INTERCHANGEABLE HAT BRIM COVER PATCH

Abstract

An interchangeable decorative patch for a hat brim comprising a cover patch having at least one layer. The cover patch is made from any natural or synthetic material and may be trimmed to fit the particular hat brim inner and outer edges. The device is affixed to the brim of a hat using a hook and loop fasteners, threading strings that extend from the cover patch through the hat, or by tight fitment between the hat crown and brim outer edge. Alternatively, the cover patch may be affixed to the hat using band around the crown, or an interchangeable bound edge around the hat brim outer edge.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

Hats are worn for specific utilitarian and aesthetic reasons. Because of their aesthetic appeal, a person may purchase several variations of the same hat to coincide with their particular attire or fashion taste. For example, a person may purchase several cowboy hats, each comprising a different color or texture of material to suit their fashion needs.

Head coverings in the form of a hat often comprise: a crown, the portion of the hat that covers the top of the head; and a brim, the horizontal projection of stiff material from the bottom of the hat's crown around all or a portion of the circumference of the hat. The brim is often manufactured with the same material as the crown to provide a consistent look throughout the hat. Alternatively, the brim may be coordinated to accent the crown material of the hat.

Instead of requiring the purchase of an entirely different hat, it would be desirable to have interchangeable hat brim cover patches that can be applied to a single hat. Interchangeable hat brim cover patches would allow a person to create numerous hat & brim appearance combinations.

Information relevant to attempts to address these problems can be found in U.S. Patent Application No. 20120210491 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,771,493 and 5,592,696. U.S. Patent Application No. 20120210491 published to Bryan discloses a portable brim that can be securely attached to and operate with various helmets. The brim apparatus includes a center section having a size for fitting about a circumference of the sports helmet and a visor outwardly or radially extending from the center section. However, the Bryan device is used to create a brim around a brimless hat or helmet, it cannot be used to change the appearance of an existing brim while maintaining the overall symmetry and style of the hat.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,493 issued to Proctor discloses a head wear system including a sizing band and a hat. The sizing band is distinct from the hat. When the sizing band is attached to the hat by an adjusting means, the sizing band extends across the opening of the cap. The head wear system also comprises an ornament, a cover means for accessorizing the hat, and an attachment means for selectively nondestructively connecting the cover means and ornament to the crown of the cap. However, the Proctor invention is a distinct hat designed to receive different sizing bands and for the attachment of ornaments onto the hat. Proctor requires use of the specific hat disclosed in the patent and does not provide a device to change the appearance of existing hat brims.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,696 issued to Oliver provides a slip cover for the brim of a hat that consists of two substantially-annular pieces of fabric having an outer edge conforming to the size of a hat brim and an inner edge at least as large as the crown of the hat. The outer edges are joined to form a slip-cover for placement over the brim of any conforming hat to change its appearance. However, Oliver must be installed over and around the hat brim, covering the top and bottom edge surfaces of the brim. Because the device is a slip-cover, the fitment must be specific to each hat to preserve a smooth, original and, consistent appearance, the device dimensions cannot be altered to fit a particular hat brim.

For the foregoing reasons, it would be desirable to have an interchangeable hat brim cover patch that can be affixed to the surface of a hat brim. The solution is found in the present disclosure that comprises a cover patch that can be removably affixed to the surface of a hat brim to alter the hat's appearance.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to a device that satisfies this need to removably affix an interchangeable decorative patch to the brim of a hat. The device comprises a cover patch to change the appearance of a hat brim such as that typically found on cowboy hats or caps. Because of the devices' interchangeable nature, a variety of different hat brim cover patches can be applied to the same or different hats. When applied to a particular type hat brim, such as a cowboy hat, the interchangeable hat brim cover patch is capable of being easily adapted to the particular circumference of the hat brim and crown.

The interchangeable hat brim cover patch is removably attached with ease using a fastener, such as a hook and loop fastener, between the cover patch and the hat brim. Alternatively, the interchangeable hat brim cover patch can be held in place along the hat brim edge using an interchangeable bound edge for hats, or along the hat crown using a band.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a hat with a cover patch applied to the brim surface embodying features of the present disclosure for an interchangeable hat brim cover patch.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of an interchangeable hat brim cover patch embodying features of the present disclosure for an interchangeable hat brim cover patch.

FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional bottom view of an interchangeable hat brim cover patch with hook and loop fasteners embodying features of the present disclosure for an interchangeable hat brim cover patch.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional top view of an interchangeable hat brim cover patch affixed to a hat brim using an interchangeable bound edge.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of an interchangeable hat brim cover patch with slits embodying features of the present disclosure for an interchangeable hat brim cover patch.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional outside surface view of a bound edge for hats.

FIG. 7 illustrates a sectional inside surface view of a bound edge for hats.

DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, an interchangeable hat brim cover patch 100 comprises a cover patch 102 affixed to the surface of a hat brim to change the appearance of the hat. The cover patch 102 is used to change the appearance of hats with a brim like that typically found on a cowboy hat. The cover patch 102 is shaped like a flat material of one or more layers. The cover patch 102 illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 comprises an outer circumference 104 that aligns with the hat brim outer edge 304. The outer circumference 104 may be trimmed to specific shape and size of the hat brim. The cover patch 102 comprises an inner circumference 106 that aligns with the hat brim inner edge 306 where the brim meets the crown 303. Like the outer circumference 104, the inner circumference 106 may be trimmed to the diameter of the crown 303. Alternatively, slits 112 may be located around the inner circumference 106 and partially extend toward the outer circumference 104 as illustrated in FIG. 5. These slits will allow the cover patch 102 to fit around various sized hat crowns 303 by allowing the excess inner circumference 106 materials to slide up the crown 303. Optionally, a band 312 may be placed around the crown 303 to conceal the excess cover patch 102 materials and to retain the patch on the hat brim 302, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the cover patch 102 can be made from any natural or synthetic material such as leather, bi-cast, polyurethane, cotton or waxed canvas. The material may be any color and may include textures, embossing, relief, lace, voids or holes for a pattern. Where more than one layer is used, the layers may be of different material, color, or patterns. Where the upper layer is lace or includes voids in the material, the varying lower layers can be seen as accents colors and materials.

Referring to FIG. 3, the cover patch 102 is placed onto the hat brim 302 using any method typically employed in hat making such as hook and loop fasteners 110, hooks, threading, or friction. Alternatively, the cover patch 102 may be affixed onto the hat brim by placing a hat band 312 over and around the cover patch 102 inner circumference 106 and hat crown 303. In yet another alternative method for affixing the cover patch outer circumference 104 and hat brim outer edge 304 may be held together using an interchangeable bound edge for hats 114 as illustrated in FIGS. 6-7. The interchangeable bound edge for hats 114 is wrapped around the hat brim outer edge 304 and biased inward so that the inner surface shown in FIG. 7 is in contact with the hat brim outer edge 304 and cover patch outer circumference 104. When applied, the outer surface of the interchangeable bound edge for hats 114, shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, remains visible. The size of the cover patch 102 can be customized by cutting it to the shape and size of the hat brim. Where the cover patch 102 comprises slits along the inner circumference 106, the interchangeable hat brim cover patch 100 may fit on multiple sized hats and crown shapes.

To make the interchangeable hat brim cover patch 100, the outer circumference 106 of the particular hat type is cut from the selected cover patch 102 material. The outer circumference 106 may be the exact size and shape of the desired hat style, or larger to allow a user to trim for exact fitment. The inner circumference 104 is the cut from within the cover patch 102 material be the exact size and shape of the desired hat crown 303 or smaller to allow for user trimming. Alternatively, the inner circumference may include slits 112 as previously described. Where the interchangeable hat brim cover patch 100 is to be used in multiple layers, the additional layers may be made using the same technique. Optionally, layers to be used under the top cover patch 102 layer may be of a smaller width between the inner circumference 104 and outer circumference 106 as the layer will be held in place by the top layer.

To use the interchangeable hat brim cover patch 100, first place the cover patch 102 onto the brim of the hat. If the interchangeable hat brim cover patch 100 includes additional accent layers, place those onto the hat brim 303 first. Then, trim the inner and outer circumference of the cover patch 102 to match the hat brim outer edge 304 and crown 303 dimensions. Then, the interchangeable hat brim cover patch 102 is optionally secured using a hook and loop fastener 110 between the cover patch 102 and the hat brim, or threading strings that extend from the cover patch 102 through the hat. Optionally, the device may be secured to the hat along the outer circumference 106 using an interchangeable bound edge for hats 114. The interchangeable hat brim cover patch 102 may be secured at the hat crown 303 by wrapping a band 312 around the device and hat crown 303.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claim, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.

Claims

1. An interchangeable hat brim cover patch device, the device comprising a cover patch flat material of at least one layer having an inner and outer circumference, the cover patch flat material having substantially the same shape of a hat brim.

2. The interchangeable hat brim cover patch device of claim 1, wherein at least one slit in the inner circumference extends outward toward the outer circumference into which a hat brim may be inserted.

3. The interchangeable hat brim cover patch device of claim 1, further comprising a hat band to affix the inner circumference to a hat crown.

4. The interchangeable hat brim cover patch device of claim 1, further comprising an interchangeable bound edge that affixes the device to outer circumference of a hat brim edge.

5. A method for altering the appearance of a hat brim using the device of claim, comprising the steps of placing the device of claim 1 onto the brim of a hat.

6. The method for altering the appearance of a hat brim using the device of claim 5, wherein the cover patch is trimmed to a particular hat brim shape.

7. The method for altering the appearance of a hat brim using the device of claim 5, wherein the cover patch is attached to the hat using a fastener.

8. The method for altering the appearance of a hat brim using the device of claim 5, wherein the cover patch is attached to the hat crown using a band placed around a crown of the hat to conceal excess cover patch materials and to retain the patch on the hat brim.

9. The method for altering the appearance of a hat brim using the device of claim 5, wherein the cover patch is attached to the hat brim outer edge using an interchangeable bound edge for hats.