US20240065360A1

US20240065360A1 - Customizable sports merchandise for displaying multiple sports/teams logos

Info

Publication number: US20240065360A1
Application number: US18/454,100
Authority: US
Inventors: James Johnson, JR.
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-08-23
Filing date: 2023-08-23
Publication date: 2024-02-29

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sports merchandise hat featuring multiple hook fasteners on the body thereof for receiving loop patches of different sports/teams, customizing the look of the hat, and enabling a wearer of the hat to simultaneously display affiliation and pride for multiple sports/teams. The hook fasteners are preferably positioned uniformly on the outer body of the hat with a front portion, a back portion, and side portions of the hat body having one hook fastener on each. In some embodiments, a plurality of sports/team logo patches are available with each patch having a loop fastener to releasably fasten to the hook fastener. The hat can be used by individuals who are fans of multiple teams and want to support them simultaneously. In other embodiments, a t-shirt may have multiple hook fasteners to receive loop patches of different sports teams.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/400,065, which was filed on Aug. 23, 2022, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of sports merchandise hats. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel hat having multiple hook fasteners on the hat body for receiving loop patches of different sports teams to customize the look of the hat, and enable users to display love and pride for multiple sports/teams at one time, all on the same hat. The patches are interchangeable and different patches can be releasably applied to the hook fasteners. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

By way of background, individuals enjoy supporting different collegiate and professional sports teams. In fact, research has shown that individuals who identify as sports fans have higher levels of self-esteem, lower levels of loneliness, and tend to be more satisfied with their lives compared to those who aren't interested in sports. Individuals supporting the same sports teams automatically become a part of a tribe, community, and the like.
Sports teams fans commonly have merchandise to show the support they have for their teams. Such merchandise includes hats, caps, and other garments. Having customized hats for their favorite teams is a common thing across the world, however, purchasing multiple different hats for supporting different sports teams can be expensive. Sports hats are expensive, and individuals may restrict themselves to buying hats representing only one or two teams and as a result, individuals may not be able to show their love and pride for all of their favorite teams. Further, maintaining and storing multiple hats is difficult and conventional hats include logos or indicia of a single team and are not customizable or interchangeable. Sports fans desire improved caps or hats that allow them to show and display their love and pride for multiple teams at one time.
It is common for individuals to desire to show their love for multiple teams simultaneously, however with conventional sports merchandise, logos, or indicia, only one sports team is typically possible for display. Customization to include logos of multiple teams is not possible in conventional merchandise. Therefore, individuals desire improved sports merchandise that enables the wearer to display affiliation for multiple teams or sports simultaneously.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved hat capable of displaying logos for up to four different sports teams or sports simultaneously. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a sports merchandise that can accommodate logos or indicia of up to four teams/sports as per a user's choice. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a unique hat that saves money of users and obviates the requirement of purchasing multiple sports merchandise hats. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hat that enables individuals to support several different collegiate and professional sports teams using the same or singular hat. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a unique hat that is cost effective and enables users to customize/change logos on the hat. Furthermore, there is a long-felt need in the art for a sports merchandise hat that is cost-effective. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a unique hat that enables users to display love, pride, and affiliation for multiple sports/teams at once, all on the same hat.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprising a sports merchandise cap configured to display logos of up to four different sports team is disclosed. The hat or cap enables users to display love, pride, and affiliation for multiple sports/teams at one time. The cap includes several different sizes and styles to accommodate children and adults. The customized cap has a front portion, a back portion and a pair of opposing side portions, four hook fasteners disposed on an outer surface of the body of the cap such that each said portion of the body includes a hook fastener of the four hook fasteners, each hook fastener is configured to receive a sport team logo patch, the patch having a 2D or 3D logo of a sport team on a front surface thereof and a loop fastener on the rear surface thereof, wherein the hook fastener and the loop fastener are releasably fastenable to adhere the patch on the loop fastener such that the logo of the sports team is visually exposed. Four different sport teams patches are attached to the four hook fasteners for customizing the cap enabling a user to simultaneously display love and affiliation for multiple sports/teams.
In this manner, the unique cap or hat of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives and provides users with a unique hat capable of displaying up to four different sports teams simultaneously. The patches of sports teams logo can releasably fasten to the hook fasteners enabling users to customize and interchange the look of the cap. The hat obviates the requirement of purchasing and storing multiple caps to show affiliation, love, and respect for multiple sports/teams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprising a customized cap configured to display logos of up to four different sports team is disclosed. The customizable cap further comprises a body for covering a skull of a user, the body having a front portion, a back portion, and a pair of opposing side portions, four hook fasteners disposed on an outer surface of the body of the cap such that each said portion of the body includes a hook fastener of the four hook fasteners, each hook fastener includes a plurality of tiny hooks and is configured to receive a sport team logo patch, the patch having a logo of a sport team on a front surface thereof and a loop fastener on a rear surface thereof, wherein the hook fastener and the loop fastener are releasably fastened to adhere the patch on the loop fastener such the logo of the sports team is visually exposed. Four different sport/team patches are attached to the four hook fasteners for customizing the cap enabling a user to display love and pride for multiple sports/teams.
In yet another embodiment, a customizing cap kit is disclosed. The kit includes at least one cap, the cap including four hook fasteners disposed on an outer surface of the cap, each hook fastener is configured to receive a sport team logo patch for enabling a wearer of the cap to display affiliation and pride simultaneously for four sports teams. The kit also includes a plurality of sports teams logo patches of different teams, shapes, and sizes, each patch having a loop fastener enabling a user to releasably fasten the loop fastener and a hook fastener of the cap to attach the patch onto the cap. The tiny hooks of the hook fasteners are configured to engage with the loops of the loop fastener for fastening.
In yet another embodiment, a method of displaying logos of up to four different sports teams simultaneously on a hat is described. The method includes the steps of providing the hat, the hat includes four hook fasteners, one hook fastener is positioned on each the front portion, the back portion, and the side portions of the hat; selecting four sports teams logo patches, each patch having a sports team logo on a front surface thereof and a loop fastener on a rear surface thereof; adhering the patches to the hook fasteners wherein each patch is fastened to one of the four hook fasteners by pressing together the hook fastener and the loop fastener such that the sports team logo is visually exposed. The four logos allow the wearer of the hat to show love and pride for multiple sports/teams at one time (i.e., simultaneously), all on the same hat.
Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a four-way sports team cap of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 2 illustrates the four-way sports team cap of the present invention equipped with four logos/patches of sports/teams in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view a portion of the cap showing the layered structure when a sports team patch adheres to the hook fastener of the customizable cap of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram depicting a process of customizing and wearing the cap of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a four-way sports team cap kit of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved hat capable of displaying logos for up to four different sports teams or sports simultaneously. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a sports merchandise that can accommodate logos or indicia of up to four teams/sports as per a user's choice. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a unique hat that saves money of users and obviates the requirement of purchasing multiple sports merchandise hats. Moreover, there is a long-felt need in the art for a hat that enables individuals to support several different collegiate and professional sports teams using the same or singular hat. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a unique hat that is cost effective and enables users to customize/change logos on the hat. Furthermore, there is a long-felt need in the art for a sports merchandise hat that is cost-effective. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a unique hat that enables users to display love, pride, and affiliation for multiple sports/teams at one time, all on the same hat.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, discloses a customizing cap kit. The kit includes at least one four-way sports team cap, the cap includes four hook fasteners disposed on an outer surface of the cap, each hook fastener is configured to receive a sport team logo patch for enabling a wearer of the cap to display affiliation, love, and pride simultaneously for four sports/teams. The kit also includes a plurality of sports teams logo patches of different teams, shapes, and sizes, each patch having a loop fastener enabling a user to releasably fasten the loop fastener and a hook fastener of the cap to attach the patch onto the cap. The tiny hooks of the hook fasteners are configured to engage with the loops of the loop fastener for fastening.
Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a four-way sports team cap of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The four-way sports team cap 100 of the present invention is designed for sports fans and enables users to customize the cap to show their support for their favorite teams and/or sports as per their preferences. More specifically, the cap 100 can be in the form of a baseball cap, a trucker hat, fedora, newsboy, visor, bowler, stocking cap, beanie, and more and can be of any size and color to fit requirements of different users. The cap 100 includes a body 102 constructed of any material or combination of materials, including one or more natural fibers such as cotton and wool, one or more artificial/synthetic fibers such as Rayon, Acetate, Nylon, Modacrylic, Polyester, Carbon fiber, Lycra®, Aramids (e.g., Kevlar, Nomex), polyolefin, or a blend of one or more natural fibers and one or more synthetic fibers. The body 102 is shaped to generally conform to a human skull and can be tight-fitting and have a degree of elasticity, including one or more elastic elements.
The body 102 has a plurality of hook fastener sections 104, 106, 108, 110 positioned on the outer surface 112 of the body 102. The hook fastener sections 104, 106, 108, 110 are uniformly distributed on the surface 112 and the first hook fastener 104 is positioned on the front side 114 of the surface 112, the second hook fastener 106 is positioned on a first side 116 of the surface 112, the third hook fastener 108 is positioned on the opposite side 118 of the surface 112, and the fourth hook fastener 110 is positioned on the rear side 120 of the surface 112. The hook fastener sections 104, 106, 108, 110 can be sewn, attached using a glue, heat-bonded, or fastened using any other mechanism known in the art to the body 102.
Individual hook fastener sections 104, 106, 108, 110 are configured to receive customized logos 122 a-d for temporarily customizing the look of the cap 100 and enabling a wearer of the cap 100 to display love and pride for multiple sports/teams simultaneously as illustrated in FIG. 2 . All the hook fastener sections 104, 106, 108, 110 can be of the same or different shapes and sizes.
In one exemplary embodiment, the hook fasteners 104, 106, 108, 110 are included and integrated during manufacturing of the cap 100, however, the hook fasteners 104, 106, 108, 110 may also be added in any existing cap/hat.
FIG. 2 illustrates the four-way sports team cap of the present invention equipped with four logos/patches of sports/teams in accordance with the disclosed architecture. Each logo or patch used for adhering to the hook fasteners of the cap 100 of the present invention has a front surface (such as 202 shown for the patch 122 a) with a sports team logo or indicia and has a rear loop fastener surface (such as 204 shown for the patch 122 a) enabling the patch to securely and releasably adhere to, for example, a hook fastener 104 positioned on the body 102 of the cap 100.
For adhering a sports team or any other designer patch, the loop fastener of the patch is releasably fastened to the hook fastener, thereby enabling a user to temporarily customize the cap 100 to show support for sports and teams. The patches, when adhered to the hook fasteners 104, 106, 108, 110, enable customization to be seen from 360 degrees.
The sports team patches can be made of any fabric including any natural or synthetic fabric. Further, the logo can be printed or sewn in the patch and can be of any geometric shape and size. In some embodiments, the patches have illuminating elements on front surfaces thereof enabling the patches to illuminate in low light when a flash or beam of light falls thereon.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view a portion of the cap 100 showing the layered structure when a sports team patch adheres to the hook fastener of the customizable cap 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The outer surface 112 of the body 102 has an integrally or removably attached hook fastener 104 wherein the thickness of the hook fastener 104 is from about 3 mm to about 10 mm in different embodiments of the present invention. The hook fasteners 104, 106, 108, 110 disposed on the outer surface 112 are lightweight and are water resistant resulting in longevity of life of the cap 100.
When adhered, the loop fastener 204 of the patch is fastened to the hook fastener 104 and the front surface 202 is visually exposed to other individuals for customizing the cap 100. The loop fastener 204 may have a thickness from about 3 mm to about 10 mm in different embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram depicting a process of customizing and wearing the cap 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. Initially, a plurality of logo patches is chosen by a user to adhere to the hook fasteners of the cap (Step 402). Then, patches are individually adhered to hook fasteners by fastening the loop fasteners of the patches individually to the hook fasteners (Step 404). The tiny hooks of the hook fasteners cling to the loops of the loop fastener to make the hook fastener and loop fastener stick to each other when both the fasteners are pressed together. Thereafter, the cap is worn by the user for showing love and respect to the teams/sports whose patches are adhered (Step 406). Finally, the patches are replaced using different patches as per preference of the user (Step 408).
FIG. 5 illustrates a four-way sports team cap kit of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. In the present embodiment of the invention, the cap 100 is commercially available as a part of a kit 500 that includes a customizable cap 100 and a plurality of sports teams and other designer patches 502 a-n. The patches are especially designed and manufactured for use with the cap 100 such that a user can customize the cap 100 as per the preferences as described in other embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, different shapes of the cap may be included enabling a user to wear different customized caps on different occasions.
Although in the aforementioned embodiments, the sports merchandise is shown as the hat 100, however any other form of merchandise such as a t-shirt can have multiple hook fasteners to receive loop patches of different sports teams, thereby customizing the look of the t-shirt while enabling users to display love and pride for multiple sports/teams at one time using a single t-shirt.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “customizable cap”, “four-way sports team cap”, “cap”, and “hat” are interchangeable and refer to the four-way sports team cap 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the four-way sports team cap 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the four-way sports team cap 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the four-way sports team cap 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the four-way sports team cap 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the four-way sports team cap 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A sports team cap comprising:

a customizable cap having a body comprising a front portion, a first side portion, a rear portion, and a second side portion;

a plurality of hook fastener sections spaced around an outer surface of said body;

wherein said front portion, said first side portion, said rear portion, and said second side portion each having a hook fastener section positioned on said outer surface of said body;

wherein said plurality of hook fastener sections are uniformly distributed on said outer surface of said body including a first hook fastener positioned on said front portion, a second hook fastener positioned on said first side portion, a third hook fastener positioned on said second side portion, and a fourth hook fastener positioned on said rear portion;

a plurality of customized team logos each having a rear surface including a loop fastener;

wherein a first team logo selectively fastened to said first hook fastener, a second team logo selectively fastened to said second hook fastener, a third team logo selectively fastened to said third hook fastener, and a fourth team logo selectively fastened to said fourth hook fastener;

wherein said first team logo is different than said fourth team logo; and

further wherein said second team logo is different than said third team logo.

2. The sports team cap of claim 1, wherein said plurality of hook fastener sections are of the same shape and size.

3. The sports team cap of claim 2, wherein said cap is selected from a group consisting of a baseball cap, a trucker hat, a fedora, a newsboy, a vizor, a bowler, a stocking cap, and a beanie.

4. The sports team cap of claim 3, wherein said body of said cap having a material selected from a group consisting of a cotton and a wool.

5. The sports team cap of claim 4, wherein said body including a material selected from a group consisting of a Rayon, an Acetate, a Nylon, a Modacrylic, a Polyester, a Carbon fiber, a Lycra®, an Aramid, a Kevlar, a Nomex, and a polyolefin.

6. The sports team cap of claim 5, wherein said plurality of hook fastener sections are sewn to said outer surface of said body.

7. The sports team cap of claim 5, wherein said plurality of hook fastener sections are heat-bonded to said outer surface of said body.

8. The sports team cap of claim 5, wherein said plurality of customized team logos each having a front surface comprising a unique sport.

9. The sports team cap of claim 5, wherein said plurality of customized team logos each having a front surface comprising a unique sports team.

10. The sports team cap of claim 5, wherein said plurality of customized team logos are 3D.

11. The sports team cap of claim 2, wherein said plurality of hook fastener sections spaced around said outer surface of said body are removable.

12. A wearable garment kit comprising:

a customizable garment having a body comprising a front portion, a first side portion, a rear portion, and a second side portion;

wherein said first team logo is different than said fourth team logo; and

further wherein said plurality of hook fastener sections are of the same shape and size.

13. The wearable garment kit of claim 12, wherein said garment is selected from a group consisting of a baseball cap, a trucker hat, a fedora, a newsboy, a vizor, a bowler, a stocking cap, a beanie, and a t-shirt.

14. The wearable garment kit of claim 13, wherein said body of said garment having a material selected from a group consisting of a cotton and a wool.

15. The wearable garment kit of claim 13, wherein said body of said garment having a material selected from a group consisting of a Rayon, an Acetate, a Nylon, a Modacrylic, a Polyester, a Carbon fiber, a Lycra®, an Aramid, a Kevlar, a Nomex, and a polyolefin.

16. The wearable garment kit of claim 13, wherein said plurality of hook fastener sections are sewn to said outer surface of said body.

17. The wearable garment kit of claim 13, wherein said plurality of hook fastener sections are heat-bonded to said outer surface of said body.

18. The wearable garment kit of claim 13, wherein said plurality of customized team logos each having a front surface comprising a unique sport.

19. The wearable garment kit of claim 13, wherein said plurality of customized team logos each having a front surface comprising a unique sports team.

20. A method of customizing a sports team cap comprising the steps of:

providing a customizable cap having a body comprising a front portion, a first side portion, a rear portion, and a second side portion;

placing a plurality of hook fastener sections spaced around an outer surface of said body;

positioning a hook fastener section on said outer surface of each said front portion, said first side portion, said rear portion, and said second side portion, wherein said plurality of hook fastener sections are uniformly distributed on said outer surface of said body including a first hook fastener positioned on said front portion, a second hook fastener positioned on said first side portion, a third hook fastener positioned on said second side portion, and a fourth hook fastener positioned on said rear portion;

providing a plurality of customized team logos each having a rear surface including a loop fastener;

fastening a first team logo to said first hook fastener;

fastening a second team logo to said second hook fastener;

fastening a third team logo to said third hook fastener; and

fastening a fourth team logo to said fourth hook fastener, wherein said plurality of customized team logos spaced around said outer surface of said body are selectively replaceable, and further wherein said first team logo, said second team logo, said third team logo, and said fourth team logo are different team logos.