A PACKABLE HAT

Abstract: A covering (10) for the head such as a hat, cap or visor which has been provided with means (5) to secure said covering for the head into a compact unit.

Description: Descrlption A Packable Hat Technical field This invention relates to an article of headwear such as a hat, cap, or visor which can be folded into a compact shape which is easy-to-carry. Bac ground Art Anyone who expects to be outdoors and would like to utilize a hat can be greatly benefitted by a hat which reduces in size, especially one that can fit in their pocket. One of the distinct advantages of the hat which I have invented is that in the preferred embodiment it is substantially flat unlike other packable hats which still remain quite bulky. Disclosure of Invention The article of headwear which is the topic of the present invention is provided with cooperating and comple¬ mentary attaching or fastening members which are secured so that the article of headwear is formed into a compact unit as referred to above. For a better understanding of the invention reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descrip¬ tive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of hat 10 as worn by user; Fig. 2 is a top view of zipper case 5; Fig. 3 is a top view of hat 10; Fig. 4 is a side view of hat 10; Fig. 5 is another side view of hat 10; Fig. 6 shows case 5 covering the brim of hat 10; Fig. 7 shows zipper case 5 being zipped shut; Fig. 8 shows the completely zipped shut case 5; Figs. 9-11 shows hat 30 being packed. OMPI Pig. 12 shows a different type of zipper case which can be used for the invention. Fig. 13 shows a convenient type of handle which can be used with the packable hat which allows the user to attach the compact unit to their belt loop. Detailed Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a side view of hat 10 as worn by user. Hat 10 is a popular style cap in which the top of the hat overlaps the brim in the front of the hat. Figure 1 reveals brim 2 and the point in the very front center of the brim point 3. Figure 2 illustrates zipper case 5 which will be sewn inside the hat. The case 5 is a little larger then the brim 2 of hat 10. It is larger in regards to both length and width; which will allow it to contain the brim and the rest of the folded hat when the folding process is com¬ plete and the case 5 is zipped shut. Zipper 6 surrounds the entire case 5 as illustrated. One row of zipper teeth 7 (the first attaching member) surrounds the left half of the case. The other row of zipper teeth 9 (the second attaching member) surrounds the right side of zipper case 5. Figure 2 is a top view of the zipper case 5. Slider 8 is also shown. Figure 3 is a top view of hat 10 illustrating the location of the zipper case 5 when it is sewn into the hat. The case is illustrated with a dotted line because it is not visible because it is located inside the hat. It is positioned at the back of the inside top of the hat. The slider 8 is located at the very back of the inside top of the hat at the point furthest from the brim. The outside of the case is facing toward the head of the user when the hat is being worn. Figure 4 is another side view of hat 10. The black arrow in Figure 4 shows the direc- tion of the first step of the folding process; the back will be turned over exposing zipper case 5. Figure 5 shows that the first step has occurred and the case 5 has been exposed. The black arrow in figure 5 shows the direction of the next step of the folding process, when case 5 will be brought forward until it covers the brim 2. Figure 6 shows that the case 5 has been placed directly on the brim 2 of hat 10. The slider 8 of the zipper 6 is located directly in the middle of the front of brim 2 at point 3 so that each side of the case is also covering the corresponding side of the brim. Figure 7 shows that the slider 8 has begun to be pulled forward forcing the two sets of zipper teeth 7 and 9 to come together. This is also forcing the brim of the hat to be bent in two equal halves. Now the excess hat is merely tucked into the case 5. Figure 8 shows that this has been done and that the slider 8 has been completely pulled around forcing the case to become completely closed. Now the hat 10 is an extremely compact unit which is substan¬ tially flat and easily stored in a pocket or purse. The brim of hat 10, and the brim of all hats are made from a firm material which gives it strength enough to- protrude out from the crown of the hat and shield the user's eyes from the sun and the rain. This invention utilizes that firm material as a support structure to create a basically flat unit when the hat is packed. The soft part of the hat can be formed around or next to the stronger supporting brim structure and when secured there will be able to take on the substantially flat character¬ istics of the brim. Therefore the brim need not have been folded in half, it could have been folded in fourths or the corners of the brim could have been bent under the brim causing it to become folded into substantial thirds. The brim need not be folded at all as in the case of the style hat worn for bicycling in which the brim is extremely small. The brim of hat 10 was made from a material which will not crack when it is continually folded. The card- board and plastics which are usually used for the brim of a hat will crack when folded in half. To remedy this any of a series of materials can be used. These materials include but are not limited to Polypropylene (especially a SHEET Copolymer), Polyethylene, a saturated polyester material, a needle punch fabric such as polyester with an extruded film backing, surlyn materials and Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (E.V.A.). These materials can be surrounded by fabric to make up for their appearance. The brim need not be made of flexible materials as even a hat with a permanent bend in the brim will still be quite useful for protecting the wearer from the sun and the rain etc. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to a zipper case like case 5. A zipper could have been sewn directly to the hat in the same location as the one used with zipper case 5 and hat 10 and the hat could have been folded the same way. This invention is also not limited to the use of a zipper as any means to secure the hat to the brim will suffice, or when a "case" member is utilized any means of securing the case closed will suffice for the purposes of this invention. This invention can be applied to any style hat. For example, Fig. 9 illustrates hat 20, a domed style hat with a brim 21 which borders the periphery of the crown. Zipper case 22 is located inside the hat and illustrated with a dotted line. The hat 20 can be turned inside-out and the case 22 exposed. Figure 10 shows that the brim has been folded in fourths and now has a flat shape to it. Fig. 11 will show that the soft part of the hat 20 can be rolled down onto the case 22 next to the flat brim structure which has been turned up onto the case 22. Case 22 also contains first attaching member 23 and the second attaching member 24. In Fig. 11 the case can be secured into a substantially flat unit by zipping the case 22 shut, by pulling the slider 27 until the securing members 23 and 24 are completely secured to one another. The compact unit need not be flat as hat 20 could have been folded quickly without care and merely contained within the case 22, without regard to creating the firm flat supporting brim structure illustrated in figures 10 and 11. Fig. 11 shows the hat 20 ready to be folded. Figure 12 is an illustration of a different type of case to use for the hat. The case 40 has a zipper 41 which has a separating zipper (both sets of teeth come completely apart when the slidder is pulled completely open). Figure 12 shows row of zipper teeth 45 and row of zipper teeth 46 also seen is slider 47. This type of separating case can be placed in two different places in the hat and is therefore adaptable to different style hats which do not have a flat top like hat 10 but are more curve shaped. As mentioned before a zipper case need not be used. If a case member is utilized for the invention it may be in the form of a pocket with an opening at one end which snaps or otherwise closes along that edge and is designed to accommodate the flat shaped supporting brim structure and secure the soft part of the hat to it. Figure 13 is an illustration of a type of handle which can be placed on the compact unit so that it can be attached to the user's belt if so desired. Along one side of the case is a set of snaps 51-51. The corresponding set of snaps are located on either end of thin strip of sturdy material such as leather. The person using the hat can use this handle to secure the compact unit to their belt. Figure 13 illustrates that the corresponding snaps to snaps 51 are labeled 52-52 and that compact unit they are attached to is labeled 50 designating case 50. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expres- sions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown or described or portions thereof, it being recognized that various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. For the purposes of this description of the invention and the claim ' s which follow the expression "covering for the head" is used to mean a hat, cap, visor, or any other type of apparel which is worn on a person's head. E SHEET

Claims: Cla i s 1. A covering for the head capable of being secured into a compact unit which comprises: a covering for the head; and means to secure said covering for the head into a compact unit after it has been formed into a compact con¬ figuration; so constructed and arranged that the covering for the head can be formed into a compact configuration and secured into said compact configuration forming a compact unit. 2. The covering for the head according to claim 1. wherein said covering for the head has first and second attaching members to serve as the means to secure said covering for the head into said compact unit. 3. The covering for the head according to claim 2. wherein said first and second attaching members are positioned on a case-like member which is shaped to con- tain said compact configuration when said case is secured closed. 4. The covering for the head according to claim 3. wherein said case-like member is positioned on the inside of said covering for the head. 5. The covering for the head according to claim 4. wherein said case-like member is positioned on the inside of said covering for the head at the top and in the back of said covering for the head. 6. The covering for the head according to claim 1. wherein said compact unit has a detachable handle. OMPI "

Inventors: DEGENNARO ALFRED ANTHONY, DEGENNARO, ALFRED, ANTHONY
Applicants: DEGENNARO ALFRED ANTHONY, DEGENNARO, ALFRED, ANTHONY
Application year: 1983
Main classification: A42B1
IPC codes: A42B1