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Cap with conforming ear bandRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Head Coverings, Muffs, EarCap with conforming ear band description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070033707, Cap with conforming ear band. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of The Invention [0002] This invention relates generally to an all-weather cap with ear protection. More specifically, it relates to self sizing cap having a crown constructed from multiple gores and having a bill, an elastic band around its lower rim, and an ear covering flap foldably extending from the opening. [0003] 2. Description of The Related Art [0004] In general, caps in the art are constructed from cloth gores which are triangular in shape, having a base and two sides extending from the base to meet at a point. Several gores, usually six, are sewn together along these sides in a closed circle fashion with the points of the gores coming together in the same spot. The result is a dome shape with its opening circumscribed by the base of the triangular gores. A bill is attached to this dome and is usually centered on a seam between two gores with the attached edge of the bill extending slightly past those two gores to contact, and be attached to, a gore on each side. The two gores centered on the bill are usually reinforced and stiffened with an additional material. [0005] These caps can be made to size but are frequently made to fit several different sizes. Some of these multiple size caps are provided with a means for manually adjusting the fit of the cap, such as an adjustable strap spanning an arcuate gap in the rear of the base. The strap may have a buckle, hook and loop tabs, or multiple plastic snaps. Other multiple size caps use elastic placed around the opening of the cap to make the cap self-adjusting. The elastic may circumscribe the opening with a single piece, circumscribe the opening with several elastic pieces sewn together, have inelastic pieces sewn in between elastic pieces, or an elastic piece may be sewn to a section of the opening and gather only the material along that section to effect size change. Other methods and configurations of using elastic are also used. In many caps, the material from which the gores themselves are made may have some degree of elasticity. The elasticity of the material may be unidirectional or bi-directional. [0006] The popularity of this basic type of cap has led to attempts to add to its utility. Some of these attempts are directed toward widening the range of climate in which the cap is suitable for wearing. Some of these caps protect from cold temperatures and some caps provide greater protection from the sun. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,675 by Charles A. Lipkin is directed to a cap providing greater protection from the cold. Instead of making the crown section of the cap from several distinct gores, Lipkin '675 makes the crown from two pieces only, a front piece and a rear piece. These pieces are elongated pieces of material with sections cut along one side in the form of what would be the top portions of gores. These sections are sewn together as if they were separate gores and the front and rear pieces are sewn together to form the crown of the cap. While one side of the elongated rear piece is cut to form gores, the opposite side is cut to form a flap that extends below the line of the headband. When the cap is assembled, this flap can be folded down to cover the ears and also more of the back of the head, but to a lesser extent than the ears. When the ear flap is folded up, it is folded inside the cap. [0008] An earlier patent by William S. Lipkin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,721, starts with the more traditional separate gore construction. The gores are made of a material having biaxial elasticity. Around the base of the crown constructed from these gores a band of material is disposed for covering the ears and back of the head of the wearer. The band can be folded up inside the crown and is attached to the crown via an intervening hinge element which is itself elastic along its longitudinal direction. Lipkin '721 claims a cap capable of achieving multiple sizes with one construction. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,343 by Harbison has two separate triangular shaped ear flaps and a draw cord between the two ear flaps. One side of each of the triangular ear flaps is attached to the base of the cap from near where the bill ends to a location at the rear of the cap. The point of the flap opposite the attached side extends to below and behind the ear of the wearer. A draw string runs inside each flap from the point attached near the bill to the point below and behind the ear where it exits. The draw strings in each flap are joined behind the head by a cinching clasp that allows the draw strings to be used to draw the ear flaps close about the head. The draw strings may be merely ends of a single loop as well. The ear flaps may be folded up away from the ears and along the cap. [0010] Like Harbison, U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,782, by Gregg, provides a draw string within an ear covering portion of the cap. In Gregg, however, the ear covering portion is a continuous band of material which attaches to the crown just behind where a bill attaches, runs around the back of the crown to the other side, and ends at just where the bill attaches on the other side. The band of material extends further from the crown in the areas where the ears are than it does at the back of the cap. The lower edges of the band have an annular space in which a draw chord is placed. The draw chord protrudes from an aperture in the back of the band which gives access for adjusting the fit of the ear covering. The fit of the cap crown itself may be adjusted with straps that are disposed internally within an annular space in the crown at its base. These protrude at the back of the crown as well, but on its inside surface. These straps are secured to each other for adjustment with hook and loop material. Gregg also uses hook and loop material on the outside of the ear protection band and the crown to secure the ear protection band in a retracted position against the crown. A chin strap using hook and loop material is disclosed and claimed as well. [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,903 by Krystal, discloses ear coverings on a cap with an adjustable band across an opening at its lower back edge. The ear coverings are formed from a single band of flexible material that runs from near the adjustable band on one side, forward and across the front then back along the other side to end near the adjustable band at the back. The band of flexible material is substantially wider along the sides and narrow along the front under the bill. The wider sections along the sides cover the ears. The band of flexible material may be folded up from the ears to alongside the crown of the cap. [0012] Several patents have ear coverings which are at least partially elastic. U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,007, by William S. Lipkin, claims a multi-sized cap with an ear covering band that is entirely elastic in at least one direction, that one direction being the bands lengthwise direction. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,883,669 and 2,885,683 by Rafowitz et al and Sol Lipkin respectively have ear coverings which have only a section of elastic material. Rafowitz has a band which starts near the back of the cap and runs around the front to the other side and to the back of the cap again. At the back, joining each end of the band, is a section of elastic material which gives the whole band some degree of self adjustment. Lipkin '683 has two separate pieces attached near the bill and running toward the back but not joining directly to each other. Instead, an elastic section connects the two, again giving a degree of self adjustment. [0013] Although a variety of prior art caps can be found that feature an ear protection band, they generally also include features that limit or compromise the utility of the band. Most caps with ear protection are designed for extreme weather and feature heavy insulation. This compromises the cap's utility in warmer weather. In many situations, the ambient temperature may be very cool in the morning only to be warmer later in the day. A heavily insulated cap will be uncomfortable at that point. What is needed is a cap that is truly all weather. It should feature an ear warming band that is retractable such that the cap is still comfortable and not bulky for general summer use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] The present invention is an improved multi-sized cap with ear protection. The crown of the cap is constructed from several gores. A bill is centered on the seam of two of the gores and partially overlaps a gore to either side of those two. A single ear protecting band is attached to the interior of the base of the crown. This band starts just to the rear of the bill on one side, wraps around the back, and ends at the same location on the opposite side. The edge of the ear protecting band opposite the one attached to the crown is shorter than the edge attached to the crown. This causes the cap to form to the wearer's head by cupping under the ears and conforming more closely to the ears. Conversely, when the ear protecting band is folded into the crown, it tapers and fits the interior of the crown and avoids bunching. A biaxially elastic band circumscribes the inside of the crown and ear band with the ear band in the down position. [0015] Accordingly, it is a primary objective of this invention to improve the fit of a cap having ear protection. The cap should conform more closely to the wearer's head and have less tendency to easily blow off in the wind. [0016] It is a further objective of this invention to improve the compactness of a cap having ear protection when the ear protecting component is retracted. [0017] It is also an objective of this invention to provide a cap with ear protection that is not apparent or visible when the ear protection is retracted. [0018] It is another objective of this invention to protect forward areas of the wearer's face from the cold without obstructing the wearer's peripheral vision. [0019] It is a further objective of this invention to provide an all weather cap that features an ear warming band which can benefit the wearer in cold temperatures, and yet, upon retraction of the ear warming band, the cap is still lightweight for warm temperature comfort. [0020] As discussed above, the article of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages inherent in prior art caps with ear protecting flaps and their construction. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its details of construction. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various and diverse ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. [0021] Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept upon which this invention is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [0022] Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners of the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the invention in any respect. Continue reading about Cap with conforming ear band... 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