US20030226193A1

US20030226193A1 - Stretchable cap structure with expandable peak board

Info

Publication number: US20030226193A1
Application number: US10/166,073
Authority: US
Inventors: Tai-Kuang Wang
Original assignee: Wei Hsu Co Ltd
Current assignee: Wei Hsu Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-06-11
Filing date: 2002-06-11
Publication date: 2003-12-11

Abstract

A stretchable cap structure being comprised of a crown, a sweatband and a peak, the crown portion is composed of a plurality of panels, wherein at least front panels are stretchable, the sweatband is composed of at least a front segment of stretchable band, the peak portion is formed from a peak board having at least a cleft and covered with stretchable fabric. The crown, the sweatband and the peak are sewn together to form the cap. The aforesaid cleft(s) of the peak board is/are provided on the rear section of the peak board adjacent to the crown, so that the portion of the crown adjacent to the peak and the peak portion itself are both expandable by splitting the cleft(s) when the cap is in its stretched state. By providing expandable peak and the stretchable crown, the entire cap is endued with uniform flexibility to thereby be capable of custom fitting all wearers within a wider range of head sizes and different shapes, and to increase the applicability of the cap; while the flexibility of the cap does not affect the aesthetic appearance of the entire cap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a stretchable cap structure, and especially to such a cap structure with an expandable peak that, together with a plurality of stretchable panels and a stretchable sweatband, to provide a function of stretching for adjustment of the cap.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventionally, there are two types of cap: adjustable caps and fixed-size caps. Adjustable caps use an adjustable-length closure at the bottom of the open area which is disposed at the rear of the cap to adjust the sizes; however, such type can only allow adjustment at the rear open area of the crown, the cap thereby is subjected to bunching up on the rear panels, hence impairs its aesthetic appearance.

There are two kinds of fixed-size cap: single-size caps and stretchable caps. A single-size cap is non-adjustable and non-stretchable which can only fit a very narrow rang of head sizes, and cap manufacturers have to produce a lot of different sizes of cap to satisfy wearer's demand, this may increase the cost of production. A conventional stretchable cap can fit a much wider range of head sizes than a single-size cap, however, its crown is only partially stretchable due to rigidity of the peak which is sewn in front portion of said crown at the lower peripheral edge on the outside of the cap, said peak of a conventional stretchable cap composed of a rigid peak board and outer cover layers of fabric material; hence a conventional stretchable cap can not reach the upmost stretchablility of a cap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable cap structure, wherein, by a brand-new design of the peak, a large extent of stretch adjustment can be obtained.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable cap structure, wherein, by providing an expandable peak and a crown made of elastic material, the entire cap can have an adjustment by stretching to suit a range of various head sizes and shapes of different wearers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stretchable cap structure which can have an effect of larger stretch adjustment without changing the aesthetic appearance of the cap.

To get the above stated objects, the present invention is provided with a crown of elastic material and an expendable peak. By stretching of the peak as well as the crown, a cap can have a function of size adjustment not only to increase the applicability of the cap, but also will not affect the esthetic appearance of the entire cap.

The present invention will be apparent in its particular structure and characteristics after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof in reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the natural appearance of an embodiment of the present invention; [0011]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the natural appearance of the inner side of the embodiment of the present invention; [0012]
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the peak board of the embodiment of the present invention in the normal natural state; [0013]
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the peak board of the embodiment of the present invention in a stretched state; [0014]
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the cap of the embodiment of the present invention in a stretched state.[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring firstly to FIG. 1, the stretchable cap structure of the present invention is comprised of a [0016] peak 1 and a crown 2 sewn together.
Referring firstly to FIG. 2, the [0017] crown 2 is comprised of a plurality of elastic panels 21 and an elastic band 22. The elastic panels 21 are made of elastic fabric and are sewn together along their side edges with the apices meeting at the top of the crown 2. The aforesaid elastic band 22 is a strip and is made of elastic material, which is sewn on the inner peripheral edge of the crown 2.
Referring to FIGS. [0018] 2 to 5, the peak 1 is formed from a peak board 11 covered with stretchable fabric 13. The peak board 11 is provided on the edge thereof adjacent to the crown 2 with at least a cleft 12, the fringe end of the cleft 12 is disposed at this edge of the peak board 11; said cleft 12 is closed when the peak board 11 is in its normal natural state, and is opened when the peak board 11 is in its stretched state. The extent of expansion of the cleft 12 depends on the strength of the external pulling force on the peak board 11; and the action of opening and closing occurs at the fringe end of the cleft 12 disposed at the edge of the peak board 11 adjacent to the crown 2. When in opening, the edge of the peak board 11 adjacent to the crown 2 is spilt, while the elastic fabric 13 covered on the peak board 11 can make stretching in pursuance of opening and closing of the cleft 12. Thereby, the cleft 12 can make adjustment of the size of the peak board 11. And thereby, the peak board 11 can have the effect of stretching although it does not have elasticity to thus make the entire cap elastic to suit a various head sizes and shapes in pursuance of changing of stretching of the elastic panels 21 and the aforesaid of elastic band 22. Further, at the end of each cleft 12 opposite to said fringe end is shaped with round hole 121 to prevent further splitting when said peak board is in its most stretched state.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, under a stretched state as compared to the normal natural state of the stretchable cap of the present invention, the [0019] peak 1 and the crown 2 can allow stretching of the entire cap by providing the aforesaid at least a cleft 12 of the peak board 11, the elastic panels 21 and the aforesaid at least a segment of elastic band 22.
The elastic cap structure forming by the elements stated above is only for illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and not for giving any limitation to the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications or changes can be made to the elements of the present invention without departing from the spirit of this invention shall fall within the scope of the appended claims and are intended to form part of this invention. [0020]

Claims

1. An stretchable cap structure comprising:

a crown comprised of a plurality of panels, and a sweatband combined together; and

a peak sewn in front portion of said crown at the lower peripheral edge on the outside of the cap, having an expandable and restorable peak board.

2. The stretchable cap structure as in claim 1, wherein,

said peak board is provided on the edge thereof adjacent to said crown with at least a cleft, the fringe end of said cleft(s) is/are disposed at said edge of the peak board; said cleft(s) is/are split when said peak board is in its stretched state, so that there is/are gap(s) in said edge of said peak board, and said gap(s) is/are closed when said peak board is in its natural state.

3. The stretchable cap structure as in claim 1, wherein,

said panels of said crown are made of elastic fabric and or with at least front panels are stretchable.

4. The stretchable cap structure as in claim 1, wherein,

said sweatband is made of elastic material and is sewn on the inner bottom of said crown, or with at least front segment corresponding to the position of the peak is stretchable.

5. The stretchable cap structure as in claim 3 and 4, wherein,

said peak is sewn together with said front panels of said crown and said front segment of said sweatband is connected with said front panels of said crown.

6. The stretchable cap structure as in claim 3 and 4, wherein,

said peak is formed from said expendable and restorable peak board and covered with stretchable fabric thereon.

7. The stretchable cap structure as in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein,

said front panels of said crown and said front segment of said sweatband and said peak board are coordinated to stretch and restore synchronically.

8. The stretchable cap structure as in claim 2, wherein,

said cleft at the other end of each said cleft opposite to said fringe end, is shaped with round hole to prevent further splitting when said peak board is in its stretched state.

9. The stretchable cap structure as in claim 1, wherein,

said crown is comprised of a plurality of stretchable panels.

10. The stretchable cap structure as in claim 1, wherein,

said sweatband is of a single segment and is made of stretchable material.