Abstract:
A removable band for a conventional sun visor is disclosed. The removable band allows a visor-wearer to customize their visor without having to permanently alter their visor. A non-damaging adhesive may be used to affix the removable band to the visor and may be reused multiple times. The removable band may have decorative elements such as colors, patterns, themes, logos, lettering, attachments, rhinestones or other attractive decorations.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61/444,349, filed in the United States Patent Office on Feb. 18, 2011. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to headwear, and more particularly, to sun visors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
     The sun visor, or simply “visor,” is a popular form of headwear. A visor typically has a bill that protrudes forward from the head when worn and semi-rigid side arms that grip the head of the wearer to keep the visor in place. The bill of the visor provides shade on the face of the wearer, blocking the sun from the eyes of the wearer. 
     The visor is an alternative to baseball-style hats and offers several advantages. One advantage of the visor is that it is open on top, providing ventilation and allowing the wearer to wear a variety of hair styles that would ordinarily not be possible while wearing a baseball-style hat. 
     Visors are typically available in one head size; however they are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns and in at least two different bill sizes. Visors may be purchased having a variety of decorative elements, such as solid colors, patterns, beading, animal skin patterns, rhinestones, lettering, logos and the like. The cost of a visor often depends on the number and type of decorative elements, with more decorative visors costing more than plain or undecorated visors. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,643,847 to Dornak discloses a baseball cap that allows for the personalized placement of multiple logos, insignias, or text. The cap contains multiple pockets for the placement of team logos, player names, manufacturers&#39; logos, text, pictures and the like. However, the hat must have specially adapted pockets to receive the decorative elements. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,629 to Gleason discloses a multi-adjustable display cap that includes a head covering with a display region of fabric conducive to releasable engagement with a hook element of a hook-and-loop type fastener. However, the hat must have an area adapted to receive and engage the hooks of a hook and loop fastening system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,761 to Connelly discloses a cap having a visor with diverse pictorial displays placed on an insert that is located on the top surface of the visor, the insert being protected by a plastic envelope fastened to the visor with a strip of hook and loop material. However, the decorative elements must be inserted in a specially adapted plastic envelope. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,144 to Soergel discloses a baseball cap configured to permit different logos to be interchangeably positioned on the cap. The two panels defining the front face of the cap are made out of pile material and other panels of the crown portion, as well as the visor, can also be made out of pile material. The logos are equipped with hook fastener material which permits them to be detachably mounted on the cap. However, the hat must have an area adapted to receive and engage the hooks of a hook and loop fastening system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,963 to Loeffelholz discloses a system and method for detachably securing emblems, or the like, to articles of clothing, such as caps, hats, shirts, jackets, belts, and shoes. The system employs the combination of two magnetically attractive elements, for example, a magnet and a plate or a piece of ferromagnetic material. However, magnets must be used and a magnet placed between the visor and the wearer&#39;s head may cause discomfort. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,607 to Kaiser discloses an overlay for a cap bill or visor. The overlay is constructed of impermeable, flexible material. On the underside of the overlay is an adhesive covered by a protective film. This protective film is removed and the overlay is placed on top of the cap bill, and the adhesive holds the overlay in place. However, the overlay may only be placed on the bill of a cap or visor. In addition, the overlay has a crescent shape. Further, the overlay has a sheet material that is only somewhat flexible. The present system may be placed on the band area of a visor and is generally flexible. In addition, the present system gives the appearance of being a part of the visor and not an overlay. 
     A visor known as the “Visor Versa” is also known. It features a removable band that is attached to a visor using hook and loop fasteners. However, this requires a specially adapted visor. 
     SUMMARY 
     The apparatuses disclosed herein provide a removable band that can be added to a conventional sun visor and removed without need for a specialized visor or modifications to the visor. The band may contain any number or combination of decorative elements desirable to accessorize the visor. 
     One benefit of the removable band is that a number of looks and styles may be achieved with a single visor as different bands are placed on the visor. Thus the visor wearer would no longer have to buy different visors to go with different outfits or to be appropriate at different events or occasions. Accordingly the number of visors that a person must purchase is decreased. This cost savings is significant as certain fanciful visors may cost significantly more. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a removable band in accordance with the invention, shown affixed to a visor; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the removable band of  FIG. 1  shown partially affixed to the visor; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the removable band of  FIG. 1  shown affixed to the visor; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the visor without the removable band; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic view of a section of the removable band of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the removable band of  FIG. 1  made of a fabric; 
         FIGS. 7-9  illustrate the base layer of the removable band made of a folded fabric; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the removable band made of a fabric and a structural element; 
         FIGS. 11-13  illustrate the base layer of the removable band made of a folded fabric and a structural element; 
         FIGS. 14-22  illustrate the base layer of the removable band made of a folded fabric and a structural element; 
         FIG. 23  illustrates the removable band with a clip assembly; 
         FIG. 24  illustrates the removable band held to the visor by an elastic member; 
         FIG. 25  illustrates the elastic member of  FIG. 24 ; 
         FIG. 26  illustrates a removable band secured to a visor by an elastic member; 
         FIG. 27  illustrates the removable band of  FIG. 26  partially secured to the visor by an elastic member; and 
         FIG. 28  illustrates a removable band with an adhesive. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein by described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
     A removable band, generally designated  10  in combination with a visor  12 , is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . The visor  12  without the removable band  10  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The visor  12  may include side arms  15 . The removable band  10  is placed on a band area  20  (or “crown”) of the visor  12 . The removable band  10  is not permanently affixed to the visor  12  and so may be removed without damaging the visor  12 . The removable band  10  may contain any number or combination of decorative elements, including, without limitation, lettering, logos, designs, colors, patterns, shapes, textures, beads, rhinestones and the like. Thus without modifying the visor  12 , the visor  12  can be decorated in a number of ways using different removable bands. 
     The removable band  10  may be formed by layers, as shown in  FIG. 5 : a base layer  25  and an adhesive layer  30 . Alternatively, a protective layer  35  may be adjoined to the adhesive layer  30 . The protective layer  35  would be removed, exposing the adhesive layer  30 , prior to attachment of the band  10  to the visor  12 . 
     As used herein, the term “fabric” refers to any variety of cloth, ribbon or the like. Fabric may be cotton, polyester, felt, linen, or any material made of natural, artificial, or synthetic fibers or the like. Fabric includes leather or any material that may be used to create clothing. Fabric may also be any printed matter, including paper. 
     The base layer  25  may be constructed with a variety of materials and in a variety of configurations. The base layer  25  may be non-rigid and may be the same dimensions as the band area  20  of the visor  12 . 
     According to one embodiment, the base layer  25  may be made of a fabric  40 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     According to another embodiment, the base layer  25  may be made of the fabric  40  folded on itself along its longitudinal axis, as shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . The folded fabric  40  may be stitched as shown in  FIG. 9 . Alternatively, an adhesive may be used to affix the folded fabric to itself. 
     According to another embodiment, the base layer  25  may be made of two layers: the fabric  40  and a structural element  45  as shown in  FIG. 10 . The structural element  45  may be rubber, elastic, cardboard, paper, tape, vinyl or the like. For example, the structural element  45  may be a braided elastic, such as Dritz® brand ¾ inch Braided Elastic. Many materials would be too thick to be structural elements as they would protrude too far from the visor and would create an unattractive appearance. For example, some rubber materials were found to be too thick. The structural element  45  gives form and/or strength to the removable band  10  while remaining flexible. The structural element  45  is found between the adhesive layer  30  and the layer of fabric  40 . 
     According to another embodiment, the base layer  25  may be made of the fabric  40  folded over and enclosing the structural element  45  as shown in  FIGS. 11-13 . For example, an elastic strip  47  may be placed on a ribbon  48  that is of sufficient dimensions such that when the ribbon  48  is folded along its longitudinal axis, the ribbon  48  encloses, either partially or fully, the elastic strip  47 . The longitudinal ends of the ribbon  48  may be folded over the elastic strip  47  if the ribbon  48  is longer than the elastic strip  47  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The elastic strip  47  may be affixed to the ribbon  48  by adhesive. Once folded, the ribbon  48  may be stitched around some or all of its borders as shown in  FIG. 13 . Alternatively, an adhesive may be used to affix the folded ribbon to itself. 
     According to another embodiment, the fabric  40  is folded multiple times to create desired dimensions, and the structural element  45  may be enclosed within as shown in  FIGS. 14-22 . For example, if the desired size of the removable band  10  is 17¾″×¾″, the fabric  40  measuring 18¾″×3″ may be used as shown in  FIG. 14 . The structural element  45  is first centered horizontally along the bottom longitudinal edge of the fabric  40  as shown in  FIG. 15 . The structural element  45 , along with the bottom ¾″ of the fabric  40  is folded upward as shown in  FIG. 16 . An adhesive  50  may be placed on the longitudinal ends of the fabric  40  where the structural element  45  is not found as shown in  FIG. 17 . The longitudinal end of the fabric  40  may be folded in if the fabric  40  is longer than the structural element  45  as shown in  FIG. 18 . The top ¾″ of the fabric  40  may then be folded down as shown in  FIG. 20 . Finally, the fabric  40  may be folded in half along its longitudinal axis, producing a finished base layer  25  that is roughly 17¾″×¾″ as shown in  FIGS. 21-22 . Some or all of the borders of the fabric  40  may be stitched together as shown in  FIG. 22 . Alternatively, an adhesive may be used to affix the folded fabric  40  to itself. 
     The adhesive layer  30  may be any adhesive that is reusable and does not damage the visor. Accordingly the adhesive retains its stickiness despite multiple uses and does not leave behind noticeable residue on the visor. An example of such an adhesive is the Dritz® brand Res-Q-Tape, sold by Prym Consumer USA Inc. 
     The protective layer  35  may be any material that will protect the adhesive layer  30  from unwanted affixation. For example, the protective layer  35  may be plastic or paper, such as the backing found on the Dritz® brand Res-Q-Tape. The protective layer  35  may be placed on the removable band  10  when the removable band  10  is not in use. 
     The decorative side of the base layer  25  is the side not disposed toward the adhesive layer  30 . The decorative side may contain one or more decorative elements. 
     According to another embodiment, the longitudinal ends of the removable band  10  are adapted to wrap around the side arms  15  of the visor, as shown in  FIG. 23 . In this embodiment, the removable band  10  is held in place principally by the connection to the side arms  15 . The adhesive layer  30  may be present. The adhesive layer  30  may be shorter than the removable band  10  and may be disposed on the center of the removable band  10 . The adhesive layer  30  on this embodiment helps to keep the removable band  10  in place on the visor. As an example of how the removable band  10  may wrap around the side arms, the removable band  10  may have an inward-facing pocket into which the end of the side arm  15  is placed. Alternatively, a clip  55  is disposed at the longitudinal ends of the removable band  10 . Each of the clips  55  may be clipped onto the side arms  15 . The clips  55  may be made of plastic, metal or the like. Importantly, the clips  55  should be thin so that the clips  55  do not protrude into the head of the wearer, causing possible discomfort or headache. 
     According to another embodiment, the longitudinal ends of the removable band  10  may be held in place by an elastic member  60  that wraps around both the side arms  15  and the removable band  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 24-28 . The elastic member  60  may be separate from, or a part of, the removable band  10 . The elastic member  60  may be disposed between folded layers of the fabric  40  or between other layers of the removable band  10  generally. The elastic member  60  may be affixed to the removable band  10  by adhesive, stitching, metal fasteners or the like. The elastic member  60  may be made of rubber, elastic or any other material that would stretch to fit around, and hold together, both the side arm  15  and the removable band  10 . For example, the elastic member  60  may be made of Dritz® brand ¼ inch Braided Elastic. The adhesive layer  30  may be present. The adhesive layer  30  may be shorter than the removable band  10  and may be disposed on the center of the removable band  10 . The adhesive layer  30  on this embodiment helps to keep the removable band  10  in place on the visor. 
     Alternatively, the removable band  10  may be used on a conventional ladies&#39; headband instead of a visor. The dimensions of a headband are different than those of a visor and so a particular removable band may not be operable on both a headband and a visor. 
     While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications may come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.