Abstract:
An article of headwear that is adjustable to accommodate a wide range of head sizes comprising a front portion having a partial headband with bring and a rear portion having a partial headband with brim, wherein said partial headbands may be overlapped for size adjustment and detachably secured by means of cooperating VELCRO strips. Optional additional components include extension headband strips for further size enlargement, a crown, side flaps and a chin strap, all of which can be detachably secured to the front and rear portions by VELCRO fasteners.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of prior U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/312,643, filed Aug. 15, 2001. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to hats having brims and more particularly to hats that are adjustable to fit heads of different sizes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hats with brims, such as the ubiquitous “baseball cap” are well know. Adjustability to head size is commonly achieved by means of a split headband whose ends can be overlapped to varying extent. To accommodate adjustment of the headband, a portion of the rear panel or area of the crown is omitted such that the crown can change shape. Hats with both front and rear brims are also known as are visors comprising a headband and a brim without a crown portion. Size adjustment of hats with adjustable headbands is limited in range due to the design. 
     An aspect of this invention is an adjustable article of headwear comprising a front portion having a partial front headband having rearwardly extending ends and a front brim depending and extending outwardly therefrom, and a rear portion having a partial rear headband having forwardly extending ends and a rear brim depending therefrom and extending outwardly therefrom, said ends being overlappable to a variable extent for size adjustment, wherein the ends of at least one of said partial headbands includes an outer VELCRO hooks material and at least the ends of the other of said partial headbands includes an inner VELCRO loops material, whereby the said front and rear partial headbands can be overlapped and detachably secured to form a continuous headband of desired circumference. 
     Another aspect of this invention is an adjustable article of headwear comprising a front brim, optionally with a headband, having rearwardly extending sides, and a rear brim, optionally with a headband, having forwardly extending sides, a pair of patches of VELCRO hooks material on the underside of at least a first of said brims&#39; extending sides, and a pair of patches of VELCRO loops material on the upper side of at least the other of said brims&#39; extending sides, whereby said front and rear brims can be overlapped to a variable extent for size adjustment and detachably secured to one another by engagement of said patches. 
     Further aspects of this invention are to provide an article that is configurable by the user with at least one detachable component selected from the group of extension links, side panels, a crown, an extension brim, and a chin strap. 
     These and other objects will be apparent from the description which follows, together with the drawings. 
     SUMMARY 
     This invention comprises an article of headwear comprising front and rear brims and usually a headband, that is either a crownless, visor construction or a crowned, hat construction. Headwear according to this invention minimally includes at least a front portion and a rear portion. In preferred embodiments each portion is of visor-like construction, comprising a flexible, comfortable partial headband extending partially around the sides of the wearer&#39;s head and a stiff but deformable brim for protection from the sun projecting outwardly from the bottom of the band. Each brim may also extend around the sides of the wearer&#39;s head. Size adjustment is achieved by adjusting the overlap of a spacing between, the front and rear portions. In some embodiments the user forms a double-brimmed article of headwear by overlapping the partial headbands and detachably securing them together. In other embodiments the user forms a double-brimmed article of headwear by overlapping the brim side extensions and detachably securing them together. Size adjustment is achieved by varying the amount of overlap. Attachment is preferably by means of VELCRO hook-and-loop detachably securing strips. When securing is by means of partial headbands, a hooks strip or strips, which would be uncomfortable against the wearers head, is placed on the outside of the headband of one portion, preferably the front portion, and a soft loops strip or strips is placed on the inside of the other band. Unlike certain adjustable visors that have only partial headbands, there is no need to have the brim side portions inwardly biased to secure the article to the head. Once the front and rear portions are secured to one another there is formed a fully circumferential headband. In certain embodiments extension headband links are also provided. The links are headband strips having attachment means, preferably VELCRO hooks material on the side facing away from the user&#39;s head. Each of the front and rear portions may include a partial headband with a soft VELCRO loops strip on the insides of its termini. Detachably securing extension links extending from the front portion to the rear portion enlarges the range of size adjustment of the headwear, enabling it, for example, to be worn over a motorcycle or other helmet. 
     Embodiments of the invention include one or more additional detachable components. One such component is an adjustable, detachable crown. For addition of this component both headbands of the front and rear portions are provided with outwardly facing strip or strips of VELCRO hooks material that form a continuous, or nearly continuous, band around the assembled article. The adjustable crown is constructed similarly to a typical adjustable baseball cap or golf cap minus a brim. It has a lower band dissected at the rear and has a rear portion of the crown material omitted to permit size adjustment. In this case the lower band, including the overlappable extensions, if any, has on its inner surface a strip or strips of VELCRO loops material for detachably securing the crown to outside of the continuous headband formed by the front and rear portions and, if utilized, the extension links. 
     Another detachable component is side panels for protecting the sides of the wearer&#39;s head and neck. The side panels are preferably of flexible material so that they hang down. For addition of this component, the brims of the first and second portions are provided on their upper sides with attachment strips of VELCRO loops material, and the side panels are provided along the inside of one straightedge with a strip of VELCRO hooks material. 
     Another detachable component is an overlapping brim extension to provide increased shade and protection. A brim extension is a piece of brim material. It is attached onto the brim of either the front portion or the rear portion by providing the upper surface thereof with at least one, preferably at least two, strip(s) of VELCRO loops material and providing the underside of the overlapping brim extension with a corresponding strip or strips of VELCRO hooks material. 
     Another detachable component is a chin strap, which can be detachably secured between the overlapped partial headbands of the front and rear portions by providing the ends of the chin strap with a strip of VELCRO hooks material on one side and VELCRO loops material on the other side. The chin strap can be one-piece, or it can be two-piece, with attachment means, preferably adjustable, under the chin. For adjustment, I prefer a strip of VELCRO hooks material on the outside of the lower end of one piece and a strip of VELCRO loops material on the inside of the lower end of the other piece. 
    
    
     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the appended claims. 
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front portion and rear portion of a visor-type embodiment of this invention shown detached. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown in assembled configuration. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded top view of the front and rear portions showing additionally extension links, side flaps and bridging strips. 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of a brim extension. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a crown module. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of a section of overlapped front and rear portions taken through their overlapped partial headbands showing a detachable chin strap. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of a section of front and rear portions assembled through extension links, taken through said links, showing a detachable chin strap. 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention in which a helmet is placed intermediate visor portions and detachably secured thereto. 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention in which visor portions are secured inside a helmet. 
     FIG. 10 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the front portion and rear portion of a visor of this invention, shown detached. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 shown in assembled configuration. 
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the basic article of headwear according to this invention in its detached form Headwear article  1  comprises front portion  2  and rear portion  3 . Front portion  2  comprises partial headband  4  and brim  6 . Disposed on the inside face of partial headband  4  are strips of VELCRO loops material  11  (one shown), placed on both rearward-facing ends of the partial headband. Disposed on the outside face of partial headband  4  is a strip of VELCRO hooks material  8 . Rear portion  3  comprises partial headband  5  and brim  7 . Disposed on the inside of partial headband  5  are strips of VELCRO loops material  9  (one shown), placed on both forward-facing ends of the partial headband. Disposed on the outside face of partial headband  5  is a strip of VELCRO hooks material  10 . 
     The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is adapted for alternative assembly by overlapping headbands  4 ,  5  with either partial headband outside the other. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is further adapted for attachment of a crown piece and extension links. A simpler embodiment, a double-brimmed visor, could eliminate one strip of VELCRO hooks material, for example, strip  8 ; eliminate one set of VELCRO loops material, for example, strips  9 ; and for the remaining strip of VELCRO hooks material, for example strip  10 , eliminate the central portion not needed for assembly of portions  2 ,  3 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in its assembled form. Article  1  is assembled by overlapping portions  2 ,  3  with the partial headband  4  of front portion  2  outside partial headband  5  of rear portion  3 , forming a continuous headband whose size is adjusted by changing the amount of overlap. Portions  2 ,  3  are detachably secured to one another by the interaction of VELCRO loops  11  with VELCRO hooks  10 . This is my preferred manner of assembly. As noted above, however, the depicted embodiment is versatile and can be assembled in the opposite fashion, with partial headband  5  outside partial headband  4  (or even with partial headband  5  on the outsides on one side of the user&#39;s head but on the inside on the other side of the user&#39;s head. The simpler embodiment described above can utilize either my preferred manner of assembly or the opposite. 
     Brims  6 ,  7  extend not only across the front and rear of portions  2 ,  3 , but further extend along the sides and are approximately coterminal with headbands  4 ,  5 . Overlapping partial headbands  4 ,  5  also overlaps brims  6 ,  7 . In other embodiments brims  6 ,  7  are not coterminal with partial headbands  4 ,  5 , and generally do not overlap in the assembled article  1 . 
     Shown disposed on the inside of partial headband  4  are optional strips of VELCRO loops material  11  (one shown), placed on both rearward-facing ends of the partial headband. These strips are used for attachment of extension links, discussed below, as well as to enable alternative assembly. 
     Turning to FIG. 3, there is shown an embodiment of front and rear portions  2 ,  3  with additional components. Extension headband links may be used to extend the range of adjustment of the size of the article. I prefer to use a pair of extension links on each side of article  1 . Shown in FIG. 3 are a pair of links  21 ,  28  for one side of a pair of links  22 ,  29  for the opposite side. Each of inside links  21 ,  22  is a material strip having outward-facing VELCRO hooks material for engagement with strips  9 ,  11  of VELCRO loops material. Each of outside links  28 ,  29  is a material strip having inward-facing VELCRO loops material  28   b ,  29   b  for engagement with strips  8 ,  10  of VELCRO hooks material on the outside of brims  4 ,  5  and in their central regions with the VELCRO hooks material of inside links  21 ,  22 . Strips  28 ,  29  additionally have outward-facing VELCRO hooks material  28   a ,  29   a  for attachment of a crown, discussed below. 
     Placed on the upper sides of brims  6 ,  7 , extending rearwardly along the brim sides are strips of VELCRO loops material  23 . To these strips can be attached side panels  24 ,  25 , which are provided with strips  26 ,  27  of VELCRO hooks material on their under sides. 
     Shown in FIG. 4 is one brim extension  31  having a pair of strips of VELCRO hooks material  32  on its underside. Placed on the top surface of brim  6  (FIG. 3) are a pair of corresponding strips of VELCRO loops material  33 , for attachment of the extension to the brim. A second brim extension for the other brim can be attached in like fashion. 
     FIG. 5 shows an adjustable crown  51  that can be detachably secured to the headwear article to form a hat. Crown  51  is constructed similarly to an adjustable baseball cap or golf cap, but without a brim. It comprises a basically hemispherically shaped structure of flexible material that is open along its generally circular lower periphery, along which is a split band  52  that provides some size adjustment. Open area  54  is provided to accommodate size changes. The inside of peripheral band  52  is VELCRO loops material  53 , whereby crown  51  can be detachably secured to external VELCRO hooks material on the outside of the detachable secured partial headbands  5 ,  6  (FIG. 2) or on the outside of the assembled partial headbands  5 ,  6  and extension links  28 ,  29  (FIG.  3 ). 
     FIG. 6 shows insertion of a two-piece chin strap  36 ,  37  between overlapped headband portions  4 ,  5 . Each chin strap portion has an upper terminal end having a strip of VELCRO loops material  38  on the inside for engagement with hooks strip  10  on the outside of headband portion  5  and having a strip of VELCRO hooks material  39  on the outside for engagement with loops strip  11  on the inside of the headband portion  4 . The bottom terminal ends of strap portions  36 ,  37  are provided with adjustable fastening means. Any conventional means can be used but I prefer an outwardly facing VELCRO hooks strip  40  on the strap and an inwardly facing VELCRO loops strip  41  on the other strap. 
     FIG. 7 shows insertion of a one-piece chin strap  42  between the inner and outer extension links shown in FIG.  3 . Here again each end of the chin strap has a strip of VELCRO loops material  38  on the inside and VELCRO hooks material  39  on the outside. Chin strap  42  is sandwiched between VELCRO hooks material of inner extension links  21 ,  22  and VELCRO loops material  28   b ,  29   b  of outer extension links  28 ,  29 . It will be appreciated that if only one extension link for each side is provided, for example outer links  28 ,  29 , only the corresponding attachment means would be needed for strap  42 , for example strips  39 . 
     Particularly by utilizing extension links, article  1  can be expanded to fit over a helmet, for example, a motorcycle helmet or a bicycle helmet. Additionally, a helmet can be adapted to interact with front and rear portions  2 ,  3 . FIG. 8 shows a helmet  62  provided with a circumferential ring of VELCRO hooks material  64 , which can be engaged by partial headbands  4 ,  5  through their inward facing VELCRO loops material  9 ,  11  to provide an assembled article  60 . Helmet  62  itself provides a continuous headband for the assembled article  60 . Thus, it is not required that portions  2 ,  3  overlap, as the VELCRO ring on the helmet serves as extension links. For some uses, one may wish to add outer extension links  28 ,  29  for enhanced stability. 
     FIG. 9 shows alterative helmet embodiment. Helmet  61  is provided with an inner circumferential ring of VELCRO loops material  63 . Partial headbands  4 ,  5  of front and rear portions  2 ,  3  can be placed inside the helmet such that outward facing VELCRO hooks material  8 ,  10  engages ring  63  to provide an assembled article  64 . As with article  60  of FIG. 8, the helmet provides a continuous headband and can serve as extension links. For some uses, one might wish to add inner extension links  21 ,  22  for enhanced stability. 
     In the embodiments shown in FIG.  8  and FIG. 9, one of front and rear portions  2 ,  3  can be omitted from the assembly. There will still be a complete headband, as noted above. In helmet-less embodiments such as shown in FIG. 1, one of front and rear portions can also be omitted from the assembly. In this case, however, a strap substituting for omitted headband is needed. Referring to FIG. 1, if rear portion  3  is omitted, a strap having VELCRO loops on one side, to be faced inwardly in the fashion of strips  9 , would be substituted for headband  5  to join the open ends of headband  4 . It will be appreciated that two such straps will permit each of portions  2 ,  3  to be used individually. 
     FIG. 10 shows yet another embodiment of the invention showing an alternative way to detachably secure front and rear portions. Front portion  71  includes brim  72  and partial headband  73 . On the rearwardly extending sides of brim  72  are patches  74 ,  75  of VELCRO hooks material on the underside of the brim. Rear portion  76  includes brim  77  and partial headband  78 . On the forwardly extending sides of brim  77  are patches  79 ,  80  of VELCRO loops material on the upper side of the brim. FIG. 11 shows the embodiments of FIG. 10 as assembled. Front portion  71  overlaps rear portion  76  such that patches  74 ,  75  are detachably secured to patches  79 ,  80 . As depicted partial headband  73  overlaps partial headband  78  to the outside. A variant of this embodiment is to provide both of brims  72 ,  77  with patches of VELCRO hooks material on their undersides and patches of VELCRO loops material on their upper sides, so that either may be placed on the other. In the embodiment depicted in FIG.  10  and FIG. 11 partial headbands  73 ,  78  are not utilized to detachably secure portions  71 ,  76 . Accordingly, one could eliminate all or a portion of either headband. 
     It will be appreciated that some or all aspects of previously described embodiments can be incorporated in the embodiment of FIG.  10  and FIG.  11 . For example, partial headbands  4 ,  5  (FIG. 1) could be substituted for partial headbands  73 ,  78 , and the additional components of a crown (FIG.  5 ), a chin strap (FIG.  6 ), or extension brims (FIG.  4 ), or side flaps (FIG. 3) could be added. An alternative construction would be to sandwich a chin strap such as  36 ,  37  (FIG. 6) between patches  74 ,  79  on one side and between patches  75 ,  80  on the other side. 
     A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.