WEARABLE DISPLAY BANDS WITH ATTACHMENTS

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/664,396, entitled “Wearable Display Bands Displaying Team Preferences”, and filed Jun. 26, 2024, the disclosure in which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

This application also claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/762,755, entitled “Wearable Display Bands”, and filed Feb. 25, 2025, the disclosure in which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally pertains to wearable bands, such as headbands, wrist bands, belts, and the like, that are configured to support and display messaging and items such as, for example, those identifying the wearer's affinity for teams, schools, etc., providing user comfort functions such as perspiration absorption, temperature comfort, etc., and permitting selective attachment thereto of objects having general aesthetic and/or utility functions.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Headbands are well known in the prior art and are used mostly for providing user comfort functions such as sweat-absorption, hair containment, and cushioning for the wearer. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,578,736 (Dootson), U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,021 (Bloom), U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,116 (Sullivan), the entire disclosures in which are incorporated herein by reference. None of these patents discloses or suggests the general concept of providing messaging functions for the headband, or the specific idea of interchangeable means for the wearer to alternatively display different messages such as advertisements or his/her affinity or preference for different sports teams or other interests. U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,741 (Harris) discloses a terry cloth headband bearing permanent advertising content but does not disclose the concept of permitting alternative display of different messages or any means for preventing sweat or other liquid from obliterating or otherwise distorting the displayed content. U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,844 (Dougherty), the entire disclosure in which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a cushioning, sweat-absorbing, advertising sweatband which is attachable to the rear adjustment strap of a baseball cap, but the advertising message is permanently affixed to the sweatband and can be changed only by removing one sweatband and attaching a different sweatband. In addition, the location of the sweatband at the rear of the cap lessens the effect of the displayed content and the wearer's preference or identification with that content.

Other known headbands are constructed of multiple permanent layers, each layer serving to provide a different user comfort function for the wearer. See for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0206323 (August), the entire disclosure in which is incorporated herein by reference. August discloses headband layers for wicking moisture, frictional engagement to the wearer's hair, moisture absorption and reduced headband pliability. However, August does not disclose displaying alternative messages on the headband or supporting aesthetic or functionally useful objects.

Other prior patent documents of general background interest include: U.S. Pat. No. 2,265,560 (Kleinman), U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,844 (Dougherty), U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,532 (Williams), U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,910 (Calvo), U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,848 (Bartholomac), U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,280 (Bae), U.S. Pat. No. 9,392,827 (Farney), U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,758 (Rendina), U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,722 (Pogachar), U.S. Pat. No. 8,425,072 (Hurwitz), U.S. Pat. No. 10,292,444 (Dotzenrod), US20120125360 (Hill et al), and US20070074326 (Komechak), the entire disclosures in which are incorporated herein by reference.

In addition, none of the aforementioned documents discloses the concept of providing for selectively attaching different messaging or useful or aesthetic objects to the band as a feature adjunct to the band's user comfort functions.

It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a wearable band, such as a headband, wrist band, and the like, that provides for user comfort functions, selective attachment of useful or aesthetic objects, and alternative message displays while protecting against damage to the displayed message from sweat or other moisture. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the presently described improvements may be useful.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

An arrangement is disclosed in which apparel bands, such as headbands, wrist bands, and the like, are configured to display alternative text and/or pictorial messages, such as advertising, the wearer's team name or other preferences, etc., through multiple wearings without detrimental effects to the displayed content. The band may also provide user comfort-related functions such as perspiration removal via moisture wicking and absorption and temperature control such as skin warming or cooling, etc., and may include means for removably attaching functionally useful and/or aesthetic objects to the band. Such objects may be removably attached by friction, hook and loop fasteners, magnetic attraction, mating snaps, buttons, etc.

In one aspect a wearable band comprises an elongate outer portion having front and back surfaces, an elongate inner portion having front and back surfaces, and attachment components secured to the back surface of the outer portion and the front surface of the inner portion for permitting the outer portion to be selectively attached to and removed from the inner portion. The front surface of the outer portion is an exposed front surface of the headband and bears messaging text or images for display. The back surface of the inner portion is an exposed back surface of the headband configured to contact the forehead of a wearer of the headband. The inner portion may comprise a moisture absorption layer configured to contact a wearer's forehead and absorb perspiration, or a forehead warming material for use in cold weather, or a cooling strip for use in hot weather. The attachment components may be mating attachment layers of hook and loop material, mating snaps, Chicago flat head screws, oppositely poled magnetic elements, or other suitable attachment arrangements.

In another aspect a wearable band for selectively receiving removable attachment objects of a wearer's choice comprises a strip of conformable material having interior and exterior surfaces and first and second ends. Hook fastener material is secured to one of the interior and exterior surfaces, and loop fastener material is secured to the other surface. The strip is configured to be wrapped around and conform to a body part of a wearer by overlapping the first and second ends to engage selected end portions of the hook and loop fastener materials. An attachment object has attachment fastener material layer secured thereto and is configured to mate with and attach to the fastener material secured to the exterior surface. The attachment object may be a message-bearing strip of material, a headcover, a visor, tools, toys, etc.

In still another, a wearable band for selectively receiving removable attachment objects of a wearer's choice comprises a sleeve of conformable material, having interior and exterior surfaces and first and second ends. Magnetic material of a first magnetic polarity is disposed in the sleeve and the strip is configured to be secured around and conform to a body part of a wearer. An attachment object has a magnetic attachment member of a second and opposite magnetic polarity secured thereto and configured to magnetically engage the magnet material disposed in the sleeve.

These and other aspects of the disclosure are described in greater detail hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the disclosed device will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front right-side perspective view from above of a first embodiment of a headband of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view in plan of the headband of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a left-side perspective view from above of the headband of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a left side view in elevation of the headband of FIG. 1 shown worn by a person.

FIG. 5 is a perspective rear view from above of a second embodiment of a headband of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view in plan of the headband of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of the headband of FIG. 5 and a messaging attachment band

FIG. 8 is a perspective front view from above of the headband and messaging attachment band of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a perspective front view from above of the headband of FIG. 5 with a visor attached.

FIG. 10 is a perspective front view from below of the headband of FIG. 5 with a head cover attached.

FIG. 11 is a partial view in section of the headband and head cover of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective side view of a neck cover configured to be selectively attached to the headband of FIG. 5.

FIG. 13 is a perspective front view of the headband of FIG. 5 with a pocket attached.

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of a third embodiment of a headband and a messaging band attachment in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a fourth embodiment of a headband and a messaging band attachment band in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present embodiments are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which several exemplary embodiments are shown. It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the appended figures could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the inventions is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by this detailed description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussions of the features and advantages and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Positional or directional terms such as “upper”, “top”, “lower”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, etc., are used herein only to refer to an arbitrary orientation of the described band for convenience of the following description and are not intended to otherwise limit the structures described and claimed.

As used herein, references to means for removably attaching or securing layers of a headband to one another includes any selective attachment or securing means such as hook and loop (e.g., Velcro®) fastener material, mating snaps, magnetic attraction, buttons and buttonholes, etc. In addition, references to means for attaching or securing objects or items to a headband means any suitable known means such as grommets, hooks, snaps, Chicago screws, magnetic attachment elements, etc. Further, references to “message” or “messaging” that is provided on a band may include alphanumeric characters or pictorial representations.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the headband 10 illustrated in the drawings comprises inner portion 11 and outer portion 12. The outer portion 12 includes a display layer 13 that may be made of leather, plastic or other pliable and durable material suitable for dyeing to, for example, a representative color of a team, school or other organization or wearer preference. Display layer 13 is preferably also suitable for receiving printed, embossed or otherwise applied pictorial or alphanumeric messaging 14 such as a team or school name, trademark, or logo on its outward facing surface that is forwardly exposed for display when the band 10 is properly worn. The messaging 14 may be presented in a second color of the team or school. Although the colors and messaging indicia are described herein as those representing teams and schools, it will be understood that they can refer to other types of entities or institutions, such business companies, countries, performers, products, etc. An outer portion attachment layer, such as one part of a hook and loop fastener 16 (e.g., Velcro®) is secured to the back side of the display layer 13 by a suitable adhesive, or the like.

The display layer 13 is configured as an elongate strip with a length much greater than its width and sufficiently compliant to be wrapped about and conform to the head of a wearer as shown in FIG. 4. Opposite ends of the display layer 13 extend beyond the ends of the fastener layers 16 and are permanently secured to respective opposite ends of an elastic strip 17 configured to expand and contract lengthwise and thereby permit the assembled band to stretch as necessary to fit wearers' heads of varied sizes. The elastic strip 17 may be dyed in one or more team colors and sized to comfortably stretch along the back of the wearer's head.

Alternatively, display layer 13 may comprise a fabric with embedded LED light arrays that may be selectively controlled by the wearer of the headband to provide variable messaging of the wearer's choice. Such a fabric may, for example, be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,371,986 (Nelson), the entire disclosure in which is incorporated herein by reference.

The inner portion 11 may include permanent or selectively attachable and removable components or parts for providing user comfort features for the wearer of the headband. For example, a moisture absorbent layer 22 constituting the rearwardly exposed layer of the headband may be positioned on the inner surface to directly contact the forehead of a wearer when the headband is worn. An inner portion attachment layer, selected to mate with the outer portion attachment layer to comprise Velcro® fastener 16, may be secured to the back side of the display layer 13 by stitching or a suitable adhesive. The Velcro® fastener 16 layers thus permit the inner portion 11 and outer portion 12 to be selectively attached to and removed from one another, either because of damage to one of the portions, or to replace the displayed message with a different displayed message on a different outer portion 12, or for washing or cleaning.

In some embodiments the inner portion 11 may provide user comfort in the form of a waterproof membrane layer disposed between moisture absorbent layer 22 and attachment layers 16 to prevent perspiration and other moisture, as well as facial cosmetics of the wearer, from staining or bleeding in or onto the outer portion 12 of the band and possibly obliterating or obscuring the displayed message on outer surface of the outer portion.

In some embodiments the inner portion 11 may comprise a temperature control material that allows for cooling or warming the wearer, such as the material disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 11,266,193 (Bowman), the entire disclosure in which is incorporated herein by reference. Other examples of temperature related user comfort materials suitable for use as part of inner portion 11 include the materials disclosed in US20140358206 (Hirokane et al), the entire disclosure in which is incorporated herein by reference.

It will be appreciated that the hook and loop fastener layers comprising attachment layers 16 are an example of one preferred means for removably securing the front and rear portions of the band to one another, but not the only such means. For example, the display and the moisture absorbent layers may be removably attached to one another by buttons and buttonholes, mating snaps, Chicago screw fasteners, or other non-permanent connections.

If buttons are used they can readily also accept attachments containing brackets designed to attach to two or more buttons, increasing the versatility of the headband to accept multiple attachments in addition to objects attached directly to the buttons. The band, by accepting multiple attachments, can be used in various applications where it is convenient or desirable for the wearer to have the use of both hands, such as gardening, construction, moving while cheering in support of a team, or other activities.

Decorative features, such as long woven or beaded or braided strings or groups of strings, dyed in respective team colors, may be attached to each end of the display layer by removable clips, or the like, with the strings configured, for example, to be worn over the hair of the wearer and tied or braided in a decorative style chosen by the wearer, or to hang down loosely on each side of the wearer's head.

Although the embodiment described above is a headband, it will be understood that the principles described apply to wrist bands, ankle bands or other bands that may be worn in a manner to display a text or pictorial message such as an advertisement or signifying the wearer's affinity for a group, institution, team, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 5-8, another embodiment 50 of a headband embodying the principles of this disclosure comprises a strip 51 of conformable material such as canvas or other material similar in strength and pliability to canvas. Strip 51 is thus readily capable of being wrapped around and conforming to the head of a wearer of the headband. One alternative to canvas may be high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or other such material that closely matches the strength of canvas, particularly when woven into a fabric-like structure. Canvas-like, HDPE is conformable and has high tensile strength, tear resistance, and durability.

Both terminal ends 52 and 53 of the canvas strip preferably taper slightly in width, e.g., along approximately the two or three terminal inches of the strip length. The tapered ends 52, 53 function as a closure means to attach both ends of the strip together. Proximate each tapered end 52, 53 is a series of grommets 54 spaced lengthwise along and extending through the strip. The grommets serve as means for suspending respective objects 57 from the headband by means of a tether 58 such as a string, cord, rope, etc., that may be in the form of an endless loop extending through the grommet aperture. Although three such grommets are shown in each headband end 52, 53, it will be understood that any number of grommets may be provided. The suspended objects 57 may be aesthetic (e.g., beads, charms, etc.) or functional (e.g., tools, implements, etc.) in nature.

The canvas strip 51 may be disposed between respective layers of hook and loop components of a headband fastener assembly comprising hook 55 and loop 56 material strips secured to opposite surfaces of the canvas strip 51 except at the tapered ends 52, 53. In the illustrated example, the interior surface of the canvas strip is lined with loop material 56 and the exterior surface is lined with hook material 55, although this can be reversed such that the interior surface is lined with hook material and the exterior surface with loop material. In either case, the hook and loop materials may be secured to the canvas strip 51 by sewing, adhesive or other securing means. As best illustrated in FIG. 6, when worn by a wearer, a selected portion of the hook material 55 at strip end 52 overlaps and mates with a selected portion of the loop material 56 at strip end portion 53 to secure the band, properly sized, about the wearer's head.

For user comfort, and as described above in connection with headband 10, a strip 59 of comfort-providing material, such as moisture wicking material, may be selectively attached to headband 50 by means of hook and loop fastener means, for example to the interior surface of the canvas strip, for use in warm weather to absorb the wearer's perspiration. Alternatively, strip 59 may be fleece or similar material appropriate for user comfort in cold weather, or any temperature control materials, examples of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 11,266,193 (Bowman) and US20140358206 (Hirokane et al) referenced hereinabove.

The exterior surface of headband 50 is configured to accept a variety of different selectively attachable functional or aesthetic attachment objects. As shown in FIG. 7, one possible object is messaging attachment strip or band 70 which is selectively attachable to the exterior forward-facing surface of the band structure and bears a text or pictorial message 71 such as the name and/or logo of a particular sports team, company or other affinity of the wearer. The message on attachment 70 may be embroidered, sewn or otherwise drawn, painted or laminated. The messaging attachment itself may be a strip of appropriate material with the reverse side of such strip having attached thereto hook or loop or other fastening material 72 which selectively attaches to mating exterior hook or loop 55 or other fastening material on the headband structure. Messaging attachment band 70 may be readily replaced with alternative messaging attachment strips at the option of the wearer of headband 50. As shown, the headband also includes grommets 54, or the like, to permit selective attachment of aesthetic or functional objects to the headband as described above.

Messaging attachment band 70 may be made any suitable material capable of bearing a message and being selectively attached to and removed from the headband structure 50. Some examples of such material would be canvas, HDPE and biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film.

Among the functionally useful objects that may be attached to the headband are wearable objects, such as visors, neck covers, and headcovers. For example, and referring to FIG. 9, an attachment to headband 50 may be a visor 80 having a brim and strap and which may have a messaging or display portion 81 projecting upward from the interior edge of the visor brim where it joins the strap. Display portion 81 may be printed directly on the front portion of the visor strap. Alternatively, display portion 81 may be a strip of material permanently or removably secured along the forward-facing surface of the visor strap. In either case, the display portion bears a text or pictorial message for display, such as a logo, company name or other passion of the wearer on its outward-facing side or surface. The reverse or interior-facing side of the brim section bearing that display portion 81 may have a hook or loop or other fastening material 82 appropriate to be selectively attached to the exterior hoop or loop or other fastening material 55 of the headband structure. Alternatively, the display portion may be printed directly on the brim of the visor.

Another possible attachment for headband 50 is a hat or head cover 90, an example of which is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. The head cover embodiment shown has an upside-down bowl-shaped crown portion 91 terminating in an endless lower rim or edge 92. A thin outer fastener band or strip 93 of hook (or loop) fastener material is secured to and extends around the outside surface of head cover at a location adjacent lower edge 91. A similar thin inner fastener band or strip 94 of loop (or hook) fastener material is secured to and extends around the inside surface of head cover 90 at a location adjacent lower edge 91. Fastener bands 93 and 94 permit the head cover to be selectively attached to either the headband 50 or visor 80. More specifically, to attach the head cover 90 to headband 50, inner fastener band 94 of the head cover is attached to the outer fastener 55 of the headband 50. To attach the head cover to the visor, outer fastener band 93 of the head cover is attached to fastening material 82 of the visor 80. When the headwear 90 is worn separately from the headband and visor, the outer fastener band 93 of the headwear may be attached to the fastening material 72 of messaging attachment band 70.

Another possible attachment to headband 50 is the neck cover attachment 120 illustrated in FIG. 12. The neck cover 120 may include an attachment band 121, similar to attachment band 70 with or without messaging, A sheet 125 of draping or shading material is secured at an upper edge to band 121 in a manner permitting the sheet to drape down from the band. Sheet 125 may be made of any shading material suitable for protecting the wearer's neck from exposure to sun and other elements. The interior surface of band 121 includes a hook or loop fastener material suitable for mating with and selectively attaching to fastening material 55 of headband 50. When the neck cover is thusly attached, sheet 125 extends down over the neck of the headband wearer to provide the desired protection,

A further attachment is a sleeve or pocket 130 as shown in FIG. 13. The purpose of the sleeve is to hold the wearer's personal items, such as a driver's license, key fob, hunting/fishing license, admission ticket, ATM card, credit card or other items for the convenience, for example while attending or participating in an event or activity. The sleeve 130 is made of moisture-proof material, such as that used for sealable plastic card holder. The sleeve 130 may be attached to the headband 50 in any suitable manner described or suggested herein, such as buttons, Chicago flat head screws, snaps, or hook or loop fastening material, or the grommets 54.

The band structure is configured to support numerous types of aesthetic or functionally useful attachments requiring a more stable support structure. These attachments include but are not limited to small tools and writing implements, keys, toy reindeer antlers, top hats, bunny ears, small flags, small balloons, and other attachments to celebrate holidays or other special celebrations. Such attachments may be attached to the band structure by means of the grommets using, for example, Chicago flathead screws extending through the grommets. Alternative connection means for attachments would be snaps or similar attachment devices.

As noted above, the band embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 13 are modifications to the wearable bands shown in FIGS. 1-4 and, in one aspect, to modifications to the inner portion of the band. The inner portion of the bands shown in FIGS. 5-13 are configured to accept three or more replaceable and detachable inner layers. In environments of comfortable ambient temperatures, a moisture absorbent layer can be utilized. In warm or hot ambient temperatures, the inner portion, in lieu of the moisture absorbent layer, can accept a moisture-absorbent wicking material providing evaporative cooling to the band. In cool or cold ambient temperatures, the inner portion can, in lieu of other layers, accept a fleece or other suitable material providing a warming effect to the band.

The present invention seeks to endow the band structure with high strength and rugged durability and, as such, contemplates that the canvas strip, without limitation, may alternatively be polypropylene webbing (ex., 2″ wide, 1500 lb.-test, polypropylene); minimum stretch, sun-resistant polyester; non-slip, abrasion-resistant bulked nylon; nylon variants (ex., double layered 1000 denier DUPONT CORDURA PLUS nylon, nylon yarn N-56, etc.); DUPONT CORDURA; canvas (ex., heavy duck canvas, No. 8 natural canvas, No. 6 natural canvas, etc.); polyester variants (ex., heavy-duty water resistant 600 denier RIPSTOP polyester, double-layered 600×300 denier polyester, etc.); SPUNTUFF water resistant material; fabric-covered metal mesh; polypropylene fabrics; polyethylene fabrics; polyolefin fabrics; plastic blends; and/or combinations of the foregoing. Additionally, in keeping with the spirit of endowing the band structure with high strength and rugged durability, hook-and-loop fastener assembly is preferably an industrial strength hook-and-loop fastener.

A further embodiment comprises a band that utilizes magnetism to selectively attach messages and objects to a headband. Referring to FIG. 14, an exploded view illustrates an elongate interior portion 141 and exterior portion 142 of a headband employing principles disclosed herein. Interior portion 141 is comprised of an outer layer 143 of ferromagnetic material and an inner layer 144 of moisture wicking material secured to the ferromagnetic layer 144 by sewing, adhesive or other securing means. Outer layer 143 is in the form of an elongate strip with a length much greater than its width and sufficiently compliant to be wrapped about and conform to the head of a wearer. Opposite ends of the outer layer 143 extend beyond the ends of the inner layer 144 and are permanently secured to respective opposite ends of an elastic strip 147 configured to expand and contract lengthwise and thereby permit layer 143 and the assembled band to stretch as necessary to fit wearers' heads of varied sizes. A pull tab 145 may be provided at one end of the outer layer strip 143 to facilitate selective joining and separation of the interior portion 141 and exterior portion 142.

Exterior portion 142 may be a strip of lightweight material of the type that can bear messages of alphanumeric characters 146 or pictorial content and can be selectively magnetically attached to the outer surface of outer layer strip 143 by means of plural individual magnets 149 that may be sewn or otherwise attached to the material of strip 142 at various locations along its length. In this manner, the message bearing exterior portion 142 may be selectively attached to and removed from interior portion 141 as desired.

It will be appreciated that, apart from messaging attachments, aesthetic and functionally useful objects may be selectively magnetically attached to interior portion 141 if those objects are themselves made of magnetic material or have magnets secured thereto.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 15, selective magnetic attachment of the exterior and interior portions may be effected by providing the exterior portion of the headband as a sleeve or pocket 150 of material such as cloth, canvas, BOPP, or any other non-magnetic. Inside the sleeve may be an elongate strip 151 of magnetic material and/or plural individual magnets 152 that enable sleeve 150 to be attached to interior portion 141. In some embodiments the sleeve material may be transparent, and the magnetic strip 151 may be colored or provided with pictorial images or alphanumeric messaging. Alternatively, the sleeve itself may bear messaging. The sleeve/pocket 150 may be open at its top, sides, or alternatively closed along the top and bottom and open at both ends to permit selective removal and insertion of strip 151. The sleeve/pocket may also contain other lightweight strips, including selectively actuable and programmable LED light strips or arrays that can modify the displayed message at the wearer's option. Examples of such programmable LED strips are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,371,986 (Nelson), the entire disclosure in which is incorporated herein by reference. With such an arrangement the messages displayed in the embodiments disclosed herein can be changed by the wearer without removing display

Although the specific bands of the embodiments disclosed herein are headbands, it will be understood that the principles described apply to any wearable bands that can be wrapped about other body parts of a person, such as a neck, waist, wrist, arm, ankle or leg.

Having described preferred embodiments of new and improved methods and apparatus for providing wearable bands, particularly headbands, for displaying messaging and supporting objects, it is believed that other modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It is therefore to be understood that all such variations, modifications and changes are believed to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

The above description is intended by way of example only. Although the techniques are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.