HEAD SPIN CAP

Abstract

A cap that includes multiple panels and a first material that has a low coefficient of friction to facilitate head spinning during break dancing, B-boying and B-girling. Head spins, halos, head slides, etc. can be comfortably and more safely performed.

Description

BACKGROUND

Break dancing is also referred to as B-boying or B-girling. Within the dance form, a variety of acrobatic movements exist that involve spinning and sliding on various parts of the head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a head spin cap according to an example of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of head spin cap of the example of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the head spin cap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A illustrates example pads for the interior of the head spin cap.

FIG. 4B illustrates a bottom plan view of the interior of the head spin cap showing the example pads of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example of a front view of head spin cap according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a back view of the head spin cap of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates a head spin cap in accordance with another example of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a back view of the head spin cap of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is another example of the head spin cap of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the examples of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the disclosure will be described in conjunction with the examples herein, it will be understood that these examples are not intended to limit the disclosure to these examples. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents which may be included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as to not unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a head spin cap 100 according to an example of the present disclosure.

In FIG. 1, head spin cap 100 includes a first panel, namely right side panel 102, a second panel, namely center panel 104 and a third panel, namely left side panel 106. Center panel 104 is substantially rectangular shaped and extends from a front area A to a back area B (FIG. 3).

The width W of center panel 104 is substantially the width of the head spin cap and is sufficient to cover the top area or crown of a user's head. In this example, center panel 104 is formed of an inner layer and an outer layer. The exterior of the center panel 104 is made of a low coefficient of friction material 103.

Although not shown, other materials with similar characteristics may be utilized. Further, although only two layers are described, head spin cap 100 may have three or more layers depending upon the level of protection desired for the head. As discussed below, this low coefficient of friction material facilitates efficient and effortless head spinning during a B-boying, B-girling or break-dancing session.

In FIG. 1, center panel 104, as noted, extends from front to back, and is disposed between right side panel 102 and left side panel 106. Here, right side panel 102 extends from front area A to back area B as well as extending substantially around the side of the user's head.

Similarly, left side panel 106 extends from front to back and around the periphery of a user's head. Thus, both of right side panel 102 and left side panel 106 are substantially semicircular shaped.

Right side panel 102 and left side panel 106 are also attached to center panel 104 forming an inverted-bowl shape that fits over the head. Specifically, right side panel 102 and center panel 104 are attached via right side stitching 105 while left side panel 106 and center panel 104 are attached via left side stitching 107 to form this inverted-bowl shape of head spin cap 100. The connection of panels to each other can be by stitching, glue, Velcro® or other suitable attachment methods.

The material from which right side panel 102 and left side panel 106 are formed is preferably fabric such as cotton. However, the material might be a polymeric material, an elastomeric material or other such comparable material.

In FIG. 1, head spin cap 100 further includes a bill 108. Bill 108 is fixedly attached to the front areas of the panels by a front stitching 109. A side view of head spin cap 100 is further illustrated in FIG. 2. As previously noted, right side panel 102 encompasses the entire right side periphery of the cap. A back view of head spin cap 100 is shown in FIG. 3.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the back area of center panel 104 includes a semicircular cutout 111 having an adjustable strap 112 and a buckle 114 attached to distal ends of adjustable strap 112. Using the strap 112 and buckle 114, a user can adjust the size of head spin cap 100 as necessary. Although not illustrated, a user might use Velcro®, a D-Ring or other comparable ways of adjusting and securing head spin cap 100. As shown in FIG. 3, in one example, the height H of the cap might be 4.1 inches. The width WC of the center panel 104 may be 4.3 inches. The width WL of the left side panel 106 may be 2.15 inches. And the width WR of the right side panel 102 may be 2.15 inches.

In operation, head spin cap 100 is placed over the user's head. Adjustable strap 112 is then adjusted to ensure a snug fit. The user can then begin to break dance. As is typical with break dancing, the user places his head on the ground so that the user is on his or her head, upside down, with head spin cap 100 in contact with the ground.

The user then begins to spin on the user's head. The user may perform head spins, halos, head slides, etc. The low coefficient of friction material 103 is in contact with the ground as the user is spinning. The low coefficient of friction material slides over a surface with low resistance. This low coefficient may range between 0 and 1, where values closer to 0 are preferable. The low coefficient of friction material facilitates spinning on the user's head and promotes multiple spins without any associated injury.

Without the low coefficient of friction material, the number of spins would likely be drastically reduced by friction, and injury may occur since friction can impede spinning and can cause stoppage of spinning at an awkward angle which can cause injury.

Moreover, without head spin cap 100, users may experience discomfort while performing these various movements on their heads. Such discomfort may be alleviated by the use of pads and multiple layers as discussed below. As noted, head spin cap 100 may include multiple layers of material and pads (FIG. 4) which promote comfort and protect the head and neck during break dancing.

FIG. 4A illustrates pads 102A, 104A and 106A to be inserted in the interior of head spin cap 100. FIG. 4B illustrates the bottom plan view of head spin cap 100 showing pads 102A, 104A and 106A in accordance with an example of the present disclosure.

In FIG. 4A, pad 102A and pad 106A are substantially semicircular shaped. Pad 102A is sized to align with the interior of right side panel 102 as shown in FIG. 4B. Pad 106A is sized to align with the interior of left side panel 106 as shown in FIG. 4B. In FIG. 4A, pad 104A is substantially rectangular and shaped to align with the shape of center panel 104 (FIG. 4B).

In one example, each pad or cushion is detachably attached to the interior of its respective panel. In another example, each pad or cushion is securely fastened to its respective panel. In one example, each pad may be formed of resilient foam. In another example, each pad may be comprised of one or more layers that are sewn together. The pads and/or the layers may be soft and may provide comfort and protection to the user's head as the user engages in break dancing head spins.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example of head spin cap 100.

In this example, each of the three exterior panels 102, 104, 106 is comprised of low coefficient of friction material 103. This low coefficient of friction material 103 can also be seen in FIG. 6 which is a back view of head spin cap 100. By using a low coefficient of friction material in the entirety of the exterior of the cap, higher efficiency and safety for head spinning is promoted even when the user tilts at an angle during a head spin operation.

Referring now to FIG. 6, between each panel is a seam 118 that attaches adjoining panels. The use of three panels provides two seams 118 as can be seen. Here, each seam 118 promotes flexibility between the top crown area of head spin cap 100 and right panel 106 on one hand and also between the top crown area and left panel 102 on another hand. Thus, when a user is spinning, seams 118 allow the crown or top portion of center panel 104 to flatten out relative to the right and left panels 102 and 106, to further facilitate head spinning by the user.

FIG. 7 illustrates head spin cap 200 in accordance with another example of the present disclosure.

In FIG. 7, head spin cap 200 includes five panels, namely: right side panel 102, center panel 104, left side panel 106, front panel 120 and back panel 122 (FIG. 8). By utilizing a five-panel cap, various segments of the cap are separated which serves to protect different portions of a user's head during break dancing. The center panel 104 in this example is comprised of low coefficient of friction material 103.

In FIG. 7, right side panel 102, left side panel 106, front panel 120 and back panel 122 of FIG. 8 have no low coefficient of friction material as seen. The front panel 120 extends from the right side 122 to a left side 124. The right side 122 is tapered below right side panel 102. A seam 126 extends between the front panel 120 and right side panel 102 while another seam 128 extends between right side panel 102 and center panel 104.

Seam 126 extends such that front panel 120 is disposed below seam 126 while the right side panel 102, left side panel 106 and center panel 104 are disposed above seam 126.

Similarly, a seam 130, shown in FIG. 8, attaches left side panel 106 and center panel 104 as shown in FIG. 8. Seam 132 extends horizontally between center panel 104 and back panel 122. As can be seen, the perimeter of back panel 122 includes 3 substantially perpendicular straight edges and a fourth semicircular edge.

Although not shown, each of the panels has a corresponding pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the panel. For example, each one of right side panel 102, center panel 104, left side panel 106, front panel 120 and back panel 122 (FIG. 8) has a corresponding pad formed to align and attach to the interior of the panel. FIG. 9 illustrates a five-panel cap 200 which has a layer or outer layers comprised of low coefficient of friction material. Each panel has the interior pad shown in FIG. 4.

In one example, a method of the present disclosure may include providing first panel; a second panel; a third panel; providing a first seam extending between the first and the second panel; providing a second seam extending between the second panel and the third panel, the first panel, the second panel and the third panel substantially forming a cap; providing a first material to form the second panel, wherein the first material has a low coefficient of friction to slide over a surface with low resistance; providing a first pad aligned with an interior of the first panel; providing a second pad aligned with an interior of the second panel; providing a third pad aligned with an interior of the third panel, the first pad, the second pad and the third pad being an inner layer that is soft; providing a fourth panel; providing a fourth pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the fourth panel; providing a fifth panel; and providing a fifth pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the fifth panel.

While the above is a complete description of exemplary specific examples of the disclosure, additional examples are also possible. Thus, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure which is defined by the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.

Claims

1. A cap comprising:

a first panel;

a first pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the first panel;

a second panel;

a second pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the second panel

a third panel;

a third pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the third panel.

a first seam extending between the first and the second panel;

a second seam extending between the second panel and the third panel;

a first low coefficient of friction material on an exterior of the second panel, the first low coefficient of friction material to glide over a surface with low resistance from the surface during break dancing.

2. The cap of claim 1 further comprising

a second low coefficient of friction material to form or formed over the first panel.

3. The cap of claim 1 further comprising

a third low coefficient of friction material to form or formed over the third panel.

4. The cap of claim 1 wherein the second panel is a middle panel, with the first and the third panels being side panels attached to the middle panel.

5. The cap of claim 4 wherein a width of the middle panel extends substantially over an entire width or crown of the cap.

6. The cap of claim 1 further comprising

a fourth panel; and

a fourth pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the fourth panel.

7. The cap of claim 6 further comprising:

a fifth panel; and

a fifth pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the fifth panel.

8. The cap of claim 7 wherein the fifth panel is a back panel, with a perimeter of the back panel including three substantially perpendicular edges and a fourth semicircular edge.

9. A method comprising:

providing first panel; a second panel; a third panel;

providing a first seam extending between the first and the second panel;

providing a second seam extending between the second panel and the third panel, the first panel, the second panel and the third panel substantially forming a cap;

providing a first material to form the second panel, wherein the first material has a low coefficient of friction to slide over a surface with low resistance;

providing a first pad aligned with an interior of the first panel;

providing a second pad aligned with an interior of the second panel;

providing a third pad aligned with an interior of the third panel, the first pad, the second pad and the third pad being an inner layer that is soft.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing a fourth panel; and

providing a fourth pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the fourth panel.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

providing a fifth panel; and

providing a fifth pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the fifth panel.

12. A cap comprising:

a first panel;

a second panel;

a third panel;

a first seam extending between the first and the second panel;

a second seam extending between the second panel and the third panel;

a first low coefficient of friction material on an exterior of the second panel, the first low coefficient of friction material to glide over a surface with low resistance from the surface during break dancing.

13. The cap of claim 12 further comprising

a second low coefficient of friction material to form or formed over the first panel.

14. The cap of claim 12 further comprising

a first pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the first panel;

a second pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the second panel; and

a third pad formed to align and attach to an interior of the third panel.