WO1994013163A1

WO1994013163A1 - Apparatus and method for ornamenting caps

Info

Publication number: WO1994013163A1
Application number: PCT/CA1993/000539
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lawrence Binns
Original assignee: ULTRA INNOVATIONS Inc
Current assignee: ULTRA INNOVATIONS Inc
Priority date: 1992-12-15
Filing date: 1993-12-14
Publication date: 1994-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1995-06-15
Also published as: AU5690194A

Abstract

An apparatus (10) and method of ornamenting a baseball cap (32) or the like having a rearwardly positioned adjustment band (20). A sheet of material (11) is formed into a generally tubular body (30). The generally tubular body (30) is placed over an adjustment band (20) of the cap (32). There is a logo (21) or other such indicia on the body (30) which is rearwardly displayed when the cap (32) is worn.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ORNAMENTING CAPS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for ornamenting baseball and similar caps.

The term "baseball" cap designates a form of peaked cap made popular through the sport of baseball, now in widespread use throughout society. Baseball caps are generally constructed with an adjustable band at the back which is used to effect adjustments to adapt the size of the cap to suit the head of the wearer. This band is relatively unattractive and detracts from the overall appearance of the cap.

It has been a practice in the industry to ornament the fronts of baseball caps with the logos of the wearers' favourite teams or organizations. The licensing of manufacturers to permit the use of the logos of various teams or organizations on baseball caps has become a multi- million dollar business. At present time the backs of baseball caps are usually devoid of any ornamentation. The ornamentation of the back of the baseball cap is a potential source of additional licensing revenue.

The adjustment band of a baseball cap or similar cap is generally made of two strips of plastic which may be joined together to form a band of variable length. The band functions well for varying the length of the band but is not particularly well adapted for the comfort of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of ornamenting a baseball cap having a rearwardly positioned adjustment band. The method is comprised of the steps of forming a sheet of material into a generally tubular body, and placing the generally tubular body over an adjustment band of a baseball cap.

It will be appreciated that the tubular body can be coloured to match the baseball cap and can serve as a medium onto which a logo is mounted. This enables the baseball cap to be ornamented and at the same time makes the cap more comfortable to wear. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for ornamenting baseball caps which is comprised of a sheet of material having a first face, a second face, a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. First fastening means is disposed on the first longitudinal edge of the first face. Second fastening means is disposed on the second longitudinal edge of the second face. The first fastening means engages the second fastening means thereby forming the sheet into a generally tubular body.

It is preferred that the fastening means be mating hook and loop style fasteners generally sold under the trade mark "Velcro".

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent fro the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention secured to a baseball cap, a portion of the apparatus being broken away;

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating a first face of the apparatus illustrated in Figure i;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view illustrating a second face of the apparatus illustrated in

Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, illustrating the preferred method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiment, an apparatus for ornamenting a baseball cap generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with the reference to Figures 1 through 4.

Referring first to Figures 2 and 3, apparatus 10 consists of a sheet of material 11 having a first face 12, a second face 14, a first end 16, a second end 18, a first longitudinal edge 24 and a second longitudinal edge 22. The material may be cloth, a laminated sheet, flexible plastic or other such materials. In this preferred example cotton drill is used. First fastening means in the form of first hook and loop type fastener 26 is disposed adjacent first longitudinal edge 24 on first face 12. Second fastening means in the form of second mating hook and loop type fastener 28 is disposed adjacent second longitudinal edge 22 on second face 14. Theses fasteners are well known and sold under the trade mark Velcro for example. Referring to Figure 4, first fastener 26 matingly engages second tape fastener 28 thereby forming sheet 11 into a generally tubular body 30.

The first face 12 has artistic or literary indicia 21, in this case the logo of a fictitious baseball team "Eagles", displayed thereon. The indicia in this example is embroidered onto the body 30, but it may also be sewn in place, or be a decal as well as other forms of indicia. When formed into the tubular body die indicia faces outwards and rearwardly as seen in Figure 1.

The method of use will now be described with reference to Figures 1 through 4. This method can only be used with a cap 32, such as a baseball cap, having a rearwardly positioned adjustment band 20.

Cap 32 is conventional, having adjustment band 20 consisting of two strips 36 and 38. Strip 36 has a series of apertures 40, one of which selectively receives the protrusion 42 on strip 38 in a snap-like manner. There is an opening 44 on the back 46 of the cap above the band. Other caps or hats could be substituted provided they have a band of some kind, possibly an elastic band, on the back with an opening above. The method of use consists of the steps of forming sheet of material 11 into generally tubular body 30 as previously described, and placing generally tubular body 30 over adjustment band 20 of baseball cap 32, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. The indicia 21, such as the logo of a baseball team, is thereby displayed.

As may be appreciated from the drawings and description, the apparatus 10 allows the wearer to display team logos, advertising slogans and the like. Moreover, it improves the comfort of the hat by acting as a pad which covers the relatively sharp upper and lower edges of the adjustment band. The edges 22 and 24 overlap when the apparatus is formed into the tubular body as shown in Figures 1 and 4 with smooth rounded surfaces above and below band 20. In this example, the fastener 28 faces the front of the cap 32. The commercial potential of the above invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of the ability it provides to place the logo for a team or organization on a baseball cap. It will also be apparent to one skilled in the art, that even without the addition of a logo, the present invention enhances the appearance of a baseball cap while makes the baseball cap more comfortable to wear. It will finally be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of ornamenting a cap having a rearwardly positioned adjustment band, comprising the steps of:

forming a sheet of material into a generally tubular body, and placing the generally tubular body over an adjustment band of the cap.

2. A method of ornamenting a cap as defined as claim 1, the tubular body serving as a medium onto which a logo is mounted.

3. An apparatus for ornamenting caps, comprising:

a tubular body.

4. An apparatus for ornamenting caps as claimed in claim 3, the tubular body being comprised of:

a sheet of material having a first face, a second face and a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge;

first fastening means disposed on the first longitudinal edge of the first face; and

second fastening means disposed on the second longitudinal edge of the second face, such that the first fastening means engages the second fastening means thereby forming the sheet into the tubular body.

5. An apparatus for ornamenting caps as claimed in claim 4, the fastening means being hook and loop type fasteners.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, having artistic or literary indicia on the first face which is outwardly displayed on the tubular body.

7. In combination: a cap having a back, an adjustment band on the back of the cap, and an opening adjacent the band; and

a tubular member mounted about the band, said member having artistic or literary indicia thereon which faces outwardly and rearwardly when the cap is worn.

8. A combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tubular member is formed of a sheet of material with mating fasteners thereon.

9. A combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fasteners are hook and loop type fasteners.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein the indicia is a logo of a sports team.