Apparel – Head coverings – With sweats or other supplementary head engaging member
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-14
2002-02-19
Mohanty, Bibhu (Department: 3747)
Apparel
Head coverings
With sweats or other supplementary head engaging member
C002S195100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06347410
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved construction of a baseball cap, capable of fitting wearers having a plurality of head sizes. The cap includes a crown portion fabricated from a multi-gore shell, a visor portion connected to the front of the crown portion, and a two or more piece, and one or more layer sweatband. The stowable or deployable stretchable sweatband permits the cap to fit onto the head of the wearer without uncomfortable circumferential pressure.
2. Description of Related Art
Visored or baseball type caps are well known in the art and come in many configurations. They include a hemispherical crown portion to fit onto a wearer's head and a visor or bill portion attached to the front of the hemispherical crown portion. Several substantially triangular panels called gores are joined together with seams to form the crown.
There are many different types of caps that have been available over the years with various wearer adjustable features in order to fit a plurality of head sizes. This type generally has an opening in the base of the crown portion opposite the visor at the back of the cap. The opening generally has overlapping straps that are adjustably attached to each other to change the circumferential cap size to accommodate a multitude of head sizes. While the base of the hemispherical portion may be enlarged to accommodate the larger sized head, there must be an aperture formed in the rear of the cap that the overlapping straps span so that the entire hat can expand to the degree necessary to fit the larger head. Therefore, the rear portion of the cap is not of a uniform construction and the forming of the opening or vent creates not only a loss of material but greater difficulty manufacturing the cap.
In most of the prior art caps that incorporate what might be considered stretchable fabric, the desired level of comfort and easy of use to the wearer has not been achieved. The cap causes undo compressive pressure around the head of the wearer thereby causing discomfort to the wearer and even resulting in the cap leaving a mark on the wearer's skin.
The present invention can be distinguished from U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,415, A Custom-fit Cap. “A custom-fit cap having a visor portion and a substantially hemispherical crown portion attached to the visor portion and at least a crown portion opposite the visor and covering the back of the head being formed of the material that stretches at least circumferentially about the crown portion for accommodating various head sizes. A band that is stretchable circumferentially and is attached to the inside of the hemispherical crown portion adjacent the base thereof forms a sweatband to engage the head of the user while allowing the cap to stretch circumferentially with at least that portion of the crown portion covering the back of the head opposite the visor, so as to enable the cap to self-adjust automatically to fit a plurality of head sizes.” The present invention incorporates a distinctive deployable or stowable two or more piece, one or more layer sweatband that can have one or more stretchable or all sections stretchable or some of the sections stretchable. When deployed the two or more piece, one or more layer sweatband allows for a self-adjustable expanded attachment area on the wearer's head and provides more shade and warmth to the wearer. The deployed two or more piece, one or more layer sweatband can be multiple colors, or a single color and it can match or be in contrast to the colors of the cap. U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,415 incorporates a one-piece non-deployable sweatband.
The present invention can be distinguished from U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,540, A Free-size cap. “A free-size cap is capable of fitting wearers having a range of head sizes. The cap includes a multi-gore shell forming a crown portion, and a visor or bill portion connected to the crown portion. Ones of the gores forming the multi-gore shell are composed of a uniaxially stretchable woven material capable of being stretched only along the chordial axis of said multi-gore shell. The free-size cap has the aesthetic appeal of a fixed-size style cap, being capable of custom fitting all wearers within a predetermined range of head sizes, without requiring an adjustable fastener portion or an open portion on the back of the cap. An advantage of this free-size cap is that it is capable of custom fitting all wearers within a predetermined range of head sizes, without the drawback of changes in shape due to differences in head size.” The present invention incorporates a distinctive deployable or stowable two or more piece, one or more layer sweatband that can have one or more stretchable or all sections stretchable or some of the sections stretchable. When deployed the two or more piece, one or more layer sweatband allows for a self-adjustable expanded attachment area on the wearer's head and provides more shade and warmth to the wearer. The deployed two or more piece, one or more layer sweatband can be multiple colors, or a single color and it can match or be in contrast to the colors of the cap. U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,540 incorporate a one-piece non-deployable sweatband and relies upon a confining uniaxially stretchable crown portion to provide adjustable fit.
The present invention can be distinguished from U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,742, An Adjustable Cap. “An adjustable cap has a crown portion shaped for fitting over the crown of a wearer's head, with the rear part of the crown portion formed of a stretchable material. A two part peripheral band is secured around the lower peripheral edge of the crown portion on the inside of the cap. The first, front part of the band is of a moisture absorbent, non-stretch material, and the second, rear part extending across the rear of the crown portion is of a stretchable material. The rear part of the band stretches to adjust the size of the peripheral opening to fit wearer's of differing head sizes.” The present invention incorporates a distinctive deployable or stowable two or more piece, one or more layer sweatband that can have one or more stretchable or all sections stretchable or some of the sections stretchable. When deployed the two or more piece, one or more layer sweatband allows for a self-adjustable expanded attachment area on the wearer's head and provides more shade and warmth to the wearer. The deployed two or more piece, one or more layer sweatband can be multiple colors, or a single color and it can match or be in contrast to the colors of the cap. U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,742 incorporates a two piece non-deployable sweatband and relies upon only a confining biaxially stretchable aft sweatband portion to provide adjustable fit.
An objective of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a custom-fit comfortable cap having no vent and no adjustable straps at the back thereof and yet which can accommodate a plurality of various sized heads.
It is still another important objective of the present invention is to provide a cap which has a self-adjustable expanded attachment area on the wearer's head and provides more shade and warmth to the wearer and the sweatband can be multiple colors, or a single color and it can match or be in contrast to the colors of the cap.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a baseball-type cap structure capable of multi-sizing in use, which can be manufactured easily utilizing conventional materials and fabrics, and which is both functional and attractive in its use and appearance.
It is still a further objective of the present invention to decrease the quantity of retail cap stock necessary to accommodate a plurality of various sized heads.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a self-sizing baseball cap. The self-sizing baseball cap includes a plurality of fabric gores of substantially triangular shape. Each fabric gore has a first side, a second side and third side. A crown portion is created by attaching the first side
Chan Law Group LC
Mohanty Bibhu
LandOfFree
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