Patent Publication Number: US-2006015985-A1

Title: Slitted cap

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is generally related to the field of headwear, and more particularly related to headwear designed for asthetic appeal, advertising use, and convenient keeping and carrying.  
     RELATED ART  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,629 issued to Richard F. Gleason, Jr. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cap, according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a separated visor structure view of a cap, according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a cap, according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a separated visor and crown portion view of a cap, according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a cap, according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a cap, magnifying section A-A′, according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a folded cap, according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a visor, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      In describing embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that these embodiments are given by way of illustration only. It is not intended that the invention be limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Also, in describing the embodiments, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. Each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar object.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cap, according to one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a separated visor structure view of a cap, according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , embodiments of the invention are directed to a baseball-style slitted cap, including: a crown portion ( 4 ) which is a main part and which is separated into at least one section or panel; and a visor portion separated into more than one section ( 1 , 2 ) which are attached to the bottom of the front portion of the crown portion. The visor portions ( 1 , 2 ) are separated with at least one gap, and the visor portions ( 1 , 2 ) are connected with connecting material ( 5 ). The visor portions and/or crown portions can have one gap (i.e., dividing two sections) or more than one gap (i.e., dividing more than two sections).  
      In one embodiment, the gap is separated as a tower shaped curve, and the connecting material is accordingly shaped as a tower shaped curve. The tower shaped curve and the separated section is aesthetically pleasing. However, these experienced in the art will realize that the connecting material can be shaped in other additional shapes.  
      In addition, by making the connecting material connecting the visor portions ( 1 , 2 ) in a color that is different from the visor portions, a contrast effect is achieved, and a visual aesthetic sense effect is gained. In addition, at least one emblem can be expressed on the cap. The emblem can include, but is not limited to: at least one number, at least one figure, at least one drawing, at least one word, or at least one symbol, or any combination thereof. The emblem can be displayed according to a user&#39;s desires. In one embodiment, the invention may be used as an advertisement. The cap material, or the connecting material, or both may be made of, but are not limited to, the following: fabric, silicon, synthetic resin, elastic material, or leather, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, a cap may be either folded or unfolded on the gap or connecting material without any damage so that keeping and carrying the cap is convenient.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a cap, according to one embodiment of the invention. The cap includes a crown portion (, 4 ) which is made of a plurality of panels or sections ( 3 ) and visor portions ( 1 , 2 ) which are attached to the bottom of the crown portion.  
      In one embodiment of the invention, only the visor portion or the crown portion is separated. In another embodiment of the invention, the crown portion ( 4 ) and the visor portions ( 1 , 2 ) are both separated with a gap. The separated section of the visor portions ( 1 , 2 ) and crown portion ( 4 ) may be filled with connecting material ( 5 , 6 ) that is inserted connecting the separated section of the visor portions ( 1 , 2 ) and the crown portion ( 4 ). Furthermore, in one embodiment, the gap between the visor portions ( 1 , 2 ) and crown portion ( 4 ) can be one gap, or multiple gaps separated by material. Similarly, the connecting material can fill in the one gap, or multiple gaps which are separated by another material.  
      When elastic material is used for the connecting material ( 5 , 6 ), the cap can be automatically adjusted for a wearer&#39;s head size within a certain range. When mesh fabric is used for the connecting material ( 5 , 6 ), a ventilation effect is provided.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a separated visor and crown portion, according to one embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5  is a front view of a cap, according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a cap comprises a crown portion which is made of one or more sections or panels, and visor portions which are attached to the bottom of the crown portion. The crown portions and the visor portions are separated with at least one gap. In the gap, a special connecting material is inserted connecting the separated sections of the cap portion and the visor portions. In one embodiment, the gap of the visor portion is a straight line of rectangular shape. The shape can be the same shape as the gap between the crown portion, or it can be of a different shape. As mentioned earlier, said separated section of visor portion can be made of various shapes.  
      In one embodiment, the peripheral edge of the connecting material may be wrapped and/or bound.  FIG. 6  is a magnified view of section A-A′ of  FIG. 5 , according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the visor portion comprises a first material ( 11 ) and a second material ( 9 , 10 ) on the upper and under parts, which wraps and/or bounds the first material. This wrapping and/or binding feature may be applied to other embodiments. A connecting material ( 5 ) is inserted in the gap or gaps connecting the separated visor portions to each other.  
      The feature of connecting any separated cap portions using connecting material ( 4 ,  5 ) may be applied to other embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the connecting material may also be used to connect the separated panels of the crown.  
      In one embodiment, the crown material, visor material, or connecting material, or any combination thereof comprises, but is not limited to: fabric, silicon, synthetic resin, leather, or forming goods, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the crown material, visor material, or connecting material, or any combination thereof, may comprise an emblem, comprising, but not limited to: at least one word, at least one number, at least one figure, or least one drawing, or any combination thereof. The emblem can be expressed according to the user&#39;s needs.  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a folded cap, according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the cap can be folded or unfolded along the connecting material connecting the crown portions, and the visor portions. This convenient folding and unfolding function makes keeping and carrying caps easy. And, as mentioned before, when the connecting material is made of silicon, synthetic resin, elastic material, or other material with excellent restoring force and elasticity, even after the cap is folded and then unfolded, the original shape is still maintained without much damage.  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a visor, according to one embodiment of the invention. The visor comprises rim portions ( 12 , 13 ) which are made of at least one section or panel, and visor portions which are attached to the bottom of the rim portion. The center section of the rim portions ( 12 , 13 ) and visor portions are separated, and the separated rim ( 12 , 13 ) and visor portions are connected with connecting material.  
      The rim portions ( 12 , 13 ) and visor portions can be separated in more than one location. In addition, as explained above, the gap or gaps between the rim portions ( 12 , 13 ) and the visor portions can be separated using various shapes according to the user&#39;s need.  
      The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered as illustrative only. The invention may be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes and is not limited by the dimensions of the disclosed embodiments. Numerous applications of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is not desirous to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.  
      In addition, it should be understood that the figures, which highlight the functionality and advantages of the present invention, are presented for example purposes only. The architecture of the present invention is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be utilized in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures.  
      Further, the purpose of the Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present invention in any way.