Adjustable size hat

Abstract

To provide a size-adjustable cap that fits a shape of a head and does not fall off during exercise or due to wind, and is particularly suitable for sports such as golf, tennis, and baseball.SOLUTION: A composite band 6 consisting of an elastic sweat band and a shape-memory band is attached along a lower edge of an inner periphery of a cap body 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a size-adjustable hat that provides a better fit and will not fall off during exercise or due to wind, and in particular to a size-adjustable hat that is suitable for sports such as golf, tennis, and baseball. [Background technology]

[0002] Brimmed hats (caps) are usually manufactured and sold in several sizes, such as S, M, L, and LL. However, because such ready-made hats have little elasticity, there are relatively few hats that fit the head exactly, and people have had to purchase hats that are a little tight or a little loose.

[0003] Wearing a small hat for a long time can cause headaches due to the extreme pressure. On the other hand, if the hat is adjusted too loosely, it can easily fall off, and in some cases, if the hat falls off due to wind or other factors, there is a risk of an unexpected accident when trying to remove it.

[0004] In addition, it is difficult to select a hat of the right size, and even if the right size hat is selected, there are drawbacks such as the hat becoming loose with use, becoming tight as the hair grows, or shrinking and becoming tight when it gets wet in the rain or washed.

[0005] Further, conventional size-adjustable hats include hats such as hat 31 shown in FIG. 7, which have a circumferential seam on a portion of the lower part of crown portion 32, or a string insertion portion 33 formed in a tubular or bag-like shape, with string 34 passed through this seam or string insertion portion and the ends of string 34 pulled together to tie. However, these tend to wrinkle the lower part of crown portion 32, which mars the silhouette and poses a major problem in appearance, particularly in women's hats.

[0006] Therefore, the type disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with a crown portion, a visor portion and a slider portion, and a number of loop portions formed in a loop shape around the circumferential direction of at least one of the fold-back portions and the slider portion of any of the above portions, and an adjustment string is arranged along these loop portions, and a size adjustment device is provided at the end of the adjustment string so that it can be engaged with any of the loop portions by pulling the adjustment string.When the adjustment string arranged along the loop portions is pulled, wrinkles are generated in the circumferential direction of the fold-back piece, and at the same time, the fold-back piece itself tilts towards the inward circumference, reducing the diameter of its inner circumference, so that the size adjustment does not affect the appearance of the crown portion and the visor portion, and the silhouette of the hat is not marred.

[0007] However, in the above type, the use of a string for size adjustment makes it feel tight, uncomfortable to wear, and troublesome to adjust the size. In addition, the adjustment string is attached to at least one of the folded pieces and the sliding part along its circumferential direction, and the loop part is formed in a loop shape around at least one of the folded pieces so as to surround the adjustment string in a tugable manner, which makes sewing difficult. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-89923 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Under these circumstances, the present invention aims to solve the various problems of the past and achieve the following objectives: That is, the present invention aims to provide a size-adjustable hat that fits the shape of the head and will not fall off during exercise or due to wind, and is particularly suitable for sports such as golf, tennis, and baseball. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the size-adjustable hat of the first invention of this application is characterized in that a composite band consisting of an elastic sweat band and a shape memory band is attached along the lower edge of the inner circumference of the hat body.

[0011] The size-adjustable hat of the second invention of the present application is characterized in that, in the first invention of the present application, a brim portion is protruded from the front part of the crown-shaped hat body, a cut-out portion is provided in the center of the rear part of the hat body, and a size adjustment belt and size adjustment device are provided in the cut-out portion.

[0012] The size-adjustable hat of the third invention of the present application is characterized in that in the second invention of the present application, the size adjustment belt and the sweatband are made of stretchable elastic woven fabric.

[0013] The size-adjustable hat of the fourth invention of the present application is characterized in that in the second invention of the present application, the size adjustment belt and sweat band are stretchable in the circumferential direction of the hat. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the first invention of the present application, the effect of the shape memory band, which has shape memory and temperature dependency, is that the sweat band stretches with the wearer's body temperature together with the shape memory band, so that the hat can fit various head shapes and reduce the tightness of the hat. Therefore, according to the first invention of the present application, it is possible to reduce the size development of hats, which have various sizes (S, M, L, LL, etc.), and to reduce unnecessary inventory. According to the second, third, and fourth inventions of the present application, the hat can fit the head shape even better and will not fall off due to the wind. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a size-adjustable hat of the present invention, seen obliquely from above. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a size-adjustable hat of the present invention, seen obliquely from below. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a method for manufacturing a composite band that constitutes the size-adjustable hat of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a composite band in which both ends of a shape memory band are covered with folded-back portions of a sweat band. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a graph showing the change in storage modulus of a shape memory band depending on temperature. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing stress-strain curves of a shape memory band according to temperature. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view of a conventional size-adjustable hat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it goes without saying that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the technical scope of the present invention.

[0017] 1 and 2 are respectively a perspective view from diagonally above and below of one embodiment of the size-adjustable hat of the present invention. This hat has a peak 2 protruding from the front of a crown-shaped hat body 1, a cut-out portion 3 at the center of the rear of the hat body 1, and a size adjustment belt 4 and a size adjuster 5 attached to the cut-out portion 3. In Fig. 2, 6 is a composite band consisting of an elastic sweat band and a shape memory band sewn along the lower edge of the inner circumference of the hat body, and is sewn so that the sweat band is on the inside (skin side).

[0018] The hat body 1 is usually made by sewing together 5 to 10 pieces of woven fabric of various shapes. The 5 to 10 pieces of woven fabric are not particularly limited and may be stretchable or non-stretchable, but it is preferable that at least one of the 5 to 10 pieces of woven fabric constituting the hat body, more preferably two or more pieces, are arranged symmetrically, and more preferably all of them are stretchable in the weft direction, warp direction, or both directions. This makes the hat body 1 stretchable in both the horizontal direction (weft direction) and the vertical direction (warp direction).

[0019] The hat body 1 is configured in a crown shape from six triangular stretchable woven fabrics 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, and 1f, and all six of these triangular woven fabrics are stretchable in both the horizontal (weft) and vertical (warp) directions.

[0020] In this case, even if the triangular woven fabrics 1a and 1f to which the brim portion 2 of the hat is sewn are made of elastic woven fabric, the elasticity effect will be smaller than that of the woven fabric in other parts due to the influence of the brim portion 2. Therefore, it is preferable to form the triangular woven fabrics 1b to 1e, especially the triangular woven fabrics 1b and 1e located on both side portions (both ear portions), from an elastic woven fabric in order to efficiently exert the elasticity effect.

[0021] In a hat having such a configuration, both side portions (1b and 1e) of the six triangular woven fabrics constituting the hat body 1 are stretchable in the weft direction, the warp direction, or both directions. There are no particular limitations on such stretchable woven fabric, but it is preferable to use a fabric woven using stretchable polyurethane elastic yarn as the weft and non-stretchable polyester / cotton blend yarn as the warp.

[0022] Furthermore, at least one or all of the 5 to 10 woven fabrics constituting the hat body may be made of a thin non-stretch fabric, preferably selected from mesh and functional materials.

[0023] The functional material is, for example, a fabric that is less likely to become stuffy, using a thin film attached to it such as Gore-Tex (registered trademark, product of Gore-Tex), a fiber with waterproofness and moisture permeability, a very fine fiber of 1.0 denier or less such as polyester fiber, a fiber processed into a special cross-sectional shape (groove, hollow, etc.), etc. Specific examples include mesh, Gore-Tex (registered trademark, manufactured by Gore-Tex), Dacron (manufactured by DuPont), Diaplex, etc.

[0024] In the size-adjustable hat of the present invention, the plastic inch tape that is usually attached to the lower edge of the inside circumference of the hat body has been removed in order to make it easier to adjust the size. Here, the inch tape is a thin band that is not easily stretchable, and is used to make it easier to sew together the triangular woven fabric during the hat making stage.

[0025] The composite band 6 is a composite band consisting of an elastic sweat band and a shape memory band, and is sewn so that the sweat band is on the inside (skin side). The sweat band is formed of a rubber elastic woven fabric sewn along the lower edge of the inner circumference of the hat body. In this case, in particular, using a rubber elastic woven fabric in which the weft thread is an elastic thread (spandex thread) and the warp thread is a non-elastic thread has elasticity in the weft direction (i.e., the circumferential direction of the hat), excellent sweat absorption, and appropriate adhesion, so that a comfortable wearing feeling and a stable feeling can be continuously shown. As such a rubber elastic woven fabric, a rubber band or a polyurethane woven fabric band is suitable. The manufacturing method of the composite band 6 will be described later.

[0026] In order to improve the design, the sweatband can be formed using the elastic woven fabric that constitutes the size adjustment band and the hat body. There are no particular limitations on such elastic woven fabric, but it is preferable to use elastic polyurethane elastic yarn as the weft and non-elastic polyester / cotton blend yarn as the warp.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the hat of the present invention has a cutout 3 at the center of the rear of the hat body 1. The size of this cutout 3 is not particularly limited, but it is usually about 10 cm wide and 5 cm high. The cutout has a size adjustment belt 4 sewn to one end and a size adjuster (buckle) 5 connected to the other end, making it possible to adjust the hat size.

[0028] In the present invention, the size adjustment belt 4 is made of a stretchable elastic woven fabric. In this case, it is particularly preferable to use an elastic woven fabric in which the weft is an elastic yarn (e.g., spandex yarn) and the warp is a non-elastic yarn, from the viewpoint of stretchability in the weft direction (i.e., the circumferential direction of the hat) and easy size adjustment.

[0029] A method for manufacturing a composite band 6 consisting of a stretchable sweat band and a shape memory band will be described with reference to Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, 11 is a take-up reel that stores a stretchable sweat band 12, and 13 is a take-up reel that stores a shape memory band 14. The sweat band 12 and the shape memory band 14 are clamped and pressed by upper and lower reels 15 and 16, and then both ends of the sweat band 12 are folded back by an end folding device 17 to produce the state shown in Fig. 4. Then, a first sewing machine 18 and a second sewing machine 19 are used to sew the folded back portions R1 and R2 shown in Fig. 4.

[0030] Since the first sewing machine 18 and the second sewing machine 19 have the same structure, the structure of the first sewing machine 18 will be described below, and a description of the structure of the second sewing machine 19 will be omitted. The first sewing machine 18 has a bed 20, a pillar 21, and an arm 22. The pillar 21 extends upward from the right end of the bed 20, and the arm 22 extends leftward from the upper end of the leg end 21 and faces the upper surface of the bed 20. The arm 22 has a spool pin 23 that protrudes upward from the left side of the upper surface. The spool pin 23 is used to pass the upper thread (not shown) fed from a thread spool.

[0031] The arm portion 22 has an upper shaft 24 and a main motor (not shown) therein. The upper shaft 24 extends in the left-right direction and is connected to the output shaft of the main motor via an upper shaft pulley (not shown). The arm portion 22 has a head 25 at its left end. The head 25 protrudes downward from the arm portion 22 and supports a needle bar 26 so that it can move up and down. The lower end of the needle bar 26 protrudes downward from the head 25. The needle bar 26 is connected to the upper shaft 24 via a vertical movement mechanism (not shown). The needle bar 26 moves up and down via the vertical movement mechanism as the upper shaft 24 rotates. A sewing needle 27 is attached to the lower end of the needle bar 26. The sewing needle 27 holds an upper thread 28 inserted through an eye, and the sewing needle 27 moves up and down together with the needle bar 26.

[0032] The bed section 20 is equipped therein with a shuttle, a thread cutting mechanism, and a cloth feed mechanism. The shuttle houses a bobbin around which the lower thread is wound. The shuttle has a point. The shuttle rotates with power from the main motor, and the point captures the upper thread 28 inserted through the eye of the sewing needle 27, and entangles it with the lower thread. The thread cutting mechanism has a fixed blade and a movable blade, and the upper thread 28 and the lower thread are cut by the combined action of the fixed blade and the movable blade.

[0033] Using the first sewing machine 18 and the second sewing machine 19 having the above-described structure, the folded-over portions R1 and R2 in FIG. 4 are sewn to obtain a composite band 29 consisting of an elastic sweat band and a shape-memory band, and this composite band 29 is stored in a storage container 30.

[0034] The composite band consisting of the elastic sweat band and the shape memory band can be manufactured by a method other than sewing. For example, the sweat band and the shape memory band can be thermally bonded together using an iron or a press, with or without an olefin-based adhesive between them.

[0035] In the above embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the composite band 29 consisting of an elastic sweat band and a shape memory band is obtained by folding back both ends of the sweat band 12 and sewing the folded back parts R1 and R2, but the composite band can also be manufactured by other methods. For example, a composite band in which the shape memory band is stored inside a cylindrical elastic sweat band and the longitudinal ends are closed by sewing to manufacture a composite band in which the shape memory band is not visible from the outside.

[0036] Next, a case where the hat according to one embodiment of the present invention is to be worn for the first time will be described. First, the hat is worn with the size adjustment belt 4 released from the size adjustment device (buckle) 5, and then the size adjustment belt 4 is connected to the buckle 5. When a slight tightening is felt, the buckle 5 is fixed. Then, the lower part of the six woven fabrics 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f (at least one of which is made of elastic woven fabric) constituting the hat main body 1 and the composite band 6 are automatically and precisely stretched and adjusted in the weft direction, i.e., in the circumferential direction of the hat, so that the wearer of the hat feels comfortable and stable wearing sensation.

[0037] On the other hand, if the hat is worn for a long time in this condition, it is possible that the accumulated pressure may cause a headache. In such a case, the pressure can be avoided by releasing the size adjustment device (buckle) 5, slightly loosening the elastic woven fabric size adjustment belt 4, and then fastening the buckle 5 again.

[0038] On the other hand, when the hat is in the automatic adjustment state described above, if a strong wind blows or the head is moved vigorously and the hat is in danger of coming off, the elastic woven fabric size adjustment belt 4 can be tightened slightly with the buckle 5 to make the hat adhere tightly to the head and prevent it from falling off.

[0039] The size-adjustable hat of the present invention is characterized by having a composite band consisting of an elastic sweat band and a shape-memory band attached along the lower edge of the inner circumference of the hat body, and we will explain the shape-memory band, which is an important feature of the hat.

[0040] Shape memory band (1) Shape memory Shape memory bands are made primarily from olefin-based thermoplastic polymers, and are materials that, when bent, twisted, pulled, or otherwise deformed freely, will very slowly return to their original shape when released.

[0041] (2) Temperature dependence The biggest feature of shape memory bands is their temperature dependency. When you touch a shape memory band at room temperature, it feels a little hard at first, but then it gets softer and softer. This sensation is due to the glass transition temperature. The glass transition temperature of a shape memory band is about 28°C. In other words, the glass transition temperature of this shape memory band is halfway between room temperature (about 22°C) and body temperature (about 36°C). Line A in Figure 5 shows the change in the storage modulus of a shape memory band depending on the temperature, with temperature (°C) on the horizontal axis and storage modulus (MPa) on the vertical axis, and the two lines B in Figure 5 show the body temperature range. The reason why the shape memory band feels softer and softer from the moment you hold it is because the body temperature of your hand transfers heat to the shape memory band, and the temperature of the shape memory band exceeds the glass transition temperature, at which it dramatically softens.

[0042] Figure 6 shows the stress-strain curves of shape memory bands at different temperatures. At 40°C, with almost no applied force, they stretch nearly five times their original size, like rubber. However, at -10°C, even with a large force applied, they stretch very little and become hard. In other words, shape memory bands have the characteristic that their hardness changes significantly within the temperature range found in human living environments. Figure 6 shows the results of a tensile test on a rectangular test piece with a thickness of 1.0 mm and a width of 15 mm, at a chuck distance of 30 mm and a tensile speed of 1000(%) / min.

[0043] Table 1 below shows typical properties of shape memory bands. [Table 1] [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Hat body 2 Eaves 3 Excision part 4 Size adjustment belt 5 Size adjuster 6 Composite Bands

Claims

1. A size-adjustable hat comprising a composite band consisting of an elastic sweatband and a shape-memory band made primarily of an olefin-based thermoplastic polymer, the glass transition temperature of said shape-memory band being midway between room temperature and body temperature, and the composite band being attached along the lower edge of the inner circumference of the hat body.

2. A size-adjustable hat as described in claim 1, characterized in that the elastic sweatband is tubular, a shape memory band is stored inside the tubular elastic sweatband, and the longitudinal ends are sewn closed so that the shape memory band cannot be seen from the outside.

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