Convertible survival cap

The present invention relates to headwear and more particularly relates to a convertible survival hat which selectively covers multiple areas of the wearer's head, face and neck.

GENERAL BACKGROUND 
Various outdoor activities including outdoor sports, winter sports, 
hunting, and fishing often subject a participant to bitterly cold weather. 
Such activities as, for example, duck hunting, goose hunting, ice fishing, 
snow mobiling, skiing and the like subject the participant to extremely 
cold temperatures which are sometimes accompanied by high winds and chill 
factor. 
Many times persons working in areas which are not protected from wind such 
as sailors, or offshore oil rig workers are subjected to high winds and 
cold temperatures which can cause a great deal of discomfort to the head 
and facial areas. 
It is well-known that the head and neck areas of a human are significant 
areas of heat loss during cold weather. The use of full coverage hats for 
the purpose of keeping an individual warm during cold weather has been a 
common practice. 
A significant problem which accompanies full coverage hats is that they 
become quite uncomfortable during a rapid temperature rise. For example, 
it is common for a duck hunter, deer hunter, or goose hunter to be 
subjected to chilling temperatures of below zero in the early morning 
hours and yet be warmed significantly as the day progresses and the sun 
begins to shine. It is not unusual for pre-dawn temperatures to be at or 
below 0.degree. F. and noon day temperatures to rise to 40.degree. 
F.-70.degree. F. if the sun is bright. Various types of caps and hats are 
convertible having flaps which can cover the ears of the individual and 
yet fold upwardly onto the crown of the hat in order to expose the ears as 
temperatures warm. These hats however do not protect the facial areas of 
the wearer. One such convertible type cap can be seen in the Rosenberg 
patent, U.S. Pat. No. 1,639,468 issued Aug. 16, 1927 and entitled "Cap." 
In that patent, FIGS. 1 and 3 show a cap with the ear flaps in a downward 
position and in an upward position respectively. 
Some hats or hoods provide a downwardly depending skirt which extends from 
the crown to the upper shoulder area of the individual thus covering the 
neck area of the wearer. For example, the Gianola patent entitled "Head 
Covering Garmet" (U.S. Pat. No. 2,839,757) shows a garmet comprised of 
fabric tailored to provide area which respectively cover the top, back and 
sides of the wearer and the tailored fabric extends downwardly from the 
back and side areas to constitute respective areas that cover the back and 
sides of the neck of the wearer. A pair of baffles are retracted into the 
walls of the skirt so that they can be stored when not in use. A fabric 
web of flexible material is secured inside a pocket on each side of the 
skirt. When a particular baffle is inserted into its pocket, the web of 
material folds upon itself and when the baffle is withdrawn from the 
pocket for use, the web locates the rearward edge of the baffle at the 
front edge of the hood and slightly inside the pocket. The baffles are 
also removable when weather conditions render them useless. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,316,778 entitled "Combined Cap Scarf" issued to L. H. 
Ensten in 1919 relates to a combined cap and scarf, which provides a cap 
with angular flaps at each side, together with a broad band stitched to 
the angularly-related edges of the flaps at the back of the cap, and with 
separate long pendent ends at the front of the cap. 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,437,244 entitled "Headwear" issued to M. E. Heinrich in 
1922 relates to improvements in head wear and particularly to an article 
which may be worn as a helmet cap, with strap portions extending 
downwardly and fastened beneath the chin of the wearer so as to confine 
the hair: these strap portions also being adapted to be turned up against 
the sides of the crown portion of the article, the construction being such 
as to give the appearance of an attractive hat. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,686,317 entitled "Head Wearing Apparel" issued in 1954 to 
H. O. Michaelis. An object of this apparatus is the provision of a cap or 
hood for receiving the entire head and face of the wearer and wherein 
certain portions of the face covering sections of said cap or hood may be 
swung laterally away from the face and held in positions to provide an 
opening through which the eyes, nose, mouth, and chin of the wearer may be 
exposed, provision also being made at the same time to securely fasten the 
hood or cap around the wearer's neck with a more or less snug fit. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,743,454 entitled "Insulated Sound Transmitting Ear Cells 
for a Cap" issued in 1956, discloses a winter cap for use by members of 
the armed services, and the like, having means adjacent to the ears of the 
wearer for protecting the ears from cold and wind, but readily admitting 
sound. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,508 entitled "Safety Helmet Liner and Assembly" issued 
in 1965 to W. W. Cox. This patent shows a winter liner which is adapted 
for assembly within any safety helmet for providing means, without buckles 
or straps, for anchoring the ear flaps against the neck during use and 
alternately for holding the flap ends up against the safety helmet itself 
when desired; and further provides increased sound transmission through 
the flaps while yet retaining a certain degree of protection from the 
elements. 
A French Pat. No. 420,634 shows a hood-like hat that connects under the 
chin. 
A U.S. Pat. No. Des. 189,233 entitled "Hood" issued in 1960 shows an 
ornamental design for a hood having a skirt which could cover the wearer's 
neck. 
The above devices suffer in that they are either too complicated and/or do 
not provide a fully covering hat which protects all areas of the face, yet 
convertibility into multiple positions depending upon weather conditions. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention solves these prior art problems and shortcomings in a 
simple and straightforward manner. The present invention thus provides a 
convertible headwear for fowl weather conditions which can be converted 
into multiple positions as weather conditions deteriorate and/or improve. 
The headwear of the present invention can initially provide full coverage, 
for example, in the early morning hours of a duck hunt when temperatures 
might be at or below 0.degree. Farenheit. As the day progresses and 
weather conditions improve, the device can be converted into multiple 
positions which selectively cover either: (1) the neck area while exposing 
the eyes, nose and mouth, (2) the side and rear neck area while exposing 
the eyes, nose, mouth and forward neck area, (3) the crown portion of the 
head of the wearer while exposing the neck and face areas, and (4) full 
coverage of all areas of the head and neck with the exception of the eyes, 
needed for viewing. 
The present invention thus provides a full coverage yet convertible fowl 
weather head wear having a crown portion which covers the head of the 
wearer generally above the wearer's ears and eyes. A skirt assembly 
extends down from the crown portion to a position below the wearer's neck 
and circumferentially around the wearer's neck so that it covers the side 
and rear neck, terminating generally at the wearer's face. A first pair of 
independently closable flap covers cooperate to cover the wearer's nose 
and mouth areas, but can be folded rearwardly to a position which abuts 
the skirt assembly so that the flaps are removed from obstructing the face 
of the wearer yet are neatly carried by the skirt. A second pair of 
independently closable flap covers cooperate to cover the wearer's forward 
neck area, yet also can be folded rearwardly upon the skirt if desired. 
Since each of the independently movable pairs of flaps can be removed from 
their forward position covering a portion of the face, they can be folded 
and carried with the skirt to an upper position upon the crown so that the 
entire assembly of the first and second pairs of flaps and the skirt can 
be removed from the neck and face areas entirely and carried upon the 
crown as weather conditions improve and as temperature rises. Thus, the 
present invention provides a very versatile headwear which is easy to use, 
simple to construct and highly efficient in protecting the wearer during 
all types of weather conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
FIGS. 1-5 show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present 
invention designated generally by the numeral 10. Convertible survival cap 
10 as more fully described hereinafter provides selective full or partial 
coverage of the wearer's head, neck and face areas. A crown 12 portion 
covers the head of the wearer generally above the wearer's eyes 14 and 
ears 16. The crown 12 has a forwardly extending brim 13. In FIGS. 1, 3 and 
5, the crown 12 is that portion generally above the dotted line a--a. A 
foldable skirt 20 extends downwardly from the crown 12 portion to a 
position below the wearer's neck 22 and circumferentially around the 
wearer's neck 22. The skirt 20 terminates at left 23 and right 24 skirt 
edges which generally coincide with the peripheral sides of the wearer's 
face when the skirt 20 is unfolded. In FIGS. 1 and 3, the dotted line b--b 
generally indicates the peripheral sides of the wearer's face and the left 
23 and right 24 skirt edges. 
A first upper pair of independently closable left and right flap covers 26, 
28 are attached to an extend respectively from the left 23 and right 24 
skirt edges. The upper pair of flap covers 26, 28 are connectable in a 
forward position with respect to the wearer's head (see FIG. 2) that 
covers the wearer's nose 30 and mouth 32 areas. The upper pair of flap 
covers 26, 28 can be folded at the skirt edges 23, 24 to a rearwardly 
removed position which abuts the skirt 20 (see FIGS. 1, 3) to expose the 
wearer's nose 30 and mouth 32. Each upper flap cover 26, 28 includes an 
inner Velcro fastener 27, one of the flap covers 26, 28 includes an outer 
Velcro fastener 27. Cooperating Velcro fasteners 29 are positioned upon 
the skirt 20 so that each upper flap cover can be folded at the skirt 
edges 23, 24 to a rearwardly removed position. 
A second pair 40, 42 of independently closable flap covers are placed 
generally below the first pair of flap covers 26, 28 but are independently 
movable with respect to the first pair 26, 28 of flap covers. The second 
lower pair 40, 42 of independently closable flap covers are however 
likewise attached to and extend respectively from the left and right skirt 
edges 23, 24. Each pair 40, 42 of the closable flap covers connects with 
the other in a forward position which covers the wearer's forward neck 
area 43. 
Lower flaps 40, 42 each carry external Velcro fasteners 44, 45. Left lower 
flap 40 provides both exterior and interior surface Velco fasteners 27. 
The crown 12 carries Velcro fastener 50 at its apex 52 and an additional 
Velco fastener 55 at the rear area of the crown 12. The skirt 20 carries a 
Velcro fastener 57 at its rear lower edge which cooperates with the 
fastener 55 upon the crown 20. 
Convertible survival cap 10 as aforedescribed can be worn in three 
different positions. The first position (FIG. 2) provides full coverage of 
the head, neck, and facial areas of the wearer except the eyes 14. The 
second position (FIG. 3) covers all of the aforedescribed positions of the 
wearer's head but exposes the nose and mouth. The third position (FIG. 5) 
only covers the crown of the wearer's head above the ears and eyes of the 
wearer. Thus, the first position would be used in bitter cold or freezing 
temperatures. The second position is a transitional position which could 
be used as temperatures rise or fall as the case may be or when 
temperatures are moderate such as in the 35.degree. F.-50.degree. F. 
range. The third position is used as temperatures become warmer such as, 
for example, 50.degree. F.-70.degree. F. The above temperature ranges are 
merely illustrative, of course, as the individual wearer is afforded a 
tremendous comfort range which can be adjusted to the individual's 
desires. 
Convertible survival cap 10 could be manufactured of any suitable warm 
material such as, for example, a laminated fabric of fur or lamb's wool as 
an inner layer, with an outer layer of nylon, leather, fabric or the like. 
Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope 
of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many modifications may 
be made in the embodiment of the law, it is to be understood that the 
details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting 
sense.