Apparel – Head coverings – Having crown and horizontally extending brim
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-02
2001-05-29
Mohanty, Bibhu (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Head coverings
Having crown and horizontally extending brim
C002S195100, C002S209120
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237155
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to devices which reflect light rays and, more particularly, is concerned with a hat, such as a ball cap, with front and rear light reflective strips.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Activities, such as working, jogging, and walking, undertaken at dusk, night-time or in a darkened area with limited visibility require participants to take sufficient precautions in order to avoid injury. With the increasing numbers of persons who partake in outdoor activities at such times, attempts have been made to provide articles which will provide a degree of visibility which is not otherwise present. For example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,685 to Lesley, light reflective material has been used in the prior art such as thin cloth bands variously attached at the wrist, ankle and head portions of the wearer.
Also, hats, such as ball caps, are popular articles that are worn by participants during these outdoor activities.
FIG. 1
shows a typical prior art ball cap A which has a pair of light reflective strips B attached exteriorly on the opposite sides (only one side being shown) of a cap piece or crown C of the cap A which end at the interior edge D on opposite sides of a gap E defined in the rear side of the crown C of the cap A.
However, many of the prior art articles of wearing apparel on which light reflective strips have been implemented are less than satisfactory in their appearance as well as comfort, durability and reliability. Further, such prior art attempts have often yielded articles of wearing apparel which are lacking in aesthetic appeal and thus may not worn when needed to ensure the safety of the participant.
Consequently, a need still exists for an approach which will provide a solution to the aforementioned problem in the prior art without introducing any new problems in place thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a light reflective hat designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The hat of the present invention, preferably being a ball cap, provides light reflective strips at locations thereon which provide for the visibility of reflected light in all directions from the cap without compromising the aesthetic appeal of the cap as a popular article of wearing apparel.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a light reflective hat which comprises a crown contoured for covering a part of a user's head when the hat is worn, a visor disposed exteriorly of and attached to the crown at a lower edge of the crown such that the visor extends outwardly from the crown, and a first light reflective strip attached to and extending along a portion, preferably an outer or front peripheral edge, of the visor. The crown has a front side and a rear side opposite from the front side. The rear side of the crown has an interior edge of a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration which defines a gap allowing the crown to be expanded and contracted. The hat also comprises a second light reflective strip attached to and extending along the interior edge of the rear side of the crown in a substantially inverted U-shaped configuration about the gap.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 291033 (1884-01-01), Couch
patent: 3038381 (1962-06-01), Jones
patent: 3172942 (1965-03-01), Berg
patent: 3577561 (1971-05-01), Oshima
patent: 3885246 (1975-05-01), Tung
patent: 4008949 (1977-02-01), Luna
patent: 4517685 (1985-05-01), Lesley
patent: 5159718 (1992-11-01), Moyer
patent: 5588156 (1996-12-01), Patton, Jr.
patent: 5933871 (1999-08-01), Kraft
Flanagan John K.
Flanagan John R.
Flanagan & Flanagan
Mohanty Bibhu
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