Sport Cap with Enclosure
A wearable article that may be worn with a device includes a headwear, a first retractor, and a first connector. The headwear is wearable independent of the device. The first retractor is mounted within the headwear. The first retractor includes a first reel and a first cord. The first cord is capable of extending from and retracting into the first reel. The first connector is connected to the first cord and is configured for non-destructively fastening to and unfastening from the device. The headwear includes a first enclosure positioned and sized for holding the first connector when the first connector is not being used for fastening to the device.
This patent application generally relates to a wearable article that serves to support another device. More particularly, it is related to headwear having a structure for securely retaining the other device.
BACKGROUNDHeadwear has long been used for supporting eyewear, such as the visor of a baseball style cap or such as the retractable cord for securely supporting eyewear, as shown in commonly invented U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,491 (“the '491 patent). Improvement in the system of the '491 patent is needed, and this improvement is provided in the current patent application.
SUMMARYOne aspect of the present patent application is a wearable article that may be worn with a device. The wearable article includes a headwear, a first retractor, and a first connector. The headwear is wearable independent of the device. The first retractor is mounted within the headwear. The first retractor includes a first reel and a first cord. The first cord is capable of extending from and retracting into the first reel. The first connector is connected to the first cord and is configured for non-destructively fastening to and unfastening from the device. The headwear includes a first enclosure positioned and sized for holding the first connector when the first connector is not being used for fastening to the device.
In one embodiment the first enclosure includes a first pouch. The headwear includes a crown portion, and the first pouch is external to the crown.
In one embodiment the headwear includes a crown and a headband. The crown includes a first slot positioned and sized for inserting the first connector through the first slot and into the headband.
One embodiment includes a second retractor. The first retractor is mounted on a first side portion of the headwear and the second retractor is mounted on a second side portion of the headwear.
In one embodiment the headwear includes a crown and a headband, and the first reel is located between the headband and the crown.
In one embodiment the headband includes a passage, and the cord is mounted to slide into the headband through the passage.
In one embodiment the first connector includes a first loop holder.
In one embodiment the first connector includes a screw.
One embodiment further includes eyewear, wherein said connector is configured for non-destructively fastening to and unfastening from a temple of said eyewear.
In one embodiment the device includes at least one from the group consisting of a mask and ear buds.
In one embodiment the headwear includes flotation.
In one embodiment the headwear includes a bill portion, wherein the bill portion includes the flotation.
In one embodiment the flotation is a layer of a multilayer material.
In one embodiment the flotation includes a material, such as polyethylene or neoprene.
Another aspect of the present patent application is a method of using a wearable article for holding a device. The method includes providing a headwear, a first retractor, and a first connector, wherein the headwear is wearable independent of the device, wherein the first retractor is mounted within the headwear, wherein the first retractor includes a first reel and a first cord, wherein the first cord is capable of extending from and retracting into the first reel, wherein the first connector is connected to the first cord and is configured for non-destructively fastening to and unfastening from the device, wherein the headwear includes a first enclosure positioned and sized for holding the first connector when the first connector is not being used for fastening to the device. The method further includes connecting the device to the first connector. The method further includes disconnecting the device from the first connector. The method further includes storing the first connector in the first enclosure.
Embodiments of the prior art headwear with secure device holder are shown in the '491 patent,” for which the present applicant was the inventor, and which is incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, the '491 patent includes a cap that may be worn with eyewear but the cap is wearable independent of the eyewear. The retractor is mounted within the cap. The retractor includes a cord and a reel. The cord extends from and retracts into the reel. The cord includes an eyewear fastener for fastening to a temple of the eyewear.
In the '491 patent, baseball style cap 1 includes crown 2, visor 6, and, on each side, a retractor that includes reel 11 and retractable cord 4 from which eyewear fastener 8 extends, as shown in prior art
In one embodiment of the present application, pouch 20 is included on each side of crown portion 21 of headwear 22a, as shown in
In one embodiment, headwear cord 26 extends from a tensioning reel (see prior art
In use for securing a device, such as eyewear 40, the user extends end piece 41 of eyewear through loop 44a of loop holder 36. Position of spacer 42 of loop holder 36 is then adjusted toward end piece 41 to securely hold end piece 41 of eyewear 40 in now smaller loop 44a. as shown in
In some applications, for example, when eyewear 40 has thin temples, end piece 41 is secured through both loop 44a and loop 44b for greater security.
While in prior art schemes eyewear was often at least partially supported by a cap's visor, such as visor 50 of
When not in use for securing a device, such as eyewear 40, loop holder 36 may be moved from where it hangs, as shown in
Alternatively, the enclosure may be formed with slit 52 in headwear 22b, as shown in
Headwear 22a, 22b may be any style hat, cap, hood, helmet, balaclava, surgical cap, or visor, which may be substituted for the baseball style cap of
In addition to eyewear, other devices, such as face mask 70 of
In one embodiment, knot 76 tied in a portion of string 80 of face mask 70 pass through loop 44a or 44b of loop holder 36, as shown in
Similarly, when fully opened by sliding spacer 42, as shown in
Alternatively, another type of connector may be used in place of loop holder 36, such as screw connector 90, as shown in
In one embodiment the headwear includes flotation. For hats that have a sunvisor, brim, or bill portion, the flotation may be in the sunvisor, brim, or bill portion. It can also be in the headband portion or the crown portion of the headware. The headware can be any style, such as a baseball style cap or a fisherman style that has a brim extending 360 degrees around.
The addition of flotation can prevent loss of eyewear if the flotation is sufficient to enable the hat and the attached eyewear to float when, for example, wind causes the hat to fall off into the water.
In one embodiment the flotation is a layer of a multilayer material.
In one embodiment the flotation includes a material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or neoprene.
While several embodiments, together with modifications thereof, have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that various further modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Nothing in the above specification is intended to limit the invention more narrowly than the appended claims. The examples given are intended only to be illustrative rather than exclusive.
Claims
1. A wearable article that may be worn with a device, comprising a headwear, a first retractor, and a first connector, wherein said headwear is wearable independent of the device, wherein said first retractor is mounted within said headwear, wherein said first retractor includes a first reel and a first cord, wherein said first cord is capable of extending from and retracting into said first reel, wherein said first connector is connected to said first cord and is configured for non-destructively fastening to and unfastening from the device, wherein said headwear includes a first enclosure positioned and sized for holding said first connector when said first connector is not being used for fastening to the device.
2. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said first enclosure includes a first pouch.
3. An article as recited in claim 2, wherein said headwear includes a crown, wherein said first pouch is external to said crown.
4. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said headwear includes a crown and a headband, wherein said crown includes a first slot, wherein said first slot is positioned and sized for inserting said first connector through said first slot and into space between said headband and said crown.
5. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said headwear further includes a second said retractor and a second said connector.
6. An article as recited in claim 5, wherein said first retractor is mounted on a first side portion of said headwear and wherein said second retractor is mounted on a second side portion of said headwear.
7. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said headwear includes a crown and a headband, wherein said reel is located between said headband and said crown.
8. An article as recited in claim 7, wherein said headband includes a passage, wherein said cord is mounted to slide into said headband through said passage.
9. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said connector includes a loop holder.
10. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said connector includes a screw.
11. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein the device includes eyewear, wherein said connector is configured for non-destructively fastening to and unfastening from a temple of said eyewear.
12. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein the device includes at least one from the group consisting of a mask and ear buds.
13. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein said headwear includes flotation.
14. An article as recited in claim 13, wherein said headwear includes a bill portion, wherein said bill portion includes said flotation.
15. An article as recited in claim 13, wherein said flotation is a layer of a multilayer material.
16. An article as recited in claim 13, wherein said flotation includes at least one from a group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and neoprene.
17. A method of using a wearable article for holding a device, comprising:
- a. providing a headwear, a first retractor, and a first connector, wherein said headwear is wearable independent of the device, wherein said first retractor is mounted within said headwear, wherein said first retractor includes a first reel and a first cord, wherein said first cord is capable of extending from and retracting into said first reel, wherein said first connector is connected to said first cord and is configured for non-destructively fastening to and unfastening from the device, wherein said headwear includes a first enclosure positioned and sized for holding said first connector when said first connector is not being used for fastening to the device;
- b. connecting the device to said first connector;
- c. non-destructively disconnecting the device from said first connector; and
- d. storing said first connector in said first enclosure.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 10, 2021
Publication Date: May 12, 2022
Inventor: Dean Ferrara (Hinesburg, VT)
Application Number: 17/523,727