CN1622769A - scalloped novelty headgear - Google Patents

Abstract

A fan novelty device having a removable fan-like structure formed from a strip of pliable material having a plurality of pleats and a headwear. The fan-like structure is removably attached to a flexible base that conforms to the head of the wearer. The base is removably attached to a headwear such as a headband, hair clip, barrette, hair comb, or the like.

Description

scalloped novelty headgear

technical field

The present invention relates generally to novelty devices, and more particularly to novelty headgear having removable fans that can be easily opened and closed as desired. The fan-shaped novelty is not only eye-catching, but has entertainment, promotional and commercial value.

Background technique

A variety of novelty hats can be purchased and used to attract attention in the fields of sports and social or political events, or for promotional and commercial purposes. One such novelty hat is described in US Patent No. 5,903,626, issued May 18, 1999 to Ward Fleming (the name of the inventor in this application). The hat described in said patent has a dome-shaped main body, such as a hat, which is worn on the wearer's head; Structure, the three points are the front end, rear end and center of the dome-shaped main body as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the patent. The fan-like structure itself is formed from a fabric strip with a plurality of accordion folding. In its closed position, the multiple pleats rest against the dome-shaped body and are attached to the dome by various methods or means—such as by adhesives, sewing or staples, taps, Velcor®, etc. on the surface of the body. The entire disclosure of said patent is incorporated herein by reference.

Improvements to the cap disclosed in US Patent No. 5,903,626 are described in pending US Patent Application Serial No. 09/693,089. Additional features of the cap of said patent application include a weighted fin to hold the fan in the fully open position and a housing for the fan. The entire disclosure of said patent is hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention provides a novelty headgear with a fan-like structure which differs in construction from the novelty devices described in said patent and patent application and which can also be used for attention-grabbing purposes, or for promotional and commercial purposes the goal of. The novelty headgear of the present invention constitutes a variation and/or improvement over the previously discussed novelty devices, including the novelty hats described in the aforementioned patents and patent applications.

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides a novelty device comprising a fan-like structure which has the advantage of being attachable to at least one headgear. The fan-like structure is formed from a flexible and foldable strip of material having a plurality of pleats formed by a plurality of fins. The novelty device also includes a flexible base corresponding to each scallop having approximately the same size and shape as the corresponding fin. The forwardmost fin of the fan-like structure is mounted on the base. Preferably, the base is releasably attachable to at least one headgear placeable on the wearer's head. The headgear may be a domed body such as the hat disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,903,626 and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 90/693,089, or a headband, barrettes, combs, rubber bands, barrettes, etc. wait.

When the base of the fan-like structure is mounted on the headgear on the wearer's head, the flexible base conforms to the shape of the wearer's head so that the fan-like structure can move or pivot with the movement of the wearer's head. The fan can be positioned in the front-to-back direction to allow the wearer to tilt or snap his or her head forward or backward to open or close the fan, respectively; or the fan can be positioned in the left-to-right direction to Allowing the wearer to tilt left or right or shake his or her head opens or closes the fan-like structure.

The multiple pleats of the fan-like structure have openings at the fold lines that assist in folding and opening the fan-like structure and can improve the structural integrity of the opened fan-like structure in windy conditions.

Brief description of the drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention showing the manner in which the fans in the closed position are attached to a base and then to different types of headgear.

Figure 2 is a side view of the novelty fan-shaped headgear shown in Figure 1 arranged in a front-to-rear orientation on a wearer's head, with the fan-like structure in an open position.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the novelty fan-shaped headgear shown in Fig. 1 when it is arranged in a side-to-side orientation on a wearer's head, and the fan-like structure is in an open position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the fan-like structure shown in Figure 2 showing the opening at the fold line.

Detailed ways

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like parts, Figure 1 is an exploded view of the invention showing the manner of attachment. The novelty fan-like structure 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises a strip of pliable material 11, a base 12, and a headgear 13 (13a, 13b or 13c).

The strip of pliable material 11 has a plurality of pleats 14 formed by a plurality of folded fins 15 . The strip of pliable material 11 may be made of fabric, paper, or spun bonded polyolefin such as DuPont's Tyvek(R). At one end 16, the folded fins 15 are clamped or attached together to form a pivot point 17 of the fan-like structure, as best seen in FIG. 2 . Different designs can be printed on the material strip 11 for display (not shown).

The foremost fin 15a is attached to the base 12 by any means known to those skilled in the art, such as sewing, gluing, stapling, tabs, Velcor(R) attachment, snapping, and the like. Base 12 is made of a flexible material that conforms to the wearer's head, such as can be seen in FIG. 2 . The base 12 can be made of the same material as the strip of material 11 . The base 12 is substantially similar in shape and size to the shape and size of the leading fin member 15a to provide sufficient support for the strip of material 11 when the fin 15 is in the open position to form the fan-like structure 22 as shown in FIG. .

The opposite ends 18a and 18b of the base 12 are attached to the headgear 13 by any means known to those skilled in the art, such as sewing, gluing, stapling, snapping, Velcor(R) attachment, snapping, and the like. The opposite ends 18a and 18b of the base 12 can be attached to a headband 13a at opposite locations 19a and 19b, or to two hair combs 20a and 20b, or to two barrettes 21a and 21b . Other types of headgear 13 suitable for attachment to the wearer's head, such as rubber bands, bobby pins, etc., may also be used. The detachable attachment means between the base 12 and the headgear 13 allows to quickly exchange different material strips 11 with fan-like structures 22 of different designs and/or shapes.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the fan-shaped novelty device 10 worn on the wearer's head with the strips of pleated material 11 in an open position to form a fan-shaped structure 22 . The opening of the strip of material 11 from the closed position as shown in FIG. 1 along the front-to-rear direction as in FIG. Point 16 pivots and expands into fan-like structure 22 . The material web 11 can also be opened manually by hand.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the fan-shaped novelty device 10 worn on the wearer's head in the left-right direction. The opposite ends 18a and 18b of the base 12 of the novelty device 10 shown in FIG. 3 are attached to two barrettes 21a and 21b, which are respectively located on the right side of the wearer's head. and left. The wearer is required to tilt his/her head side to side to open the strip of material 11 to form a fan-like structure 22 .

An advantage of using a headband 13a, combs 20a and 20b, and barrette clips 21a and 22b, such as those shown above, is that the fan-shaped novelty device 10 can be placed directly on the wearer's head, or Placed on his/her headgear, such as a baseball cap, and allows one or more scalloped structures 22 to be positioned at different locations on the wearer's head and/or oriented in different directions. Furthermore, headgear 13 of the type described above is less restrictive than the hats disclosed in US Patent No. 5,903,926 or US Patent Application Serial No. 09/639,089. Additionally, the headband 13a provides an additional area where promotional or advertising material can be displayed.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view showing the plurality of gathers 14 of the strip of material 11 . A plurality of cutouts 24 are provided at fold lines 23 formed between a pair of adjacent fins 15 . Along the folding line 23 , a plurality of bridges 25 are provided alternately with the cutouts 25 . The notches 24 assist in folding and opening the scalloped structure 22 by providing guide lines for the plurality of pleats 14 . Additionally, the cutouts 24 allow wind to pass through without compromising the structural integrity of the fan structure 22 when the fan structure 22 is in the open position. Preferably, a 3:1 ratio between openings 24 and bridges 25 is used on each fold line 23 of the strip of material 11 . However, different ratios between the openings 24 and the bridges 25 can also be used, as long as the bridges 25 are sufficient to form a perforation along the fold lines 23 and on alternate fold lines 23 .

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, other advantageous modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the spirit of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. A fan-shaped novelty device for wearing on the head of a wearer, comprising: (1) a strip of pliable material which may be folded and unfolded in multiple pleats to form a fan-like structure having a plurality of fins, including a forward-most fin; (2) a flexible base having approximately the same size and shape as said forwardmost fin to conform to the wearer's head and having opposite ends; (3) a headgear for fitting onto the wearer's head; (4) means for attaching said forward-most fin of said strip of material to said base; and (5) Means for attaching said opposite ends of said base to said headgear. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said headgear is a headband. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the headgear comprises two hair combs. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the headgear comprises two barrettes. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the headgear comprises two bobby pins. 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said strip of pliable material is made of paper. 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said strip of pliable material is made of fabric. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said strip of pliable material is made of spun bonded polyolefin. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein said strip of pliable material is displayed with a design pattern. 10. The device according to claim 2, wherein said headband has a display of a design pattern. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of pleats of said strip of material form a plurality of fold lines between adjacent fins, and further comprising fold lines along at least one of the folds. Multiple openings for lines. 12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of bridges along at least one fold line, the bridges alternating with the openings. 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the bridge portion and the opening are in a ratio of one to three.

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