Reversible hat

A headgear including both a cap crown assembly that can be tucked inside-out and a brim assembly that can be rotated to reverse the headgear without requiring the brim assembly from being completely detached from the cap assembly. The brim assembly includes a spring-loaded pin that allows the visor assembly to rotate 360 degrees until the desired positioning is achieved. A reinforcement assembly maintains the structural integrity of the headgear when the brim is separated from the cap crown assembly during the reversal process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reversible cap and, more particularly, to a reversible cap that does not require a user to completely detach the cap's brim.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several designs for a reversible cap have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a brim that is securely mounted to a cap at all times, including when the cap and brim are being reversed.

Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,180 issued to Hall McKenzie Mona for a hat with reversible crown and detachable, reversible visor. However, it differs from the present invention because the Mona reference requires a user to detach the brim from the crown of the cap when reversing it. The present invention maintains the brim mounted to the crown of the cap while the cap's crown is being reversed providing a more secure engagement and eliminating the possibility of the brim being lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a hat that includes a brim and crown that are completely reversible.

It is another object of this invention to provide a hat having a brim that can be reversed without requiring detachment from the cap's crown.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hat that maintains its structural integrity when the brim is being reversed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a reversal process that can be applied to a plurality of types of headgear.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a hat that is inexpensive to implement and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral10, it can be observed that it basically includes brim assembly20, cap crown assembly40, and reinforcement assembly60. As shown inFIGS. 1 through 3, brim assembly20is securely mounted to cap crown assembly40.

As seen inFIG. 4, brim assembly20, having brim22being preselectively hollow to include an interior space wherein anchoring members24;24aare mounted within cavities124;124a, shown inFIGS. 4 and 16. In a preferred embodiment, cavities124;124aand complementing anchoring members24;24aare positioned adjacent to the left and right distal ends of the rear of brim22. As shown inFIGS. 14 and 16, cavities125;125aare connected to slot openings66;66athrough channels125;125a. Brim assembly20further includes spring-loaded pin26journaled within spring loaded pin housing28aand mounted to reinforcement assembly60by being passed through opening68and locked in place at the rear of reinforcement assembly60using locking member28, as shown inFIGS. 4, 12, and 16. Brim22can have a curved configuration as seen inFIG. 2or a flat configuration as show inFIG. 13.

As shown inFIG. 15, cap crown assembly40can include first cap crown portion42and second cap crown portion42a, having top buttons44and44arespectively mounted to their top distal ends. First and second cap crown portions42;42aare shown pulled apart inFIG. 15but one would be tucked into the other in its operating environment. Cap crown assembly40includes band46that extends along the outer circumference of the hat and inner band46athat extends along the inner circumference of the hat. The bottommost distal ends (opposite top buttons44;44a) of first and second cap crown portions42;42aare stitched at and along midpoint48of inner band46aso that an equal amount of each is revealed when configured to be used in either side. Optionally, only one cap crown portion can be used and in a preferred embodiment has its bottommost distal end stitched to midpoint48.

Reinforcement assembly60is mounted between inner band46aand outer band46and includes reinforcement member62extending along a predetermined circumference, as seen inFIGS. 4 and 12. Reinforcement member62provides stability to cap crown assembly40so that brim assembly20can easily be pulled away and retracted while keeping locking pins64;64ain a cooperative location with respect to anchoring members24;24a, respectively.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 14, reinforcement assembly60further includes locking pins64;64amounted at a predetermined distance apart from each other along reinforcement member62. Locking pins64;64aare mounted at a position whereby they can effectively be simultaneously passed through openings66;66aand inserted into anchoring members24;24a, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, seen inFIGS. 4 and 11, locking pins64;64ainclude large portions166;166aand small portions164;164aspaced apart by cutouts165;165a. Small portions164;164aare inserted into anchoring members24;24a, respectively, which engages cutouts165;165acreating a secure engagement between anchoring members24;24aand locking pins64;64a, as seen inFIG. 12. In a preferred embodiment, reinforcement member62is made of a semi-rigid material allowing it to bend throughout a preselected distance of band46.

As shown inFIG. 14a, spring-loaded pin distal end26aprotrudes through spring-loaded pin opening68and is locked in place using pin locking member28. Pin locking member28can be a clamp member, a cap member, or any other component capable of performing the same or similar function.

When a user desires to reverse the cap he/she can either first reverse cap crown assembly40or brim assembly20. To reverse cap crown assembly40a user simply pushes it towards its opposite position until side2is visible and sufficiently exposed. The user then pulls brim22away from cap crown assembly40with sufficient force to overcome the bias from spring-loaded pin26, as shown inFIG. 4, to release locking pins64;64afrom anchoring members24;24a, respectively. As shown inFIGS. 5, 5A, and 6, a user then rotates brim22in a counterclockwise or clockwise direction while continuing to pull it away from cap crown assembly40until brim22reaches the desired reversed position that complements the reversed side of cap crown assembly40.

When brim22is in the proper reversed position with respect to cap crown assembly40the user then releases brim22to allow the bias of spring-loaded pin26to retract it back towards cap crown assembly11, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12. The user should ensure that locking pins64;64aare lined up with channels125;125to allow them to pass into cavities124;124awhere they will be received by anchoring members124;124a. This completes the reversal process and the same steps can be repeated to bring the cap back to its original position.