Patent Publication Number: US-2018042323-A1

Title: Hat having foldable brim formed thereon

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon, and more particularly, to a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon, in which the hat is formed such that the brim may be folded upwards, a comfortable feel during wear is maintained as there is little feeling of compression tightening around the head of the wearer even when the brim is folded upwards, and hat productivity is improved by ensuring that sewing is convenient. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Hats are made to be worn on the head for blocking ultraviolet light or keeping warmth, and there are provided with various kinds of hats, for example, hats with brims formed in four directions or a forward direction with respect to a crown that covers the head, or without brims. 
     Recently, hats have been variously utilized. For example, the caps are not worn for only their functionality but worn as a means for creating one&#39;s own style. 
     Caps having a brim formed thereon according to the related art have problems. For example, the caps are easily taken off by a force pushing upward from a lower side of the brim when wind is blown, or heat generated from the face is concentrated under the brim to warm a forehead portion. 
     To solve the above-described problems, technologies have been developed for forming air vents in the brim of the cap or forming double brims so as to block the air vents. 
     Such a technology, which relates to the caps having double brims formed thereon according to the related art, is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration Gazette Nos. 234240 and 0457025. 
     Recently, in order to fashionably wear a hat having a brim, the hat is worn by folding the brim upward, or the hat is worn to show a letter and a logo in a forward direction when the brim is forced to be folded upward after the letter or the logo is engraved on the bottom portion of the brim. 
     The present inventor has developed a functional cap in which a brim can be easily folded upward. This functional cap was applied to Korean intellectual property office on Nov. 29, 2011, and then disclosed and registered in Korean Patent Registration No. 1334931. 
     The functional cap according to the related art includes a brim in which a bending plate having at least two cutoff parts is provided in the brim. A core member is formed on the rear lower end of the bending plate, and an outer surface of the core member is wrapped with fabrics, in which the core member is thickly formed by foaming a synthetic resin material, and the core member has a thickness greater at least two times than that of the bending plate. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     However, the functional cap according to the related art has following problems. 
     (1) Since a portion of the cutoff part is sewed when a bending plate included inside a brim of the functional cap is wrapped with an outer cover and sewed, portions (both side surfaces) without having the cutoff part are broken, so the portions are completely cut due to continuous uses, resulting in a phenomenon in which a portion in front of the cutoff part droops downward. 
     (2) Since the forehead of a wearer is entirely compressed by the elasticity keeping a shape of the bending plate as it is when the brim of the functional cap is folded upward, marks remains on the forehead, and the cap is not worn for a long time due to the compression. 
     (3) Since the bending plate has a thick thickness, the portion of the cutoff part is easily broken, so noise is generated, or the brim is not properly folded upward. 
     (4) Since both ends of the bending plate compress regions of the temples of the face, headaches occur, so the wearing is uncomfortable. 
     (5) Since there is any guide for seaming the cap when the cap is produced, productivity is deteriorated. 
     Technical Solution 
     In order to solve the above-described problems, a hat having a general folding-type brim according to the present invention, in which an upwardly foldable brim is formed in front of a crown, 
     wherein the brim includes a bending plate having one cutoff part that is cut across the bending plate, and an outer cover that warps a surface of the bending plate and is sewed and connected to the crown, and 
     the bending plate is formed to be convex forward when viewed in plane, and includes inclined parts corresponding to each other and having decreasing thicknesses while being inclined in a forward and a backward direction with respect to the cutoff part, and a core member formed integrally and having an increasing thickness so as to be spaced apart from the cutoff part. 
     In addition, according to another constitution of the present invention, the bending plate is formed to be convex upward when viewed from the front, and includes bending inclined parts corresponding each other and having decreasing thicknesses while being inclined in a forward and a backward direction with respect to the bending line, a core portion formed in rear of the bending line and having a thick thickness, and an rear inclined part formed on the rear end of the bending plate and having a decreasing thickness. 
     Also, a bending plate according to still another constitution of the present invention may be made of a synthetic resin material, mass-produced by being injected at once in a mold, and connected to the crown after the bending plate is wrapped with the outer cover and sewed. 
     When the bending plate of the present invention is wrapped with the outer cover and sewed, the sewing is carried out along a circumferential portion of the core member or the core portion. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the hat having the foldable brim formed thereon of the present invention, following effects may be achieved. 
     (1) Since the sewing is not performed directly on the cutoff part when sewed in the state in which the bending plate is wrapped with the outer cover, both the ends of the cutoff part of the bending plate may not be cut, so the brim may not droop downward even in the state in which the front portion of the cutoff part is not folded upward. 
     (2) since the inclined parts formed near the cutoff part of the bending plate gradually decreases in thickness, the compression applied to both sides at the center of the forehead is reduced even when the brim is folded upward, so the marks may not remain on the forehead, and the hat may be comfortably wore because the rear inclined part formed in the rear of the core portion alleviates the pressure compressing the forehead. 
     (3) Since the inclined parts near the cutoff part of the bending plate prevent friction from being generated therebetween, the breakage may not occur, and the noise may not be generated even when the brim is folded upward. 
     (4) Although both side surfaces in which the crown is contact with the bending plate press the temples of the wearer when the brim formed to be convex upward is bent upward, the side surface inclined part may be formed in this contacted portion to reduce the pressure compressing the temples, resulting in more comfortable wearing. 
     (5) The seaming may be easily carried out along the stepped portion at the guide line or the circumferential portion of the core portion to improve the productivity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a bending plate of a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a state in which a bending plate of a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is turned over. 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a state in use of a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a bending plate of a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a state in which a bending plate of a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon according to another embodiment of the present invention is turned over. 
         FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a state in use of a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, taken along line A-A. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a hat having a foldable brim formed thereon according to another embodiment of the present invention, taken along line B-B. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     A hat  1  having a general folding-type brim according to the present invention, in which an upwardly foldable brim  20  is formed in front of a crown  10 , 
     wherein the brim  20  includes a bending plate  100  having one cutoff part  110  that is cut across the bending plate  100 , and an outer cover that wraps a surface of the bending plate  100  and is sewed and connected to the crown  10 , and 
     the bending plate  100  is formed to be convex forward when viewed in plane, and includes inclined parts corresponding to each other and having decreasing thicknesses while being inclined in a forward and a backward direction with respect to the cutoff part  110  and a core member  120  that has a thick thickness so as to be spaced apart from the cutoff part  110 . 
     The crown  10  is formed to be convex upward so as to wrap a head portion at the forehead of a wearer, and includes a length adjusting part formed in the rear of the crown  10 , capable of adjusting a length. 
     The brim  20  is a planar brim formed to be flat. A rear portion of the brim  20  is concavely cut in a forward direction so as to be contacted and sewed with a curved surface of the front portion of the crown  10 , and a front portion of the brim  20  convexly protrudes in a forward direction, when viewed in plane. 
     The brim  20  includes the bending plate  100  formed therein. A surface of the bending plate  100  is wrapped with the outer cover, and then the outer cover is sewed, with the rear portion of the bending plate  100 , to the front portion of the crown  10 . 
     The bending plate  100  is formed by injecting a synthetic resin material, and the cutoff part  110  is formed across the bending plate  100 , in which the cutoff part  110  is completely cut by about 0.5 to 2 mm, and both side surface of the brim  20  are not completely cut and thus connected to each other. 
     At least one connecting part  115 , which is to be connected, is formed in the cutoff part  110 . 
     The cutoff part  110  of the bending plate  100  is formed so that inclined parts  111  and  112  correspond to each other and have decreasing thicknesses while being inclined, to the top and bottom surface or the bottom surface, in a forward and a backward direction with respect to the cutoff part  110 . 
     The inclined parts  111  and  112  are formed such that the inclined portions have lengths different from each other. 
     The inclined parts  111  and  112  of the cutoff part  110  are portions in which the front portion contacts the rear portion when the brim is folded upward. That is, the inclined parts  111  and  112  are portions for preventing a restoring force, through which the brim returns to its original state in these portions, from being generated. 
     Only one part, for example, the inclined part  111  in the front of the inclined parts  111  and  112  may be formed. 
     The core member  120  having a predetermined thickness is formed on a rear lower end of the bending plate  100  that is a rear lower end spaced apart from the cutoff part  110 . The core member  120  is a plate having a thickness equal to or slightly greater than that of the bending plate  100 , and is bonded to the rear lower end of the bending plate  100  or integrally formed through injection molding. 
     In this case, the core member  120  has an area smaller than that of a circumferential portion of the bending plate  100 . The core member  120  may serve as a guide in the circumferential portion of the bending plate  110  when wrapped with the outer cover and sewed, so the sewing is easily performed along a guide line  118  to improving productivity. 
     The outer cover is sewed by wrapping the bending plate  100 , and the rear portion of the brim  20  is connected and sewed to the front portion of the crown  10 . 
     In an upper and a lower end of the brim  20 , a sewing line  130  is formed across the brim  20 . The sewing line  130  is a seam line sewed along the guide line  118  formed along the circumferential portion of the core member  120 . 
     Also, according to another embodiment, a bending plate  300  is formed to be convex upward when viewed from the front, and a cutoff part  110  is formed to be spaced apart from a rear end in a forward direction, 
     wherein a bending line  310  is formed in the bending plate  300 , and bending inclined parts  311  and  312  are formed to correspond to each other and have decreasing thicknesses while being inclined with respect to the bending line. Also, a core portion  320  having a thick thickness is formed in rear of the bending line  310 , and a rear inclined part  315  having a decreasing thickness is formed on the rear end of the core portion  320 . 
     The bending plate  300  is formed to be convex upward when viewed from the front, and the rear portion of the bending plate  300  is formed to be concavely recessed forward when viewed in plane so that the rear portion of the bending plate  300  is connected to the front portion of the crown  10 . Also, the front portion of the bending plate  300  is formed to convexly protrude forward. 
     The bending inclined parts  311  and  312 , witch have thicknesses decreasing in a forward and a backward direction with respect to the bending line  310 , are formed in the top and bottom surfaces or the bottom surface of the bending plate  300  to correspond to each other. Alternatively, only the front bending inclined part  311  of the bending inclined parts  311  and  312  may be formed. 
     The bending line  310  is not completely cut, but has a thin thickness and extends to both ends. 
     The core portion  320  is formed on the bottom surface of the bending plate  300  so as to be spaced apart from the rear portion of the bending line  310 . The core portion  320  is integrally injected with the bending plate  300 . 
     The core portion  320  is formed to entirely protrude in a downward direction of the bending plate  300 . The front portion of the core portion  320  is formed to be spaced apart from the bending line  310 , and the rear portion is formed to be spaced apart from the rear end of the bending plate  300 . The core portion  320  has both sides spaced apart from both sides of the bending plate  300 . 
     The core portion  320 , which is formed to the rear lower end of the bending plate  300 , is formed to become wider from the center to both sides when viewed in plane, and the widen portion is formed to become thinner toward both ends. 
     The rear inclined part  315  is formed on the rear end of the bending plate  300 , and the rear inclined part  315  prevents marks from being generated on the forehead of the wearer. 
     The bending plate  300  is wrapped by an outer cover, and a bending sewing line  330  is formed along a circumferential portion of the core portion  320 . 
     Each of the bending plates  100  and  300  is made of a synthetic resin material, and mass-produced by integrally injecting the core member  210  or core portion  320  in a mold. The bending plates  100  and  300  are wrapped by the outer cover and then connected and sewed to the crown  10 . 
     Hereinafter, an operation, a wearing method, and an effect of the hat having the foldable brim formed thereon according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below. 
     The bending plates  100  and  300  are manufactured to produce the hat having the foldable brim formed thereon of the present invention. Each of the bending plates  100  and  300  is produced by manufacturing a mold and injecting a synthetic resin material. 
     In order to produce a bending plate according to the related art, a synthetic resin material having a plate shape is cut and used as it is. In this case, however, a core member should be attached again, and a separate operation should be required to make a shape to be convex upward. Therefore, the related art has a problem in that working efficiency is deteriorated, and productivity is reduced due to poor workability. 
     When the bending plates  100  and  300  of the present invention are produced, the bending plate  100  used in a planar brim may be produced by using the method of the related art. However, it is much more productive to produce the bending plate  300 , which is used in the brim  20  having a shape to be convex upward, by the injection molding method. 
     The bending plate  100  used in the planar brim is formed by completely cutting a portion of the cutoff part  110 , and the inclined parts  111  and  112  are formed in a manner in which the bending plate has a thickness that gradually decreases while being inclined. 
     When the front portion of the bending plate  100  is folded upward through the inclined parts  111  and  112  with respect to the cutoff part  110 , the front portion is folded upward very softly because the contacted portions can be met without breaking. 
     The rear inclined part  315  of the core portion  320  allows a portion contacting the forehead to touch a curved surface of the forehead with a wide area. Therefore, good wearability may be obtained, and the compression may be minimized when folded upward. 
     The bending plate  300  having such shapes is formed by the injection in the mold at one time. 
     After a portion of the crown  10  is formed, the bending plates  100  and  300  are separately wrapped with an outer cover  200 . When the sewing is performed in a state in which the bending plates  100  and  300  are wrapped with the outer cover  200 , the sewing is performed along the circumferential portion. 
     In this case, the sewing lines  130  and  330  are formed along the circumferential portion of the guide line  118  or the core portion  320 . 
     When sewed as described above, since the guide line  118  or the core portion  320  is formed together with a stepped portion, the sewing may be easily performed without a slip of a needle. 
     The sewing lines  130  and  330  are sewed so as to be formed in rear of the cutoff part  110  and just in front of a region in which the core member  120  or the core portion  320  starts. 
       FIGS. 4 and 8  are views illustrating states in use of the hats having the foldable brim formed thereon according to the preferred embodiment and another embodiment of the present invention, and each of  FIGS. 4 and 8  illustrates a state in which the brim  20  is unfolded forward and then folded upward. 
     In this case, since the brim  20  is folded upward very flexibly at a portion of the cutoff part  110  or the bending line  310  and is not broken even after frequent uses, the hat can be used for a long time. 
     According to the hat having the foldable brim formed thereon of the present invention, there are several effects as follow. Since the sewing is not performed directly on the cutoff part when sewed in a state in which the bending plate is wrapped with the outer cover, both ends of the cutoff part of the bending plate are not cut, so the brim does not droop downward even in a state in which the front portion of the cutoff part is not folded upward. Also, since thicknesses are gradually reduced at the inclined parts formed near the cutoff part of the bending plate, the compression applied to both sides at the center of the forehead is reduced even when the brim is folded upward, so the marks do not remain on the forehead, and the hat may be comfortably wore because the rear inclined part formed in the rear of the core portion alleviates pressure compressing the forehead. In addition, since the inclined parts near the cutoff part of the bending plate prevents friction from generating therebetween, the breakage does not occur, and the noise is not generated even when the brim is folded upward. Also, although both side surfaces in which the crown is contact with the bending plate press the temples of the wearer when the brim formed to be convex upward is bent upward, the side surface inclined part is formed in this contacted portion to reduce the pressure compressing the temples, resulting in more comfortable wearing. Also, the seaming is easily carried out along the stepped portion at the guide line or the circumferential portion of the core portion to increase productivity. 
     While the present invention has been particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings according to preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that various modifications can be made from the disclosure herein without departing from the scope of the present invention encompassed by the following claims.