Patent Publication Number: US-2018049500-A1

Title: Means and apparatus for interchanging images on a hat

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     N/A. 
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
     The present disclosure generally relates field of hats and, more specifically, to an apparatus and method for a sports cap that can be attached with buttons and logos that display embroidered and/or silk screened designs, which may be detachable and/or interchangeable. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Sports caps are a very popular type of hat. Typically, most sports caps depict some kind of logo or design on the front face of the cap that typically includes symbols, slogans, or decorative designs. Sports caps with these kinds of logos are very popular because they allow the wearer to express his or her allegiance to sporting teams, companies, etc. 
     Unfortunately, most logos are either sewn or printed onto the fabric of the sports cap which limits the cap to displaying only one logo at time. If the wearer wishes to display a different image or logo on his baseball cap, he must then purchase another cap displaying the desired image or logo. However, most wearers of sports caps do not want to purchase a different cap for each logo they wish to wear. Consequently, there has been a need in the prior art for a baseball cap that has interchangeable logos. 
     However, while the sports caps disclosed in these prior art permit the wearer to interchange logos, repeated changing of the logos on the front face of the cap can result in the front face of the cap becoming deformed into a shape which is undesirable. Currently, sports caps have a layer of stiffening material, such as buckram, underneath the front face of the cap to support the front face so that it is substantially perpendicular to the cap&#39;s visor and thereby presents a substantially square appearance for the crown of the cap and thus results in a preferred appearance for the cap. 
     Unfortunately, repeatedly changing logos on caps which use hook and pile fastening material may result in the pile material pulling away from the stiffening material and thereby spoiling the preferred square appearance of the front face of the ball cap. This problem is often aggravated as logos which are attached to the front face of a cap with these types of fasteners can be very difficult to remove and, consequently, much force is exerted on the pile material which can result in the pile material stretching or even ripping after repeated removal of the logos. 
     Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus for a sports cap that is capable of different interchangeable logos positioned thereon without repeated interchanging of logos altering the square appearance of the front face of the sports cap. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an embodiment, a cap with one or more images is provided. The cap includes a crown, a visor and one or more images. The crown may include one or more panels. The visor may be connected to the crown of the cap. The images may be removably attachable to one or more portions of the cap to alter the appearance of the cap. 
     In another embodiment, a sports cap with one or more detachable logos is provided. The sports cap may include a crown, a visor and an interchangeable logo. The crown may include of a plurality of wedge shaped panels. The visor may be connected to the crown of the cap. The logo can be securely attached in any position on the crown of the cap and can subsequently be removed and replaced with a different logo to create a different appearance for the cap. 
     In yet another embodiment, a baseball cap with detachable logos is provided. The baseball cap may include a crown, a visor and an interchangeable logo. The crown may include of a plurality of wedge shaped panels. The visor may be connected to the crown of the cap. The logo can be securely attached in any position on the crown of the cap and can subsequently be removed and replaced with a different logo to create a different appearance for the cap. 
     In yet another embodiment, a cap unit with detachable logos unit is provided. The cap unit may include a crown unit, a visor unit and an interchangeable logo unit. The crown unit may include of a plurality of wedge shaped panels. The visor unit may be connected to the crown of the cap. The logo unit can be securely attached in any position on the crown unit of the cap unit and can subsequently be removed and replaced with a different logo to create a different appearance for the cap unit. 
     In still another embodiment, a means for removing one or more image from a cap is provided. The means may include a means for defining a front face of the cap and a means for securely attaching a different logo to create a different appearance for the cap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a block diagram of an interchangeable logo illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 2B  is a block diagram of a sports logo illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS 
     Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this disclosure. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent application, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. 
     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘______’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent application (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent application is referred to in this patent application in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sports cap  100  and an interchangeable logo or image  102 . The sports cap  100  has a crown  104  comprised of a plurality of wedge shaped panels which are sewn in any fashion known to those skilled in the art to an underlying interconnected cloth rib assembly or structure and a headband (not shown). Each of the wedge shaped panels may meet at substantially the top center of the crown  104  of the cap  100  where a button  105  is positioned. 
     A visor  108  may be connected to the crown  104  of the cap  100 , adjacent to at least one of the six panels so that the visor  108  extends outward from the crown  104 . The panels of the crown  104  adjacent to the visor  108  define a front face of the cap  100  upon which the interchangeable logo or image  102  can be positioned. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrates a block diagram  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the interchangeable logo or image  102  may be attach on any portion of the cap  100  such as the front side of the cap  100 . The image or logo  102  may be hard Velcro™, soft Velcro™, or any interchangeable logo or images known by those skilled in the art. As shown in  FIG. 2B , the interchangeable logo or image  102  may be sports team such as the “Carolina Gamecocks Baseball” and affixed to any portion of the cap  100 . The interchangeable logo or image  102  may be any team, season, sport, or any logo or image known by those skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The logo or image  102  may include 0-100 circles  302  of Velcro™ material (or any material known to those skilled in the art) of various sizes to protect against everyday wear and frequent logo changes. The border  304  of the logo or image  102  may be constructed of raised stitching and have an 0-100 inches inlay for a flush fit to help with everyday wear. Additionally, the logo or image  102  may include raised borders and a flush fit to make it easier for placement and removal on the cap  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the panels of the crown  104  of the cap may include one or more materials and one side of the logo  102  is covered with those materials. The materials can be any combination of materials known by those skilled in the art that detachably engages with one another and may include pile material, hook fastener material, buttons, loops buttonholes, snaps, press studs, socket, zips, clasps, loops or any fasteners known by those skilled in the art. The logo  102  can be securely attached in any position on the crown  104  of the cap  100  and can subsequently be removed and replaced with a different logo to thereby create a different appearance for the cap  100 . The logo  102  may also include patches, figurines, or any design known by those skilled in the art. 
     The button  105  can be interchanged with other buttons having different shapes, colors, logos, and the like, so that the wearer of the cap  100  can select from a plurality of different buttons to change the appearance of the cap  100 . 
     In some implementations, the stitching that extends across the entire width of the panels forming the front face of the cap  100  may include a piece of stiffening material positioned on the inside of the crown  104  of the cap  100  adjacent the front face. Different portions of the cap  100  can be comprised of the different material where the logo  102  can be attached. The materials may include cloth, nylon mesh, polyester, nylon, or any material known by those skilled in the art. 
     The cap  100  can also be configured to have an adjustable headband (not shown) to permit the cap  100  to be fitted for different wearers. Further, the positioning of the button  105  at the point where each of the plurality of panels join in the top center of the crown  104  of the cap  100  may be adjusted. 
     In another embodiment, the cap  100  may also include the piece of stiffening material which is attached to the headband. This material may include a polymer mesh material known as buckram. The stiffening material may serve to stiffen the front face of the cap  100  so that the front face is maintained in a supported configuration which results in the cap  100  having a substantially square profile with the front face being substantially perpendicular to the visor  108 . 
     In an embodiment, the system may include a baseball cap where the front face and the visor, in conjunction with each other, is covered with pile material which permits different logos displaying one or more insignias. In this embodiment, the hook fastener material acts as backing to be positioned on the front face of the cap to thereby present a different appearance for the baseball cap. The hook fastener and pile material may be the same type of hook fastener and pile material sold under the trademark VELCRO™. 
     In another embodiment, the system may include a cap assembly which has a front face covered by pile material allowing logos with different designs and insignias and hook fastener material to act as backing to be positioned on the front face of the cap. 
     In yet another embodiment, the system may include a baseball cap configured to permit different logos to be interchangeably positioned on the cap. The cap may include a crown and a visor. The crown may be comprised of a plurality of panels sewed onto a rib structure and a hat band. In some implementations, at least one of the plurality of panels define a front face of the cap, and the visor is attached to the crown portion of the cap adjacent the front face. The two panels may define the front face of the cap and can be 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 may be equipped with hook fastener material which permits them to be detachably mounted on the cap. A piece of buckram material may be positioned on the inside of the crown portion adjacent the panels forming the front face of the cap to maintain the front face in a shape where it is substantially perpendicular to the visor. The pile material in the front face of the cap may be sewn to the buckram material using horizontal stitching so that when the logos are removed from the front face, the front face still substantially maintains its shape relative the visor. The top center of the crown portion may also include pile material. Further, different buttons may have hook material on one surface to be interchangeably positioned thereon. 
     In still another embodiment, the apparatus may include a baseball cap with interchangeable logos. The crown may which include a hat band and a plurality of interconnected panels of material attached to said hat band to form the crown, wherein at least one of said plurality of panels of the crown includes a first material and defines a front face, having a central portion and a width, of the baseball cap. A visor may be attached to the crown adjacent the front face. A logo may include a surface covered by a second material, where the second material engages with the first material to provide releasable attachment there between, so that when the logo is positioned on the front face with the second material engaging with the first material. The logo may be securely mounted on said front face. A piece of stiffening material may be attached to the crown on an inside surface of the crown of the baseball cap adjacent to the front face which maintains the front face in a first shape, wherein the first material of the front face is connected to the stiffening material by a plurality of lines of stitching which extend substantially across the width of the front face so that when the logo is removed from the front face. The force on the crown of the baseball cap resulting from removal of the logo is distributed to, and absorbed by, a substantial portion of the surface area of said stiffening material to thereby substantially maintain the first shape of said front face and to minimize the tendency of the first material to pull away from the stiffening material in response to repeated removals of the logo. 
     In still another embodiment, the front face of the cap may be covered with pile material and a logo with a hook fastener material on one side is then attached to the front face of the cap. The pile material on the front face of the cap may be sewn to the stiffening material on the underside of the cap so that force exerted on the pile material resulting from removal of the logo is uniformly distributed to all of the underlying stiffening material. Further, the pile material may remain supported by the stiffening material in the desired shape relative the visor. 
     In yet another embodiment, the entire, or substantially portion, crown of the cap may be covered with pile material. As such, logos with hook material may be interchangeably mounted anywhere on the crown portion of the cap. Additionally, the visor of the sports cap can also include the pile material to also permit logos to be interchangeably positioned on the visor as well. 
     In still another embodiment, the cap may include one or more materials such as the pile material on the top of the crown and a button with materials or the hook fastener material on its bottom surface attached to the top portion of the cap. The cap may be configured such that one or more buttons with different appearances and sizes can be interchangeably positioned on the top portion of the crown of the cap to create a different overall appearance for the cap. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.