Apparel – Head coverings – Convertible
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-08
2001-07-10
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Head coverings
Convertible
C002S171030, C002S175100, C224S577000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256794
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hat which is selectively positionable between a collapsed, stored position and an expanded position designed for wearing. In the expanded position, the hat is preferably structured to include an enlarged brim that extends sufficiently outward from the head of the wearer so as to offer protection against the sun's rays.
2. Description of the Related Art
The wearing of hats, especially by the female segment of the population has been popular for many years. This popularity has lead to a wide variety of hats being available in numerous sizes and configurations which are primarily dictated by style preferences. In addition to being dictated by style, certain hat designs are created from the stand point of functionality to the extent that certain hats are specifically designed to accomplish purposes such as warmth, protection from the sun, etc. Men's hats are also available in a wide variety of designs, but typically, are not as important in terms of making a fashion statement. Thus, men's hats are usually more visible in that they are often more casual, as evidenced by baseball caps, cowboy hats, and other sporting apparel.
One disadvantage associated with the design of various hat structures, regardless of whether they are intended for men or women, is the storage of the hat without folding or otherwise damaging it. For example, with respect to many fashionable hats, including some cowboy hats, storage often requires the use of relatively large, bulky “hat boxes” or other storage facilities which take up a great deal of room. Quite logically, it is difficult to transport hats stored in this manner. Consequently, the carrying of a hat, when it is not being worn, is generally considered to be somewhat bothersome, particularly with hats of larger sizes and/or of configurations designed to shade a wearer from the rays of the sun.
Some have strived to overcome the problem of how to store a hat without damaging it. For example, with respect to baseball caps, it is known to provide a pole-like structure with a plurality of clips disposed thereon, each of which is structured to receive the bill of the cap therein so as to permit easy storage and display of several baseball caps. As another example, foldable hats have been developed, one of which provides a rigid skeletal frame comprised of a number of “ribs,” typically made of wood and carrying a common fabric covering, which ribs are all connected at one end at a central pivot point, about which individual ribs of the frame can be “fanned” to cause the hat to assume a wearable orientation or a folded orientation, as desired. In addition, foldable hats have been developed which are formed of a cloth material and which utilize a flexible hoop structured to act as a supporting frame for the material defining the hat, which hoop may be manipulated to cause the hat to assume what may be considered a collapsed position for storage.
However, it is believed that none of the structures known in the art for providing a foldable hat are suitable for being employed in hats that are particularly designed to offer some protection from the sun, namely, hats which have a substantially wide brim that extends outwardly a significant distance from the face and head of the wearer. As some of the more stylish hats often incorporate wide brims as well, a problem associated with known collapsible hat structures is the inability to satisfy certain styling demands.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved hat structure which is selectively positionable between a collapsed position for storage and an expanded position for wear, wherein the overall design and configuration of the hat meet certain modern day styling requirements and further, wherein the dimensions of the various portions of the hat are sufficient to provide adequate shade to the head and other portions of the wearer's body. Any such improved hat structure should also permit the hat to be easily carried from place to place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to provide a solution to the needs which remain in the art and in particular, is directed towards a hat assembly which can easily be disposed in either a collapsed position for storage and convenient portability or in an expanded position so that it can be worn, as desired. The collapsible hat assembly of the present invention includes a head engaging portion dimensioned and configured to be positioned on the wearer's head, an outwardly extending brim and a shaping frame. Preferably, both the head engaging portion and the outwardly extending brim are formed of a cloth material, which might include but which is not limited to cotton, silk, nylon, or a water resistant or even water proof material, and as might be dictated by the intended style or appearance of the hat when worn. The outwardly extending brim is preferably, but not necessarily, secured to the head engaging portion and extends outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance so that when in the expanded position, the brim will provide some protection from the sun's rays to the wearer's head and neck region. Also in a preferred embodiment, the shaping frame is secured to an outer peripheral region of the outwardly extending brim and is structured and disposed to cause the brim of the hat to assume a substantially planar configuration when in its expanded, operative position. Preferably, the shaping frame comprises a continuously configured, closed band formed of a material with sufficient flexibility so as to permit its being bent or folded about itself and thereby, to effect a collapsed position. Consequently, in the collapsed position, the overall dimension and configuration of the hat assembly are such as to allow it to be significantly smaller than when the hat assembly is in an expanded position for wearing. The pliability of the preferred soft, cloth material from which the head engaging portion and the outwardly extending brim are formed are such as to allow these structures to be folded upon themselves between and about a plurality of substantially or at least partially concentrically disposed loops, without creasing or causing fold lines to be formed therein.
If desired, the hat structure of the present invention may include at least one attachment member which may or may not be formed of an elastic material and which is disposed and structured to facilitate maintenance of the hat on the wearer's head which would be helpful, especially in windy conditions. As an additional alternative, a decorative band or like decorative structure may be mounted on the exterior of the hat assembly adjacent to the head engaging portion and when so positioned, the aforementioned attachment member or members may be considered a part of the decorative band and be disposed to depend downwardly from the brim, so as to engage the wearer of the hat, most probably beneath the chin area. However, it is to be emphasized that the at least one attachment member can be structured to be a part of the decorative band or independently thereof.
In another embodiment, the present invention is further directed to a casing for the hat assembly when it is disposed in the collapsed orientation. Preferably, the casing is formed from a soft cloth or cloth like material that is structured to have a generally round or circular configuration that is sized to closely correspond to the size of the hat assembly when in its collapsed position. The casing further includes an opening or passage preferably formed along a peripheral region thereof, which is of sufficient dimension to allow the hat assembly, when in its collapsed position, to pass therethrough for storage.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a hat assembly which is structured to be readily positioned into either an expanded position for wearing or a collapsed position for storage, as desired, and which can be conveniently carried or otherwise transported when in the collapsed posit
Calvert John J.
Malloy & Malloy P.A.
Moran Katherine
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