Hat having foldable flap

A hat includes a crown having an outer peripheral surface, and one or more flaps each having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, and each having an edge portion attached to the outer peripheral surface of the crown with an attaching line. The flaps are foldable relative to the crown to have either of the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the flaps to be selectively engaged onto the outer peripheral surface of the crown or to be exposed outwardly. The attaching lines of the flaps may be partially superposed with the each other. The flaps may be partially superposed with the each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hat, and more particularly to a hat having one or more flaps foldable relative to the crown, for such as decorative purposes.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical hats comprise a crown, and a shade provided or attached to the front portion of the crown for sun shading purposes.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,718,867 to Mahlmann discloses one of the typical hats and includes a folding eyeshade attached to the front portion of the crown for sun shading purposes.

Normally, the crowns of the hats includes an integral structure having no foldable flaps provided thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hat including one or more flaps foldable relative to the crown, for such as decorative purposes.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hat comprising a crown including an outer peripheral surface, and a first flap including an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, and including an edge portion attached to the outer peripheral surface of the crown with an attaching line. The first flap is foldable relative to the crown to have either of the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the first flap to be selectively engaged onto the outer peripheral surface of the crown or to be exposed outwardly.

A second flap may further be provided and include an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, and including an edge portion attached to the outer peripheral surface of the crown with an attaching line, the second flap being foldable relative to the crown to have either of the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the second flap to be selectively engaged onto the outer peripheral surface of the crown or to be exposed outwardly.

The attaching line of the second flap is partially superposed with the attaching line of the first flap. The outer peripheral surface of the second flap is engageable onto the inner peripheral surface of the first flap when the second flap is folded relative to the first flap.

A third flap may further be provided and include an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, and including an edge portion attached to the outer peripheral surface of the crown with an attaching line, the third flap being foldable relative to the crown to have either of the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the third flap to be selectively engaged onto the outer peripheral surface of the crown or to be exposed outwardly. The attaching line of the third flap is partially superposed with the attaching lines of the first and the second flaps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially toFIG. 1, a hat10in accordance with the present invention comprises a crown11having an outer peripheral surface12. The hat10may preferably or selectively comprise a shade13attached to the front portion14of the crown11, for sun shading purposes.

The hat10further includes one or more, such as three flaps20,30,40, as shown inFIGS. 1–3, attached onto the outer peripheral surface12of the crown11, with securing or attaching lines21,31,41respectively. The securing or attaching lines21,31,41of the flaps20,30,40may be partially superposed with each other.

For example, each of the flaps20,30,40includes an edge portion22,32,42secured or attached onto the outer peripheral surface12of the crown11, with the securing or attaching lines21,31,41respectively, and arranged to have the inner peripheral surface23,33,43of the flaps20,30,40(FIGS. 2–4) to be engaged onto the outer peripheral surface12of the crown11(FIG. 1).

As shown inFIGS. 2–4, the flaps20,30,40are arranged to be foldable and to have the outer peripheral surface24,34,44of the flaps20,30,40to be selectively folded and engaged onto the outer peripheral surface12of the crown11.

For example, as shown inFIG. 1, the inner peripheral surface23,33,43of the flaps20,30,40may be engaged onto the outer peripheral surface12of the crown11, to have the outer peripheral surface24,34,44of the flaps20,30,40to be exposed outwardly or to be seen by users.

As shown inFIG. 2, the flap20may be folded to have the outer peripheral surface24thereof engaged onto the outer peripheral surface12of the crown11, and thus to have the inner peripheral surface23thereof to be exposed outwardly or to be seen by users. The flaps20,30,40may be partially superposed with each other.

Alternatively, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the other flaps30,40may also be selectively folded to have the outer peripheral surface34,44thereof engaged onto the outer peripheral surface12of the crown11and/or the inner peripheral surface23of the flap20, and thus to have the inner peripheral surfaces33,43of the flaps30,40to be exposed outwardly or to be seen by users.

The surfaces23,24,33,34,43,44of the flaps20,30,40may thus be applied with various kinds of patterns or marks or figures thereon, and may be selectively exposed outwardly for such as decorative or marketing purposes.

Alternatively, as shown inFIGS. 5–7, the edge portion22,32,42of the flaps20,30,40may be secured onto the outer peripheral surface12of the crown11at different positions or with securing or attaching lines21,31,41at different portions the outer peripheral surface12of the crown11, and arranged to allow the flaps20,30,40to be foldable relative to the crown11, and to have the inner and the outer peripheral surfaces23,24,33,34,43,44of the flaps20,30,40to be selectively exposed outwardly or seen by users.

Accordingly, the hat in accordance with the present invention includes one or more flaps foldable relative to the crown, for such as decorative purposes.