Hat with rotatable and removable brim

Abstract

A hat including a crown with a base. An outer headband layer is affixed to the crown at the base by a base seam that extends around a circumference of the crown. an inner headband layer is affixed to the outer headband layer at a position opposite the base to define a circumferential pocket between the outer headband layer and the inner headband layer. A rail has a T-shaped cross section disposed in the pocket. The T-shaped cross section is defined by a stem and an arm. The rail is affixed to the outer headband layer and the inner headband layer by a first rail seam through the stem, the outer headband layer, and the inner headband layer. The rail is further affixed to the outer headband layer by a second rail seam only through the outer headband layer and the stem. A bill has a track with a figure four shaped cross section affixed thereon. The track has a channel that receives and retains the rail therein to guide the bill around the crown.

Claims

1. A hat, comprising: a crown having a base; an outer headband layer affixed to said crown at said base by a base seam extending around a circumference of said crown; an inner headband layer affixed to said outer headband layer at a position opposite said base for defining a circumferential pocket between said outer headband layer and said inner headband layer; a rail having a T-shaped cross section disposed in said pocket, said T-shaped cross section being defined by a rail stem and an arm, said rail being affixed to said outer headband layer and said inner headband layer by a first rail seam through said rail stem, said outer headband layer, and said inner headband layer; said rail being further affixed to said outer headband layer by a second rail seam only through said outer headband layer and said rail stem; a bill having a track affixed thereon, said track having a track stem and a channel receiving and retaining said rail therein for guiding said bill around said crown, said channel having opposing parallel segments each having respective inwardly directed flanges defining a space therebetween said inwardly directed flanges retaining said arm of said rail in said channel as said rail stem passes through said space allowing said bill to rotate about said crown; and said bill having a substrate sandwiched between fabric layers, said fabric layers having turned up portions at said track abutting an end of said track stem.

2. The hat according to claim 1, wherein said track stem defines an overall height of said track, said track is affixed on said bill to present said track stem towards said inner headband layer and said track stem has a flat surface disposed along said inner headband layer.

3. The hat according to claim 2, further comprising; a fabric band encircling said track stem for affixing said track to said bill; a track seam through said track stem and opposing layers of said band; and a bill seam through said turned up portions and said opposing layers.

4. The hat according to claim 3, wherein one of said layers of said band extends substantially entirely over said flat surface of said track stem.

5. The hat according to claim 3, wherein said track seam is adjacent said channel.

6. The hat according to claim 3, wherein said bill seam is disposed between said substrate and a base of said track stem.

7. The hat according to claim 1, wherein said first rail seam is disposed at a base of said rail stem.

8. The hat according to claim 1, wherein said rail has two ends opposite one another in said pocket and spaced apart from one another for defining a gap therebetween, said gap receives said channel and allows said channel to be fed onto said rail.

9. A hat, comprising: a crown having a base; an outer headband layer affixed to said crown at said base by a base seam extending around a circumference of said crown; an inner headband layer affixed to said outer headband layer at a position opposite said base for defining a circumferential pocket between said outer headband layer and said inner headband layer; a rail having a T-shaped cross section disposed in said pocket, said rail having a rail stem; a bill having a track affixed thereon, said track having a track stem and a channel receiving and retaining said rail therein for guiding said bill around said crown, said channel having opposing parallel segments each having respective inwardly directed flanges defining a space therebetween said inwardly directed flanges retaining an arm of said rail in said channel as said rail stem passes through said space allowing said bill to rotate about said crown, said track having a track stem defining one of said opposing parallel segments and defining an overall height of said track, said track stem having a flat surface in cross section, said track being affixed on said bill for presenting said flat surface towards said inner headband layer, said flat surface disposed on said inner headband layer.

10. The hat according to claim 9, wherein said bill has a substrate sandwiched between fabric layers, said fabric layers have turned up portions at said track that abut an end of said track stem.

11. The hat according to claim 10, further comprising; a fabric band encircling said track stem for affixing said track to said bill; a track seam through said track stem and opposing layers of said band; and a bill seam through said turned up portions and said opposing layers.

12. The hat according to claim 11, wherein said one of said layers of said band extends substantially entirely over said flat surface of said track stem.

13. The hat according to claim 12, wherein said rail is affixed to said outer headband layer and said inner headband layer by a first rail seam through said rail stem, said outer headband layer, sail rail is further affixed to said outer headband layer by a second rail seam only through said outer headband layer and said rail stem.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hat with a bill attached to a crown;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hat of FIG. 1 with the bill removed from the hat;

(3) FIG. 3 is a partial section view through the hat and the bill with the bill attached; and

(4) FIG. 4 is a view of the crown with a portion of the headband removed at a position along the headband where the bill is inserted onto a rail of the hat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawings, in which like elements and components bear like reference symbols, and first, particularly, to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, where there is seen a perspective view of a hat 1 having a crown 2 with a removably attached bill or visor 3 attached to the crown 1. The hat 1 has a button 4 that is provided as a fabric covered female snap half, which can be removed from a male snap half 5 on the crown 2 and replaced with a different color button 4.

(6) FIG. 3 shows a section view through the bill 3 and the crown 2. The crown 2 is provided with a headband or sweatband 6. The headband 6 has an outer headband layer 6a affixed to the crown 2 with a seam 7 at a base 8 of the crown 2. The seam 7 extends around the perimeter of the crown 2. The seam 7 may be a double seam. The outer headband layer 6a extends from the seam 7 along an inner side of the crown 2 up to a seam 9 that affixes the outer headband layer 6a to an inner headband layer 6b around the perimeter of the crown 2 for defining a circumferential pocket 10 between the inner headband layer 6b and the outer headband layer 6a around the circumference of the crown 2. The seam 9 may be provided as a double seam.

(7) The section is taken at a position where a point stitch 11 affixes the top of the headband 6 to the crown 2. The head band 6 may be provided with several of the point stitches 11 around the perimeter of the crown 2. The point stitches 11 are provided at a discrete location, such as along a seam that joins individual panels of the crown 2 or at an embroidered logo that is provided on the crown 2 so that the stitches 11 are not seen on an exterior of the crown 2. The point stitches 11 hold the head band 6 in the crown 2 and prevents the headband 6 from being pulled down out of the crown 2 when the bill 3 is rotated about the crown 2.

(8) A rail 12 having a T-shaped cross section is disposed in the pocket 10. A seam 13 through the outer and inner headband layers 6a and 6b at a base of a stem 12s of the T holds the rail 12 in the pocket 10. A second seam 14 through the outer headband layer 6a and the stem 12s adjacent a transverse arm 12a of the T serves to bias the rail 12 to and outer headband layer side of the pocket 10. This assist in allowing the bill 3 to rotate more freely about the crown 2. A base of the inner headband layer 6b is shown with an additional seam (not numbered) that affixes a bent over end (not shown) of the inner headband layer 6b.

(9) The bill 3 of the hat includes a substrate material 30 that is sandwiched between fabric layers 31. At an end of the bill 3 that is attached to the crown 2, the fabric layers 31 are brought together at a turned up portion of the fabric layers 31. The turned up portion is substantially perpendicular to the substrate material 30. The bill 3 has a track 15 with a figure four shaped cross section or an inverted h cross section affixed thereto. Ends of the turned up portions of the fabric layers 31 abut a stem 15s of the track 15.

(10) The track 15 is affixed to the bill 3 by a fabric band 16 that extends around the stem 15s of the track 15 via a first track seam 17 through the band 16 and the stem 15s and by a second track seam 18 through the band 16 and the bent portion of the fabric layers 31. The stem 15s defines an overall height of the track 15 and is disposed to provide the track 15 with a flat surface that is disposed along the inner headband layer 6b and thus to the head of a wearer to make the construction of the track/rail assembly more comfortable for a person to wear. Furthermore, it is preferable for the band 16 to extend up a majority of the length of the stem 15s in order to maintain a flat face against the inner headband liner 6b. On the opposite side of the stem 15s, the band 16 extends substantially up to an underside of a channel 15c of the track 15. The channel 15c has opposing inwardly directed flanges 15f that retain the arm 12a of the rail 12 in the channel 15c as the stem 12s passes through a space defined between the flanges 15f and allows the bill 3 to rotate about the crown 2.

(11) The rail 12 is manufactured by extrusion molding and the rail 12 has the characteristics of a rail that is extruded. The rail 12 is provided from a continuous reel of rail 12 and is cut to length according to a corresponding crown size. The rail 12 is affixed in the pocket 10 around the crown 2 so that rail ends 12e are spaced apart at a small distance (less than 3 mm) a gap therebetween, the gap receives the track and allows the track channel 15c to be fed onto the rail 12.