Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02774091 2012-04-12
Headwear and Removable Liner Combination
This invention relates generally to headwear, and provides a headwear and
removable liner
combination.
Background of the Invention
Generally, headwear incorporates a band around the entirety of the lower rim
of the crown. The band
serves to maintain the shape the headwear, and is usually composed of fabric,
which can include an
elastic component. The band may be composed of material that adsorbs sweat
from the wearer but
most have limited cushioning and moisture absorption capacity.
Some athletic headwear bands may incorporate design elements that allow for
greater airflow around
the entire circumference of the band, or which, as an element of a broader
application, incorporate a
sweatband, for greater absorption of sweat from around the visor portion of
the band, such as the
following Canadian patents:
CA 2740045 Higgins
CA 2244165 Lamantia
Other prior art provides for a removable sweatband that is affixed to
conventional headwear by means
of an adhesive, such as the following Canadian patent:
CA2021206 Konucik
However, while these articles may be suitable for the purpose to which they
address, they are not
suitable for the purpose of the present invention, as hereafter described.
Summary of the Invention
This invention provides a headwear and removable liner combination, wherein
the liner can be
repeatedly detached from the band of the headwear, for washing and drying, and
then re-attached to the
band of the headwear without any adhesives, and without the fasteners becoming
separated either from
the band of the headwear or from the liner.
The headwear and removable liner combination of the present invention is
capable of:
a) improving the comfort of the headwear by providing a soft surface on the
skin-contacting side
of the liner;
b) reducing or eliminating pressure marks on the skin of the wearer of the
headwear;
c) absorbing sweat and oils from the skin of the wearer;
d) being easily and repeatedly removed from the headwear;
e) being easily and repeatedly washed and dried using conventional washing
methods;
0 being easily and repeatedly re-affixed to the headwear;
g) preventing the transfer of stains and infiltration of odour to the crown
and visor (if
applicable) of the headwear;
Ii) reducing irritation to the skin of the wearer of the headwear when the
headwear is worn in
athletic applications (ie. running, golf, tennis etc.);
i) repeated removal and re-attachment of the liner without the fasteners
becoming separated
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CA 02774091 2012-04-12
either from the band of the headwear or from the liner.
In accordance with the present invention, the skin-contacting side of the
liner is composed of a soft
fabric that permits the passage of moisture through to the core of the liner.
The opposite side of the
liner is covered with a hook fastener that is permanently affixed (sewn) to
the liner. The liner is
attached to the inside of the frontal portion of the band of the headwear by
mating the hook fastener on
the liner with a strip of loop fastener that is manufactured into the interior
of the frontal portion of the
band of the headwear.
Advantageously, the liner can be detached for washing and drying by
disengaging the loop and hook
fasteners. The liner can then be re-attached by mating the loop and hook
fasteners. The liner can be
repeatedly detached and re-attached without the fasteners becoming separated
either from the band of
the headwear or from the liner.
Advantageously, the soft texture of the loop fastener manufactured into the
band of the headwear
permits the headwear to be worn even if the liner is not in place.
In the drawings, which form a part of this specification,
Fig. 1 is a bottom perspective view of the headwear and liner combination,
showing the positioning of
the loop fastener2 on the inside, frontal portion of the band4 of the
headwear (in crosshatch) and
showing the liner' in the detached position.
Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the headwear and liner combination,
showing the liner' in the
attached position, with the hook fastener3 and loop fastener having been
mated2.
Fig. 3 is a view of the liner', on a larger scale than Fig.1, showing the
cover5 and the hook fastener3 (in
crosshatch). A cross-sectional view of the core4 is also shown.
The drawings are illustrative only, and changes may be made in the specific
construction illustrated and
described within the scope of the claims.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The headwear shown in the drawings and which forms part of the headwear and
liner combination of
the present invention comprises a crown20, bane and visor30
.
The liner' is provided to improve the comfort of the headwear by introducing a
soft skin-contacting
cover5 over a cushioning core4 that is attached to the interior, frontal
portion of the bane and which
may also reduce or eliminate pressure marks and/or lines on, or irritation to,
the skin of the wearer of
the headwear. The liner' may also improve the comfort of the headwear by
absorbing sweat and oils
from the skin of the wearer. The preferred construction of the liner', as
illustrated in Fig. 3, is a core4
of foam, sponge or absorbent material, with a cover5 comprised of a soft,
smooth, pre-shrunken fabric,
typically a blend of cotton and polyester which is inexpensive and washable.
The liner' is approximately twenty (20cm) centimetres in length, three (3cm)
centimetres in width and
approximately three (3mm) millimetres in depth. The non-skin-contacting side
of the liner' is covered
by a permanently-affixed (sewn) strip of hook fastener3.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, a strip of loop fastener2
of approximately twenty
(20cm) centimetres in length is manufactured into the interior, interior
portion of the band40. The liner'
is attached to the bane in Fig. 2 by mating the hook fastener3 with the loop
fastener2.
Advantageously, the liner' can be removed for washing, as often as required,
by disengaging the loop
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CA 02774091 2012-04-12
fastener2 and hook fastener3. The liner' can be re-attached after the washing
and drying process by
mating the loop fastener2 and the hook fastener3. Advantageously, the liner
can be repeatedly detached
and re-attached without the loop fastener2 becoming separated from the band"
of the headwear, or
without the hook fastener3 becoming separated from the liner'.
The headwear is described in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 as having the form of a
baseball-type cap, but the
invention described herein can be applied to a wide variety of headwear
including, but not limited to,
baseball cats (full and open-back), visors and knitted hats.
It will be apparent that various changes and modifications can be made without
departing from the
scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
