Cap structure with implement adapter

• US 5,052,054 A
• Filed: 01/02/1990
• Issued: 10/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald A. Birum
• Original Assignee: Donald A. Birum
• Inventors: Birum, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schroeder, Werner H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Biefeld, Diana L.
• Application Number:
  US07/459,467
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 2/10, 2/13, 2/185 B, 2/185 C, 2/185 R, 2/196, 2/199, 2/209.1, 2/209.2, 2/422
• US Class Current: 2/10
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/0181 with means for protecting the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/0182 Peaks or visors
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/08 with protection against blows
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/24 with means for attaching articles thereto, e.g. memorandum tablets or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A42C 5/02 Sweat-bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/02 Goggles breathing masks A62B18/00; swimming goggles A63B33/002; diving masks B63C11/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/909 Head protector, e.g. helmet, goggles

Abstract

A reinforcing structure for a soft cap (30) is provided as a thin cleat (96) positioned adjacent the flexible temple rim region (56) of the cap crown (32). The cleat is secured interior or exterior of the crown by various transferable or substantially permanent methods of attachment. A transferable securing arrangement includes a detachable clip (106) having a bight lip (108) for connecting with an edge of the cleat (96) and a U-shaped bight section (94) for engaging the crown temple rim (46). A portion of the clip body exterior of the crown may be adapted to support various utility implements including an eyewear (290) having adaptive temple members (202). An interior cleat may also function as a base for interior crown improvements including a crown shaping strip (100) or strips with curve adjacent the interior crown body and are adjustable for effective length. The shaping strip may additionally serve to retain a float disk (222) adjacent the interior crown (38). The float disk provides buoyancy to the cap and any attached implement should the cap be lost into a body of water.

Claims

1. A structure for reinforcing a cap of the type including a soft crown body of flexible material, said crown body having a pliant rim thereon, a frontal bill joined to the crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

supplemental means for reinforcing said crown body;

means for restraining said supplemental means adjacent said crown body, the restraining means having means for holding said crown rim.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said restraining means includes connective means for joining said restraining means with said supplemental means.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said restraining means has size and shape to envelop a portion of said supplemental means.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said restraining means has size and shape to envelope a portion of said crown rim.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said restraining means comprises a bright member.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein said bright member has a substantially U-shaped section.

7. The structure of claim 5, wherein said bright member is formed by folding said structure.

8. The structure of claim 1, further including:

an implement;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom.

22. The structure of claim 2 or 21, wherein said connective means comprises an integral connection.

27. The structure of claim 2, 21 or 26, wherein said connective means comprises a bight lip.

28. The structure of claim 2, 21 or 26, wherein said connective means comprises at least one pin and mating opening.

29. The structure of claim 2, 21 or 26, wherein said connective means comprises at least one clasp.

38. The structure of claim 1, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21, 23, 24, 25 or 37, wherein said supplemental means extends adjacent said radial corner.

39. The structure of claim 1, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 25 or 37, wherein the interior crown includes a headband joined to said crown rim to provide a pocket and said supplemental means is at least portionally positioned within the headband pocket.

9. A structure for reinforcing a cap of the type including a soft crown body of flexible material, said crown body having a pliant rim thereon, a frontal bill joined to the crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

supplemental means for extending the stiffened character of said radial corner to said crown body;

means for restraining said supplemental means adjacent said crown body, the restraining means having means for allowing movement of said supplemental means along and generally parallel with said crown rim while restricting movement of said supplemental means normal to the plane of said crown rim.

10. The structure of claim 9, further including:

an implement;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom.

30. The structure of claim 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 20, 21, 23-26 inclusive, wherein said implement comprises means for cooperating with the sight of a wearer.

31. The structure of claim 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 20, 21, 23-26, inclusive, wherein said adapting means comprises at least one unmodified element of said structure.

32. The structure of claim 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 20, 21, 23-26, inclusive, wherein said adapting means comprises means for modifying at least one element of said structure.

11. A structure for reinforcing a cap of the type including a soft crown body of flexible material, said crown body having a pliant rim thereon, a frontal bill joined to the crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

supplemental means positioned alongside the crown body material for providing reinforcement thereto;

securing means for said supplemental means contrapositioned along the corresponding reverse side of said crown body material, said securing means having means for engaging said supplemental means through the crown material wherein said crown material remains unbreached.

12. The structure of claim 11, further including:

an implement;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom.

13. A structure for reinforcing a cap of the type including a soft crown body of flexible material, said crown body having a pliant rim thereon, a frontal bill joined to the crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

supplemental means for reinforcing said crown body;

means for restraining said supplemental means adjacent said crown body, said restraining means having at least one mating hook and loop fastener joined to said supplemental means and the corresponding portion of said crown body.

14. The structure of claim 13, further including:

an implement;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom.

15. A structure for reinforcing a cap of the type including a soft crown body of flexible material, the crown having a pliant rim thereon and a foldably pliable template rim region bilateral thereof, a frontal bill joined to the crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

supplemental means for reinforcing at least one temple rim region, said supplemental means having at least one foldable delineation thereacross, said foldable delineation having means for offering decreased resistance to folding;

means for securing said supplemental means adjacent said crown body wherein said foldable delineation generally overlies said temple rim region substantially perpendicular to said crown rim, whereby the crown temple rim is held generally aligned with the plane of said radial corner and the stiffened character of said radial corner is extended to said temple rim region, and whereby the rear crown body may be folded within the frontal crown body across the temple rim regions, the latter remaining foldably pliable.

16. The structure of claim 15, wherein said foldable delineation comprises at least one opening in said supplemental means.

17. The structure of claim 15, further including:

an implement;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom.

18. A structure for reinforcing a cap of the type including a soft crown body of flexible material, said crown body having a pliant rim thereon, the interior crown including a headband joined to the crown rim to provide a pocket, a frontal bill joined to said crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

supplemental means at least portionally positioned within the headband pocket adjacent said crown body for providing reinforcement thereto;

strip means for extending from said supplemental means away from said crown rim and curving adjacent said interior crown to an opposing crown rim region;

means for adjusting the effective length of said strip means.

19. The structure of claim 18, further including buoyant means retained by said strip means for providing flotation to said cap.

20. The structure of claim 18, further including:

an implement;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom.

21. A structure for mounting an implement from a cap of the type including a soft crown body of flexible material, said crown body having a pliant rim thereon, the interior crown including a headband joined to the crown rim to provide a pocket, a frontal bill joined to said crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

supplemental means at least portionally positioned within the headband pocket for cleating said crown body;

means for extending from said supplemental means across said headband to emerge exterior of said crown body for providing a mounting appendage exterior thereof, said extending means having connective means for joining with said supplemental means;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom.

23. A structure for mounting an implement from a cap of the type including a soft crown body of flexible material, said crown body having a pliant rim thereon, a frontal bill joined to the crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

supplemental means for cleating said crown body;

means for restraining said supplemental means adjacent said crown body, said restraining means having means for utilizing said crown rim;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom.

24. A structure for mounting an implement from a cap of the type including a soft crown body of flexible material, said crown body having a pliant rim thereon and a pliant temple rim region bilaterial thereof, a frontal bill joined to the crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

supplemental means located wholly exterior of said crown body for extending the stiffened character of said radial corner to at least one temple rim region;

means for restraining said supplemental means adjacent said crown body;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom.

25. A structure for mounting an implement from a cap including a soft crown body of flexible material, said crown body having a pliant rim thereon, the interior crown body including a headband joined to the crown rim, a frontal bill joined to said crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

supplemental means for cleating said crown body in a manner leaving said crown body unmodified and unbreached;

means for restraining said supplemental means adjacent said crown body in a manner leaving said crown body unmodified and unbreached;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom.

26. A structure for mounting an implement from a cap including a flexible crown body having a rim thereon and at least one cleat adjacent thereto, a frontal bill joined to the crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

detachable means for providing a mounting appendage exterior of said crown, said detachable means having connective means for coengaging said cleat and said crown rim;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom.

33. A cap-eyewear structure comprising:

a cap including a soft crown body of flexible material, the crown having a pliant rim thereon, a frontal bill joined to the crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner;

eyewear means for cooperating with the sight of a wearer;

means for supporting said eyewear means to effect cantilevered support of said eyewear means only from said crown body.

34. The structure of claim 33 wherein said supporting means comprises at least one unmodified element of said structure.

35. The structure of claim 33 wherein said supporting means comprises means for modifying at least one element of said structure.

36. The structure of claim 33, wherein said supporting means includes means for adjusting the position of said eyewear means.

37. A structure for mounting an implement from a cap of the type including a soft crown body of flexible material, said crown body having a pliant rim thereon, a frontal bill joined to the crown rim to form a stiffened radial corner, said structure comprising:

supplemental means for cleating said crown body;

means for restraining said supplemental means adjacent said crown body;

means for adapting at least one element of said structure to support said implement therefrom, said adapting means having at least one threaded member.