Abstract:
The present invention relates to a convertible visor/cap, which can be converted from a cap to a visor, and vice verse, having a fixed frontal crown portion and a folding crown membrane supported by a plurality of hinged support members. The visor/cap preferably has a forwardly extending bill, from which the frontal crown portion extends upward, and a head band portion extending rearwardly therefrom. Two hinges are preferably provided on the sides of the head band portion adjacent the frontal crown portion for pivotally supporting the support members. The hinges allow the support members to be pivoted between a first extended position, in which the membrane covers the head (i.e., to form a cap), and a second folded position, in which the membrane is folded up behind the frontal crown portion and substantially hidden from view (i.e., to form a visor).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of hats, and in particular, to the field of convertible visor/caps with a folding crown. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Convertible sunvisor/caps have been developed in the past, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,556,993 and 4,741,053. Each of these caps have a foldable material that can be extended over the crown. The material can be extended from a folded position, in which the cap is adapted as a sunvisor, and an extended position, in which the cap is adapted as a cap. There were several problems associated with these designs. For example, the foldable material had to be gathered at opposite sides of the cap. Also, the material had no additional supports to form the shape of the crown, other than the support band around the back side, wherein the user&#39;s head was needed to support the crown. 
     The McKee et al. patent, U.S. Pat. No. 1,665,750, was also directed to a convertible visor/cap, wherein an auxiliary head cover attachment was provided that could be extended from a folded position to form a visor, back over the head to form a cap. While this patent disclosed a convertible visor/cap, the same problems existed, i.e., no crown supports were provided. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a convertible visor/cap, i.e., which can be converted from a cap to a visor, and vice verse, having a fixed frontal crown portion and a folding crown membrane supported by a plurality of hinged support members. The visor/cap preferably has a forwardly extending bill, from which the frontal crown portion extends upward, and a head band portion extending rearwardly therefrom. Two hinges are preferably provided on the sides of the head band portion adjacent the frontal crown portion for pivotally supporting the support members. The hinges allow the support members to be pivoted between a first extended position, where the membrane covers the head (i.e., to form a cap), and a second folded position, where the membrane is folded up behind the frontal crown portion and substantially hidden from view (i.e., to form a visor). 
     The support members are preferably adapted to be provided in different lengths, such that they can be folded up over each other, which allows the membrane to be easily folded and unfolded when necessary. In the preferred embodiment, there are preferably three support members which allow the membrane to be moved between the first and second positions. The rearward-most support member is preferably adjustable in length and adapted such that it can overlap the head band portion (in the first position). One or more snaps can be provided to enable the rearward-most support member to be secured to the head band portion in the first position. The membrane is preferably secured to all three support members, with the back edge of the membrane being secured to the rearward-most support member, and the front edge of the membrane being secured to the frontal crown portion, wherein the membrane in between is secured to the forward-most and middle support members. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the middle support member is longer than the forward-most support member so that the forward-most support member can be folded under the middle support member when the membrane is folded in the second position, i.e., to form a visor. In such case, the rearward-most support member is also preferably adapted to be adjusted so that it is short enough to be folded under the forward-most support member, such that the rearward-most support member can be folded up under both the middle and forward-most support members. In this respect, the rearward-most support member is preferably adjustable such that it can be extended or contracted as needed. This structure advantageously allows the support members to be easily folded and unfolded, while providing the proper balance appearance-wise. 
     The head band portion preferably extends rearward from the frontal crown portion and has an adjustable strap and rear section that extends around the back. The strap and rear section can be made adjustable, such as by Velcro™, so that the visor/cap can be fitted onto different size heads. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the present invention with the crown partially folded; 
     FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the present invention with the membrane extended over the crown; 
     FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the present invention with the membrane folded up behind the frontal crown portion; 
     FIG. 4 is a side and cut-away view showing the hinge; 
     FIG. 5 is a section view of the front crown portion and membrane; 
     FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the rear section with Velcro™ fastener; 
     FIG. 7 shows the three support members and internal structure of the head band portion laid flat; 
     FIG. 8 shows the internal structure of the bill and front crown portion; 
     FIG. 9 shows the cloth materials and stitching for the front crown portion and membrane sections; and 
     FIG. 10 shows the cloth materials for the bill and head band portion. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1,  2  and  3  represent side perspective views of the present visor/cap invention  1  having a forwardly extended bill  3  and a front crown portion  5  extending upwardly therefrom. A head band portion  7  extends around the inside surface of the front crown portion  5  and rearwardly therefrom. The head band portion  7  has a front portion  9  and an adjustable strap  11   a , on one side, and rear section  11   b , on the other side. At or near the junction of the front crown portion  5  and head band portion  7 , there are preferably two hinges  13 , one on either side of the visor/cap  1 . The hinges  13  are preferably located on the head band portion  7 , and covered by the lower part of the front crown portion  5 . 
     A plurality of support members,  15 ,  17  and  19  are preferably adapted to be pivotally secured to and extended between the hinges  13 , in a relatively bowed manner over the crown portion  29 . A membrane  21  is preferably secured to the support members  15 ,  17  and  19 , by stitching and the like, as well as the top edge of the front crown portion  5 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, such that it can be extended over the crown portion  29 , as shown in FIG.  2 . In this respect, the support members,  15 ,  17  and  19  are preferably adapted to be pivoted between a first extended position, as shown in FIG. 2, where the membrane  21  covers and extends over the crown portion  29  (i.e., to form a cap), and a second folded position, as shown in FIG. 3, where the membrane  21  is folded up behind the front crown portion  5  (i.e., to form a visor). 
     The support members  15 ,  17  and  19  are preferably adapted to be in different lengths. In the preferred embodiment, for example, there are three support members, although less than 3 or more than 3 can be provided if desired. Support member  17 , which is the middle support member, is preferably the longest support member, as shown in FIG.  7 . Support member  19 , which is the forward-most support member, is preferably the shortest support member. The other support member  15 , which is the rearward-most support member, is preferably adjustable so that it can be extended to a length that is greater than support member  17 , or contracted to a length that is shorter than support member  19 . 
     When the support members,  15 ,  17  and  19  are in their first extended positions, as shown in FIG. 2, support member  15  is preferably extended substantially horizontally and rearward and over the exterior periphery of the head band portion  7 , i.e., with the head band portion  7  adjusted and fitted onto the head of the user, as will be discussed. In this respect, there are preferably two snaps  23  located on the head band portion  7  at the appropriate locations which can be to connected to two corresponding snaps  25  located on the support member  15 , to secure the support member  15  to the head band portion  7 . The corresponding snaps  23  and  25  are preferably located on the head band portion  7  and support member  15 , respectively, to enable them to be easily connected to each other. 
     Support member  15  is preferably adjustable, such as by the means shown in FIG. 7, wherein the support member  15  is made of two separate pieces,  15   a  and  15   b , wherein at the end of each one there is a loop  27  with two slits through which the other piece can be extended. This way, the two pieces can be movably secured to each other such that the length of the support member  15  can be adjusted by either pulling or pushing on the two pieces  15   a  and  15   b  through the respective loop ends  27 . 
     The support members  15 ,  17  and  19  are adapted such that they can be folded under each other in a predetermined order when the membrane  21  is folded behind the front crown portion  5  in the second folded position, i.e., to form a visor as shown in FIG.  3 . Preferably, support member  17  is longer than support member  19 , such that support member  19  can be folded under support member  17 , i.e., adjacent the top end of the front crown portion  5 . Likewise, support member  15  is preferably adapted so that it can be contracted to fit under support member  19 . In this way, the three support members can be folded up one on top of each other, adjacent the front crown portion  5 , to form the visor shown in FIG.  3 . 
     In order to allow the support members to be folded in the manner described above, the support members  15 ,  17  and  19  are preferably connected at the hinges  13  in the order shown in FIG.  4 . For example, support member  15  is connected to the hinges  13  closest to the head band portion  7 , and support member  19  is connected over support member  15 , followed by support member  17 , which is the longest member. When other arrangements are used, the support members can be connected in any manner that allows them to be folded in the desired way. 
     Although more or fewer support members can be used, and support members of different lengths in different orders are contemplated by the present invention, the preferred order of the support members  15 ,  17  and  19  described above achieves the desired results. In this respect, not only does the order of the support members described above enable the support members to be easily folded under each other, and the membrane  21  to be folded relatively compactly, it also provides the present invention  1  with the desired balance appearance-wise. Had the forward-most support member  19  been the longest support member, that could have made the crown portion  29  appear disproportionately high on top. 
     Support members  15 ,  17  and  19  are preferably made of a flexible material such as plastic which tends to bow upward in a concave manner when held between the two hinges  13 . The support members themselves do not have to be bowed in configuration. They are preferably made of a flat material that is adapted so that by placing them in tension between the two hinges  13 , they will automatically bow upward to form a curvilinear crown portion  29 . 
     The components of the visor/cap  1  of the present invention are preferably made of an internal flexibly rigid material, such as plastic, covered by an exterior fabric, such as cloth material, which is then secured, such as by stitching, to the internal structure. For example, the bill portion  3  is preferably made of an internal structure  31 , as shown in FIG. 8, and covered by a fabric, such as cloth  32 , and provided with stitching around the edges  33 , as shown in FIG.  10 . Likewise, the front crown portion  5  can be made of an internal structure  35 , as shown in FIG. 8, and covered by a similar fabric material  37  and bound by stitching  34 , as shown in FIG.  9 . Each of the support members  15 ,  17  and  19  are preferably made of the same flexibly resilient material, i.e., plastic, but do not need to be completely encased in fabric. 
     The membrane  21  is preferably secured along its front edge to the top edge of the front crown portion  5 , as shown in FIG.  5 . Fabric  37 , as shown in FIG. 9, is preferably extended over the upper edge of the internal structure  35 , and then sewn along the edges, together with the first section  39  of the membrane  21 , as shown in FIG. 9, which extends between the front crown portion  5  and forward support member  19 . The membrane  21  is further comprised of two additional sections of fabric,  41  and  43 , as shown in FIG. 9, wherein fabric  41  is preferably connected to and extended between support members  19  and  17 , and fabric  43  is preferably connected to and extended between support members  15  and  17 , as shown in FIG.  1 . The fabric sections  39 ,  41  and  43  are preferably sewn into the respective support members  19 ,  17  and  15 , such that the membrane  21  appears to be contiguous. A single fabric that is adapted to cover the crown portion  29  could also be used. 
     The membrane  21  is preferably cut back  45  nearest the hinges  13 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which allows the support members to pivot about the hinges  13  without gathering too much of the membrane material. Moreover, the last membrane section  43  is preferably provided with a cutout section  47 , which allows access to the adjustable features of the support member  15 , and serves at a venting means for the visor/cap  1 . 
     The head band portion  7  is preferably extended forward along the inside of front crown portion  5 , and extended rearward on opposite ends thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the front portion  9  of the headband  7  is relatively wide and constructed using an internal structure  49 , as shown in FIG. 7, made from the same materials as the other internal structures, and covered by a similar fabric  51 , as shown in FIG.  10 . Extending rearward from either side of the front portion of the head band portion  7  is an adjustable strap  11   a  and rear section  11   b , one on either side, having fastening means such as Velcro™  10  attached thereto. Velcro™  10  can be provided on one or the other of strap  11   a  and rear section  11   b . For example, it can be provided on one side of rear section  11   b , as shown in FIG. 6, or the inside of strap  11   a  (the side facing the cap). When the Velcro™ is on the rear section  11   b , it is preferably set inside two layers of material, and facing inward, as shown in FIG. 6, wherein there is an opening along the end  12  into which strap  11   a  can be inserted to enable the connection between the two pieces to be made. That is, strap  11   a  can be inserted into opening  12  such that the Velcro™ surface  10  on the rear section  11   b  can engage the corresponding surface of the strap  11   a , to secure the head band portion  7  at the desired length. When strap  11   a  is inserted far enough into the opening  12 , the Velcro™ surface  10  can engage the corresponding surface of the other piece to secure the two pieces together. An additional slit  14  is preferably provided along the upper edge of the rear section  11   b , so that access to the Velcro™ surface  10  is made possible, wherein adjustments can easily be made. Other fastening means are contemplated by the present invention. 
     In use, the visor/cap  1  of the present invention enables a user to adjust the crown portion  29  to form either a visor, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the membrane  21  is folded up under the front crown portion  5 , or a cap, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the membrane  21  is extended over the crown portion  29 . To be used as a cap, the user simply has to adjust and extend the support member  15 , and then pull support member  15  and membrane  21  back behind the head band portion  7 . The user can then line up and apply pressure to the snaps  23  and  25  to secure the support member  15  to the head band portion  7 , wherein the membrane  21  can be secured in the first extended position to form a cap. Pulling the support member  15  in this manner pulls the other support members  17  and  19  to the appropriate positions, along with membrane  21 . 
     When it is desirable for the user to use the present invention as a visor, the user simply has to release the snaps  23  and  25  and fold the support members forward until they are folded under each other against the front crown portion  5 . This can best be done by first contracting the rear support member  15  such that it is shorter than the forward support member  19 , wherein the support member  19  can then be folded under the support member  17 , and the support member  15  can then be folded under the support member  19 . With the membrane  21  folded up against the front crown portion  5  in this manner, the cap  1  of the present invention can be worn as a visor, i.e., without membrane  21  extending over the crown  29 . 
     The visor/cap  1  of the present invention can also be adjusted to fit different size heads using the adjustable strap  11   a  and rear section  11   b . As discussed before, either the strap  11   a  or rear section  11   b  can have a Velcro™ surface  10  that can be used to secure the pieces together at the desired length. This way, the strap  11   a  can be inserted into the opening  12  and secured to the Velcro™ surface  10  at the appropriate position, wherein the visor/cap  1  of the present invention can be adjusted to the appropriate head size. 
     The present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments thereof. Nevertheless, it is contemplated that various features and embodiments not specifically disclosed herein are still within the scope of the present invention.