Patent Publication Number: US-6704940-B1

Title: Convertible hat

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a convertible hat, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a brimmed hat that converts into a skullcap type configuration, such as a swimming cap, and, for illustrative purposes, reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as a hat which can be folded to a convenient size for storage and portability. 
     People are becoming better educated about the dangers of the sun and its association with skin cancer. One method of protection from the sun is to wear a hat. However, wearing a hat conventionally has been difficult for persons who swim or participate in other sports. 
     It is accordingly the primary objective of the present invention that it provide a hat that may be converted between a conventional hat to a skullcap type configuration, such as a swimming cap. The cap of the present invention should achieve the aforesaid objective and the advantages thereof and be achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages and limitations of the background art are overcome by the present invention. With this invention, a hat is disclosed which may be converted between a conventional hat to a skullcap type configuration, such as a swimming cap. 
     Accordingly, this invention in one aspect resides in a convertible hat including a crown and a brim, wherein the brim is hingedly connected to the lower peripheral edge of the crown, and wherein the brim protrudes outwardly from the crown in an operative condition, and wherein the brim is retractable from the operative condition such that the brim substantially conforms to at least a portion of the outer surface of the crown. 
     The crown may be any suitable shape for covering the head of a wearer. For example, the crown may be generally dome-shaped and be close fitting to the head of a wearer. The crown may have a generally circular lower peripheral edge for defining the opening to receive the head of a wearer. 
     The brim may extend radially around substantially the entire lower peripheral edge of the crown and may shade the wearer when worn with the brim protruding outwardly in an operative condition. The brim is hingedly connected to the crown to enable the brim to retract. The hinged connection may provide a pivot point or may simply enable the brim to be retracted such that it substantially conforms to a least a portion of the outer surface of the crown. 
     The brim may be retractable from the operative condition by any suitable retracting mechanism that upwardly draws or lifts the brim. For example, an elasticized band may be associated with at least the outer edge of the brim and the brim may be held in the operative condition against the influence of the elastic band. The elastic may tension the brim when the brim is in an operative condition. The wearer may be able to bias the tensioned brim to a inoperative or raised position by flexing the brim upwards, wherein the brim retracts on the hinged connection to a position substantially conforming to the crown. 
     Alternatively, the brim may incorporate outwardly extending stiffeners spaced around the brim and extending between the lower peripheral edge of the crown and the outer edge of the brim. The hinged connection between the lower peripheral edge of the crown and the stiffeners may be an over-center type hinge, which maintains the brim outstretched in a shaded attitude when the outer edge of the brim is below the center edge of the hinge. The elastic band may retract the outer edge of the brim when the brim is raised up over the center position of the hinge. 
     In another embodiment, one or more drawstrings may be associated with the outer peripheral edge of the brim. The brim may be a soft brim, wherein substantially the entire outer peripheral portion of the brim may be gathered by the drawstring. Alternatively, the brim may be stiffened with spaced apart ribs to permit a portion of the brim between the ribs to be gathered. The portion of the brim which is gathered enables the brim to be retracted to a position overlying and conforming to at least a portion of the outer surface of the crown. The hat may be converted to a skullcap type configuration by gathering the outer edge of the brim to a smaller dimension than the lower peripheral edge of the crown. 
     The outer edge of the stiffeners may include a locator for locating the drawstring(s) around the outer edge of the brim. For example, the locator may be a fork-like or channel-like member having two opposing sides, wherein the drawstring(s) is located therebetween. Alternatively, the locator may be an eye or conduit wherein the drawstring(s) is threaded therethrough. 
     The stiffeners and lower peripheral edge of the crown may form a skeleton for a hat in accordance with the invention. The skeleton may be constructed from any suitable material that may be flexible, but substantially firm. For example, the skeleton may be made from plastics materials, such as PVC or other polymers. The skeleton may be covered in a lightweight material or fabric forming the brim and crown. Suitably, the material or fabric is flexible, UV reflective and not adversely affected by immersion in fresh, chlorinated or salt water. The material may also be quick drying. 
     A wearer may pull the drawstring(s) to gather at least a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the brim. As the brim gathers the stiffeners may retract on the hinged connection and the portion of the brim between the stiffeners gathers and/or folds until the gathered brim conforms to at least a portion of the outer surface of the crown forming a skullcap type configuration. Hats in accordance with the invention may provide protection against the elements, even while swimming. 
     In another aspect this invention resides in a convertible hat including a crown and a brim connected to a lower peripheral edge of the crown, and gathering means for gathering the outer edge of the brim above the lower peripheral edge of the crown. 
     In another aspect this invention resides in a brimmed hat including a crown and a brim connected to a lower peripheral edge of the crown, and a pair of drawstrings which may be retracted from a respective side or from respective sides of the brim to provide a chinstrap. The hat may be a hat as defined above. 
     In a further aspect this invention resides about a retractor for retracting the outer edge of the brim above the lower peripheral edge of the crown. 
     In a still further aspect this invention resides in a convertible hat including a crown and a brim connected to a lower peripheral edge of the crown, said brim having a plurality of stiffeners outwardly extending between the lower peripheral edge of the crown and the outer edge of the brim, wherein said stiffeners are hingedly connected to said lower peripheral edge, and at least one drawstring associated with the outer edge of the brim. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other advantages of the present invention are best understood with reference to the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person wearing a hat in an operative condition in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the skeleton of the hat; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the drawstring mechanism of the hat; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the hat with the skeleton shown in hidden detail; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the hat with skeleton shown in hidden detail; 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of the hat with skeleton shown in hidden detail; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a rib connected to the head band; 
     FIG. 8 is an underside view of a wide rib; 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a user converting the hat into a skull or swimming cap; 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a user wearing the hat as a skull or swimming cap; 
     FIG. 11 illustrates the skeleton of an alternative form of the hat in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 12 illustrates the drawstring mechanism of the alternative form of the hat; 
     FIG. 13 illustrates the alternative form of the hat with the skeleton shown in hidden detail; 
     FIG. 14 is a top view of the alternative form of the hat with the skeleton shown in hidden detail; 
     FIG. 15 is a front view of the alternative form of the hat with the skeleton shown in hidden detail; 
     FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a rib connected to the headband of the alternative form of the hat; 
     FIG. 17 is an underside view of a guiding rib from the alternative form of the hat; 
     FIG. 18 illustrates a user converting the alternative form of the hat into a skull or swimming cap; and 
     FIG. 19 illustrates a user wearing the alternative form of the hat as a skull or swimming cap. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a hat  10  shading a wearer in an operative condition. The hat includes a crown  11  and a brim  12  connected to and protruding outwardly from the lower peripheral edge of the crown  13 . The crown  11  has a generally circular lower peripheral edge  13  for receiving the head of a wearer. The upper portion of the crown  11  is generally dome shaped and fits closely the wearer&#39;s head. The brim  12  extends radially around the entire lower periphery of the crown  13 . 
     The hat  10  is constructed from a skeleton  14 , as illustrated in FIG.  2 . The skeleton  14  includes a head band  15 , the lower edge of the head band forming the lower peripheral edge of the crown  13 , and a plurality of stiffeners or ribs  16  which extend outwardly between the lower peripheral edge of the crown  13  to the outer edge of the brim  12 . The ribs  16  are hingedly connected  17  to the lower edge peripheral of the crown  13 . This enables the ribs  16  to move from an outstretched condition when the brim  11  is in a operative condition, to an inoperative condition or raised position, wherein the ribs  16  are verlying an upper portion of the crown  11 , substantially conforming to the outer surface of the crown  11 . 
     The outer peripheral edge of the ribs  16  includes a locator  18  for locating one or more drawstrings  19  around the outer edge of the brim  12 , as shown in FIG.  3 . The locator  18 , as best shown in FIG. 7, is a fork-like like or channel-like member having opposing sides. In alternative embodiments, the locator  18  may be an eye or conduit through which the drawstring(s)  19  is threaded. 
     The ribs  16  may be different sizes to enable the retracted brim  12  to substantially overlie and conform to the outer surface the crown  11 . As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the skeleton  14  includes two wide ribs  20  and two or more narrow ribs  21  relatively evenly spaced between the wide ribs  20 . As shown in FIG. 8, the underside of least one of the wide ribs  20  includes two conduits  22 , being an extension of the locator  18 . The drawstring  19  is threaded from the locator  18  to the inner portion of the brim  12  adjacent the lower peripheral edge of the crown  13 . 
     The wide ribs  20  are each positioned on the brim  12  substantially adjacent the respective ear of a wearer to enable access to the drawstring  19  at the conduit end  23  near his/her ears, as shown in FIG.  9 . When the hat  10  is converted to a skullcap type configuration  25 , the drawstring  19  may be used as a chinstrap  24  assisting in keeping the cap  25  in position, as shown in FIG.  10 . The wide rib is illustrated  20  in FIGS. 9 and 10 to show the mechanism of the drawstring  19 . It is to be appreciated that the ribs generally are not observed when the hat  10  is worn in skullcap type configuration  25 . 
     The skeleton  14  is preferably constructed from flexible, but substantially firm plastics material, such as PVC or other polymers, to give suitable support to the brim  12 . The skeleton  14  is covered in a lightweight material or fabric to form the crown  11  and brim  12 . Suitably, the material is flexible, UV reflective and not adversely affected by immersion in fresh, chlorinated or salt water. The material may also be quick drying. 
     In another embodiment (not illustrated), the hinged connection  17  between the lower peripheral edge of the crown  13  and the ribs  16  may be an over-center type hinge which maintains the brim  12  outstretched in a operative condition when the outer edge of the brim is below the center edge of the hinge. An elastic band is associated with the outer edge of the brim  12 , which retracts the outer edge of the brim  12  when the brim  12  is raised up over the center position of the hinge. 
     In use, the wearer pulls on the drawstring  19  at the conduit end  23  of at least one of the wide ribs  20  located near each ear. However, for convenience and for ease of gathering of the brim, the user may pull the drawstring  19  at both wide ribs  20 . As the drawstring  19  is drawn, the portion of the outer edge of the brim  12  between the ribs  16  gathers and/or folds causing the ribs  16  to retract upward on the hinged connection  17  until the folded brim  12  overlies the crown  13  forming a skullcap type configuration  25 , as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The hat may be secured into place by the chinstrap  24  which is part of the drawstring mechanism. 
     FIGS. 11 to  19  depict an alternative form of the hat  26  in accordance with the invention. The alternative form of the hat  26  has the appearance of the hat  10  illustrated in FIG. 1 when worn in a shading operative condition. The hat  26  includes a crown  27  and a brim  28  connected the lower peripheral edge of the crown  29 . 
     Referring to FIG. 11, the hat  26  is constructed from a skeleton  30 . The skeleton  30  includes a head band  31 , the lower edge of the head band  31  forming the lower peripheral edge of the crown  29 , and a plurality of ribs  32  which extend outwardly between the lower peripheral edge of the crown  29  to the outer edge of the brim  28 . The ribs  32  are hingedly connected  33  to the lower edge of the crown  29  to enable the ribs  32  to move from an outstretched position when the brim  28  is in a operative condition, to an inoperative condition or raised position where the ribs  32  are overlying an upper portion of the crown  27 , substantially conforming to the outer surface of the crown  27 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 16, the outer edge of the ribs  32  includes at least one eye or conduit  41  for passing or threading a drawstring  34  therethrough for locating the drawstring around the outer edge of the crown  27 . The skeleton  30  includes two guiding ribs  35  positioned on opposite sides of the brim  28  and a plurality of locating ribs  36  relatively evenly spaced between the guiding ribs  35 . It is to be understood that the terms guiding and locating are used simply as means to distinguish the two types of ribs and that the terms are not meant to limit the functionality or design of the ribs. 
     The guiding rib  35 , as illustrated in FIG. 17, guides the drawstring  34  from the lower peripheral edge of the crown  29  to the outer edge of brim  28 . The underside of each guiding rib  35  includes a guide  37 , such as a channel or conduit, positioned adjacent the lower peripheral edge of the crown  29  and two diverging eyes or conduits  41  positioned at the outer edge of the guiding rib  35 . The drawstring  34  is guided through the guiding means  37  along the rib  35 , wherein the drawstring  34  divides and a respective segment or strand passes through each eye  41  in opposing directions. 
     The respective strands of the drawstring  34  are directed fore and aft around the outer brim  28  via the eyes  41  of the locating ribs  36 . Upon reaching the opposing guiding rib  35  the respective strands of the drawstring  34  each pass through the eyes  41  from their respective directions, join and are guided through the guiding means  37  to the lower peripheral edge of the crown  29 . It is to be understood that the drawstring  34  may divide into two strands or may be two associated drawstrings  34 . 
     The guiding ribs  35  are positioned substantially adjacent each ear of a wearer of the hat  26 . The drawstring  34  extends from each guiding rib  35  at the lower peripheral edge of the crown  29  to form a chinstrap  38 . 
     The skeleton  30  is preferably constructed from flexible, but substantially firm plastics material, such as PVC or other polymers, to give suitable support to the brim  12 . The skeleton  30  is covered in a lightweight material or fabric to form the crown and brim. Suitably, the material is flexible, UV reflective and not adversely affected by immersion in fresh, chlorinated or salt water. The material may also be quick drying. 
     Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the wearer pulls the chinstrap  38  shortening the length of drawstring  34  located around the outer edge of the brim  28 . As the drawstring  34  shortens, the portion of the outer edge of the brim  12  between the ribs  32  gathers and/or folds causing the ribs to retract upward on the hinged connection  33  until the gathered brim  28  overlies the crown  29  forming a skullcap type configuration  39 . The chinstrap  38  may include a toggle or other fastening means  40  to secure the hat  26  firmly on the user&#39;s head, whether the brim  28  is an operative or inoperative condition. 
     Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention.