Knit hat having integrated sweatband

Abstract

A knit cap having a generally domed knitted crown and a sweatband having front and back arcuate portions attached to an interior surface of the knitted cap by stitching the front arcuate portion of the sweatband to a front portion of the crown, and by further stitching the back arcuate portion of the sweatband to a back portion of the crown, the sweatband having no stitching or other attachment to the crown at first and second side portions of the knitted cap.

1 . A knitted cap, comprising:
 a generally domed knitted crown defining an interior cavity for receiving the head of a user when worn and having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a bottom peripheral edge between said interior surface and said exterior surfaces, and front and back portions;   a sweatband attached to said crown and having opposite outer and inner surfaces, first and second side portions, and front and back portions; and   said front portion of said sweatband fastened to said front portion of said crown and said back portion of said sweatband fastened to said back portion of said crown; and   said sweatband having no attachment to said crown at said first and second side portions.   
     
     
         2 . The knitted cap of  claim 1 , wherein said front portion of said sweatband is longer than said back portion of said sweatband. 
     
     
         3 . The knitted cap of  claim 1 , wherein first and second gaps are formed between said interior surface of said crown and said outer surface of said sweatband at said first and second side portions, said gaps are configured and arranged to receive at least a portion of ears of said user when worn, and said interior surface of said crown covers an outer area of said ears of said user and said sweatband extends between each of said respective ears and said head of said user when worn. 
     
     
         4 . The knitted cap of  claim 1 , wherein first and second gaps are formed between said interior surface of said cap and said outer surface of said sweatband at said first and second side portions, and said first and second gaps are fastened to said crown along respective upper portions, thus forming first and second pockets configured to receive first and second ears of said user when worn. 
     
     
         5 . The knitted cap of  claim 1 , wherein said crown and said sweatband are configured such that outer areas of first and second ears of said user may be covered by both said sweatband and said crown when worn by said user. 
     
     
         6 . The knitted cap of  claim 1 , wherein said sweatband is attached such that a bottom perimeter edge of said sweatband is generally adjacent to said bottom peripheral edge of said crown. 
     
     
         7 . The knitted cap of  claim 1 , wherein said sweatband is attached parallel to and spaced from said bottom peripheral edge of said crown such that said bottom peripheral edge can be rolled over upon itself to provide a double thickness along a lower portion of said cap without rolling said sweatband. 
     
     
         8 . The knitted cap of  claim 7 , wherein said double thickness extends up along said exterior surface of said crown such that said bottom peripheral edge of said crown overlaps a top perimeter edge of said sweatband. 
     
     
         9 . The knitted cap of  claim 1 , wherein said sweatband is fixedly attached to said front and back portions of said interior surface of said crown by elastic stitching. 
     
     
         10 . The knitted cap of  claim 9 , wherein said stitching is sewn using a zigzag stitch, and wherein said stitching runs along a top perimeter edge and a bottom perimeter edge of said sweatband. 
     
     
         11 . The knitted cap of  claim 1 , wherein said sweatband comprises an elastic and moisture-wicking material. 
     
     
         12 . The knitted cap of  claim 1 , wherein said sweatband comprises a layer of silicone dots along said inner surface configured such that slippage of said sweatband is reduced. 
     
     
         13 . The knitted cap of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said crown comprises an inner liner having an interior surface, an exterior surface and a bottom peripheral edge between said interior and said exterior surfaces;   said first and second side portions of said sweatband have a narrower width than a width of said front and back portions of said sweatband; and   said sweatband has no attachment to either said knitted crown or said liner at said first and second side portions.   
     
     
         14 . The knitted cap of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second side portions extend between said interior surface of said crown and said exterior surface of said liner. 
     
     
         15 . The knitted cap of  claim 14 , wherein said first and second side portions are configured and arranged to align with ears of said user when worn, and an ear overlaying portion of said interior surface of said liner will cover an outer area of said ears of said user when worn. 
     
     
         16 . The knitted cap of  claim 13 , wherein a bottom perimeter edge of said front and back portions of said sweatband is fastened to said crown and a top perimeter edge of said front and back portions of said sweatband is fastened said liner and not fastened to said crown. 
     
     
         17 . The knitted cap of  claim 16 , wherein said bottom perimeter edge of said front and back portions of said sweatband are fastened to said crown by elastic stitching and said top perimeter edge of said front and back portions of said sweatband are fastened to said liner by elastic stitching. 
     
     
         18 . The knitted cap of  claim 17 , wherein said stitching is sewn using a zigzag stitch. 
     
     
         19 . The knitted cap of  claim 13 , wherein said sweatband is attached such that a bottom perimeter edge of said front and back portions of said sweatband is generally adjacent to said bottom peripheral edge of said liner. 
     
     
         20 . The knitted cap of  claim 19 , wherein said sweatband is attached parallel to and spaced from said bottom peripheral edge of said crown such that said bottom peripheral edge can be rolled over upon itself to provide a double thickness along a lower portion of said cap without rolling either said sweatband or said liner. 
     
     
         21 . The knitted cap of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second side portions of said sweatband comprise a notch in a bottom perimeter edge of said sweatband. 
     
     
         22 . The knitted cap of  claim 13 , wherein said crown, said sweatband and said liner are configured such that outer areas of first and second ears of said user may be covered by layers of said liner, said sweatband and said crown when worn by said user. 
     
     
         23 . The knitted cap of  claim 13 , wherein said liner comprises a moisture-wicking material.