Insert to hold articles in a cap

An insert to hold an article, such as keys, credit cards, money, etc. in a cap is described. The cap may be worn by a user with the insert in place in the cap. The insert includes a head side surface generally opposite of a cap side surface. A first lateral side is generally opposite of a second lateral side. An upper edge is generally opposite of a lower edge. An extension extends from the upper edge. The extension defines a holding region.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and systems for an insert to hold an article in a cap.

BACKGROUND

Walkers, joggers, and exercisers all need a place hold their everyday necessities and valuables while participating in their chosen activities. People, in general, need a place to store their everyday necessities and valuables. Typical exercise and work-out apparel lacks sufficient pockets for storage of valuables such as money, keys, music players (such as mp3 players and IPODs), membership cards, credit cards, debit cards, security cards, etc. and lacks protection from identify-theft. Walkers, joggers, and exercisers may place their valuables in their shoes, hold them in their hands while participating in their activity, or leave them unattended. None of these choices are a suitable solution to this problem.

SUMMARY

Described herein are methods and systems for an insert to hold an article in a cap. The cap may be worn by a user with the insert in place in the cap. The insert does not interfere with the normal wearing of the cap by the user. In fact, the user may not even feel the insert while wearing the cap and the insert will not change an exterior appearance of the cap. The insert may be used with all baseball style hats and with most other caps and hats. The insert may also be used with all hats that have an inner band or sweatband, including, for example, cowboy style hats, panama hats, sun hats, boonie hats, etc. The insert conforms to an inner interior of the cap or hat. The insert flexes and/or bends to fit behind a sweatband or headband of the cap or the hat. The insert holds any of a variety of articles in the cap.

The insert is completely removable from the cap or hat. The same insert may be placed in different hats. The insert is versatile, and may be placed in nearly any size hat or cap. The insert has a non-disposable nature and the same insert may be moved from and reused in any number of different hats. Installation of the insert into the cap may take mere seconds. The transfer of the insert from one cap or hat to another hat or cap may also take mere seconds.

The insert includes a generally flexible or pliable member with a head side surface generally opposite of a cap side surface. The insert includes a first lateral side generally opposite of a second lateral side. The insert has an upper edge generally opposite of a lower edge. One or more extensions extend from the upper edge to form a holding region that may hold any of a variety of articles. The articles held by the insert and the holding region may include, for example, one or more of a coin, paper currency, a card, a license, music players (such as mp3 players and IPODs), other electronic devices, a key ring, a key, etc. The insert may include a lining or other material to block identity-theft. The lining or material may shield criminal readers or scanners from misappropriating information from credit cards, debits cards, etc. stored in the insert.

The insert includes the one or more extensions to hold the articles. During use of the insert, the article is placed against a portion of an inner surface of the one or more extensions. The extension is bent over the article. The extension is secured to the flexible member. The extension forms the holding region to hold the article. The insert is then flexed and positioned in the cap. The use of the insert does not generally change the appearance of all baseball style ball style hats and most caps.

In another aspect, an insert to hold an article in a cap is described. The insert includes a flexible member to generally conform to an inner surface of the cap. The flexible member has an upper surface, a lower surface, a first lateral side generally opposite of a second lateral side, and a peripheral edge. An extension extends from the peripheral edge. The extension bends over to form a holding member.

In another aspect, an insert to hold one or more articles in a cap is described. The insert includes a flexible member to generally conform to an inner surface of the cap. The flexible member has a central portion, a first lateral side extending from the central portion, and a second lateral side extending from the central portion. One or more slots are in the first lateral side, the central portion, and/or the second lateral side to hold the articles.

In another aspect, an insert to hold articles in a cap is described. The cap includes a sweatband defining a recess between the sweatband and an inner surface of the cap. An insert bends or flexes to fit into the recess. The insert includes a flexible member to generally conform to an inner surface of the cap. The flexible member has an upper surface, a lower surface, a first lateral side generally opposite of a second lateral side, and a peripheral edge. An extension extends from the peripheral edge. The extension bends over to form a holding member.

In another aspect, an insert to hold an article in a cap is described. The insert includes a flexible member having a head side surface generally opposite of a cap side surface. A first lateral side of the flexible member is generally opposite of a second lateral side of the flexible member. An upper edge of the flexible member is generally opposite of a lower edge of the flexible member. An extension extends from the upper edge. The extension defines a holding region to hold an article. The first lateral side and the second lateral side flex to form a curving or arcuate shape.

In another aspect, an insert to hold an article in a cap is described. The insert includes a central portion. A head side surface is generally opposite of a cap side surface. A first lateral side extends from the central portion. A second lateral side extends from the central portion. The central portion, the first lateral side, and the second lateral side are resiliently flexible. The insert include an upper edge and a lower edge. A first extension extends from the upper edge, and the first extension attaches to the head side surface to form a form a first holding region. A second extension extends from the upper edge. The second extension attaches to the head side surface to form a second holding region.

In another aspect, an insert to hold an article in a cap is described. The insert includes a flexible member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first lateral side generally opposite of a second lateral side, and a peripheral edge. The flexible member has a central portion. The first lateral side extends from the central portion. The second lateral side extends from the central portion. One or more slots are in the first lateral side, the central portion, or the second lateral side to hold the article. The flexible member is configured to fit in a recess formed by a sweatband of the cap with the lower surface of the insert conforming to an inner surface of the cap.

In another aspect, a method of storing an article in a cap is described. The method includes providing an insert to hold an article in a cap. The insert includes a flexible member to generally conform to the inner surface of the cap. The flexible member has an upper surface, a lower surface, a first lateral side generally opposite of a second lateral side, and a peripheral edge. The flexible member has an extension that extends from the peripheral edge. The method includes placing an article against a portion of an inner surface of the extension. The method includes bending the extension over the article. The method includes securing the extension to the flexible member. The method includes flexing the insert. The method includes positioning the insert in the cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

An insert to hold articles in a cap will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1-19. A first insert10to hold articles20in a cap25is shown inFIGS. 1-10. A second insert11to hold the articles20in the cap25is shown inFIGS. 11-17. A third insert12to hold the articles20in the cap25is shown inFIGS. 18-19. The inserts10,11, and12provide a universal insert that fits into most caps and hats to hold a variety of articles20.

The insert10is a flexible or bendable member that fits into the cap25in order to hold the articles20. The insert10is shaped to conform to an interior of the cap25and its crown. The insert10may be fitted into the cap25without modification or damage to the cap25. The insert10may be moved from one cap25to another cap25.

The insert10fits into a recess38between a sweatband35of the cap25and a main body30of the cap25. The term “sweatband” encompasses inner bands and interior hat bands that extend around the interior of the cap25. The insert10holds articles20in a convenient and secure manner The insert10may extend around approximately ¼ or approximately ½ of the circumference of the cap25. In other styles of hats, the insert10may fit into a recess between an inner band of the hat and an interior surface of the hat.

The insert10includes a central portion50. The insert10includes a first lateral side100that includes one or more slots110to hold coins20a. The one or more slots110may pass completely through a thickness of the insert10. The first lateral side100extends from the central portion50. The first lateral side100forms a rounded corner edge115.

The insert10include a head side or upper surface150generally opposite of a cap side or lower surface250. When positioned in the cap25, the head side surface150is near or touching the user's head, while the cap side surface250is near or touching an inner surface40of the cap25. The head side surface150and the cap side surface250may form a generally smooth surface that is almost or completely unnoticeable to the wearer.

The insert10includes a second lateral side200that includes a slot210to hold an mp3 player20b, such as an IPOD. The second lateral side200extends from the central portion50. The second lateral side200forms a rounded corner edge215. One or more slots210may be formed in one or both of the first and second lateral sides100and200and in the central portion50.

The first lateral side100, the central portion50, and the second lateral side200may be flexed or bent to provide the insert10with a curved or arcuate shape. The first lateral side100, the central portion50, and the second lateral side200may be flexed or bent to conform to an interior space of or into the recess38behind the sweatband35of the cap25. The structure of the cap25may generally hold the insert10in the curved or arcuate shape.

The insert10includes an upper edge300and a lower edge400. The upper edge300and the lower edge400may both have an arching shape or a curved outer contour. The upper edge300generally has a greater arch or a greater curved outer contour than the lower edge400in order to properly fit into the cap25.

The lower edge400includes lower edge relief cuts410. The relief cuts410help the insert10flex and bend without creasing, folding, or forming a point. The relief cuts410help the insert10to provide a comfortable fit. In the aspect ofFIGS. 1-17, the lower edge400includes three relief cuts410. In other aspects, the lower edge400includes approximately 2 to approximately 10 or more relief cuts410. The number of relief cuts410may vary depending on the size, shape, and specific material of the insert10.

The lower edge400of the insert10may fit into the recess38. The sweatband35may cover most of the lower edge400. When the insert10is installed into the cap25, the lower edge400may rest against a bottom edge39of the recess38. With respect toFIG. 8, a left portion of the sweatband35is shown as hidden in order to illustrate how the sweat band35holds the insert10. The bottom edge39of the recess38supports the lower edge400of the insert10, while the cap side surface250of the insert10flexes against the inner surface40of the cap25.

A first extension330extends from the upper edge300. The first extension330attaches to the head side surface150to form a form a first holding region340. The first extension330has an inner surface332and an outer surface334. The first extension330folds at a first bend336. The inner surface332of the first extension330attaches to the head side surface150to form the first holding region340. The inner surface332may include hook and loop fasteners337that attach to opposite hook and loop fasteners157on the head side surface150. As such, the first holding region340may be opened to receive the article and then tightened around the article via engagement of the hold and loop fasteners337and157. In other aspects, snaps, magnets, ties, etc. may be used to attach the inner surface332to the head side surface150.

A second extension360extends from the upper edge300. The second extension360attaches to the head side surface150to form a second holding region370. The second extension360has an inner surface362and an outer surface364. The second extension360folds at a second bend366. The inner surface362of the second extension360attaches to the head side surface150to form the second holding region370. Similarly, the inner surface362may include hook and loop fasteners367that attach to opposite hook and loop fasteners158on the head side surface150, and in other aspects, snaps, magnets, ties, etc. may be used to attach the inner surface362to the head side surface150.

If desired by the user, the first holding region340and the second holding region370may hold the same article. If desired by the user, the first holding region340and the second holding region370may hold different articles. For example, a driver's license, a credit card, a debit card, a security card, a gym membership card, a transponder, personal hygiene items, pharmaceutical, fishing license, sporting tickets, etc. may be held in a combination of the first holding region340and the second holding region370. For example, a card20cmay span between the first holding region340and the second holding region370. For example, the first holding region340and the second holding region370may hold or secure different portions of the same article. Children may store candy, trading cards, bandages, lunch money, emergency contact information, etc. in one or both of the first holding region340and the second holding region370.

One or both of the first and second extensions330,360may include a secondary holding region. With reference toFIG. 9, the first extension330includes a key slot331. The second extension360includes the secondary holding region to hold a key ring20d.The key from the key ring20dmay fit into the key slot33, which may accommodate both old and new key fobs. This prevents the key from dangling and distracting the wearer of the insert10.

One or both of the first and second extensions330,360may include anti-theft coatings, materials, and/or layers to prevent unauthorized scanning of credit cards contained by the insert10.

The insert10is sized to fit in the cap25. The insert10may have a length of approximately 6 inches to approximately 16 inches. The aspects ofFIGS. 1-19have a length of approximately 11 inches. The insert10may have a maximum width of approximately 2 inches to approximately 6 inches. The aspects ofFIGS. 1-19have a width of approximately 4 inches.

The insert10may be formed from plastic materials, such as polyethylene or other suitable plastics. The use of plastic materials provides the insert10with resistance to moisture. The insert10may also be provided with perforations, vents, or other openings to provide air flow and/or circulation. The insert10may have a gauge or thickness of approximately 0.010 to approximately 0.035 inches. The insert10may be formed from laser cutting, stamping, or other cutting processes. The insert10may be formed from a resiliently flexible material. The resiliently flexible nature of the insert10allows the insert to bend or flex in order to conform to the sweatband35, its recess38, and the inner surface40of the cap25.

During installation of the insert10into the cap25, the first lateral side100, the central portion50, and the second lateral side200flex to form a curving or arcuate shape that fits into the recess38or conforms to the recess38of the cap25. The first lateral side100and the second lateral side200are resilient in a spring-like manner to return to a generally flat shape when the insert is removed from the recess38. The spring or biasing nature of the insert10assists in maintaining or holding the insert10in the recess38.

The second insert11will now be described with reference toFIGS. 11-17. The second insert11includes a similar construction, function, and shape as that of the first insert10. The second insert11includes a single extension405, which extends from an upper edge410. The single extension405attaches to a head side surface420to form a first holding region430. The single extension405has an inner surface432and an outer surface434. The single extension405folds at a first bend436. The inner surface432of the single extension405attaches to the head side surface420to form the first holding region430.

The third insert12will now be described with reference toFIGS. 18-19. The third insert12includes a similar construction, function, and shape as that of the first insert10and the second insert11. The third insert12includes a central portion500. The third insert12includes a first lateral side600that includes a plurality of slots610to hold articles20. The plurality of slots610may pass completely through a thickness of the third insert12. The first lateral side600extends from the central portion500. The first lateral side600forms a rounded corner edge615.

The third insert12include a head side or upper surface550generally opposite of a cap side or lower surface650. When positioned in the cap25, the head side surface550is near or touching the user's head, while the cap side surface650is near or touching the inner surface40of the cap25. The third insert12includes a second lateral side700that includes a plurality of slots710to hold articles. The second lateral side700extends from the central portion500. The second lateral side700forms a rounded corner edge715.

The slots610and710may include a long horizontal570cut through the thickness of the insert12and shorter vertical cuts580on opposite ends of the horizontal cut570. This shape accommodates a wide variety of articles for storage in the insert12. Further, the slots610or710may be spaced in close proximity such that an article may pass through multiple slots610or710.

The first lateral side600, the central portion500, and the second lateral side700may be flexed or bent to provide the third insert12with a curved or arcuate shape. The first lateral side600, the central portion500, and the second lateral side700may be flexed or bent to conform to an interior space of or into the recess38behind the sweatband35of the cap25. The structure of the cap25may generally hold the third insert12in the curved or arcuate shape.

The third insert12includes an upper edge510and a lower edge520. The upper edge510and the lower edge520may both have an arching shape or a curved outer contour. The upper edge510generally has a greater arch or a greater curved outer contour than the lower edge520in order to properly fit into the cap25.

The upper edge510includes upper edge relief cuts515. The upper edge relief cuts515may have a rounder corner517. A radius of the rounded corner517helps the third insert12flex and bend without creasing, folding, or forming a point. In the aspect ofFIGS. 18-19, the upper edge510includes four relief cuts515. The number of relief cuts515may vary depending on the size and shape of the third insert12. The upper edge relief cuts515further angle away or widen from the rounded corner517.

The lower edge520includes lower edge relief cuts525. The relief cuts525help the third insert12flex and bend without creasing, folding, or forming a point. The relief cuts525help the third insert12to provide a comfortable fit. In the aspect ofFIGS. 18-19, the lower edge520includes three relief cuts525.

The lower edge520of the third insert12may fit into the recess38. The sweatband35may cover most of the lower edge520. When the third insert12is installed into the cap25, the lower edge520may rest against the bottom edge39of the recess38.

A first extension530extends from the upper edge510. The first extension530attaches to the head side surface550to form a form a first holding region540. The first extension530has an inner surface532and an outer surface534. The first extension530folds at a first bend536. The inner surface532of the first extension530attaches to the head side surface550to form the first holding region540. The inner surface532may include hook and loop fasteners537that attach to opposite hook and loop fasteners557on the head side surface550. As such, the first holding region540may be opened to receive the article and then tightened around the article via engagement of the hold and loop fasteners537and557. A second extension560extends from the upper edge510. The second extension560attaches to the head side surface550to form a second holding region570. The second extension560has an inner surface562and an outer surface564. The second extension560folds at a second bend566. The inner surface562of the second extension560attaches to the head side surface550to form the second holding region570. Similarly, the inner surface562may include hook and loop fasteners567that attach to opposite hook and loop fasteners558on the head side surface550.

In other aspects, the inserts10,11,12may include additional extensions, additional relief cuts, other holding slots, and other holding regions. Additional fastening members may be permanently or temporarily engaged to the inserts10,11, and12. For example, a clear plastic sheet of material may be affixed to the head side surface150,420, or550in order to form a see-through pocket or envelope. For example, additional pieces of hook and loop fastener may be attached to the head side surface150,420, or550in order to engage articles also having hook and loop fasteners. For example, other retaining devices, such as, straps, bands, loops, holders, tabs, clips, rings, etc. may be attached or affixed to either the cap side surface250,650or the head side surface150or420. For example, other openings may be formed in the thickness of the inserts10,11, or12customized to hold specific articles (e.g., 4 small openings may be formed in the thickness of the insert10,11, or12to hold the four corners of a driver's license, credit card, stored value cardm identification card, and the like. In other aspects, the inserts10,11, and12may include any of a variety of graphics, advertisements, branding, UPC codes, game schedules etc. that may be printed or displayed on the surfaces of the insert10,11, and12.