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  Sports hatUSPTO Application #: 20060048272Title: Sports hat Abstract: A sports hat constructed of a crown with multiple tapered interconnected panels terminating at an elliptical peripheral edge, a stiffened brim extending radially outward to a circular shape. The brim being stiffened to maintain a predefined or wearer adjusted shape with the sides curling upwards. The leading edges of the curled sides may be drawn together by the wearer to form a pointed shape to the brim. The crown including a sweatband that is completely enclosed within the crown and is either fixed or adjustable. The multiple tapered panels of the crown and brim being customized with logos, advertisements, and other insignia representing the wearer's special interests. (end of abstract) Agent: Michael A. Bergeron - Pineville, LA, US Inventor: Charles F. Tison USPTO Applicaton #: 20060048272 - Class: 002175100 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Head Coverings, Having Crown And Horizontally Extending Brim (e.g., Hat, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060048272. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to head wear and more particularly to a hat consisting of a stiff wide circular formable brim with a semi-rigid multi-sectional spherical crown allowing for the ease of customization to reflect the wearer's special interests. [0002] The traditional cowboy hat consists of a wide brim with a tall crown and is typically constructed of felt, leather, or straw. A cowboy hat is constructed of a single piece of material that is stretched or woven into the desired shape. The cowboy hat brim is formed with upwardly curled sides. The curled sides may be angled inward at the front creating a generally triangular shaped brim when viewed from above. The brim may be angled slightly downward in the rear to better shed rainfall from the hat, protecting the wearer from rain penetrating the collar and preventing damaging sunlight onto the neck. Cowboy hats are traditionally fitted to the wearer by offering standard sizes, with slight adjustments being made by adding padding between the sweatband and the crown. Traditional cowboy hats are expensive to manufacture due to their single piece construction and the labor intensive steps required in forming the high crown. [0003] A wearer of cowboy hats typically adorns the hat brim or crown with specialty pins to reflect their varying interests. These pins are easily knocked off the hat and do not always fit properly when large ornamentation pins are used. Likewise, these special interest pins are limited in their design and cannot encompass the entire crown, brim, or transitional space between them. [0004] A typical sports cap is constructed of fabric with multiple panels forming the crown, with a stiff brim on the front of the crown. The fabric is easily customized during and after cap manufacture to create different styles and designs on both the crown and brim. The crown and brim may be customized using fabric selection, various printing techniques, embroidery, or appliques. The cap customization may be designed so that it extends from the crown and onto the brim's upper and lower surfaces. The absence of a continuous brim allows the crown to be adjusted to fit the wearer by reducing the circumference of the crown by bunching the sweatband, or by providing a notch in the rear of the crown. [0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,616(filed: Mar. 20, 1997) is shown a foldable hat including a folding stiff segmented brim, a flexible crown with an integral notch for the adjustable sizing band and convenient stowage. The notched crown required for the adjustable headband detracts from the overall style and appearance of the hat. Likewise, the stiff brim segments must remain flat to allow it to be folded, and the flexible crown is then bunched and gathered for storage. [0006] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,520(filed: Aug. 4, 1997) is shown a hat brim for converting a sports cap into a wide brimmed hat. The wearer attaches the sports cap to the brim in such a way as to leave the sports cap's headband adjustment exposed. This attachment method also creates several seams where the hat brim and sports cap meet, thereby detracting from the overall appearance. On a typical sports cap, the brim and crown are attached to each other in such a way as to promote a downward curl in the sports cap brim. When placing the sports cap brim in the hat brim pocket, the hat brim sides and cap brim are prevented from being curled upward significantly without deforming the front of the crown. When the headband is adjusted to fit a wearer with a small crown, the sports cap brim would be pulled from the hat brim creating a significant and undesirable transition between the specialty cap design and the hat brim. [0007] In U.S. Design Pat. No. 314,857 (filed: Nov. 20, 1987) is shown a unique design for a flexible cap with a crown made from multiple tight and open mesh fabric panels with a notch in the rear panels, a narrow flexible brim and an adjustable sizing band is stretched between the notched rear panels. It is obvious from the illustrations that the adjustable sizing band deforms the flexible crown and brim to conform to the circumference of the wearer's head. [0008] Hats and caps were traditionally worn for protection from the elements like sun, rain and wind. Today, the wearer of a hat or cap is more apt to choose a cap or hat that displays their affiliation to a special interest, manufacturer, or product. Many companies promote their products or services by offering caps or hats with their logos, trademarks, product names, or other artwork printed, embroidered or affixed to a hat or cap. [0009] Ideally, there should be a stiff wide brimmed hat that is formed into the shape desired by the manufacturer and wearer, with a multi-segmented spherical crown that can be easily and inexpensively produced in a variety of designs to reflect the wearer's special interest while maintaining an attractive, seamless styling. SUMMARY [0010] The present invention provides a hat with a full circular stiff brim with curled sides which protects the wearer from the elements, and a high semi-rigid spherical crown with multiple panels that allow for customization by various designs or the application of artwork representing the wearer's special interests, and may include a fixed or adjustable headband or sweatband fully concealed within the crown. [0011] In another embodiment, this new hat design would allow further customization after the hat is produced using currently available equipment by vendors, dealers, and suppliers, with screen or pad printing, embroidery, or appliques, to create a protective, stylish hat for displaying a message, logo, trademark, or other artistic design, indicative of the wearer's affiliation or special interests. [0012] In another embodiment, the new sports hat crown is constructed with several of the tapered crown segments selected from breathable materials to allow better ventilation of the wearer's crown. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] To enable the present invention to be easily understood and readily practiced, the present invention will now be described for purposes of illustration and not limitation, in connection with the following figures wherein: [0014] FIG. 1 is a top, front perspective view of the Sports Hat. [0015] FIG. 2 is a top, rear perspective view of the Sports Hat. [0016] FIG. 3 is a bottom, front perspective view of the Sports Hat illustrating an adjustable headband. [0017] FIG. 4 is a bottom, front perspective view of the Sports Hat illustrating a non-adjustable headband. [0018] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a multilayered fabric covered brim. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0019] As shown in FIG. 1 is a Sports Hat 10 including a crown 12 and a semi-rigid brim 14. The crown consists of multiple tapered panels 13 connected together to form a spherical shape with an elliptical peripheral edge where the panels terminate and joined to the brim 14. [0020] The brim 14 includes a means to stiffen the brim so that it may be formed and maintain the desired shape of the cap manufacturer or wearer. In the hat and cap industry, a multitude of materials and construction methods are known and used for stiffening the brim and crowns of hats and caps. Some materials are inherently formable, stiff or semi-rigid when produced, for example, felt, leather, cardboard, plastic, foam, and some coarse open or closed weave fabrics. While other construction methods, as shown in FIG. 5, may be used to create a laminated material 29 to achieve the desired outer surface texture or design and possess the rigidity needed to stiffen a hat or cap while remaining formable. For example, these may include an inner formable, semi-rigid material 30 like plastic, cardboard, or fabric impregnated with a resin or binder that maintains the shape when formed by the manufacturer or wearer, and covered with a natural or synthetic fabric or similar material 31 and 32. The outer fabric layers 31 and 32 may be attached to the inner material 30 by an adhesive 33. Some fabric materials 31 and 32 may be stretched over the inner material 30 and remain attached without the need for an adhesive. The outer fabric layers 31 and 32 may be attached to the inner stiffener 30 by adhesive or glue 33 or stitching 34. Continue reading... Full patent description for Sports hat Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Sports hat patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Sports hat or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Hat Next Patent Application: Cap having comfortable elastic band Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Sports hat patent info. 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