Hat with an improved sweat band

Abstract

A hat is provided having a crown member made of stretchable uniform fabric material and a sweat band connected along the lower edge of the interior surface of the crown member. The sweat band is formed of a single sheet of fabric material wrapped over a single sheet of padding material. The single sheet of fabric material does not completely enclose the sheet of padding material, and a portion of the sheet of padding material must be exposed along the circumference of the sweat band.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hat comprising: 
 a crown member having exterior and interior surfaces, a front portion, and a circumferential lower edge;    a sweat band connected circumferentially along the lower edge of said crown member, said sweatband comprising a single sheet of stretchable fabric material folded over a single sheet of expandable padding material, said sweat band being stretchable in both the horizontal and vertical directions.    
     
     
         2 . A hat as described in  claim 1  wherein said padding material is made of foam-like fabric material.  
     
     
         3 . A hat as described in  claim 1  wherein said single sheet of fabric material has a first edge and a second edge, said fabric material being folded over and stitched onto said padding material in a manner allowing the first edge and second edge to remain loose and unattached to the padding material and allowing a portion of the padding material to remain exposed.  
     
     
         4 . A hat as described in  claim 3  wherein a portion of the padding material is exposed in a strip which extends circumferentially around the sweat band.  
     
     
         5 . A hat as described in  claim 1  further comprising a brim extending from said front portion of said crown member.  
     
     
         6 . A hat as described in  claim 1  wherein the material forming the crown portion allows the crown to stretch both circumferentially and diagonally.  
     
     
         7 . A hat comprising: 
 a hemispherical crown member having exterior and interior surfaces, a front portion, and a circumferential lower edge;    a sweat band connected circumferentially along the lower edge of the interior surface of said crown member, said sweatband comprising a single sheet of stretchable fabric material having a first edge and a second edge, said sheet of fabric material being folded over a single sheet of expandable padding material having a front side and a back side, said sheet of fabric material being stitched to said padding material so that the front side of the padding material is completely covered but a portion of the back side of the padding material remains exposed as said first edge and second edge remain detached from said padding material; and,    said sweat band being stretchable in both the horizontal and vertical directions.    
     
     
         8 . A hat as described in  claim 7  wherein said padding material is made of foam-like fabric material.  
     
     
         9 . A hat as described in  claim 7  further comprising a brim extending from said front portion of said crown member.  
     
     
         10 . A hat as described in  claim 7  wherein the material forming the crown portion allows the crown to stretch both circumferentially and diagonally.  
     
     
         11 . A hat as described in  claim 7  wherein a portion of the padding material is exposed in a strip which extends circumferentially around the sweat band.