Cap or hat decoration system and method

Abstract

Embodiments include a cap or hat decoration method by providing a press including a lower platen and upper platen, and coupling a pad to the lower platen, where the pad is dimensioned based on one or more dimensions of the cap or hat, and positioning the cap or hat onto at least a portion of the pad. Further, the method includes positioning at least one decoration onto at least a portion of the cap or hat, where the at least one decoration includes a heat-activated adhesive, and heating and compressing the decoration onto the cap or hat by compressing the cap or hat and decoration between the lower platen and upper platen.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cap or hat decoration method using a heat press, comprising:
 providing a press including a lower platen with two opposing side edges, a front edge, and a rear edge opposing the front edge, and an upper platen;   coupling a pad, having a portion with at least one convex outer surface of a conformable flexible or compressible polymer, with an internal wall formed on, and disposed in a substantially perpendicular configuration to, an inner surface of the pad opposing the at least one convex outer surface, and being dimensioned based on one or more dimensions of the cap or hat, coupling the pad to the lower platen with the internal wall placed against and below the front edge of the lower platen and the portion with the at least one convex outer surface of the conformable flexible or compressible polymer extending beyond and below the front edge of the lower platen;   positioning the cap or hat onto at least a portion of the pad;   positioning at least one decoration onto at least a portion of the cap or hat, the at least one decoration including a heat-activated adhesive; and   heating and compressing the decoration onto the cap or hat by compressing the cap or hat and decoration between the lower platen and the upper platen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pad entirely comprises a flexible or compressible polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pad comprises a silicone polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap or hat comprises at least one concave inner surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compressing of the decoration onto the cap or hat comprises a compression time of between about 10 seconds and 45 seconds. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the lower platen and upper platen are heated to a temperature that enables the decoration to reach a temperature of between 230° F. and 360° F. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the lower platen and upper platen are heated to a temperature that enables the decoration to reach a temperature of between 380° F. and 430° F. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compressing of the decoration onto the cap or hat uses a compression force of between 20 lbs. to 80 lbs. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pad includes an inner edge positioned between a first and second portion of the pad. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pad includes an extension extending from one end of the pad, the extension configured and arranged to position a sweat band of the cap or hat. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lower platen is convex, and the upper platen is concave. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one decoration comprises at least one of a label, decal, insignia, mark, and marker. 
     
     
         13 . A good processing method using a heat press, comprising:
 determining one or more dimensions of a good;   preparing a mold model using the one or more good dimensions;   preparing a mold based on the mold model;   preparing providing at least a first pad using the mold, the first pad having a portion with at least one convex outer surface of a conformable flexible or compressible polymer, with an internal wall formed on, and disposed in a substantially perpendicular configuration to, an inner surface of the first pad opposing the at least one convex outer surface, and being dimensioned based on one or more dimensions of the good transferred by the mold;   providing a press including a lower platen with two opposing side edges, a front edge, and a rear edge opposing the front edge, and an upper platen;   positioning the at least the first pad over the lower platen with the internal wall placed against and below the front edge of the lower platen and the portion with the at least one convex outer surface of the conformable flexible or compressible polymer extending beyond and below the front edge of the lower platen;   positioning the good onto at least a portion of the first pad;   positioning at least one decoration onto at least a portion of the good, the at least one decoration including a heat-activated adhesive; and   heating and compressing the decoration onto the good by compressing the good and decoration between the lower platen and the upper platen, wherein at least one of the lower or the upper platen is heated.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the lower platen is convex, and the upper platen is concave, and the pad comprises at least one concave inner surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pad entirely comprises a flexible or compressible polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pad includes an inner edge positioned between a first and second portion of the pad, and further includes an extension extending from one end of the pad, the extension configured and arranged to position a sweat band of the good. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the lower platen and upper platen are heated to a temperature of a range selected from ranges 230° F. to 360° F., and 380° F. to 430° F., and 340° F. to 365° F. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the compressing of the decoration onto the good comprises a compression time of between about 10 seconds and 45 seconds. 
     
     
       19. A heat press, comprising:
 a lower platen with a first edge, a second edge opposing the first edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge opposing the third edge;   an upper platen; and   a pad having i) a portion with at least one convex outer surface of a conformable flexible or compressible polymer, ii) an inner surface opposing the at least one convex outer surface, and iii) an internal wall formed on and disposed in a substantially perpendicular configuration to the inner surface, the pad coupled to the lower platen with the internal wall placed against the first edge of the lower platen and with the portion of the pad extending beyond and below the first edge of the lower platen;   wherein the upper platen is configured to be lowered against the lower platen for heating or compressing a decoration onto a cap that is positioned on the pad.