American tradition. Sports fans often use sports caps to express their support for their favorite team either because of nativity or because of location of the team or for a number of other reasons. While there are numerous types, styles and designs for caps having a single logo of a sports team imprinted on the crown of many commercial caps, there are only a few, if any, inventions of caps with multiple logos inscribed on rotatable crowns.

Movable visors and bills are known in the art. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,317, Brown et al. disclose caps in which, the bill/visor parts may be detachable from a sweatband portion of a visor, which may be inter-changeable with other bills and visor using loops and hooks to secure the headband. However, the Brown et al., patent does not teach the use of slidable mechanisms for adjusting visors or crowns. U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,684 issued to Castle discloses a cap construction in which, a visor portion may be detachable from a brim and crown parts. The Castle patent discloses a movable and detachable brim portion, which may be adjustable using a sliding means to rotate a visor to shield from the sun. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,211 issued to Mehrens, teaches a cap with a visor/bill portion that is movable relative to the crown. The Mehrens patent disclosed a sliding assembly in which, one member is attached to the brim while the complementary sliding member is attached to a band that is secured to the visor so that the visor may be moved while the brim stays on the head of the wearer. Other patents also disclose similar sliding mechanisms to move the bill portion of a visor on sports caps. For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,789,267 and 7,240,373, issued to Ahn describe a cap with a sliding assembly comprising a C-shaped channel and a vertically T-shaped track whereby the brim may be rotated relative to the crown. Unlike the Ahn patents, the present invention discloses a bracket-shaped channel track means that accommodates a T-head-shaped male track means that when engaged together enables the wearer to rotate the crown to multiple positions relative to a position of the bill of the cap. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,715,534 and 6,263,508, issued to Mobley/Davis, disclosed hats and caps with moveable bills or brims. Both the Mobley/Davis patents teach a cap or hat wherein the bill or brim of the cap/hat may be rotated by the wearer relative to the crown. The sliding assembly that operates the movement of the bill or brim in the Mobley/Davis patents is generally located on the outer rim of the brim so that the visor may be rotated around the crown of the cap.

A goal of the present invention is to achieve the dual purposes of: (1) rotation of the crown portion of a baseball-style cap around its own vertical axis to display multiple symbols, logos and the like, while the cap is securely fixed on the head of a wearer; and (2) simultaneously the bill of the visor is still positioned to protect the face of the wearer from the sun's harmful rays while the crown can be rotated. Thus the current invention differs from the above-described prior art in that the crown is connected to the outside periphery of a headband, without an intermediary sweatband, and the visor member stays in a constant position, and the sliding mechanism is located between the periphery of the crown/brim, and the complementary side of the sliding mechanism is attached to the headband of the visor. This mode of construction is advantageous because the wearer may easily select a different logo based on the wearer's predilection without removing the cap from his or her head. In the current disclosure, as opposed to the above-described prior art patents, the invention is an improvement focused on an adjustable or rotatable crown, while the detachable visor member of the cap is fixed on the head of the wearer shielding the wearer's face from the sun and the elements of the weather. The construction of the crown in the current teaching is a unitary construction, meaning there is no separable brim or sweatband or edge portion separable from the body of the crown. Thus the present disclosure addresses the issue of how to rotate the crown body without rotating or disturbing the brim or visor/bill, and the invention seeks to resolve this issue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, the disclosed invention comprises a baseball-style cap. The cap further comprises a crown member configured to cover a head of an individual wearer person. The crown member is further configured to rotate around its own vertical axis. The crown member has a bottom-end opening defining a brim. The brim has a circularly configured opening to receive an individual wearer person's head. The crown member is additionally configured to rotate around a horizontal axis of the brim. In an embodiment, the crown member has a plurality of sports theme logos outwardly displayed on the crown member's outer surfaces.

In yet another embodiment a sports rally cap has a brim that has a substantially semi-stiff inner surface that is configured to be reversibly detachable and re-attachable to and from a visor member. The brim includes on its inner surface a protruding generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means for slidably engaging a compatible inter-locking and generally circular reciprocally cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means. In a further embodiment, the generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means further comprises an upper first groove and a lower second groove that are vertically connected by an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion. The cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means further includes a semi-stiff upper lip and a second semi-stiff lower lip that are vertically connected by an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion.

In a further embodiment, a visor comprises a bill that extends outwardly and laterally relative to an individual wearer person's head. The bill has at least one logo displayed on its upper surface. Additionally, the visor member has attached to it a generally circular reciprocally cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means that is configured to couple to the protruding side of a generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means, wherefore said generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means being securely attached circularly to a brim's inner surface. In yet another embodiment, the generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means substantially extends lengthwise circumferentially around near an edge of an inner surface of the brim. In an embodiment, the visor member includes a generally closed circular headband member, which is securely attached to an inner surface of the visor member. The headband member is also securely attached to a concavely curved backward portion of a bill. The headband member is further configured to securely attach to an outer flat portion of the generally circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means. In an embodiment, the cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means is configured to slidably accommodate the male track means. In yet another embodiment, the crown member, and the visor member are coupled to each other such as to enable the crown to rotate around the head of an individual wearer person, wherefore the visor member is stably positioned on the head of the individual wearer person.

In an alternative embodiment of a sports rally cap, a generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means and a generally circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means, when coupled to each other, thereby form a circular and longitudinally extending single inter-locking mechanism to enable said male track means to slide smoothly within the female channel track means back and forth circularly and laterally around the horizontal axis of said brim.

In yet another embodiment, a sports rally cap comprises a male track means. The male track means includes an upper first groove and a lower second groove that are connected by an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion. The cross-sectionally rectangular portion has a first flat side securely attached to an inner periphery surface of a brim of the cap. The cross-sectionally rectangular portion also has an opposing second flat side that is generally shorter than the first flat side projecting outwardly from the inner periphery surface of the brim.

In a further embodiment, a sports rally cap includes a generally circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means, which is defined by a semi-stiff upper lip and a second semi-stiff lower lip. The semi-stiff upper and lower lips are vertically connected by an intermediate two-sided elongated and generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion. The cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion has a first flat side securely attached to a periphery surface of a visor headband member, and an opposing second flat side generally shorter than the first flat side that projects outwardly from the outer surface of the visor headband member. The upper and lower lips further define a clasp for slidably and securely retaining an upper first groove and a lower second groove of said T-head shaped male track means.

In yet another embodiment, a sports rally cap comprises a headband member of a visor that is securely attached to a first flat side of an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion of a circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means such that the headband member has an outer side attached to the cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means and an inner side in contact with an individual wearer person's head.

In yet another embodiment, a sports rally cap comprises a headband member of a visor that is securely attached to a first flat side of an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion of a circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means such that the headband member has an outer side attached to the cross-sectionally T-head shaped male channel track means and an inner side in contact with an individual wearer person's head.

In another embodiment, a sports rally cap comprises a semi-stiff portion of an inner surface of a brim that is securely attached to a first flat side of an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion of a circular cross-sectionally a female channel track means such that the semi-stiff portion of an inner surface of a brim has an outer side attached to the cross-sectionally bracket shaped female channel track means and an inner side in contact with an individual wearer person's head.

In an embodiment, a sports rally cap comprises a generally circular cross-sectionally T-head-shaped male track means that is made from at least one member of a group consisting of a plastic, a metal, polyurethane, a polyvinyl chloride, a nylon, a rubber, and a wood.

In an alternative embodiment, a sports rally cap includes a generally circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means which is made from at least one member of a group consisting of a plastic, a metal, polyurethane, a polyvinyl chloride, a nylon, a rubber, and a wood.

In an another embodiment, a sports rally cap comprises a crown member that is detachable from said visor member by forcibly pulling at a visor member so that a female channel track means separates from a male track means.

An embodiment of a sports rally cap comprises a crown member that is attachable to a visor member by firstly aligning a male track means with a female channel track means and secondly by pressing a semi-stiff upper lip and a semi-stiff lower lip of the female channel track means against a protruding surface of the male track means thereby forming a single sliding inter-locked unit to enable rotation of the crown.

A further embodiment includes a sports rally cap having a plurality of sports theme logos that are constructed on to a generally triangular-shaped fabric portions, which are sewn together to form a dome-shaped crown member of the sports rally cap.

In an additional embodiment, a sports rally cap comprises a plurality of sports theme logos that are selected from a group consisting of a professional sports team, a professional game, a professional outdoor activity, a religious symbol, a professional theme, a non-professional sport, a non-professional theme, a cause, a rally, an event, a gathering of persons, a club, a game, a membership organization, a company, a material, a tool and a unit.

In another embodiment, a sports rally cap comprises a male track means that is attached securely near an inner periphery surface of a brim by means of at least one of a hook, a thread, a stitch, a clip, a staple, a grip, a nail, a screw, an adhesive, a rivet, a pin, a bolt, a rubber, a wire and a cable. Additionally, the sports rally cap has a female channel track means that is attached securely to a visor member and to a headband member by means of at least one of a hook, a thread, a stitch, a clip, a staple, a grip, a nail, a screw, an adhesive, a rivet, a pin, a bolt, a rubber, a wire, a fastener, and a cable.

In yet another embodiment, a sports rally cap has a brim having a substantially semi-stiff inner surface configured to be reversibly detachable and re-attachable to and from a visor member. The brim is detached from said visor member such that the visor member can be separately worn on a head of an individual wearer person.

An embodiment of a method of rallying for a sports team includes a sports rally cap and an individual wearer person that rallies for at least one sports team by entering a sports arena where at least one sports team is putting on an event. The method further includes the individual wearer person selecting a rally cap with a rotatable crown having at least one logo corresponding to at last one sports team. The method also includes the individual wearer selecting a visor member having a bill having at least one logo displayed on the upper surface of the bill.

In an embodiment a method includes an individual wearer person rallying for at least one sports team by covering the individual person's head with the cap with the rotatable crown having at least one logo corresponding to at last one sports team and at least one logo outwardly displayed on the crown. The method further includes the individual wearer person rallying for at least one sports team by rotating a crown of the cap until an appropriate logo to suit a rally theme for at least one sports team that is displayed in front. The displayed logo coincides in position with a bill of the cap. In an alternative embodiment, the method includes the individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by changing allegiance to a winning team by rotating the crown member to an appropriate logo displayed in a front position coinciding with the bill having at least one logo that is a different logo compared to the crown logo displayed on the crown member.

The foregoing summary is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, further improved aspects, embodiments, and devices and methods will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative representation of a sports rally cap on a figurative representation of wearer person's head.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative example of a sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative example of a sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative example of a sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative example of a sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative example of a sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative example of a sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative example of a sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative example a of sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative example of a sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 11 is an illustrative example of a sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 12 is an illustrative example of a top view of a sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 13 is an illustrative example of a top view of a sports rally cap with exemplary logos.

FIG. 14 is an illustrative example of a crown member.

FIG. 15 is an illustrative example of a visor member.

FIG. 16 is an illustrative example of a crown member having exemplary male track means shown as an exploded view (a, b).

FIG. 17 is an illustrative example of a visor member having exemplary female channel track means shown as an exploded view (a, b).

FIG. 18 is an illustrative example of a sliding mechanism of coupling.

FIG. 19 is an illustrative example of a sports rally cap with an illustrative sliding mechanism (19A).

FIG. 20 is a schematic illustration of a method of rallying by an individual wearer person.

FIG. 21 is an illustration of a method of rallying by figurative individual wearer person.

A person skilled in the art will recognize that the drawings and accompanying brief descriptions are illustrative without limitations and are not drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part and parcel thereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings and claims are not meant to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit, letter or scope of the subject matter presented here.

The following disclosure is drawn to a baseball-style cap having a rotatable crown that may be used, without limitations, in sports events, rallies, team sports celebrations and the like.

FIG. 1 shows an illustration of an embodiment of a sports rally cap comprising a crown 10 member configured to cover a head 11 of an individual wearer person 24. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the crown 10 member has a plurality of sports theme logos 14, 16, 18, 20 outwardly displayed on the crown member's outer surfaces 13. The terms sports logo(s) or theme logos or logos as, or similar terms used herein, include, but is not limited to, sports, games, theme symbols, emblems, badges, base ball icons, unit, tool, mascots, shapes, ideas, designs, words, letters, code or any other symbol that may represent a theme, team or an event. In an embodiment, the cap may have a bill 12 that extends outwardly and may also carry a logo A22. In FIG. 2 there is schematically illustrated that the crown 10 member is configured to rotate 26 around its own vertical axis V. Additionally, the crown 10 has a bottom-end opening, the opening 28 defining a brim 29. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the crown 10 is configured to rotate on an imaginary horizontal axis H of a brim 29. In FIG. 2 for illustrative purposes, the crown 10 is indicated to rotate 26 clockwise as shown by an arrow head. In an alternative embodiment, the crown 10 may be configured to rotate anti-clockwise as well. Thus the wearer 24 of the cap may rotate the crown 360 degrees, as disclosed herein. In other embodiments, FIGS. 3-5 illustrate that the crown 10 member is further configured to rotate around its own vertical axis V and a horizontal axis H of the brim. In FIG. 3 the cap has the logo A14 facing the bill 12 and its logo A22, i.e., each logo is coincident with the other. Should the wearer turn the crown 10 member anti-clockwise 30, then as shown in FIG. 4, the wearer would have two different logos S18, N20 going to the front of the cap, and the logo A14 and B16 going to the back of the cap. In a further embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 the individual wearer person may choose to rotate 32 the crown 10 in a clockwise direction. This would result in the crown, which is in an initial position as shown in FIG. 3 wherein, the logo A14 is in coincidence with logo A22, to rotate 32 to a different position such that the logo B16 is now coincident with the logo A22 on the bill 12, as shown in FIG. 5. A skilled person would recognize that other positions and variations, not depicted here in the figures are nonetheless disclosed herein, in the rotation of the crown, are possible within the scope herein and are enabled by rotating the crown to intermediate positions. For instance, rotating the crown 10 to a position where either S18 or N20 coincide with A22.

An aspect of the disclosure includes using a method of rotating the crown by an individual wearer person to rally for at least one sports team by selecting the rally cap with the rotatable crown having at least one logo corresponding to at last one sports team. Another embodiment of the method of rallying comprises selecting at least one sports team and selecting and wearing a rally cap having a bill having at least one logo displayed on the upper surface of the bill. As used herein, the term “bill” 12 includes, but is not limited to, a part of the rally cap that extends outwardly as shown in FIGS. 1-6 partly shading the face of an individual wearer person, and acts as a protective cover over the face against the sun's harmful rays and the elements of the weather.

Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7, which illustrate numerous further embodiments of a sports rally cap 33 comprising a crown 10 member having a plurality of sports theme logos 34, 36, 38,40, 42, 44 outwardly displayed on the crown member's outer surfaces 48, 50. Additional embodiments may include, without limitations, logos 36, 42 on a bill 12 of the caps. The plurality of sports theme logos are selected from a group consisting of a professional sports team based in a city, such as New York, San Francisco, Seattle etc., a professional game, such as chess, poker, etc., a professional outdoor activity, such as from a mountaineering, sailing, climbing, camping, a religious symbol, such as from a church, temple, synagogue; a professional theme, such as from a trade group; a non-professional sport, such as from a college or varsity sports team; a non-professional theme, a club, a group, such as Shriners; a cause, such as a disease cure advocacy group; a rally, such as a marathon; an event, a gathering of persons, a dance club, a game, a membership organization, a company, a material, a tool and a unit. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other alternative examples of logos and symbols may be presented, without limitations, within the purview of this disclosure. FIGS. 8-11 illustrate alternative embodiments of baseball-style rally caps having crown 10 displaying a religious symbol 51 or outdoor activity logo 52 or a corporate logo 54. Other embodiments of a rally cap may include, but not limited to words or phrases 60, 62 or slogans. The advantage of displaying and having a plurality of logos affixed on the crown 10 member is that the individual wearer person may rotate the crown to display one or more logos at any given event or time.

As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 in another aspect of a sports rally cap disclosed herein, a plurality of sports theme logos 14, 16, 18, 20, 50, 52 are constructed on to generally triangular-shaped fabric portions 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, the triangular-shaped fabric portions are stitched 77 (or otherwise fastened by any suitable means) together to form a dome-shaped crown 10 (see for example FIGS. 10, 11) member of the sports rally cap. FIGS. 12 and 13 depict top views of caps illustrated, for example in FIGS. 10 and 11. In the top view, embodiments of the logos appear as a circle (as in FIGS. 12 and 13) on the dome shaped crown. Furthermore, the triangular-shaped fabric portions 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 are held together at the top of a crown using a decorative button 82 (See FIGS. 10 and 13). Those skilled in the art will recognize that other means may used to hold together the fabric portions of a sports rally cap. These means may include but are not limited to, stitches, seals, hooks, buttons, threads, wires, rubber, synthetic tethers, and the like.

As used herein, the term “sports rally cap” includes, but is not limited to sports or games only. The term includes, without limitations, any other purpose or activity or the like disclosed within the scope thereof. The term sports rally cap is used merely for the purposes of connoting, indicating or otherwise describing an activity in which an individual wearer person has possession of the cap.

Turning now to FIGS. 14 and 15, there is shown another aspect of the subject matter of the invention heretofore. In FIG. 14, therein is illustratively shown a crown 10 member having a bottom-end opening 83, the opening defining a brim 28. In a further embodiment, the brim has a generally circularly configured opening to receive an individual wearer person's head. The term “generally circular or circularly” or “circumferential(ly)” includes, but is not limited to, circular or semi-circular shapes, oval shapes, elliptical shapes and squarish shapes or any other configuration that fits the head of an individual wearer person. Returning to FIGS. 14 and 15, the brim 28 has a substantially semi-stiff inner surface 84 configured to be reversibly detachable and re-attachable 85 to and from a visor 86 member. The visor 86 member further comprises a bill 12 that extends outwardly and laterally and having at least one logo 88, and a semi-stiff headband 89. The generally closed circular headband 89 member is securely attached to an inner surface of the brim 28. The headband 89 member is securely attached 90 to a concavely curved backward portion 91 of the bill 12. In an embodiment, the entire visor 86 is attachable to the semi-stiff surface 84 of the brim 28 portion of the crown 10 to comprise a cap. The crown 10 member may be detachable from the visor 86 member by forcibly pulling at the visor 86 member headband 89, for example.

An aspect of the invention includes a sliding mechanism that enables the individual wearer person to rotate a crown of a sports rally cap. FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate components of a sliding mechanism. There is illustrated in FIG. 16 an embodiment of a crown 10 of a cap and a brim 28 that includes on its inner surface a protruding and generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped 98 male track means 92 for slidably engaging a compatible inter-locking and generally circular reciprocally cross-sectionally bracket-shaped 103 female channel track means (102 (FIG. 17). The generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means 92 further comprises an upper first groove 99 and a lower second groove 100 that are vertically connected by an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion 94. Referring now to FIG. 17, the cross-sectionally bracket-shaped 103 female channel track means 102 further includes a semi-stiff upper lip 104 and a second semi-stiff lower lip 106 that are vertically connected by an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion 108. In an embodiment, he cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means 102 is affixed to a headband 89 of a visor 86 member.

A reasonably skilled artisan will recognize that the embodiments of a sliding mechanism as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 are merely illustrative and exemplary. Other variations and alternative means for sliding are conceivably within the scope of the claimed invention, and may be specified and practiced under the same or similar circumstances. For instance a skilled artisan will recognize that a female channel track means may be affixed on a brim edge of a crown while a male track may be affixed on to the headband member of a visor or vice versa, and achieve an equivalent ways, means and result as to enabling rotation of a crown of a cap, all of which, are within the scope of this disclosure.

Addressing FIGS. 18 and 19, a generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means 204 and the generally circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means 200, when coupled 208 to each other, thereby form a circular 304 and longitudinally extending single inter-locking mechanism 306 to enable the male track means to slide smoothly within the female channel track means back and forth circularly and laterally around the horizontal axis of a brim of a crown. The channel 210 in the female track means may be engaged by the male track means by either sliding the upper lip 104 and lower lip 106 into the complementary upper groove 100 and the lower groove 101 of the male track means.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the terms “cross-sectionally” or “cross-section” (or similar terms) are ad hoc and indicate or connote a view of the T-head shaped or bracket-shaped track means if an imaginary cross-section of the same were taken. The terms “circular” or “circumferential” or the like, include, without limitation, circle-like, or oval shaped, or semi-circular shape or elliptical or arc-shapes.

Returning to FIGS. 18 and 19, in an embodiment, the generally circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track 200 is defined by a semi-stiff upper lip 104 and a semi-stiff lower lip 106 that are vertically connected by an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion 308. Furthermore, the cross-sectionally rectangular portion has a first flat side 203 securely attached to a periphery surface 307 of a visor member 310. In another embodiment, the two-sided generally rectangular contiguous portion 209 has an opposing second flat side 204 generally shorter than the first flat side 203. The second flat side 204 projects outwardly from the inner surface 307 of the visor 310, The upper lip 104 and lower lip 106, which further define a clasp for slidably 210 and securely retaining an upper first groove 100 and a lower second groove 101 the two ends of T-head shaped 206, 98 of male track means.

An additional embodiment of a sports rally cap is shown in FIG. 19. The sports rally cap 300 illustrates a visor member 3310. In an alternative embodiment, the visor member carries an inner sweatband 302. An embodiment, as shown as an exploded view in FIG. 19A, includes, but is not limited to, a headband of the visor having a male track means as 312 forming a circular and longitudinally extending single inter-locking mechanism 314 with a female channel track means 306. In a further embodiment, the circular interlocking mechanism is attached to the head band therein forming a single unit that is attached to the crown 10 of the cap. In yet another embodiment a sweat band is affixed on the inner surface of the headband such that the sweat band is in contact with the wearer persons head.

In an embodiment of a method as schematically illustrated in FIG. 20, an individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by entering a sports arena or a ballpark where at least one sports team is putting on an event. In an embodiment, a method 400 of rallying for sports events is disclosed herein that includes selecting a sports team or rally theme and wearing the appropriate cap with a rotatable crown 402 having at least one suitable logo. A further embodiment in this method includes, an individual wearer person that rallies for at least one sports team by selecting a rally cap with a rotatable crown having at least one logo corresponding to at last one sports team. Another embodiment includes the individual wearer of the rally cap entering the rally or theme park or sports arena with the cap on head of wearer person (fan) 404. The method includes a fan in possession of a rally cap. In a variant embodiment the fan or the individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by selecting a visor member having a bill having at least one logo displayed on an upper surface of the bill. In yet another embodiment of the method 400 the individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by first covering his or her head with the rally cap having the rotatable crown, which has at least one logo corresponding to at last one sports team and at least one logo outwardly displayed on the crown and then rotating the crown portion of the cap until a logo to suit the rally theme or sports team appears in front 406. Optionally, the fan may rally by changing allegiance to opposite team or winning team by rotating the crown to an appropriate logo 408, which may be different from the initial logo displayed at the time the fan entered the sporting event. This process may be repeated 410 many times. A fan may have dual or multiple alliances for two or more sports teams. In an embodiment, the individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by changing allegiance to a winning team by rotating the crown member to an suitable logo displayed in a front position coinciding with the bill having at least one different logo compared to the crown logo displayed on the crown member. For example, as shown in FIG. 21, a fan 500 may be rallying or rooting for a New York 502 NY team because he/she is originally from New York but is living in Boston. If the New York team is playing in Boston, the fan 500 may rotate 504 the crown 10 to change allegiance and root for the Boston team 506 BO to support his/her current residential team.

A reasonably skilled artisan will recognize that the embodiments and examples in this disclosure are merely illustrative and exemplary, without limitations. Other variations and alternative embodiments and examples are within the scope of the claimed invention and may be specified and practiced under the same or similar circumstances, parameters and conditions described herein. Likewise, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various elements and features claimed thereof for a sports rally cap and methods herein may also be applied and practiced equivalently using other suitable caps and hats that may be subject to suitable alterations, variations and iterations as to shapes, sizes, form a, textures, colors and the like. These variations are within the scope, breadth and purview of the claimed invention.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the terms “hats” or “caps” or “headwear/apparel or headgear” (or similar terms) indicate devices used for the sake of representations, and are exemplary and illustrative as used herein. The terms are interchangeable and reversible based on the context, tendencies and proclivities of the individual wearer person or fan or individual. Likewise, the skilled artisan will recognize that the names of cities, types of logos and sports teams, inter alia, disclosed herein are exemplary and illustrative. Thus the disclosure and terms used therein are not intended to be limiting in any way.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of devices or methods via the use of examples and drawings. In so far as such drawings and examples comprise one or more devices, steps or methods, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that each component or device or method or step within such drawing and example can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of any combination thereof. One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described methods, protocols or devices or steps and objects and the discussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity and that various methods, modifications are within the skill of those in the art. Consequently, as used herein, the specific examples or embodiments set forth and the accompanying comments and observations are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar or embodiment herein is also intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of such specific steps, examples, embodiments or drawings and examples or the like herein shall not be taken as indicating that limitation is desired. The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different devices or methods comprised within, or associated with, different or other device(s) or methods. It is to be understood that such described device or methods, drawings and examples are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other drawings, and examples can be implemented, which achieve the same or similar results. In a conceptual sense, any device or method or protocol to achieve the same result is effectively “equivalent” to this disclosure such that the desired result is achieved. Hence, any two or more devices or methods or steps herein combined to achieve a particular result can be seen as “equivalent” to each other such that the desired result is achieved, irrespective of differences in method(s) or steps. Likewise, any two device(s) so equivalent can also be viewed as being “functionally “equivalent”, to each other to achieve a desired result, and any two methods or devices capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being capable of acting together, with each other to achieve a desired result.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can transmute from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the embodiments herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” or “has” should be interpreted as “having or has at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions comprising only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B”.

Claims

1. A sports rally cap, comprising:

a crown member configured to cover a head of an individual wearer person, said crown member further configured to rotate around its own vertical axis, said crown member having a bottom-end opening, said opening defining a brim, said brim having a circularly configured opening to receive an individual wearer person's head, said crown member additionally configured to rotate around a horizontal axis of said brim, said crown member having a plurality of sports theme logos outwardly displayed on said crown member's outer surfaces, said brim having a substantially semi-stiff inner surface configured to be reversibly detachable and re-attachable to and from a visor member, said brim includes on its inner surface a protruding generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means for slidably engaging a compatible inter-locking and generally circular reciprocally cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means, said generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means further comprises an upper first groove and a lower second groove that are vertically connected by an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion, said cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means further includes a semi-stiff upper lip and a second semi-stiff lower lip that are vertically connected by an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion; said visor member further comprises a bill that extends outwardly and laterally relative to an individual wearer person's head, said bill having at least one logo displayed on its upper surface, said visor member having said generally circular reciprocally cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means is configured to couple to said protruding side of said generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means, wherefore said generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means being securely attached circularly to said brim's inner surface, said generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means substantially extends lengthwise circumferentially around and is placed near an edge of said inner surface of said brim, said visor member includes a generally closed circular headband member, which is securely attached to an inner surface of said visor member, said headband member also being securely attached to a concavely curved backward portion of said bill, said headband member is further configured to securely attach to an outer flat portion of said generally circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means, said cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means being configured to slidably accommodate said male track means, and said crown member, and said visor member are coupled to each other such as to enable said crown to rotate around said head of said individual wearer person, wherefore said visor member being stably positioned on said head of said individual wearer person.

2. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said generally circular cross-sectionally T-head shaped male track means and said generally circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means, when coupled to each other, thereby form a circular and longitudinally extending single inter-locking mechanism to enable said male track means to slide smoothly within said female channel track means back and forth circularly and laterally around the horizontal axis of said brim.

3. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said upper first groove and a lower second groove of said male track means are connected by said intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion, said cross-sectionally rectangular portion having a first flat side securely attached to an inner periphery surface of said brim, and an opposing second flat side generally shorter than said first flat side projecting outwardly from said inner periphery surface of said brim.

4. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said generally circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means is defined by said semi-stiff upper lip and said second semi-stiff lower lip that are vertically connected by an intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion, said cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion having a first flat side securely attached to a periphery surface of said visor headband member, and an opposing second flat side generally shorter than said first flat side, projecting outwardly from said outer surface of said visor headband member, said upper and lower lips further defining a clasp for slidably and securely retaining an upper first groove and a lower second groove of said T-head shaped male track means.

5. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said headband member of said visor is securely attached to a first flat side of said intermediate two-sided elongated generally cross-sectionally rectangular contiguous portion of said circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means such that said headband member has an outer side attached to said cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means and an inner side in contact with said individual wearer person's head.

6. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said generally circular cross-sectionally T-head-shaped male track means is made from at least one member of a group consisting of a plastic, a metal, polyurethane, a polyvinyl chloride, a nylon, a rubber, and a wood.

7. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said generally circular cross-sectionally bracket-shaped female channel track means is made from at least one member of a group consisting of a plastic, a metal, polyurethane, a polyvinyl chloride, a nylon, a rubber, and a wood.

8. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said crown member is detachable from said visor member by forcibly pulling at said visor member so that said female channel track means separates from said male track means.

9. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said crown member is attachable to said visor member by firstly aligning said male track means with said female channel track means and secondly by pressing said semi-stiff upper lip and said lower lip of said female channel track means against said protruding surface of said male track means thereby forming a single sliding inter-locked unit to enable rotation of said crown.

10. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sports theme logos are constructed on to generally triangular-shaped fabric portions, said triangular-shaped fabric portions sewn together to form a dome-shaped said crown member of said sports rally cap.

11. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sports theme logos are selected from a group consisting of a professional sports team, a professional game, a professional outdoor activity, a religious symbol, a professional theme, a non-professional sport, a non-professional theme, a cause, a rally, an event, a gathering of persons, a club, a game, a membership organization, a company, a material, a tool and a unit.

12. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said male track means is attached securely near said inner periphery surface of said brim by means of at least one of a hook, a thread, a stitch, a clip, a staple, a grip, a nail, a screw, an adhesive, a rivet, a pin, a bolt, a rubber, a wire and a cable.

13. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said female channel track means is attached securely to said visor member and to said headband member by means of at least one of a hook, a thread, a stitch, a clip, a staple, a grip, a nail, a screw, an adhesive, a rivet, a pin, a bolt, a rubber, a wire, a fastener, and a cable.

14. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said brim having a substantially semi-stiff inner surface configured to be reversibly detachable and re-attachable to and from a visor member, is detached from said visor member such that said visor member can be separately worn on said head of said individual wearer person.

15. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by entering a sports arena where said at least one sports team is putting on an event.

16. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by selecting said rally cap with said rotatable crown having said at least one logo corresponding to said at last one sports team.

17. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by selecting said visor member having said bill having said at least one logo displayed on said upper surface of said bill.

18. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by covering an individual person's head with said cap with said rotatable crown having said at least one logo corresponding to said at last one sports team, said at least one logo outwardly displayed on said crown.

19. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by rotating said crown of said cap until an appropriate logo to suit a rally theme for said at least one sports team is displayed in front, said logo coinciding in position with said bill of said cap.

20. The sports rally cap of claim 1, wherein said individual wearer person rallies for at least one sports team by changing allegiance to a winning team by rotating said crown member to an appropriate logo displayed in a front position coinciding with said bill having at least one different logo compared to said crown logo displayed on said crown member.