US20210321707A1

US20210321707A1 - Headwear with Hair Bundling Assembly for Accommodating Variable Hairstyles

Info

Publication number: US20210321707A1
Application number: US17/288,046
Authority: US
Inventors: Victoria Catherine Lord
Original assignee: Top Knot Inc
Current assignee: Top Knot Inc
Priority date: 2018-10-26
Filing date: 2019-10-24
Publication date: 2021-10-21
Also published as: CA3117507A1; WO2020082159A1

Abstract

A headwear piece or hat is provided that includes a hair bundling assembly for receiving, gathering and/or accommodating a thickness or bundle of user's hair. The hair bundling assembly includes an opening extending longitudinally in a cap portion of the headwear; a pair of flexible closure flaps lining edges of the opening, which are configured to cover a surface of the opening when the closure flaps overlap one another; and a plurality of magnets located along edges of the closure flaps, each of which having a polarity selected to attract an opposite magnet on an edge of the opposite closure flap, to assist in maintaining the overlap between the closure flaps. The closure flaps are moveable relative to one another in a lateral direction, to receive therebetween the user's hair, and the polarity of the magnets is selected to encourage the closing of the hair bundling assembly around the hair.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority and the benefit of 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/751,103, filed 26 Oct. 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to headwear, and in particular, to headwear that allows a user to display his/her hair outside the headwear by pulling the hair through an opening in the headwear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor has recognized inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a hat or headwear piece which affords women and men a simple one-step process by which to pull their hair through and wear outside the hat in variable hairstyles, including high ponytails or messy buns. Such headwear may advantageously eliminate a number of problems experienced particularly by women when wearing hats or headwear currently described in the state of the art, including but not limited to: (1) overheating and sweating caused by excess hair falling over the back of the user's neck and/or over their forehead or face when a hat is worn in particularly hot or sunny climates, or whilst exercising, (2) the discomfort, frustration and irritability that ensues from the aforementioned overheating and sweating, and (3) the inability to wear their hair up high on their heads, which is oftentimes the solution to the aforementioned overheating and sweating.
Furthermore, the applicant has appreciated that headwear according to the present invention may advantageously allow for users to style their hair according to current and variable style trends (i.e. high, in a high ponytail or bun, rather than simply low, near the base of their heads), therefore allowing the user greater aesthetic freedom and not limiting them to restricted style options.
In accordance with the invention, it is an object of the present embodiments to solve at least in part one of the aforementioned problems. The inventor has recognized these problems and has addressed this need by developing headwear in accordance with the present invention.
Accordingly, the present invention resides in various non-limiting aspects, and which include, without restriction as follows:
In a first aspect, a headwear piece including: a cap portion for placement over a user's head; the cap portion including a hair bundling assembly for receiving and/or accommodating a thickness or bundle of the user's hair, the hair bundling assembly including: an opening extending longitudinally in the cap portion; a pair of flexible closure flaps lining longitudinal edges of the opening, the closure flaps being configured to cover a surface of the opening when the closure flaps overlap one another; and a plurality of magnets located along respective edges of the closure flaps, wherein each of the plurality of magnets has a polarity selected to attract an opposite magnet located along an opposite respective edge of the closure flaps, such as to assist in maintaining the overlap between the closure flaps; wherein the closure flaps are moveable relative to one another in a lateral direction, in order to receive therebetween the thickness or bundle of the user's hair, and the polarity of each of the respective magnets are selected so as to resiliently return the closure flaps to their overlapping condition, substantially closing the hair bundling assembly around the thickness or bundle of hair.
In another aspect, a headwear piece including: a flexible cap portion for fitting to a user's head; the flexible cap portion including a hair bundling assembly for gathering and/or holding a thickness or bundle of the user's hair, the hair bundling assembly including: an opening extending longitudinally in the cap portion in a top to bottom direction; a pair of flexible closure flaps lining longitudinal edges of the opening, the closure flaps being configured to cover an entire surface of the opening when respective inner edges of the closure flaps overlap one another; and a plurality of magnets located along the respective edges of the closure flaps, wherein each of the plurality of magnets has a polarity selected to attract an opposite magnet located along an opposite respective edge of the closure flaps, such as to assist in maintaining the overlap between the respective edges of the closure flaps absent an outside force; the closure flaps being moveable relative to one another in a lateral direction upon application of an outside force, in order to pull therethrough the thickness or bundle of the user's hair, and the polarity of each of the respective magnets thereby being selected to resiliently return the edges of the closure flaps to their overlapping condition, substantially closing the hair bundling assembly around the thickness or bundle of hair.
In another aspect, a headwear piece including a flexible cap portion for fitting to a user's head; and a hair bundling assembly that includes a longitudinally extending opening in the cap portion bordered by a pair of selectively sealable and flexible closure flaps, the closure flaps having a plurality of magnets located along respective interior edges thereof; wherein, absent an outside force, the magnets act to keep the closure flaps biased in a partially overlapping configuration, substantially closing the opening, with the interior edges substantially overlapping one another; and wherein the closure flaps are moveable relative to one another in a lateral direction to an orientation selected to enable a thickness or bundle of the user's hair to pass through the opening and whereby the closure flaps are able to then return to their biased partially overlapping configuration, substantially closing around the thickness or bundle of hair.
In yet another aspect, a headwear piece including: a flexible cap portion for fitting to a user's head, the flexible cap portion defining a rear opening; and a hair bundling assembly disposed in the opening, the hair bundling assembly including a pair of longitudinally elongated flexible closure flaps, the closure flaps being movable from a closed position, wherein an edge portion of a first closure flap is in overlapping juxtaposition with an adjacent edge portion of the second other closure flap, and a displaced position, wherein the edge portions of the first and second closure flaps are spaced from one another so as to receive therethrough a thickness or bundle of the user's hair; the first closure flap including a first array of a plurality of longitudinally spaced magnets, each magnet of the first array having a magnet polarity that is fixedly oriented relative to the edge portion of the first closure flap; the second closure flap including a second array of the plurality of magnets, each magnet of the second array having a magnet polarity that is fixedly oriented relative to the edge portion of the second closure flap and which is opposite in polarity to an associated respective magnet of the first array; whereby in the closed position, opposing polarities of the first and second array of magnets maintain the first and second closure flaps in the closed position under a force selected to be less than a predetermined threshold force; and on application of the predetermined threshold force, the first and second closure flaps being moveable to the displaced position.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein a first magnet of the plurality of magnets is located along a first respective edge of the closure flaps, and has a bottom surface having a selected magnet polarity; a second magnet of the plurality of magnets is located along a second respective edge of the closure flaps opposite the first respective edge, and has a top surface having a selected magnet polarity that is opposite the selected magnet polarity of the bottom surface of the first magnet; and the first and second magnets are each located at substantially similar heights along the respective first and second edges of the closure flaps, such that they are substantially aligned in a longitudinal direction, thereby enabling an attractive force between the bottom surface of the first magnet and the top surface of the second magnet.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein a third magnet of the plurality of magnets is located along the first respective edge of the closure flaps, beneath and spaced from the first magnet, and has a bottom surface having a selected magnet polarity similar to the selected magnet polarity of the top surface of the second magnet; a fourth magnet of the plurality of magnets is located along the second respective edge of the closure flaps, beneath and spaced from the second magnet, and has a top surface having a selected magnet polarity that is opposite the selected magnet polarity of the bottom surface of the third magnet and similar to the selected magnet polarity of the bottom surface of the first magnet; the third and fourth magnets are each located at substantially similar heights along the respective first and second edges of the closure flaps, such that they are substantially aligned in a longitudinal direction, thereby enabling an attractive force between the bottom surface of the third magnet and the top surface of the fourth magnet; and wherein a first repulsive force is achieved between the similar selected magnet polarities of the bottom surface of the third magnet and the top surface of the second magnet, and a second repulsive force is achieved between the similar selected magnet polarities of the bottom surface of the first magnet and the top surface of the fourth magnet.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the plurality of magnets are substantially equally spaced from one another along the respective edges of the closure flaps; and each magnet located along one respective edge is paired with an opposite magnet located along the other respective edge at a similar longitudinal height.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the first magnet has an interior edge with a magnet polarity that repels a corresponding interior edge of the second magnet.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the third magnet has an interior edge with a magnet polarity that repels a corresponding interior edge of the fourth magnet.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the opening in the cap portion has a width between 3 and 4 cm.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein each of the closure flaps are held taut at the longitudinal edges of the opening and at top and bottom edges of the opening by means of glue or stitching.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the plurality of magnets consists of exactly three magnets located along each respective edge of closure flaps.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein each of the plurality of magnets are held in place along the respective edges of the closure flaps within fabric folds or seams located along the edges.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnets is further fixed in place within the folds or seams by means of glue or additional stitching.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnets is selectively moveable within the folds or seams along the respective edges of the closure flaps.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnets is generally rectangular in shape.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnets is substantially flat.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, the headwear piece further including a size adjustment device for adjusting a diameter of the cap portion.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the size adjustment device is located along an interior edge of the cap portion.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the size adjustment device includes a flexible tab and an adherence strip, which cooperate by means of hook and loop type fastening means.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein at least one of the plurality of magnets located along one respective edge of the closure flaps has a width which spans at least one half of a width of the respective closure flap, such as to maintain adequate magnetic surface area to assist in closing the hair bundling assembly around the thickness or bundle of hair, when the size adjustment device operates to reduce the diameter of the cap portion.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein at least one additional magnet fixed in place along a width of at least one of the closure flaps, which provides additional magnetic surface area to assist in closing the hair bundling assembly around the thickness or bundle of hair, when the size adjustment device operates to reduce the diameter of the cap portion.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the opening in the cap portion is generally rectangular in shape.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein an apex of the opening, located substantially near to or at a top of the cap portion, is pointed or tapered in shape.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the headwear piece is of a baseball-style and has a brim or visor portion.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the hair bundling assembly is located at a rear of the cap portion.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the plurality of magnets includes 3 to 5 magnets fixed at equally spaced and corresponding positions to one another along each of the interior and overlapping edges of the pair of closure flaps.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the magnets are flat and generally rectangular in shape.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein each remaining edge of the closure flaps, other than the interior and overlapping edges, are fixed in place along corresponding edges of the opening.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein each of the closure flaps have exactly three of the aforementioned remaining edges that are fixed to the corresponding edges of the opening by means of stitching and/or glue.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, the headwear piece further including a brim or visor.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the opening has a generally rectangular shape and a narrow width of between about 3 to 5 cm, and each closure flap extending laterally approximately midway into the opening.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the opening extends to within 2.5 cm of the top of the cap portion and includes a pointed tapered end near the top.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the cap portion is a baseball-style cap.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the baseball-style cap portion includes six triangularly shaped panels stitched or otherwise attached together, the tips of the panels meeting at the top of the cap portion at a knob or Squatchee, and the panels extending radially and downwardly to define a lower edge of the cap portion.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the hair bundling assembly is located at the rear of the cap portion.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the opposing polarities of the first and second array of magnets bias the edge portions of the first and second closure flaps in the overlapping juxtaposition.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein each of the first and second closure flaps include a fabric web.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the first closure flap includes a longitudinal fold along its respective edge portion, and each magnet of the first array is housed within the longitudinal fold.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the second closure flap includes a longitudinal fold along its respective edge portion and each magnet of the second array is housed within the longitudinal fold.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein each of the magnets of the first and/or second array are fixed against longitudinal movement within the longitudinal fold by adhesive or stitching.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein at least one of the magnets of the first or second array is moveable in a longitudinal direction within the longitudinal fold.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein a first magnet in the first array includes a top surface having a selected magnet polarity; and a second magnet in the second array, being an associated respective magnet to the first magnet, includes a bottom surface having an opposite selected magnet polarity to the top surface of the first magnet.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein a third magnet, which is located beside the first magnet in the first array, includes a top surface having a selected magnet polarity that is substantially identical to the selected magnet polarity of the bottom surface of the second magnet; and a fourth magnet, which is located beside the second magnet in the second array and which is an associated respective magnet to the third magnet, includes a bottom surface having a selected magnet polarity that is substantially identical to the selected magnet polarity of the top surface of the first magnet and that is opposite the selected magnet polarity of the top surface of the third magnet.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein at least one of the magnets of the first array includes an inside edge oriented towards the edge portion of the first closure flap that magnetically repels an inside edge of an associated respective magnet of the second array that is oriented towards the edge portion of the second closure flap.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the overlapping juxtaposition of the edge portions of the first and second closure flaps is a non-abutting overlapping juxtaposition, wherein the edge portions overlap in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinally elongated closure flaps.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the pair of longitudinally elongated flexible closure flaps are secured within the opening with substantially the same radial curvature as adjacent portions of the cap portion which define the opening.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the opening in the cap portion is generally rectangular in shape.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the opening in the cap portion includes an apex having a generally pointed shape.
The headwear piece in accordance with any preceding or hereafter described aspects, wherein the cap portion further includes a brim or visor.
Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure may be combined in various manners, colours, textures, materials and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one or more features and advantages described in a particular embodiment.
Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of headwear in accordance with a first preferred embodiment, shown in operation, with placement over a user's head with hair pulled though a central portion of an opening of a hair bundling assembly;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the headwear of FIG. 1 with hair bundling assembly in a closed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the headwear of FIG. 1 with hair bundling assembly in an open configuration;

FIG. 4a is an enlarged cross-sectional view of overlapping edges of closure flaps of the hair bundling assembly depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein the hair bundling assembly is in an open configuration;

FIG. 4b is an enlarged cross-sectional view of overlapping edges of closure flaps of the hair bundling assembly depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein the hair bundling assembly is in a closed configuration;

FIG. 4c is a partial, enlarged perspective view of the hair bundling assembly depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3 in an open configuration, with edges of closure flaps of the hair bundling assembly shown in close relation to one another;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top elevation view of the hair bundling assembly depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3 in an open configuration, with edges of closure flaps of the hair bundling assembly shown in close relation to one another;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of the headwear of FIG. 1 with hair bundling assembly in a closed configuration;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the headwear of FIG. 1 with hair bundling assembly in a closed configuration;

FIG. 8a is a rear elevation view of headwear in accordance with a second preferred embodiment, having a size adjustment device shown at its largest, with hair bundling assembly in a closed configuration;

FIG. 8b is a partial interior elevation view of the headwear of FIG. 8a , the size adjustment device shown at its largest, with hair bundling assembly in closed configuration;

FIG. 8c is a rear elevation view of the headwear of FIG. 8a , the size adjustment device shown at its smallest, with hair bundling assembly in closed configuration; and

FIG. 8d is a partial interior elevation view of the headwear of FIG. 8a , the size adjustment device shown at its smallest, with hair bundling assembly in closed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

In accordance with the invention, the best mode as presented in terms of a first preferred embodiment is herein depicted within FIGS. 1 through 7.
Reference may now be had particularly to FIG. 1, which depicts a headwear piece 10 which is of a baseball-style worn over a user's head 12. The headwear piece 10 comprises an inverted dome-shaped cap portion 20 for placement over the user's head 12 and an integrally attached brim or visor portion 30 projecting forward and outwardly from the user's face.
The visor portion 30 includes a pre-curved rigid or semi-rigid visor, which in use extends generally horizontally and serves the purpose of shielding the user's eyes from the sun, rain or other elements. Preferably, it is angled slightly downwards in order to better serve its aforementioned purpose. The visor portion 30 typically comprises a solid rigid piece, molded into the pre-curved configuration, and which may be further folded or shaped by the user to better frame their face. This solid rigid piece may be constructed of plastic or other suitably rigid materials.
The front part of the cap portion 20, to which the visor portion 30 is attached, should preferably fit snuggly to the user's forehead, so as to produce a headwear piece 10 that is form-fitting.
The inverted cap portion 20 comprises six triangularly shaped panels 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f sewn or otherwise attached together side-by-side forming the inverted bowl or dome shape, as also shown in FIG. 2. The apex tips of the panels 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f meet together at a knob or Squatchee 24 on the top of the cap portion 20. Each of panels 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f then extend radially and downwardly from the Squatchee 24, ending to define a lower edge 26 of the cap portion 20.
The cap portion 20 may also comprise an inner elastic strip 23, as shown in FIG. 7, lining the interior of the panels 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f, along the edge 26. This elastic strip 23, which extends around the interior of the cap portion, forming a ring, generally has a width of between 1 and 3 cm, and a length similar to that of the inner circumference of the cap portion 20. The elastic strip 23 provides further flexibility to the cap portion 20, thereby allowing for flexible sizing and a snug fit to various sizes of user heads 12. Preferably, the elastic strip is constructed of sweat absorbing fabric, as it generally comes into direct contact with the user's forehead and hair.
The panels 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f of the cap portion 20 are preferably constructed of a flexible polyester/cotton/spandex blended fabric, which allows for a sturdy construction and comfortable fit, while also shaping to the user's head 12. Such flexible fabric blends are generally available in a variety of colours and textures. The plastic rigid piece of the visor portion 30 is also preferably covered in a similarly textured and coloured fabric as that of the panels 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f.
The rear part of the cap portion 20 further comprises a hair bundling assembly 40 through which a thickness or bundle of the user's hair 14 (including, but not limited to, a ponytail or bun) may be pulled through, gathered and/or held in place.
The hair bundling assembly 40 comprises an opening 42 that extends from just below the Squatchee 24, and downwardly toward the edge 26 of the cap portion 20. The spacing separating the Squatchee 24 and the top of opening 42 preferably measures between about 0.01 and 6 cm in length, more preferably between about 0.5 and 3 cm in length. Likewise, the spacing separating the edge 26 and the bottom of the opening 42 preferably measures between about 0.01 and 6 cm in length, more preferably between 0.5 and 4 cm in length.
The opening 42 is preferably situated centered over the meeting point between the two rear-most panels 22 c and 22 d. In addition, the opening 42 preferably has a rectangular-like shape measuring between about 4 and 15 cm long and between about 0.5 and 5 cm wide, more preferably between about 12 and 14 cm long and between about 3 and 4 cm wide. In particular, the applicant has appreciated that a longer rectangular shaped opening 42 may advantageously allow for the placement of the user's hair 14 within the hair bundling assembly 40 at various locations anywhere along the longitudinal direction of the cap portion 20; thus allowing the user greater aesthetic freedom in styling his/her hair.
In addition to the foregoing, the applicant has appreciated that the width of the rectangular opening 42 may also contribute to a comfortable fitting of the user's hair 14 within the assembly 40. In particular, the applicant has noted that a simple cut or slit in the back of the cap portion 20 (versus the wider rectangular opening 42 described herein) may at times be too narrow to accommodate certain thicknesses of user hair 14. In addition, larger openings (for example, spanning more than 7 cm across) may not allow for the requisite amount of support from the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii (described below) for contouring a user's hair 14, when placed within the assembly 40. The applicant has further appreciated that a wider opening may also negatively impact the aesthetics of the headwear piece 10, in that, with a large portion of the back of the headwear missing, a user's head and hair would be exposed therethrough. In effect, such a large opening may have the negative effect of transforming the entire “look” of the hat.
Near the Squatchee 24 of the cap portion 20, the opening 42 may additionally be given a pointed, tapered shape which extends to an uppermost apex 42A located substantially adjacent to the Squatchee 24. As will be described later, this pointed tapered shape may advantageously allow for a user to pull their hair 14 through, and place within the assembly 40 at a higher portion of the hair bundling assembly 40, substantially at the apex 42A.
In addition to the foregoing, the applicant has appreciated that the pointed tapered shape of the opening 42 may provide some aesthetic advantages, as it provides means by which the top of the opening 42 may be aligned in parallel with the edges of the two back panels 22 c and 22 d, up near the Squatchee 24. In particular, this may provide a sleek and smoother look to the hair bundling assembly 40, and to the headwear piece 10 in general.
The hair bundling assembly 40 further comprises a pair of deformable and selectively sealable closure flaps or members 44 i, 44 ii lining respective edges of the aforementioned opening 42. The closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are preferably of similar shape and dimensions to one another, and positioned in mirror relation to each other with a slight overlap at their meeting point; so as to substantially cover the entire surface area of the opening 42.
The closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are preferably constructed of a material similar to that of the rest of the cap portion 20, that is, a flexible polyester/cotton/spandex blended fabric that may be of the same or a different colour/texture to the rest of the cap portion 20. Such fabrics generally possess a certain degree of flexibility which allows the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii to conform nicely around any hair that may be pulled through them and left within the hair bundling assembly 40, which in turn provides a uniform appearance to the headwear 10 when viewed by others.
In their relaxed state, each of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii preferably have lengths comparable to that of the opening 42 and widths of between about 0.5 and 4 cm, more preferably between about 2 and 3 cm. The overlap between the two closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii is preferably between about 0.3 and 1 cm, more preferably between about 0.4 and 0.5 cm.
Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which depicts the two closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii sewn or otherwise attached to the cap portion 20 in the aforementioned overlapping and closed configuration. Each of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are sewn or fixed at each of their respective outer edges to edges 45 a, 45 b, 45 c, 45 d, and 45 e of the opening 42 in the cap portion 20. In this way, the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are secured to the cap portion in a sturdy yet smoothed fashion, which keeps the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii taut and assists in maintaining their overlapping condition, absent outside forces. This fixing of the edges of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii to the edges 45 a, 45 b, 45 c, 45 d, and 45 e of the opening 42 thus helps maintain the hair bundling assembly 40 in a closed condition when at rest (i.e. when no outside force is applied).
While dimensioned and positioned to maintain their biased closed and overlapping condition, the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are also capable of a degree of stretch, in order to allow for an elliptical opening between them by a user. The closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are thus deformable laterally from their resting or relaxed position (in their closed and overlapping state) to anywhere up to a fully displaced and open position, which may extend up to about 10 to 15 cm across at its widest point, depending upon the dimensions/material of the hat and of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii themselves. In particular, the applicant notes that the degree of lateral deformation is not limited by the resting dimensions of the opening 42, but rather may extend further, due to the flexible and/or stretch quality of the material(s) used in the construction of each of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii and the panels 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f.
The maximum lateral width to which the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii may be stretched apart from one another will thus depend upon the dimensions of the opening 42 as well as the dimensions and material from which the flexible closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii and the panels 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f are constructed. Preferably, this maximum width is between about 6 cm and 15 cm, most preferably about 7 to 10 cm. The widest portion of the open and elliptically-shaped opening 42 may therefore be stretched anywhere from a fully closed position to an open position having a maximum lateral stretch up to about 15 cm, preferably between about 6 to 10 cm (depending upon the length of the opening 42), and in order to allow for passage of the user's thickness or bundle of hair 14.
Reference may now be had to FIG. 3, which depicts the hair bundling assembly 40 in an open configuration with the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii being pulled from one another through means of an outside force. FIG. 3 also more clearly depicts a number of substantially equally spaced raised portions along respective interior edges 46 a, 46 b of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii. These raised portions each represent a series of pockets 49, 50 in which a series of magnets 47, 48 are held.
In this preferred embodiment, each of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii have been fitted with three magnets. In particular, closure flap 44 i has secured to its edge 46 a the three magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii; and closure flap 44 ii has secured to its edge 46 b the three magnets 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii.
Each of the magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii have been sewn into respective longitudinally extending seams of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii, along edges 46 a, 46 b. In particular, the magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii have been placed within folds or seams 43 a, 43 b of the closure flaps' fabric edge, and tightly contoured with stitching; such as to hold them securely in place within the seam and along the edges 46 a, 46 b by way of the respective pockets 49 i, 49 ii, 49 iii and 50 i, 50 ii, 50 iii.
The applicant further notes that the width of the seams which hold each of the magnets by way of pockets 49 i, 49 ii, 49 iii and 50 i, 50 ii, 50 iii respectively along edges 46 a, 46 b is substantially equal to the overlap between the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii. In this way, the seams at edges 46 a, 46 b are preferably dimensioned such that the pockets 49 i, 49 ii, 49 iii directly overlap pockets 50 i, 50 ii, 50 iii, thus allowing for stacking of the magnets contained therein when the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are in their resting and overlapping condition.
In this embodiment, each of magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii are similarly shaped and have similar dimensions. Preferably, the magnets are rectangular in shape and measure between about 0.5 and 3 cm long and between about 0.2 and 1 cm wide; more preferably between about 0.8 and 1.7 cm long and between about 0.3 and 0.5 cm wide. Each of pockets 49 i, 49 ii, 49 iii and 50 i, 50 ii, 50 iii, which respectively house magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii, have similar dimensions, only very slightly larger, so as to accommodate the respective magnet therein.
The magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii used in the invention may, for example, be rare earth or block bar magnets.
The topmost magnets 47 i and 48 i are preferably located at a distance of between about 1 to 2.5 cm from the top part of the hair bundling assembly 40. Similarly, the lowest magnets 47 iii and 48 iii are preferably located at a distance of between about 0.01 to 2.5 cm from the bottom part of the hair bundling assembly 40.
Each of the magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii are further grouped into pairs of magnets 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii which are positioned at corresponding locations along the edges 46 a, 46 b of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii, such that they overlap or stack atop one another when the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are in their resting and overlapping state. The vertical spacing separating each of the pairs of magnets 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii from one another preferably measures between about 1 to 3.5 cm.
The polarity of each of the magnets are selected such that each of the pairs of magnets 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii are specifically attracted to one another. The selection of magnet polarity may be better understood with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4 b.
FIGS. 4a and 4b depict a cross-sectional view of the overlapping edges 46 a, 46 b of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii when the hair bundling assembly 40 is in an open configuration (see FIG. 4a ), and when the hair bundling assembly 40 is in a closed configuration (see FIG. 4b ). Shown in each of FIGS. 4a and 4b are the pairs of magnets 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii that have been sewn into the seam of their respective closure flaps' edges 46 a, 46 b, respectively.
As may be seen in FIG. 4a , a bottom surface 51 i of magnet 47 i has been selected to have a north pole polarity, which interacts with a top surface 52 i of magnet 48 i, which has a south pole polarity, such that the two magnets 47 i, 48 i achieve an attracting or magnetic pull force between them. This magnetic pull force is depicted in FIG. 4a through the use of opposite facing arrows. Similarly to magnets 47 i and 48 i, a bottom surface 51 ii of magnet 47 ii is attracted to a top surface 52 ii of magnet 48 ii; and a bottom surface 51 iii of magnet 47 iii is attracted to a top surface 52 iii of magnet 48 iii.
With the magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii positioned as they are along the edges 46 a, 46 b of closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii, a stronger outside force is needed to pull apart the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii, such as to counteract the magnetic pull achieved between each of the pairs of magnets 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii. In this way, each pair of magnets further contributes to keeping the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii in their resting and slightly overlapping state.
Once the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii have been separated, the attractive force acting between each of the pairs of magnets 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii further contribute to causing the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii to return to their original resting and slightly overlapping state. Where a user's hair 14 has been pulled through and left within the hair bundling assembly 40, the attractive force achieved by the pairs of magnets surrounding the hair 14 may also help the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii to tightly wrap around any edges of that thickness or bundle of hair 14, as the hair bundling assembly 40 “closes” around it. In this respect, the applicant further notes that the relatively narrow rectangular-like shape of the opening 42, in certain circumstances, may also contribute to this tight wrapping of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii around the user's hair 14.
The time and/or effort required to return the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii to their resting overlapping state in “closed” configuration (after a user's hair 14 has been pulled through and left in the hair bundling assembly 40) may vary, depending upon the specific material from which the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are constructed and upon the pull force achieved between each of the magnet pairs 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii. Where the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are constructed of a more malleable or flexible blended material (e.g. high spandex content), the amount of force required of the magnet pairs to “close” the hair bundling assembly 40 around a user's hair 14 may be lessened. Conversely, where a more sturdy or inflexible material is used in the construction of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii, the magnets may need to exert a more powerful attractive force between them in order to “close” the hair bundling assembly 40 around the hair 14.
As was described above, each of the magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii are preferably selected to have a rectangular shape. The large surface area afforded by a rectangle (versus a circle or square, for example) may thus afford a larger surface area over which each of the magnet pairs 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii may be attracted to one another. This may, in turn, result in lower overall construction costs for the headwear 10. In particular, the applicant has appreciated that a lower strength magnet with a larger surface area may achieve the same level of performance as a higher strength magnet with a smaller surface area.
While higher surface area magnets are preferred, it is also preferable that the size of the magnets does not unduly weigh down the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii or hinder their flexibility with long and rigid magnet pieces.
In practice, the applicant has appreciated that it is preferable that each of the magnets' strengths and sizes, in conjunction with the selection of material for the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii, be done such as to enable a quick and easy return of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii to their resting and overlapping state, after a thickness of hair 14 has been inserted through the hair bundling assembly 40. However, it is also preferable to avoid so strong a pull force between the edges 46 a, 46 b of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii that the user has trouble pulling them apart, in order to insert the hair 14 within the assembly 40 in the first place. While the hair bundling assembly 40 preferably should securely “close” around the hair 14 with minimal interference, it preferably should also not unduly resist the initial opening of the assembly 40 in order to pull the hair 14 through. As such, the attractive force achieved between the two closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii preferably should be sufficient to pull the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii back into their resting and overlapping state, while simultaneously wrapping around a user's hair 14. However, the attractive force achieved should also preferably be weak enough to allow for the relatively easy separation of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii by a user (i.e. with minimal effort).
In this preferred embodiment, each of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are constructed of a thin 100% polyester blended fabric, and the magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii have a magnet size of 15×4×2 mm, and magnet strength of between about 25 to 50 Gauss, preferably between about 30 to 45 Gauss, most preferably about 35 Gauss. The invention, however, is not so limited; and the applicant has appreciated that a variety of combinations of magnet strengths/sizes together with closure flap materials may be used to achieve similar ends.
In order to prevent the mistaken pairing or pulling between two magnets not belonging to the same pair (and thus, not located at corresponding locations along the edges 46 a, 46 b), the selection of magnet polarities for each of the pairs of magnets 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii may also be made in alternating fashion. Thus, where the bottom surface 51 i of magnet 47 i is given a north pole polarity, the bottom surface 51 ii of magnet 47 ii (which is located below magnet 47 i along edge 46 a) may be selected as having a south pole polarity. In this way, the bottom surface 51 i of magnet 47 i would not be mistakenly pulled towards the top surface 52 ii of magnet 48 ii (also having a north pole magnet polarity) which, rather, would be meant for pairing with magnet 47 ii. The two north pole polarities of bottom surface 51 i and top surface 52 ii in such a case would, in fact, be repulsed from another, thereby preventing the mistaken pairing or pulling between magnets 47 i and 48 ii. This selective choosing of magnet polarities may also be applied across the other magnets of the hair bundling assembly 40. Thus, for example, in this preferred embodiment, the bottom surface 51 iii of magnet 47 iii may again be selected to have a north pole polarity, so as to be repulsed by the north pole polarity of top surface 52 ii of magnet 48 ii; and to be attracted to the south pole polarity of top surface 52 iii of magnet 48 iii.
In addition to the foregoing, each of the pairs of magnets 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii may also be selected to have interior edge surfaces that repulse one another. This is best appreciated with reference to FIGS. 4c and 5, which respectively provide enlarged perspective and frontal views of edges 46 a, 46 b of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii of the hair bundling assembly, wherein the magnets hidden within folds/ seams 43 a, 43 b at the edges 46 a, 46 b are shown in broken lines. In FIGS. 4c and 5, magnet 47 i, for example, is shown as having an interior edge surface 53 i which is repulsed by interior edge surface 54 i of magnet 48 i. This repulsing force is illustrated in FIGS. 4c and 5 through use of double-sided arrows.
The repulsive force achieved between interior edge surfaces 53 i and 54 i may also also be due to the similar magnet polarities between these two surfaces. That is, where magnet 47 i is selected with a bottom surface 51 i having a north pole polarity, it likely also has a top surface with a south pole polarity (opposite to its north pole bottom surface). The interior edge surface 53 i would thus be expected to exhibit a north polarity near its bottom and a south polarity near its top, which would be expected to repel the similar polarity of interior edge surface 54 i. As was described above, in this embodiment, magnet 48 i may be selected to have a top surface 52 i having a south pole polarity. Thus, the interior edge surface 54 i would be expected to also exhibit a south polarity near its top, and a north polarity near its bottom.
This repelling between interior edge surfaces 53 i and 54 i may advantageously prevent the two surfaces from being improperly attracted to one another, and thus may also promote the desired attraction between the bottom surface 51 i of magnet 47 i and top surface 52 i of magnet 48 i. A similar repulsion force between interior edge surfaces 53 ii and 54 ii of magnets 47 ii, 48 ii, and between interior edge surfaces 53 iii and 54 iii of magnets 47 iii, 48 iii, may also be chosen in this preferred embodiment of the invention.
The above-noted split and repulsive polarities of interior edges 53 i, 54 i, 53 ii, 54 ii, and 53 iii, 54 iii may also advantageously prevent the edges 46 a, 46 b of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii from closing together improperly in abutting juxtaposition; rather than in their resting and slightly overlapping state. The applicant has appreciated that hair bundling assemblies which consist of two closure flaps that come together in such an abutting configuration are sometimes faced with the disadvantage of improper closure around a user's hair 14. In particular, the applicant has noted that when the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are arranged without a slight overlap along their edges 46 a, 46 b, the closing of the hair bundling assembly 40 is imperfect, in that gaps may be seen in the vertical spacing separating each of the magnet pairs 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii. A user's head/hair may thus be seen through these gaps, which results in a less polished, less aesthetic look for the hair bundling assembly 40. A further disadvantage may also be encountered in such abutting juxtaposed configurations of the closure flaps, when the user's hair may be seen poking through the exposed gaps between the paired magnets.
Reference is again made to FIG. 3, wherein (as was described above) the magnet pairs 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii are depicted as being somewhat equally spaced apart along the longitudinal length of the opening 42. Each of the pairs of magnets may thus, in practice, serve to subdivide the open opening 42 into a number of different sections or segmented openings, wherein the user's hair 14 may be pulled through and/or left in place.
Each of the aforementioned segmented openings/sections defined by the positioning of the various pairs of magnets 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii may be used to accommodate the user's hair 14. FIG. 1, for example, depicts the hair 14 having been pulled through and left in place at a centered segmented opening/section of the hair bundling assembly 40.
Should the user, instead, wish to pull and place their hair 14 in a highest portion of the hair bundling assembly 40, this may be done simply in an easy step by pulling the hair 14 up through the opening 42 and allowing each pairs of magnets 47 ii, 48 ii and 47 iii, 48 iii to come together and “close” under the hair 14. Depending upon the thickness of the user's hair 14 and the positioning of the topmost magnets 47 i and 48 i, this pair of magnets 47 i, 48 i may also optionally be “closed” beneath the positioned hair 14. The pointed/tapered shape of the uppermost portion of the hair bundling assembly 40 (defined by edges 45 a and 45 e of the opening 42 and near the apex 42A) may be of particular importance in such a case, as it may allow the user to pull his/her hair 14 to a slightly higher position in the hair bundling assembly 40, thus allowing for more room in “closing” the magnets 47 i, 48 i beneath the hair 14.
Furthermore, should the user wish to have their hair 14 accommodated at a position more central in the hair bundling assembly 40, this may also be accomplished in a simple, one-step manner. In particular, the user may pull his/her hair 14 through a more central portion of the opening 42, and allow each of the pairs of magnets 47 i, 48 i and 47 iii, 48 iii to come together and “close” above and below the hair 14, respectively. Alternatively, and again depending upon the thickness of the user's hair 14, the user may opt to place their hair 14 within the space that separates each of the pairs of magnets 47 i, 48 i and 47 ii, 48 ii, or instead between magnet pairs 47 ii, 48 ii and 47 iii, 48 iii.
If the user wishes to place their hair 14 at a lowest portion of the hair bundling assembly 40, this may similarly be done by pulling the hair 14 through a bottom portion of the opening 42, and allowing the pairs of magnets 47 ii, 48 ii and 47 i, 48 i to come together and “close” above it. Optionally, depending upon the user's thickness of hair 14, the pair of magnets 47 iii, 48 iii may also be “closed” above the hair 14 when placed in a lowest portion of the hair bundling assembly 40.
As was described above, the lengths of each of the possible segmented openings/sections for accommodating the user's hair 14 along the opening 42, may depend upon the positioning of the respective magnet pairs 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii, along edges 46 a, 46 b of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii. Assuming, for example, that the pairs of magnets 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii are placed respectively at positions along the edges 46 a, 46 b at about 2 cm, 7 cm and 11 cm from the topmost portion of the hair bundling assembly 40 and in a downwards longitudinal direction; then the topmost segmented opening/section located at the highest portion of the hair bundling assembly 40, above magnets 47 i, 48 i, may be about 1 to 2 cm long. Similarly, the middle-most segmented opening/section, between magnet pairs 47 i, 48 i and 47 iii, 48 iii, may measure between about 6.5 and 9 cm. Further middle segmented openings/sections, located between magnet pairs 47 i, 48 i and 47 ii, 48 ii, or between magnets pairs 47 ii, 48 ii and 47 iii, 48 iii, may be about 2.5 to 4.5 cm long. Finally, the lowest segmented opening/section in this case, located beneath magnet pair 47 iii, 48 iii may measure between about 1 and 2 cm in length.
The transversal maximum widths of each of the segmented openings/sections may also depend upon the placement of the magnets 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii, as well as upon the sizing of the opening 42 and the flexibility of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii. However, due to its location at the center of opening 42, the middle-most segmented opening/section, defined as lying between magnets 47 i, 48 i and 47 iii, 48 iii, may have a maximum stretch width up to about 40% larger than the other two middle segmented openings/sections, and up to about 170% larger than the highest and lowest segmented openings/sections. This is due to the elliptical shape which is formed upon stretching the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii of the hair bundling assembly 40. Assuming an opening 42 with a maximum lateral stretch width of about 7 cm, one might expect a middle positioned segmented opening (between “closed” magnets 47 i, 48 i and 47 ii, 48 ii) with a width of about 3.5 to 4 cm; further middle positioned openings (between “closed” magnet pairs 47 i, 48 i and 47 ii, 48 ii, and 47 ii, 48 ii and 47 iii, 48 iii) with widths of about 2 to 3 cm; and highest and lowest positioned segmented openings (respectively, above “closed” magnet pair 47 i, 48 i, or below “closed” magnet pair 47 iii, 48 iii) measuring between about 0.5 and 1.5 cm wide.
In a most preferred embodiment of the invention, the applicant has further appreciated that the hair bundling assembly 40 may, in fact, accommodate a user's hair 14 anywhere along the length of the assembly. Thus, a user would be able to simply pull their hair 14 through the assembly 40 anywhere, allowing it to “close” around the hair 14. Once within the assembly, the user may then slide their hair 14 anywhere along the length of the assembly to their chosen height/location. In this preferred embodiment, the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii and magnet pairs 47 i and 48 i, 47 ii and 48 ii, and 47 iii and 48 iii would simply deform and/or separate, and then come back together again, as needed in order to allow for the hair 14 to slide into the user's chosen hair position within the assembly 40. The applicant has further appreciated that this preferred embodiment of the invention may advantageously allow a user to pass a thicker bundle of hair 14 through the assembly, for example, a bundle of hair having a thickness as large as 7 to 15 cm across, or up to the largest lateral stretch width of the entire hair bundling assembly 40.
By way of general comment, the applicant further notes that use of magnets in the invention may in-and-of-itself be advantageous to the user. In particular, the applicant has explored the idea of using, for example, elastic bands, zippers, Velcro™ and/or other means of “closing” the hair bundling assembly 40 around a user's hair 14, and found a number of shortcomings with these options. For example, when using zippers, a user is at risk of hair breakage when closing the hair bundling assembly, should any of his/her hair become caught within a zipper closure. Similarly, a user's hair is at risk of becoming tangled within the assembly when Velcro™ closures are used. The applicant has noted further similar hair breakage risks with other fastening elements, such as clips or buttons. Elastics closures, on the other hand, have a tendency to wear out with time, and thus eventually result in imperfect closure around the user's hair. In addition to the foregoing, the applicant has similarly noted that a number of these alternative “closure” means for the assembly often do not provide sufficient stretch or “give” in order to allow thicker bundles of user hair to pass therethrough, and may also appear less aesthetically pleasing or “messy” to outside observers. In this regard, the applicant has noted that single thick elastics with slits cut therein, as well as thinner elastics arranged in a woven pattern, are particularly problematic in terms of accommodating larger thicknesses of user hair, and in aesthetic design. In employing magnets, however, embodiments of the present invention may advantageously avoid such disadvantages and/or risks.

Second Embodiment

Reference is now made to FIGS. 8a to 8d , which depict a second alternative embodiment of the applicant's invention, in which like-elements are represented by identical reference numerals as described above. Accompanying description(s) of such like-elements are thereby simplified or omitted here.
FIGS. 8a to 8d illustrate an embodiment of the headwear piece 10 where, in addition to the inner elastic strip 23, the cap portion 20 also includes a size adjustment device 60 for further adjusting the size of the headwear 10 to a user's head.
The size adjustment device 60 preferably consists of an elastic tab 62 that is operable to adhere or stick to an adherence strip 64 located beneath the elastic tab 62 along an interior edge of the cap portion 20. In a preferred embodiment, both the elastic tab 62 and adherence strip 64 include Velcro™ or another hook and loop type fastening tool, which allows a user to selectively adjust the sizing of the cap portion 20. The applicant has appreciated that other fastening mechanisms, including selectively sealable glue or tape, may also be used instead of a hook and loop type fastening means.
User's having larger heads may elect not to make use of the additional size adjustment device 60, and instead rely solely upon the inner elastic strip 23 for achieving a snug fit of the cap portion 20 to their heads. In this case, the size adjustment device 60 may be left at its largest, with the elastic tab 62 adhered or stuck to a left-most portion of the adherence strip 64, leaving a right-most portion of the adherence strip 64 visible on the interior of the cap (See FIG. 8b ).
Where a user with a smaller head wishes to fine-tune the sizing of the cap portion 20, the elastic tab 62 may be removed from the adherence strip 64, tightened to achieve a smaller setting of the size adjustment device 60, and once again, adhered or stuck to the adherence strip 64. When the size adjustment device 60 is at its smallest setting, the entire surface of the adherence strip 64 is used, and thus its entire surface is hidden beneath the elastic tab 62 (see FIG. 8d ).
In essence, the size adjustment device 60 offers a user a means by which to finely adjust the diameter of the lower portion of the cap 20, thereby offering a more customizable size to the headwear 10.
While FIGS. 8a to 8d depict the size adjustment device 60 as being situated at a rear, lower and interior portion of the cap 20, the invention is not so limited. The applicant has appreciated that the size adjustment device 60 may be added to the cap in alternative locations, such as for example, along an exterior of the cap portion 20.
In situations where the size adjustment device 60 is set at its largest setting, interior edges 46 a, 46 b of the selectively sealable closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii overlap one another much as was described above in the context of the applicant's first preferred embodiment (see FIGS. 8a and 8b ).
By contrast, in situations where the size adjustment device 60 is set at a smaller setting, the edges of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii may overlap one another at a slight angle, as shown for example in FIGS. 8c and 8d . In order to accommodate a variable angled overlap between the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii, the applicant has appreciated that magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii of the hair bundling assembly 40 may be selected to have larger surface areas, covering a larger width of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii. In the alternative, additional magnets may be fixed at intervals along the width of the closure flaps, in order to accommodate the angled overlap between the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii and secure a closing of the hair bundling assembly 40, even where the sizing of the cap has been reduced via the size adjustment device 60.
In addition to the foregoing, the applicant has appreciated that, where a size adjustment device 60 is used, the hair bundling assembly 40 may be made to extend all the way to the lower edge 26 of the cap portion 20 (see FIGS. 8a and 8c ), so as to assist in maintaining efficient functionality of the hair bundling assembly 40, even when the diameter of the cap portion 20 is changed.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Various modifications and variations can be appreciated by one skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention in order to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalence are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implantation without departing from the scope of the invention.
Although FIGS. 1 through 3, 6 and 7 depict a single hair bundling assembly 40 positioned at the rear of the cap portion 20, the invention is not so limited. It should be appreciated that the cap portion 20 could alternatively comprise a hair bundling assembly 40 in other locations, for example, at the top of the cap portion 20, or on either side. The cap portion 20 may also, for example, feature more than one hair bundling assembly 40, such as two separate hair bundling assemblies 40 on either side of the cap portion 20 for accommodating a user's “pigtails”.
Although FIGS. 1 through 3, 6 and 7 depict a baseball-style headwear piece 10 which includes a pre-curved visor portion 30 and a cap portion 20 comprised of six triangularly shaped panels 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f and a knob or Squatchee 24, the invention is not so limited. It should be appreciated that the visor portion 30 could comprise a flat-shaped visor, rather than curved. The cap portion 20 could alternatively comprise more or less than six triangularly shaped panels, with or without one or more Squatchees. Further, the headwear piece 10 could be of a different type of headwear altogether. The hair bundling assembly 40, for example, could be used in conjunction with a winter tuque, a bonnet, a beret, a bowler's or boater's hat, a sun hat, other types of sports headwear or helmets (such as bicycle, motorcycle, scuba, swim wear, etc.) or a hood.
Although the foregoing description describes a cap portion 20 having an inner elastic strip 23 lining the interior of the panels 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f along the edge 26, and which enables flexible sizing and a snug fit on the user's head 12, the invention is not so limited. It should be appreciated that the cap portion 20 could alternatively (or additionally) include a clip-type arrangement, a Velcro™-style closure or another suitable fastening assembly for tightening or fitting/adjusting the cap portion 20 to the user's head 12. Furthermore, the inner elastic strip 23 need not necessarily be constructed of sweat-absorbing fabric. Any suitable elastic fabric or material may be used which facilitates gripping of the cap portion 20 around the user's head 12.
Although the foregoing description describes the triangularly shaped panels 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f as preferably being constructed of a flexible polyester/cotton/spandex blended fabric, the invention is not so limited. It should be appreciated that the panels could alternatively be constructed of other suitably comfortable and/or flexible materials, as for example, leather, or other suitable cotton, polyester or spandex blends. It should be appreciated that any panel could also be double-lined with alternative fabrics or materials on either side, as for example, Sweatwick fabric or other suitably sweat-absorbing fabrics.
Although the foregoing description depicts the hair bundling assembly 40 as including two closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii with inner overlapping edges 46 a, 46 b each having exactly three magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii sewn therein; the invention is not so limited. The applicant has appreciated that more or less magnets may be used, as required by the particular circumstances, and in order to achieve the same ends. Furthermore, these magnets need not necessarily be fixed to the edges 46 a, 46 b of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii by placing within fabric folds and tightly contouring with stitching. Rather, other suitable methods for attaching the magnets to the closure flaps may be used, such as, for example, glue or other bonding materials. These magnets also need not be obscured from view within folds of fabric, but rather, could be glued or attached to the surfaces of the closure flaps 40 directly. By the same respect, the magnets need not necessarily be fixed in place within individual pockets 49, 49 i, 49 ii, 49 iii and 50, 50 i, 50 ii, 50 iii formed from tightly contouring stitching. Rather, the applicant has appreciated that the magnets may alternatively be housed within longitudinally extending seams of the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii, but freely moveable within those seams in the longitudinal direction, in order to allow a user the freedom of choosing an optimal location of the magnets along the edges of the closure flaps, according to their hair style or type.
Although FIGS. 1 through 7 depict the magnets 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii and 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii of the hair bundling assembly 40 as having a rectangular shape, the invention is not so limited. While a larger surface area of the magnets is preferred in order to promote attractive force, the applicant has appreciated that square or circular shaped magnets may in certain circumstances be used to achieve the requisite attractive force, depending upon the strength of the magnets used, as well as upon the material of construction chosen for the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii and their respective dimensions. The applicant has appreciated that other irregularly shaped magnets may also be used, for example, oval or triangular. In certain applications, the applicant has envisioned that the magnets may serve a decorative purpose. In such situations, the magnets could also be selected to have more decorative shapes such as, for example, star or heart shaped.
Although the description states that the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii are to be positioned in mirror relation to each other with a slight overlap at their meeting point, the invention is not so limited. Rather, the applicant has appreciated that the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii may also function so as to substantially cover the entire surface area of the opening 42 where their overlap is more than the preferred 0.3 to 1 cm described. The applicant has appreciated that any amount of overlap between the closure flaps 44 i, 44 ii, up to and including the full width of the closure flaps, may also be suitable in particular embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

- 10 Headwear Piece
- 12 User's Head
- 14 Thickness or Bundle of Hair
- 20 Cap Portion
- 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, 22 e and 22 f Triangularly Shaped Panels
- 23 Inner Elastic Strip
- 24 Knob or Squatchee
- 26 Lower Edge of Cap Portion
- 30 Brim or Visor Portion
- 40 Hair Bundling Assembly
- 42 Opening
- 42A Apex of the Opening
- 43 a, 43 b Folds or Seams along Interior Edges 46 a, 46 b of Closure Flaps
- 44 i, 44 ii Selectively Sealable Closure Flaps or Members
- 45 a, 45 b, 45 c, 45 d and 45 e Edges of the Opening
- 46 a, 46 b Interior Edges of Closure Flaps
- 47, 47 i, 47 ii, 47 iii Magnets along Edge 46 a of Closure Flap 44 i
- 48, 48 i, 48 ii, 48 iii Magnets along Edge 46 b of Closure Flap 44 ii
- 49, 49 i, 49 ii, 49 iii Pockets along Seam of Edge 46 a of Closure Flap 44 i
- 50, 50 i, 50 ii, 50 iii Pockets along Seam of Edge 46 b of Closure Flap 44 ii
- 51 i, 51 ii, 51 iii Bottom Surfaces of Magnets along Edge 46 a of Closure Flap 44 i
- 52 i, 52 ii, 52 iii Top Surfaces of Magnets along Edge 46 b of Closure Flap 44 ii
- 53 i, 53 ii, 53 iii Interior Edge Surfaces of Magnets along Edge 46 a of Closure Flap 44 i
- 54 i, 54 ii, 54 iii Interior Edge Surfaces of Magnets along Edge 46 b of Closure Flap 44 ii
- 60 Size Adjustment Device
- 62 Elastic Tab
- 64 Adherence Strip

Claims

1. A headwear piece comprising:

a cap portion for placement over a user's head, the cap portion comprising:

an opening extending longitudinally in said cap portion; and

a hair bundling assembly for receiving, gathering and/or accommodating a thickness or bundle of the user's hair, the hair bundling assembly being disposed substantially within said opening and comprising:

a pair of flexible closure flaps lining longitudinal edges of the opening, the closure flaps being configured to cover substantially an entirety of a surface of the opening when the closure flaps overlap one another in a closed position; and

a plurality of magnets located along respective edges of the closure flaps, wherein each of the plurality of magnets has a polarity selected to attract an opposite said magnet located along an opposite said respective edge of the closure flaps, such as to assist in maintaining the closure flaps in the overlapping closed position; wherein

the closure flaps are moveable relative to one another in a lateral direction, in order to receive therebetween the thickness or bundle of the user's hair, and

the polarity of each of the respective magnets is selected so as to resiliently return the closure flaps to their overlapping condition, substantially closing the hair bundling assembly around the thickness or bundle of hair.

2. (canceled)

3. The headwear piece according to claim 1,

wherein

a first magnet of said plurality of magnets is located along a first said respective edge of the closure flaps, and has a bottom surface having a selected magnet polarity;

a second magnet of said plurality of magnets is located along a second said respective edge of the closure flaps opposite the first said respective edge, and has a top surface having a selected magnet polarity that is opposite the selected magnet polarity of the bottom surface of the first magnet; and

the first and second magnets are each located at substantially similar heights along the respective first and second edges of the closure flaps, such that they are substantially aligned in a longitudinal direction, thereby enabling an attractive force between the bottom surface of the first magnet and the top surface of the second magnet.

4. The headwear piece according to claim 3, wherein

a third magnet of said plurality of magnets is located along the first said respective edge of the closure flaps, beneath and spaced from the first magnet, and has a bottom surface having a selected magnet polarity similar to the selected magnet polarity of the top surface of the second magnet;

a fourth magnet of said plurality of magnets is located along the second said respective edge of the closure flaps, beneath and spaced from the second magnet, and has a top surface having a selected magnet polarity that is opposite the selected magnet polarity of the bottom surface of the third magnet and similar to the selected magnet polarity of the bottom surface of the first magnet;

the third and fourth magnets are each located at substantially similar heights along the respective first and second edges of the closure flaps, such that they are substantially aligned in a longitudinal direction, thereby enabling an attractive force between the bottom surface of the third magnet and the top surface of the fourth magnet; and wherein

a first repulsive force is achieved between the similar selected magnet polarities of the bottom surface of the third magnet and the top surface of the second magnet, and

a second repulsive force is achieved between the similar selected magnet polarities of the bottom surface of the first magnet and the top surface of the fourth magnet.

5. The headwear piece according to claim 1,

wherein

the plurality of magnets are substantially equally spaced from one another along the respective edges of the closure flaps; and

each said magnet located along one said respective edge is paired with an opposite said magnet located along the other said respective edge at a similar longitudinal height.

6-8. (canceled)

9. The headwear piece according to claim 1, wherein

each of the closure flaps is held taut at said longitudinal edges of the opening and at top and bottom edges of the opening by means of glue or stitching.

10. The headwear piece according to claim 1, wherein

said plurality of magnets consists of exactly three magnets located along each respective edge of the closure flaps.

11. The headwear piece according to claim 1, wherein

each of the plurality of magnets are held in place along said respective edges of the closure flaps within fabric folds or seams located along said edges.

12. (canceled)

13. The headwear piece according to claim 11, wherein

at least one of the plurality of magnets is selectively moveable within said folds or seams along the respective edges of the closure flaps.

14-20. (canceled)

21. The headwear piece according to claim 1,

wherein

the opening in the cap portion is generally rectangular in shape and measures between about 4 and 15 cm long and between about 0.5 and 5 cm wide, more preferably between about 12 and 14 cm long and between about 3 and 4 cm wide.

22. The headwear piece according to claim 1,

wherein

an apex of the opening, located substantially near to or at a top of the cap portion, is pointed or tapered in shape.

23-24. (canceled)

25. A headwear piece comprising:

a flexible cap portion for fitting to a user's head, the cap portion comprising:

an opening extending longitudinally in said cap portion; and

a hair bundling assembly substantially disposed within said opening, the hair bundling assembly comprising a pair of selectively sealable and flexible closure flaps bordering the opening, the closure flaps having a plurality of magnets located along respective interior edges thereof;

wherein, absent an outside force, said magnets act to keep the closure flaps biased in a partially overlapping configuration, substantially closing said opening, with said interior edges substantially overlapping one another; and

wherein said closure flaps are moveable relative to one another in a lateral direction to an orientation selected to enable a thickness or bundle of said user's hair to pass through said opening and whereby said closure flaps are able to then return to their biased partially overlapping configuration, substantially closing around said thickness or bundle of hair.

26. The headwear piece according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of magnets comprise 3 to 5 magnets fixed at equally spaced and corresponding positions to one another along each of said interior and overlapping edges of said pair of closure flaps.

27. The headwear piece according to claim 26, wherein the magnets are flat and generally rectangular in shape, and wherein the closure flaps comprise a flexible fabric having a flexibility selected for conformability around the thickness or bundle of said user's hair.

28-35. (canceled)

36. A headwear piece comprising:

a flexible cap portion for fitting to a user's head, the flexible cap portion defining a rear opening; and

a hair bundling assembly disposed in said opening, the hair bundling assembly comprising a pair of longitudinally elongated flexible closure flaps, the closure flaps being movable from a closed position, wherein an edge portion of a first said closure flap is in overlapping juxtaposition with an adjacent edge portion of the second other said closure flap, and a displaced position, wherein said edge portions of the first and second closure flaps are spaced from one another so as to receive therethrough a thickness or bundle of the user's hair;

the first closure flap including a first array of a plurality of longitudinally spaced magnets, each magnet of the first array having a magnet polarity that is fixedly oriented relative to the edge portion of the first closure flap;

the second closure flap including a second array of said plurality of magnets, each magnet of the second array having a magnet polarity that is fixedly oriented relative to the edge portion of the second closure flap and which is opposite in polarity to an associated respective magnet of said first array; whereby

in the closed position, opposing polarities of the first and second array of magnets maintain said first and second closure flaps in the closed position under a force selected to be less than a predetermined threshold force; and on application of the predetermined threshold force, the first and second closure flaps being moveable to the displaced position.

37. The headwear piece according to claim 36, wherein the opposing polarities of the first and second array of magnets bias the edge portions of the first and second closure flaps in the overlapping juxtaposition.

38. (canceled)

39. The headwear piece according to claim 36, wherein the first closure flap includes a longitudinal fold along its respective edge portion, and each magnet of the first array is housed within said longitudinal fold.

40. The headwear piece according to claim 36, wherein the second closure flap includes a longitudinal fold along its respective edge portion and each magnet of the second array is housed within said longitudinal fold.

41-44. (canceled)

45. The headwear piece according to claim 36, wherein

at least one of the magnets of the first array comprises an inside edge oriented towards the edge portion of the first closure flap that magnetically repels an inside edge of an associated respective magnet of the second array that is oriented towards the edge portion of the second closure flap.

46. The headwear piece according to claim 36, wherein the overlapping juxtaposition of said edge portions of the first and second closure flaps is a non-abutting overlapping juxtaposition, wherein said edge portions overlap in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinally elongated closure flaps.

47. The headwear piece according to claim 36, wherein the pair of longitudinally elongated flexible closure flaps are secured within said opening with substantially the same radial curvature as adjacent portions of the cap portion which define the opening.

48-50. (canceled)