US2116082A - Sweat band for hats - Google Patents

Description

May 3, 1938. v G. s.- RADFORD 2,1%,082

' SWEAT BAND FOR HATS Filed Aug. 3o, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 1 "lan um 1%.. I

INVENTOR GEORGE 5.,@ UFO/2D BY k Y, www 1 bw A TTORNE 2 May 3, 19% G. s. RADFQRD uws SWEAT BAND FOR HATS I t 2 Filed Aug. 50,4 1935 2 Sheets Shea INVENTUR GEORGE 5, EAM-oep Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWEAT BAND FOR HATS Application August 30, 1935, Serial No. 38,493

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to sweat bands for hats, particularly sweat bands made of fabric rather than leather, and vto a novel method of producing the same.

This invention, of a radically new type of sweat band, has for its main object the creation of a sweat band which will combine the feature of an unusually accurate head and hat size, and in some embodiments with a new material specially developed for the technical requirements imposed by the new sweat band.

In the present state of the art, the size of the hat is closely approximated by the size of the block used in shaping the hat body, a suitable allowance being made for the space to be occupied by the sweat band. The size is then fixed by the sweat band itself, which is usually a strip of leather, cut to specified length and then sewed in the curved shape or scope appropriate to the hat, in which it is affixed, as by sewing. It is obvious that the dimensio-nal precision of this method is limited by the errors inherent in the process and that there are corresponding variations from standard hat size. Slight errors at the time of cutting or when sewing the ends of the strip make a considerable diiference in the feel and fit of the hat upon the head of a user, and often result in the fit and non-fit of hats even though they are supposedly the same size.

This invention first improves on the conventional sweat band by forming it, in effect molding it, in a continuous oval ring, using accurately machined forming dies.

It is equally obvious that in some forms of the present invention the materials in current use for sweat bands are not suited to such afo-rming process and in fact would utterly fail if so processed. Therefore, the second step in my invention is the creation of a material which is at once adapted to accurate forming and also possessing the qualities of soft flexibility, reasonable 4surface absorption of perspiration in combination with resistance to passage of perspiration to the hat, comfortable feel, fashionable appearance and like characteristics essential to its advantageous use in sweat bands.

Some of these desirable characteristics are accomplishedV according to this invention by a combination of fabric with a modern thermoplastic cement and coating, such as is made of bakelite resins or of glyptal, which are plastic only at temperatures well above those to which hat sweat bands are subjected in normal use.

The fabric may be woven under loose tension,

but is preferably of a tubular knit vor a braided construction to provide the elasticity necessary for processing and for flanging and stretching, although it is not intended to limit the invention to any kind or class of fabric, the process permitting the selection of one suited in all essential economic, technical, and fashion characteristics to the style, weight, and quality of hat in which the sweat band is to be used.

It will be noted that the use of one or more fabrics in combination with a modern thermo-plastic coating and cement, as provided by the present invention, also secures a leather-like consistency, a more or less absorbent surface neXt to the wearers head and a dam-like backing which is unusually inert to perspiration, water, oil, mild alkalis, and acids.

In certain applications of this invention a fur ther advantage accrues in that the same coating may be used to secure the sweat band to the felt, thus doing away with sewing, with its attendant 20 risk of the thread acting as aV wick to carry perspiration through the felt.

'Ihe use of a cloth sweat band for hats has been limited heretofore because it tended to wrinkle, and more particularly because it permitted the passage of sweat very quickly to the hat body and hat band, thereby marring the appearance of the hat, unless careful arrangement was made to back the cloth with a darn. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cloth sweat band for hats which will not wrinkle, and which will be highly impervious to the passage of sweat, moisture, and dust.

This desirable object is accomplished through the provision of a plastic surface impregnation or coating on the hat band which renders it waterproof. In its present preferred form this plastic is in the form of a phenol-formaldehyde or glycerol phthalic anhydride condensation product, and other of the preferably thermally responsive plastics.

According to present methods of manufacture there is sometimes considerable disparity in the sizes of hat sweat bands even though they are supposed to be of a standardized size. For example, a man may gointo a store and ask for a 71A; hat which should t him very well, and find the hat either too small or too large, dependent upon lack of control in the manufacturing process.

It is an important object of the present invention to make a fabric sweat band for hats which will be self supporting; viz., remain in an upright inverted position within the hat, even though the upper end thereof within the hat is free to accommodate a crown lining. And, a complementary object is to have the self-supporting fabric band so that it will not allow perspiration to pass through the sweat band to the hat.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate this common error or weakness in hat construction and to provide sweat bands which will be made positively uniform to the various sizes.

In meeting this object, the present invention provides a process of stretching and setting cloth hat bands to fixed and standardized sizes so that there can be no disparity in the individual runs thereof. In effect, this is accomplished, according to the present processes, by molding the hat sweat band to the desired size.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a cloth sweat band which will be fully waterproof and thereby prevent moisture and sweat from seeping through.

According to the present invention this is accomplished by impregnating or saturating the cloth sweat band with a thermo-plastic, by a suitable surface coating of the thermo-plastic on one or both sides of the fabric, by impregnating or saturating an amount insufficient to render the same waterproof and a suitable coating applied to one or both surfaces of the fabric in order to obtain a waterproof or impervious structure, or by a coating or impregnating of thermoplastic on the cloth band together with a backing strip of rubberized silk or similar waterproof medium.

It is sometimes desirable to provide a hat with a sweat band having the characteristic of absorbing sweat, but of not allowing the sweat to pass to the hat.

This is advantageously accomplished by the present invention through the provision of a sweat band having a cloth or fabric head contacting section with a dam-like backing of thermo-plastic adapted to prevent sweat from seeping fully through the cloth sweat band.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a sweat band dispensing with the usual joint entirely in order to obviate the errors of manufacture when an operator must cut to length, join and sew a band, and to allow placing the sweat band in the hat without concern relative to the location of the joint.

In meeting this object, the present invention provides a sweat band made of a continuous annular ring of fabric. in its preferred form this ring is initially yielding in diameter, and according to the process of the present invention is stretched and set to the wearing size. The sweat band in its preferred form is flexible so that it may follow irregularities on the head of the particular wearer but the circumferential length of the band is fixed and invariable because of the impregnation and/or coating.

In the drawings, wherein thickness and the like are exaggerated for purposes of advantageous illustration:

Figure l is a sectional view of one type of apparatus used to form the sweat bands of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tubular fabric for the single ply sweat band.

Fig. 3 is a top view, similar to Fig. 2, but shows the strip fabric for the single ply sweat band.

Fig. 3A shows the rough fabric band in flat disk form.

Fig. 4 is a top View showing the multiple ply form of sweat band.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the sweat band and illustrates its various sizes.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the single ply sweat band of the present invention, made of tubular fabric.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View of a single ply sweat band made of strip material.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the single ply sweat band shown in Figs. 6 and '7, with a backing.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the two ply sweat band.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the two ply sweat band with a thermo-plastic interponent.

Fig. 11 is a sectional View of the multiple ply sweat band.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of a double ply fabric sweat band with interponents.

Fig. 13 shows the single ply sweat band and shows the customary stitching for securing it to a hat.

Fig. 14 shows the single ply sweat band, but with a super-imposed thermo-plastic securing it to both the brim and crown sections of a hat.

Fig. 15 shows a multiple ply sweat band and superimposed thermo-plastic securing it to the hat.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary top view of the lap joint for connecting the ends of the single ply strip form of sweat band.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary top view of the two ply joint.

The present invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated and described herein, for the invention is capable of other embodiments in whole or part, and the phraseology used is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now in detail to the drawings which illustrate the present preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be noted that in general two methods and forms of structure are provided, viz.: impervious in one form as by impregnating the band or by surface treating the inner face thereof, whereby a leather like feel is imparted to the fabric band, and semi-pervious in the other form as by surface treating the back of the band or by otherwise providing a dam like backing so that the fabric band has a soft silky feel and somewhat absorbent characteristics.

The sweat band 20A, shown in Fig. 6, preferably comprises a base member 2D in the form of a unitary or seamless rough fabric band of tubular shape, as shown in Fig. 2, so made either by felting, weaving, or knitting. Preferably, it is made from cellulose acetate, or other synthetic yarn, so that it can be rendered plastic or semi-plastic when subjected to heat and pressure. It is preferred that the band be continuous in order that lapping and securing ends of a strip may be obviated. The band 20 may be woven to short lengths, or may be of a long tubular shape and cut to individual short lengths. Also, the band is preferably knit so that the weft threads yield readily in order to stretch to various diameters. Preferably the warp threads do not yield, in order to maintain the length of tube or width of strip properly while forming the band to various diameters.

If preferred, the rough fabric band may be in the form of a continuous at annular disk 2Gb as shown in Fig. 3A, of pressed, knit, or woven material. However, since less stretching is required, a sleeve-like band such as shown in Fig. 2 is preferred.

While the band of fibrous material may be knitted, Woven, or felted to the desired final size,

it is clear that such a procedure would render it necessary to have base bands for each hat size made. It is preferred from a manufacturing standpoint to form the band to a rough size smaller than the smallest head size, and to stretch the base band to a given head size in a suitable die or mold. In this way several head sizes may be made from a given size of rough band, reducing the number of sizes of rough bands necessary. Also, by stretching and setting a small band to a given larger size, the normal circumferential yield of the initially formed fabric may be taken up so that the nal and formed sweat band maintains the desired size.

Accordingly, in its rough or preliminary state, shown in Fig. 2, the band is preferably smaller than the fabricated size, so that it must be stretched and can be made to take a dei-mite set. In one form the rough band 20 is formed without impregnation or surface treatment. For example, when the band is made of cellulose acetate, or the like, the individual bres thereof are capable of elongation so that they may be stretched and set. Also, rbecause such bands and the fibres thereof contain a certain amount of water or moisture, they are rendered plastic or semi-plastic, especially when subjected to heat and pressure to the desired degree. Such band is placed in a suitable forming apparatus (e. g., apparatus 2| shown in Fig. l) to be stretched and set (and preferably dried somewhat in the forming apparatus) to a predetermined shape and size, whereupon it is ready for' use in hats. This stretched and set fabric band may alone be secured within a hat in any of the now well known ways, or it` may be provided with a strip of `moisture impervious'backing and then secured to the hat.

Preferably this forming is done by both stretching and pressing so that the individual fibres 22 in the fabric will, while in plastic state, be pressed together to set and lock together and thereby better maintain the fabricated size. The forming is also preferably done with heat to liberate the moisture in the bres of the fabric and thereby render the fibres plastic or semi-plastic, and by evaporating the moisture render the fabric less capable of elongation after the band is formed.

i The heating also effects a better bonding or set between the individual fibres at the points where they are pressed together.

By stretching the band 28A and setting the fibres 22, a greater rigidity is imparted to the band s-o that it will be self supporting within the hat and have a neat finished appearance at all times, rather than soft to the possible extent of loosely falling down from, or out of, the hat of its own weight. Also, sufficient rigidity is imparted thereto to prevent the band from pulling out of the inside of the crown when a user removes the hat from his head.

One type of apparatus to so form the sweat band is illustrated in Fig. l, although it will be understood that other forms of apparatus may also be used. This apparatus includes an expansible member 23 and asizing member 24 mounted for relative movement, as by pillar posts 25 and moving mechanism 26 in any suitable press 2l.- The members 23 and 24 are preferably each provided with chambers 28 and 29 respectively connected to a two-way inlet valve 3l! and two inlet lines 3| and 32, and also to an outlet line 33 and valve 34. The expansible member 23 is held in a retracted or small condition by a spring 35, while the studs 36 engaging a rib 31 tends to centralize it relative to the sizing member 24.

An operator merely places the rough band 2|] upon the expansible member 23 and then spreads a lower section thereof to a ring 38 when a ange 39 is to be formed. This ange 39 may be of a smaller size or may be omitted entirely as shown by dot and dash lines 39 if preferred. After the rough band is properly located on the expanding member 23, the sizing member 24 is moved to the lowered position. Thereafter, the outlet valve 34 is closed and the inlet valve 30 is connected to the steamor hot water line 32 in order to fill the chambers 23 and 29 and concurrently expand the member 23 as pressure builds up in the latter to move the parts 23a and 23h away from each other against the tension of the spring 35.

Any desired degree of heat and pressure may be introduced, dependent upon the materials used, the degree of inherent or applied moisture im pregnation in the fabric, and the final result desired. A recessed section 24 and a smaller diameter 4U adapted to engage with the upper section of the member 23 may also be used to limit the extent the fibres 22 are pressed into each other, thereby insuring a uniform result. The fixed size of the member 24 absolutely insures a uniform` diameter of the formed band 20A.

The forming apparatus may be shaped to give any desired contour and size to the sweat band. Fig. 5 illustrates how one band may be stretched and set to various larger sizes.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the present invention provides a novel sweat band 28A made from a one piece fabric in tubular form stretched and set to a predetermined size, yet flexible or pliable toconform with the shape of the head, but comparatively unelastic in its diameter, and provides a novel method of producing the same in a uniform and economical manner.

By superposing two rough bands 2t, similar to the rough band shown in Fig, 2, it is possible to form the two ply sweat band 25B shown in Fig. 9.

This is accomplished by placing one band 2G within another and then following the same steps outlined relative to the one ply band 20A. A two ply band of this type nds favor where it is desired to have a hat band more rigid than the single ply band 29A, of Fig. 6. If preferred, this two ply band may be secured together at the edges 4I by a line of stitching 43. However, this is not necessary since the fibres 22 of the one band may be pressed into and set relative to the fibres in the other band sufciently to maintain the bands in superposed relation. The burnishing or the stitching may be used for ornamentation or to impart a more finished appearance to the edge of the band.

A band 20C may also be similarly formed from a long strip of fabric 20', made of cellule-se acetate or other fabric, by connecting the ends the-reof'by a joint 4.4, secured by any suitable adhesive or by stitching 45. Preferably, this is also made in the form of a rough band of smaller diameter than any fabricated size. In forming it into a sweat band the previously outlined steps for the band 2BA are followed.

Thermoeplastc very desirable, they are not fully impervious to perspiration. Accordingly, an improved or preferable form of the present invention consists of forming a sweat band 20D (like the band 2BA, impregnated as described hereinafter) by treating the rough band 2S with a plastic 45. This plastic is preferably any of the well known synthetic resins such as phenol formaldehyde condensation products or bakelite, the glycerolphthalic anhydride or glyptal resins, urea-formaldehyde, aromatic amine formaldehyde, or vinyl resins.

This treatment may be accomplished by a complete immersion, spraying, brushing, or the like of the fabric band with the plastic in liquid, powder or paste form, in order to effect a substantially complete impregnation between the fibres of the fabric. If the plastic contains evaporating agents it may be applied to the band 20A after the hereinbefore mentioned process of forming, to make the band 29D, and to thereby render the band more self supporting, prevent stretching, and make it impervious to perspiration. However, the plastics are preferably thermally responsive and are applied previously to the forming.

After treatment with plastic 45', the rough band 20 is placed in the forming apparatus 2l to be stretched, formed, and set to the desired shape and size to form band 29D with a plastic 45 in the same manner as the band 2BA. The stretched and impregnated band is subjected to heat and pressure to convert the impregnant to its hard and infusible A stage, or to a somewhat fusible B stage, the latter being such that it will be affected only by temperatures well above those of a body and above those experienced within a hat.

Heat and pressure of desired degree may be admitted through the line 32 and valve 30 while the valve 34 is closed to effect the proper form and 'cure of the plastic associated with the cloth band. Temperatures above 180 have been found most satisfactory with the hereinbefore mentioned thermo-plastics. When this has been effected the valve 34 may be slightly opened, the steam line 32 closed, and the line 3i of cold water, refrigerant, or the like opened to cool the band and thereby more quickly set the plastic, and speed the time in which the band may be removed.

During the stretching and/or molding period it is possible to form a flange 39 if desired at the bottom of the band whereby the completed band may be axed to the hat body.

This form of sweat band has the advantage of preventing moisture, dust, body acids, and the like from seeping through the sweat band and thereby prevents these elements from passing through the hat or to the outer hat band to spoil the appearance thereof. This is always a very real problem in hats. Heretofore one of the most effective means of preventing this adverse condition has been to provide a separate water resistant backing strip. However, this entailed the use of other mediums to hold the backing strip to the sweat leather. Usually this medium was stitching, which in turn adversely vformed wicks conducting sweat and moisture to the hat, thereby defeating the purpose, or at least minimizing the advantage of the backing strip. Also, rubber which is usually used in such backing strips deteriorates quickly, has a comparatively short life, and is quickly affected by body acids and the like.

The plastic 45', such as a compound of phenol resin or the like used in the present invention, does not deteriorate quickly and is not affected by mild chemicals and body acids. t is thoroughly waterproof and while it is suitably flexible or pliable to permit the band to conform to slight differences in head shapes, it effectively prevents elongation and prevents the band from stretching to a larger size. It also has the advantage of maintaining the fabric in an upright and smooth condition within the hat, at all times.

When the plastic has been cured and set in the fabric, it in effect changes the fabric from a yielding band to a non-yielding band, for it binds the individual bres, one to the other, wherever they engage, and in effect forms a long strip of set plastic incapable of elongation, yet flexible enough to conform with round, oval, and other shaped heads.

When the fabric band 2U is so prepared, with a complete immersion or complete covering of the plastic, leather-like physical characteristics such as stiffness are imparted to the cloth. Also, when it is completely impregnated, a leather-like feel is imparted thereto which is desired by some people.

However, by applying the plastic only on the back thereof, similarly to the band 20E with a backing 45, shown in Fig. 8, the inside or head contacting face thereof is left with a soft silky feel which may be desired by some people. This construction also allows the cloth to absorb a certain amount of sweat and moisture from the head of the user, while the backing 46 functions as a dam to prevent the same from seeping therethrough to the hat or outside hat band to discolor and mar the appearance of the hat.

The dam-like backing 45 illustrated in Fig. 8 and the impregnation with plastic 45 described in connection with Fig. 6 may be similarly applied with the strip bands 2E] and 20C illustrated in the Figs. 3 and 'l respectively. Such impregnation or backing strengthens the joint 44 at the ends of the strip so that there is very little likelihood that lthe joint will ever become separated, and makes it possible to dispense with the stitching 45 if desired.

In passing, too, it should be noted that the plastics 45 and 46 may be in the form of a solution, powder, or paste variously applied to the bands, or it may -even be in the form of a separate strip of plastic material laid upon the fabric and then pressed into the fabric. Also, it should be noted that regardless of the way the plastic is applied, and whether or not heat and pressure is used, it is the fundamental intent of the present process to stretch and set the fabric to a predetermined size, to render the band impervious to the passage of perspiration, and to maintain the sweat band in the predetermined size by the use of the plastic.

Specific descriptions thereof are now given:

A band of fabric 20 was immersed in an alcoholic solution of a partial condensation product of phenol and formaldehyde 45. Th-e band was then applied to dies 23 and 24 and stretched to the desired size. Heat, preferably above 180 degrees, and pressure in sufficient degree were then applied to convert the resin to its final infusible form. The ,resultant band was substantially waterproof and because of the presence of the artificial resin in and on the fibres the product was unaffected by alkalis, acids, or any of the ordinary organic solvents.

The above procedure can be modified in various ways. For example, the resin could be applied to the fabric base in the form of a varnish. The polymerization of the varnish to a hard final product could be accelerated and the final product improved by stretching, and the application of heat and pressure.

Also, the impregnated bands produced by either of thek above procedures could be processed in various ways. Powdered partial condensation product in what is termed the B stage could be applied to one or both sides of the impregnated base. Subsequent application of heat and pressure will complete the condensation of the coating of the powdered resin as well as the impregnant producing a band having a higher gloss on its surface, of superior waterproofness because of the lm or surface layer of condensation product, improved rigidity or self supporting characteristics, resistance to stretching, and the like.

Obviously a wide variety of characteristics may be imparted to the` sweat band by omitting or controlling the degree of impregnation or saturation of the base member and b-y regulating the thickness of the surface lm applied to one orV both sides of the fabric band.

It is to be understood that the use of resins other than the phenol-formaldehyde resins comes within the scope of my invention. Such other resins are the glyptal resins, vinyl resins, .aro-matic amine -formaldehyda or ur-ea formaldehyde resins. Variations necessary in the manufacture of sweat bands, using such other resins such as character of precipitant, temperature of drying or temperature and pressure of molding are only such as readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art knowing the properties of the several resins.

Figs. 9 and l0 illustrate sweat bands 20F and 20G made with two plies of fabric 20 and/or 20', as when it is desired to have the head band 20 or inner section of soft, thin silk. In the drawings the thickness is exaggerated to facilitate illustrating.` In order to adequately support the soft silk head cloth, an outer band 2lia is provided in the form of a stiffening strip of less expensive material.

The band 20F shown in Fig. 9 includes a backing band impregnated or otherwise treated with thermo-plastic 45', as described in connection with the band 20D, enough to stick to the head band 20 during the shaping operation. Accordingly, with this form of the invention, the impreghated backing member is secured to Vthe head band with the thermo-plastic in the apparatus 2l for example, and at the same time serves as a dam-like backing member to prevent sweat from reaching the hat.

Fig. 10 illustrates the sweat band 20G, made with a fabric head band .20 of costly material and a fabric backing strip 20a of inexpensive material with an interponent 46 of thermo-plastic therebetween uniting the two bands and at the same time serving as a dam to prevent sweat passing to the hat. In both forms (Fig. 9 and Fig. 10) the various plies are preferably secured together bythe plastic and formed by stretching and pressing in the apparatus 2i described hereinbefore.

Similarly, the thermo-plastic backing 46 or impregnation 45 may be used to secure a rubberized or other water-proof strip 41 on the back of a fabric head band 20 as illustrated in Fig. 11 to make the sweat band 201.

When it is desired to have an extra heavy sweat band and one impervious to moisture, such as the band 20H, according to the present invention this is accomplished by providing a composite sweat Vband including a head cloth 20 or 20 with a thermo-plastic backing 46 for securing a rubberized or similar backing strip 4l thereto and a supplemental backing fabric, or by using the band 2BA, preferably impregnated with thermoplastic and Vsecured thereby to the rubberized or like backing member.

Multiple ply sweat bands of the type just described may be made either with the continuous annular cloth bands 2) hereinbefore described in detail, in which no joint is required, or one or more thereof may be made from strips 2B'V with lap joints t4 of the type illustrated in Figs. 7 and i6, (see Fig. 4) or with the butt joints shown in Fig. i7 wherein the side walls of the various bands serve as joints at the places where the butt ends of adjacent bands come together.

Although the composite sweat bands are preferably made so that the thermo-plastic effectively bonds the various plies of the band together, this is not absolutely essential, for it is within the purview of the present invention to mold the basic ply 25 to the given or desired size as described hereinbefore, and to iix supplemental plies thereto subsequently on the top and/or bottom edges 4l and 42 respectively, as illustrated by the zigzag line of overedge stitching 43 in Figi. 9;

The various forms of sweat band just described in detail may be secured to the hat by a line of stitching 50, see Fig. 13, or any of the other now well known methods of securing the same. I-Iowever, a` particularly novel means of securing the sweat band is provided by the present invention. The thermo-plastic impregnation 45', or the backing 46 itself may be used to effectively cement or secure the sweat band .to the hat if they are of the B stage type, to flux and stick to the hat with the application of heat, thus dispensing with the slow and costly operation of sewing the sweat band to the hat. The binder 45 may be used to secure the band to the hat as shown at C in Fig. 13, when suitable heat and pressure is applied (heat or more).

Similarly, the' band may be secured to the hat by providing a supplementary band of thermoplastic 4B either adjacent the crown section of the hat as at a, or adjacent the brim section of the hat as at b in Fig. 1li, or at both locations if desired. Application of suitable heat and pressure secures the bands 48 to the hat. This structure for securing the band to the hat has the advantage of dispensing entirely with the line of stitching and thereby obviates the likelihood of threads serving as wicks to carry sweat from the head or sweat band to the hat itself.

All of the bands hereinbefore described may be provided with a flange 39, or other deformation, or may be left straight as shown by the dot and dash lines 39' similar to the disclosure in Fig. 6.

Other variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention and portions of the invention may be used without others.

I-Iaving thus described the present invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent is;

1. The method of making fabric sweat bands for hats which consists in stretching a fabric band to a denite predetermined size; and of setting said band with a binder in the stretched size.

2. The method of making fabric sweat bands for hats which consists of forming a tubular band of diameter smaller than the nal size; impregnating the fabric band with a plastic binder; stretching and drying the band to an expanded predetermined and nal size.

3. The method of making fabric sweat bands for hats which consists of forming a tubular band of diameter smaller than the final size; impregnating the fabric band with a plastic binder; stretching the' band to an expanded nal size; and applying heat and cold to set the band to the final size.

4. 'I'he method of making a fabric sweat band for hats which consists of forming a tubular fabric band, of a diameter smaller than the final size; stretching the band to an expanded predetermined size; and of treating the band with a thermo-plastic resin to maintain the band in its expanded size and to render it impervious to the passage of moisture.

5. The method of making a composite fabric sweat band for hats which consists of forming a multiple ply tubular fabric band, of a diameter smaller than the final size; stretching the bands to an expanded predetermined size; and of treating the bands with a thermo-plastic substance to maintain the band in its expanded size and to render it impervious to the passage of moisture.

6. A sweatband for hats comprising an annular cloth band stretched to a predetermined size; and a plastic set to bind and lock the individual fibres of the stretched cloth together where they engage and thereby maintain the cloth band in said stretched predetermined size.

'7. A sweatband for hats comprising an annular cloth band stretched to take up the normal circumferential yield; and a synthetic resin set on the cloth to bind and lock the individual bres of the cloth together where they engage to thus maintain the cloth band in a stretched and nonyielding condition.

8. A sweatband for hats comprising a head cloth stretched to a predetermined size; a backing member; and a thermoplastic set to unite said head cloth and backing member, and to bind and lock individual fibres of the stretched cloth to each other and to the backing member, to thereby maintain the head cloth in said stretched predetermined size.

9. A sweatband for hats comprising an annular cloth fabric band stretched to a predetermined size; and a thermoplastic-set only on the back of said band for binding the individual bres of the cloth together where they engage, adapted to maintain the band in the stretched size, support the fabric, and form a dam to prevent sweat from seeping through.

10. The method of ymaking cloth fabric sweatbands for hats which consists in stretching to a predetermined size a cloth band made of interwoven synthetic bres of thermoplastic material; and applying heat and pressure to set and lock together the individual bres in the cloth band to maintain the latter in said predetermined stretched size.

GEORGE S. RADFORD.

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