SWEATBAND

Abstract: A sweatband (10) formed by a doughnut-shaped band of stretchable, perspiration absorbent fabric (12) disposable about a portion of the body of the user. The hollow circular interior defines a compartment for holding small articles such as keys, driver's licenses and money. An opening in the band provides access to the interior compartment, and a zipper (14) sewn to opposed sides of the opening allows the opening to be securely closed. A user identification label (16) can be sewn to the band, and identification and medical information written on the label by the sweatband user.

Description: SWEATBAND Field of the Invention This invention relates to an athletic sweatband and more particularly to a sweatband which may be worn on the wrist, head or ankle of a person engaged in athletic activity, such as jogging or playing any racket games, to carry various articles, such as keys, coins and the like. The invention further re¬ lates to such a sweatband which includes a user identification means. Background of the Invention Most persons engaged in an athletic activity, such as jogging, tennis, squash, and handball, are attired in brief clothing, such as shorts, T-shirts, sweatshirts and the like. Normally, such attire is lacking in pockets or other means for carrying personal effects, such as coins, keys, bills and credit cards, and this often prevents such persons from carrying these personal effects while they pursue their sports activities. Often, such inability to carry these personal effects is a hindrance and an inconvenience, particularly if such persons are required to carry the personal effects in their hands or to insert them in their brief and usually loose clothing which can inhibit their movement or result in loss of such items. They may even have to place the items in the corner of the court if they are engaged in an indoor court game, and these positioned items can interfere with the game. It thus has been found to be desirable to provide a means for athletes to carry personal effects with them without unduly hindering or inconveniencing them in their athletic activity. It has also been found to be desirable to provide a means which the person engaged in athletic activity can carry with him as he engages in the athletic activity and which provides identifying information about him. This is important if the user overexerts himself or is injured thereby requiring medical attention. Also, particularly with joggers and runners, they may be injured by an automobile as they are jogging along or across a road, or if in an isolated area they may be assaulted. If they require medical attention it is important that the at¬ tending medical personnel quickly have information about them such as their name, address, phone number, blood type, aller¬ gies, religion, and any special medical needs. SUBSTITUTE SHEET OMPI Objects of the Invention Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a means for persons engaged in sports act¬ ivities for carrying personal effects in a manner which will not unduly hinder the persons' movements or be an inconvenience. Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel piece of wearing apparel with which persons engaged in sports activities may conveniently and securely carry small personal effects such as coins, paper money, keys, credit cards and the like. A further object of the present invention is to provide a means worn by such persons providing an identification label containing vital user identification and medical information. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel sweatband which is inexpensive and simple to construct and includes a compartment for carrying small personal effects. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the follow¬ ing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. SUBSTITUTE S £ £ ≤T The Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the in¬ vention shown being worn on a user's wrist. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a panel of material from which the embodiment shown in Figure 1 may be formed, illus¬ trating an initial step in the process of making such an embodiment. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a sequential step in forming the embodiment shown in Figure 1, illustrating the panel shown in Figure 2 in a sequential condition. Figure 4 is a side view of a sequential condition of the panel shown in Figures 2 and 3, illustrating the formed panel in an inverted condition. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 4 having been inverted, and illustrating in greater detail the identification label. SUBSTITUTE SHEET The Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a sweat¬ band embodying the present invention shown generally at 10. Sweatband 10 includes a panel of stretchable, perspiration ab¬ sorbent material 12, a zipper 14 sewn to panel 12, and an identification label 16 also sewn to panel 12. Sweatband 10 is formed as follows: panel 12 is formed through conventional means and it has end edges 18 and 20 and side edges 22 and 24. Panel 12 is folded whereby side edges 22 and 24 are even. The adjacent side edges are then stretched and sewn together along a seam 26 spaced slightly from the edges. However, the edges are not sewn along the entire seam but rather an opening along a middle portion is left unsewn. Zipper 14 is inserted into this opening, while stretching the opening at either ends and holding it securely open, and is sewn into the opening. Label 16 is sewn underneath and to the cloth portion 28 of zipper 14 or, alternatively label 16 can be sewn into cloth portion 28 as zipper 14 is sewn to panel 12. As best shown in Figure 3, a tube of material is thereby formed. End edge 18 is inserted into the tube until it is even with end edge 20. Then, while stretching the material, a seam 30 is sewn in the joined edges, as best shown in Figure 4. The sweatband is then inverted by pulling the panel through the opening 32 of Crpened zipper 14. An inner-tube or doughnut-shaped band of material is there¬ by formed having a continuous circular inner compartment. When the zipper is open, the inner compartment communicates with the exterior and small articles, such as keys or money, can be in¬ serted or removed. After inserting these articles, the zipper is zipped and the articles are securely held in the inner compartment. It has been found that a terry cloth type of woven fabric consisting of 90% cotton yarn interwoven with 10% elastomeric strands or a woven fabric consisting of 90% synthetic yarn, such as ANTRON yarn manufactured and sold by the Dupont Company and 10% elastomeric strands are suitable materials for panel 12. Identification label 16 is formed from a material that is flexible enough to be easily inserted and removed through open¬ ing 32 formed by opened zipper 14. It is formed of a material § ϋssτιτϋτε ' - C which can be written clearly on with a pen or pencil. It is further within the scope of the present invention to include identified blanks 34 on the label, as best shown in Figure 5. The sweatband manufacturer can also imprint any advertising or instructional information it wants on the label. From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifica¬ tions of the present invention which come within the province of those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned invention pertains. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims. SUBSTITUTE SHEET -^2

Claims: The Claims 1. A sweatband comprising: an inner-tube shaped band of material disposable about a portion of the body of a user, said band defining an interior compartment for holding small articles, said band having an opening through which said interior compartment communicates with the exterior, said band comprising an elongated panel having a pair of end edges and a pair of side edges, said side edges being par¬ tially joined together to provide said band opening and to form a tube, and one of said end edges being folded into said tube and joined to the other said end edge, and an interlocking means connected to said band for interlock¬ ing opposed sides of said band opening. 2. The sweatband of Claim 1 including, said band material consisting of a stretchable, perspira¬ tion absorbent fabric. 3. The sweatband of Claim 1 including, said interlocking means comprising a velcro connecting means. 4. The sweatband of Claim 1 including, said interlocking means comprising a zipper means. 5. The sweatband of Claim 1 including, said band comprising a woven fabric consisting of synthetic yarn interwoven with elastomeric strands. 6. The sweatband of Claim 5 including, said woven fabric consisting of 90% synthetic yarn and 10% elastomeric strands. 7. The sweatband of Claim 1 including, said band comprising a woven fabric consisting of cotton yarn interwoven with elastic strands. 8. The sweatband of Claim 7 including, said woven fabric consisting of 90% cotton yarn and 10% elastomeric strands. 9. A sweatband comprising: an inner-tube shaped band of material disposable about a portion of the body of a user, SUBSTITUTE SHEET said band defining an interior compartment for holding small articles, said band having an opening through which said interior compartment communicates with the exterior, an interlocking means connected to said band for interlock¬ ing opposed sides of said band openings, and a user identification label attached to said interlocking means at a location in said interior compartment and adjacent said opening whereby said label is positionable within said compartment and alternately positionable at least partially exterior said interior compartment. 10. The sweatband of Claim 9 including, said label comprising a flexible material on which a user can write. 11. A sweatband comprising: an elongated panel of stretchable, perspiration-absorbent material having a first panel side edge, a second panel side edge, a first panel end edge, and a second panel end edge, an interlocking means having a first interlocking means side edge, a second interlocking means side edge, a first interlocking means end edge, and a second interlocking means end edge, positioned so that said first interlocking means side edge is generally adjacent said first panel side edge and said second interlocking means side edge is spaced from said first interlocking means side edge and away from said second panel end edge, a first attaching means for attaching said first inter¬ locking means side edge to said first panel side edge, a securing means for securing said first panel side edge to said second panel side edge positioned between said first panel end edge and said first interlocking means side edge and between said second panel end edge and said second panel side edge, thereby defining an elongated panel tube, a second attaching means for attaching said second inter¬ locking means side edge to said second panel side edge, and a joining means for joining said first panel edge to said second panel edge when said first panel edge is positioned inside said tube adjacent said second panel edge. ITUTE SH e ST 12. The sweatband of Claim 1 including, a user identification label positioned adjacent said inter- 1ocking means. 13. The sweatband of Claim 12 including, a label connecting means for connecting said label to said interlocking means. 14. The sweatband of Claim 13 including, said label connecting means including said first attaching means. 15. The sweatband of Claim 11 including, said interlocking means including a velcro connecting means. 16. The sweatband of Claim 11 including, said interlocking means including a zipper means. 17. A sweatband prepared by a process comprising the steps of: providing a panel of stretchable, perspiration-absorbent material having a panel first edge, a panel second edge, a panel first side, and a panel second side, positioning said panel first side adjacent said panel second side and sewing said positioned panel first side to said panel second side generally between said panel first end and said panel second end, leaving a portion between said panel first end and said panel second end unsewn, thereby forming a panel tube, providing an interlocking member with a σloseable opening having a member first edge, a member second edge, a member first side, and a member second side, positioning said interlocking member in said unsewn portion sewing said positioned interlocking member to said panel, inserting said panel first edge in said tube until it is generally adjacent said panel second edge, sewing said inserted panel first edge to said panel second edge, and inverting said sweatband by pulling said panel through said opening after sewing said first and second panel edges together. SUBSTITUTE SHEET OMPI 18. The sweatband prepared by the process of Claim 17 including, providing an identification label, and securing said identification label to said interlocking member. 19. The sweatband prepared by the process of Claim 18 including, said sewing said positioned interlocking member step in¬ cluding said securing step. 20. A sweatband prepared by a process comprising the steps of: providing a panel of stretchable, perspiration-absorbent material having a panel first edge, a panel second edge, a panel first side, and a panel second side, providing an interlocking member with a closeable opening having a member- first edge, a member second edge, a member first side, and a member second side, sewing said member first side to said panel first side at a location between said panel first edge and said panel second edge, sewing said member second side to said panel second side at a location between said panel first edge and said panel second edge, positioning said panel first side adjacent said panel second side, after said positioning step, securing said panel first and second sides together, thereby defining a panel tube, after said securing step, inserting said panel first edge in said tube until it is generally adjacent said panel second edge and joining said inserted panel first edge to said panel second ege, and after said joining step, inverting said sweatband by pull¬ ing said panel through said opening. S UB S TITUTE SHEET

Inventors: SANZONE SALVATORE J, SANZONE, SALVATORE, J.
Applicants: SANKRO SPORTLINE PRODUCTS INC, SANKRO SPORTLINE PRODUCTS, INC.
Application year: 1983
Main classification: D04B1
IPC codes: A44C5, A45C1, A45F5