CAP WITH FLOTATION DEVICE

TECHNOLOGY FIELD

[0001 ] This disclosure relates to hats and caps and, in particular, to features added to headgear.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A common type of cap, often called a "baseball cap," has a head-shaped body and a large brim. The cap may be adjustable. For example, adjustability may be obtained by providing a cutout portion in the back of the cap opposite the brim, where an elastic strap or a small belt buckle or two straps with a fastener are attached so that the cap circumference can be adjusted to fit the wearer.

[0003] The large brim of a baseball-type cap makes it a suitable choice for clear days, as the brim shades the eyes from the sun. A baseball cap may

alternatively be worn backwards to shade the neck. Outdoor activities on sunny days may include fishing, boating and other recreational activities taking place near water. Unfortunately, a baseball cap will sink quickly if it falls into deep water.

[0004] There remains a need for a baseball cap that does not sink and,

accordingly, may be easily retrieved from the water.

SUMMARY

[0005] According to its major aspects and briefly recited, the present device is a float for use with an adjustable baseball cap and a baseball cap with a float. The baseball cap has a cutout portion in the back of the cap where a strap extends across the cutout portion for sizing the cap to the wearer and passes through a tubular float spanning the cutout portion. The tubular float is buoyant in order to hold the cap at the water level. [0006] An aspect of the disclosure is a cap with a first end with a brim and a second end with a strap that carries a float.

[0007] An aspect of the disclosure is that the float is made of rubber, such as synthetic rubber, including neoprene rubber.

[0008] Another aspect of the disclosure is that the float is in the form of a tube, with said strap running through said tube.

[0009] Another aspect of the disclosure is that the tube has a cloth cover.

[0010] An aspect of the disclosure is that the float is made of a material formed into a tube and held in that shape by fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners.

[001 1 ] Another aspect of the disclosure is that the float may carry a reflective material.

[0012] An aspect of the disclosure is that the float is buoyant to hold the cap at the water surface.

[0013] Another aspect of the disclosure is that the cap has a cutout portion at the second end of said cap, opposite the bill, and wherein the strap crosses said cutout portion, and the float is carried by said strap at the cutout portion.

[0014] An aspect of the disclosure is a cap with float that fits any adjustable

baseball cap. The float also makes the cap fit better, more secure, and more comfortable when worn forwards or backwards, and may provide a surface for advertising.

[0015] These and other features and their advantages will be apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description, accompanied by the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] In the figures,

[0017] FIG. 1 is a baseball cap with float, according to an aspect of the

disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a cross section of the cap and float of FIG. 1 , according to an aspect of the disclosure; [0019] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the cutout portion of the back of the cap and float of FIG. 1 , according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a detail view of the cap and float of FIG. 2, according to an

aspect of the disclosure;

[0021 ] FIG. 5 is a front view of the float, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a back view of the float, according to an aspect of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The present device is a cap 10 having a rim 14, and a brim 18 on a first end 22. On a second end 26 opposite first end 22 is a cutout portion 30 where a strap 34 for size adjustment extends across cutout portion 30. Cutout portion 30 may be arch-shaped and is feature of adjustable baseball cap. Cutout portion 30 is where a portion of rim 14 is not present and replaced by an adjustment means that enables the user to pull the two parts of rim 14 closer or allow them to separate in order to accommodate the head of the instant wearer.

[0024] Cap 10 may be a baseball cap. A baseball cap is characterized by a close fit to the top of the wearer's head. Rim 14 of cap 10 is the end of cap 10 that has a circular or oval shape, less cutout portion 30. Brim 18 is attached to first end 22, which is the front of cap 10. At second end 26, at cutout portion 30, is a strap 34 running across cutout portion 30.

[0025] Strap 34 may be made of a resilient material that will stretch width-wise across cutout portion 30 to accommodate heads of different sizes. Strap 34 may be an elastic band or two straps buckled together or joined by a slide fastener, to permit incremental or continuous adjustment of the width of cutout portion 30.

[0026] Strap 34 carries a float 38. Float 38 is a buoyant element to hold cap 10 at the water line in the event cap 10 falls into water, such as into a lake, a river, a swimming pool or larger body of water.

[0027] In the course of boating, fishing, swimming or other recreational activity that is taking place near a body of water, a cap 10 may be blown off or fall off the head of the wearer. Without positive buoyancy, a cap will sink into the water quickly. Although loss of cap 10 may be a minor nuisance in some instances, a cap may be a favorite cap or the cap may be worn for protection against the sun. Its loss may be more significant than the original price of the cap.

[0028] Float 38 is made of a buoyant material, and one that is buoyant and

therefore able to hold cap 10 at the water level so that cap 10 may be plucked from the water's surface. Buoyant materials include many types of foams or plastics, low density solid items or items that have a density less than water. A material such as neoprene rubber is buoyant. Neoprene, which is

polychloroprene is a synthetic that is produced by polymerization of chloroprene. It has good chemical stability and flexibility over a range of temperatures and may be a suitable material for float 38.

[0029] The present float 38 wraps around strap 34 of cap 10 and adds just

enough buoyancy to keep cap 10 on the water's surface. In addition, float improves the fit and comfort of cap 10 because of its resilience, especially when wearing cap 10 backwards - as many people do when boating.

[0030] Float 38 also provides space for advertising and logos, or a place to write the wearer's name.

[0031 ] Float 38 may be made of neoprene, which has a buoyant force that keeps cap 10 at the water surface, and is flexible so it may be formed into a tube. Float 38 may have a cloth cover 42 to which a fastener 46 is attached. Cloth cover 42 keeps the edges of float 38 clean. Fastener 46 may be snaps or hook-and-loop type fasteners, which is sold under the trademark VELCRO and made by Velcro Industries, B. V.

[0032] Float 38 made as described below will fit the strap 34 of and adjustable, baseball-style, cap 10.

[0033] To make float 38, sheets or rolls of 3 mm- or 4 mm-thick neoprene may be divided into 10 mm x 13 mm (2.5 inch x 3.0 inch) rectangles with slightly rounded corners. Each side of such a rectangle is aligned and sewn with hook and loop fasteners so each side will stick to the other side when rolled with an overlap. Cloth cover 42 may be sewn to the neoprene. A reflective material, artwork, or a logo, may be added . 4] For use, float 38 is positioned around strap 34 for comfort. Once float 38 surrounds strap 34, strap 34 will be covered, and float 38 will be available for the rescue of cap 10 and, moreover, cap 10 is more securely seated on the wearer's head while adding to the wearer's comfort because of the cushioning of the synthetic neoprene as the material of float 38 with its cloth cover 42.