HEADWEAR WITH PONYTAIL HOLDER

Abstract

Embodiments are disclosed for headwear configured to accommodate a ponytail of a wearer. In some examples, a headwear includes a crown comprising a first crown portion terminating at a first edge at a rear of the crown and a second crown portion terminating at a second edge at the rear of the crown, with the second crown portion overlapping the first crown portion at the rear of the crown. Each of the first crown portion and second crown portion may be coupled along a bottom circumferential edge to a crown band. The first crown portion, the second crown portion, the first edge, and the second edge may be flexible and/or stretchable to enable access to an opening in the headwear, the opening framed by the crown band, the first edge, and the second edge and configured to accommodate a ponytail of a wearer of the headwear.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/489,974, titled “HEADWEAR WITH PONYTAIL HOLDER,” and filed Mar. 13, 2023, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a headwear, and more specifically to headwear configured to accommodate a ponytail.

BACKGROUND

Headwear may be utilized to shield a wearer from environmental hazards, such as sunlight, low temperatures, wind, etc. Beanies may provide protection from such hazards, but may not be positioned as desired when worn over some hairstyles (e.g., the beanie may slip off, not fit correctly, get stretched out, etc.). Further, some hairstyles, such as ponytails, may cause the beanie to be uncomfortable for the wearer. Some hat types may provide openings to accommodate for ponytails, such as a baseball cap, but such hat types may not provide the same environmental protection to the wearer due to their design (e.g., a looser fit, a different material, etc.).

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides embodiments of headwear that mitigate the above-described issues. For example, headwear according to the following disclosure may include a crown comprising a first crown portion terminating at a first edge at a rear of the crown and a second crown portion terminating at a second edge at the rear of the crown, with the second crown portion overlapping the first crown portion at the rear of the crown. Each of the first crown portion and second crown portion may be coupled along a bottom circumferential edge to a crown band, and wherein the first crown portion, the second crown portion, the first edge, and the second edge are flexible and/or stretchable to enable access to an opening in the headwear, the opening framed by the crown band, the first edge, and the second edge and configured to accommodate a ponytail of a wearer of the headwear. In this way, the headwear may protect the wearer from environmental conditions, such as wind and cold temperatures, while maintaining functionality and comfort for the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure may be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a rear side view of the example headwear of FIG. 1 on the wearer of the headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the example headwear of FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the inside of the example headwear of FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a rear view of a second example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the example headwear of FIG. 5 in a tousled state in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 shows a rear view of a third example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows a rear view of the example headwear of FIG. 7 on the wearer of the headwear with a ponytail in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows a rear view of a fourth example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 shows a rear view of the example headwear of FIG. 9 on the wearer of the headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a headwear 100. In the illustrated example, the headwear 100 may include a crown 102 that extends fully around the circumference of the wearer's head. In some embodiments, the crown 102 may be formed of suitable material or materials, such as a flexible woven, non-woven, or knit material, including synthetic materials (e.g., polyester, nylon), natural materials (e.g., cotton), or blended materials (e.g., polyester and cotton). For example, the crown 102 may be comprised of a knitted material with a moss stitch pattern. In some examples, the crown 102 may be formed of a single piece of material. In other examples, the crown 102 may include a plurality of pieces of material stitched or otherwise coupled together. In some embodiments, each piece of material (or the entirety of the crown 102) may include the same type of fabric or other material. In other embodiments, one or more pieces of material (or the crown 102) may include a different type of material than the other pieces. In examples where the crown 102 is comprised of a single piece of material or the same knitted material, the material of the crown 102 may be flexible/stretchable so that the crown 102 may stretch to accommodate a head of a wearer. In examples where the crown 102 is comprised of multiple pieces of material, at least portions of the material of the crown 102 may be flexible/stretchable so that the crown 102 may stretch to accommodate a head of a wearer. For example, at least the rear of the crown 102 may be comprised of flexible/stretchable material.

The headwear 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a crown band 104 coupled to a bottom terminating edge of the crown 102 and that extends continuously around the entire circumference of the crown 102. In some examples, the crown band 104 may be constructed of the same material as the crown 102. In other examples, the crown band 104 may be constructed from a different material than the crown 102. This different material may be coupled to the crown 102 through stitching, gluing, or another permanent coupling method. In still further examples, the crown band 104 may be comprised of a knit material but in a different pattern than a knit pattern of the crown 102. For example, the crown band 104 may comprise a ribbed pattern (e.g., rather than the moss pattern of the crown 102). Although the crown band 104 is illustrated as having a vertical ribbed pattern, it is to be understood that the crown band 104 may also have any other pattern that distinguishes it from the crown 102. At least portions of the crown band 104 may be comprised of flexible/stretchable material. In some examples, all of the crown band 104 may be comprised of flexible/stretchable material.

The crown band 104 may have a suitable height from the outer terminal edge of the crown band 104 to the region where the crown band 104 couples to the crown 102. In some examples, the height of the crown band 104 is the same height along the entirety of the crown band 104, while in other examples, the height of the crown band 104 may vary at one or more points along the circumference of the crown band 104. As illustrated, the height of the crown band 104 may be in a range of 10-25% of the overall height of the headwear 100 (e.g., from a bottom circumferential edge of the crown band 104 to a top-most, center point of the crown 102). However, other heights are within the scope of this disclosure, such as less than 10% of the overall height of the headwear 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the front of the crown 102 of the headwear 100 may include two darts, a first dart 106 and a second dart 108, which serve aesthetic and/or utility purposes. In some examples, the first dart 106 and the second dart 108 may extend downwards from the top of the headwear 100 and have a suitable length, such as is in a range of 10-25% of the overall height of the crown 102. In other examples, the first dart 106 and the second dart 108 may have a different uniform length or the first dart 106 may have a different length than a length of the second dart 108. In some examples, the first dart 106 and the second dart 108 may affect the structure of the headwear 100 by reducing the circumference of the crown 102 near the top of the headwear 100 and allowing the crown 102 to match the contour of a wearer's head. The first dart 106 and the second dart 108 may therefore cause the headwear 100 to better fit the convex shape of a wearer's head. In other examples, the first dart 106 and the second dart 108 may only serve an aesthetic purpose or may be absent entirely depending on the construction of the headwear 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the crown 102 may include one or more external peripherals, such as a pom-pom 110, which may serve aesthetic purposes. Further, in some examples the pom-pom 110 may be removable and thus may be temporarily coupled to the crown 102 via hooks, snaps, or another suitable reversible fastener. While the pom-pom 110 is shown on the headwear 100, it is to be understood that the headwear 100 may include any other type of aesthetic peripheral or none at all. Further, while the headwear 100 depicted in FIG. 1 is a beanie and thus includes a full crown and no brim, it is to be appreciated that in some examples, the headwear may include a partial or full brim (e.g., a brim extending only partially around the circumference of the headwear, such as on the front of the headwear, or a brim that extends around an entire circumference of the headwear).

FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of a rear and side of the headwear 100 on a head of a wearer 216. The back of the crown 102 of the headwear 100 may include two darts, a third dart 212 and a fourth dart 214, which are similar to the first dart 106 and the second dart 108 from the front of the crown 102. In the example shown, the rear of the crown 102 may be formed by two overlapping crown portions: a first crown portion 202 and a second crown portion 204. As illustrated, the first crown portion 202 may extend from one side of the headwear 100 (e.g., the right side) to a central rear portion of the headwear 100 and the second crown portion 204 may extend from the opposite side of the headwear 100 (e.g., the left side) to the center rear portion of the headwear 100. It is to be appreciated that in some examples, the first crown portion 202 may extend continuously to the second crown portion 204 and that the first and second crown portions may form one continuous piece of material that wraps around the head of the wearer 216.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first crown portion 202 may end in a first terminating edge 206 and the second crown portion 204 may end in a second terminating edge 208. In some examples, the first terminating edge 206 and the second terminating edge 208 may be constructed from the same material as the rest of the crown 102. For example, the first terminating edge 206 and the second terminating edge 208 may each comprise a different knit pattern than the crown 102, such as ribbing, and/or the first terminating edge 206 and the second terminating edge 208 may include reinforcing stitching, such as cross-stitching or zigzag stitching. In other examples, the first terminating edge 206 and the second terminating edge 208 may be constructed of a different material than the rest of the crown 102. The different material may be coupled to the first crown portion 202 and the second crown portion 204 through stitching, gluing, or another permanent coupling method. Each of the first terminating edge 206 and the second terminating edge 208 may be comprised of flexible/stretchable material.

As shown in FIG. 2, a first side dart 220 may extend from the top of the crown 102 to one side of the headwear 100 (e.g., the right side). In some examples, the first side dart 220 may extend downwards from the top of the headwear 100 and have a suitable length that is longer than the first dart 106 (and second dart, third dart, and fourth dart), such as is in a range of 45-55% of the overall height of the crown 102. However, other lengths are within the scope of this disclosure, such as less than 45% of the overall height of the crown 102. While not shown in FIG. 2, a second side dart 222 (shown in FIG. 3) may extend from the top of the crown 102 on the opposite side of the headwear 100 (e.g., the left side). In some examples, the second side dart 222 may extend downwards from the top of the headwear 100 and have a suitable length, such as the same length as the first side dart 220. In other examples, the second side dart 222 may have a suitable length that is a different length than the first side dart 220. In still other examples, the first side dart 220 and the second side dart may be absent from the headwear 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the second terminating edge 208 of the second crown portion 204 may extend from the first side dart 220 to the top of the crown band 104 at the rear of the headwear 100. In other examples, the second terminating edge 208 may extend from the first side dart 220 to a different point on the rear of the headwear 100, such as the middle or bottom of the crown band 104. In still other examples, the second terminating edge 208 may extend from a point other than the first side dart 220, such as the third dart 212 or a point on the crown 102, to the top of the crown band 104 at the rear of the headwear 100.

The first terminating edge 206 likewise extends from the second side dart 222 to the top of the crown band 104. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the second terminating edge 208 and the second crown portion 204 may overlap the first terminating edge 206 except at a bottom region where the first terminating edge 206 couples with the top of the crown band 104, and thus only a portion of the first terminating edge 206 is visible on the outside of the headwear 100. The length of the first terminating edge 206 that is visible from the outside of the headwear 100 may vary depending on the location and orientation of the headwear 100 (e.g., laying flay on a table, scrunched up on a table, being worn on the head of a wearer, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 2, an opening 210 may be created between the top of the crown band 104 and the point where the second terminating edge 208 overlaps the first terminating edge 206. The opening 210 may allow an object to pass between the terminating edges and enter/exit the headwear 100, such as a ponytail 218. The opening 210 may allow the ponytail 218 to pass through the headwear 100 without affecting the rest of the headwear 100. The wearer 216 may pass the ponytail 218 through the opening 210 before or after the headwear 100 is placed on the head of the wearer 216. The wearer 216 may also wear the headwear 100 in the absence of the ponytail 218.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the headwear 100 when the headwear 100 is not on the head of a wearer, such as when the headwear 100 is lying flat on a table. As shown in FIG. 3, the second terminating edge 208 may extend from the first side dart 220 to the crown band 104 with a curvature, such that the second terminating edge 208 may form a curved edge of the second crown portion 204. In some examples, the second terminating edge 208 may have a suitable radius of curvature that is greater than zero, such as in a range of 10-20 cm. In other examples, the second terminating edge 208 may have a suitable radius of curvature outside of this range, or the second terminating edge 208 may extend without any curvature.

When the headwear 100 is not being worn on a head of a wearer and is flat as is shown in FIG. 3, only a small portion of the first terminating edge 206 may be visible, and less of the first terminating edge 206 may be visible than when the headwear is worn on a head of a wearer, as shown in FIG. 2. For example, only 5-10% of the total length of the first terminating edge 206 may be visible when the headwear 100 is not being worn, while a larger amount (e.g., 25-30% of the total length) may be visible when the headwear is being worn, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Likewise, when the headwear 100 is flat/not being worn, the opening 210 may not be visible, or only a small portion of the opening 210 may be visible, while a larger amount of the opening 210 may be visible when the headwear 100 is worn on a head of a wearer, as shown in FIG. 2. Where the first and second crown portions overlap, the second crown portion 204 may sit on top of the first crown portion 202. The amount of overlap between the second crown portion 204 and the first crown portion 202 may change along the length of the crown 102. For example, toward a top of the crown 102, the second crown portion 204 may overlap the first crown portion 202 along nearly the entire circumferential extent of the rear of the crown 102 (e.g., from the first side dart 220 to the second side dart 222), and the extent of the overlap may decrease toward the bottom of the crown 102 (such that the second crown portion 204 does not overlap the first crown portion 202 at the crown band 104).

As mentioned previously, the rear of the crown 102 (e.g., the first crown portion 202 and the second crown portion 204) as well as the crown band 104, the first terminating edge 206, and the second terminating edge 208 may be comprised of flexible material that can be stretched, pulled, bunched, etc., at least a certain amount without ripping or permanently deforming. Further, the first crown portion 202 is not directly fixedly coupled to the second crown portion 204 at the rear of the crown 102. As a result, the opening 210 may be accessed (e.g., made larger/visible) by pushing the first terminating edge 206 towards the first crown portion 202 and/or by pushing the second terminating edge 208 towards the second crown portion 204. In some examples, the opening 210 may also be accessed by pulling the second terminating edge 208 outwards from the headwear 100. In this way, the opening 210 may have a variable size depending on whether or not the headwear 100 is worn and whether or not a ponytail is accommodated in the opening 210 (as well as dependent on a size of the ponytail).

FIG. 4 shows an inside view of the rear of the headwear 100 (e.g., viewed as if the headwear 100 was turned inside out). All or some of the external peripherals that may have been visible in the previous illustrations may now be hidden from sight. The inside surfaces of the crown 102 and the crown band 104 are shown, including the inside surfaces of the first crown portion 202 and the second crown portion 204. While the third dart 212 and the fourth dart 214 may be absent from the inside surface of the crown 102, it is to be understood that the darts may be visible on the inside of the headwear, in some examples.

Similar to the second terminating edge 208, the first terminating edge 206 extends from the second side dart 222 to the top of the crown band 104 with a suitable curvature and thus forms a curved edge of the first crown portion 202. The first terminating edge 206 overlaps the second crown portion 204 and the second terminating edge 208. It is to be appreciated that only a small portion of the second terminating edge 208 is visible on the inside of the headwear (e.g., 5-10%) and the remaining portion of the second terminating edge 208 that is shown in dashed lines is not visible from the inside of the headwear 100.

As appreciated from FIG. 4, each of the terminating edges extends from a respective side dart to the crown band 104 with similar but opposite angled curvature. The first and second terminating edges cross over each other at an intersecting point 402 of the crown 102, above the crown band 104. The first and second terminating edges may not directly couple to each other along the entire length of the first and second terminating edges (e.g., the edges may touch at the intersecting point but are not permanently coupled to each other at the intersecting point). The first terminating edge 206 may couple to the crown band 104 at a point that is next to where the second terminating edge 208 couples to the crown band 104. For example, the first terminating edge 206 may couple to the crown band 104 immediately adjacent to where the second terminating edge 208 couples to the crown band 104, or a space (e.g., of 1-10 mm) may be present between where the first terminating edge 206 couples to the crown band 104 and where the second terminating edge 208 couples to the crown band 104. A central longitudinal axis 404 is shown in FIG. 4 that extends from the top center point of the crown 102 to the bottom edge of the crown band 104. The first terminating edge 206 couples to the crown band 104 on a first side of the central longitudinal axis 404 while the second terminating edge 208 couples to the crown band 104 on a second, opposite side of the central longitudinal axis 404. The first side dart 220 may be positioned on the second side of the central longitudinal axis 404 and the second side dart 222 may be positioned on the first side of the central longitudinal axis 404. The intersecting point 402 where the first and second terminating edges cross over may be positioned on/coincide with the central longitudinal axis 404.

In this way, the headwear 100 may include a crown comprised of a single continuous panel of material that may be knit, woven, or another suitable type of material. The single panel of material may include a first end portion (e.g., the first crown portion described above) terminating at a first edge and overlapped by a second end portion of the panel of material (e.g., the second crown portion described above) at a rear of the crown, the second end portion of the panel of material terminating at a second edge. The headwear may further include a crown band coupled around a bottom circumferential edge of the crown. The crown band, the first edge, and the second edge may form an opening configured to accommodate a ponytail of the wearer.

FIG. 5 shows a rear view of a headwear 500. FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the headwear 500 with the headwear 500 in a tousled state. FIGS. 5 and 6 will be described collectively. As illustrated, the headwear 500 may include a crown 502, a crown band 504, a first dart 512, and a second dart 514 that are similar to the crown 102, crown band 104, third dart 212, and fourth dart 214 of the headwear 100, respectively.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the rear of the crown 502 may be formed by two overlapping crown portions: a first crown portion 505 and a second crown portion 507. The first crown portion 505 may be similar to the first crown portion 202 and the second crown portion 507 may be similar to the second crown portion 204 of the headwear 100. It is to be appreciated that in some examples, the first crown portion 505 may extend continuously to the second crown portion 507 and that the first and second crown portions may form one continuous piece of material that wraps around the head of the wearer. As shown in FIG. 6, the first crown portion 505 may end in a first terminating edge 506 and the second crown portion 507 may end in a second terminating edge 508, similar to the first terminating edge 206 and the second terminating edge 208 of the headwear 100. A first side dart 520 may extend from the top of the crown 502 to one side of the headwear 500 (e.g., the right side) similar to the first side dart 220 of the headwear 100. A second side dart 522 may extend from the top of the crown 502 to the other side of the headwear 500 (e.g., the left side), similar to the second side dart 222 of the headwear 100.

The second terminating edge 508 of the second crown portion 507 may extend from the first side dart 520 to the top of the crown band 504 at the rear of the headwear 500. The first terminating edge 506 likewise extends from the second side dart 522 to the top of the crown band 504. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the second terminating edge 508 and the second crown portion 507 may completely overlap the first terminating edge 506, and thus the first terminating edge 506 may not be visible on the outside of the headwear 500. As shown in FIG. 6, the first terminating edge 506 may become visible from the outside of the headwear 500 depending on the location and orientation of the headwear 500 (e.g., laying flay on a table, scrunched up on a table, being worn on the head of a wearer, etc.). The second terminating edge 508 may couple to the crown band 504 on a first side of a central longitudinal axis 530. Unlike the headwear 100, the second terminating edge 508 may be coupled to the crown band 504 at a point spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis 530, such that the second crown portion 507 extends past the central longitudinal axis 530 to the first side of the central longitudinal axis 530 along the entire length of the second crown portion 507. While not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first terminating edge 506 may be coupled to the crown band 504 on a second side of the central longitudinal axis 530 at a point spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis 530, such that the first crown portion 505 extends past the central longitudinal axis 530 to the second side of the central longitudinal axis 530 along the entire length of the first crown portion 505.

Each of the first terminating edge 506 and the second terminating edge 508 may have a curved shape, such as a C-shape or half-moon shape. For example, the second terminating edge 508 may extend from the first side dart 220 to the crown band 504 with a C-shaped curvature, such that the second terminating edge 508 may form a curved edge of the second crown portion 507. In some examples, the second terminating edge 508 may have a suitable radius of curvature that is greater than zero, such as in a range of 10-20 cm. Likewise, the first terminating edge 506 may extend from the second side dart 522 to the crown band 504 with a curvature (which may be the same curvature of the second terminating edge 508), such that the first terminating edge 506 may form a curved edge of the first crown portion 505.

An opening 510 may be created between the first crown portion 505 and the second crown portion 507 at a point above the crown band 504. Due to the overlap of the first and second crown portions along the crown band 504 at the central longitudinal axis 530, the opening 510 may be formed further from the crown band 504 than the opening 210 of the headwear 100. The opening 510 may allow an object to pass between the terminating edges and enter/exit the headwear 500, such as a ponytail. The opening 510 may allow the ponytail to pass through the headwear 500 without affecting the rest of the headwear 500. The wearer may pass the ponytail through the opening 510 before or after the headwear 500 is placed on the head of the wearer. The wearer may also wear the headwear 500 in the absence of the ponytail.

Similar to the headwear 100, the rear of the crown 502 (e.g., the first crown portion 505 and the second crown portion 507) as well as the crown band 504, the first terminating edge 506, and the second terminating edge 508 may be comprised of flexible material that can be stretched, pulled, bunched, etc., at least a certain amount without ripping or permanently deforming. Further, the first crown portion 505 is not fixedly coupled to the second crown portion 507 at the rear of the crown 502. As a result, the opening 510 may be accessed (e.g., made larger/visible) by pushing the first terminating edge 506 towards the first crown portion 505 and/or by pushing the second terminating edge 508 towards the second crown portion 507. In some examples, the opening 510 may also be accessed by pulling the second terminating edge 508 outwards from the headwear 500. In this way, the opening 510 may have a variable size depending on whether or not the headwear 500 is worn and whether or not a ponytail is accommodated in the opening 510 (as well as dependent on a size of the ponytail).

FIG. 7 shows a rear view of a headwear 700. FIG. 8 shows a rear view of the headwear 700 on the wearer of the headwear with a ponytail passing through the headwear. FIGS. 7 and 8 will be described collectively. As illustrated, the headwear 700 may include a crown 702, a crown band 704, at least a first dart 712 and a second dart 714, and a pom-pom 716 that are similar to the crown 102, crown band 104, third dart 212, fourth dart 214, and pom-pom-110 of the headwear 100, respectively.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the rear of the crown 702 may be formed by two overlapping crown portions: a first crown portion 705 and a second crown portion 707. The first crown portion 705 may be similar to the first crown portion 202 and the second crown portion 707 may be similar to the second crown portion 204 of the headwear 100. It is to be appreciated that in some examples, the first crown portion 705 may extend continuously to the second crown portion 707 and that the first and second crown portions may form a single continuous panel of material that wraps around the head of the wearer 802. As shown in FIG. 8, the first crown portion 705 may end in a first terminating edge 806 and the second crown portion 707 may end in a second terminating edge 708, similar to the first terminating edge 206 and the second terminating edge 208 of the headwear 100.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second terminating edge 708 of the second crown portion 707 may extend from the second dart 714 to the top of the crown band 704 at the rear of the headwear 700. The first terminating edge 806 likewise extends from the first dart 712 to the top of the crown band 704. The second terminating edge 708 may be fixedly coupled to only the second dart 714 and the crown band 704, and not to any other portion of the headwear 700. Similarly, the first terminating edge 806 may be fixedly coupled to only the second dart 714 and the crown band 704, and not to any other portion of the headwear 700. In this manner, the first terminating edge 806 and the second terminating edge 708 may each terminate at a rear dart (e.g., the first dart 712 and the second dart 714, respectively) rather than a side dart (as is the case for the headwear 100 and the headwear 500), which may result in the first terminating edge 806 and the second terminating edge 708 each being shorter than the first and second terminating edges of the headwear 100 and the headwear 500. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 7, the second terminating edge 708 and the second crown portion 707 may completely overlap the first terminating edge 806, and thus the first terminating edge 806 may not be visible on the outside of the headwear 700. As shown in FIG. 8, the first terminating edge 806 may become visible from the outside of the headwear 700 depending on the location and orientation of the headwear 700 (e.g., laying flay on a table, scrunched up on a table, being worn on the head of a wearer, etc.).

The first terminating edge 806 may couple to the crown band 704 at a point that is next to where the second terminating edge 708 couples to the crown band 704. For example, the first terminating edge 806 may couple to the crown band 704 immediately adjacent to where the second terminating edge 708 couples to the crown band 704, or a space (e.g., of 1-10 mm) may be present between where the first terminating edge 806 couples to the crown band 704 and where the second terminating edge 708 couples to the crown band 704. A central longitudinal axis 718 is shown in FIG. 7 that extends from the top center point of the crown 702 to the bottom edge of the crown band 704. The first terminating edge 806 couples to the crown band 704 on a first side of the central longitudinal axis 718 while the second terminating edge 708 couples to the crown band 704 on a second, opposite side of the central longitudinal axis 718. The first dart 712 may be positioned on the second side of the central longitudinal axis 718 and the second dart 714 may be positioned on the first side of the central longitudinal axis 718. The point where the first and second terminating edges cross over may be positioned on/coincide with the central longitudinal axis 718.

As appreciated from FIGS. 7 and 8, the second terminating edge 708 may have a curved shape. For example, the second terminating edge 708 may extend from the second dart 714 to the crown band 704 with a curvature, such that the second terminating edge 708 may form a curved edge of the second crown portion 707. In some examples, the second terminating edge 708 may have a suitable radius of curvature that is greater than zero, such as in a range of 50-100 cm. The radius of curvature of the second terminating edge 708 may be larger (e.g., two to five times as large) than the radius of curvature of either the second terminating edge 208 or the second terminating edge 508 of the headwear 100 and the headwear 500, respectively. In some examples, the second terminating edge 708 may curve outward, away from the central longitudinal axis 718. This outward curvature may be opposite the curvature of the second terminating edge 208 or the second terminating edge 508 (which may each curve inward, toward the central longitudinal axis). The outward curvature of the second terminating edge 708 may match the overall curvature of the crown 702, which may provide the appearance of the second terminating edge 708 extending linearly (without side curvature) when the headwear 700 is worn by a wearer and a ponytail is not accommodated within the opening. Likewise, the first terminating edge 806 may extend from the first dart 712 to the crown band 704 with a curvature (which may be the same curvature of the second terminating edge 708), such that the first terminating edge 806 may form a curved edge of the first crown portion 705. However, in some examples, the first terminating edge 806 and the second terminating edge 708 may extend without curvature (e.g., the first terminating edge 806 and the second terminating edge 708 may each be linear/straight edges).

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an opening 710 may be created between the first crown portion 705 and the second crown portion 707 at a point above the crown band 704. Due to the first and second crown portions coupling to the crown band 704 at points adjacent to the central longitudinal axis 718 (e.g., within 10 mm), the opening 710 may be formed closer to the crown band 704 than the opening 510 of the headwear 500 (e.g., similar to the opening 210 of the headwear 100). The opening 710 may allow an object to pass between the terminating edges and enter/exit the headwear 1000, such as a ponytail 804 in FIG. 8. The opening 710 may allow the ponytail 804 to pass through the headwear 700 without affecting the rest of the headwear 700. The wearer 802 may pass the ponytail 804 through the opening 710 before or after the headwear 700 is placed on the head of the wearer 802. The wearer 802 may also wear the headwear 700 in the absence of the ponytail 804.

Similar to the headwear 100, the rear of the crown 702 (e.g., the first crown portion 705 and the second crown portion 707) as well as the crown band 704, the first terminating edge 806, and the second terminating edge 708 may be comprised of flexible material that can be stretched, pulled, bunched, etc., at least a certain amount without ripping or permanently deforming. Further, the first crown portion 705 is not fixedly coupled to the second crown portion 707 at the rear of the crown 702. As a result, the opening 710 may be accessed (e.g., made larger/visible) by pushing the first terminating edge 806 towards the first crown portion 705 and/or by pushing the second terminating edge 708 towards the second crown portion 707. In some examples, the opening 710 may also be accessed by pulling the second terminating edge 708 outwards from the headwear 700. In this way, the opening 710 may have a variable size depending on whether or not the headwear 700 is worn and whether or not a ponytail is accommodated in the opening 710 (as well as dependent on a size of the ponytail).

FIG. 9 shows a rear view of a headwear 900. FIG. 10 shows a rear view of the headwear 900 on the wearer of the headwear with a ponytail passing through the headwear 900. FIGS. 9 and 10 will be described collectively. As illustrated, the headwear 900 may include a crown 902, a crown band 904, at least a first dart 912 and a second dart 914, and a pom-pom 916 that are similar to the crown 102, crown band 104, third dart 212, fourth dart 214, and pom-pom-110 of the headwear 100, respectively.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, the rear of the crown 902 may be formed by two overlapping crown portions: a first crown portion 905 and a second crown portion 907. The first crown portion 905 may be similar to the first crown portion 202 and the second crown portion 907 may be similar to the second crown portion 204 of the headwear 100. It is to be appreciated that in some examples, the first crown portion 905 may extend continuously to the second crown portion 907 and that the first and second crown portions may form a single continuous panel of material that wraps around the head of the wearer 1002. The first crown portion 905 may end in a first terminating edge 1006 (shown in FIG. 10) and the second crown portion 907 may end in a second terminating edge 908, similar to the first terminating edge 206 and the second terminating edge 208 of the headwear 100.

The second terminating edge 908 of the second crown portion 907 may extend from the second dart 914 to the top of the crown band 904 at the rear of the headwear 900. The first terminating edge 1006 likewise extends from the first dart 912 to the top of the crown band 904. The second terminating edge 908 may be fixedly coupled to only the second dart 914 and the crown band 904, and not to any other portion of the headwear 900. Similarly, the first terminating edge 1006 may be fixedly coupled to only the second dart 914 and the crown band 904, and not to any other portion of the headwear 900. In this manner, the first terminating edge 1006 and the second terminating edge 908 may each terminate at a rear dart (e.g., the first dart 912 and the second dart 914, respectively) rather than a side dart (as is the case for the headwear 100 and the headwear 500), which may result in the first terminating edge 1006 and the second terminating edge 908 each being shorter than the first and second terminating edges of the headwear 100 and the headwear 500. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 9, the second terminating edge 908 and the second crown portion 907 may completely overlap the first terminating edge 1006, and thus the first terminating edge 1006 may not be visible on the outside of the headwear 900. As shown in FIG. 10, the first terminating edge 1006 may become visible from the outside of the headwear 900 depending on the location and orientation of the headwear 900 (e.g., laying flay on a table, scrunched up on a table, being worn on the head of a wearer, etc.).

The first terminating edge 1006 may couple to the crown band 904 at a point that is next to where the second terminating edge 908 couples to the crown band 904. For example, the first terminating edge 1006 may couple to the crown band 904 immediately adjacent to where the second terminating edge 908 couples to the crown band 904, or a space (e.g., of 1-10 mm) may be present between where the first terminating edge 1006 couples to the crown band 904 and where the second terminating edge 908 couples to the crown band 904. A central longitudinal axis 918 is shown in FIG. 9 that extends from the top center point of the crown 902 to the bottom edge of the crown band 904. The first terminating edge 1006 couples to the crown band 904 on a first side of the central longitudinal axis 918 while the second terminating edge 908 couples to the crown band 904 on a second, opposite side of the central longitudinal axis 918. The first dart 912 may be positioned on the second side of the central longitudinal axis 918 and the second dart 914 may be positioned on the first side of the central longitudinal axis 918. The point where the first and second terminating edges cross-over may be positioned on/coincide with the central longitudinal axis 918.

As appreciated from FIGS. 9 and 10, the second terminating edge 908 may have a straight shape (e.g., a linear shape). For example, the second terminating edge 908 may extend from the second dart 914 to the crown band 904 with no curvature, such that the second terminating edge 908 may form a straight edge of the second crown portion 907. In some examples, the overall curvature of the crown 902 may provide the appearance of the second terminating edge 908 extending with curvature (not linearly) when the headwear 900 is worn by a wearer and a ponytail is accommodated within the opening. Likewise, the first terminating edge 1006 may extend from the first dart 912 to the crown band 904 with no curvature, such that the first terminating edge 1006 may form a straight edge of the first crown portion 905. However, in some examples, the first terminating edge 1006 and the second terminating edge 908 may extend with curvature (e.g., the first terminating edge 1006 and the second terminating edge 908 may each be curved edges).

As shown in FIG. 10, an opening 910 may be created between the first crown portion 905 and the second crown portion 907 at a point above the crown band 904. Due to the first and second crown portions coupling to the crown band 904 at points adjacent to the central longitudinal axis 918 (e.g., within 10 mm), the opening 910 may be formed closer to the crown band 904 than the opening 510 of the headwear 500 (e.g., similar to the opening 210 of the headwear 100). The opening 910 may allow an object to pass between the terminating edges and enter/exit the headwear 900, such as a ponytail 1004 in FIG. 10. The opening 910 may allow the ponytail 1004 to pass through the headwear 900 without affecting the rest of the headwear 900. The wearer 1002 may pass the ponytail 1004 through the opening 910 before or after the headwear 900 is placed on the head of the wearer 1002. In some examples, the wearer 1002 may also wear the headwear 900 in the absence of the ponytail 1004.

Similar to the headwear 100, the rear of the crown 902 (e.g., the first crown portion 905 and the second crown portion 907) as well as the crown band 904, the first terminating edge 1006, and the second terminating edge 908 may be comprised of flexible material that can be stretched, pulled, bunched, etc., at least a certain amount without ripping or permanently deforming. Further, the first crown portion 905 is not fixedly coupled to the second crown portion 907 at the rear of the crown 902. As a result, the opening 910 may be accessed (e.g., made larger/visible) by pushing the first terminating edge 1006 towards the first crown portion 905 and/or by pushing the second terminating edge 908 towards the second crown portion 907. In some examples, the opening 910 may also be accessed by pulling the second terminating edge 908 outwards from the headwear 900. In this way, the opening 910 may have a variable size depending on whether or not the headwear 900 is worn and whether or not a ponytail is accommodated in the opening 910 (as well as dependent on a size of the ponytail).

Thus, the headwear 100, the headwear 500, the headwear 700, and the headwear 900 described herein include an opening formed by two ends of a crown panel that overlap each other at a rear of the headwear 100, the headwear 500, the headwear 700, and the headwear 900. The crown panel may be a continuous panel of material (or materials), or formed from two or more segments of material stitched or otherwise coupled together, that forms the crown shape (that is shaped to conform to/match the shape of a wearer's head) due to being coupled to a crown band along a bottom edge of the panel and due to darts present at the top of the crown. The two ends of the crown panel are not directly coupled to each other and thereby form/accommodate the opening, with the bottom of the opening defined by the crown band. The two ends of the crown panel each include a bottom circumferential edge coupled to the crown band, and the crown band may extend continuously, without any gaps or openings, around an entirety of the bottom of the crown. The crown panel may be formed from suitable flexible/stretchable material or materials, such as an elastomeric material, and may be knit in some examples. In examples where the crown panel is a knitted material, the opening is not integrally formed in the knit pattern (e.g., by simply not stitching together adjacent loops of yarn/fabric) but instead is formed by overlapping portions/edges of the knitted material. For example, the opening is not integrated within a cable knit pattern. The flexible/stretchable material of the crown panel and the crown band may allow the headwear to firmly fit on a variety of head sizes without the inclusion of a separate size adjusting mechanism. For example, the headwear disclosed herein may lack a snapback sizing mechanism or other traditional headwear sizing mechanisms.

In this way, the opening described herein may be included in headwear such as a beanie to provide protection from environmental factors while allowing the wearer more choice in hairstyle. By including an overlapping first crown portion and second crown portion to create an opening at the rear of the crown, the headwear can benefit from the same warmth and tight fit of a beanie without limiting the comfort of a wearer with a ponytail. Further, because the opening is formed from two overlapping (but not directly coupled together) crown portions and a crown band (with the terminating edges of the crown portions and the crown band framing the opening), the opening may accommodate a wide range of ponytail thicknesses and the headwear may not be prone to structural degradation.

It will be understood that the configurations and/or approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various structures and configurations, and other features, functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.

As used in this application, an element or step recited in the singular and preceded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” or “one example” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. The terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements or a particular positional order on their objects. The following claims particularly point out subject matter from the above disclosure that is regarded as novel and non-obvious.

Claims

1. Headwear, comprising:

a crown comprising a first crown portion terminating at a first edge at a rear of the crown and a second crown portion terminating at a second edge at the rear of the crown, the second crown portion overlapping the first crown portion at the rear of the crown, each of the first crown portion and second crown portion coupled along a bottom circumferential edge to a crown band, wherein the first crown portion, the second crown portion, the first edge, and the second edge are flexible and/or stretchable to enable access to an opening in the headwear framed by the crown band, the first edge, and the second edge, and wherein the opening is configured to accommodate a ponytail of a wearer of the headwear.

2. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the second edge overlaps the first crown portion along an entirety of the second edge.

3. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the second edge overlaps the first crown portion except at a bottom region where the first edge and the second edge couple to the crown band, the opening visible at the bottom region.

4. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the second edge extends from a first side dart of the crown to the crown band and the first edge extends from a second side dart of the crown to the crown band, wherein the first side dart is positioned on an opposite side of the crown than the second side dart.

5. The headwear of claim 1, wherein, when the opening is not accessed, only a portion of the first edge is visible from an outside of the headwear and wherein an entirety of the second edge is visible from the outside of the headwear.

6. The headwear of claim 1, wherein, when the opening is not accessed, an entirety of the second edge is visible from an outside of the headwear and none of the first edge is visible from the outside of the headwear.

7. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the crown band is configured to extend under the ponytail of the wearer.

8. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the opening is configured to be visible when the headwear is worn by the wearer.

9. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the opening is not configured to be visible when the headwear is worn by the wearer and the opening is not being accessed or accommodating the ponytail.

10. The headwear of claim 1, wherein each of the first edge and second edge curves with a radius of curvature that is greater than zero.

11. A headwear, comprising:

a crown comprised of a single continuous panel of material shaped to conform to a head of a wearer via at least a first dart and a second dart, a first end portion of the panel of material terminating at a first edge and overlapped by a second end portion of the panel of material at a rear of the crown, the second end portion of the panel of material terminating at a second edge; and

a crown band coupled around a bottom circumferential edge of the crown, wherein the crown band, the first edge, and the second edge form an opening configured to accommodate a ponytail of the wearer.

12. The headwear of claim 11, wherein the first edge extends from the second dart to the crown band and the second edge extends from the first dart to the crown band, the first dart located on a first side of the crown, the second dart located on a second side of the crown, opposite the first side.

13. The headwear of claim 11, wherein the first edge extends from the second dart to the crown band and the second edge extends from the first dart to the crown band, the first dart and the second dart each located on the rear of the crown.

14. The headwear of claim 11, wherein the first edge is fixedly coupled to the second dart and to the crown band but not to any other portion of the crown, and wherein the second edge is fixedly coupled to the first dart and to the crown band but not to any other portion of the crown.

15. The headwear of claim 11, wherein the first end portion, the second end portion, the first edge, and the second edge are stretchable and movable relative to each other to enable access to the opening.

16. The headwear of claim 11, wherein the first edge and the second edge each curve inward to form C-shaped edges.

17. The headwear of claim 11, wherein the first edge and the second edge each curve outward.

18. A headwear, comprising:

a crown comprised of one or more segments of material, the crown shaped to conform to a head of a wearer, a first end portion of the crown overlapping a second end portion of the crown at a rear of the crown, the first end portion terminating at a first edge and a first bottom circumferential edge, and the second end portion terminating at a second edge and a second bottom circumferential edge; and

a crown band extending around a bottom of the crown and coupled to the first bottom circumferential edge and the second bottom circumferential edge, wherein the crown band, the first edge, and the second edge form an opening configured to accommodate a ponytail of the wearer.

19. The headwear of claim 18, wherein each of the first edge and the second edge curves with a radius of curvature that is greater than zero.

20. The headwear of claim 18, wherein the first end portion, the second end portion, the first edge, and the second edge are stretchable and movable relative to each other to enable access to the opening.