Baseball-style cap attachable brim

Abstract

A brim extender attaches to any standard baseball-style cap and may provide one or more functions, such as (1) extending sun protection along the sides and posterior portion of the hat, (2) changing the style and appearance of the hat, (3) providing a new promotional item (e.g., a new thing that can be labeled, colored, or styled to market a brand), and/or (4) providing an added barrier between the head and the crown of the cap to shield or partially shield the cap from perspiration and other substances coming from the scalp or hair.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brim extender comprising a substrate having:
 a front portion and a rear portion defining a central aperture sized to receive a crown portion of a baseball cap;   an attachment tab extending from the rear portion into the central aperture;   an attachment slit extending through the rear portion of the flexible substrate, the attachment slit sized and positioned to allow a portion of the attachment tab to pass therethrough; and   one or more tabs on the front portion of the flexible substrate, the tabs configured to stabilize the brim extender upon the baseball cap.   
     
     
         2 . The brim extender of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment tab includes an expanded portion that is wider than the attachment slit. 
     
     
         3 . The brim extender of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-stick backing material on each of the one or more tabs, the backing material configured for removal so that an adhesive material on the one or more tabs is exposed. 
     
     
         4 . A brim extender comprising a substrate material having:
 a front portion and a rear portion defining a central aperture sized to receive a crown portion of a baseball cap, wherein the front portion rests on a bill of the baseball cap when the crown portion extends through the central aperture;   a plurality of tabs extending into the central aperture, the tabs configured for compression between a head of an individual and an inner surface of the crown portion of the baseball cap.   
     
     
         5 . The brim extender of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of tabs are spaced apart by openings. 
     
     
         6 . The brim extender of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a slit through the front portion of the baseball cap sized to receive the bill of the baseball cap.   
     
     
         7 . The brim extender of  claim 1 , wherein the brim extender is configured for attachment to the baseball cap without sewing onto the baseball cap and without a separate clip, string, or other attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The brim extender of  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic band sewn or bonded to the substate about the central aperture. 
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing brim extenders comprising:
 providing a machine configured to receive a substrate material and automatically cut a plurality of brim extenders from the substate material, each of the brim extenders having:
 a front portion and a rear portion defining a central aperture sized to receive a crown portion of a baseball cap; 
 an attachment tab extending from the rear portion into the central aperture; 
 an attachment slit extending through the rear portion of the flexible substrate, the attachment slit sized and positioned to allow a portion of the attachment tab to pass therethrough; and 
 one or more tabs on the front portion of the flexible substrate, the tabs configured to stabilize the brim extender upon the baseball cap. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the brim extenders are cut from a single sheet of the substate material without requiring sewing or bonding after cutting. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the substrate material comprises foam or neoprene. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more tabs are configured to be bonded to an undersurface of brims of baseball caps. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the brim extenders are configured for attachment to baseball caps without sewing onto the baseball caps and without a separate clip, string, or other attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . A brim extender comprising a substrate having:
 a first layer comprising a substantially stiff backing material, the first layer having a first central aperture size to receive a crown portion of a baseball cap;   a second layer comprising an elastic fabric having a second central aperture smaller than the first central aperture;   wherein the first and second layer are bonded or sewn together to form the brim extender that is held in place on the baseball cap at least by the elastic fabric stretching around the crown portion of the baseball cap.   
     
     
         15 . The brim extender of  claim 14 , wherein the second central aperture is substantially oval. 
     
     
         16 . The brim extender of  claim 14 , further comprising an elastic band sewn or bonded along an inner perimeter of one or more of the first and second layers. 
     
     
         17 . The brim extender of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a third layer comprising an elastic fabric, wherein the first layer is bonded between the second and third layers.   
     
     
         18 . The brim extender of  claim 17 , wherein the second and third layers are different color or style, such that the brim extender is reversible. 
     
     
         19 . The brim extender of  claim 14 , wherein the first layer comprises an interfacing fabric or plastic.