Patent Publication Number: US-5426789-A

Title: Size adjustable hat

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Adjustable straps for hats have been known for many years. Ostolaza (U.S. Pat. No. 1,894,213) provides an adjustable sweat band which extends from inside of the crown to the outside thereof. 
     Wittcoff (U.S. Pat. No. 2,040,355) provides an adjustable sweat band with over riding flaps above the adjustable feature. 
     Ostolaza (U.S. Pat. No. 2,445,921) discloses another adjustable sweat band of a latch engagable type. 
     Malk (U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,600) shows an adjustable sweat band utilizing VELCRO (trademark) for adjustment purposes as to Ferstenfeld (U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,817) and Edward (U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,705). None of these references provide a strap of auxiliary sweat band, a portion of which is visible with the ends thereof hidden. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide an auxiliary sweat band for hats which cooperate with the main sweat band for the purpose of permitting different size adjustments. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide an auxiliary sweat band cooperating with the main sweat band to provide maximum comfort at minimum expense in manufacturing. 
     Still a further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable auxiliary sweat band for hats which uses a minimum amount of material and avoids shifting laterally up and down relative to the longitudinal run of the sweat band. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a sweat band which is easily adjusted and which has the ends hidden so as to provide maximum comfort to the wearer. 
     Still a further object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary sweat band for a hat which will allow ventilation between the main sweat band and the auxiliary sweat band for keeping the head of the wearer cool. 
     Still a further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable auxiliary sweat band which will not gather, crumple or pucker the crown when adjusted. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary sweat band of soft material similar to that of the main sweat band. 
     These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, drawings and claims. 
     In summary, this present invention relates to a hat, and more particularly to a size adjustable auxiliary sweat band for the purpose of permitting different size adjustments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hat with a portion broken away at the crown and the brim showing the main sweat band and the auxiliary sweat band, a portion of which is shown in phantom lines. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a hat taken through the area of the main sweat band and showing the auxiliary sweat band in solid lines and the head of the wearer in broken phantom lines. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the sweat band as viewed in the direction of the inner surface of the sweat band and showing a portion of the auxiliary sweat band in dash lines. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 prostrates is perspective the complete circumferential sweat band with the auxiliary sweat band in position with a part thereof in dash lines. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-5 
     FIG. 1 illustrates the hat H having a brim B and a crown C. Secured at the margin 2 by stitching 4 is the main sweat band 6. The sweat band 6 includes a lower edge or edge portion 8, an upper edge or edge portion 10, and a central portion 12. 
     As best shown in FIG. 5, the sweat band 6 includes an inner surface 14 and an outer surface 16. 
     The hat H may be made of felt materials or straw or other materials including natural and synthetic fibers. 
     The sweat band 6 may be made from any substance such as leather, natural and/or man made woven or knitted materials or the like. In general, the sweat band 6 is flexible and designed to absorb perspiration. 
     In FIG. 2, the wearers head W is illustrated in phantom lines with the front of the head at the top of the drawing and the back of the head at the bottom of the drawing. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, an auxiliary sweat band 18 is secured at the rear of the crown C to the main sweat band 6 as will here and after be described. 
     Sweat band 6 includes slot or slit openings 20 and 22 which are spaced from each other to the rear of the hat and on either side thereof. The auxiliary sweat band 18 as illustrated in FIG. 3 is substantially less in width then the main sweat band 6 and is positioned in the central portion 12 of the sweat band 6. The auxiliary sweat band 18 may be made of the same material as sweat band 6 or of any other absorbent material soft and flexible and durable as the main sweat band 6. As illustrated best in FIGS. 2 and 3, auxiliary sweat band 18 is secured to sweat band 6 by stitching 24 on the remote side of the opening slot 20. The auxiliary sweat band 18 extends from the inner surface 14 of the sweat band 6 through the slot 20 adjacent to the outer surface of the sweat band 6 and back through the slot or slit opening 22 and once again runs adjacent to the inner surface 14 of the sweat band 6. The fixed end of the auxiliary sweat band does not move in the slot 20. The free end 28 as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the auxiliary sweat band 18 includes a piece of VELCRO (trademark) 30 (either loop or hook) which is mounted on the inside surface of the auxiliary sweat band 18 at the end thereof and comprises a strip approximately an inch to an inch and a half in length which is secured by stitching or any other suitable means. A cooperating VELCRO strip 32 which coacts with VELCRO strip 30 is secured to the inner surface 14 of the sweat band 6 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     The VELCRO loop strip and the VELCRO hook strip may be of similar dimension or slightly different dimensions both in width and in length though shown in FIG. 5 as having the strip 32 somewhat wider than the free-end VELCRO strip 30 best illustrated in FIG. 2. 
     OPERATION 
     In operation, the auxiliary sweat band 18 VELCRO portion 30 is separated from the main sweat band 6 VELCRO portion 32 and adjustment is made as illustrated in FIG. 2 and the two(2) VELCRO portions 30 and 32 secured together. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that a gap 34 will be formed between the auxiliary sweat band 18 and the main sweat band 6. This allows for air to circulate upwardly in the gap around the head, keeping the head cool and minimizing sweating thereof. It will also be noted that the arrangement provides a smooth surface in the areas of contact with the head W thereby eliminating any discomfort that might be at the back of the head in the area of the auxiliary sweat band 18. 
     Ordinarily, hats would have head size changes of 1/8 and in some instances head size changes from small, to medium, to large and extra large. The arrangement of this invention provides fine adjustment of the hat to make it most comfortable to the wearer. 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred designs, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, uses and/or adaptations of the invention following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention and of the limits of the appended claims.