Abstract:
A type of lightweight, multi-use headware is provided which has a concealable elastic loop on one or both sides of the headware for temporarily receiving a small illuminating device that allows the handle of the illuminating device to be securely held within the elastic loop of the headware. When the illuminating device is removed from the elastic loop, the loop may be concealed within the headware so that the headware may be used in the more traditional manner of shielding the user&#39;s face and eyes from sunlight.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    Priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/221,616 filed on Jul. 28, 2000, and entitled “MULTI-USE CAP WITH TAB FOR HOLDING ACCESSORIES” and further identified as Attorney DocketNo. 4525-2PROV, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to headware, and particularly to a cap or hat which is constructed to temporarily hold a handle portion of an illuminating device in a concealable tab. When the illuminating device is removed from the headware, the concealable tab may be concealed along the sweatband of the cap, and the cap or hat may be used for its more traditional purpose of shielding the sun from the face of a user.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The use of portable flashlights for illumination purposes are well known and frequently used by hunters, fisherman, miners, fireman and others having a particular task to perform in the darkness. To permit the user of the flashlight to have both hands free to perform a designated task, it has been found advantageous to have the flashlight securely connected to headware worn by the user of the flashlight. This type of attachment allows the illuminating beam of light to be constantly positioned in the users direction of sight.  
           [0004]    The headware used for the attachment of a flashlight has commonly been in the form of a rigid hardhat, or helmet with an exterior bracket for attaching the flashlight, batteries to operate the flashlight, or both. One type of configuration has a flashlight attached to the hardhat with a wire connected to a battery pack worn on the belt of the user. Another type of design has the batteries attached on the rear exterior surface of the hardhat. These types of configurations are generally heavy, cumbersome, and have a tendency to permit either the handle portion of the flashlight, the batteries attachment bracket, or wiring to become snagged or hooked on surrounding limbs from trees or shrubs or on other objects.  
           [0005]    Another type of flashlight holder which may be worn around the user&#39;s head utilizes a headband or strap which attaches to a small flashlight. Although these apparatus are much lighter and less cumbersome to wear than the rigid hats described above, they do not adequately secure the flashlight to the user&#39;s head, and are additionally prone to snagging objects such as limbs or twigs due to the flashlight handle projecting from the strap. Furthermore, the headband type of flashlight holder does not have any other utility besides holding the flashlight. For example, the headband cannot be used to shield the sun from a user&#39;s eyes, provide protection to the user&#39;s head from the weather, or provide protection in the case of a hard hat.  
           [0006]    Thus, a need exists for a type of headware, and more particularly a cap or fedora to be constructed in a manner which allows a small flashlight handle to be temporarily and concealably secured to the hat in a manner which alleviates the flashlight handle from snagging other objects, yet is compatible for the user to inconspicuously wear the hat for other uses such as shielding the sun or protection from the weather.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is thus one aspect of the present invention to provide a type of lightweight, non-rigid hat or headware with means for attaching an illumination device in a manner which is non-obtrusive and not likely to snag on surrounding objects. It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide headware that inconspicuously houses the means for attaching an illumination device when not in use. It is yet a further aspect of the invention that the headware be capable of dual use during both nighttime and daytime conditions.  
           [0008]    Thus, in one aspect of the present invention, a lightweight cap or fedora is constructed in a manner which allows the handle portion of a small flashlight to be interconnected to an expandable or elastic loop or tab attached to the interior of the cap. The illumination device or flashlight is temporarily secured to the elastic loop, and thus the cap, in a manner which permits the flashlight to be easily removed for other uses, and once removed, the loop can be replaced into the shell of the cap such that the cap is substantially indistinguishable from caps currently used by sportsmen, police officers and others who work or enjoy recreational activities in the dark.  
           [0009]    Thus, it is an additional aspect of the present invention that the cap be designed to appear substantially similar to commonly worn baseball type caps or fedora hats which may be used for its generally accepted purpose of shielding the users face from the sun during daylight. However, a means for securing a flashlight within the cap is provided which is inexpensive to manufacture, comfortable for the user and allows a traditional cap to be used for a dual purpose.  
           [0010]    In another aspect of the invention, the securement of the flashlight handle is accomplished in a manner which maintains the flashlight in close proximity to the user&#39;s head. This configuration is not only aesthetically pleasing, but more importantly, generally prevents the handle portion of the flashlight from being snagged or hooked by adjacent objects such as tree limbs, and permits the cap and attached flashlight to be worn in confining spaces. This configuration further allows the beam of light from the flashlight to be directed toward the user&#39;s line of sight.  
           [0011]    It is a further aspect of the invention that a small flashlight may be secured on either side of the hat or both sides if the user requires additional illumination. Thus, the invention allows a user to customize the use of the hat for whatever particular use is preferred.  
           [0012]    To secure the flashlight to the headware, an expandable type fabric is generally interconnected to the base surface of the cap between the shell of the cap and the sweatband of the cap. The material forms a loop or a sleeve which is sized to specifically hold a small flashlight, and is generally stitched, glued, or heat bonded to the cap for securement purposes. To form the loop, a standard elastic strip of the desired length may be simply cut to the appropriate length, folded to form a loop, and sewn, adhered, or otherwise interconnected to the cap shell. The sweatband is secured, generally by stitching or adhesive, to the shell of the cap along the circumference of the base of the cap. However, the sweatband is not secured to the shell of the cap along the length of the interconnection of the elastic loop, thereby creating a defined space between the shell and the sweatband for receiving the expandable loop in a first position of storage. This allows an opening or aperture between the sweatband and the shell of the cap such that the elastic loop may be folded up into the cap between the shell and the sweatband when not in use.  
           [0013]    Alternatively, the elastic loop may be attached to the sweatband rather than the shell of the cap. This alternative embodiment maintains the aperture between the sweatband and the shell of the cap for insertion and concealment of the elastic loop. However, this embodiment may simplify assembly since the attachment ofthe elastic loop to the sweatband involve smaller and more manageable pieces of the cap than working with the cap itself at this stage of manufacturing. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a portion of the bottom view shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 a  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 at line “AA” with the elastic loops shown in the concealed position;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 b  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 at line “AA” with the elastic loops shown in the exposed position;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 c  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 with the elastic loops shown in the exposed view and expanded to receive a flashlight;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the cap and identifying a rubber strip with slits for receiving a flashlight;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and identifying the rubber slits in a position of non-use;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 6, taken at line BB; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is sectional view of FIG. 6, taken at line BB, and showing one of the rubber strips suspended for receiving a handheld flashlight. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]    Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention in a front perspective view. In this embodiment the cap  10  is shown comprising generally a shell  12 , a brim  14 , and a sweatband  16 . The shell  12  having an exterior surface  12   a , an interior surface  12   b , and a circumferential base  13 . The brim  14  having a base end  14   a  and a visor end  14   b . In a manner typical of the construction of a cap, the base end  14   a  of brim  14  is attached to the circumferential base  13  of shell  12 . A handheld flashlight  18  having a longitudinal handle portion  18   a  is secured to the cap  10  by a concealable expandable or elastic loop  20 . The handheld flashlight  18  may be inserted into the concealable elastic loop  20  by expanding the elastic loop  20  to accommodate the handle portion  18   a  of the handheld flashlight  18 . Once the elastic loop  20  is allowed to naturally contract, the flashlight  18  is securely held by the elastic loop  20 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 also shows the alternative embodiment of the multiple use of elastic loops  20  within a single cap  10 . This alternative embodiment allows the user to select the most convenient location for the handheld flashlight  18  relative to the user&#39;s head. The selection may be based on the type and position of the task to be performed by the user, or may be based on which of the user&#39;s dominant eyes is being used in conjunction with firing a weapon or using a tool. Additionally, multiple flashlights  18  may be desirable to provide additional light to accomplish the task at hand.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows more clearly the position of the elastic loop  20  relative to the sweatband  16 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 clearly shows the relative positions of the cap shell  12 , the concealable elastic loop  20 , and the sweatband  16 . FIG. 3 also shows an alternative embodiment of the attachment means for the concealable elastic loop  20  to the cap  10 . In this embodiment, the elastic loop  20  is attached to the sweatband  16  by the elastic loop stitching  22 . The elastic loop stitching  22  connects only the elastic loop  20  to the sweatband  16 .  
         [0028]    In this particular embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the sweatband  16  is attached to the cap shell  12  by the shell stitching  24 . The shell stitching  24  is provided along the entire circumference of the cap shell  12  except for the length of the elastic loop  20 . The absence of the shell stitching  24  along the length of the elastic loop  20  provides an aperture between the cap shell  12  and the sweatband  16  wherein the elastic loop  20  can be inserted and concealed during periods of non-use.  
         [0029]    An alternative embodiment to that shown in FIGS.  1 - 4  consists of providing an aperture or slit in a shell  12  of cap  10  wherein the expandable loop  20  is withdrawn from a first position of storage, and is thereby exposed to the exterior of shell  12  to a second position of use. In this particular embodiment, shell stitching  24  may extend around the entire circumferential base  13  of shell  12 .  
         [0030]    A further alternative embodiment to that shown in FIGS.  1 - 4  consists of positioning the elastic loop  20  interior of the sweatband  16 . In this alternative embodiment, the elastic loop  20  would be situated between the user&#39;s head and the sweatband  16 . When the user desires to use the flashlight holding feature, the user folds down the elastic loop  20  and subsequently inserts flashlight  18  into elastic loop  20 . Accordingly, this alternative embodiment does not require an aperture through which the elastic loop  20  must pass to be utilized.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 4 a ,  4   b , and  4   c  are cross-sectional views of the cap  10  from FIG. 2 with the concealable elastic loops  20  shown in various positions. In FIG. 4 a , the concealable elastic loops  20  are shown in the retracted or concealed first position. As shown in FIG. 4 a , the elastic loops  20  are virtually unnoticeable when concealed.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 b  shows the concealable elastic loops  20  in their lowered position. FIG. 4 c  shows the concealable elastic loops  20  in their lowered second position expanded and ready to receive a flashlight  18 . Once a flashlight  18  is inserted, the elastic loops  20  are allowed to contract naturally and the elastic loops  20  will secure the flashlight  18  to the cap  10 . FIG.  4   c  further shows the close proximity in which the elastic loops  20  maintain the flashlight  18  relative to the cap shell  12 . This close proximity reduces the possibility of either the flashlight  18  or the elastic loops  20  snagging or hooking on objects near the user&#39;s head.  
         [0033]    FIGS.  5 - 8  show an alternative embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, a rubber strip  26  is provided which has either two slits  28  positioned to receive the handle of a flashlight  18 , as depicted in FIGS.  5 - 7 , or alternatively, a rubber loop  32  is provided to receive the handle of a flashlight  18 , as depicted in FIGS. 5, 6, and  8 . When not in use, the rubber strip  26  is conveniently stored in a non-visible position within the cap  10 , and preferably behind the sweatband  16  for comfort purposes. During use, the rubber strip is merely pulled downward to expose either the slits  28  or the loop  32  which is adapted for holding the flashlight  18 .  
         [0034]    The rubber strip  26  or elastic loop  20  may be attached to the cap  10  either during manufacturing, or may be sold as an aftermarket item to be attached at a later date. The elastic loop  20  or rubber strip  26  may additionally be attached either directly to the sweatband  16  or positioned between the sweatband  16  and the shell  12  of the cap.