Headwear item with associated shaping item

A method of using wearable items. The method includes the step of: providing a headwear item having a crown that engages a wearer's head and a rim/bill projecting angularly away from the crown; providing a second item; attaching the second item to the rim/bill; separating the second item from the rim/bill; and wearing the second item with the second item separated from the headwear item on at least one of: a) the wearer's limb or hair; or b) a clothing item worn by the wearer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to headwear and, more particularly, to a headwear item having a projecting rim/bill.

2. Background Art

Myriad headwear designs are currently offered with a forwardly projecting rim/bill. This rim/bill configuration is common to visors and baseball-style caps.

Baseball-style caps have become increasingly popular and stylish in many circles. Baseball-style caps are desired for their comfort as well as the function they perform in shielding a wearer's face from sun and the elements.

These caps are adorned in many different ways. The most common adornment is that associated with athletic teams at all professional and amateur levels. These caps are also commonly used to promote activities, events, institutions, products, etc. As a result, those businesses offering this type of headwear must generally display a wide range of products, differing in terms of type, quality and ornamentation.

With so many competitors in the headwear industry, it is important that displays be devised to highlight particularly the ornamentation on these caps. Further, these displays are preferably set up so that users can conveniently try on the headwear for purposes of look and feel.

Ideally, baseball-style caps are displayed in the same general starting state with the rim/bill slightly bowed into an inverted “U” shape. However, users often have different preferences, particularly in terms of the shape of the rim/bill. Typically, the rims/bills are made from a material that can be shaped, normally by forcibly bending the rim/bill material. One popular shape is a more squared, inverted “U” shape achieved by producing spaced bend lines extending in a fore-and-aft direction. Prospective purchasers often will shape the rim/bill to their liking at the point of purchase and check the appearance thereof by wearing the headwear.

The assignee herein currently offers a baseball-style cap with a highly formable rim/bill. One form of this headwear piece is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,192.

As noted above, it is undesirable that a point of purchase display have headwear pieces with rims/bills that are bent into different configurations. While the rims/bills are made to exhibit good shape memory, there is generally a residual deformation after the rim/bill is re-shaped. To avoid this problem, it is known to provide systems with shaping components for the rim/bill. These shaping systems come in many different forms and generally are designed to produce a fairly consistent, downwardly opening, arcuate shape for the rim/bill.

Generally, the shaping systems are designed either to be recovered by the purveyor of the headwear or remain with the headwear after sale. While the shaping systems are effective in maintaining rims/bills consistently in a desired starting shape, each type has some inherent drawbacks.

If the shaping system is designed to be recovered, the establishment that sells the headwear piece must devise a system to remove and handle the same for re-use. If the shaping systems are retained by the headwear purchasers, it is normally intended that the shaping systems will be discarded. Consequently, the shaping system becomes a single use item. As a result, the shaping systems are designed to be cheaply manufactured and, as a result, may not perform as effectively as desired. Additionally, there is an inherent inconvenience having components that must be disposed of in an appropriate manner by the ultimate consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, the invention is directed to a method of using wearable items. The method includes the steps of: providing a headwear item having a crown that engages a wearer's head and a rim/bill projecting angularly away from the crown; providing a second item; attaching the second item to the rim/bill; separating the second item from the rim/bill; and wearing the second item with the second item separated from the headwear item on at least one of: a) the wearer's limb or hair; or b) a clothing item worn by the wearer.

In one form, the step of attaching the second item to the rim/bill involves attaching the second item to the rim/bill so that the second item maintains a shape of the rim/bill.

In one form, the rim/bill has spaced side edges and the step of attaching the second item to the rim/bill involves engaging the rim/bill at the space side edges so that the second item causes the rim/bill to bow between the spaced side edges.

The step of attaching the second item to the rim/bill may involve changing a configuration of the second item to vary bowing of the rim/bill between the side edges.

The step of providing a second item may involve providing an elongate second item that can be reconfigured and independently maintained in a plurality of different shapes.

The method may further include the step of reconfiguring the second item after the second item is separated from the rim/bill.

In one form, the step of reconfiguring the second item involves reconfiguring the second item into a curved shape, with the step of wearing the second item involving wearing the second item after the second item is reconfigured, around a limb of the wearer.

The step of providing a headwear item may involve providing a headwear item with information thereon relating to a first subject matter. The step of providing a second item involve may involve providing a second item with information related to the first subject matter.

In one form, the step of providing a second item involves providing a second item having two elongate elements that extend between the spaced side edges of the rim/bill and a web spanning between the two elongate elements.

The step of providing a headwear item may further involve providing a headwear item wherein the rim/bill has a core made from expanded foam.

The invention is further directed to the combination of a headwear item and a second item. The headwear item has a crown to engage a wearer's head and a rim/bill projecting away from the crown. The second item is attached to the rim/bill. The second item is separable from the rim/bill and wearable by a user apart from the headwear piece on at least one of: a) a user's limb or hair; or b) a clothing item worn by a wearer.

In one form, the rim/bill has spaced side edges and with the second item attached to the rim/bill, the second item engages the spaced side edges and causes the rim/bill to bow between the spaced side edges.

In one form, with the second item attached to the rim/bill, the second item maintains a shape of the rim/bill.

The second item may have a changeable configuration such that bowing of the rim/bill between the spaced side edges can be selectively changed.

In one form, the second item is elongate and can be reconfigured and independently maintained in a plurality of different shapes.

The second item may be reconfigurable into a curved shape that is wearable as a bracelet or anklet.

In one form, the second item has U-shaped ends within which the side edges nest with the second item attached to the rim/bill.

In one form, there is information on the headwear item related to a first subject matter and there is information on the second item that relates to the first subject matter.

The second item may consist of two elongate elements with a web spanning between the elongate elements.

In one form, the rim/bill has spaced side edges and the two elongate elements extend fully between the spaced side edges.

In one form, the two elongate elements each has spaced ends which are U-shaped and in which the spaced side edges of the rim/bill nest.

The rim/bill may have a core made from expanded foam.

In one form, the expanded foam is in a sheet form.

The invention is further directed to the combination of a headwear item having a crown to engage a wearer's head and a rim/bill projecting away from the crown, and a second item attached to the rim/bill. The second item is reconfigurable and independently maintainable in a plurality of different shapes. The rim/bill has spaced edges. The second item engages the rim/bill and in first and second different configurations is capable of maintaining the rim/bill bowed in first and second different shapes.

The second item may be fully separable from the headwear item.

In one form, the second item has a length and a substantially uniform width.

In one form, substantially the entire width engages the rim/bill substantially fully between the spaced side edges.

In one form, the second item has U-shaped ends within which the spaced side edges of the rim/bill nest.

In one form, there is information on the headwear item related to a first subject matter and there is information on the second item that relates to the first subject matter.

In one form, the second item has two elongate elements with a web spanning between the elongate elements.

In one form, the crown has a core made from expanded foam.

The expanded foam may be in a sheet form.

In one form, the second item is separable from the headwear item and is wearable on at least one of: a) the wearer's limb or hair; or b) a clothing item worn by the wearer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

InFIG. 1, a headwear item, according to the present invention, is shown at10and is design to be worn by a user in a first manner. The headwear item10may have virtually any configuration to be usable with the invention, so long as the headwear item10has a crown12that engages a wearer's head and a rim/bill14projecting angularly away from the crown12. A second item16is provided in combination with the headwear item10and is attachable to the rim/bill14. The second item16is separable from the headwear item10and is usable to be worn by a user in any of a number of different manners, different that the above-noted first manner, as hereinafter described.

Specific forms of the headwear item10and second item16are shown inFIGS. 2-11. The headwear item10depicted is in the form of a baseball-style cap with an inverted, cup-shaped configuration for the crown12. The rim/bill14projects angularly away from the crown12at the front region thereof.

In this embodiment, the crown12is made from a plurality of triangularly-shaped gores18with matched edges20joined and maintained together by lines of stitching22.

The rim/bill14may be made from virtually a limitless number of different materials and in many different manners. Typically, and in this case, the rim/bill14has a bowed shape between spaced side edges24,26. In a normal, relaxed state, the bow of the rim/bill14produces an inverted, curved, “U” shape between the side edges24,26.

Regardless of the construction of the rim/bill14, it is desirable, as it is with all baseball-style caps, that the rim/bill14be reshapeable. This may be done by creasing the rim/bill14or by forcibly compressing it between the sides to cause the bowing to change to thereby produce different shapes.

One rim/bill construction that is particularly suitable for the present invention is that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,192, commonly assigned herewith. The disclosure in that patent is incorporated herein by reference. Generally, as shown inFIG. 3herein, the rim/bill14in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,192 consists of a core layer28that is made from expanded foam material. As described in that patent, one exemplary composition is expanded, closed cell, polyvinyl chloride. The core layer28is formed as a sheet corresponding to the shape of the rim/bill14as viewed from a plan perspective. A skin layer30overlies the outside of the core layer28. The core and skin layers28,30are sandwiched between upper and lower fabric sheets32,34, respectively.

This particular rim/bill construction lends itself to reconfiguration of the rim/bill14. That is, the bowing of the rim/bill14between the side edges24,26can be readily varied without a significant amount of compressive force application thereto upon the edges24,26.

According to the invention, the second item16is usable to maintain the rim/bill14in different selected shapes. More specifically, it is preferred that the second item16be configured to change the particular bowed shape of the rim/bill14.

The second item16has an elongate body36with spaced ends38,40. Two elongate wire elements42,44extend between the ends38,40. The wire elements42,44are bendable and made from a material that can be reconfigured and independently maintained in virtually a limitless number of different selected shapes with the second item separated both from the first item and a user and without any external force applied to the second item.

A layer46, as from cloth, surrounds the elongate wire elements42,44so as to define a web48therebetween. More particularly, as shown clearly inFIG. 6, the cloth layer46is wrapped around the wire elements42,44, either partially or fully along the length thereof, and has ends50,52doubled back under the web48. Lines of stitching54,56are respectively formed through the web48and cloth end50, and web48and cloth end52so that spaced sleeves58,60are formed by the cloth layer46respectively around the wire elements42,44.

A V-shaped clip62is crimped at each of the ends38,40. The clips62produce a neat appearance and have tangs64spaced along the width W thereof so that the clips62firmly grip the cloth layer46at the ends of38,40of the body36, to maintain the elongate wire elements42,44spaced apart a predetermined distance. Through this arrangement, the web48is lightly stretched between the wire elements42,44along substantially the entire length of the elongate body36. At the same time, the clips62produce a neat appearance at the ends38,40. Consequently, the body36has a substantially uniform width WI, corresponding approximately to the width W for the clip62, between opposite edges66,68on the body36.

The ends38,40of the body36are return bent to define U “shapes” thereat forming receptacles70,72, opening generally towards each other.

The second item16can be attached to the rim/bill14in a number of different manners. As one example, the second item16, between the ends38,40, can be pre-formed with a bowed shape corresponding to that desired for the rim/bill14. The bottom surface74of the second item16can then be placed facially against an upwardly facing surface76on the rim/bill14, after which the ends38,40can be bent around the side edges24,26and under the rim/bill14.

As one alternative assembly method, the bowed shape of the second item16can be pre-selected, with the ends38,40of the body36pre-bent into the “U” shape ofFIGS. 4,5and9. The second item16can then be slid over the rim/bill14from front to rear, with the rim/bill14being maintained in a shape substantially corresponding to the pre-shaped second item16.

As a further alternative, the bottom surface74of the second item16can be laid against the surface76without any significant pre-forming of the second item16. The second item16can then be bent along its length and the ends38,40return bent to secure the second item16on the rim/bill14.

InFIG. 4, one exemplary bowed shape for the second item16and rim/bill14is shown. InFIG. 5, the second item16is reshaped so that the bowing is more significant such that the rim/bill14has a narrower shape and a more pronounced curvature.FIGS. 4 and 5represent just two different bowed shapes that might be selected. The second item16may be shaped in other manners. Aside from changing the bowing shape, the second item16may be used to produce other than a continuous curve between the side edges24,26of the rim/bill14, limited only by the bendability and dimensions of the second item16.

It is contemplated that the second item16can be worn by the user with the second item16separated from the headwear item10. As one example, the second item16can be formed in the shape of a bracelet, as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10on an arm78of a user.

InFIG. 11, the second item16is shown used as an anklet on a user's leg80.

As shown schematically inFIG. 12, the second item16may be used apart from the headwear item10on any limb82on a wearer.

As a further alternative, as shown inFIG. 13, the second item16may be used as a band upon the user's hair84or otherwise attached to the hair.

As a further alternative, as shown inFIG. 14, the second item16may be used to attach the same to a clothing item86on a user/wearer.

In one form, as shown inFIG. 1, information, shown generically at88, is provided on the front of the crown12. Additional information at90is provided on the web48. The information88,90may take any form, such as color, a logo, words, a depiction of a person, place or thing, etc. Generally, the information88,90would relate to the same subject matter. As just one example, the information88may be a team logo, with the information90including the name of the team with which the logo is associated. Virtually any information as is commonly used on headwear is contemplated to be used on the headwear item10and the second item16.

As shown inFIG. 15, the invention contemplates that the body36′ may take virtually any form having U-shaped ends38′,40′ to engage the side edges24,26of the rim/bill14. As just one example, the body36′ may have a single, fixed length, reconfigurable element that may or may not be associated with a web corresponding to the web48.

As an alternative to the fixed body length, as shown inFIG. 16, an adjustable body36″ may be used to alter the effective length between ends38″,40″.

As a further alternative, the structures shown in15and16, rather than having a maintainable body shape, may be made from a chain with a fixed length or a variable length, with the ends thereof attachable at the side edges24,26of a rim/bill14.

As a still further variation, one or more wire elements can be used with a cloth layer that does not extend the full length of the wire(s).

The invention is not limited to the particular headwear item shown inFIG. 2. As noted previously, virtually any headwear item is contemplated wherein there is a “crown” that maintains the headwear item on a wearer's head and a rim/bill projecting therefrom. For example, as shown inFIG. 17, a headwear item is shown at10′ in the form of a visor. The visor10′ has a crown12′ that extends partially around a wearer's head and has an open top. A rim/bill14′, constructed generally as the rim/bill14, projects angularly away from the crown12′. The second item16is attachable to the rim/bill14′ in the same manner as it is attachable to the rim/bill14.

As noted previously, the invention contemplates virtually a limitless number of different constructions for the second item16that can be used with likewise virtually an unlimited number of different types of headwear items.

As shown inFIG. 18, the invention contemplates the provision of a headwear item with a rim/bill, as shown at block100. As shown at block102, a second item is provided and attached to the rim/bill, as shown at block104. As shown at block106, the second item is separated from the rim/bill and worn apart from the rim/bill, as shown at block108. Thus, the invention is not limited in terms of the precise construction for the second item16, the construction of the headwear item, or the manner of wearing the second item apart from the headwear item.