Abstract: A method for printing on a lower surface of a peak of a baseball cap comprising: a) printing an image on the lower surface of the peak when the peak is at an elevated printing temperature and when the peak is in a generally planar configuration; b) allowing the peak to cool to a temperature below an elevated formation temperature; and, c) heating the peak to the elevated formation temperature and applying a non-planar shape to the peak, wherein the peak comprises a deformable insert that is solid at the elevated printing temperature and deformable at the elevated formation temperature.

Abstract: A portable apparatus that allows users to block, steam, stretch, and/or dry ball caps, including a kit and methods. The ball cap is placed onto the steamer. The steamer has a hemispherical back portion that provides steam, and a front portion that moves to stretch the ball cap while excluding steam from the decorated front portion of the ball cap. The ball cap can be stretched, with or without steam, to adjust the size of the cap. The ball cap can be hot-air dried by the apparatus to block the ball cap to the correct shape. The front portions may be interchangeable with different front portions having different shapes.

Abstract: A device and method of shaping the visors of caps is disclosed. In the device, a visor shaping unit has a movable upper mold and a fixed lower mold. The upper mold, with a coil heater, is outwardly curved into a predetermined curvature at its lower surface and is operated by a hydraulic cylinder. The lower mold is inwardly curved into the same curvature as that of the upper mold at the top surface. The cooling unit has first to third chambers with a plurality of perforated sections being formed on the top wall of each of the chambers. Upper and lower panels are exteriorly attached to the top wall of each chamber at a position covering each perforated section. The two panels define a curved gap between them, thus holding a heated visor in the gap during a cooling process. The visors are heated at about 90.degree. C. to 150 .degree. C. for about 5-20 seconds in the visor shaping unit prior to being cooled in the cooling unit for about 10-30 seconds using cool air having a temperature of about 5-20 .degree. C.

Abstract: A method for fabricating the leather firefighting helmet includes the steps of: (a) providing an outer leather covering, where the covering includes a bowl-shaped head portion attached to a brim portion; (b) providing an inner leather liner, where the liner includes a bowl-shaped head portion attached to a brim portion; (c) positioning a layer of reinforcing fibers between the covering and the inner liner; (d) positioning liquid thermoset resin between the covering and the liner; (e) assembling the cover with the liner such that the bowl-shaped head portion of the liner is received within the bowl-shaped head portion of the covering; and (f) curing the covering, liner, reinforcing fibers and thermoset resin together to form a substantially unitary firefighting helmet.

Abstract: A device and method of shaping the visors of caps is disclosed. In the device, a visor shaping unit has a movable upper mold and a fixed lower mold. The upper mold, with a coil heater, is outwardly curved into a predetermined curvature at its lower surface and is operated by a hydraulic cylinder. The lower mold is inwardly curved into the same curvature as that of the upper mold at the top surface. The cooling unit has first to third chambers with a plurality of perforated sections being formed on the top wall of each of the chambers. Upper and lower panels are exteriorly attached to the top wall of each chamber at a position covering each perforated section. The two panels define a curved gap between them, thus holding a heated visor in the gap during a cooling process. The visors are heated at about 90.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. for about 5-20 seconds in the visor shaping unit prior to being cooled in the cooling unit for about 10-30 seconds using cool air having a temperature of about 5-20.degree. C.

Abstract: What may be termed a low-boy machine is provided with a side-positioned air-supplying blowing chamber, an air heating and upwardly and directing chamber-defining base part, a centrally disposed upright support post or column, an upright steam burst and heat-applying pipe assembly, an upper platform frame on the column that carries cap-finishing means, and a non-permeable bag positioned to extend upwardly between the base part and the upper frame to define a fluid-directing and mixing chamber for supplying steam and hot air to the cap-finishing means. The cap-finishing means has a pair of perforated cap-receiving and stretching parts through which steam and heated air is supplied to the inside of a fabric cap to be finished. The pair of parts have means for relatively moving them towards and away from each other to release and stretch a cap that is positioned thereon.