Headband

Abstract

A headband for installation in a hat includes a strip of material including a wearing surface and an attachment surface. The attachment surface is configured to be secured to the hat and the wearing surface is moisture-wicking.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/158,863, filed May 8, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to headwear and, in particular, to a headband that is or may be attached to the rim of a hat.

BACKGROUND

Hats are often worn for protection from the sun. Such hats typically feature crowns that are worn on the top of the head with brims attached to the front of the crown or all of the way around the crown. In addition, in warm temperatures or under other conditions when an individual tends to perspire, headbands are worn. A headband typically includes elastic material and is worn around an individual's head so as to pass over the forehead. This prevents perspiration from traveling down from a wearer's hair and into his or her eyes. The headband is typically made of a material that absorbs perspiration or moisture, such as terrycloth.

In view of the above, it is often desirable for an individual to wear a hat and a headband simultaneously. For example, a person may wish to wear both a hat and a headband for protection from the sun and to keep perspiration out of his or her eyes. To do so, however, the person has to put on and remove two articles of headwear. This may be particularly cumbersome when an individual is holding something with one hand or when the person's hands are dirty. Furthermore, having two separate articles of headwear makes it easier to lose one. The elastic material of the headband may also be uncomfortable for some wearers.

A hat may not fit properly if the individual is wearing a headband, and the combination of the hat and headband may not be aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore the hat may slide down over the face of the wearer if the front of the rim of the crown rests on the headband.

The portion of a hat that engages a wearer's forehead and hair may also become soiled, especially from perspiration or dirt such as during gardening. Washing the entire hat, however, could damage the hat or be burdensome. A moisture-wicking headband that is detachable from the hat for easy laundering and re-attachment is therefore desirable.

A need exists for a headband that addresses at least some of the above issues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a hat equipped with an embodiment of the headband of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the headband of the present invention when it is not attached to a hat;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the headband of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another bottom perspective view of the hat and headband of FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A hat provided with an embodiment of the sweatband or headband of the present invention is indicated in general at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 4. More specifically, the hat features a crown portion 12 and a brim portion 14 joined to the rim 16 of the crown portion. While the brim is shown as surrounding the periphery of the crown portion, it is to be understood that the brim could alternatively be only on one side of the crown (such as with a ball cap). Alternatively, the hat can take the form of a visor, including a partial crown portion, which may or may not be solely the rim portion, along with the brim.

A first strip of hook and loop material 22 (such as VELCRO) has been sewn around the inner periphery of the rim 16. Alternatively, the first strip of material 22 may be secured to the rim by adhesive or any other fastening method known in the art.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, an embodiment of the headband of the present invention is indicated in general at 30. The headband is in the form of a strip and features a wearing surface 26 that is preferably made of a moisture-absorbing or moisture-wicking material, such as terrycloth (as an example only) or any other cloth, fabric or material that absorbs perspiration. A second strip of hook and loop material 32 (such as VELCRO) that mates with the first strip of hook and loop material 22 of FIGS. 1 and 4 is sewn to the attachment surface 34 of the headband by thread 36. Alternatively, the strip of material may be secured to the attachment surface of the headband by adhesive or any other fastening arrangement known in the art including, but not limited to, buttons, snaps, clips or other fasteners.

A branding label 38 (FIGS. 2 and 4) may be attached to the wearing surface of the headband so that it is visible when the headband is installed within the hat.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, to install the headband 30 within the hat, the headband is run around inner periphery of the rim 16 of the hat with the hook and loop material 32 of the attachment surface engaging the hook and loop material 22 of the hat rim. As a result, the headband 30 is secured within the hat with the wearing surface 26 facing inward towards the interior of the crown of the hat. Therefore, when a wearer puts the hat on, the moisture absorbing material of the wearing surface is held against the forehead of the wearer.

The embodiment of the invention described above therefore provides a moisture-wicking headband that is detachable via a hook and loop fastener arrangement (such as VELCRO) for easy laundering and re-attachment. This provides a clean headband surface each time the hat is worn.

The hook and loop fastening of the headband also enables the headband to be easily removed from the hat for replacement, such as when the headband is worn out or the user wishes to change the appearance of the hat. For example, a set of headbands having different complementary decorative colors and/or patterns may be used with a hat to provide the hat with a variety of fashionable appearances.

While hook and loop material is illustrated for securing the headband into the hat, any other fastening material known in the art including, but not limited to, two-sided tape, snaps, buttons or adhesive, may be used.

Alternatively the headband may be sewn directly to the rim 16 of the hat for a permanent installation of the headband.

The present invention therefore offers a fashionable, economical and flexible way to incorporate a headband into a hat. Such a feature is quite useful when the hat is worn in high temperatures or during physical activities including, but not limited to playing sports, hiking or gardening

In addition, the headband of the present invention offers a quick and easy way to retrofit an existing hat to provide a “built-in” headband. For example, the headband may be sold as a kit that includes the headband of FIGS. 2 and 3 with an attached strip 22 of hook and loop fastening material having a surface coated with adhesive that is covered by a protective sheet. The protective sheet is removed to secure the strip 22 to the inner peripheral surface of the rim to form the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, where the headband is removably attached to the rim of the hat by the hook and loop fastening material.

In an alternative embodiment, the attachment surface of the headband may be directly provided (i.e. no hook and loop fastening material) with adhesive material that is covered by a protective sheet. The protective sheet is removed to secure the headband to the inner peripheral (or partial peripheral) of the rim so that the headband is attached in a more permanent fashion.

While the headband is shown as sized to fit around the periphery of the rim of the hat, it may alternatively be sized to just cover the wearer's forehead so that it does not traverse the inner periphery of the rim.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A headband for installation in a hat comprising a strip of material including a wearing surface and an attachment surface, where the attachment surface is configured to be secured to the hat and the wearing surface is moisture-wicking.

2. The headband of claim 1 wherein the attachment surface includes a strip of fastening material.

3. The headband of claim 2 wherein the strip of fastening material is a first strip of hook and loop material.

4. The headband of claim 3 further comprising a second strip of hook and loop fastening material that mates with the first strip of hook and loop fastening material and where the second strip of hook and loop fastening material is adapted to be secured to the hat.

5. The headband of claim 4 wherein the second strip of hook and loop fastening material is adapted to be secured to the hat by an adhesive surface.

6. The headband of claim 5 further comprising a protective sheet of material covering the adhesive surface.

7. The headband of claim 1 wherein the wearing surface includes cloth.

8. The headband of claim 1 wherein the strip of material includes a length that is sized to traverse an inner periphery of a rim of the hat.

9. The headband of claim 1 wherein the attachment surface includes adhesive.

10. The headband of claim 9 further comprising a protective sheet of material covering the adhesive.

11. A hat comprising:

a. a crown portion having a rim;

b. a brim attached to the crown portion at the rim;

c. a headband attached to an inner periphery of the rim of the hat.

12. The hat of claim 11 wherein the headband is sewn to the rim of the hat.

13. The hat of claim 11 wherein the headband is removably attached to the rim of the hat.

14. The hat of claim 13 wherein the headband is removably attached to the rim of the hat by a fastening arrangement selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop fastener material, snaps, clips and buttons.

15. The hat of claim 11 wherein the crow portion covers a majority of a wearer's head.

16. The hat of claim 11 wherein the headband traverses an inner periphery of a rim of the hat

17. A method of retrofitting a hat having a rim with a headband comprising the steps of:

a. providing a headband including a strip of material;

b. securing the headband to the rim of the hat.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the headband is secured to the rim by sewing.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein step b. includes securing the headband to the rim of the hat using adhesive.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein step b. includes securing the headband to the rim of the hat using fasteners.