Abstract:
A reversible cap is disclosed, having a concave crown section of appropriate size to fit the head of a wearer. A flap is attached to the concave crown section allowing a wearer to alter the appearance of the cap.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not applicable.  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
         [0002]    Not applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    The present invention relates to the apparel industry. More specifically, the present invention relates to a reversible cap or the like for altering the appearance of the cap as desired by the wearer.  
           [0005]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0006]    Articles of apparel such as caps and the like have long been known and used. Typically, they comprise a crown made of a soft and pliable material such as fabric, often sewn together from several pieces of fabric, a brim (visor) made of stiffer material extending forwardly from the lower front of the cap, an opening at the back of the crown, and size-adjusting straps bridging the gap and being adjustable in length to fit the wearer. A cap may also be fitted, thus, not having an opening in the back of the crown with the size-adjusting straps bridging the gap. Alternatively, some caps may have a perforated plastic strip attached to the bottom of one side of the opening in the back of the crown and extending across the opening. A second notched plastic strip with notches that correspond to the holes in the perforated plastic strip is attached to the opposite side of the opening in the back of the crown. These plastic strips bridge the gap and allow for adjustment in the circumference of the cap. Further, some caps may also have a headband along the lower front inside of the crown or along the entire lower periphery of the crown, except, of course, for the opening at the back of the crown. This headband absorbs perspiration from the wearer&#39;s head.  
           [0007]    Reversible caps are also known in the art. Ordinarily, reversible caps alter the appearance of the cap design for both functional and aesthetic purposes. For example, a hunter may desire one side of a hat to be camouflaged to allow him to hide in the brush. Alternatively, he may wish to be clearly seen to avoid being harmed by other hunters in the area. A reversible cap could be utilized to accomplish both of these purposes. Further, some wearers may simply desire alternative designs or logos on their caps for aesthetic reasons.  
           [0008]    Typically, reversible caps require that the entire crown be turned inside out to reverse the cap which requires the wearer to remove the cap. A major disadvantage encountered by this type of reversible cap is that the bill is rigidly formed to fit only one way or must be rebent each time the cap is reversed. Further, conventional reversible caps which must be turned inside out require a headband to be placed on both the inside and outside periphery of the cap or omitted altogether. Finally, conventional reversible caps of this type are cumbersome to use in particular situations when the cap must be removed from the wearer&#39;s head. For example, a hunter may wish to quickly reverse his hat during a hunt to camouflage himself. If he is holding a rifle, he would have to place it on the ground in order to have both hands available to remove his cap and turn it inside out. This takes additional time and creates additional distraction which may prevent him from having a successful hunt.  
           [0009]    Accordingly, there is a need for a reversible cap which can be reversed while still on the wearer&#39;s head. There is also a need for a reversible cap which does not require the wearer to reshape the bill of the cap each time the cap is reversed. Finally, there is a need for a reversible cap which allows the wearer to utilize a single headband regardless of which side of the cap is being worn.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a reversible cap which can be reversed while still on the wearer&#39;s head.  
           [0011]    An advantage of the present invention eliminates the need to reshape the brim of the cap each time it is reversed.  
           [0012]    Another advantage of the present invention permits a headband to be used on the interior of the cap regardless of which side is being worn.  
           [0013]    A preferred embodiment of the reversible cap thus described comprises a concave crown section for covering the head of a wearer and a flap attached to the concave crown section for altering the appearance of the cap. Another embodiment of the cap further comprises a brim attached to an edge of the crown which extends outwardly from the edge and is substantially horizontal. In another embodiment of the cap, the crown section includes an adjustable edge section opposite the brim relative to a center of the crown for adjusting the cap to accommodate the head of the wearer when the flap is attached to the outside of the crown section. The adjustable edge section may include a pair of interlocking straps made of velcro. Alternatively, the adjustable edge section could be comprised of a strap and clamp assembly. In yet another embodiment, the adjustable edge section could include a perforated strip which interlocks with a corresponding notch strip.  
           [0014]    In another preferred embodiment, the flap may include an adjustable edge section opposite the brim relative to a center of the crown for adjusting the cap to accommodate the head of the wearer when the flap is attached to the inside of the crown section. The adjustable edge section may include a pair of interlocking straps made of velcro. Alternatively, the adjustable edge section may include a strap and clamp assembly or a perforated strip which interlocks with a corresponding notched strip. A headband may be included either along the front inner edge of the crown or along the entire perimeter of the inside edge of the crown except, of course, along the adjustable edge section.  
           [0015]    A method of manufacturing the present invention comprises the steps of forming a concave crown section from a pliable fabric and attaching a flap to the crown section for altering the appearance of the cap. The method may also further comprise the step of attaching a brim to an edge of the crown wherein the brim extends outwardly from the edge and is substantially horizontal. An additional step involves including an adjustable edge section in the crown opposite the brim relative to the center of the crown for adjusting the cap to accommodate the head of the wearer when the flap is attached to the outside of the crown section. This method can further comprise the step of attaching a pair of interlocking straps made of velcro, a strap and clamp assembly, or a perforated strip with interlocking corresponding notched strip to the adjustable edge section.  
           [0016]    Alternatively, yet another method of making the present invention may comprise the steps of including an adjustable edge section on the flap opposite the brim relative to a center of the crown for adjusting the cap to accommodate the head of the wearer when the flap is attached to the inside of the crown section. Likewise, this method may further include the step of attaching a pair of interlocking straps made of velcro, a strap and clamp assembly or a perforated strip which interlocks with a corresponding notched strip to the adjustable edge section. All of these methods may further comprise the step of attaching a headband to the entire interior perimeter of the crown or flap. Alternatively, the method may involve attaching a headband to only the inside front portion of the crown. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a side view of the reversible cap illustrating the flap attached to the outside of the crown section.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the reversible cap illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a back view of the reversible cap illustrating one embodiment when the flap is attached to the inside of the crown section.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a back view of the reversible cap illustrating another embodiment when the flap is attached to the inside of the crown section.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a back view of the reversible cap illustrating another embodiment when the flap is attached to the inside of the crown section.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6. is a back view of the reversible cap illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is an exploded side view of the reversible cap illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is an exploded side view of the reversible cap illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 or  5 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the reversible cap illustrated in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
       [0026]    As shown in FIGS. 1, 2,  6 , and  7 , a preferred embodiment of the reversible cap ( 10 ) of the present invention comprises a concave crown section ( 16 ) for covering the head of a wearer and a flap ( 14 ) attached to the concave crown section ( 16 ) for altering the appearance of the cap ( 10 ). This embodiment of the cap ( 10 ) further comprises a brim ( 12 ) attached to an edge ( 18 ) of the crown section ( 16 ) which extends outwardly from the edge ( 18 ) and is substantially horizontal.  
         [0027]    As best shown in FIG. 9, the crown section ( 16 ) can include an adjustable edge section opposite the brim ( 12 ) relative to a center of the crown section ( 16 ) for adjusting the cap ( 10 ) to accommodate the head of the wearer when the flap ( 14 ) is attached to the outside of the crown section ( 16 ). In FIG. 9, the adjustable edge section includes a pair of interlocking straps ( 30  and  32 ). FIG. 2 and FIG. 9 show that a headband ( 22 ) may be included along the entire perimeter of the inside edge of the crown section ( 16 ) except, of course, along the adjustable edge section.  
         [0028]    Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4,  5  and  8 , the flap ( 15 ) may include an adjustable edge section opposite the brim ( 12 ) relative to a center of the crown section ( 16 ) for adjusting the cap ( 10 ) to accommodate the head of the wearer when the flap ( 15 ) is attached to the inside of the crown section ( 16 ). As shown in FIG. 5, the adjustable edge section may include a pair of velcro interlocking straps ( 28  and  29 ). Alternatively, the adjustable edge section may include a strap ( 26 ) and clamp ( 27 ) assembly as shown in FIG. 4 or a perforated strip ( 24 ) which interlocks with a corresponding notched strip ( 23 ) as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0029]    As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2,  6 ,  7  and  9 , the method of making the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of forming a concave crown section ( 16 ) from a pliable fabric and attaching a flap ( 14 ) to the crown section ( 16 ) for altering the appearance of the cap ( 10 ). This preferred method further comprises the step of attaching a brim ( 12 ) to an edge of the crown section ( 16 ) with said brim ( 12 ) extending substantially horizontally outwardly from the crown section ( 16 ).  
         [0030]    As best illustrated in FIG. 9, an additional step can include adding an adjustable edge section in the crown section ( 16 ) opposite the brim ( 12 ) relative to the center ( 20 ) of the crown section ( 16 ) for adjusting the cap ( 10 ) to accommodate the head of the wearer when the flap ( 14 ) is attached to the outside of the crown section ( 16 ). FIG. 9 also shows that a pair of velcro interlocking straps ( 30  and  32 ) can then be attached to the adjustable edge section. FIG. 2 and FIG. 9 show that this method may further comprise the step of attaching a headband ( 22 ) to the entire interior perimeter of the crown section ( 16 ) except, of course, along the adjustable edge section.  
         [0031]    Alternatively, FIG. 8 shows another method of making the present invention comprising the steps of including an adjustable edge section along the perimeter of the flap ( 15 ) opposite the brim ( 12 ) relative to the center ( 20 ) of the crown section ( 16 ) for adjusting the cap to accommodate the head of the wearer when the flap ( 15 ) is attached to the inside of the crown section ( 16 ). Likewise, this method may further include the step of attaching a pair of velcro interlocking straps ( 28  and  29 ) as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 4 illustrates yet another alternative which includes the step of adding a strap ( 26 ) and clamp ( 27 ) assembly. Alternatively, a perforated strip ( 24 ) which interlocks with a corresponding notched strip ( 23 ) can be attached to the adjustable edge section as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0032]    Although the cap ( 10 ) and the method of making it have been described in terms of preferred structures and processes, it should be understood that various alterations and modifications can be made without departing from the invention and that such alterations and modifications are intended to be considered to be within the scope and spirit of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.