Headgear

Abstract

A garment intended to be worn on the head of a user which includes a pliable sheet shaped member having a 1st generally planar side and a 2nd generally planar side. The garment includes an elongated elastic band disposed in an arc shaped array on one of the generally planar sides and secured to the pliable sheet shaped member along substantially all of the axial extent of the elastic band, the array of the elongated elastic band being dimensioned and configured to reach around the head of a user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application contains subject matter which is related to the subject matter of the U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/961,045 filed on Oct. 5, 2013 by the inventor herein namely Juan McRae. Priority of that application is claimed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is generally directed to clothing. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a novel headgear. Even more particularly, the present invention is directed to headgear that enables the display of indicia such as indicia of various sports teams as well as indicia of other commercial brands. While the description herein may refer specifically to towels it will be understood that the invention has application to any sheet shaped material and is not limited to terry cloth fabrics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the art to utilize a towel that is draped on or wrapped around the head of the user. In some cases towel made be used to assist in drying the hair after the hair is washed. In some cases the towel may be moistened for placement on the body of the user to facilitate the property cooling of the user.

Although, techniques are known for wrapping towels around the head of a user in a manner that is substantially stable such techniques typically require overlapping layers of cloth. Such overlapping layers compromise the aesthetic appearance of the user as well as the aesthetic appearance of the towel. In addition the multiple layers also inhibit evaporative cooling.

From the above, it is therefore seen that there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described herein and above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is now been found that the object of the present invention may be achieved in a garment intended to be worn on the head of a user which includes a pliable sheet shaped member having a 1st generally planar side and a 2nd generally planar side. The garment includes an elongated elastic band disposed in an arc shaped array on one of the generally planar sides and secured to the pliable sheet shaped member along substantially all of the axial extent of the elastic band, the array of the elongated elastic band being dimensioned and configured to reach around the head of a user.

In some embodiments of the present invention the garment further includes a brim extending from the pliable sheet shaped member. The garment may include a pliable sheet shaped member that is generally rectangular with 2 opposed first edges that are longer than the other 2 opposed edges. Some embodiments of the present invention include a brim that extends from one of the first opposed edges.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a garment intended to be worn on the head of a user which includes a pliable sheet shaped member having a 1^st generally planar side and a 2^nd generally planar side; an elongated draw string disposed in an arc shaped array on one of said generally planar sides and secured to said pliable sheet shaped member along an axial part of said draw string in a manner that allows axial movement of said draw string relative to said pliable sheet shaped member, said array of said draw string being dimensioned and configured to reach around the head of a user.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to secure a towel on the head of a user in a manner that avoids overlapping respective portions of a given towel.

It is another object of the present invention to secure a towel on the head of a user in a manner that is stable so that the user does not have to straighten the towel.

It is a still further object of the present invention to securely mount the towel to the head of the user in a manner that facilitates display of indicia on the towel corresponding to athletic teams and/or other commercial brands.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention.

The recitation herein of desirable objects which are met by various embodiments of the present invention is not meant to imply or suggest that any or all of these objects are present as essential features, either individually or collectively, in the most general embodiment of the present invention or in any of its more specific embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of practice, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the general manner in which a 1^st embodiment of the present invention drapes over the head of a user. For simplicity the body of the garment is referred to herein as a towel. In this view an elastic band constrains the towel against the head of the user.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a 2^nd embodiment that includes a visor that projects laterally from the head of a user. In this view an elastic band also constrains the towel against the head of the user.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the 2^nd embodiment also illustrated in FIG. 2 with the elastic band extended in a manner to allow the towel to appear to be flat on a generally planar surface.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the 1st embodiment with the elastic band extended in a manner to allow the towel to appear to be flat on a generally planar surface. The illustrated elastic band may ultimately be positioned on the outer face of the towel when the towel is positioned on the head of a user as shown in FIG. 1 or alternatively on the inner face of the towel when the towel is positioned on the head of a user in other embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a 3^rd embodiment having a draw string attached to the towel by stitching that allows relative axial movement.

FIG. 6 is a view of the 3^rd embodiment with the draw string stretched to allow the towel to appear to be flat on a generally planar surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4 there is shown a 1^st embodiment of the present invention that includes a towel 12. In a preferred embodiment an elastic band 14 having opposed planar sides is secured by stitches to the towel 12. More specifically, one of the planar sides of the elastic band 14 is disposed in face to face of abutting relationship with the towel 12. In most embodiments the elastic band 14 is arrayed on the towel in a circular shape that is dimensioned and configured to comfortably engage the head of a user. As shown in FIG. 1 in the elastic band may be disposed on the outer face of the towel when it is placed on the head of a user. In other embodiments the elastic band 12 may be placed on the inner face of the towel 12. Thus, FIG. 4 may be construed as of an embodiment of the present invention in which the elastic band 14 is disposed on the inner face of the towel 12.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a 2^nd embodiment of the present invention that further include a brim 16 similar to that which is often used on baseball caps.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a 3^rd embodiment of the present invention is further includes a drawstring 20 that is attached to the towel 12 to allow relative axial movement.

Embodiments of the present invention have indicia on the towel which may also be referred to as a planar sheet shaped member. The indicia may be of one or more athletic teams and or other commercial brand. The sheets shaped member may be all or part cotton, all or part synthetic materials or part or all of your any other woven material. Still other embodiments may utilize nonwoven materials.

The publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

Claims

1. A garment intended to be worn on the head of a user which comprises:

a pliable sheet shaped member having a 1st generally planar side and a 2nd generally planar side;

an elongated elastic band disposed in an arc shaped array on one of said generally planar sides and secured to said pliable sheet shaped member along substantially all of the axial extent of said elastic band, said array of said elongated elastic band being dimensioned and configured to reach around the head of a user.

2. The garment as described in claim 2 further including a brim extending from said pliable sheet shaped member.

3. The garment as described in claim 2 wherein said pliable sheet shaped member is generally rectangular with 2 opposed first edges that are longer than the other 2 opposed edges.

4. The garment as described in claim 3 wherein said brim extends from one of said first opposed edges.

5. The garment as described in claim 4 wherein said pliable sheet shaped member is generally rectangular with 2 opposed first edges that are longer than the other 2 opposed edges.

6. A garment intended to be worn on the head of a user which comprises:

a pliable sheet shaped member having a 1st generally planar side and a 2nd generally planar side;

an elongated draw string disposed in an arc shaped array on one of said generally planar sides and secured to said pliable sheet shaped member along an axial part of said draw string in a manner that allows axial movement of said draw string relative to said pliable sheet shaped member, said array of said draw string being dimensioned and configured to reach around the head of a user.

7. The garment as described in claim 1 wherein said pliable sheet shaped member is terry cloth.