Patent Publication Number: US-2019183201-A1

Title: Adjustable Snap Back Cap with Logo

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/608,108, filed Dec. 20, 2017, entitled Adjustable Snap Back Cap With Logo, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     a) Field of the Invention: 
     The present invention relates to caps worn on a user&#39;s head. Often there will be a logo or icon displayed on the cap. Such caps often take the form of a soft hat with a rounded top featuring a long bill in the front. In use, a user would throw on a cap, head out to go shopping, camping, fishing, and walking with the cap on the user&#39;s head. Typically, caps are adjustable to fit the size of the user&#39;s head. 
     b) Description of the Related Art: 
     In the prior art, one such adjustment strap for a cap at the back of the cap is referred to in the art of such hats is as a “snapback” strap. The snapback strap has two overlapping pieces of plastic strap that snap together. The two straps are opposed and have overlapping ends. The ends attach to one another with a combination of spaced apart projections on one end and through holes spaced apart on the other end to receive the projections, such that the size of the cap is adjustable. The projections are on the strap closest to the head of the wearer and are on the side of that strap opposite the head and the projections point away from the head. This is so, so the projection does not point toward or project into the head of the wearer. The holes of the snapback strap are through holes and are on the outer strap not closest to the head of the wearer. 
     The projections go through the holes and therefore it is not possible to place a logo on the outer strap or the logo would either be defaced because of the openings or the logo would prevent the projections from going all the way through the outer strap. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an improvement that allows placement of a plastic logo or icon to be attached or to be a part of the snapback adjustable strap end on a cap. Previously this was not possible because of the arrangement of the snapback straps on the cap and because of the openings in the snapback strap ends that interfered with the logo thereon. In the present invention, the openings do not interfere with the logo or icon that is a part of the snapback strap end. 
     In one embodiment, disclosed is a dome shaped fabric having an opening for receiving a wearer&#39;s head, with a sizing band spanning a circumference of the opening, the sizing band being rotatably mounted on the fabric at an edge of the opening, the sizing band having a first longitudinal end with male connectors defined as protrusions having a length, the protrusions being directed towards the wearer&#39;s head in a wearing position of the hat, the sizing band having a second longitudinal end with female connectors being holes for engaging respective male connectors and sizing the circumference, the holes having a depth greater than the length of the protrusions. 
     In another aspect of the hat the logo is disposed on a portion of the first longitudinal end opposite the male connectors. 
     In yet another embodiment, the hat has a dome shaped fabric having an opening for receiving a wearer&#39;s head, a flexible sizing band being affixed at an edge of the opening, the sizing band having male connectors and female connectors engaging with one another for setting a circumferential size of the opening and the female connectors being blind holes having a depth for receiving an entire length of the male connectors. 
     In an another embodiment, the male connectors project radially from the sizing band inward toward the wearer&#39;s head. 
     In another aspect, the hat has a logo that is attached to the portion of the sizing band having male connectors and the logo is located on the opposite side of the male connectors and the logo faces away from a user&#39;s head. 
     In yet another aspect, the logo is attached to the sizing band having male connectors. 
     In still another aspect, the sizing band has two ends, the sizing band is attached at one end to the portion of the sizing band having male connectors and is attached at the other end to the portion of the sizing band having female connectors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a bottom view of a cap of the present invention showing the logo attached to the outer snapback strap, with the inner snapback strap in close proximity to the outer snapback strap, but not yet engaged or attached. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the cap shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the outer snapback strap engaged or attached to the inner snapback strap. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the cap shown in  FIG. 1 , showing an adjustment of the snapback straps by rotating the snapback straps within the cap in a clockwise direction. 
         FIG. 4  is a drawing showing the rear view in the foreground and a partial front view in the background of how a cap of the present invention would look with a logo attached to the outer snapback strap. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial enlarged bottom view taken from a portion of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line B-B from  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a partial view of prior art snapback straps showing the inner strap, outer strap and arrangement of the male protrusion and female hole. 
         7 A is a sectional view of a portion of the prior art shown in  FIG. 7  when the male protrusion is inserted into the female hole and protrudes through the hole opening. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the cap taken along line A-A in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the outer strap of the present invention and the logo. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of a portion of the outer strap and logo portion. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the inner strap. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the inner strap of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A description of the preferred embodiment is set forth herein and in the accompanying figures, drawings and photographs. 
     Referring to the figures, a hat or cap  10  with a domed shaped fabric  10 A is shown. Cap  10  has a first generally round domed portion  11  and a bill portion  12  extending from the domed portion  11 . The fabric  10 A is generally soft but can be of any hardness. Often the bill portion  12  of cap  10  is at the front  10 B of cap  10 . 
     As shown in the figures, domed portion  11  has an opening  13 , on the bottom side  14  of cap  10 , to receive a wearer&#39;s head (not shown). Within the domed portion  11  on the bottom side  14  is a continuous inner band  16  extending substantially around the inner circumference of cap  10  at the bottom side  14 . Inner band  16  has an inner wall side  16 A and an outer wall side  16 B. Likewise, the domed shaped fabric  10 A has an inner side  10 AI and an outer side  10 AO. 
     A flexible sizing band  20  is positioned in a valley  18  between the inner wall side  10 AI of fabric  10 A and the outer wall  16 B of inner band  16 . Sizing band  20  is slideable within valley  18  in either circumferential direction. Sizing band  20  is held in place within valley  18  by loops  25  at circumferential locations within cap  10  at the bottom side  14 . 
     Sizing band  20  is an elongated elastic band having a first strap end  21  and a second strap end  22 . Elastic band may be of any desired elastic material. First strap end  21  has a first strap end portion  21 A that includes a plurality of male protrusions or projections  31 . Second strap end  22  has a second strap end portion  22 A that includes a plurality of openings in the form of a blind hole  32 . 
     Projection  31  has a cross-sectional shape of an isosceles trapezoid. Projection  31  has a base portion  31 A, a mid-portion  31 B and an end or tip portion  31 C. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the tip portion  31 C is greater than the diameter of the mid-portion  31 B. The diameter of the base portion  31 A is equal or less than the diameter of the mid-portion  31 B. 
     Blind hole  32  has a cross sectional shape of an isosceles trapezoid. Blind hole has a bottom portion  32 A, a mid-portion  32 B and a surface portion  32 C. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the surface portion  32 C is smaller than the diameter of the mid-portion  32 B. The diameter of the bottom portion  32 A is equal or less than the diameter of the mid-portion  32 B. 
     Projection  31  has a height or length dimension Hp measured from the base at  31 A to the tip portion  31 C. The blind hole  32  has a depth dimension Hb measured from the bottom portion  32 A to the surface portion  32 C. The length dimension Hp is less than the depth dimension Hb in order that the projection  31  can fit entirely within the blind hole  32 . 
     First strap end  21  over laps second strap end  22  such that first strap end portion  21 A is adjacent second strap end portion  22 A. Further, second strap end portion  22 A is adjacent the head of the user or wearer and is between the head of the user and first strap end portion  21 A. In this manner first strap end portion  21 A is at the exterior or outside portion of the cap  10 . 
     Male protrusion  31  faces inward toward the head of the user from first strap end portion  21 A of band  20  and toward the head of a user/wearer wearing cap  10 . Opening  32  is a blind hole to receive male protrusion  31 . Male protrusion  31  fits within opening  32  with a friction fit or snap fit, such that male protrusion  31  is securely held in place within opening  32 , when inserted into opening  32 . There are a plurality of male protrusions  31  on first strap end portion  21 A and a plurality of openings  32  at second strap end portion  22 A that align one to the other depending on the length of first end  21  that overlaps second end  22  when the sizing band  20  is adjusted to fit the circumferential size of the wearer&#39;s head. 
     Cap  10  is adjustable to fit the size of a wearer&#39;s head. Sizing band  20  is adjustable to secure cap  10  on a wearer&#39;s head. First end  21  of sizing band  20  overlaps second end  22  of sizing band  20 . As is known in the art, the ends  21  and  22  of sizing band  20  are pulled to overlap so that sizing band  20  firmly supports cap  10  on the wearer&#39;s head, adjusting the circumferential length of sizing band  20  on the wearer&#39;s head. When the correct length of the sizing band  20  is determined, the wearer secures the first end  21  of band  20  to the second end  22  by inserting the aligned one or more male protrusions  31  of first strap end  21  into the openings  32  of second strap end  22 . In order to finely adjust the location of the first strap end portion  21 A, the band  20  can be rotated or adjusted such that the outer first strap end  21  of band  20  is centered on the rear of the wearer&#39;s head or centered at the rear of cap  10 . This is desirable as a logo  40  or other icon when placed or secured on band  20  preferably is located on the first strap end portion  21 A of first strap end  21  and is centered at the rear of cap  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the interior of cap  10  includes one or more supports  35  extending along the inner side of cap  10  and attached at opposite sides of the opening  13  of cap  10 . The cap  10  includes vent holes  35 A and the top of cap  10  includes a button  37 . 
     As seen in the figures, a logo  41  or a logo bar  40  having a logo  41  thereon, is attached to outer portion of first strap end portion  21 A. Alternatively the logo  41  or the logo bar  40  can also be a part of outer first strap end portion  21 A. The logo bar  40  supports one or more logos  41  or icons or other pieces of art or art that is desired to be displayed on the cap  10 . Typically, as shown in  FIG. 4  such logos  41  are related to a sport or team etc. 
     The present invention allows a logo  41  to be placed on or alternatively form a part of the adjustable sizing band  20  without limiting the ability to use the male protrusions  31  and openings  32  to adjust the circumference of sizing band  20  around a user&#39;s head. The placement of logo  41  on sizing band  20  does not affect the use of male  31  and female fasteners  32 , since the logo  41  is located on the opposite side of band  20  where the male protrusions  31  are located on first end  21 . In this manner, the logo  41  is not defaced or disfigured and does not include a hole  32 . 
     This was not possible in the prior art sizing bands. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the overlapping ends  111  and  114  of the sizing band  120  were arranged such that the male protrusions  113  faced away from the wearer&#39;s head. This was because if the male protrusions  113  were directed toward the user&#39;s head, the pointed ends of the male protrusions  113  would irritate a user&#39;s head. Thus, in the prior art, the outer overlapping end  111  had the female openings  112  to receive the male protrusions  113  of the inner overlapping end  114 . In these prior art embodiments, the male protrusion  113  in order to be secured within a female opening  112 , the male protrusion would fit through opening  112  and extend beyond the opening  112  as shown if  FIG. 7A . Further in order to place a logo on the overlapping end  111 , the openings  112  would be blocked or covered with the logo  41 , filled from the attachment of the logo  41  on the end  111 , and thus would not allow a male protrusion  113  to fit into the female openings  112  if a logo were attached to the end having the female openings, all limiting the ability to adjust the circumference of a sizing band. Additionally, the openings  112  would be a part of the logo  41  which is undesirable as it disfigured the logo  41  in some matter. 
     The present invention allows a logo  41  to be a part of the outer strap  21  at the first strap end portion  21 A. The strap  20  is fully adjustable in location at sizing to the user&#39;s head without having unsightly openings  112  to appear on the sizing strap or within the logo  41 . This is only possible because the projections  31  are a part of the first strap end portion  21 A where the projections  31  point inward toward the wearer&#39;s head. The openings  32  are located on the inner second strap end portion  22 A and are not a part of the logo  41 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 9 to 12 , the sizing band  20 , which may be elastic or other stretch material, may be attached to first strap end  21  and second strap end  22  by insertion of the strap  20  end into a slotted opening  21 E or opening  22 E and held in place and attached with an adhesive. Alternatively, the first strap end  21  and second strap end  22  may be a part of the same strap  20 . Additionally, the logo  41  may be attached to first strap end portion  21 A or may be a part thereof. 
     While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.