GB2274972A - Annular hat insert - Google Patents

Abstract

A prefabricated annular insert for a hat comprises a non-elastic outer rim 10 for tacking to the inside rim of the hat, and an elasticated inner rim 11 for accommodating a range of head sizes. Both rims are enclosed in respective compartments of a fabric covering 12 secured by stitching 13. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS The invention concerns the manufacturing of hats, particularly oversized ladies' hats.

Hats are made in a range of sizes to accommodate different head sizes. This is a source of inconvenience for the retailer who would rather not tie up large amounts of capital in stock but has to hold hats for each of the sizes in the various styles to please his customers. Moreover during the manufacture of the hats there will be process and tool changes associated with each hat size, and the manufacturer would prefer to minimize or eliminate the changes to simplify the manufacturing process and reduce costs.

A known method of overcoming this problem is to provide an oversize hat with an elasticated inner rim. The elastic material is fixed to and loops around the inside rim of the hat, naturally adjusting to the shape of the wearer's head inside the hat and at the same time lightly gripping the head and holding the hat in place. This reduces both the number of sizes of hats needed and the production costs.

Another known method of holding oversized hats in place is a simple draw string sewn into the inner rim. The string requires tightening and fastening either by a knot or toggle to secure the hat in place.

In practice the method using elastic is more convenient.

One problem introduced by an elasticated inner rim is the extra step in the manufacturing process needed to sew the elastic material into the rim. This step demands a skilled machinist to run an even and uniform stitch around the inside rim of the hat and to feed the elasticated rim into place at the same time. The time involved and the cost of the skilled labour is undesirable and the present invention seeks to reduce both of these.

According to the present invention we provide a prefabricated insert of annular shape for use inside a hat, the insert comprising a non elastic outer rim and an elasticated inner rim. One advantage of our insert is that the non-elastic outer rim can be quickly and easily fixed in position within the hat by hand without using skilled labour. Varying head sizes, up to the diameter of the outer rim, can then be accommodated within the inner rim, the force exerted by the elasticated inner rim retaining the hat firmly on the wearer's head.

In a preferred embodiment the insert is a fabric insert, the outer rim incorporating a non-elastic stiffening member and the inner rim incorporating.a band of elastic material. The two ends of the stiffening member can be joined to one another but preferably overlap without being joined such that the outer rim can expand or contract to suit different hat sizes before being tacked in place.

One example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an elevated perspective view of a hat insert with a cut away section, and Figure 2 shows the section 2-2 of figure 1.

The illustrated hat insert comprises an annular casing 12 of flexible fabric material incorporating a stiff outer collar 10 of ribbed nylon mesh material about 1cm width and forming a circle of about 20cm diameter when the ends of the collar are overlapped and/or joined together.

The inner rim of the insert incorporates a band 11 of elastic material about 1cm width and forming a circle of about 14cm inside diameter when its ends are joined together. As shown in Fig 2, the collar 10 and elastic band 11 are retained in respective compartments 14, 15 of the fabric casing 12 so that the plane of the band 11 is normal to the plane of the collar 10.

The compartments 14, 15 are formed by initially draping the fabric casing material 12 so that it completely surrounds the collar 10 and band 11, overlapping the ends of the fabric, and then sewing together the opposed faces of the fabric with two running stitches 13 between the collar 10 and band 11, one very close to the elastic band 11 and restricting its movement out of the plane of the band, and the other close to the collar 10 so that the collar is retained upright.

In this manner the collar can be easily dropped into the hat and tacked to the inside rim using only 4 or 5 tacking stitches.

Claims (12)

1. A prefabricated insert of annular shape for attachment inside a hat, the insert comprising a non-elastic outer rim and an elasticated inner rim whereby, with the non-elastic outer rim attached to the inside -:m of a hat, the elasticated inner r7m accommouates a range of head sizes.

2. An insert according to claim 1 in which the non-elastic outer rim and the elasticated inner rim are encased within respective compartments of a fabric covering.

3. An insert according to claim 2 in which the outer rim comprises a stiff collar of flexible plastics material.

4. An insert according to claim 3 in which the inner rim comprises a band of elastic material.

5. An insert according to claim 4 in which the encased collar and encased elastic band lie in respective planes substantially perpendicular to one another.

6. A hat when fitted with an insert according to any one of the claims 1 - 5.

7. An oversize hat when fitted with an insert according to any one of the claims 1 - 5.

8. A hat according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which the non-elastic outer rim of the insert is tacked to the inside rim of the hat by tacking stitches.

9. An insert for a hat substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been fiied as follows 1. An insert for attachment inside the crown of a hat, the insert being prefabricated as a circular band with a non-elastic outer rim and an elasticated concentric inner rim whereby, in use, the prefabricated band is first inserted into the hat and the outer rim is then attached to the inside crown of the hat, the elasticated inner rim accommodating a range of head sizes.

2. An insert according to claim 1 in which the circumferential length of the non-elastic outer rim is adjustable to fit a range of hat sizes.

3. An insert according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the nonelastic outer rim and the elasticated inner rim are formed by respective non-elastic and elastic members encased within respective compartments of a fabric covering.

4. An insert according to claim 3 in which the non-elastic member comprises a stiff collar of flexible plastics material.

5. An insert according to claim 4 in which the elastic member comprises a band of elastic material.

6. An insert according to claim 5 in which the encased collar and encased elastic band lie in respective planes substantially perpendicular to one another.

7. An insert according to claim 2 and claim 4 in which the encased collar has two overlapping ends, the amount of overlap being adjustable according to the required hat size.

8. A method of adapting a hat to a range of head sizes, the method comprising: prefabricating an insert for the hat, the insert consisting of an annular band with a non-elastic outer rim and a concentric elasticated inner rim; inserting the band into the hat; and tacking the non-elastic outer rim to the inside crown of the hat.

9. A hat when fitted with an insert according to any one of the claims 1 - 7.

10. An oversize hat when fitted with an insert according to any one of the claims 1 - 7.

11. A hat according to claim 9 or claim 10 in which the non-elastic outer rim of the insert is tacked to the inside crown of the hat by tacking stitches.

12. An insert for a hat substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.