Sport/utility cap

Abstract

A sport/utility or outdoor protective cap or hat is made of an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rated elasticated fabric which has the ability to wick moisture from the head of the wearer in addition to protecting the wearer's head covered by the cap from the sun. The cap has a dome-shaped body portion and a lower band or edge trim around the lower periphery of the dome-shaped portion. The lower band is of varying height, with wider or taller side portions to provide at least substantially full coverage for the ears. The dimensions of the cap are selected so that the cap fits closely and comfortably to the wearer's head with little or no rucking.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sport/utility cap, comprising:
 a cap body configured to fit closely over a wearer's head and cover at least a major portion of the wearer's ears;   the cap body being made of an elasticated fabric which is wickable, breathable, and ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rated.   
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap body has a generally dome shaped upper portion having a lower peripheral rim, and a lower peripheral band extending around the lower rim, the lower peripheral band having a front portion configured for extending over a wearer's forehead above the eyes, opposite side portions configured for extending over the sides of a wearer's head, and a rear portion configured for extending over the nape of a wearer's neck, the side portions of the peripheral band at ear covering locations corresponding to a wearer's ears being wider than the remainder of the peripheral band. 
     
     
         3 . The cap of  claim 2 , wherein the peripheral band comprises a double layer of said elasticated fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 2 , wherein the ear covering locations of the peripheral band are of predetermined height configured to cover at least a major portion of a wearer's ears. 
     
     
         5 . The cap of  claim 4 , wherein the ear covering locations have a height in the range from 2.25 inches to 2.50 inches in an unstretched condition of the cap body. 
     
     
         6 . The cap of  claim 5 , wherein the height of the front portion of the peripheral band is approximately 1.75 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The cap of  claim 2 , wherein the total height of the cap body in an unstretched condition is in the range from approximately 7.5 inches to approximately 8.0 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The cap of  claim 7 , wherein the cap body has a circumference around the peripheral band of approximately 19 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the elasticated fabric is made at least partially from recycled material. 
     
     
         10 . The cap of  claim 9 , wherein the recycled material is polyamide. 
     
     
         11 . The cap of  claim 9 , wherein the elasticated fabric includes approximately 65% by weight of recycled material. 
     
     
         12 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the elasticated fabric is UPF rated to at least 50 for both A and B type UV rays. 
     
     
         13 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the elasticated fabric is formed from a composition of polyamide and elastane fabricated to provide UVA and UVA blocking properties. 
     
     
         14 . The cap of  claim 2 , wherein the cap body is formed from multiple pieces of the elasticated fabric material sewn together along seams of flat-seam construction. 
     
     
         15 . The cap of  claim 14 , wherein the peripheral band is sewn to the lower peripheral rim of the cap body along a seam of flat-seam constructions. 
     
     
         16 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap body is formed from one or more single layer pieces of said elasticated fabric material and the peripheral band comprises a double layer of said elasticated fabric material.