Protective sheath

• US 5,315,714 A
• Filed: 09/30/1992
• Issued: 05/31/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: August Promotions LLC
• Original Assignee: Alexander C. Peters, Robert E. Peters
• Inventors: Peters, Robert E., Peters, Alexander C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Befeld, Diana L.
• Application Number:
  US07/954,746
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 2/171, 2/171.4, 2/171.5, 2/171.7, 2/171.8, 2/181, 2/181.2, 2/181.4, 2/181.6, 2/183, 2/195, 2/196, 2/197, 2/199, 2/209.1 , 2/417, 2/418, 2/422, 2/DIG. 11, 224/171, 224/173, 40/329, 40/586
• US Class Current: 2/181.4
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/22 adjustable in size ; Form-fitting or self adjusting head coverings; Devices for reducing hat size
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/248 Insignia, logos, emblems or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/04 to be fastened or secured by the material of the label itself, e.g. by thermo-adhesion by a separate adhesive layer G09F3/10

Abstract

A method and apparatus for covering and protecting engagement regions of interconnecting straps employed with apparel. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a sheath of material which is generally tubular in shape having a inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall of the tube defines a cavity therein. The sheath is sized to permit disposition of the sheath over at least a portion of interconnecting straps employed in conjunction with certain apparel. The sheath has a predetermined length which is selected to permit the sheath to cover at least a portion of engagement regions of the respective interconnecting straps when disposed thereon.

Claims

1. A piece of headwear consisting of:

a cap having a normally frontal portion and a posterior portion, a top and a bottom and wherein said posterior portion is provided having a generally inverted U shaped opening extending toward said bottom of said cap;

a first interconnecting strap attached to said cap adjacent to the said opening at the bottom of said cap and extending generally across said opening, said first interconnecting strap having a first engagement region;

an engagement member having an engagement region, said engagement member attached to said cap adjacent the opening at the bottom of said cap and opposite said first interconnecting strap, said first interconnecting strap coupled to said engagement member at the engagement region of said engagement member;

a generally tubular seamless sheath of compressive, deformable material having a predetermined length extending from a first end to a second end and having an inner sheath surface and an outer sheath surface, said inner sheath surface defining a cavity having dimensions selected to permit said sheath to be disposed over at least a portion of the first engagement region of said first interconnecting strap wherein said sheath is disposed over at least a portion of said first interconnecting strap;

wherein said compressive, deformable material is neoprene;

wherein said inner sheath surface is continuous; and

wherein said sheath outer surface includes predetermined indicia thereon.

2. The piece of headwear as recited in claim 1 wherein said engagement member comprises a second interconnecting strap attached to said cap adjacent to said opening at the bottom of said cap and opposite said first interconnecting strap and extending generally across said opening, said second interconnecting strap having a second engagement region cooperative with the first engagement region of said first interconnecting strap.

3. A piece of headwear consisting of:

a cap having a normally frontal portion and a posterior portion, a top and a bottom wherein said posterior portion is provided having a generally inverted U shaped opening extending toward the bottom of said cap;

a first interconnecting strap attached to said cap adjacent to the opening at the bottom of said cap and extending generally across the opening, said first interconnecting strap having a first engagement region;

an engagement member having an engagement region, said engagement member attached to said cap adjacent the opening at the bottom of said cap and opposite said first interconnecting strap, said first interconnecting strap coupled to said engagement member at the engagement region of said engagement member; and

a generally tubular sheath of compressive, deformable material having a predetermined length extending from a first end to a second end and having an inner sheath surface and an outer sheath surface, said inner sheath surface defining a cavity extending from the first end of the sheath to the second end of the sheath and having cavity dimensions selected to permit said sheath to be disposed over at least a portion of the first engagement region of said first interconnecting strap wherein said sheath is disposed over at least a portion of said first interconnecting strap and wherein said sheath is provided having a continuous seat along at least a portion thereof and wherein said continuous seam extends substantially along the entire length of said sheath and wherein said inner sheath surface is continuous and wherein said continuous seam is provided from a fastening tape comprising a pair of opposing pieces of fabric, a first one of said pair of pieces of fabric having an arrangement of hooks thereon and a second one of said opposing pair of pieces having a pile and wherein said hooks and pile interlock when pressed together.

4. The piece of headwear as recited in claim 3 wherein said engagement member comprises a second interconnecting strap attached to said cap adjacent to said opening at the bottom of said cap and opposite said first interconnecting strap and extending generally across said opening, said second interconnecting strap having a second engagement region cooperative with the first engagement region of said first interconnecting strap.

5. A piece of headwear consisting of:

a cap having a normally frontal portion and a posterior portion, a top and a bottom, wherein the posterior portion is provided having a generally inverted U shaped opening extending toward the bottom of said cap;

a first interconnecting strap attached to said cap adjacent to the opening at the bottom of the opening and extending generally across the opening, said strap having a first engagement region;

a second interconnecting strap attached to said cap adjacent to said opening at the bottom of said cap and opposite said first interconnecting strap and extending generally across said opening, said second interconnecting strap having a second engagement region cooperative with the first engagement region of said first interconnecting strap;

a generally tubular sheath of compressive, deformable material having a predetermined length extending from a first end to a second end and having an inner sheath surface and an outer sheath surface, said inner sheath surface defining a cavity extending from the first end of said sheath to the second end of said sheath and having cavity dimensions selected to permit said sheath to be disposed over at least a portion of the first and second engagement regions of said first and second interconnecting straps wherein said sheath is disposed over at least a portion of each of said first and second interconnecting straps and wherein said sheath is provided having a substantially continuous sewn seam;

wherein said continuous sewn seam extends substantially along the entire length of said sheath;

wherein said outer sheath surface is provided having predetermined indicia thereon;

wherein said inner sheath surface is continuous; and

wherein said compressive, deformable material is neoprene.

6. A piece of headwear consisting of:

a cap having a normally frontal portion and a posterior portion, a top and bottom, wherein the posterior portion is provided having a generally inverted U shaped opening extending toward the bottom of said cap;

a first interconnecting strap attached to said cap adjacent to the opening at the bottom of said cap and extending generally across the opening, said first interconnecting strap having a first engagement region;

an engagement member having an engagement region, said engagement member attached to said cap adjacent the opening at the bottom of said cap and opposite said first interconnecting strap, said first interconnecting strap coupled to said engagement member at the engagement region of said engagement member; and

a generally tubular sheath of compressive, deformable material having a predetermined length extending from a first end to a second end and having an inner sheath surface and an outer sheath surface, said inner sheath surface defining a cavity extending from the first end of said sheath to the second end of said sheath and having cavity dimensions selected to permit said sheath to be disposed over at least a portion of said first interconnecting strap and wherein said sheath is provided having a substantially continuous glued seam along at least a portion thereof;

wherein said continuous seam extends substantially along the length of said sheath;

wherein said inner sheath surface is continuous;

wherein said compressive, deformable material is neoprene; and

wherein said outer sheath surface is provided having predetermined indicia thereon.

7. The piece of headwear as recited in claim 6 wherein:

said engagement member comprises a second interconnecting strap attached to said cap adjacent to said opening at the bottom of said cap and opposite said first interconnecting strap and extending generally across said opening, said second interconnecting strap having a second engagement region cooperative with the first engagement region of said first interconnecting strap; and

said sheath is disposed over at least a portion of the first and second engagement regions.