Headwear with size adjustment feature

Claim 2

A headwear piece comprising: an inverted cup-shaped crown for placement over the head of a wearer, said crown having at least a part thereof made from a flexible element that extends around the head of a wearer with the headwear piece in place on a wearer's head and defines within the crown a first effective diameter, said crown having an outer surface defined at least partially by said flexible element; at least one inflatable element that can be inflated to an expanded state and deflated to a collapsed state; means for connecting the inflatable element to the crown at the part thereof made from the flexible element so that with the inflatable element in its expanded state the crown and flexible element cooperatively define a second effective diameter for embracing the head of a wearer that is smaller than the first effective diameter, whereby a wearer's head in the crown surrounded by the flexible part is cushioned by both the inflatable element and the flexible element, said outer surface and inflatable element both being able to reconfigure in a radial direction to accommodate different size and shape wearer heads.

Claim 3

The headwear piece according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable element comprises an inflatable bladder.

Claim 4

The headwear piece according to claim 2 including a band on the crown with a surface for embracing the head of an individual wearing said headwear piece, wherein said band consists of first and second layers and the inflatable element resides between the first and second band layers.

Claim 5

The headwear piece according to claim 2 wherein the bladder defines a ring shape that extends through 360° for substantially entirely surrounding the head of a wearer.

Claim 6

The headwear piece according to claim 2 wherein said bladder is made from a rubber material.

Claim 7

The headwear piece according to claim 2 wherein said bladder is made from a latex material.

Claim 8

The headwear piece according to claim 2 wherein said bladder is sewn to at least one of the crown and band.

Claim 9

The headwear piece according to claim 2 wherein said bladder has a width of approximately 3/4 inch.

Claim 10

The headwear piece according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable element comprises a curved, inflatable bladder, said bladder defining a ring shape extending through approximately 360° to substantially entirely surround a wearer's head with the headwear piece in place on the wearer's head.

Claim 11

The headwear piece according to claim 1 including a pump means for inflating the inflatable element and means for attaching the pump means to said crown.

Claim 12

The headwear piece according to claim 10 including means for attaching the pump means integrally to the crown.

Claim 13

The headwear piece according to claim 1 including means in addition to said inflatable element for varying the first effective diameter.

Claim 14

The headwear piece according to claim 1 wherein said crown has a bottom edge, there is a band on said crown, and said band is connected to said crown adjacent to said bottom edge and folded inside of a space bounded by said crown.

Claim 15

The headwear piece according to claim 3 wherein said crown has an inside surface, the band is connected to said crown and the inflatable element comprises a bladder residing at least partially between the inside crown surface and at least a part of the band.

Claim 16

The headwear piece according to claim 1 including a valve means on said inflatable means for selectively inflating and deflating said inflatable element.

Claim 17

The headwear piece according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable element comprises a bladder and the bladder includes a one-way valve means for introducing a fluid into the bladder to effect inflation thereof.

Claim 18

The headwear piece according to claim 1 wherein said headwear piece comprises a baseball-type cap with a bill connected to said crown.

Claim 19

A headwear piece comprising: an inverted cup-shaped crown for placement over the head of a wearer, said crown being made from a collapsible material such as cloth and having an outer surface; a bill/visor connected to the crown; a sweat band on the crown with a surface for embracing the head of an individual wearing said headwear piece, said sweat band surface having a first, effective diameter to fit a predetermined head size; an inflatable bladder; means for attaching the inflatable bladder to at least one of the crown and sweat band so that the bladder resides between the sweat band and the crown, said inflatable bladder having an arcuate configuration for conforming to the shape of a user's head and extending through an arc of at least 180°; and means for selectively inflating the bladder with a fluid and deflating the bladder to alter the effective diameter of the sweat band surface, said inflatable bladder being arranged against the flexible crown so that both the inflatable bladder and outer crown surface can reconfigure in a radial direction to accommodate different size and shape wearer heads.

Claim 20

A headwear piece comprising: an inverted cup-shaped crown for placement over the head of a wearer, said crown being made from a collapsible material such as cloth and having an outer surface; a bill/visor connected to the crown; a sweat band on the crown with a surface for embracing the head of an individual wearing said headwear piece, said sweat band surface having a first, effective diameter to fit a predetermined head size; an inflatable bladder; means for attaching the inflatable bladder to at least one of the crown and sweat band so that the bladder resides between the sweat band and the crown, said inflatable bladder having an arcuate configuration for conforming to the shape of a user's head and extending through an arc of at least 180°; and means for selectively inflating the bladder with a fluid and deflating the bladder to alter the effective diameter of the sweat band surface, said inflatable bladder being arranged against the flexible crown so that both the inflatable bladder and outer crown surface can reconfigure in a radial direction to accommodate different size and shape wearer heads.

Claim 21

The headwear piece according to claim 18 in combination with a pump means for inflating the bladder and means for integrally connecting the pump means to at least one of the crown and sweat band.

Claim 22

The headwear piece according to claim 18 wherein the sweat band comprises a cloth material.

Claim 23

A headwear piece comprising: a crown defining an opening for reception of the head of a wearer, said crown having at least a part thereof made from flexible material that extends around the head of the wearer with the headwear piece in place on a wearer's head and defines a crown opening with a first effective diameter, said crown having an outer surface defined at least partially by said flexible part; a resilient, expandable bladder for reception of a fluid; and means for connecting the resilient bladder to the crown at the flexible part thereof so that with the bladder filled with a first quantity of fluid the bladder and flexible crown part cooperatively define a crown opening with a second effective diameter and with the bladder filled with a quantity of fluid greater than said first quantity, the bladder and flexible crown part cooperatively define a crown opening with a third effective diameter that is smaller than the second effective diameter, whereby a wearer's head extending through the crown opening is surrounded and cushioned by both the flexible crown part and the bladder, said crown outer surface and bladder both being able to reconfigure in a radial direction to accommodate different size and shape wearer heads.

Claim 24

A headwear piece comprising: a crown defining an opening for reception of the head of a wearer, said crown having at least a part thereof made from flexible material that extends around the head of the wearer with the headwear piece in place on a wearer's head and defines a crown opening with a first effective diameter, said crown having an outer surface defined at least partially by said flexible part; a resilient, expandable bladder for reception of a fluid; and means for connecting the resilient bladder to the crown at the flexible part thereof so that with the bladder filled with a first quantity of fluid the bladder and flexible crown part cooperatively define a crown opening with a second effective diameter and with the bladder filled with a quantity of fluid greater than said first quantity, the bladder and flexible crown part cooperatively define a crown opening with a third effective diameter that is smaller than the second effective diameter, whereby a wearer's head extending through the crown opening is surrounded and cushioned by both the flexible crown part and the bladder, said crown outer surface and bladder both being able to reconfigure in a radial direction to accommodate different size and shape wearer heads.

Claim 25

The headwear piece of claim 21 in combination with a pump means for directing fluid into the bladder and means for integrally connecting the pump means to the crown so that a wearer can adjust the crown size with the crown in place on a wearer's head.