Bespoke cap for dreadlocks
The present invention generally relates to a bespoke cap for people with long dreadlocks or long un-matted hair. The cap covers long dreadlocks in an aesthetically pleasing way. The bespoke cap provides a deeper crown to accommodate a large volume of dreadlocks about a wearer's head, a wide oval aperture, and an adjustable closure set at a unique angle at the rear of the cap that, together, allows locks to be gathered more naturally without being constricted. The present invention addresses the special need to cover dreadlocks without damaging them and giving a cleaner profile and a more refined appearance than caps typically worn by persons with dreadlocks.
This non-provisional patent application does not claim priority to any previously filed application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to a bespoke cap for people with long dreadlocks or long un-matted hair. More specifically, the bespoke cap provides a deeper crown to accommodate a large volume of dreadlocks about a wearer's head, a wide oval aperture at the back of the cap, and an adjustable closure set at a unique angle at the rear of the cap that, together, allows locks to be gathered more naturally without being constricted. The present invention addresses the special need for a cap to cover dreadlocks without damaging them and gives a refined look when worn.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDreadlocks, hereinafter locks, is a hairstyle common for afro-textured hair, but others with finer hair may also wear the hairstyle. Locks are matted coils of hair. To matt hair for locks, one stops brushing, combing, or cutting their hair and twist their hair into separate small sections. The more sections one creates the more locks will form. Once a lock is formed, new hair will continue to grow into a tangled pattern. Up close each lock looks like steel wool. The hairs are tangled and woven together so thoroughly that they form one solid mass. As hair continue to grow, locks become more and more interwoven until permanent.
Because locks vary greatly in size, width, shape, length, and texture, people with long locks have a hard time finding nice fashionable caps that fit comfortably and cover the entire head without damaging the hair. Thick long locks substantially increase the volume about the wearers head when gathered into a ponytail or worn freely at ear or neck length.
Common caps for locks include, but are not limited to, large crochet tams, beanies, wool knitted tams, and large adjustable baseball caps with rear apertures and a closure. These caps are informal looking and not very chic when wearing a nice suit of clothing. Also, for people with long thick locks, baseball caps and fine caps, such as newsboy and ivy caps, derbies, and such, are ill fitting, uncomfortable, and do not cover the entire head of locks.
People often resort to cutting holes in baseball caps to make headroom for their locks. They use cap stretchers to increase the circumference of the cap band. The most widely known size adjuster for casual caps is a pair of plastic straps. The cap uses snaps located at the ends of a semicircular aperture forming a gap at the back. The straps are attached at opposite ends of the gap. A first strap has a plurality of holes, and a second strap has a plurality of snaps designed to engage the holes of the first strap. The cap with the snap closures typically accommodates cap sizes from about 6½″ to about 8″.
Another type of adjustment is a Velcro hook and loop fastener. A first strap having a patch of Velcro loop fastener is attached to one end of the gap, and a second strap having a patch of corresponding Velcro hook fastener is attached to the opposite end of the gap.
Caps having either the Velcro hook and loop or the snap closure have similar disadvantages for long dreadlocks. These sorts of caps do not preserve a person's locks by limiting pressure at friction points that cut and damage locks. The lining materials for these caps are abrasive and are bad for maintaining healthy locks. The apertures for these sorts of caps do not naturally gather locks to reduce pulling and cutting of matted hair.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,850 to Han concerns an improved fit cap having an elastic sweat band to fit wearers within a predetermined range of cap sizes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,540 to Cho concerns a free-size cap fitting a range of head sizes.
U.S. Pat. No. D632875 to Bischel concerns a pony tail gathering ball cap. This cap is made of traditional fabrics used to make balls caps that pull, tug, and damage afro-textured dreadlocks.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,494 to Garnire and Bradley concerns headwear with a closeable hair opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,814,573 to Greenburg concerns a self-sizing ball cap with diverse head band segments.
U.S. Pat. No. D517,781 to Ortley and Kuhtz concerns a cap.
U.S. Pat. No. D424,282 to Crumpton et. al. concerns a cap to accommodate a ponytail.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,334 to Griffith and Griffith concerns a baseball cap for pigtail hair styles.
The listed references do not provide caps for people with afro-textured dreadlocks needing a fine cap, where the cap covers the entire head and gathers long locks without damaging them. Therefore, there is a need for a bespoke cap that covers an entire head of dreadlocks, and gathers them to lay naturally when worn in various styles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention disclose a bespoke cap that gathers and protects long dreadlocks comprising a crown, a brim, and a rear aperture, where six pie shaped gore panels are sewn together to form a large crown, a brim is attached to the front portion of the crown, a half oval aperture cut into the rear center of the crown, and the crown being shaped by a five piece fabric pattern that includes left and right top panels that are modified bodice pieces.
It is an aspect of the present invention wherein the cap is shaped by outer fabric pieces including modified bodice pieces that have adjustable straps that rest at the nape of the wearer's neck at a sloping 25 degree angle relative to apex of the crown.
It is an aspect of the present invention wherein the six pie shaped gore panels are made from buckram mesh, satin, silk, or rayon/cotton blend, or any combinations thereof.
It is an aspect of the present invention wherein the brim has a crescent shape and is made from double bonded leather.
It is an aspect of the present invention wherein the outer covering is made from a five piece fabric pattern including left and right side panels that are tear drop shaped, a crescent shaped brim piece, and left and right
It is an aspect of the present invention wherein the left and right side panels that are tear drop shaped may extend down as ear flaps.
It is an aspect of the present invention wherein a fold is between the front portion of the covered cap and the brim to simulate a flat cap look.
From this point forward, the following words will describe a bespoke cap for dreadlocks. These words are not a limitation on the scope of the present invention but are written to detail certain embodiments. After reading the detailed description, modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
DefinitionsThe following non-limiting terms are used to detail the invention.
The term “bespoke” generally refers to the cap being custom made for people with long dreadlocks or unmated hair.
The terms “dreadlocks” or “locks” generally refer to matted coils of hair.
The terms “fusing,” “fusible fabric,” or “buckram mesh” generally refer to a stiff cloth made of cotton or linen coming in various weights, including but not limited to baby buckram, single ply buckram or double buckram.
The terms “rear aperture,” “oval aperture,” or “aperture” generally refer to a half oval shaped hole at the back of the cap that is adjusted by closure straps.
The Design
The present invention generally relates to a bespoke cap for dreadlocks. The bespoke cap has a crown sewn with five to six gore panels made from a fusible fabric, a brim, and an outer covering.
From
The cap retains the greater head room allotted by the equestrian styled crown for wearers of dreadlocks. The closure straps are a part of the outer covering's fabric pattern and rests at the nape of the wearer's neck just behind the ears at a 25 degree angle relative to the apex of the crown when worn. The fabric pattern includes left and right side panels A, left and right top panels that are modified bodice pieces B, and a brim covering C.
Raw Materials
From
For example, a gore panel can be made of cotton and the inner panel surfaces are reinforced with buckram mesh of a similar size. The mesh is either glued or sewn onto each gore panel to stiffen the crown and give the crown a shape similar to an equestrian helmet. It is an embodiment of the present invention where the gore panels are made entirely of buckram mesh. Preferably six gore panels used to make the crown of the cap and are cut from buckram or fusible mesh. Fabrics such as silk, satin, wool, cashmere, or a rayon/cotton blend may be used to line the exposed buckram mesh, which comes into contact with the wearer's dreadlocks. These materials are safe for course matted hair, where other liner materials can strip and cut course matted hair.
The brim for the cap may be made from some kind of stiffening material, which may preferably be a plastic insert or cardboard covered by a bonded leather material or solely made of double bonded leather. The cap band is a strip of fabric that lines the inner portion of the cap and measures from about 10″ to about 29″ and is attached to the lower peripheral edge, 24 of
The outer covering of the cap is made from five fabric panels cut from a soft fabric, preferably wool. The rear aperture is cinched by a closure which maybe be made from, non-limiting examples being, Velcro and hooks, clasps, straps and buckles, or snaps.
The Crown and Brim
One pie shaped liner panel is overlaid flush onto one fusible panel and stitched together. The result is one pie shaped panel having a fusible side and a smooth liner side. This is repeated for the remaining fusible and liner gores until there are six panel pieces having a liner and fusible side.
The crown is formed by overlaying two gore panels right edge to right edge with the liner sides facing inward and the fusible sides facing outward. Sew the two panels together at the overlaid right side. Open the two pieces, overlay a third panel right edge to right edge for one of the two sewn pieces, where the liner sides are facing inward and the fusible sides are facing outward and sew. Repeat with the three remaining panels until the basic shape of the cap is formed, preferably an equestrian helmet like shape. A complete six panel crown will include two generally front facing gore panels, two generally back facing gore panels, and two generally side facing gore panels.
From
A brim is attached to the uncovered crown construction. The brim is sewn onto the front edge of the lower periphery of the uncovered crown. However, any suitable manner of joining or connecting the brim will be fine. The brim is made from double bonded leather and is crescent shaped.
The Aperture
In this embodiment the center point at the top of the half oval measures 6″ from the center top of the oval to the nape of the neck where the closure straps are. The long [horizontal] axis of the half oval goes from left to right at a distance from about 4″ to about 8″, but only covers two rear facing gore panels.
Fabric Pattern for the Outer Covering
The brim covering is crescent shape and similar to the measurements for line-segments of
The outer shape and surface measurements of the top panel are defined by line-segments. The front of the top panel is defined by
The trace between the top edge of the round tip 14 for the closure strap and the top edge 15 for the back of the panel includes half of the construction and orifice for the rear aperture.
Near the apex,
The foregoing words describe one embodiment for making a bespoke cap for dreadlocks. However, these words are not a limitation on the scope of the present invention, but are written to detail certain embodiments thereof. It should be understood that changes may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention, thus, the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the following claims.
Claims
1. A bespoke cap that gathers and protects long dreadlocks comprising a crown, a brim, and a rear aperture, where six pie shaped gore panels are sewn together to form a large crown, a brim is attached to the front portion of the crown, a half oval aperture cut into the rear center of the crown, and the crown being shaped by a five piece fabric pattern that includes left and right top panels that are modified bodice pieces.
2. The bespoke cap of claim 1; wherein the cap is shaped by outer fabric pieces including modified bodice pieces that have adjustable straps that rest at the nape of the wearer's neck at a sloping 25 degree angle relative to apex of the crown.
3. The bespoke cap of claim 1, wherein the six pie shaped gore panels are made from buckram mesh, satin, silk, or rayon/cotton blend, or any combinations thereof.
4. The bespoke cap of claim 1, wherein the brim has a crescent shape and is made from double bonded leather.
5. The bespoke cap of claim 1, wherein the outer covering is made from a five piece fabric pattern including left and right side panels that are tear drop shaped, a crescent shaped brim piece, and left and right
6. The bespoke cap of claim 5, wherein the left and right side panels that are tear drop shaped may extend down as ear flaps.
7. The bespoke cap of claim 1, wherein a fold is between the front portion of the covered cap and the brim to simulate a flat cap look.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 14, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 14, 2014
Inventor: Compton Alvin Belle, JR. (New Britain, CT)
Application Number: 13/815,263
International Classification: A42B 1/04 (20060101);