Patent Publication Number: US-2020297056-A1

Title: Hat with hair opening

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This application relates to hats, and more particularly to hats with a hair opening. 
     Baseball hats have traditionally been unaccommodating to those with longer hair that style their hair in a ponytail, as a base of the ponytail interferes with a rear of the hat. Although adjustable baseball hats include a rear opening above an adjustment strap, a position of the opening may be misaligned with a base of a wearer&#39;s ponytail, and such openings are absent from fitted hats. 
     SUMMARY 
     A hat according to an example of the present disclosure includes a visor and a dome defining a cavity sized to accommodate a wearer&#39;s head. The dome has an apex, a lower peripheral rim, a front dome portion from which the visor extends, and a rear dome portion opposite the front dome portion. A band lines the interior of the dome along the lower peripheral rim, and has an inner surface that faces inwards towards the cavity. A gripping material is disposed on the inner surface of the band for gripping the wearer&#39;s head. The dome includes an arc segment extending between the apex and a rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim. An elongated slot along the arc segment defines a hair passage that extends through the rear dome portion into the cavity. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the elongated slot has lateral sides that are continuous. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a major portion of the dome is composed of one or more first materials, and a minor portion of the dome, which defines the elongated slot, is composed of a second material that includes a greater amount of spandex than each of the one or more first materials. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the second material includes 7-50 times more spandex than each of the one or more first materials. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the hat is a fitted hat, and a portion of the arc segment between the rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim and the elongated slot is continuous. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the band is an elasticized band that is stretchable to accommodate different head sizes. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a length of the elongated slot along the arc segment is 20%-30% of the total length of the arc segment. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the elongated slot is located in the 4/10 of the arc segment that is closest to the apex. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a length of the elongated slot, as measured along an outer surface of the dome is 1.5-2 inches. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the gripping material includes at least one strip of rubber disposed on a portion of the inner surface of the band that at least partially lines the band along the rear dome portion. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the gripping material extends along an entire circumference of the inner surface of the band. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the dome includes a plurality of triangular panels that are sewn together and meet at the apex, including two first panels of the front dome portion and two second panels of the rear dome portion. The elongated slot formed between the two second panels, and an area of each of the second panels is less than an area of each of the first panels. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the two second panels are spaced apart from the lower peripheral rim. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, one of the two second panels includes a flap that extends onto the other of the two second panels to conceal the elongated slot when hair is not extending through the elongated slot. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the dome includes at least one third panel that defines a portion of the lower peripheral rim, and is disposed in both the front dome portion and the rear dome portion. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, an angle at which an outer perimeter of the visor meets the dome portion is 140°-150°. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the arc segment is a first arc segment, the dome has a second arc segment that extends from the apex to the visor; and a difference between a length of the second arc segment and a length of the first arc segment is 0.5-1.5 inches. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, the difference between the length of the second arc segment and the length of the first arc segment is 0.8-1.2 inches. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a reflective material is provided on an exterior of one or more portions of the dome or visor. 
     A hat according to an example of the present disclosure includes a visor, and a dome defining a cavity to accommodate a wearer&#39;s head. The dome has an apex, a lower peripheral rim, a front dome portion from which the visor extends, and a rear dome portion opposite the front dome portion. The dome includes an arc segment extending between the apex and a rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim. An elongated slot along the arc segment defines a hair passage that extends through the rear dome portion into the cavity. The elongated slot has lateral sides that are continuous. A major portion of the dome is composed of one or more first materials, and a minor portion of the dome, which defines the elongated slot, is composed of a second material that includes a greater amount of spandex than each of the one or more first materials. A section of the rear dome portion that extends from the rearmost point to the elongated slot is continuous. 
     In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments, a band lines the interior of the dome along the lower peripheral rim, and the band has an inner surface that faces inwards towards the cavity, with a gripping material disposed on the inner surface of the band for gripping the wearer&#39;s head. 
     The embodiments, examples, and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the front of a hat. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the hat of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the hat of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the hat of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the hat of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a bottom of the hat of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a front of a hat  20  that includes a visor  22  having an outer edge  23 , and a dome  24 . The dome  24  includes a front dome portion  26 , from which the visor  22  extends, and a rear dome portion  28  that is provided opposite the front dome portion  26 . The dome  24  defines an internal cavity (not shown) that is sized to accommodate a wearer&#39;s head. The dome  24  includes an apex  30  and a plurality of panels  32 A-F which meet at the apex  30 . The apex  30  is located in the middle of an apex member  31 . The panels  32 D-F are not visible in  FIG. 1 , they are shown in additional vantage points provided by  FIGS. 2-6 . The dome has a lower peripheral rim  38 . 
     A seam  50  is provided between the panels  32 A and  32 B. An arc segment A 1  extends along the seam between the apex  30  and a point  52  at which the seam  50  meets the visor  22 . The arc segment A 1  has a length L 1 . 
     Optionally, a reflective material (e.g., a reflective fabric) may be provided on an exterior of one or more portions of the dome  24  or visor  22  to improve visibility of a wearer (e.g., in dim lighting conditions). In one example, a reflective strip  35  is provided along the sides and back of the dome  24  and/or along the outer edge  23  of the visor  22 . Of course, these are only example locations, and other reflective material locations, sizes, or quantities could be used. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the hat  20  of  FIG. 1 . The visor  22  meets the lower peripheral rim  38  in the front dome portion  26 . A panel  34 A extends along a bottom of the rear dome portion  28 , and at least partially defines the lower peripheral rim  38 . A panel  34 B is disposed between the panel  34 A and the panels  32 C-D. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the visor  22  extends away from the lower peripheral rim  38  at an angle  . In one example,   is 130°-160°. In a further example,   is 140°-150°. In a further example,   is approximately 145°. Each of these angles is steeper than the angle at which a visor of a typical baseball hat meets its lower peripheral rim, which is approximately 165°. By extending at a steeper angle, the lower peripheral rim  38  extends closer to the bottom of a wearer&#39;s head, and is able to grip a lower part of the rear of the wearer&#39;s head than a typical baseball hat. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the hat of  FIG. 1 , which illustrates the panels  32 C-E and  34 A-B. As shown in  FIG. 3 , an elongated slot  40  is provided between the panels  32 D and  32 E, along a portion of the seam  56  between the panels  32 D and  32 E. The elongated slot  40  defines a hair passage  42  that extends through the rear portion  28  of the dome to the internal cavity. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a rear view of the hat  20 . A point  54  along the lower peripheral rim  38  is the rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim  38 . An arc segment A 2  is provided between the apex  30  and the rearmost point  54 , and has a length L 2 . The arc segment A 2  extends along the seam  56  provided between panels  32 E and  32 D and also extends along the middle of the hair passage  42 . In one example, a length of the elongated slot  40  as measured along the outer surface of the dome  24  along arc segment A 2  (represented by L 3  in  FIG. 4 ) is 20-30% of the total length L 2  of the arc segment A 2 . In one example, the length of the elongated slot  40  is 1.5-2 inches. In a further example, the length of the elongated slot  40  is approximately 1.75 inches. In one example, the elongated slot  40  is located in the 4/10 of the arc segment A 2  that is closest to the apex  30 . 
     As shown in the example of  FIG. 4 , the hat  20  can be a fitted hat, such that a portion of the arc segment portion A 2  that extends between the elongated slot  40  and the rearmost point  54  is continuous. Also, the elongated slot  40  has sides  43 A and  43 B which in the example of  FIG. 4  are continuous. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the panels  32 D-E are spaced apart from the lower peripheral rim. 
     The length L 2  of the arc segment A 2  on the rear of the hat  20  is greater than the length L 1  of the arc segment A 1  on the front of the hat  20 . In one example, a difference between L 2  and L 1  is 0.5-1.5 inches. In a further example, the difference between L 2  and L 1  is 0.8-1.2 inches. In one example, the length L 1  of the arc segment A 1  is approximately 6.5″ and the length L 2  of the arc segment L 2  is approximately 7.5″. Of course, other lengths could be used. 
       FIG. 4  depicts the panels  32 D-E and  34 A-B. In one example, an area of each of the panels  32 D-E, which define the elongated slot  40  in the rear dome portion  28 , is less than an area of each of the panels  32 A-B in the front dome portion  26 . 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the hat  20  of  FIG. 1 . Each of the panels  32 A-F is visible in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the generally triangle panels  32 A-F meets at the apex  30 . 
     A plane P extends longitudinally between the front dome portion  26  and rear dome portion  28  along a centerline of the hat and bisects the hat  20 . Each of the arc segments A 1  and A 2  lie within the plane P. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a flap  58  may optionally be provided which extends from panel  32 E onto panel  32 D, and extends over the elongated slot  40  to conceal the elongated slot  40  when no hair is extending through the passage  42  defined by the elongated slot  40 . Of course this is only an example, and it is understood that the flap  58  could instead extend from panel  32 D onto panel  32 E, for example. 
     A major portion of the dome  24  (e.g., including panels  32 A-C,  32 F, and  34 A-B) is composed of one or more first materials (e.g., composed of a single material, or different parts of the major portion are composed of different first materials), and a minor portion of the dome  24  that defines the elongated slot  40  (e.g., the panels  32 D-E) is composed of a second material that includes a greater amount of spandex than each of the one or more first materials, which makes the minor portion more stretchable than the major portion. The stretchability of the minor portion makes the elongated slot  40  suitable for providing the hair passage  42  through which a wearer can extend their hair (e.g., for a bun or a ponytail). In one example, the panels  32 D-E are at least partially composed of a four-way stretch spandex material. 
     In one example, the second material (including at least the panels  32 D-E) includes 14%-100% spandex and 0-86% polyester, and the one or more first materials include less spandex (e.g., 2-20%). Thus, in one particular example, the second material includes 7-50 times more spandex than each of the first materials. 
     In one example, the major portion is composed of a material having an approximately 50% stretch (i.e., an X inch section of the major portion can be stretched to 150% its original length), and the minor portion has an approximately 100% strength (i.e., an X inch section of the minor portion can be stretched to approximately 200% of its original length). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the panels  32 C,  32 F,  34 B, and  34 E are partially disposed in the front dome portion  26  and are partially disposed in the rear dome portion  28 , while panels  32 A-B are entirely disposed in the front dome portion  26 , and panels  32 D-E are entirely disposed in the rear dome portion  28 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a bottom of the hat  20  of  FIG. 1  which depicts an inner cavity  60  defined by and provided within the dome  24  for receiving a wearer&#39;s head. The hair passage  42  defined by the elongated slot  40  in  FIGS. 3-5  that extends through the rear dome portion  28  to the internal cavity  60  and provides an opening for a wearer to extend their hair from the internal cavity  60  through the rear dome portion  28 . 
     An elasticized band  62  lines an interior of the dome  24  along the lower peripheral rim  38 . The band  62  is elasticized and is stretchable to accommodate different head sizes. The elasticized band  62  has an inner surface  64  that faces inwards towards the cavity  60 . A gripping material  66  is disposed on the inner surface  64  of the band  62  for gripping the wearer&#39;s head. In one example, the gripping material  66  is rubber. In the example of  FIG. 6 , the gripping material  66  comprises a plurality of continuous strips of rubber that are spaced apart from each other. The gripping material  66  has a higher coefficient of friction than the rest of the elasticized band  62 , and helps prevent the hat  20  slipping off the head of the wearer, particularly during a fitness activity. 
     In the example of  FIG. 6 , the gripping material  66  extends along the entire the lower peripheral rim  38  of the dome  24  except for a portion of the lower peripheral rim  38  from which the visor  22  extends. In one example, the gripping material  66  elasticized band  62  extends along the entire perimeter of the lower peripheral rim  38 . In one example, the gripping material  66  is provided on one or more discrete portions of the elasticized band (e.g., at and proximate to the rearmost point  54 ). 
     The various features discussed above of the hat  20  make it suitable for use in fitness applications. The hair passage  42  provided by the elongated slot  40  comfortably accommodates wearer&#39;s having longer hair by enabling them to pull their hair through the hair passage  42 . Also, the elongated slot  40  can be positioned at a suitable location for ponytails and hair buns. The rearmost point  54  on the lower peripheral rim  38  is lower than that of a standard baseball hat, and that aspect, combined with the interior gripping material  66 , provides for suitable gripping of the base of a wearer&#39;s skull, which prevents the hat  20  from undesirably slipping during fitness exercises such as running and jumping. 
     Although example embodiments have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the scope and content of this disclosure.