Abstract:
A unique fashion or sports hat or cap assemblage having a brim or bill/visor, distinctly designed with a sliding mechanism to rotate the brim or bill/visor up to 360 degrees without detachment from the crown of the cap or hat, including interchangeable and multiple options for the crown, body and visor portions and in which the sliding mechanism is attached to a headband and the headband in turn attached to an intermediate elastic material also attached to the periphery of the crown.

Description:
This Appln claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional No. 60/137,551 filed Jun. 4, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to hats and caps used as headwear, and more specifically to hats and caps having one or more bills or brims that also may be moved or rotated to various positions around the circumference of the crown of the headwear without detaching the bill or brim from the headwear. 
     This invention is an improvement over that described in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,534 issued Feb. 10, 1998 (Mobley), which describes headwear having a detachable bill or even a full brim that can be repositioned relative to the crown of the headwear while wearing the headwear and without detaching the brim or bill from the crown. It also describes unitary headwear that can give the appearance of being at least two separate hats and in which two or more bills or brims can be repositioned relative to balance of the headwear, such that neither the headwear nor the bills or brims need be removed from the headwear to be repositioned. As described in that patent, the ability to position easily one or more bills or fuller brims on a hat allows the wearer to adjust them to optimize their shading effect and protection from elements of weather such as rain or hail. Mobley also describes these uses of hats for self-expression, shading, and protection by freeing the wearer from the necessity of removing the hat or of detaching the bill or brim of the hat whenever the wearer wants to change its position. Again in Mobley, the means of attachment and detachment of the bills and brims to the headwear facilitates the creation of a unitary hat design that, when in place on the wearer&#39;s head, can give the appearance that two or more hats being worn. 
     Given that the bill or brim is capable of installation, removal and smooth repositioning as in Mobley, the present invention achieves the goal of improving the comfort, flexibility, durability and ease of change of the bill or brim portion of a cap or hat, by separating the bill or brim from the rest of the cap or hat with a unique arrangement for attachment of the bill or brim. This arrangement relieves mechanical strain, permits greater airflow, facilitates changes of one bill or brim for another, simplifies manufacture, and allows more flexible movement of the cap or hat in relation to the supporting structure for the bill or brim. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there can now be provided comfortable, durable, and easily-fabricated headwear having an easily-detachable bill or even a fill brim that, as in Mobley, can be repositioned relative to the crown of the headwear while wearing the headwear and without detaching the brim or bill from the crown. In addition, my invention preserves all of the features and advantages of Mobley as summarized and described in the aforementioned Mobley patent. 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a hat or cap including a crown, at least one T-channel and at least one U-channel, one of which channels is attached to the crown by the unique arrangement and circumscribes at least a substantial portion of the periphery of the crown, a brim or bill which is attached to the other of the channels, the U-channel and the T-channel engaging each other such that the T-channel slides along the interior surface of the U-channel. If preferably one or more removable and/or replaceable bills or brims are desired, the channels can be constructed to permit ready attachment and detachment but are securely in place when attached to the crown. 
     It therefore is an object of the present invention to improve the means by which the bills or brims can be repositioned relative to the body of the headwear without detaching the bills or brim from the headwear or removing the headwear from the wearer&#39;s head. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention, as in Mobley, to hide or mask from view the means by which the brims or bills may be repositioned in order not to detract from the appearance of the headwear. 
     It is a further object of the invention to simplify the manufacture of the repositioning apparatus, and facilitate its assembly with the hat. 
     It is another object of the present invention, as in Mobley, to provide headwear having an attachment means so that the bills or brims of the headwear are easily detachable and reattachable, enabling the headwear to be worn with any of a number of bills or brims, or with no bill or brim at all. 
     It is another object of the invention to increase the wearer&#39;s comfort through provision of improved ventilation between the sweatband and the crown of the hat. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which like numbers represent like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial sectional view of the first embodiment of the invention taken along line  2 — 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3 and 3a  are partial sectional views of the first embodiment of the invention taken along line  3 — 3  in  FIG. 1 , each of the two figures showing a different form of attachment of the bill; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  6 a and  6 b are perspective and end detail views of the sliding mechanism of my invention,  FIGS. 6 ,  6 a and  6 b showing alternative forms for the invention&#39;s sliding mechanism and alternative forms for the extensions for attachment of a bill or brim; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention showing a full brim; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the second embodiment with the brim removed; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention simulating two hats; and 
         FIG. 11  is a partial sectional view of the third embodiment of the invention taken along line  11 — 11  in FIG.  10 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , hat  10  includes a crown  11  made of fabric and a bill or brim  12 , although it should be noted that the invention is not limited to a particular crown or bill shape or material and in fact works with any number of crown and bill shapes, conventional materials and relative rigidity, including very flexible or “floppy” crowns and brims. Referring to  FIG. 2 , inside the crown  11  is a headband  13  that circumscribes at least a substantial portion and preferably the entire interior circumference of the crown  11 . Headband  13  may take the form of any conventional headband material such as leather or fabric or may be a full or partial interior lining for the crown  11 . Headband  13  is attached to a linking band or intermediate web  14  along its circumference at least at seam line  14 a by stitching, permanent adhesive or the like, as is well known in the art. Linking band is preferably an elastic fabric band of about one inch width, such as that normally used for elastic waistbands of skirts and slacks, but may take the form of any material which supplies sufficient stiffness to support headband  13  and its attached sliding mechanism and sliding load; supplies sufficient flexibility and elasticity to conform comfortably to the wearer&#39;s head and allow easy wearer access to the sliding mechanism for purposes of changing and adjusting the sliding load; and supplies sufficient porosity to provide wearer comfort by permitting passage of air and ambient moisture. Linking band or intermediate web  14  is attached to the crown  11  along its circumference at its lower edge, at seam line  14 b by stitching, permanent adhesive or the like, as is well known in the art, that is spaced from the upper seam line  14 a so that an accessible space is created between the crown  11  and the headband  13  and by which the lower edge of crown  11  and band  14  together form a loose flap  15  under which is positioned the sliding mechanism according to my invention. The lower edge of crown  11  preferably is hemmed under band  14  as shown to improve appearance and to eliminate unraveling of the fabric. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bill  12  is attached to crown  11  by a sliding track mechanism having female and male interlocking parts which are a U-channel  16  and T-channel  17 , respectively. Both channels are preferably made of a flexible semi-rigid material such an extruded polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, as will be described. T-channel  17  is sewn by double stitching  17 a or adhesively fixed by its base  27  to the headband  13  either by stitching base  27  to headband  13  with opposing seams  17 a or by any well known adhesive that will permanently bond PVC to a fabric within the space formed between the flap  15  of crown  11  and the headband  13 , such that the T-channel  17  circumscribes at least a substantial portion or, preferably as shown by  FIG. 4 , the entire circumference of the outward-facing surface of the headband  13  and with its chamfered face  25  facing outwardly toward the inward-facing surface  20  of the crown  11 . If crown  11  has a continuous headband  13  as in  FIG. 4 , the two extreme ends of T-channel  17  may then be stapled or otherwise affixed to each other at  17 c to provide a continuous track around which bill  12  may ride. The open side  18  of U-channel  16  includes a pair of inwardly extending spring-like lips  22  preferably of thinner cross section which retain the cross portion  24  of T-channel  17  and enable the U-channel  16  to slide along at least a portion of the length of the T-channel  17 . 
     If the cap  10  is of a known adjustable type having plastic or leather adjustable straps (not shown) at the rear of crown  12 , the terminal ends of headband  13  then are sewn vertically to the ends of crown  12  adjacent to the straps, and T-channel  17  preferably cut just short of the sewn ends, say about ½ inch, alternately to enable U-channel  16  to be attached at those end points. 
     For a firm construction, the inner edge portion  26  of the bill  12  preferably is permanently affixed to and covering the leg portion  29  of U-channel  16  from both sides by an adhesive or stitching, either directly ( FIG. 3 ) or preferably by an intermediate web material or binding  12 a of matching colors (FIG.  3 a). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  6 a and  6 b, the spaces and dimensions have been exaggerated for clarity. U-channel  16  and T-channel  17 , although both made of a flexible, semi-rigid PVC so as to be extrudable in longer lengths and bendable into various circular shapes, preferably are of differing densities, with the U-channel  16  of a lower density so that the lips  22  can be resiliently bent inwardly and outwardly as the T-section  24  of the T-channel  17  is inserted and removed, but spring back into retaining position after attachment and detachment of the bill or brim  12 . The inner side  25  of T-section  24  is chamfered to facilitate insertion of T-channel  17  into U-channel  16 . T-channel  17  preferably includes a collar  27  to ensure smooth gliding against lips  22 . As is now evident from  FIGS. 1 and 5 , when the bill or brim  12  is attached to the crown  11  by insertion of the T-section  24  of the T-channel  17  into the U-channel  16  and slidingly held by the lips  22  of the U-channel  16 , the bill or brim  12  may easily be rotated around the circumference of the crown  11  to any desired position and without removing the hat  10  from the wearer. When so attached, the bill  12  may be moved around the circumference of the crown  11  by the sliding of the T-channel  17  within and along the U-channel  16 . When the headwear is properly assembled, the lower flap  15  of the crown  11  covers the T-channel  17  and the U-channel  16  so that they do not detract from the appearance of the headwear  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , because the track mechanism  16 ,  17  is sandwiched between the lining or headband  13  and the fabric or crown  11 , there is because of elastic band  14  a smooth continuous gliding motion, and the mechanism never touches the head of the wearer. 
     Although in the preferred embodiment U-channel  16  is affixed to bill  12  and T-channel  17  is affixed to crown  11 , it also is possible for the T-channel  17  to be affixed to the bill  12  and the U-channel  16  to be affixed to the crown  11 . 
     As can thus be seen, the invention of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-6 , provides for a slide means having a subassembly including headband  13  with upper and lower sides and the intermediate web or linking band  14  attached both to crown  11  and to headband  13  on one of the headband sides. Both headband  13  and intermediate web  14  extend at least substantially around the circumference of the crown  11 , with the subassembly further including either the U- channel  16  or the T - channel  17 . A second subassembly of the slide means includes the other of the U - channel  16  or the T - channel  17  attached to the brim or bill  12 . As shown, the channels  16 ,  17  are in interlocking slidable engagement with each other, and both channels  16 ,  17  are positioned between headband  13  and intermediate web or linking band  14  so as not to touch the wearer&#39;s head when the cap or hat is worn.   
     An alternative preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  to illustrate generally that my invention also works well with a full brimmed hat  40  in which the crown  41  can be worn with or without the brim  42 . Brim  42  is attached to a T-channel in the same manner as brim  12  of the first embodiment, except that the U-channel  43  extends the full circumference of the hat along with brim  42 . Brim  42  can be differently designed along its periphery so as to present different fashion statements as it is rotated, or different colored sections to indicate a particular position in a game. Alternatively, brim  42  may comprise differing structural components along its periphery, as for example a solid portion to act as an eye shade and a tinted translucent plastic to permit filtered light to pass through, or a full face-length screen mesh over a substantial part of the circumference of the brim  42  to selectively cover the face from insects and the like. Otherwise, the structural portions of this second embodiment are formed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. 
     Although not shown in the drawings, a headband on the interior of crown  41  may take the form of a conventional headband or may be a full or partial lining for crown  41 . As with the first embodiment, the headband is attached via a linking band to the crown  41  so that an accessible space is created between crown  41  and the headband to receive the sliding mechanism. 
     A third and further embodiment of my invention is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , headwear  50  comprises crown  51  and two bills  52  and  53 . Crown  51  comprises upper crown  54  and lower crown  55 . Upper crown  54  is formed in the same manner as the complete crown portion of a regular hat having a hemmed lower edge  56 . The lower crown  55  approximates a truncated cone, in which the outside diameter of its upper edge  58  equals the inside diameter of the lower edge  56  to which it is attached via linking band  59  along their respective circumferences. As shown in  FIG. 11 , a headband or lining  62 , in which the T-channel  17  is adhesively fixed or sewn at  17 a, is sewn at seam  63  inside linking band  14  in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Linking band  14  is attached to the lower crown  55  along its circumference at least at seam line  14 b. The upper edge  58  of lower crown  55  in turn is sewn at seam  59  inside linking band  59 . As in the first embodiment, linking band  59  is attached to the upper crown  54  along its circumference at least at seam line  59 a, and together with lower crown  55  acts as the liner for the upper crown  54 . Below linking band  59 , a second T-channel  17  is sewn at  17 a or adhesively fixed to the outside of lower crown  55 . Each of the T-channels  17  receive the corresponding removable U-channels  16  of the two bills  53  and  52 , respectively. The two crown portions  54 ,  55  and their respective bills  52 ,  53  can be of the same or different designs and can provide a substantial opportunity for creativity. The crown shapes, however, will be governed by the hat styles, as can the lengths of the lower sections, of the upper and lower crowns, extending below seams  14 b. Although in a preferred embodiment the upper crown  54  and the lower crown  55  together form a dome-shaped crown, it is understood that the crown can take any firm or floppy shape. For fashion millinery, headband  62  preferably is a full or partial lining of the crown at least to cover the inside seams connecting the upper and lower crown portions  54 ,  55 . Similarly, the bills  52 ,  53  can be rotated along and/or removed from their respective crowns  54 ,  55  to present very different appearances of the headwear. 
     The manufacture and assembly of a cap or hat according to this invention is now substantially simplified, in that quantities of bills  12  and crowns  11  can be manufactured in their traditional manner, while the sliding mechanisms separately manufactured and supplied in long lengths cut to size as needed. To accomplish this, the crown portion of the sliding mechanisms is assembled by sewing lengths of headband  13  material at one side (seam  14 a) to lining band  linking band or intermediate web  14 , and lengths of T-channel  17  sewn to the headband  13  material at its other side (seams  17 a). Similarly, lengths of U-channel  16  are sewn to an intermediate web material or  or binding  12 a at seam  12 b . For final assembly, the crown portion of the sliding mechanism is then cut to length to fit crown  11  and linking band  14  sewn to crown  11  at seam  14 b, while the bill portion of the mechanism is also cut to length and the intermediate web material  binding  12 a sewn to bill  12  as shown. If the cap is of the adjustable type, the ends of headband  13  are also vertically sewn to crown  11  at its lower periphery. 
     Although the invention is described by reference to specific preferred embodiments, it is clear that variants can be made and other materials used without departing from the spirit of the invention as described and claimed.