Abstract:
A three position headpiece including a crown portion removably connected to a visor portion. The headpiece can be worn with the crown portion and visor portion connected by a concealed continuous fastening mechanism or the crown portion and the visor portion can be worn separately. The visor portion includes a hatband that conceals and provides a protective shield for the continuous fastening mechanism of the visor portion and crown portion. The hatband has an uninterrupted outer surface for advertisement or display. The junction between the visor portion and crown portion also forms a channel for the collection and controlled dissemination of fluids such as rainwater from the crown portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field  
         [0002]     The present disclosure relates to headpiece assemblies. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to headpiece assemblies having an increased flexibility of wear throughout a range of weather environments and preferences of the user.  
         [0003]     2. Background of Related Art  
         [0004]     Caps having separately wearable subassemblies have frequently been made that include a crown removably connected to a bill portion. The bill portion has a visor suitable for protecting the upper regions of the forehead from the sun and providing reduced eye strain. The crown and bill portion can be worn together, with the crown covering the top of the wearer&#39;s head and the visor shading the wearer&#39;s eyes, as well as separately.m The choice depending on the environment and preferences of the user. The crown and bill are often connected by a zipper and an adjustable connector employed to make the size of the cap adjustable. Advertising and decorative logos are often applied to the outside of such caps, so that maximizing the attractive space available for such purposes, and the presentation of a smooth, uninterrupted external surface is important. Different approaches have been taken to make such caps.  
         [0005]     For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,270 to De La Torre, a three-in-one transformation hat having a crown and a visor connected by a zipper on the exterior surface of the visor is disclosed. De La Torre also teaches that concealing strips, that are not shown in its figures, could be used on the exterior of the headwear to cover and conceal the connection between the two zipper elements, when crown and visor are together. This, however, requires additional manufacturing steps to cut and add the external covering strips, without which the zipper connection becomes exposed to view and entirely exposed top the elements. The positioning of the zipper on the exterior surface of the hat in De La Torre, leaves two visible strips, additional seams and/or a noticeable gap. These detract from the appearance of the hat, interrupt the advertising surface, attract attention to the connection that is made, and leave the connection that is made vulnerable to weather conditions. The present invention avoids the additional manufacturing steps of cutting and attaching two concealing strips and, with fewer seams, it is less vulnerable to damage caused by weather and wear, and is more esthetic in appearance.  
         [0006]     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,338 to Clark, a multi use head cover is disclosed having a zipper connecting a visor band and a fabric dome. The fabric dome is specifically configured for the crown portion to meet the religious requirements of a Jewish yarmulke and does not extend downward over the side of the head of a wearer. One side strip of the zipper is positioned on the exterior and upper edge of the visor band and the other is positioned on the corresponding edge of the fabric dome or yarmulke. Clark does not discuss concealing the zipper and thus leaves an exposed visible, strip that is detracting and also vulnerable to weather conditions.  
         [0007]     The U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,099,524 and 5,901,370 to Linday describe segmented cap assemblies having a crown component, a visor component, and a sweatband component connectable together in varying combinations using hook and loop strips. The two Linday patents define an internal connection between a fabric crown and a preferably plastic visor. They employ hook and loop sections on the visor component and the crown component to effect detachable connection. These require great care by the user in order to reliably achieve the desired aligned appearance each time the crown and visor are disassembled and re-joined. In addition, the Linday patents are vulnerable to uncontrolled and undesirable penetration of rain running from the crown component into the gap at the hook and loop connection between the forehead portion and the crown component.  
         [0008]     A continuing need exists for a multiple position headpiece assembly that is readily and reliably repositioned, has an improved inclement weather capability, and provides an attractive, visually uninterrupted surface. for advertising and decoration.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     A three position headpiece assembly is provided comprising a visor portion and a crown portion. The visor portion includes a hatband that is connected with a visor and a sweatband. The visor portion can also include an adjustable connector for varying the size of the headpiece. The crown portion has a generally domed shape defining a top and a lower edge. A continuous fastening mechanism has a first portion positioned on an inner surface of the hatband and a second portion positioned on the lower edge of the crown portion.  
         [0010]     In a first position, the crown portion and visor portion are arranged together with the first portion and the second portion of the continuous fastening mechanism being connected and concealed by the headband. The outer surface of the hatband is configured to uniquely provide an additional protective barrier for the junction of the continuous fastening mechanism during inclement weather and provide an uninterrupted surface for advertising. The hatband is also configured to provide a channel, in combination with a rim of the crown portion, for the controlled collection and dissemination of fluids such as rainwater from the crown portion.  
         [0011]     In a second position, the crown portion is disconnected from the visor portion and the headpiece is arranged for the visor portion to be worn separately. The first portion of the continuous fastening mechanism remains concealed on the inner surface of the hatband. Alternatively, when the headpiece is arranged for the crown portion to be worn without the visor portion, the headpiece is in a third position.  
         [0012]     The invention, together with attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when used in conjunction with the figures below. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     Preferred embodiments of the presently disclosed three position headpiece are described herein with reference to the drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the three position headpiece in a first position constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a partially cut away rear perspective view of the headpiece of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the headpiece of  FIG. 1  in a second position with the crown portion disconnected from the visor portion; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the headpiece of  FIG. 1  in a third position with the visor portion disconnected from the crown portion. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     Referring now in specific detail to the drawings in which like referenced numerals identify similar or identical elements throughout the several views, and initially to  FIGS. 1-2 , a novel headpiece  10  having a shape of a baseball cap or hat is shown constructed in accordance with the present disclosure and is intended for use with a head of a wearer.  
         [0019]     Headpiece  10  has a first position wherein a visor portion  20  is removably connected to a crown portion  40 . Headpiece  10  has a frontal area  12  including a visor  22  and a diametrically opposing rear area  14  that can have an adjustable connecting mechanism  60 , such as a hook and loop, strap, snap, or buckle type device. In the alternative, headpiece  10  can have a range of predetermined hat sizes without connecting mechanism  60 .  
         [0020]     Visor portion  20  has a visor  22  connected to a hatband  30 . Visor  22  is preferably positioned diametrically opposite adjustable connecting mechanism  60  on headpiece  10 , has a generally arcuate cross section perpendicular to a first axis defined by visor  22  and connecting mechanism  60 , and has a suitable configuration and dimensions for a sun visor. Visor  22  is preferably made of a semi-rigid material.  
         [0021]     Hatband  30  is fabricated of flexible fabric materials and at least has an arcuate shape with a center defining an intersection of a second axis perpendicular to the first axis such that the second axis also intersects opposing points of hatband  30 . When utilized, connecting mechanism  60  is attached to terminal ends  31  and  33  and defines a completed circular structure in combination with hatband  30 . Hatband  30  in one preferred embodiment is fabricated at least partially of the same material as crown portion  40 . While hatband  30  in this embodiment is shown with seams corresponding to the seams on crown portion  40 , hatband  30  can be fabricated of any suitable material for the application of a hatband as described herein including a continuous strip of material without seams as well as a material with seams or other means of joining pieces of one or more materials.  
         [0022]     Hatband  30  defines a first or a bottom edge  32  and a second or an upper edge  34 . First edge  32  is connected to an upper surface of visor  22 . Second edge  34  extends generally perpendicular to the first and second axes in the direction of a top  42  of crown portion  40  and is hereafter described as upward or above. The opposing direction perpendicular to the first and second axes, is referred to hereafter as downward or below. Hatband  30  also includes an outer surface  36  and an inner surface  38  as well as ends  31  and  33 . Hatband  30  preferably has sufficient structural integrity to remain upright such that upper edge  34  is a freestanding edge unconnected to any other portion of headpiece  10 .  
         [0023]     Crown portion  40  is joined to visor portion  20  by a continuous fastening mechanism  35  that can be a zipper or a continuous pressure snap type apparatus, for example, providing a secure and aligned attachment. A first portion  35 A of the continuous fastening mechanism  35  is positioned on inner surface  38  a suitable distance below upper edge  34  for the concealment of first portion  35 A. Continuous fastening mechanism  35  extends between ends  31  and  33  of hatband  30 . A second portion  35 B of continuous fastening mechanism  35  is positioned on crown portion  40  and is also concealed when connected to first portion  35 A during the normal wear of headpiece  10 . The position of first portion  35 A on inner surface  38  can vary from the suitable distance below edge  34  for concealment to edge  32  or directly to visor  22 . A rim  39  is defined by the distance between edge  34  or visor  22  and first portion  35 A.  
         [0024]     Outer surface  36  of hatband  30  provides a valuable protective element constructively positioned to assist headpiece  10  in keeping inclement weather conditions, such as a driving rain, from being forced through continuous fastening mechanism  35 . Additionally, outer surface  36 , crown portion  40 , and visor  22  have an uninterrupted surface suitable for the positioning of logos, advertisements, or trademarks  70 , for example, without additional detracting lines, gaps, or overlying layers of materials having undesirably varying colors or textures. The uninterrupted surface  36 , as defined herein, can include seams joining material segments typical of many baseball style caps, which can still fixedly accommodate items such as advertisements throughout the dimensional range of hatband  30 .  
         [0025]     Further, the combination of rim  46  of crown  40 , continuous fastening mechanism  35 , and rim  39  of hatband  30 , define a continuous channel  50  running the length of hatband  30 . In one preferred embodiment, headpiece  10  when worn in a normal configuration with lower edge  32  of hatband  30  approximately level, channel  50  has a peak approximately at the point of intersection with the first axis and has a descending slope toward rear  14  of headpiece  10 .  
         [0026]     Crown  40  preferably has a generally rounded dome shape with a centrally positioned peak or top  42  and a circular lower edge  44  interrupted by an arcuate cut out  45 . Peak  42  can have a button, logo, or an uninterrupted surface. Crown  40  is preferably fabricated of segmented portions, but can also be formed from a continuous single piece of material. Hatband  20  is preferably fabricated similarly to crown  40 . Arcuate cut out  45  is positioned diametrically opposite visor  22  and directly above connecting mechanism  60 . Corners  43  and  47  of cut out  45  abut edges  31  and  33  of hatband  30 . Cut out  45  provides enhanced flexibility for the range of adjustable sizes for connecting mechanism  60 . In an alternative embodiment, wherein hatband  30  has a continuous annular structure  61 , fitted crown  40  has a mating circular lower edge  44  without cut out  45 .  
         [0027]     Hatband  30  includes a sweatband  28  having an outer fabric material and an inner sweat absorbing material abutting inner side  38 . Sweatband  28  is the primary interface with the wearer and runs the length of the arcuate inner surface of hatband  30 . Sweatband  28  has a lower edge  27  that is attached to hatband  30  lower edge  32  and visor  22 .  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , when crown portion  40  is removed, headpiece  10  is arranged in a second position wherein visor portion  20  is worn separately. Visor portion  20  in the second position retains the advantages provided by hatband  30  of concealing continuous fastening mechanism  35  below edge  34  during normal wear and providing an advertising surface that is uninterrupted by the lines of a continuous connecting mechanism or varying textures or types of materials for concealing strips. Edges  31  and  33  are attached to adjustable connecting mechanism  60 .  
         [0029]     Sweatband  28  has a free upper edge  29  which provides a relative bias against the head of the wearer. The relative bias of sweatband  28  provides for an improved collection of sweat and assists in comfortably retaining headpiece  10  on the head of the wearer. Upper edge  29  is positioned below the upper edge of continuous fastening mechanism  35 .  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , headpiece  10  is in a third position wherein crown portion  40  is worn as a skull cap. Crown portion  40  preferably has a button positioned on top  42  and continuous fastening mechanism  35 B extends downward from edge  44  and is visually exposed. Edge  44  is interrupted by cut out  45  when adjustable connecting mechanism  60  is employed. The dome shape of crown  40  at least partially covers the side of the head of the wearer thereby providing additional protection from ultraviolet rays when visor portion  20  is not desired or is detrimental to the wearer&#39;s work or recreation activity, for example.  
         [0031]     Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.