HEADWEAR HAVING RETENTION FEATURES

Abstract

The invention includes a headwear apparatus configured to be worn on the head of an individual. In particular embodiments, the headwear apparatus includes a head-receiving body having an inner cavity configured to receive a portion of a head and an opening providing access into the inner cavity from an exterior side of the headwear apparatus. The headband apparatus a band operably attached along a perimeter of the opening of the body and one or more retention members affixed to an inner side of the band and configured to improve the retention of the headwear apparatus upon the individual when worn.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/194,337, filed Jul. 20, 2015 with the U.S. Patent Office, which is also hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to headwear having features for securing or retaining the headwear upon an individual.

Description of the Related Art

Headwear, such as hats, caps, and visors, are worn by individuals as apparel or for recreational or sporting activities. Often, headwear moves and becomes misaligned or even removed from an individual donning the headwear during use. Therefore, it is desirous to provide headwear that is better configured to be retained on an individual donning the headwear in a desired arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Particular embodiments of the invention comprise a headwear apparatus. In more particular embodiments, the headwear apparatus includes a head-receiving body having an inner cavity configured to receive a portion of a head and an opening providing access into the inner cavity, a band operably attached along a perimeter of the opening of the body, and one or more retention members formed of slip-reducing material and affixed to an inner side of the band.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more detailed descriptions of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers represent like parts of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap for application to an individual's head, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an interior side view of a band of the cap shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the band shown in FIG. 2 along line 3-3, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an interior side view of a band of a cap, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the band shown in FIG. 4 along line 5-5, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

Particular embodiments of the invention include a headwear apparatus configured to be worn on the head of an individual. It is appreciated that the headwear apparatus may be worn as a piece of clothing by the individual, which includes being used during any recreational or sporting activity as apparel or as equipment for participation in the activity. For example, in certain embodiments, the headwear apparatus comprises a cap (or hat, which is used synonymously with cap), which may comprise a stocking cap, a baseball-style hat, a tennis or golf-styled visor, a skull cap, or a protective cap, which may include padding to protect the individual during sporting activities, such as soccer or rugby, for example. Such a protective cap may also be configured to be worn under a sporting helmet, such as a hockey, lacrosse, or football helmet, for example, or any other protective helmet, such as a construction helmet, for example. During any activity wearing any desired headwear apparatus, it may be desirous to retain the headwear apparatus in a donned position on the head of an individual wearing the headwear apparatus. To accomplish this, one or more retention members made of slip-resisting material are arranged along a band of the headwear apparatus.

With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the headwear apparatus 10 is shown. The headwear apparatus, has a head-receiving body 12 having an inner cavity 14 configured to receive a portion of a head of an individual and an opening 16 providing access into the inner cavity from an exterior side of the headwear apparatus. A band 20 is operably attached along a perimeter 18 of the opening of the body. A plurality of retention members 24 are shown affixed to an inner side 22 (or inner surface) of the band 20. It is the inner side 22 of the band that contacts a wear's head when donning the headwear apparatus.

The band shown is a textile band, that is, a band woven of one or more textiles. In more specific embodiments, the textile band is an elastic band. Such an elastic band has elastic properties, where the band is expandable to adjust to a user's head size and shape, and contracts to generate a compressive force to better retain the headwear apparatus upon the wear's head. Still, any other bands, whether or not textile bands, may be employed in alternative embodiments.

As to the one or more retention members, each is made of a slip-resistant material (also referred to herein as slip-resisting, slip-reducing or anti-slip material). In particular embodiments, the slip-resistant material can be described as having a coefficient of friction substantially equal to or greater than 0.2. In other embodiments, the slip-resistant material can be described as having a coefficient of friction substantially equal to or greater than 0.25, 0.3, 0.45, 0.5, 0.6, 0.75, 0.85, or 1.0. In certain embodiments, the slip-resistant material comprises a polymeric material, such as silicone, for example, and in more particular embodiments, comprises an elastomeric material, such as natural or synthetic rubber or silicone rubber. It is also appreciated that in having each of the one or more retention members formed of a slip-resisting material, in certain instances the slip-resisting material is used to form the entire retention member or a portion of the retention member. In forming a portion of a retention member, for example, the slip-resisting material may form an outer layer or coating of the retention member.

The one or more retention members are arranged generally around the perimeter of the band, and it is appreciated that the one or more retention members may comprise a protrusion of any size or shape extending outwardly from an inner side or surface of the band. With reference to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, as more specifically shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the retention members 24 each form an elongate strip. The elongate strips each extend less than the full perimeter or length of the band, but are arranged in a spaced-apart arrangement or array along the perimeter of the band (where the perimeter of the band can also be referred to as a length of the band). In alternative variations, any such elongate strip extends continuously and substantially along a perimeter of the band, such as to form an annulus or ring. It is appreciated that other shapes, sizes, and arrangements of one or more retention members may be employed and are within the scope of this invention.

With reference to another exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5, an exemplary band 20 of a headwear apparatus includes a plurality of retention members 124 each comprising a dot and arranged along the perimeter of the band. The dots are spaced apart in three staggered rows each comprising an array of dots.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the headwear apparatus 10 is a cap, such as a protective cap having a body 12 that includes energy-absorbing padding, such as a polymeric or elastomeric material. More generally, it is appreciated that the body can form the cap of any headwear apparatus contemplated herein, and may be rigid or flexible, depending on the headwear apparatus employed. For example, a flexible cap may be formed of textile(s) and/or a polymeric material, and may even be elastic. Accordingly, it is appreciated that the band having the one or more retention members may be arranged in any other headwear apparatus contemplated herein or otherwise known to one of ordinary skill.

The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” as used in the claims and specification herein, shall be considered as indicating an open group that may include other elements not specified. The terms “a,” “an,” and the singular forms of words shall be taken to include the plural form of the same words, such that the terms mean that one or more of something is provided. The terms “at least one” and “one or more” are used interchangeably. The term “single” shall be used to indicate that one and only one of something is intended. Similarly, other specific integer values, such as “two,” are used when a specific number of things is intended. The terms “preferably,” “preferred,” “prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are used to indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (i.e., not required) feature of the invention. Ranges that are described as being “between a and b” are inclusive of the values for “a” and “b” unless otherwise specified.

While this invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it shall be understood that such description is by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, the scope and content of the invention are to be defined only by the terms of the following claims. Furthermore, it is understood that the features of any specific embodiment discussed herein may be combined with one or more features of any one or more embodiments otherwise discussed or contemplated herein unless otherwise stated.

Claims

1. A headwear apparatus comprising:

a head-receiving body having an inner cavity configured to receive a portion of a head and an opening providing access into the inner cavity;

a band operably attached along a perimeter of the opening of the body; and,

one or more retention members formed of slip-reducing material and affixed to an inner side of the band.

2. The headwear apparatus of claim 1, where the band is a textile band.

3. The headwear apparatus of claim 1, where the band is elastic.

4. The headwear apparatus of claim 1, where each of the one or more retention members is made of a material having a coefficient of friction substantially equal to or greater than 0.2.

5. The headwear apparatus of claim 4, where the non-slip material is silicone.

6. The headwear apparatus of claim 1, where each of the one or more retention members are made of a non-slip material.

7. The headwear apparatus of claim 6, where the non-slip material is silicone.

8. The headwear apparatus of claim 1, where at least one of the one or more retention members is a dot.

9. The headwear apparatus of claim 8, there the one or more retention members comprise a plurality of dots, the dots arranged along a perimeter of the band.

10. The headwear apparatus of claim 1, where at least one of the one or more retention members is an elongate strip.

11. The headwear apparatus of claim 10, where the elongate strip extends continuously and substantially along a perimeter of the band.

12. The headwear apparatus of claim 1, where the headwear apparatus is a cap.