Patent Publication Number: US-2020297057-A1

Title: Baseball cap with interchangeable parts

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Application No. 62/822,217, filed Mar. 22, 2019, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     This disclosure generally relates to hats, in particular hats with interchangeable parts. 
     Related Technology 
     Hat wearers often purchase a wide range of hats to provide a large variety of options for accenting an appearance. For example, many hat wearers often buy hats of various color schemes to match various outfits or to portray support for or affiliation with a particular idea, group, person, or organization on a particular occasion. Additionally, hat wearers often purchase hats adorned with a wide range of insignia, logos, icons, or word phrases to suit a particular occasion or preference. Some hats may include images and names marketing a particular brand of product. Others portray the name, emblem, or mascot or a particular sport team. 
     The wide range of colors and decorations available leads many hat wearers to purchase large amounts of hats, which can create cost and storage issues. Additionally, many sports teams and other organizations frequently update their logos or color schemes, resulting in additional costs to hat wearers that prefer to own hats that portray the current colors and logos affiliated with a particular team or organization. 
     Accordingly, there are a number of disadvantages with hats that can be addressed.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Implementations of the present disclosure solve one or more of the foregoing or other problems in the art with hats. In particular, one or more implementations can include a hat with interchangeable parts, comprising a cap portion with a lower peripheral edge and one or more interconnected panels, the one or more interconnected panels at least partially forming a crown of the hat. Some implementations also include a brim portion removably attached to the cap portion adjacent to the lower peripheral edge and extending away from a front face of the crown of the hat. Implementations can also include one or more interchangeable logos removably attached to the cap portion of the hat, as well as a button removably attached to a crown apex of the crown of the hat and an interchangeable back strap removably attached opposite the front face of the crown. 
     Hats of the present disclosure can also include interchangeable logos that are removably attached to the cap portion of the hat via magnetic materials or hook and loop fastener. In some implementations, multiple logos can simultaneously be removably attached to the front face of the crown of the hat. Additionally, hats of the present disclosure can include a brim portion and/or a back strap that are removably attached to the cap portion of the hat via an attachment track on the cap portion configured to slidably attach to a tab or runner of the corresponding brim portion and/or back strap. 
     Accordingly, a hat with interchangeable parts is disclosed. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an indication of the scope of the claimed subject matter.  
     Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be evident from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure. The features and advantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure as set forth hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to describe the manner in which the above recited and other advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description of the disclosure briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope. 
       The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a hat with interchangeable parts according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view thereof, particularly illustrating the interchangeable parts of a hat according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the underside of a hat with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating the removable attachment of an interchangeable brim according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;  
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a hat with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating an alternative embodiment of an interchangeable brim according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded perspective view of another hat according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly illustrating the interchangeable parts thereof; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a hat with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating another alternative embodiment of an interchangeable brim according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates a cutout perspective view of a hat with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating another alternative embodiment of an interchangeable brim according to the present disclosure, wherein the interchangeable brim is positioned to be removably attached to a cap portion of the hat; 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates a cutout perspective view of the hat with interchangeable parts of  FIG. 7A , wherein the interchangeable brim is removably attached to the cap portion of the hat; 
         FIG. 7C  illustrates a cutout perspective view of a hat with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating another alternative embodiment of an interchangeable brim according to the present disclosure, wherein the interchangeable brim is positioned to be removably attached to a cap portion of the hat; 
         FIG. 7D  illustrates a cutout perspective view of the hat with interchangeable parts of  FIG. 7C , wherein the interchangeable brim is removably attached to the cap portion of the hat;  
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a hat with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating the removable attachment of an interchangeable back strap of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a hat with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating an alternative embodiment of an interchangeable back strap according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of a hat with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating another alternative embodiment of an interchangeable back strap according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11A  illustrates an exploded top perspective view of an interchangeable button according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11B  illustrates an exploded bottom perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an exploded perspective view of an interchangeable logo and corresponding panel of a hat with interchangeable parts according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a hat with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating the removeable attachment of an interchangeable logo according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before describing various embodiments of the present disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the parameters of the particularly exemplified systems, methods, apparatus, products, processes, and/or kits, which may, of course, vary. Thus,  while certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail, with reference to specific configurations, parameters, components, elements, etc., the descriptions are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed invention. In addition, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing the embodiments and is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. 
     Furthermore, it is understood that for any given component or embodiment described herein, any of the possible candidates or alternatives listed for that component may generally be used individually or in combination with one another, unless implicitly or explicitly understood or stated otherwise. Additionally, it will be understood that any list of such candidates or alternatives is merely illustrative, not limiting, unless implicitly or explicitly understood or stated otherwise. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure enable a hat wearer to personally customize the appearance of a hat by choosing between and implementing a variety of interchangeable parts. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure include a hat with one or more of the following parts being removable and therefore interchangeable: a brim portion, a back strap, a button, and one or more logos. Accordingly, a user of a hat with interchangeable parts according to the present disclosure may pick and choose between brims, back straps, buttons, and/or logos of various colors, designs, and markings. For example, when a wearer of a hat according to one of the embodiments herein attends a particular event, the wearer may choose a particular logo and/or particular colors to display in support of the event, a particular sports team, or any message or theme that the wearer wishes to convey. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , embodiments of the present disclosure include a baseball cap  100  with interchangeable parts. Other embodiments include hats of various shapes and styles, such as but not limited to cycling caps, skull caps, beanies, visors, and so forth. As shown in  FIG. 1 ,  one or more embodiments include a baseball cap  100  comprising a cap portion  102 , a brim portion  104 , a back strap  106 , a button  108 , and a logo  110 . Embodiments of the baseball cap  100  can include any combination of interchangeable parts, such as interchangeable brim portions  104 , interchangeable back straps  106 , interchangeable buttons  108 , and interchangeable logos  110 . Each interchangeable logo  110  can include any design, graphic, image, phrase, color, monogram, emblem, mascot, picture, shape, style, and so forth as desired by consumers. Additionally, each interchangeable brim portion  104 , back strap  106 , and button  108  can include any color, shape, or other design feature desired by consumers. With a variety of interchangeable parts at their disposal, consumers can extensively customize a hat or baseball cap  100  by interchanging the various interchangeable parts without the need to buy multiple completed hats or baseball caps  100 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , embodiments of a baseball cap  100  can include a cap portion  102  comprising a plurality of interconnected panels  112 , the panels  112  forming a hemispherical dome or crown with a crown apex  114 , a lower peripheral edge  116  forming a headband at a lower extremity of the crown, a front face  118  spanning from the lower peripheral edge  116  to the crown apex  114 , and a rear opening  120  defined by a gap in the lower peripheral edge  116  opposite the front face  118  of the crown. In some embodiments, one or more panels  112  can form a partial crown with an open crown apex  114  to create a visor configuration with increased ventilation and having any combination of interchangeable brim portions  104 , back straps  106 , and/or logos  110 . Some embodiments of cap portion  102  can include a single panel  112  that forms a full or partial crown. In some embodiments, lower peripheral edge  116  has a sweat band attached on an interior surface thereof, the sweat band being constructed of an absorbent material configured to absorb and or wick the sweat of the hat wearer.  
     In some embodiments, baseball cap  100  can include lower peripheral edge  116  with a complete circumference, such that there is no gap defining a rear opening  120  and thus no need for back strap  106 . Embodiments without back strap  106  would of a necessity be fitted to the hat wearer either by appropriate sizing of the lower peripheral edge  116  or via an elastic headband or sweatband being integrated with the lower peripheral edge  116 . Embodiments that do include back strap  106  would have the advantages of superior adjustability and customizability, but some hat wearers may prefer to purchase a fitted cap without rear opening  120 . 
     As illustrated, embodiments of logo  110  can be removably or permanently attached to front face  118  of cap portion  102 . Similarly, embodiments can include brim portion  104  that is removably or permanently attached to cap portion  102  adjacent to lower peripheral edge  116  and front face  118 , with brim portion  104  extending away from front face  118 . Embodiments can also include a back strap  106  that is removably or permanently attached to cap portion  102  adjacent to lower peripheral edge  116  and the rear opening  120 , and button  108  either removably or permanently attached to cap portion  102  at crown apex  114 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of one or more embodiments of baseball cap  100  with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating the removability of various parts according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, in some embodiments, brim portion  104 , back strap  106 , button  108 , and logo  110  can be selectively removeable from the cap portion  102  by means of various attachment interfaces as disclosed herein. By way of example, but without limitation, embodiments of interchangeable logos can include but are not limited to attachment means such as hook and loop fastener, corresponding magnetic materials integrated with logo  110  and one or more panels  112 , snap buttons, frictional fittings, and so forth.  
     In an embodiment of the present invention, brim portion  104  includes an attachment tab  122  configured to removably attach to cap portion  102  by sliding into brim attachment track  124  that is integrated with lower peripheral edge  116  adjacent to front face  118  of cap portion  102 . Rigid attachment tab  122 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , ensures that brim portion  104  has adequate support to maintain the brim at an angle that is substantially orthogonal to front face  118  and lower peripheral edge  116 . Additionally, brim attachment track  124  has the advantage of being concealed from view, such that baseball cap  100  has a similar appearance to a common baseball cap without interchangeable parts. 
     Some embodiments can additionally or alternatively include interchangeable back strap  106  that is configured to be selectively removable from cap portion  102 . For example, embodiments of baseball cap  100  can include one or more strap attachment tracks  126  connected to cap portion  102  adjacent to lower peripheral edge  116  and rear opening  120 . In some embodiments, interchangeable back strap  106  can include one or more attachment tabs  128  configured to slide into or otherwise removably attach to the corresponding one or more strap attachment tracks  126  on cap portion  102 . Embodiments of back strap  106  can include any shape, style, or functional design of hat fasteners or back straps, such as but not limited to traditional snap closures, elastic cloth of adjustable or fixed length, straps with hook and loop fastener, and so forth. 
     One or more embodiments can additionally or alternatively include interchangeable button  108  that is selectively removeable from crown apex  114  of cap portion  102 . In some embodiments, fastener socket  130  is connected to cap portion  102  at crown apex  114 , fastener socket  130  being configured to removably attach to interchangeable button  108 . In some embodiments, fastener socket  130  and interchangeable button  108  comprise a snap button system.  In other embodiments, fastener socket  130  and interchangeable button  108  can comprise magnetic materials or hook and loop fastener to form a selectively removeable connection therebetween. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the underside of baseball cap  100  with interchangeable parts according to one or more embodiments. As illustrated, some embodiments of an interchangeable brim portion  104  can include attachment tab  122  configured to slidably connect to brim attachment track  124  located adjacent to lower peripheral edge  116  and integrated within cap portion  102  such that both tab  122  and track  124  are concealed from view, particularly when the hat is worn by a consumer. Some embodiments include brim attachment track  124  with a channel  136  that corresponds in shape and size to allow for attachment tab  122  to slide within channel  136  to removably attach to brim attachment track  124 . In some embodiments, lower peripheral edge  116  can also include a stretchable or fitted headband or sweatband to ensure a comfortable fit, and brim attachment tab  122  can be integrated into cap portion  102  in a manner that does not interfere with the fit of baseball cap  100 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of baseball cap  100  with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating an additional embodiment of an interchangeable brim portion  104 . As illustrated, attachment tab  122  can be integrated within brim portion  104  and configured to slidably attach to channel  136  of brim attachment track  124  connected to cap portion  102  adjacent to lower peripheral edge  116 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded perspective view of baseball cap  100  with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating another embodiment of an interchangeable brim portion  104 . As illustrated, some embodiments can include brim attachment tab  123  connected to cap portion  102  adjacent to lower peripheral edge  116  and front face  118 , and corresponding attachment track of channel  125  integrated at least partially within brim portion  104 .  
       FIG. 5  also illustrates the removability of embodiments of interchangeable back strap  106 , interchangeable button  108 , and interchangeable logo  110 . Embodiments of the structure and functionality of various embodiments of interchangeable back strap  106 , interchangeable button  108 , and interchangeable logo  110  are discussed in detail below in reference to  FIGS. 8 through 10 ,  FIGS. 11A through 11B , and  FIGS. 12 through 13 , respectively. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates baseball cap  100  with interchangeable parts of  FIG. 5 , particularly illustrating the slidable connection of brim portion  104  to cap portion  102  in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. In a similar manner as that of other embodiments, interchangeable brim portion  104  can be removably attached to cap portion  102  by sliding the attachment channel  125  of brim portion  104  onto brim attachment tab  123  of cap portion  102 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate cutout perspective views of baseball cap  100  with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating interchangeable brim portion  104  according to some embodiments, wherein  FIG. 7A  shows brim portion  104  in position to be attached to the cap portion  102  and  FIG. 7B  shows brim portion  104  removably attached to cap portion  102 . As illustrated, some embodiments of an interchangeable brim portion  104  can be removably attached to cap portion  102  via hook and loop fastener  132  attached to brim portion  104  and corresponding hook and loop fastener attached to brim attachment tab  134  located adjacent to front face  118  of cap portion  102 . 
       FIG. 7C and 7D  illustrate cutout perspective views of baseball cap  100  with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating interchangeable brim portion  104  according to some embodiments, wherein  FIG. 7C  shows brim portion  104  in position to be attached to cap portion  102  and  FIG. 7D  shows brim portion  104  removably attached to cap portion  102 . As illustrated, some embodiments of interchangeable brim portion  104  can be removably attached to cap portion   102  via magnetic elements  133  integrated with brim portion  104  and a corresponding magnetic material  135  attached to brim attachment tab  134  located adjacent to front face  118  of cap portion  102 . 
       FIGS. 8 through 10  illustrate perspective views of various embodiments of baseball cap  100  with interchangeable parts, particularly illustrating multiple embodiments of interchangeable back strap  106 . With reference to  FIG. 8 , some embodiments of baseball cap  100  can include one or more strap attachment tracks  126  attached to a periphery of rear opening  120  near lower peripheral edge  116 , as well as interchangeable back strap  106  having attachment tabs  128  that correspond to strap attachment tracks  126  to removably attach back strap  106  to cap portion  102  by sliding one or more tabs  128  into one or more tracks  126 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , some embodiments can alternatively have strap attachment tracks  126  integrated into panels  112  of cap portion  102  adjacent to the periphery of rear opening  120 , such that attachment tracks  126  are hidden from view and attachment tabs  128  of interchangeable back strap  106  are also hidden from view when removably attached to attachment tabs  128 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , some embodiments can alternatively use hook and loop fastener  138  to removably attach interchangeable back strap  106  to cap portion  102  of baseball cap  100 . Embodiments can thus include hook and loop fastener  138  attached to cap portion  102  adjacent to rear opening  120  and lower peripheral edge  116  on either an inside surface of cap portion  102 , and outside surface of cap portion  102 , or a combination of each, as well as hook and loop fastener  138  attached to corresponding ends of back strap  106 . 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate exploded perspective views of an interchangeable button  108  and corresponding fastener socket  130  according to some embodiments. As illustrated,  some embodiments of interchangeable button  108  comprise a snap button configuration for removable attachment of interchangeable button  108  to faster socket  130 . In the embodiment illustrated, fastener socket  130  comprises a bottom male snap half  140  and a top male snap half  142 , the two of which can be pressed together to form a permanent attachment to a hat or baseball cap of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the corresponding interchangeable button  108  can include bottom female snap half  144 , top female snap half  146 , and fabric covering  148 , the three of which can be assembled to form a single interchangeable button  108  that can be removably attached to corresponding fastener socket  130 . Other embodiments can comprise removable attachment of button  108  to fastener socket  130  via hook and loop fastener, magnetic materials, other styles of friction fittings, and so forth. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an exploded perspective view of interchangeable logo  110  according to some embodiments. As illustrated, some embodiments of interchangeable logo  110  can include one or more embedded or integrated magnets  150  or otherwise magnetic materials, and at least one panel  112  of a hat or baseball cap can include an embedded or integrated magnetic panel  152  to provide for removeable attachment of interchangeable logo  110  to an outside of panel  112 . In some embodiments, panel  112  may include an embedded or integrated magnetic panel  152  that can at least partially form the front face  118  of the hat or baseball cap. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a perspective view of the interchangeable logo of  FIG. 12 , particularly illustrating the integration of panel  112  into front face  118  of baseball cap  100 . As illustrated, some embodiments can include magnetic panel  152  sewn into panel  112  at front face  118  of baseball cap  100 . In some embodiments, magnetic panels  152  are additionally or alternatively integrated with other panels  112  or within brim portion  104  of baseball cap  100 , such that interchangeable logo  110  can be removably attached to cap portion  102  or the brim portion   104  at various locations. In some embodiments, multiple interchangeable logos  110  can be selectively attached to baseball cap  100  at one or more locations. In other embodiments, the interchangeable logos  110  can be removably attached to the brim portion  104  or cap portion  102  via hook and loop fastener, snap or button fastening, and so forth. 
     It should be understood that, for the purposes of the present disclosure, the terms “magnetic materials,” “magnetic panels,” “magnets,” and the like are to be interpreted broadly so to include any corresponding pairs of materials that attach to one another via a magnetic force. For example, some embodiments may include a magnetized piece of material corresponding to a ferrous material. For the purposes of the embodiments disclosed herein, such materials may be interchanged with one another so long as a similar result is achieved, namely, so long as one component can be magnetically attached to another component as intended. 
     Following are some further example embodiments of the invention. These are presented only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. 
     Embodiment 1. A hat, comprising: a cap portion  102  comprised of a crown apex  114 , a lower peripheral edge  116  opposite crown apex  114 , a front face  118  spanning between crown apex  114  and lower peripheral edge  116 , a button  108  attached to crown apex  114 , a back strap  106  spanning a rear opening  120  defined by a gap in lower peripheral edge  116  opposite front face  118 , a brim portion  104  attached to lower peripheral edge  116  adjacent to front face  118 , and one or more logos  110  attached to front face  118 . 
     Embodiment 2. The hat as recited in embodiment 1, wherein button  108  is removably attached to crown apex  114 .  
     Embodiment 3. The hat as recited in any of embodiments 1-2, wherein back strap  106  is removably attached to cap portion  102 . 
     Embodiment 4. The hat as recited in any of embodiments 1-3, wherein brim portion  104  is removably attached to cap portion  102 . 
     Embodiment 5. The hat as recited in any of embodiments 1-4, wherein one or more logos  110  are removably attached to cap portion  102 . 
     Embodiment 6. The hat as recited in any of embodiments 1-5, wherein at least one additional logo  110  is removably attached to brim portion  104 . 
     Although the subject matter described herein is provided in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the described features or acts so described. Rather, the described features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. 
     The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. While certain embodiments and details have been included herein and in the attached disclosure for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the methods, products, devices, and apparatus disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure or of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.