Abstract:
An article of headgear for enabling eyewear when not in use to be securely positioned thereon, the article of headgear having a plurality of apertures arranged and adapted to accept insertion of the frame stems of the eyewear. The frame stems are inserted through selected apertures to position the eyewear in a variety of locations about the headgear. The headgear may be worn in a variety of locations about the headgear, such as with a baseball cap worn with the brim extending backwardly or sideways from the wearer&#39;s head.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The background of the invention will be discussed in two parts 
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present device relates to headgear and more particularly to headgear providing means for supporting and retaining eyewear such as sunglasses or eyeglasses in a variety of positions on the headgear. 
         [0004]    2. Prior Art 
         [0005]    Persons wearing sunglasses or eyewear often put their eyewear on their person when not in use. One of the most popular ways of storing their eyewear is to wrap the frame stems, or sidepieces, of the eyewear securely around the crown of their own head. However, if wearing headgear of some kind (i.e. baseball cap, visor, etc.) the possibility of placing eyewear on the crown of one&#39;s head is somewhat diminished. For instance, in the case of a baseball cap wearers commonly mount eyewear onto the cap with the lens frame atop the brim of the cap and the frame stems, or sidepieces, extending rearward along the crown of the cap. The cap is also often worn in some other manner, such as backwards with the brim projecting rearward of the wearer&#39;s head, with the eyewear placed in some manner on the crown of the cap. However, eyewear placed on the cap in any manner is unstable and prone to falling away from the cap unless there is provided means for retaining the eyewear. This need has led to various methods for prevention of eyewear falling from the cap. 
         [0006]    One such method for retaining eyewear onto a baseball cap is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,554 issued to Yan on Nov. 18, 2003. The method of Yan includes patches attached to the cap that define openings through which eyewear stems and/or end pieces pass to retain the glasses. Another method for retaining eyewear onto a baseball cap is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,495 issued to Totani on Oct. 9, 2001 wherein the cap is provided with an insertion aperture adapted to permit a stem of a pair of glasses to be inserted therein, positioned to each lateral side of the edge portion from the crown of the cap. 
         [0007]    However, neither of these methods nor other known prior art methods disclosed the features of the applicant&#39;s invention. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide headgear having improved means for retaining eyewear in a variety of locations, such as on a baseball cap worn with the brim extending backwardly or sideways from the wearer&#39;s head. Other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the specification, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several views. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    To enable eyewear to be securely positioned in a variety of locations on an article of headgear, such as a baseball cap, there is provided a plurality of insertion openings, or apertures, around the crown of the headgear that are adapted to accept a frame stem and/or stem end piece of a pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses. The end pieces are inserted through the apertures and positioned between the crown of one&#39;s head and the inner surface of the crown of the headgear. This positioning of the end pieces enables the wearer to “feel” these ends on the crown of their head as these ends naturally wrap around the crown of their head in a secure manner. The apertures provide a means of entry for the end pieces to be securely positioned around the crown of one&#39;s head when placing eyewear on the outside of the headgear. The plurality of apertures permits the end pieces to be positioned through selected apertures for securely retaining eyewear on the headgear in a variety of locations around the crown. The variety of locations also provides that the headgear may be worn in a variety of ways, such as a baseball cap worn with the brim extending backwardly or sideways from the wearer&#39;s head. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a baseball cap having apertures and method for securing eyewear to the crown of the cap when it is worn with the brim of the cap extending forwardly; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 1  illustrating apertures and method for securing eyewear when the cap is worn with the brim extending backwardly; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 1  showing a plurality of vertically oriented apertures positioned around the periphery of the crown of the cap; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view the cap of  FIG. 1  showing an embodiment of the invention having a plurality of slanted apertures; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cap of  FIG. 1  showing a head band positioned exterior of the cap; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a strap and brim, or croupier, headpiece that shows apertures and method for securing eyewear above the brim of the headpiece; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective rear view of the headpiece of  FIG. 6  showing apertures and method for securing eyewear rearward of the brim in an inverted manner. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Referring now to the drawings there is illustrated headgear such as a baseball cap with versatility in retaining eyewear such as eyeglasses and sunglasses thereon in accordance with the invention. It is to be understood that even though a baseball cap is shown and described, the teachings of the present invention apply equally well to other headgear. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a baseball cap, generally designated  10 , having apertures  14  (two shown) and method for securing eyewear  13  to the crown  11  of the cap  10  when it is worn with the brim  12  of the cap  10  attached to the front portion of the edge of the crown  11  and extending forwardly. Eyewear  13  is shown placed on the brim  12  with a portion of stem  13   a  and stem curved end piece  13   b  inserted into an aperture  14  such that the stem end piece  13   b  and a portion of stem  13   a  is captured within the aperture  14 . In this manner frame end piece  13   b  and a portion of the frame stem  13   a  are captured and securely retained between the wearer&#39;s head and the inner surface of crown  11 , the stems  13   a  and stem end pieces  13   b  abutting the temples of the wearer. On the other side of the crown  11  the other eyewear stem  13   a  and stem end piece  13   b  are likewise captured and retained. Thus, when not in use eyewear  13  are placed on the brim  12  with the stems  13   a  and/or the stem ends  13   b  inserted into selected apertures  14  in the crown  11  such that the eyewear stems  11  abut the temples of the wearer and are retained within the crown  11 . 
         [0018]    It is understood that even though only two apertures  14  are shown in  FIG. 1 , this is by way of illustration only, and that in accordance with the invention a plurality of apertures will be discussed. Further, even though the apertures  14  are shown vertically oriented other configurations will be discussed in accordance with the invention. Although not shown the end pieces  12   b  could be extended to protrude back out of the crown  11  though a second aperture  14 . It is also to be understood that the configuration of the crown  11  and apertures  14  permit the use of stems  13   a  that do not have curved ends  13   b.  The apertures may be of any size, configuration, number or location appropriate to the headgear in accordance with the invention. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the baseball cap  10  of  FIG. 1  illustrating apertures and method for securing eyewear when the baseball cap  10  is worn with the brim extending backwardly from the head of the user. As seen the eyewear  13  is mounted securely to the backside of the cap  10  using selected apertures  14  (only two shown) as previously described. Further, although not shown, the end pieces  12   b  could be extended to protrude back out of the crown  11  though a second aperture  14 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the baseball cap  10  of  FIG. 1  having vertically oriented apertures on the outer edge of the crown  11  (one side shown) and method for securing eyewear  13  to the left side of cap  10  as previously described. It is to be understood that the eyewear  13  could as well be mounted and secured to the other side of the crown  11 , or any other location on the crown, in accordance with the invention. The dotted line band  30  around the crown  11  indicates the preferred area for placement of the apertures  14 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows baseball cap  10  in an embodiment of the invention wherein the cap  10  has a plurality of slanted apertures (one side shown), apertures  14   a  slanted to the right, and apertures  14   b  shown slanted to the left. The apertures may thus be vertical, slanted, or oriented randomly as may be desired for a particular headgear configuration. Again, the dotted line band  30  around the crown indicates the preferred area for placement of the apertures  14 ,  14   a,    14   b.    
         [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates cap  10  having a head band  50  positioned around the outside of the crown of the cap  10  (one side shown). The head band  50  may include vertical, slanted, or a combination of oriented apertures as previously discussed. The stems  13   a  and/or the stem ends  13   b  are shown inserted into selected apertures  14 ,  14   a  and  14   c  in the head band crown  11  such that they are positioned between the band  30  and the crown  11 . Head band  50  may be fixedly fitted to the crown  11  or as a separate piece placed around the crown  11  such that it may be slid, or rotated, around the crown  11  of the cap  10  to provide additional versatility in placement of the eyewear  13  on the cap  10 . As a separate piece the head band  50  may be configured to be placed on the crown  11 , removed, and replaced on the cap  10 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example of croupier-type headgear, generally designated  60 , that is configured in the form of a head strap  61  having a brim  12   a,  the head strap  61  having openings and method for securing eyewear as previously discussed. Illustrated is hook and pile means for adjusting/fitting the headpiece  60  to the head of the user, although any appropriate method, such as a buckle for fitting the headpiece  60 , is within the spirit and scope of the invention. The eyewear  13  is retained through the strap  61  using apertures  14   c  in the manner as previously discussed. The headgear  60  may be configured such that the eyewear  13  may be mounted to the strap  61  above the brim  12   a,  and as well to rest on top of the brim  12   a.    
         [0024]    The headgear  60  may also be configured such that the eyewear  13  is retained through the strap  61  using apertures  14   c  when the headgear  60  is worn with the brim  12   a  extending backwardly of the head of the wearer in a similar manner as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 7  illustrates headgear  60  as worn with the brim  12   a  extending forwardly from the head of the user, eyewear  13  being shown positioned on the rear of the headgear  60  in an upside-down, or inverted, manner and retained through strap  61  using apertures  14   c.  Positioned in this manner, the wearer can with one hand re-position eyewear  13  to the usable position. This method of placement and retention can also be used on previously described headgear when eyewear  13  is positioned in the same manner as shown. The apertures can be of a single configuration or a combination of the configurations as previously discussed. 
         [0026]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described.