Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02304997 2000-04-11
FREE-SIZE CAP
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to free-size
caps and, more particularly, to a free-size cap with the gores
of the crown being made of double-knit weft knitted fabrics
having a weft directional elongation higher than 500, the
crown thus having a high ventilation effect, a high
flexibility, a desired tightness, and allowing a user to feel
comfortable while wearing the cap, the free-size cap being
also designed in that one reference-sized cap is commonly and
freely usable by users having head sizes different from each
other within a difference of about 12 cm, the free-size cap
being further provided with a sweat band made of an elastic
woven fabric having both a weft directional elongation higher
than 65o and an elastic recovery higher than 95%, thus almost
completely overcoming the problem of a row elastic recovery
derived from the crown made of such weft knitted fabrics.
Description of the Prior Art
As well known to those skilled in the art, free-size caps
or caps of the one-size-fits-all type are designed in that one
reference-sized cap is commonly usable by users having
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different head sizes within a range. Conventional free-size
caps may be referred to Korean Patent No. 92,219 or U.S.
Patent No. 5,715,540. In the above free-size caps, the crown
comprises six gores individually made of an elastic woven
fabric manufactured by weaving polyurethane monofilament
yarns, such as spandex yarns, as wefts and non-stretchable
yarns as warps. In addition, the sweat band for the above
free-size caps is made of an elastic woven fabric manufactured
by weaving polyurethane monofilar..ent yarns as wefts and non-
stretchable yarns as warps in the same manner as that
described for the crown.
However, such a conventional free-size cap is problematic
in that the elastic woven fabric of the crown undesirably has
a low elongation and a low elastic recovery since the fabric
is manufactured by binding stretchable wefts and non-
stretchable warps together. Due to the low elongation and low
elastic recovery, the above free-size cap, manufactured at a
single reference size, is only »sable by users having head
sizes different from each other within a difference of about
6 cm, more precisely, 6.35 cm (about 2.5 inches). In a
detailed description, the conventional small-sized free-size
caps (54 cm) are usable by users having head sizes of 54 cm -
60 cm, the medium-sized free-size caps (60 cm) are usable by
users having head sizes of 60 cm ~ 66 cm, and the large-sized
free-size caps (66 cm) are usable by users having head sizes
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of 66 cm ~ 72 cm. Therefore, it is necessary for users,
having head sizes of 54 cm - 72 cm, to individually select one
of the three types of free-size caps. This finally limits use
of the conventional free-size caps. In addition, since the
elastic woven fabric of the crown has an effective elongation
of 250 ~ 20, the crown of the conventional free-size caps is
somewhat stiff and fails to allow a user to feel comfortable
while wearing a cap.
The sweat band of the above free-size caps is made of an
elastic woven fabric using polyurethane monofilament yarns as
stretchable wefts. The sweat band thus fails to have a
desired elongation higher than 650 or a desired elastic
recovery higher than 950, both being necessarily needed to
accomplish both a desired flexibility and a desired touch of
sweat bands.
The conventional free-size caps are designed to be usable
by users, having head sizes of 54 cm ~ 72 cm. However, a
recent research report discloses that such free-size caps are
mainly used by persons having head sizes of 45 cm ~ 69 cm, or
by infants, youngsters and adults. The conventional free-size
caps thus fail to completely meet a requirement of such main
users of the recent years.
U.S. Patent No. 3,337,877 discloses a free-size cap, of
which the side and rear gores of the crown are individually
made of a foam material, such as sponge, with tricot warp
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knitted fabrics being attached to both surfaces of the foam
material using a bonding agent. This free-size cap is
originally designed to be stretchable in a horizontal
direction at the side and rear gores of the crown and to allow
a user to feel comfortable due to the cushion of the foam
material while wearing the cap.
However, since the tricot warp knitted fabrics are
attached to both surfaces of the foam material using a bonding
agent, the crown fails to accomplish a desirable elongation.
The elongation and elastic recovery of the above cap are only
determined by those of the foam material, and so the use of
one reference-sized cap is limited. It is thus necessary for
manufacturers of caps to produce a plurality of reference-
sized caps in order to meet a requirement of users having
different head sizes. In addition, the front portion of the
crown corresponding to the forehead of a user is free from a
sweat band, and so the cap fails to effectively and quickly
absorb and remove sweat from the forehead of the user. The
cap thus undesirably allows sweat to flow from the forehead
down on the face of the user, thereby being inconvenient to
the user while wearing the cap. Another problem of the above
free-size cap resides in that the elastic recovery of the
crown is remarkably reduced at the side and rear gores made of
the foam material covered with the tricot warp woven fabrics
when the cap is used for a lengthy period of time. In such a
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case, it is impossible for the cap to be comfortably fitted on
the head of a user, and so the cap loses the desired
tightness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping
in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an
object of the present invention is to provide a free-size cap,
of which the gores of the crown are made of double-knit weft
knitted fabrics having a weft directional elongation higher
than 500, and which has a sweat band made of an elastic woven
fabric manufactured by weaving latex-covered yarns as wefts
and conventional non-stretchable yarns as warps and having
both a weft directional elongation higher than 65% and an
elastic recovery higher than 950. One reference-sized free-
size cap of the present invention is commonly usable by
persons having head sizes different from each other within a
range of l2cm. It is thus possible for main users having head
sizes of 45 cm (infants) ~ 69 cm (adults) to select one of two
reference-sized free-size caps, or small-sized caps (45cm) and
medium-sized caps (57cm). Since the crown of this free-size
cap is made of weft knitted fabrics which are soft and
smoothly stretchable, the cap of this invention is
appropriately and comfortably fitted to the head of a user and
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allows the user to feel comfortable while wearing the cap.
The double-knit weft knitted fabric of the crown of this
invention has loops with a great number of ventilation pores
acting as means for diffusing moisture from the interior of
the crown into the atmosphere. Therefore, the free-size cap
of this invention is free from conventional eyelets and
effectively and quickly diffuses moisture, such as sweat, into
the atmosphere through the ventilation pores of the loops.
The sweat band of this invention, having a high elastic
recovery, effectively compensates for the low elastic recovery
of the crown made of weft knitted fabrics using nonstretchable
yarns as warps.
In the present invention, in order to allow the crown of
the free-size cap of this invention to have a desired
elongation in weft and warp directions, a desired elastic
recovery and a desired flexib'~lity, the crown of this
invention may be made of a double-knit weft knitted fabric
using polyurethane-covered yarns. In such a case, the crown
of the free-size cap has a vertical elongation higher than 250
and a horizontal elongation higher than 600. A conventional
weft knitted fabric using nonstretchable yarns has a single-
knit weft directional elongation of 300 ~ 50o which is created
by the stretchable loops continuously formed in a weft
direction of the weft knitted fabric. Therefore, the weft
knitted fabric using nonstretcharle yarns is not stretchable
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in a vertical direction. In addition, when the crown of the
free-size cap of this invention is made of a double-knit weft
knitted fabric using conventional nonstretchable yarns, the
elastic recovery of the crown is not higher than 800. In
S order to compensate for the low elastic recovery of the crown
of this free-size cap, the crown is integrated with a sweat
band having a high elastic recovery higher than 95%.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present
invention provides a free-size cap, comprising: a plurality
of gores integrated into a crown and made of a double-knit
weft knitted fabric having a weft directional elongation
higher than 500; and a sweat band attached along a lower edge
of the integrated gores and made of an elastic woven fabric,
said elastic woven fabric of the sweat band being manufactured
by weaving latex-covered yarns as wefts and non-stretchable
yarns as warps and having both a weft directional elongation
higher than 65o and an elastic recovery higher than 950.
Since the crown of the free-size cap of this invention is
made of the double-knit weft knitted fabric, the crown has
loops with a great number of ventilation pores acting as a
means for diffusing moisture from the interior of the crown
into the atmosphere. Therefore, the free-size cap of this
invention is free from conventional eyelets and effectively
and quickly diffuses moisture, such as sweat, into the
atmosphere through the ventilation pores of the loops.
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In the present invention, the sweat band of the free-size
cap is made of an elastic woven fabric using latex-covered
yarns as wefts. Since the latex-covered yarns have a high
elongation and a high elastic recovery different from
conventional polyurethane-covered yarns, the sweat band is
softer and more flexible, and has a porous structure, thus
more quickly and effectively absorbing and diffusing a large
amount of sweat. In addition, since the sweat band of this
invention has a high elastic recovery, it effectively
compensates for the low elastic recovery of the crown made of
weft knitted fabrics using nonstretchable yarns as warps.
When the crown of this invention is made of a double-knit
weft knitted fabric using polyurethane-covered yarns, the
crown has a weft directional elongation higher than 25o and a
horizontal elongation higher than 600. In such a case, the
crown of the cap is more stably and comfortably fitted to the
head of a user. In addition, the elastic recovery of the
above crown is remarkably increased over the crown made of
weft knitted fabrics using nonstretchable yarns.
In the present invention, the free-size cap may be
designed to have a conventional size adjusting means at the
center of the lower edge of the crown as shown in Figs. 2 and
3. Alternatively, the free-size cap of this invention may be
designed without having such a size adjusting means as shown
in Fig. 1.
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The crown of the free-size cap of this invention may be
made of a double pile weft knitted fabric. In such a case,
the free-size cap has a soft touch and a high thermal
insulation effect, thus being preferably used in the winter or
in cold climate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and other
advantages of the present invention will be more clearly
understood from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a free-size cap in
accordance with the primary embodiment of the present
invention, the cap being free from a size adjusting means;
Fig. 2 is a bottom view of a free-size cap in accordance
with the second embodiment of the present invention, the cap
being provided with a size adjusting means, consisting of a
male band and a female band, at the rounded cutout formed on
the lower edge of the crown at the rear end; and
Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a free-size cap in accordance
with the third embodiment of the present invention, the cap
being provided with a size adjusting means, consisting of a
band and a buckle, at the rounded cutout formed on the lower
edge of the crown.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a free-size cap in
accordance with the primary embodiment of the present
invention, the cap being free from a size adjusting means.
In the present invention, the free-size cap is designed
to be freely used by users having head sizes of 45 cm -- 69 cm
and is manufactured as two reference-sized caps, or small-
sized caps (45 cm) and medium-sized caps (57 cm), capable of
meeting a requirement of the users having head sizes of 45 cm
69 cm. In the cap of this invention, the lower edge of the
crown is divided into two parts, or a rear portion and a front
portion, by both ends 7 and 8 of a visor 'A'. When setting
't' as the reference size of a free-size cap, 'r' as the
circumferential length of the rear portion, and 'f' as the
circumferential length of the front portion, the free-size cap
of this invention is designed to accomplish the expressions,
3/5 x t <_ r, and t = r + f .
In the free-size cap of this invention, the crown 'C' and
the sweat band 'B' are designed to be practically stretchable
at the rear portion.
Repeated experiments show the following results. That
is, when a small-sized free-size cap of this invention, with
t = 45 cm, is stretched at its rear portion by 900 or less of
an elongation of 500, the cap does not cause any inconvenience
CA 02304997 2000-04-11
to a user irrespective of a restoring force acting on the head
of the user due to the elastic recovery of the rear portion,
but is comfortably fitted on the head of the user.
Therefore, the circumferential length 'r' of the rear
portion of the cap is calculated as follows: r = 45cm x 3/5 =
27cm: When the rear portion (r = 27cm) is stretched by 90% or
less of the elongation of 500, the rear portion is stretched
by 12.15cm (27cm x 0.5 x 0.9).
When a medium-sized free-size cap of this invention, with
t = 57cm, is stretched in the same manner as described for the
small-sized cap, the circumferential length 'r' of the rear
portion of the cap is calculated as follows: r = 57cm x 3/5 =
34.2cm and the rear portion is stretched by 15.3cm (34.2cm x
0.5 x 0.9).
When the crowns of the free-size caps of this invention
are made of double-knit weft knitted fabrics using
nonstretchable yarns as warps and are manufactured at two
reference sizes, or 45cm and 57cm, the free-size caps almost
completely meet a requirement of users having different head
sizes of 45cm ~ 69cm. In practicality, the medium-sized free-
size cap having a reference size of 57cm also meets a
requirement of a user have ng a head size of 72cm since the
stretched size of the cap become: 72cm (57cm + l5cm).
The sweat band of the free-size cap of this invention has
a weft directional elongation higher than 650, and so the
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sweat band completely accomplishes the above-mentioned
conditions.
The present invention is also adapted to free-size caps
with size adjusting means as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
In the free-size cap of Fig. 2, a cutout 'd', having a
length of lOcm and a width of 4cm, is formed on the lower edge
of the crown 'C'. A female band 'e', with a plurality of
regularly spaced fitting holes 11 axially arranged on the
band, is sewn to the first edge 9 of the cutout 'd' at one end
thereof. A male band 'g', with a plurality of regularly
spaced fitting projections 12 axially arranged on the band, is
sewn to the second edge 10 of the cutout 'd'. It is possible
for a user to primarily and approximately adjust the size of
the cap by appropriately engaging the fitting projections 12
of the male band with the fitting holes 11 of the female band
in a conventional manner.
In the above free-size cap, the final size adjustment,
which is not accomplished by the size adjusting bands due to
the intervals of the fitting holes and fitting projections, is
automatically and precisely accomplished by both the crown and
the sweat band provided at the portions between the first end
7 of the visor and the first edge 9 of the cutout and between
the second end 8 of the visor ar_~ the second edge 10 of the
cutout.
For example, when the free-size cap of Fig. 2 has a
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reference size of 57cm and is designed to be commonly usable
by users having head sizes different from each other within a
difference of about l2cm, the primary size adjustment within
the first 6cm (57cm ~ 63cm) is accomplished by the size
adjusting bands with seven fitting holes be formed on the
female band while being spaced out at regular intervals of
lcm. The final size adjustment within the remaining 6cm (l2cm
- 6cm) is automatically and precisely accomplished by both the
crown and the sweat band provided at the portions between the
first end 7 of the visor and the first edge 9 of the cutout
and between the second end 8 of the visor and the second edge
10 of the cutout. That is, since the circumferential length
of the portion between the first end 7 of the visor and the
first edge 9 of the cutout is l2.lcm (34.2cm/2 - lOcm/2), the
total circumferential length of the two portions between the
first end 7 of the visor and the first edge 9 of the cutout
and between the second end 8 of the visor and the second edge
10 of the cutout is 24.2cm (l2.lcm x 2). Therefore, when the
rear portion of the cap is stretched by 900 of the elongation
of 50%, the rear portion is stretched by 10.89cm (24.2cm x 0.5
x 0.9). The rear portion is thus stretchable within a range
of 10.89cm, and so the final size adjustment within the
remaining 6cm (l2cm - 6cm) is precisely accomplished by the
rear portion. The free-size cap of this invention, which has
a reference size of 57cm and is provided with the size
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adjusting bands, is usable by a user having a head size of
73cm (larger than the reference size of 57cm by l6cm) in
addition to a user having a head size of 69cm (larger than the
reference size of 57cm by l2cm'. The final precise size
adjustment within lcm, or the intervals between the fitting
holes, is automatically accomplished by the portions with the
total circumferential length, or l2.lcm + l2.lcm.
In the free-size cap of Fig. 3, a buckle 'I' is sewn to
the first edge 9 of the cutout 'd', while a band 'h' is sewn
to the second edge 10 of the cutout 'd'.
The size adjustment of the above free-size cap is
accomplished as follows. That is, the primary size adjustment
within first 6cm (57cm -- 63cm) is accomplished by the band and
buckle, and the final size adjustment within the remaining 6cm
(l2cm - 6cm) is automatically and precisely accomplished by
the portions with the total circumferential length, or l2.lcm
+ l2.lcm in the same manner as that described for the cap of
Fig. 2.
When the free-size cap of Figs. 2 and 3 with a size
adjusting means is designed to have a reference size of 63cm
instead of 57cm, the size adjustment within a range of l2cm is
accomplished as follows.
That is, when the free-size cap of Figs. 2 and 3 is
designed to have a reference size of 63cm with the cutout
being open free from such a size adjusting means, it is
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possible to reduce the size of the cap within a range of 6cm.
In addition, the final size adjustment within the remaining
6cm is automatically and precisely accomplished by the
elasticity of both the crown and the sweat band at the
portions with the total circumferential length, or l2.lcm +
12.1cm.
In a brief description, the free-size cap of Figs. 2 and
3 is appropriately adjusted in size as desired by both the
size adjusting means and the elasticity of both the crown and
the sweat band.
A better understanding of the present invention may be
obtained through the following examples which are set forth to
illustrate, but are not to be ccastrued as the limit of the
present invention.
Example 1
In order to produce a free-size cap free from a size
adjusting means as shown in Fig. l, a double-knit weft knitted
fabric was made using spun blend yarns, consisting of 65 wto
of polyester fiber and 35 wt% of cotton, through a circular
weft knitting process. The resulting weft knitted fabric was
divided into six gores 1 to 6 prior to integrating the six
gores into a crown 'C' through a conventional sewing process
using sewing yarns.
The weft directional elongation of the above weft knitted
CA 02304997 2000-04-11
fabric was 500.
In addition, a sweat band 'B' for the cap was
manufactured as follows. That is, an elastic woven fabric,
having a weft directional elongation of 65o and an elastic
recovery of 95o and a width of 3cm, was manufactured using
latex-covered yarns as wefts and spun blend yarns as warps by
a ribbon loom. In such a case, the latex-covered yarn, used
as a weft, was manufactured using a latex monofilament yarn of
70d as a core yarn and a polyester multifilament yarn of 150d
as a cover yarn. The spun blend yarn, used as a warp,
consists of 65 wto of polyester fiber and 35 wto of cotton.
The desired sweat band 'B' was made of the resulting elastic
woven fabric.
In the free-size cap, the circumferential length of both
the lower edge of the crown and the sweat band was 57cm. The
lower edge of the sweat band 'B' was sewn to the lower edge of
the crown 'C' . In addition, the visor 'A' was sewn to the
lower edge of the crown. In such a case, the circumferential
length 'r' of the rear portion of the crown was 34.2cm (3/5 x
57cm), while the circumferential length 'f' of the front
portion of the crown was 2?.8cm.
The free-size cap of this example is usable by users
having head sizes of 57cm ~ 72cm.
The above free-size cap is preferable to be used in the
summer.
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Example 2
The process of Example 1 was repeated while making a
double-knit weft knitted fabric using spun blend yarns,
consisting of 30 wt% of wool and 70 wto of acryl fiber,
instead of the spun blend yarns, consisting of 65 wto of
polyester fiber and 35 wto of cotton.
The free-size cap of this example is preferable to be
used in the winter or in cold climate.
Example 3
The process of Example 1 was repeated while making the
crown using a double pile weft knitted fabric instead of the
double-knit weft knitted fabric.
The free-size cap of this example has cut piles on both
surfaces of the crown, and so the cap has a soft touch and a
high thermal insulation effect. This free-size cap is thus
preferable to be used in the winter or in cold climate.
Example 4
The process of Example 1 was repeated while making the
double-knit weft knitted fabric of the crown using a spandex-
covered yarn manufactured using a spandex monofilament yarn of
70d as a core yarn and a polyester multifilament yarn of 150d
as a cover yarn. The crown of this cap had a weft directional
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elongation of 60o, a warp direction elongation of 30o and an
elastic recovery of 90%.
The tightness of the crown c~ this free-size cap is more
improved than those of the Examples 1 and 2.
Example 5
The process of Example 1 was repeated while forming a
cutout ' d' at the center of the rear portion of the crown,
with a size adjusting means consisting of a female band 'e'
and a male band 'g' and being provided at the cutout.
In the above cap, the cutout 'd', having a length of lOcm
and a width of 4cm, was formed at the center of the lower edge
of the rear portion of the crown 'C'. The female band 'e',
with a plurality of regularly spaced fitting holes 11 axially
arranged on the band, was sewn to the first edge 9 of the
cutout 'd' at one end thereof. The male band 'g', with a
plurality of regularly spaced fitting projections 12 axially
arranged on the band, was sewn to the second edge 10 of the
cutout 'd'. The size adjusting means allows a user to
primarily and approximately adjust the size of the cap by
appropriately engaging the fitting projections 12 of the male
band with the fitting holes 11 of the female band in a
conventional manner.
In the above free-size cap, the final size adjustment,
which is not accomplished by the size adjusting bands due to
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the intervals of the fitting holes and fitting projections, is
automatically and precisely accomplished by both the crown and
the sweat band provided at the portions between the first end
7 of the visor and the first edge 9 of the cutout and between
the second end 8 of the visor and the second edge 10 of the
cutout.
For example, when the free-size cap of Fig. 2 has a
reference size of 57cm and is designed to be commonly usable
by users having head sizes different from each other within a
difference of about l2cm, the primary size adjustment within
the first 6cm (57cm ~ 63~m) is accomplished by the size
adjusting bands with seven fitting holes being formed on the
female band while being spaced out at regular intervals of
lcm. The final size adjustment within the remaining 6cm (l2cm
- 6cm) is automatically and precisely accomplished by both the
crown and the sweat bind provided at the portions between the
first end 7 of the visor and the first edge 9 of the cutout
and between the second end 8 of the visor and the second edge
10 of the cutout. That is, since the circumferential length
of the portion between the first end 7 of the visor and the
first edge 9 of the cutout is ~.2.~.cm (34.2cm/2 - lOcm/2), the
total circumferential length of the two portions between the
first end 7 of the visor and the first edge 9 of the cutout
and between the second end 8 of the visor and the second edge
10 of the cutout is 24_.2cm (12.1cm x 2). Therefore, when the
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CA 02304997 2000-04-11
rear portion of the cap is stretched by 90% of the elongation
of 500, the rear portion is stretched by 10.89cm (24.2cm x 0.5
x 0.9). The rear portion is thus stretchable within a range
of 10.89cm, and so the final size adjustment within the
remaining 6cm (l2cm - 6cm) is precisely accomplished by the
rear portion. The free-size cap of this invention, which has
a reference size of 57cm and is provided with the size
adjusting bands, is usable by a user having a head size of
73cm (larger than the reference size of 57cm by l6cm) in
addition to a user having a head size of 69cm (larger than the
reference size of 57cm by l2cm).
Example 6
The process of Example 5 was repeated while attaching a
buckle 'I' and a band 'h' instead of the female band 'e' and
the male band 'g' to the cutout 'd' of the crown.
As described above, the present invention provides a
free-size cap, with the gores of the crown being made of
double-knit weft knitted fabrics having a weft directional
elongation higher than 50o and the sweat band being made of an
elastic woven fabric having both a weft directional elongation
higher than 65o and an elastic recovery higher than 950. The
free-size cap of this invention has five advantages as
follows.
CA 02304997 2000-04-11
First, since the gores of the crown are made of double-
knit weft knitted fabrics having G weft directional elongation
higher than 500, the crown almost completely overcomes the
problem of a conventional crown made of an elastic woven
fabric. That is, stretchable wefts are bound with
nonstretchable warps in the elastic woven fabric of the
conventional crown, and so the elongation of the crown is
remarkably reduced to 250 ~ 20. However, such a problem is
almost completely overcome by the crown made of the double-
knit weft knitted fabric of this invention.
Second, the crown of a conventional free-size cap is
provided with four or more eyelets for diffusing moisture,
such as sweat, from the interior of the crown into the
atmosphere. However, the crown of this invention is made of
a double-knit weft knitted fabric having loops with a great
number of ventilation pores acting as a means for diffusing
moisture from the interior of the crown into the atmosphere.
Therefore, the free-size cap of this invention is free from
such eyelets, and so it is possible to simplify the production
process and to reduce the production cost of free-size caps.
Third, since the crown is made of a double-knit weft
knitted fabric, the crown feels soft and comfortable to the
user while wearing the cap different from a conventional crown
made of an elastic woven fabric. The crown of the free-size
cap of this invention is appropriately fitted to the head of
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a user, thus meeting a requirement of users, particularly,
young people, wanting to show their personalities with tightly
fitted caps.
Fourth, the sweat band of the free-size cap of this
invention is made of an elastic woven fabric having both a
weft directional elongation higher than 65o and an elastic
recovery higher than 950. When the crown of the cap is
stretched by about l2cm, the sweat band is stretched by about
450 {l2cm . (3/5 x 45cm . 0.45)}. The sweat band of this
invention thus feels soft and comfortable to the user while
wearing the cap. The sweat band of this invention has a great
number of ventilation pores, and so the sweat band effectively
and quickly absorbs sweat while increasing the absorbable
amount of sweat.
Particularly, even though the crown of this invention is
made of double-knit weft knitted fabrics havina a soft
structure almost completely free from automorphism, the sweat
band reinforces the soft structure of the crown and
accomplishes a desired automorphism of the free-size cap. In
addition, the sweat band, having a high elastic recovery,
effectively compensates for the low elastic recovery of the
crown made of nonstretchable yarns as warps.
Fifth, since the rear portion of both the crown and the
sweat band of the free-size cap of this invention is stably
stretched by about l2cm, it is possible for main users having
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CA 02304997 2000-04-11
head sizes of 45 cm (infants) ~ 69 cm (adults) to select one
of two reference-sized free-size caps, or small-sized caps
(45cm) and medium-sized caps (57cm). Therefore, the free-size
cap of this invention is more convenient to users while
selecting the caps different from conventional free-size caps
which are manufactured as three reference-sized caps, or
small-sized caps, medium-sized caps and large-sized caps. The
free-size cap of this invention is convenient to the
manufacturers or sellers of caps while producing or selling
the caps since the cap of this invention allows the
manufacturers or sellers to produce or sell two reference-
sized caps instead of the conventional three reference-sized
caps.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those
skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications,
additions and substitutions are possible, without departing
from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the
accompanying claims.
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