Patent Publication Number: US-7591025-B2

Title: Adjustable bandana

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/623,522, filed Oct. 28, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to clothing, and particularly to headwear. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adjustable bandana that is adjustable to the diameter of the person&#39;s head. In some embodiments, the adjustable bandana is convertible for use as neckwear (e.g., as a cravat), as an arm sling, a support for an emergency, splint, etc. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Soft fabric head coverings have often been worn by athletes and others who prefer lightweight, foldable, and easily transportable head coverings. Such head coverings are generally only adapted to mounting on the user&#39;s head. Such coverings are rarely adjustable and are typically sized and shaped only for the single use of headwear. 
   Further, typical fabric head coverings provide a single sheet of fabric, which, in a cold climate, offers little thermal insulation, and in a warm climate easily becomes soaked with the user&#39;s perspiration. It would be preferable to provide a multiple layer fabric covering, providing both thermal insulation and further providing for the absorption of perspiration and the easy evaporation of the collected perspiration. 
   In addition, bandanas do not have a mechanism for adjusting the size of the sheet forming the bandana, except for folding the fabric and tying the ends together. Knots tied to secure the bandana in this manner often become loose, making it difficult to tightly secure the bandana around the head to form and maintain a skullcap-type headcover, and makes the conventional bandana unsuitable for an adjustable length sling or the like. Thus, an adjustable bandana solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The adjustable bandana is made from a fabric sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface, with an absorbent layer being secured to the lower surface. When worn as headgear, the absorbent layer absorbs perspiration from the user&#39;s forehead and scalp, thus preventing perspiration from dripping into the user&#39;s eyes and further providing a cooling effect through evaporative cooling. When worn in a cold climate, the absorbent layer provides additional thermal insulation for the user. 
   The adjustable bandana includes a pair of first fasteners secured to the upper surface for adjustably and releasably engaging a second fastener secured to the upper surface, allowing the user to adjustably and releasably secure the adjustable bandana to the head. The first and second fasteners may be hook and loop type fasteners. Releasable engagement of the fasteners allows the user to adjustably secure the adjustable bandana about the head. 
   Further, the user may selectively display emblems secured to the fabric sheet when the adjustable bandana is worn by the user. The fabric sheet may further include user-selectable indicia imprinted thereon. 
   These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of an adjustable bandana according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom view of a partially assembled adjustable bandana according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of an assembled adjustable bandana according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of an adjustable bandana according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5A  is an environmental front view an adjustable bandana according to the present invention displaying a first emblem. 
       FIG. 5B  is an environmental front view of the adjustable bandana of  FIG. 5A  with the flap reversed to display a second emblem. 
       FIG. 6  is an environmental side view of an alternative embodiment of the adjustable bandana of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is an environmental perspective view of the adjustable bandana of the present invention configured for use as a sling. 
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the adjustable bandana  10  may be worn as a head covering to absorb perspiration, provide protection, or to provide warmth. As will be described in greater detail below, although shown as a head covering in  FIG. 1 , the adjustable bandana  10  may be configured for use to cover or support other parts of the body, and is adjustable in both size and configuration. The adjustable bandana  10  is formed from a fabric sheet having an upper surface  22  and a lower surface  12 . The fabric sheet may be an athletic or nylon mesh, cloth, felt or any other suitable breathable material selected for comfort and providing the ability to absorb perspiration and cool the user&#39;s head through evaporative cooling. 
   An absorption layer  14  is secured to the lower surface  12  of the fabric sheet, as best shown in  FIG. 2 . The absorption layer  14  is formed from a material, such as, for example, microfleece-type fabric, which absorbs perspiration, wicks the perspiration away from the user&#39;s skin and cools the user through evaporative cooling. When worn as a head covering, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the absorption layer  14  covers the user&#39;s scalp and forehead. When worn in cold climates, the absorption layer  14  provides for additional thermal insulation. 
   In  FIG. 2 , the fabric sheet is shown as having a substantially triangular contour and the absorption layer is shown as having a substantially trapezoidal contour. It should be understood that the fabric sheet and absorption layer may take any desired shape. Further, the fabric sheet and absorption layer may be produced in a variety of sizes to accommodate a variety of different users; for example, smaller sizes may be produced for children. Further, the fabric sheet may be a single piece of fabric, or may be a pair of fabric pieces, joined each to the other, to form a unitary fabric sheet. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , when fully assembled, the top portion of the fabric sheet of  FIG. 2  is folded down and secured to form a flap  18 . Flap  18  is secured to lower surface  12  through stitching or through any other suitable method of fastening fabric. Flap  18  provides a thicker region of fabric material, thus providing for the enhanced absorption of perspiration. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  5 A and  5 B, when worn as headgear, flap  18  is positioned on the user&#39;s forehead, and prevents perspiration from dripping into the user&#39;s eyes. Optionally, an elastic band may be secured to lower surface  12 , fixed between closures  24 , allowing the adjustable bandana  10  to be tightly secured to body parts of varying sizes. 
   Further, flap  18  forms an emblem mounting region. As shown in  FIG. 3 , first emblem  20  is mounted to upper surface  22  on flap  18 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , second emblem  28  is mounted on the reverse surface of adjustable bandana  10 . Emblems  20  and  28  may be patches fixed to flap  18  through stitching or other conventional methods. When worn on the head, the user may selectively choose to display second emblem  28 , as shown in  FIG. 5A , or the user may flip up the emblem mounting region to display first emblem  20 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 1 , additional emblems, such as side patch  32 , may be added. 
   With flap  18  acting as a region specifically adapted for the mounting of emblems and the selective display of emblems, the user may selectively choose an emblem to be displayed without first having to remove an initially displayed emblem; i.e., if the user initially displays emblem  28 , as in  FIG. 5A , and decides to display emblem  20 , as in  FIG. 5B , the user does not first have to remove emblem  28  from the adjustable bandana  10 . The user merely has to flip up the emblem mounting region, covering emblem  28  and displaying emblem  20 , thus saving time and energy, and further allowing the user to subsequently selectively display emblem  28  and hide emblem  20 , if the user so desires. 
   First connectors  24  are secured to upper surface  22 , along opposite ends thereof, as shown in  FIG. 4 . First connectors  24  may be hook and loop fasteners, fixed to the fabric sheet through stitching or other suitable methods of attachment, for selective and adjustable engagement with mating hook and lop fastener  26 , secured to the lower end of upper surface  22 , as shown. The engagement of hook and loop fasteners  24  and  26  allows for the selective closure of the adjustable bandana about the head, or other body part, and provides for a selectively adjustable size to fit heads of different diameter. 
   Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a hook and loop fastener  16  may also be secured to lower surface  12 , also for engagement hook and loop fasteners  24 . The user may selectively choose to fasten the hook and loop fasteners  24  to either fastener  26  on the upper surface  22  or fastener  1   6  on the lower surface. The use of fastener  16  allows the user to produce a “skullcap” type appearance for adjustable bandana  10 , particularly when the fabric sheet includes the tail portions, shown in  FIG. 1 . The protruding tail portions may more easily be tucked underneath the head covering portion of the adjustable bandana  10  when loop-type fasteners  24  engage the hook-type fasteners  16  on the lower surface. It should be noted that the orientation of hook and loop fasteners  16 ,  24  and  26  are dependent upon the needs and desires of the user. 
   It should be noted that when worn on the head, the ends of flap  18  form a decorative tail portion, as shown in  FIG. 1 . However, as noted above, the fabric sheet may have any desired shape, which may result in, for example, an adjustable bandana  10  having no decorative tail. The shape, style and configuration of adjustable bandana  10  are dependent upon the needs and desires of the user. Further, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the adjustable bandana may have user-selected indicia  30  imprinted thereon. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the adjustable bandana  10  may further be adapted for other uses.  FIG. 7  illustrates a user wearing adjustable bandana  10  on his shoulder and arm to form a sling. In this particular configuration, the opposed ends of flap  18  are tied behind the user&#39;s neck, and the user&#39;s arm rests in the central portion of the fabric sheet. The absorption layer  14  contacts the user&#39;s skin, even in this sling configuration, providing comfort for the user and reducing the risk of skin rashes and other ailments. The adjustable bandana  10  may be used to cover or support any suitable body part or combination of body parts, and is adaptable for a wide variety of applications. 
   The adjustable bandana  10  provides an absorbent, adjustable, insulating and protective covering for the head or other body parts. The adjustable bandana  10  is of particular use as headwear, absorbing perspiration from the user&#39;s forehead and scalp, which prevents perspiration from dripping in the user&#39;s eyes and further provides a cooling effect for the user through evaporative cooling. The adjustable bandana  10  may be worn by athletes, may be worn under helmets, or may be worn for thermal insulation in cold climates. The adjustable bandana is highly adaptable to a variety of different situations and may be produced in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate different types of users and to be applied to a multiplicity of body parts. The adaptability of the adjustable bandana  10  allows bandana  10  to be worn as a head covering, a cravat, a wrap for babies, a towel, a sling, as shown in  FIG. 7 , or as a cover or support for any other body part the user desires to cover or support. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.