Patent Publication Number: US-11033063-B2

Title: Reversible beanie with a pom-pom

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure is related to headwear, and more particularly, to a reversible beanie with a pom-pom and a method of manufacturing the reversible beanie. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Headwear can include various components. One type of headwear is a beanie, which may include a pom-pom. A beanie is typically manufactured in one-style. Thus, if a user is interested in a different style, then they must purchase another beanie. 
     SUMMARY 
     A reversible headwear and method of assembling thereof is provided. The reversible headwear, such as a beanie, includes a reversible headwear body and an accessory such as a pom-pom connected thereto. The reversible headwear body is adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The headwear body has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first and second surfaces correspond to outer and inner surfaces respectively in the first configuration of the headwear body, and to the inner and outer surfaces respectively in the second configuration of the headwear body. The headwear body has a through-hole extending from the first surface to the second surface. The pom-pom is configured to be connected to the headwear body to allow movement of the connected pom-pom through the through-hole for positioning the connected pom-pom over the opening on or over the outer surface when the headwear body is in the first configuration or the second configuration. 
     In various example embodiments, the headwear body is configured to turn or roll over from an inside to an outside to adjust between the first and second configurations. The headwear body can be formed of at least two or more layers, the through-hole extending through the layers. The first and second surfaces can have different patterns. The headwear body can include an overlock which is a reinforced area adjacent to the through-hole. The headwear body can comprise of yarn. The through-hole can be positioned on a top portion of the headwear body. 
     Furthermore, in the various example embodiments, the pom-pom can be configured to have connected thereto two pieces of string, which are connected to the headwear body at locations proximate the through-hole. The two pieces of string can engage the headwear body at two corresponding positions on opposite sides around the through-hole of the headwear. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description of the various exemplary embodiments is explained in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example of a first configuration of a reversible headwear, such as a beanie, with a pom-pom, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an example of a second configuration of the reversible headwear of  FIG. 1 , when the headwear is reversed, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 3 through 5  illustrate example operations to assemble the reversible headwear of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 6 through 7  illustrate example operations to reverse the headwear of  FIGS. 1 and 2  between the first and second configurations, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a process by which to manufacture or assembly a reversible headwear, such as in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an example of a reversible headwear  100  with an accessory or decoration that is moveable or re-positionable. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the headwear  100  includes a headwear body  110  and a accessory or decoration such as a pom-pom  150 . In this example, the headwear  100  is a beanie. The pom-pom  150  is movably connected to a top and/or central portion of the headwear body  110 , e.g., at a top or apex of the headwear body  110 . The headwear body  110  includes a first surface  112  as shown in  FIG. 1  and an opposite second surface  114  as shown in  FIG. 2 , and a bottom edge  116  (e.g., edge or rim). 
     The headwear body  110  is reversible between a first configuration in  FIG. 1  and a second configuration in  FIG. 2 . In the first configuration, the headwear body  110  is configured with the first and second surfaces  112  and  114  as outer and inner surfaces, respectively, of the headwear body  110 . In the second configuration, the headwear body  110  is configured with the first and second surfaces  112  and  114  as inner and outer surfaces, respectively, of the headwear body  110 . The headwear body  110  can be reversed from the first configuration to the second configuration or vice-a-versa, for example, by turning or rolling over the headwear body  110  from an inside to an outside (e.g., flipping the headwear inside-out, etc.). 
     In either configurations, the pom-pom  150  can be positioned or re-positioned on or over the outer surface of the headwear body  110 . As will be described in greater detail below, the headwear body  110  includes a through-hole (see e.g., through-hole  130  in  FIG. 3 ) between the first and second surfaces  112 ,  114 , through which the pom-pom  150 , when connected, is moveable for positioning thereof over the through-hole on or over the outer surface of the headwear body  110  whether in the first or second configuration. 
     As further shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the headwear body  110 , in this example, has a hemispherical shape (e.g., a dome shape) or the like, and is formed of a fabric(s) or other suitable material(s) for a headwear such as a beanie. The fabric can be a woven fabric or non-woven fabric such as a knit fabric. In one example, the fabric is yarn (e.g., acrylic yarn, wool yarn, microfiber yarn, cotton yarn, or any other type of yarn, etc.). The headwear body  110  can be formed of one, two or more layers, which can be made or formed of the same or different fabric(s) or material(s). The first and second surfaces  112 ,  114  (and their corresponding layers) can have the same pattern, or a different pattern (e.g.,  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     The pom-pom  150  can be a decorative feature or accessory on the headwear  100 , and can take the form of a ball or tuft with fibrous material. The pom-pom  150  can, for example, be made of acrylic, wool, microfiber, cotton, or other suitable materials for use in a headwear such as a beanie. The pom-pom  150  can be compressed to a compressed state, or expanded to an expanded or fluffed state. The pom-pom  150  can be compressed and pushed through a through-hole on the headwear body  110  to re-position the pom-pom  150  on the headwear  100 . The pom-pom  150  can have a diameter or width, such as when in the expanded or fluffed state, that is larger than the through-hole and can cover the through-hole when positioned on or over the outer surface of the headwear body  110 . 
       FIGS. 3 through 5  illustrate example operations for assembling or manufacturing a reversible headwear, such as the reversible headwear  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the headwear  100 , which includes the headwear body  110  and the pom-pom  150 . In this example, the headwear  100  further includes a plurality of strings or pieces of string  152 , e.g., two pieces of string, which are connected or to be connected on one end to the pom-pom  150 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the headwear body  110  includes an overlock  120 , such as an inner rim or edge, which defines the through-hole  130 . The overlock  120  is a region or area which is proximate or adjacent to the through-hole  130  and is reinforced such as, for example, with stitching, sewing or hemming (e.g., a stitched, sewed or hemmed region) or other fabric reinforcing technique (e.g., fabric tape, coating, etc.). The through-hole  130  may be a cutout, which can have a circular, elliptical or other suitable shape and size relative to the pom-pom  150 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the pom-pom  150  is connected to the headwear body  110  using the pieces of string  152 . For example, as reflected by reference numeral  300 , a free end of each piece of string  152  is engaged to the headwear body  110  through an opening  122  in the overlock  120  of the headwear body  110 , and is then tied up or knotted or secured to form a joining in order to connect or secure the pom-pom  150  to the headwear body  110 . In this example, the two pieces of string  152  engage the headwear body  110  at two positions on opposite sides around the through-hole  130  of the headwear body  110 . Although two pieces of string  152  are shown, it should be understood that any number of pieces of string  152  can be used to connect the pom-pom  150  to the headwear body  110 . 
     An example of the headwear  100  with the headwear body  110  connected to the pom-pom  150  is shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the headwear  100  is in the first configuration. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the pom-pom  150 , when connected, can be positioned on or over the outer surface (in this case the first surface  112 ) and over the through-hole  130  to cover the through-hole  130 . A portion of the pom-pom  150 , e.g., a bottom portion, may sit in and cover the through-hole  130 . 
       FIGS. 6 through 7  illustrate example operations of reversing the headwear  100  from the first configuration as shown in  FIG. 1  to the second configuration as shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 6 , at reference  610 , the headwear  100  is shown in the first configuration in which the first surface  112  is the outer surface. At reference  620 , the pom-pom  150  is moved through the through-hole  130  by pushing the pom-pom  150  through the through-hole  130  to the other side, e.g., the second surface  114  which is presently the inner surface and is not shown. At reference  630 , the pom-pom  150  is positioned on or over the other side, e.g., the second surface  114 . The pom-pom  150  is connected, in this example, with two pieces of string  152 . For example, as shown in the reference  630 , a portion of each of the two pieces of string  152  is knotted or tied or secured to form a joining  154  in order to connect the pom-pom  150  to the headwear body  110 . The pom-pom  150  is connected to the headwear body  110  with sufficient slack or flexibility to allow movement of the pom-pom  150 , when connected, through the through-hole  130  for positioning on or over the first surface  112  or second surface  114  of the headwear body, and over the through-hole  130 . 
     Thereafter, as shown by reference  640  in  FIG. 7 , the headwear  100  can be reversed from the bottom edge  116 , by turning or rolling over the headwear body  110  from an inside to an outside, until the headwear body  110  is in the second configuration with the second surface  114  becoming the outer surface and the first surface  112  becoming the inner surface. The headwear  100  is shown in the second configuration at reference  650 , with the connected pom-pom  150  positioned on or over the outer surface, which, in this case, is the second surface  114 . The headwear  100  in the second configuration can then be worn on a user&#39;s head, such as shown in  FIG. 2 . These operations, described above, can be repeated to reverse the headwear  100  back to the first configuration, which can then be worn on a user&#39;s head, such as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 800  is a flow diagram of an example process  800  by which a reversible headwear, such as the headwear  100  which is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is assembled or manufactured. 
     At reference  802 , a reversible headwear body (e.g.,  110 ) is provided which is adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The headwear body has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and a through-hole extending from the first surface to the second surface. The first and second surfaces correspond to outer and inner surfaces respectively in the first configuration of the headwear body, and correspond to the inner and outer surfaces respectively in the second configuration of the headwear body. The headwear body has a through-hole extending from the first surface to the second surface 
     At reference  804 , a headwear accessory such as a pom-pom (e.g.,  150 ) is provided. 
     At reference  806 , the pom-pom is connected to the headwear body to allow movement of the connected pom-pom through the through-hole for positioning the connected pom-pom over the opening on or over the outer surface when the headwear body is in the first configuration or the second configuration. For example, the pom-pom can be connected using one or more strings or pieces of strings (e.g., two), or other connection mechanism (e.g., a fastener) which provides sufficient slack or flexibility to allow movement of the pom-pom, when connected, via the through-hole to a position over the through-hole on or over the outer surface of the headwear body. 
     It should be understood that the headwear and various method or processes, such as for manufacturing or manipulating/reversing the headwear, which are shown and described herein are provided as examples. The various method or process operations herein can be performed in combination with others operations, or in a different order with some or all of the operations. 
     It should be understood that the headwear can include a headwear body with one, two or more layers, which are formed of woven or non-woven material(s). Although the headwear in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is shown as a particular type of a beanie, the manufacturing technique can be used to assemble or manufacture other types of beanies or headwear with a pom-pom and having a different or varying size, shape and configuration. The headwear may include other components. 
     The pom-pom can be connected to the headwear body using various connecting mechanisms (e.g., fastener or fastening mechanisms) or the like, which provide for sufficient slack or flexibility to allow movement of the pom-pom through the through-hole of the headwear body and positioning thereof over the through-hole on or over an outer surface of the headwear. When using string(s) or the like, the opening in the overlock or headwear body to receive a portion of the string can be pre-formed (e.g., cut-out, weaved or knitted with an opening or space, etc.). The pom-pom and through-hole can be positioned at a top, central portion of the headwear body, or any desired portion of the headwear body. The piece(s) of string may be formed of the same or similar material as the pompom or headwear body, or may be formed of a resilient or non-resilient material. The headwear may also include one or more pom-poms and one or more through-holes, such as described herein. 
     Words of degree, such as “about”, “around”, “substantially”, and the like are used herein in the sense of “at, or nearly at, when given the manufacturing, design, and material tolerances inherent in the stated circumstances” and are used to prevent the unscrupulous infringer from unfairly taking advantage of the invention disclosure where exact or absolute figures and operational or structural relationships are stated as an aid to understanding the invention. 
     While particular embodiments and applications of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise construction and compositions disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations can be apparent from the foregoing descriptions without departing from the invention.