Abstract:
This invention is directed to an article of apparel, more particularly to a customizable baseball-style cap, wherein removable portions having indicia displayed thereon may be replaced by alternate portions displaying an alternate form of indicia. The indicia may include one or more words, names, numbers, designs, logos, symbols, colors, or patterns.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an article of apparel, such as a baseball-style cap, that includes interchangeable panels, thereby permitting the wearer to customize the article of apparel. 
     2. Description of Background Art 
     The standard baseball cap includes a crown and visor. The crown is typically configured from multiple panels that are sewn together to form a closely-fitting covering for the wearer&#39;s head. The visor extends horizontally from the front of the crown and serves to shade the wearer&#39;s face and eyes. A wide range of materials, natural or synthetic, may be used to form a baseball cap. 
     The baseball cap was originally designed to prevent sunlight and rain from obscuring the vision of a baseball player. Like other specialized athletic equipment, the original baseball cap was used exclusively in the course of competition. For aesthetic purposes, the baseball cap included indicia and a color scheme consistent with that of the team&#39;s uniform. As the popularity of baseball grew, non-athletes began wearing baseball caps to publicly display their support for a particular team. 
     Today, baseball caps continue to be used by baseball players for purposes of competition, but the popularity of the baseball cap has grown beyond baseball and the notion of identifying with a particular baseball team. Modern baseball caps often display the indicia of athletic teams from sports other than baseball. In addition, baseball caps may contain the indicia of corporations, places, philosophies, or individual people such as entertainers or athletes. 
     Although indicia may be located anywhere on the baseball cap, the most common area is the brow region. Indicia may take a variety of forms, including patches, embroidery, or screen-printing, but one common characteristic is the permanent nature of the indicia. As such, an individual is required to purchase numerous baseball caps in order to display support for multiple athletic teams. Coupled with the possibility that the same individual may also wish to communicate an affinity for a particular brand or a philosophy, the permanent indicia may lead to a large baseball cap collection. 
     In an attempt to reduce the number of baseball caps that an individual need own to display multiple indicia, systems have been developed that employ removable or interchangeable panels, each panel having alternate indicia affixed thereto. To permit attachment and removal of the multiple indicia, these systems employ a non-permanent fastener to attach the panel to the baseball-style cap. Typically, the non-permanent fastener is a hook and loop attachment means. Patents employing removable or interchangeable panels include U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,043 to Coleman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,726 to Kellin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,733 to Brannon et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,629 to Gleason, Jr., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,757 to Blanks, I. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,734 to Rathburn discloses a baseball cap with an opening in a vertical wall of the baseball cap. A first part of a hook and loop fastening system fills the opening and extends behind the opening where it is connected to the baseball cap. Multiple indicia having a surface comprised of the second part of the fastening system may then be removably-attached. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,334 to Marcolini, Jr. discloses articles, including hats, bags, and coats, that include a recess formed from the material that comprises the article. A first portion of a hook and loop fastening system is located within the recess. A patch containing indicia on one surface and a second portion of the fastening system on an opposite surface may then be removably-attached such that the surface containing the indicia is visible. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an article of apparel comprising a primary portion, a secondary portion, and a fastening system. The primary portion is configured to define an aperture. The secondary portion has dimensions approximately corresponding to the dimensions of the aperture and includes a fastening side and a display side located opposite to the fastening side. The fastening system releasably-attaches the secondary portion to the primary portion and includes a first fastening part and a second fastening part. The first fastening part is secured to and located entirely within the aperture and the second fastening part is attached to the fastening side of the secondary portion. Preferably, the article of apparel is headwear, such as a baseball cap. However, the customization system of the present invention may be utilized on any type of apparel. 
     The display side of the secondary portion includes one or more words, names, numbers, designs, logos, symbols, colors, patterns, or any other suitable indicia. Because the secondary portion is removable, it may be replaced with an alternate secondary portion with differing indicia. As such, a wearer may possess multiple secondary portions for use with a single primary portion. Alternatively, a single primary portion may include more than one aperture, each aperture receiving a different secondary portion. As such, multiple secondary portions may be moved between apertures or removed and replaced with alternate secondary portions. 
     A fastening system secures the secondary portion within the aperture. Preferably, the fastening system is a hook and loop fastening system, but any fastening system permitting releasable-attachment is suitable. Alternate systems of attachment include snaps, buttons, pins, and magnets. As noted, the first part of the fastening system is located entirely within the aperture. To secure the first fastening part to the primary portion, a separate connecting element may be used. By attaching the first fastening part to the connecting element and attaching the connecting element to the primary portion, the first fastening part is effectively attached to the headwear and limited to a location within the aperture. In a first primary embodiment, the connecting element is a thin section of cloth or polymer material that attaches to the interior of the apparel and around the perimeter of the aperture, the first fastening part attaching to the connecting element. In a second primary embodiment, the connecting element is a semi-rigid member, preferably a polymer, with an indentation formed in the area corresponding to the aperture, the first fastening part secured within the indentation. The advantage of the latter configuration is that the depth of the indentation may be formed such that the display side of the secondary portion is flush with the exterior of the apparel. 
     Although the first fastening part of a hook and loop fastener may extend throughout the aperture, a sufficiently durable connection may be made between the secondary portion and the primary portion using a first fastening part of lesser area. Preferably, the first fastening part is located only in portions of the aperture adjacent to edges of the aperture. As such, an interior region is created in central portions of the aperture that does not include portions of the first fastening part. In lieu of the first fastening part, the interior region may include permanently-attached interior indicia. When the secondary portion is attached to the primary portion, the interior region and its associated interior indicia are veiled from view by the secondary portion. However, if the primary portion is worn without a secondary portion attached within the aperture, then the interior indicia will be visible. 
     Various advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts the article of apparel, in particular a baseball cap, of the present invention through a perspective view of the primary portion and a plurality of secondary portions. 
     FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the front of a secondary portion. 
     FIG. 2B is aside view of the secondary portion depicted in FIG.  2 A. 
     FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the back of the secondary portion depicted in FIG.  2 A. 
     FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a portion of the baseball cap depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4A is a cross-section along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3 depicting a first primary embodiment. 
     FIG. 4B is a cross-section along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3 depicting a second primary embodiment. 
     FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the connecting element of the second primary embodiment. 
     FIG. 5B is a cross-section along line  5 B— 5 B of FIG.  5 A. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the interior of the baseball cap of FIG. 1 depicting the system for storing alternate secondary portions. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, an article of apparel in accordance with the present invention is depicted. Apparel  100 , illustrated in FIG. 1, is comprised of primary portion  200 , secondary portions  300   a - 300   d,  and a fastening system that releasably-attaches an individual secondary portion  300  to primary portion  200 . As shown in FIG. 1, customization is achieved by removing a secondary portion  300 , in this case secondary portion  300   a,  and interchanging the secondary portion  300  with an alternate secondary portion  300 , in this case one of secondary portions  300   b - 300   d.  Although the customization system is depicted as being comprised of four secondary portions  300 , use of four secondary portions  300  is for illustrative purposes only. 
     Primary portion  200  is comprised of panels  210 , aperture  220 , and visor  230 . Panels  210  are a plurality of fabric sections that are joined to substantially form the concave structure that corresponds to the shape of the wearer&#39;s head. In the preferred embodiment, aperture  220  is formed by arranging panels  210  in a manner that defines an opening in the brow area of primary portion  200 . In alternate embodiments, aperture  220  may be located in any area of primary portion  200 , including an opening on the interior of an individual panel or an opening in visor  230 . Furthermore, primary portion  200  may include multiple apertures, each aperture being configured to receive secondary portions  300 . Visor  230  attaches to panels  210  in the lower brow area in a conventional manner and serves the purpose of shielding the wearer&#39;s eyes and face from sunlight or rain. 
     In addition to the above-mentioned elements, primary portion  200  may include miscellaneous components, including button  240  that serves the purpose of strengthening and covering the junction of panels  210 , adjustment mechanism  250  that provides adjustable fit (see FIG.  6 ), and flap  280  for concealing secondary portions  300  that are attached to third fastening parts  460  (see FIG.  6 ). 
     Secondary portion  300   a,  being formed of substrate  310   a  and indicia  340   a,  is depicted in FIGS.  2 . Substrate  310   a  has two primary sides, fastening side  320   a  and an opposite display side  330   a.  Indicia  340   a  may be one or more words, names, numbers, designs, logos, symbols, colors, or patterns that are printed, embroidered, embossed, inscribed, engraved, or otherwise attached to display side  330   a.  The fastening system, described in detail below, includes a first fastening part  410  and a plurality of second fastening parts  420 , each second fastening part  420  attached to a fastening side  320  of one of the secondary portions  300 . The fastening system facilitates attachment of secondary portion  300   a  to primary portion  200  in aperture  220  such that indicia  340   a  faces outward. With regard to FIGS. 2, second fastening part  420   a  is attached to fastening surface  320   a.  Note that the design and construction of other secondary portions  300  is substantially similar, the fundamental difference being the style of indicia  340 . Substrate  310   a  may be formed of any number of suitable materials, including rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible materials such as rubber, plastic, cloth, or fabric. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 detail aperture  220  and first fastening part  410  secured therein. Although dimensions for this region are variable in practice, the preferred embodiment includes a rectangular aperture measuring approximately 4 centimeters in width and 2 centimeters in height. The exterior dimensions of first fastening part  410  are substantially identical to those of aperture  220 . Located on the interior of primary portion  200 , and securing first fastening part  410  in aperture  220 , is connecting element  430 , measuring approximately 5.5 centimeters in width and 3.5 centimeters in height. 
     With reference to FIG. 3, secondary portion  300   a  is depicted in a position that facilitates attachment with primary portion  200 . Second fastening part  420   a  is attached to substrate  310   a  such that indicia  340   a  lies on the opposite surface. In this configuration, second fastening part  420   a  may be joined with first fastening part  410  such that indicia  340   a  faces outward. First fastening part  410  and second fastening part  420  act cooperatively to releasably-attach secondary portions  300  to primary portion  200 . In the preferred embodiment, first fastening part  410  and A second fastening part  420  are formed of opposite portions of a hook and loop fastener, such as VELCRO. However, in further embodiments, other fasteners that permit a releasable-attachment may be used, including snaps, buttons, pins, and magnets. 
     FIG. 4A is a cross-section, as defined in FIG. 3, that depicts a first primary embodiment of the present invention. First fastening part  410  is located entirely within aperture  220  and is secured to connecting element  430   a,  a thin member formed of plastic, cloth, or other suitable material which is stitched to primary portion  200 . Although first fastening part  410  may extend throughout the entire area comprising aperture  220 , a sufficient attachment with secondary fastening part  420  is achieved if first fastening part  410  is located adjacent to the edges that form aperture  220 , thereby defining interior region  440 . In the preferred embodiment, interior region  440  contains permanently-attached interior indicia  450 . Located on the interior of primary portion  200  is liner  270 . The purpose of liner  270  is to improve comfort and conceal connecting element  430   a  and the seams that join connecting element  430   a  with primary portion  200 . In alternate embodiments, interior region  440  may contain no indicia or have a second aperture defined therethrough. In one technique for forming aperture  220 , the material comprising panels  210  is folded toward the interior of apparel  100  and around frame  260 . Frame  260  is a semi-rigid element that surrounds and provides support to aperture  220 . 
     In a second primary embodiment of the present invention, connecting element  430   a  is replaced with connecting element  430   b.  Rather than having a flat configuration, connecting element  430   b,  depicted in FIGS. 5, includes indentation  432  that approximately corresponds in width and height to aperture  220 . Referring to FIG. 4B, a cross-section along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3, first fastening part  410  is attached within indentation  432  using either a permanent adhesive or conventional sewing technique. As with the prior embodiment, first fastening part  410  may be located near the perimeter of aperture  220 , thereby being located near the perimeter of indentation  432 , with interior region  440  and interior indicia  450  located in central portions of indentation  432 . The primary advantage of this embodiment is that the depth of indentation  430   b,  preferably 2 millimeters, combined with the depth of primary portion  200  in the area of aperture  220 , is such that display side  330  is flush with the exterior region of primary portion  200 . Unlike the first primary embodiment, wherein frame  260  is used for purposes of support, connecting element  430   b,  preferably formed of a semi-rigid polymer, provides sufficient support to the area of aperture  220 . Accordingly, this configuration reduces the number of elements and the difficulty of manufacturing apparel  100 , thereby decreasing overall cost. 
     To facilitate storage of secondary portions  300  that are not attached to first fastening part  410 , a plurality of third fastening parts  460 , formed of the same material that forms first fastening part  410 , may be attached to the interior of primary portion  200 , as illustrated in FIG.  6 . To store unused secondary portions  300 , the wearer may attach second fastening part  420  to one of third fastening parts  460   a - 460   d.  To increase wearer comfort, third fastening part  460  is located behind flap  280 . This configuration ensures that the body of the wearer does not directly contact areas of third fastening part  460  or secondary portions  300  attached thereto. 
     This invention has been disclosed with reference to the preferred embodiments. These embodiments, however, are merely for example only and the invention is not restricted thereto. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other variations and modifications can easily be made within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.