Abstract:
Brim templates, covers and methods of modifying and changing brims on caps and visors. Novel digitally printed on indicia designs, words and/or colors can be placed on fabric brim covers. The brim covers can have an upper cover with overhanging edges that wrap about perimeter edges of existing hat brim, and a lower cover for covering a lower surface of the existing hat brim. The covers can be attached with by peeling off backing layers that reveal sticky surfaces that allow the covers to be easily attached to existing brims and easily removable from the existing brims without damaging the brims.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This invention claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/668,531 filed Jul. 6, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its&#39; entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to headgear apparel, and in particular to brim templates, covers and methods of modifying and changing brims on caps and visors, with customized brim covers having desired indicia such as designs, terms and/or colors. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Hats, such as baseball caps, and the visors are popular headgear apparel. Often the baseball cap is purchased to show the name and/or design logo of a favorite sport, team, celebrity, etc. 
       FIG. 1A  is a front view of a prior art baseball cap  1  with visor/brim  20  attached to head portion  4  of the cap  1 .  FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of the prior art cap  1  of  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 1C  is another view of the bottom of the existing brim  2  of  FIG. 1B . 
     A preferred type of hats with brims that can use the invention includes but is not limited to baseball caps  1  and golf type caps having either flat brims or curved brims, as well as visors having brims. 
     Additionally, caps and visors are often purchased in solid colors, such as white and black. Currently, the colors and existing designs on caps and visors are not changed. As a result individuals can end up having multiple caps and visors having different colors and designs. 
     Attempts to modify caps and visors are generally not practical since the modifications become permanent. For example, using a marker to add designs and colors becomes a permanent addition to the hats. Patches are also generally permanent since the sewn on patch cannot be easily removed, and the patch only ends up covering a part of hat, and not a complete portion of the hat. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide brim templates, covers and methods of modifying and changing brims on caps and visors in order to customize brims with different designs and/or colors. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide brim templates, covers and methods of modifying and changing brims on caps and visors without permanently damaging the underlying hat. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to provide brim templates, covers and methods of modifying and changing brims on caps and visors with interchangeable brims. 
     An attachable brim template for changing an existing brim on headwear, can include an upper cover panel template having an arc curved shape with an upper surface having an exposed surface with indicia thereon, the upper cover panel for covering an upper exposed surface of an existing brim on headwear, a first removable layer for covering an adhesive surface underneath the upper cover panel template, a lower cover panel template having an arc shape with an exposed surface with the indicia thereon, for covering a lower exposed surface of the existing brim on the headwear, and a second removal layer on one side of the lower cover for covering an adhesive surface on the bottom cover template, wherein removing the first removable layer allows for attaching the adhesive surface of the upper cover panel template to substantially cover the upper exposed surface of the brim on the headwear, and wherein removing the second removable layer allows for attaching the adhesive surface of the bottom cover template to substantially cover the lower exposed surface on the brim of the headwear. 
     The upper cover panel template can include tab edges for bending about perimeter edges of the existing brim on the headwear. The lower cover panel template can have a perimeter consisting of a front end and a rear end, the front end having an arc shape that includes a left side and a right side. The front end of the lower cover panel template having a smooth surface along an outer perimeter of the arc shape and the rear end of the lower cover panel template having a smooth arcuate surface. The headwear can be a cap with the existing brim. The headwear can be a visor only as the existing brim. 
     The first removable layer and the second removable layer can be a paper sheet. The first removable layer and the second removable layer can be peel and stick layers. 
     The upper cover panel template and the lower cover panel template can be fabric, with or without a waterproof coating. The upper cover panel template and the lower cover panel template can include a digital print and/or a customized indicia thereon. 
     A method for modifying brims on headwear, can include the steps of providing a top brim cover template sized to cover substantially all of an upper surface of an existing brim on a headwear, providing a lower brim cover template sized to cover substantially all of a bottom surface of the existing brim on the headwear, attaching the top brim template to the upper surface on the existing brim on the headwear, and attaching the lower brim template to the bottom surface of the existing brim on the headwear. 
     The attaching steps can include the steps of removing peel and stick layers from one side of the top brim template and from one side of the lower brim cover template to reveal an adhesive surface, pressing the adhesive surface of the top brim template to the upper surface on the existing brim, and pressing the adhesive surface of the lower brim template to the bottom surface on the existing brim. 
     The method can include the steps of providing tab edges about a perimeter of the top brim template, and bending the tab edges underneath the existing brim. 
     In one embodiment there is provided a method for manually transforming brims on headwear, comprising the steps of: 
     providing a top brim cover template sized to cover substantially all of an upper surface of an existing brim on a headwear; 
     providing the top brim cover template with a front end, a left side, a right side and a rear end, the front end of the top brim cover template having a convex curved outer perimeter with a plurality of side by side tabs substantially adjacent to one another, and the plurality of side by side tab edges continuously extending from the left side of the top brim cover template to the right side of the top brim cover template, each of the side by side tabs being separated by one another by a cut that consists of two straight lines that are each joined together at one end, 
     providing the plurality of side by side tabs with a right end tab and a left end tab that are substantially different in shape and size from all other ones of the plurality of side by side tabs, 
     providing the rear end of the brim cover template consisting of a single, continuous smooth arcuate surface between the right end tab and the left end tab; 
     positioning the single, smooth arcuate surface against a surface where the existing brim meets a crown portion of the headwear; 
     providing a lower brim cover template sized to cover substantially all of a bottom surface of the existing brim on the headwear, 
     providing the lower brim cover template with a perimeter consisting of a front end and a rear end; 
     the front end of the lower brim cover template having a smooth arc surface; and the rear end of the lower brim cover template having a smooth arcuate surface; 
     manually attaching the top brim cover template to the upper surface on the existing brim on the headwear; 
     manually bending the plurality of the side by side tabs underneath a front portion of the existing brim; 
     manually attaching the lower brim template to the bottom surface of the existing brim on the headwear; 
     manually covering the bent plurality side by side tabs with the lower brim template; 
     wherein the attaching steps include the steps of: 
     manually removing peel and stick layers from one side of the top brim template and from one side of the lower brim cover template to reveal an adhesive surface; and 
     manually pressing the adhesive surface of the top brim template to the upper surface on the existing brim; and 
     manually pressing the adhesive surface of the lower brim template to the bottom surface on the existing brim. 
     A brim modifying kit for modifying an existing brim on headwear, can include an upper cover panel for adhering to an upper surface of the existing brim, and a lower cover panel for adhering to a lower surface of the existing brim. 
     The upper cover panel can include overhanging edges which wrap about edges of the existing brim so that the lower cover panel covers the wrapped out perimeter portions of the upper cover. 
     The upper cover panel and the lower cover panel can each include a peel and stick backing for allowing each cover panel to be attached to the existing brim. 
     The headwear can be a cap with the brim. The headwear can be a visor as the brim without a head covering portion. The upper cover panel and the lower cover panel can each include customized indicia thereon. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1A  is a front view of a prior art cap with existing brim. 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom view of the prior art cap with existing brim of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  is another view of the bottom of the existing brim of  FIG. 1B . 
         FIG. 2A  shows the top cover of the novel replacement top brim template cover with the outer lip tab edges. 
         FIG. 2B  shows the bottom peel and stick layer of the top brim template cover of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  shows the bottom cover of the novel replacement bottom brim template cover. 
         FIG. 3B  shows the peel and stick layer for the bottom brim template cover. 
         FIG. 4A  is a front view of a cap with the top template cover starting to be applied to the visor on the hat. 
         FIG. 4B  is a bottom view of the tab edges being bent around the perimeter of the visor on the hat of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5A  is a front view of the cap with the top brim template fully installed. 
         FIG. 5B  is a bottom view of the hat with the bottom template cover installed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     A list of components from the figures will now be described.
       1 . prior art baseball cap     2 . existing visor on baseball cap     4 . head cover portion of baseball cap     10 . top brim replacement template cover     12 . upper cover for brim     13 . inner concave curved edge     14 . tab edges     14   x . right end tab     14   y . left end tab     15 . outer convex curved edge     16 . lower peel and stick layer     17 . rear end of upper cover     18 . front end of upper cover     18   a . right side of upper cover     18   b . left side of upper cover     19 . cut     20 . bottom brim template cover     21 . front end of bottom cover     21   a . right side of bottom cover     21   b . left side of bottom cover     22 . bottom exposed cover     23 . inner concave curved edge     24 . rear end of bottom cover     25 . outer convex curved edge     26 . removable peel and stick layer   

     The novel invention uses both a top brim template  10  and a bottom brim template  20 . The novel replacement brim template covers  10  and  20  can have selected indicia placed thereon such as but not limited to digital or other printing on a fabric, plastic, or any other layer material. The novel brims can be customized with different indicia, such as but not limited to different designs, sports teams, sports memorabilia, animal prints, different colors, combinations, thereof, and the like. 
       FIG. 2A  shows the top cover  12  of the novel replacement top brim template cover  10  with the outer lip tab edges  14 .  FIG. 2B  shows the bottom peel and stick layer  16  the top brim template  10  of  FIG. 2A . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A-2B , the top brim template cover  10  can be formed from a fabric or nylon or cotton, and the like material, and can optionally have a waterproof coating. The exposed visible surface of the top cover  12  of the top brim template  10 , can have a customized indicia thereon, such as but not limited to different designs, sports teams, sports memorabilia, animal prints, and the like. The top brim template cover  10  can have a generally arc shape to conform to the brims on existing baseball and golf type hats, with an inner concave edge  13  and an outer convex edge  15 . The top brim template cover  10  can consist of a single material layer and a plurality of side by side tabs  14 , the template  10  having an arc curved shape on a front end  18 , a left side  18   b , a right side  18   a  and a rear end  17 . The tab edges  14  can be formed by cutting small triangular cuts approximately 1 inch in from the outer edge  15 . The front end of the top brim template cover  10  having a convex curved outer perimeter portion with the plurality of side by side tabs  14  substantially adjacent to one another, and the plurality of side by side tabs  14  continuously extending from the left side  18   b  of the template around the front end  18  to the right side  18   a  of the template. Each of the side by side tabs  14  can be separated by one another by a cut  19  that consists of two straight lines that are each joined together at one end. The plurality of side by side tabs  14  include a right end tab  14   x  and a left end tab  14   y  that are substantially different in shape and size from all other ones of the plurality of side by side tabs  14 . The rear end  17  of the top brim cover template  10  can consist of a single, continuous smooth arcuate surface between the right end tab  14   x  and the left end tab  14   y . The single, continuous smooth arcuate surface of the rear end  17  of the top brim cover template  10  can be positioned against a surface where the existing brim meets a crown portion of the headwear. The template can be approximately 5 and ¼ inches on the sides approximately 2 inches from center and be approximately 7 inches across the template cover  12  from the left side to the right side. There is an extra ½″ around the entire design to wrap around to the bottom of the brim. 
     Underneath the top cover  10  can be a removable peel and stick paper type layer  16 , which reveals a sticky adhesive layer under the top cover  12 . The removable paper type layer  16  can be sized to substantially cover the undersurface of the top cover  12 . A double sided adhesive tape with paper layers can be used that works with fabric materials, where the adhesive is pressure and/or heat activated. Such adhesive tape can include but is not limited to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,973 to Konishi et al.; and U.S. Patent Application Publications: 2007/0084559 to Graziano; and 2008/0214079 to Harai et al., which are each incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
       FIG. 3A  shows the bottom cover  22  of the novel replacement bottom brim template cover  20 .  FIG. 3B  shows the peel and stick layer  26  for the bottom brim template cover  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3B , the bottom brim template cover  20  can also be formed from a fabric or nylon or cotton, and the like material, and can optionally have a waterproof coating. The exposed visible surface of the bottom cover  22  of the bottom brim template cover  20 , can have a customized indicia thereon, such as but not limited to different designs, sports teams, sports memorabilia, animal prints, and the like. The bottom brim template cover  20  can have a generally arc shape to conform to the brims on existing baseball and golf type hats, with an inner concave edge  23  designating a rear end  24  and an outer convex edge  25  designating a front end. The outer convex edge  25  further includes a left side  21   b  and a right side  21   a . The front end  21  having a smooth surface along an outer perimeter of the arc shape and the rear end  24  having a smooth arcuate surface. The template cover  20  can be sized smaller than the top template cover  10  without the extra dimensions for the tab edges  14 , since there are no tab edges on the bottom template cover  20 . 
     On the other side of the bottom template cover  20  can be a removable peel and stick paper type layer  26 , which reveals a sticky adhesive layer under the bottom cover  22  The removable paper type layer  26  can be sized to substantially cover the undersurface of the bottom cover  22 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a front view of a cap  1  having the top template cover  10  starting to be applied to the visor  2  on the hat  10 .  FIG. 4B  is a bottom view of the tab edges  14  being bent around the perimeter of the visor  2  on the hat  1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  4 A and  4 B, a user can remove the paper type layer  16  revealing a sticky (adhesive) surface of the top cover  12  of the top brim template cover  10 . With the visor/brim  2  positioned on a flat surface, the user can position the top cover  12  over the existing visor/brim  2  on the hat  1 , so that the tab edges  14  extend over the perimeter edges of the visor/brim  2 . Next, the user can press down making sure the top cover  12  covers all of the existing upper surface of the visor/brim  2  on the hat by carefully pressing down. 
     If necessary, the user can trim the edges of the top brim cover  12  so that the top brim cover substantially fits on, conforms to, and covers all of the existing upper surface of the brim/visor  2  on the hat  1 . 
     Next, the user can bend the tab edges  14  underneath the visor/brim  2  so that their sticky undersurface adheres to the undersurface of the visor/brim  2 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a front view of the cap  1  with the top brim template  10  fully installed.  FIG. 5B  is a bottom view of the hat  1  with the bottom template cover  20  installed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  5 A and  5 B, after the top template cover  10  is installed, the user positions the hat  1  upside down so that the visor/brim  2  with installed top template cover  10  is against a flat surface. Next, the user removes the peel and stick paper layer  26  from the bottom template cover  20  revealing a sticky (adhesive) surface on one side of the bottom cover  22 . The user then positions the bottom cover  12  so that the sticky surface is pressed against the bottom of the visor/brim  2 , effectively covering the bent tab edges  14 . If necessary, the user can trim the edges of the bottom brim cover  22  so that the bottom brim cover substantially fits on, conforms to and covers all of the existing bottom surface of the brim/visor  2  on the hat  1 . 
     When finished the visor/brim  2  of the hat  1  has a completely new exposed indicia surface that has been customized by the user. The indicia can include any type of text, image, artwork, combinations thereof, and the like. 
     The novel replacement brim template covers  10 ,  20  can be marketed in a kit. A kit can include a two piece set having an upper template cover  10  with overhanging edges  14  and a lower template cover  20 . Both the upper cover and the lower cover can have a removable backing layer that can each be peeled off to reveal a sticky (reusable adhesive) layer surface. The sticky layer surface of the upper cover can be fit over the top of the existing hat brim so that the perimeter edges can overhang about the perimeter edges of the existing hat brim and folded back. Next the sticky surface of the lower cover can be fit over the bottom surface of the existing hat brim so that it covers the folded back portions of the top cover. 
     The peel and stick backings also allow for the brim covers to be easily peeled off of the existing brims and changed out with different replacement brim covers without causing damage to the underlying existing brims. 
     Other types of fasteners can also be used to attach the replacement brim covers to existing brims, can include such as but not limited to hook and loop fasteners (such as Velcro®) or snap fasteners, and the like. 
     The adhesive layer and/or the other types of fasteners, allow for the template covers to be removable from the existing brims without destroying the existing brims. 
     Although the embodiment shows a hat portion with the visor/brim, the invention can be used just with visors/brims that have straps that attach about one&#39;s head without a head type covering portion. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.