Abstract:
A cap includes fasteners mounted in the crown which removably attach a base member to the inside of the crown. The base member includes a net portion and a binding. Segments of hair are sewn onto both the net portion and the binding. Fasteners are mounted near an upper edge of the base member for attachment of the base member to the fasteners which are mounted in the crown.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of apparel and more particularly, to a cap with a detachable hairpiece. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The prior art related to simulated hair accessories includes the following U.S. patents. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,735 to Rice for a Cap With Hair Piece Attachments shows a cap in which an interior band at the lower periphery of the cap includes a fastener. A hairpiece accessory piece has a fastener which cooperates with the fastener on the cap to attach the hairpiece accessory to the inside of the cap. The mating fasteners have adjustment regions which allow the user to vary the position and the extent of exposure of the hair piece accessory below the lower peripheral edge of the cap. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,319 to Spurs for a Hat With Detachable Hair shows a hat with an elastic band encircling the interior of the hat. The elastic band carries patches of loop material of the type known as hook-and-loop material. A hair strip is provided which extends from temple to temple of the user. The hair strip includes an elastic strip on which a plurality of hook-type patches are mounted in a spaced apart relationship. Hair segments are sewn to the elastic strip which extends between the hook-type fastener patches. At the ends of the elastic strips, the hair strips are sewn parallel to the axis of the elastic strip while other hair strips are sewn perpendicular to the axis of the elastic strips. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a hat with detachable hairpiece which includes a hairpiece adapted for use with a cap having an adjustment strap mounted on the back of the cap. 
         [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a hat with a detachable hairpiece in which the hairpiece has a net backing. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a hat with a detachable hairpiece in which the hairpiece may be attached to the hat in a secure manner. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a hat with a detachable hair piece in which the hair piece completely covers an adjustment aperture which is formed on the back of the hat. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hat with a detachable hairpiece which includes a relatively small number of relatively simple components which can be easily manufactured resulting in a relatively low unit cost. 
         [0010]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made clear hereinafter. 
         [0011]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hat with a detachable hairpiece in which a cap has an adjustment strap which is used to adjust the size of the cap to suit a range of users. The adjustment strap in part defines an aperture formed in the rear of the cap. A plurality of loop-type fastener patches are mounted on the inside surface of the cap. The hairpiece has a backing which is made of a net material; a cloth binding is sewn on the periphery of the binding. The backing has a curved portion which complements and extends past the curved upper edge of the aperture in the cap. Hair segments are sewn onto a first surface of the backing and a plurality of hook-type fastener patches are attached to the backing enabling the backing to be attached to the inside of the cap. The hair segments cover the aperture and extend past the edge of the cap thereby providing a realistic appearance. 
         [0012]    Other important objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a cap with detachable hairpiece made according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cap with detachable hairpiece of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the inside of the cap of  FIG. 1  with the hairpiece removed and showing the location of the hook and loop fastener pads; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the detachable hairpiece with the hairpiece shown removed from the cap; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an elevation view of the detachable hairpiece taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4  showing the locations of the hook and loop fastener pads; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an elevation view of the detachable hairpiece taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4  showing the binding and the mesh layer which form the base of the hairpiece and showing selected hair segments removed to reveal details of construction. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    With reference to the drawings, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-6  a cap with detachable hairpiece  10 , made according to the present invention, which includes a cap  12  and a hairpiece  14 . 
         [0020]    The cap  12  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is of conventional construction and includes a brim  16 , a crown portion  18  and an adjustment strap  20  which in part defines the perimeter  22  of an aperture  24  which is formed in the rear portion  26  of the crown portion  18 . The length of the adjustment strap  20  may be adjusted using the buckle  28  in order to adjust the hat size of the crown  18  to suit various users. The cap  12  is of conventional construction and a range of caps of varying appearance and construction may be utilized as described below. 
         [0021]    As is best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the base  30  of the hairpiece  14  includes a mesh or net layer  32 , the peripheral edge  34  which has a clothing binding  36 . Sections of real or artificial hair  38  are sewn onto the surface  40  of the net layer  32  and the surface  42  of the binding  36  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Patches  44 ,  46 ,  48  of hook-type material which form part of a hook and loop-type of fastener system are attached to the base  30  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 . The base  30  of the hairpiece  14  has a specific shape as will be presently described which allows the sections of hair  38  to project below the edge  50  of the cap  12  along the sides  52 ,  54  and rear  56  of the cap  12 . In addition, the base  30  allows the hair  38  to cover the aperture  24  thereby providing a realistic appearance. 
         [0022]    As is shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the base  30  includes a pair of spaced apart top edge portions  58 ,  60  which are in general alignment. A centrally located upper curved portion  62  connects the two top edge portions  58 ,  60 . The upper curved portion  62  is advantageously in the form of a generally circular arc. 
         [0023]    The outer portions  64 ,  66  of the top edge portions  58 ,  60  are connected to generally straight side edge portions  68 ,  70 . The lower portions  72 ,  74  of the side edge portions  68 ,  70  are connected one each to a pair of generally straight lower edges  76 ,  78 . The lower edges  76 ,  78  are inclined with respect to the top edge  58 ,  60  thereby resulting in central portion  80 , the base  30  being relatively wider than the end portions  82 ,  84 . 
         [0024]    The central portion  86  of the lower edge  88  of the base  30  is defined by a lower curved portion  90  which forms a generally circular arc. The radius of curvature of the lower curved portion  90  is preferably greater than the radius of curvature of the upper curved portion  62 . 
         [0025]    The various curvatures of the upper and lower portions  62 ,  90  and the specific shape of the base  30  enables the base  30  to fit closely within the cap  12  as is shown in  FIG. 2 . This results in a realistic appearance combined with comfort for the user. 
         [0026]    The base  30  is removably attached to the inside of the cap  12  by aligning the hook-type fastener patches  44 ,  46 ,  48  on the base  30  with loop-type fastener patches  92 ,  94 ,  96  which are mounted on the inside surface  98  of the crown  18  as is best shown in  FIG. 3 . The location of the hook and loop-type fastener patches may be interchanged with the hook-type fastener in patches  44 ,  46 ,  48  mounted on the crown  18  and the loop-type fastener patches  92 ,  94 ,  96  mounted on the base  30 . 
         [0027]    The sections of hair  38  may be attached to the base  30  by conventional sewing techniques which have not been described in detail. The use of the net layer  32  as a substrate for the sections of hair  38  combines the advantages of flexibility, light weight and cooling. 
         [0028]    The net layer  32  enables the hairpiece  14  to conform both to the cap  12  and to the user&#39;s head. The net layer  30  is extremely flexible and provides a minimum of bulk. The net layer  32  also allows air to pass through the hairpiece  14  to the user&#39;s head thereby enhancing the comfort level of the user. 
         [0029]    The foregoing specific embodiment of the present invention as set forth in the specification herein is for illustrative purposes only. Various deviations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention without departing from the main theme thereof.