A ball cap with a concealed opening that allows for a greater variety of hairstyles to be worn while simultaneously retaining the general shape, appearance, and functionality of a typical ball cap. The concealed opening is hidden in a default configuration of the hat, but it can be selectively opened to allow for hair such as a ponytail to pass through. The ball cap can include a protective coating on the sweatband to prevent makeup, sweat, and dirt from soiling the sweatband.

A ball cap with a concealed opening that allows for a greater variety of hairstyles to be worn while simultaneously retaining the general shape, appearance, and functionality of a typical ball cap. The concealed opening is hidden in a default configuration of the hat, but it can be selectively opened to allow for hair such as a ponytail to pass through. The ball cap can include a protective coating on the sweatband to prevent makeup, sweat, and dirt from soiling the sweatband.

A cap logo applicator, and method of fabricating, includes a first mandrel having a front and a back, the first mandrel having a curved, non-cylindrical surface, and a relief space in the back such that when a cap is positioned on the first mandrel, a front of the cap is in contact with the non-cylindrical surface and a top of the cap extends over the relief space, and a second mandrel opposing the first mandrel and configured to apply pressure to the first mandrel. At least one of the first mandrel and the second mandrel includes a heater.

A cap logo applicator, and method of fabricating, includes a first mandrel having a front and a back, the first mandrel having a curved, non-cylindrical surface, and a relief space in the back such that when a cap is positioned on the first mandrel, a front of the cap is in contact with the non-cylindrical surface and a top of the cap extends over the relief space, and a second mandrel opposing the first mandrel and configured to apply pressure to the first mandrel. At least one of the first mandrel and the second mandrel includes a heater.

A heat press includes a handle portion and a curved heat plate. That handle portion may be configured to be grasped by a user, and the curved heat (i.e., having a curved engagement surface) may be configured to engage a heat-activated design implement to transfer a design of the heat-activated design implement to a curved surface of a workpiece. Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a heat press stand having a curved floor and a hat form for supporting a workpiece (e.g., a hat) during a heat-activated design transfer using the heat press. Associated methods are also disclosed herein.

A heat press includes a handle portion and a curved heat plate. That handle portion may be configured to be grasped by a user, and the curved heat (i.e., having a curved engagement surface) may be configured to engage a heat-activated design implement to transfer a design of the heat-activated design implement to a curved surface of a workpiece. Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a heat press stand having a curved floor and a hat form for supporting a workpiece (e.g., a hat) during a heat-activated design transfer using the heat press. Associated methods are also disclosed herein.

A ball cap with a concealed opening that allows for a greater variety of hairstyles to be worn while simultaneously retaining the general shape, appearance, and functionality of a typical ball cap. The concealed opening is hidden in a default configuration of the hat, but it can be selectively opened to allow for hair such as a ponytail to pass through.

A hat capable of recovering the original shape and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The hat is characterized by preparing mixtures comprising waterborne polyurethane, water, and crosslinking agent; coating synthetic fiber yarns of the hat with the mixture; curing the mixtures in a certain temperature condition in order to form a thin polyurethane film on the surface of fabric or knitted fabric for the hat. The curing reaction products by the waterborne polyurethane component implement a shape recovery of the hat after the deformation or damage due to the external force in the initial shape of the hat.

A hat capable of recovering the original shape and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The hat is characterized by preparing mixtures comprising waterborne polyurethane, water, and crosslinking agent; coating synthetic fiber yarns of the hat with the mixture; curing the mixtures in a certain temperature condition in order to form a thin polyurethane film on the surface of fabric or knitted fabric for the hat. The curing reaction products by the waterborne polyurethane component implement a shape recovery of the hat after the deformation or damage due to the external force in the initial shape of the hat.

Methods and apparatus for preparing a host article and a decorative patch for removable attachment to one another using snap fasteners. In one example, a method includes simultaneously punching a first plurality of holes arranged in a first pattern into a front surface of the host article, positioning a plurality of host snap fasteners in the first plurality of holes, and simultaneously setting the plurality of host snap fasteners to secure the plurality of host snap fasteners to the host article. The method further includes simultaneously punching a second plurality of holes in a corresponding second pattern into a decorative patch and setting a plurality of patch snap fasteners in the second plurality of holes to secure the plurality of patch snap fasteners to the decorative patch, the plurality of patch snap fasteners being configured to mate with the plurality of host snap fasteners to removably attach the decorative patch to the host article.