Hat with multi-stretchable headband

Abstract

An adjustable cap for fitting wears having different head sizes is made from a headpiece or shell formed from gores, at least one of which is uniaxially laterally stretchable. A bill is affixed to at least one of said gores for shading the eyes of a wearer of said adjustable cap. A knitted headband is affixed to the inside of said headpiece and to the gores. The headband is made from 6-way stretchable material made from about 50% cotton, about 25% spandex, and about 25% nylon.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] None STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] Not applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention generally relates to so-called baseball hats or caps typically with a visor, and more particularly to such hats with stretchable gores and multi-stretchable headbands. [0004] The challenge to hat manufacturers has been to make a hat, such as a baseball cap, that fits different head sizes. Straps of Velcro® or other closure types seem to predominate the marketplace in response to a single cap that fits “all” head sizes. [0005] Of more recent vintage is the use of caps that employ stretchable gores and stretchable headbands to vary the size of the cap to different head sizes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,540 proposes a hat having uniaxially woven stretchable gores and a woven uniaxially stretchable headband. U.S. Pat. No. 6,493,880 proposes a hat having uniaxially woven or knitted stretchable gores and ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Advantages of the present invention include a 6-way stretchable headband that makes the hat more comfortable to wear for the user by automatically adjusting to the wearer's head in all 6 directions when the hat is pulled down over the user's head for wearing, which is an improvement over headbands that merely stretch in 2 or 4 directions. Having a 6-way stretch greatly improves wearability for all shapes and size heads, which can differ greatly throughout the US and the world. The 2 and 4 way stretch hats still have limiting factors that only allow for a lower percentage of wea ability and usage. Not only will the 6-way increase the percentage of users, but it will also allow for an increased comfortable wearing time versus the 2 and 4-way stretch bands. For more functional rather than fashionable wearers this becomes increasingly important. In sports usage and other more functional utility usage where the cap is ultimately used for actual sun protection, the increase in the time a person can comfortably wear the hat becomes even more critical. These and other advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art based on the disclosure set forth herein.

Problems solved by technology

The 2 and 4 way stretch hats still have limiting factors that only allow for a lower percentage of wea ability and usage.

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