Apparel – Head coverings – Having crown and horizontally extending visor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-01-09
Mohanty, Bibhu (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Head coverings
Having crown and horizontally extending visor
C002S183000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170086
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to headgear, and more particularly, to a cap having a full fitting adjustment band.
2. Description of the Background Art
To accommodate the numerous head sizes of wearers, caps are typically individually sized or are otherwise adjustable to suit a particular individual's sizing needs. Individually sized caps are constructed based on universally adopted size standards, which are based on head circumference measurement. Although individually sized caps generally provide the wearer a comfortable fit and a tailor-made appearance, they are quite expensive due to the high cost of manufacture and of logistically maintaining a large inventory of a variety of different sizes.
To avoid problems associated with individually sized caps, adjustment mechanisms or devices have been incorporated into the cap. Known adjustment mechanisms or devices include an elastic band circumferentially disposed around the base of the crown portion, or an elastic band around the rear of the crown portion beneath the fabric of the crown portion. Although the elastic band provides for a secure fit for the wearer around the base of the crown portion, sections of the crown portion above the base tend to gather and bunch up, especially when the cap is worn on a relative small head. The lack of an opening or cutout on the rear end of such caps causes an even more pronounced deformation of the crown portion.
To alleviate the problem of the crown portion gathering and bunching up, caps incorporate a cutout or opening at the rear end of the crown portion. The cutout or opening thereby allows for drawing both the left and right halves of the crown portion together, as well as disposes of some fabric on the crown portion that may be subject to gather or bunch up above the opening, especially when the cap is worn on a small head. An adjustment strap is suspended around the rear of the crown portion and across the cutout or opening. The adjustment strap may incorporate a plurality of studs protruding from one strap and a plurality of holes in the other strap which are sized for positive engagement with the studs for size adjustment. The adjustment strap may otherwise incorporate hook and loop or hook and pile fasteners, typically known as VELCRO™, which are disposed on the strap surfaces for size adjustment. Numerous other types of mechanisms have been implemented for size adjustment. Inherent in the nature of the cutout or opening, however, it allows for hair to protrude through the cutout or opening in space between its border and the upper edge of the adjustment strap. This results in an unsightly appearance and uncomfortable feel for the wearer. The crown portion also has a tendency to gather or bunch up adjacent the apex of the cutout or opening, especially when the adjustment straps are drawn closely together. Moreover, since the crown portion of adjustable caps must typically be sized to fit heads in the larger sizes, this results in an undesirable appearance for wearers in the smaller size ranges.
Accordingly, there is a need for a cap that provides a fitted appearance and feel without the problems commonly associated with either sized or adjustable caps. The present invention satisfies this need, as well as others, and generally overcomes the problems found in the background art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally pertains to an adjustable cap capable of accommodating multiple head sizes, without the problems of hair protruding from the rear end thereof or of fabric of the crown portion gathering or bunching up. By way of example and not of limitation, the invention generally comprises a crown portion having a front end and a rear end, an opening disposed on the rear end of the crown portion, a visor attached to the front end of the crown portion, and stretchable material completely covering the opening on the rear end of the crown portion, such that surface continuity with the crown portion is maintained.
The cutout or opening, is preferably but not necessarily semicircular in shape, and partially separates the left side and the right side of the crown portion. The multi-axial stretchability and resiliency of the material covering the opening allows for both halves of the crown portion to either be drawn together or spread apart to fit the wearer, thereby providing a degree of adjustability to the cap and comfort to the wearer.
The stretchable material disposed within the opening has a greater stretchability than the material of the crown portion, even when the crown portion is composed predominantly of a stretchable material. Therefore, the combination of the opening and the and the stretchable material disposed within the opening, serves the purpose of increasing the degree of adjustability in caps already incorporating stretchable material in the crown portion. The complete closure of the opening not only increases comfort for the wearer, but also, eliminates the problem of hair protruding through the opening.
An object of the invention is to provide a cap that is adjustable.
Another object of the invention is to provide a cap having a rear opening that is completely covered by a stretchable adjustment band.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5402538 (1995-04-01), Conrad
patent: 5615415 (1997-04-01), Beckerman
patent: 5715540 (1998-02-01), Cho
patent: 5966742 (1999-10-01), Cunliffe
Chan Law Group LC
Devon Marcia
Mohanty Bibhu
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