US3039113A

US3039113A - Foldable cap

Info

Publication number: US3039113A
Application number: US809008A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank K Lipschutz
Original assignee: LOUISVILLE CAP CORP
Current assignee: LOUISVILLE CAP Corp
Priority date: 1959-04-27
Filing date: 1959-04-27
Publication date: 1962-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 1979-06-19

Description

June 19, 1962 F. K. LIPSCHUTZ FOLDABLE CAP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2'7, 1959 INVENTOR.

FRNK. K. LIPSCHUTZ lL/%n ATTORNEYS June 19, 1962 F. K. LIPSCHUTZ 3039,113

FOLDABLE c;u=

Filed April 27, 1959 3 e s-sheet 2 INVEN-TOR. FRANK K Lmscr-1uu F/g. 5 B}Jgybi& H VI ATTORNEYS June 19, 1962 F. K. LIPSCHUTZ 3,039,113

FOLDABLE CA? 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 2'7, 1959 IN V E'N TOR.

FRANK. K. LIPSCHUTZ ATTORN E Y5 3,039,113 FOLDABLE CAP Frank K. Lipschutz, Louisville, Ky. assignor to Louisville Cap Corporation, Louisville, Ky. a corporation of Kentucky Filed Apr. 27, 1959, SEI. N0. 809,008 1 Claim. (Cl. 2--195) This invention relates generally w caps, but has Teference more particularly I caps of the type generally worn by the armed forces and known as fatigue caps, and to improvements in the cap disclosed in my U.S. Patent N0. 2,896218, issued Iuly 28, 1959.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of a cap of this type which is of simpler comstruction than the cap described in the aforesaid patent, and which can be manufactured in lauge quantities at lower cost than seid cap.

Another object of the invention is t0 provide a eap of the character described which has greater appeal, in its external appearance, flha.n caps heretofore used for this purpose.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the aocompanying drawings forming a part of this specificatlon, and in Which like numerals ai'e employed to designate like parts thronghout the same FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cap embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cap;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cap;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the cap, in folded or collapsed condition;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the cap, in folded or collapsed condi'on;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken an the line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 11-1 1 0f FIG. 2.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, wh1'ch illustrate the cap in the open 01' unf0ldd condition in which it appears when wem, the cap will be seen to comprise a cr0wn struct-ure consisting of a front crown pa.nel 1, a top crown parlel 2 and

rear crown panels

3, 4 and 5, mhese parts being made of a pliable textile 0r fabric.

The front crowvn panel is bent into substantially semicylindrical form, the axis of this cylinder being substantially vertical. This panel has a lower edge 1a whioh is ourved to conform to the rear edge of a visor to be presently described, and has an upper edge 1b which is curved to confonn With the front edge of the top pane1 2. The lower edge of the panel 1 also includes pocrtions 1c Wh1'ch extend rearwardly from the ends of the edge 1a and lie in a substantially horizontal plane.

The top pane1 2 is curved or arclhed transversely to comfonn generally with the eurvature of the edge 1b of the panel 1, and has a front edge which is rounded to conform with the upper edge 1b of the freut crown panel 1, and a rear edge, which, in the flattened condition of the panel 2 3,039113 Patented June 19, 1962 is substantially straight, but which When the cap is wo-rn, appears curved, as inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The

rear crown panels

3, 4 and 5 are cf substantially triang-ular shape, and of substantially the same size, the panel 4 being disposed between the

panels

3 and 5.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the panel 1 is folded at its upper edge 10 provide a hem 6, which is secured, as by a line 0f stitching 7, to a downturned hem 8 at the front edge of the -top panel 2. The raw edges 0f the

hems

6 and 8 are bound or covered by a binding tape 9, which is secured to the

hems

6 and 8 by means cf the line of stitching 7.

Rearwardly of the hem 8, the front of the t0p panel 2 is folded downwardly, as at 10, and this down-turned portion 10 is secured to the tape 9 and

hems

6 and 8 by the line of stitcln'ng 7. This provides a fairly stiif upstanding rib at the meeting edges of the panels 1 and 2, as bes=t shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, which, as will presently be explained, facilitates folding of the cap.

The tape 9 is also secu-red t0 the

hems

6 and 8 by a second line of stitching 11, which is just below the stitching 7.

The rea.r edge of the top panel 2 is secured as by stitching 11a, to the fitont edges of the crown panels 3 and 5 (FIG. 7), these edges being covered by means 0f a binding tape 12 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 7) which is secured to the panel 2 by a line of stinching 13, and to the

panels

3 and 5 by a line of stitohing 14, the tape covering the overlapped edges 0f the panels, as best sh0wn in FIG. 7.

The rear edge cf the pane1 3 is secured, as by stitching 11b, to the adjacent edge of the panel 4 (FIG. 11), these edges being covered by m6ans cf a binding tape 15 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11), Whieh covers the overlapped edges of -these panels, and which, as best shown in FIG. 11, is seoured to the panel 3 by stitching 16, and to the pane1 4 by stitehing 17.

The o cher edge of the panel 4 is secured, as by stitching 11c to the rear edge of the panel 5 (FIG. 9), these edges being covered by means of a binding tape 18 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9), Which cover s ihe overlapped edges of these panels, and which, aus best shown in FIG. 9, ils secured to the panel 4 by -stitching 19, and to the panel 5 by stitching 20.

The

binding tapes

15 and 18, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, are overl-apped at their -front ends, and these everlapped ends are inserted between the

panels

3, 4 and 5 and the binding tape 12, being secured together at this point by the stitching 14.

The ends of the front crown pane1 1 are -pr0vided with hems 21 (FIGS. 2 and 10), and the front edges of the

rear crowu panels

3 and 5 are provided with hems 22, the

hems

21 and 22 being secured together by a line of stitohing 23. The raw edges cf -these hems are b0und or covered by the tape 12.

The cap also includes a visor of conventional orescentshaped form, c0nsisting of a flexible reinforcing insert 01 body 24 (FIG. 6), made of cork, plastic o1 1ike material, and coverings or

facings

25 and 26 o-f the same textile o r fabric as the crowvn pontions of the cap. These coverings 0r facings 25 and 26 extend rearwardly beyond -the reagl edge 0f fhe body 24 to provide

portions

27 and 28 respectively, which are secured as by stitching 29, to an upturned hem 30 of the panel 1.

A sweatband 31 is also provided, which is secured at its lower edge to the crovvn panels, as by stitching 32, the ends of this band being sec-ured to each other at the rear of the cap, as by stitching 33, as best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The upper edge of this band is not stitched to the 3 orown structure, but may be tacked to the

binding tapes

15 and 18 to hold it in place.

The crown structure further includes a reinforcing member or panel 35, wln'ch is coextensive in area with, and of the same contour or shape as the front crown panel 1. This member or panel 35 is preferably made of perforated plastic material, such as nylon, which is relatively stifl or rigid, as compared with the fabric r textile portions of the cap, but Which is sufficiently flexible =to be bent, yet has sufi1cient resiliency to cause it to return to its original shape or condition upon release of the forces or pressures which tend to bend it. 'I'his material, in other words, is a shape-retaining, resilient, semi-rigid or selfsustaining or supporting material which possesses all of these characteristics irrespective of the direction in which it is bent. Tl1e maten'al, moreover, is preferably of an open or perforated structure so as to provide for maximum Ventilation of the cap.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the reinforcing mernber 35 is provided at its u-pper edge with a downturned hem 36, Which is sewn 10 the

hems

6 and 8, and part 10 by the stitching 7, and is covered by the tape 9. It extends down- Wardly between the crown panel 1 and the hem 30, where it is seoured to the panel 1 by stitching 37.

The ends of the reinforcing member 35 are, as best shown in FIG. 10, provided with hems 38, which are disposed between the panel 1 and the hems 21, and are secured Io these parts by the stitching 13.

The cap, due to= its constructi0n, may be folded into a flat compact form, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in whioh forrn lt occupies a minimum of space, in both horizontal and vertical dimension, can be easily slipped into the pooket of the servicernan, remains unobtrusive while thus carrled by the serviceman, and can be shipped or stored in large quantities, inexpensively, and with a minimurn of labor or eiiort.

In fo=lding the cap, the top crown panel 2 and the adjacent portions of the

panels

3, 4 and are pu-shed downwardly, and in doing this, the juncture of the panel 2 with the

pantls

3, 4 and 5 forme a natural fold line, which causes the portions of the

panels

3, 4 and 5, to the left of a crease line A, as Viewed in FIGS. 1, 2 3 and 7, eo be folded flat upon the panel 2. At the sarne time, the portions of the

panels

3, 4 and 5 to the right of the crease line A, fold flat upon the other portions of these panels, the panel 2 folds flat upon the rear face of the panel 1, and the panel 1 folds flat upon the visor, cr6ating a flat package, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

This folding action is greatly facilitated by reason of the fact that the reinforcing mernber 35 provides a somewl1at rigid panel, against which the portions of the cap rearwardly of this panel, and which are preferably left unlined, can be readily bent and folded flat. 'Ihis folding is further facilitated by the provision of the upstanding Ilb 10, and the juncture of the panel 2 with the

panels

3, 4 and 5, which juncture forms a natural fold line.

The portions of the cap rearwardly of the panel 1 are soft and flexible, and so shaped as to readily conform With the shape of the head, thereby providing a comfortable fit. In this connection, the triangular shape and errangements of the

panels

3, 4 and 5 is of importance, although it is to be understood that a greater or lesser nu1nber of these rear panels may be employed for this portion of the cap than the th1ee which are illustrated.

The cap may be easily unfolded or opened to place it on the head of the wearer, by merely grasping the front edge of the visor with one hand and the rear edge of the panel 3 'Wl'tl1 the other band and pnlling these edges apart. When placed on the head of the wearer, the cap appears as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in Wh.ich condition, the cap presents a neat, trim and attraetive appearance.

lt may be noted that when the cap is in the fully open position shown in FIG. 2, that the ourve of the lower edge of the panel 1 extends upwardly, and is above the horizontal plane Which passes through the lower edge of the remaim'ng portion of the crown of the cap, and that the rear edge of the visor of the cap=, which is secured to the lower edge of the cro-wn panel 1, is curved to conform with the curve of the lower edge of the crown panel l.

This not only facilitates folding of the crown panel 1 flat on the visor when the cap is folded, but also enables the visor to be flipped upwardly to a vertical position and remain in such position, when the cap is worn, thereby permitting the visor to be above and out of the line of vision for meeham'cs and others who are obliged to get into srnall spaoes to= work. This feature is applicable to caps which are of the folding or non-folding type.

It may also -be noted that the lower edges of the

panels

3, 4 and 5 lie in substantially the same horizontal plane as the edges 1c of the crown panel 1, and that these edges, along With the edges 1c, lie in substantially the same horizontal plane as the lower edge of the vis0r. This aids in creating a neat and attractive appearance for the cap, as a whole, when worn, and also aids in reducing the cap to a rninirnum-sized flat package, in the folded or C01- lapsed condition of the cap.

lt is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken 213 a preferred example of the same, and that van'ous changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangernent of parts thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined clairn.

Having tl1us descn'bed my invention, I olaim:

In a collapsible cap of the character descr-ibed, a visor having a concave inner edge, a crown structure comprising a front panel, a top panel and rear panels, said front panel bent into substantially semi-cy-lindrical form, the axis of said semi-cylindrical form being substantially vertical, said front panel having a curved upper edge and a lower edge, said lower edge having a portion thereof secured to the inner edge of the visor and end portions thereof extending rearwardly and lying in a common substantially horizontal plane, said top panel having a front and rear edge and being arched or curved transversely to conform generally to the curvature of the upper edge of the front panel, said curved npper edge of the front panel being folded downwardly and rearwardly to provide a first hern, said front edge of the top panel being folcled downwardly to provide a second hem generally parallel to and coextensive with the first hem, the front of the top panel rearwardly of the second hem being folded downwardly to provide a downturned portion generally parallel to and coextensive with said first and second hems, stitcln'ng rneans passing through and joining together said first hem, said second hem and said downturned portion, whereby said hems and downturned portion for1n a stiff upstanding r-ib at the juncture of the curved upper edge of the front panel With the front edge of the top panel, said rear panels being of substantially triangular shape, with their bases forming the b ase of the rear portion of the crown structure, said bases lying substantially in said horizontal plane, and their apices meeting at a point substantially at the center of the rear edge of the top panel, said rear edge of the top panel being Connected to adjacent edges of at least two of said rear panels, said front panel having a lining 011 its immer surface coextensive in area with, and of the same shape or contour as said front panel, said lining consisting of a perforated plastic material, which is relatively rigid as compared with the material of said front panel, but which is sufficiently flexible to be bent, yet has sufficient resiliency to cause it to return to its original shape or condition upon release of the forces o1 pressures whioh tend to bend it, said top panel and rear panels being of a flexible, unlined, fabric, said cap being foldable along the concave inner edge of the visor, along the upper edge of the front panel, along the rear edge of the top panel, and along a ourved line intermediatae the rear edge of the top panel and the bases of said rear panels, to form a flat package, said Stift" upstanding rib forming a natural fold line wl1ich facilitates 6 folding of the toppane1 onto the front panel during said 1,190427 Kromer July 11, 1916 folding. 1519491 Gross Dec. 16, 1924 1565,202 Reiter Dec. 8, 1925 References Citefl in the file of this patent 23g355 Paul l F;b. 22, 13214 5 2,8 8, 43 Litows y ov. 1 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2896218 Lipschutz July 28, 1959 D. 138,641 Baker Aug. 29, 1944 D. 186,839 Lipsohutz Dec. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 625776 Von Klein May 30, 1899 23,173 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1909