Patent Publication Number: US-2017354194-A1

Title: Retractable headgear

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention disclosed herein generally relates to caps. More particularly, the invention relates to caps with retractable visors. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Headgears are worn by people across the world for a wide variety of reasons. Some use headgears for protection against impact, cold, heat, rain, and other forms of precipitation. Others use it as a form of distinction, decoration, or as per the requirements of their religion. Additionally, headgears are used for recreational purposes, for example, swimming. Typically, swimming caps are tightly fitted, skin-tight garments worn on the head by swimmers. Swimming caps are sometimes worn to keep hair relatively dry or protect hair from chlorinated water, and to keep the water out of the ears. They are also worn to prevent hair from clogging the filter of a pool or a swimming facility. Conventionally, swimming caps can only be worn for swimming purposes. Swimming caps provide no shade to the facial area of the wearer. It is advantageous to a consumer if a swimming cap can be used for providing shade to the face of a user while he/she swims in the pool. This also allows the user to use the cap for activities other than in the swimming pool, for example, walking, jogging, etc. A headgear, which can be used as a swimming cap as well as a cap providing shade to the face of a user, is required. 
     Existing multipurpose caps use Velcro or other metal fasteners for adjusting the fit of the cap to the head of the user. However, these fasteners are prone to damage when the caps are used in water or chlorinated water of a pool. A cap, whose fit is adjusted using a durable fastening mechanism, is required. Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a headgear, which can be used as a swimming cap as well as a cap providing shade to the face of a user. Furthermore, there is a need for a cap, whose fit is adjusted using a durable fastening mechanism. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     The invention disclosed herein addresses the above-mentioned need for a headgear, which can be used as a swimming cap as well as a cap providing shade to the face of a user. Furthermore, the invention addresses the need for a cap, whose fit is adjusted using a durable fastening mechanism. The retractable headgear for covering a user contact surface disclosed herein, comprises a substantially hemispherical crown, a channel, a retractable visor, and a locking element. The substantially hemispherical crown comprises an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface is proximal to the user contact surface. The channel extends from the inner surface of the substantially hemispherical crown and extends from a rear section of the substantially hemispherical crown to a periphery of the retractable visor. The channel of the retractable headgear accommodates a drawstring. The retractable visor extends from a front section of the substantially hemispherical crown. 
     The locking element is positioned at the rear section of the substantially hemispherical crown. Furthermore, the locking element is configured to lock the drawstring. The retractable visor retracts from an extended position to a retracted position when the drawstring is pulled and extends from the retracted position to the extended position when the drawstring is released from the locking element. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and structures disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a structure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or structure shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein. 
         FIG. 1A  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of a retractable headgear showing the visor of the retractable headgear in an extended position. 
         FIG. 1B  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of a retractable headgear showing the visor of the retractable headgear in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 2  exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of a retractable headgear. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1A  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of a retractable headgear  100  showing the retractable visor  103  of the retractable headgear  100  in an extended position.  FIG. 1B  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of a retractable headgear  100  showing the retractable visor  103  of the retractable headgear  100  in a retracted position. As used herein, the term “visor” refers to an extension of the crown of a headgear, for example, a cap, etc., which extends generally forward and casts a shade on a portion of a user&#39;s face, for example, the eyes, etc. The retractable headgear  100  for covering a user contact surface disclosed herein, comprises a substantially hemispherical crown  101 , a channel  102 , a retractable visor  103 , and a locking element  104 . The substantially hemispherical crown  101  comprises an outer surface  101   a  and an inner surface  101   b . The inner surface  101   b  is proximal to the user contact surface. The user contact surface refers to the head of the user. The channel  102  extends from the inner surface  101   b  of the substantially hemispherical crown  101  and extends from a rear section  101   c  of the substantially hemispherical crown  101  to a periphery  103   a  of the retractable visor  103  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-2 . The channel  102  of the retractable headgear  100  accommodates a drawstring  105 . 
     The retractable visor  103  extends from a front section  101   d  of the substantially hemispherical crown  101 . The retractable visor  103  in the extended position, as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 1A , enables swimmers to use the retractable headgear  100  for protection against the sun rays. In an embodiment, the substantially hemispherical crown  101  of the retractable headgear  100  is made of multiple panels. Similarly, the retractable visor  103  in the retracted position, as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 1B , enables swimmers to swim freely with the retractable headgear  100  on. 
       FIG. 2  exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of a retractable headgear  100 . In an embodiment, the locking element  104  is, for example, a drawstring cord lock. The locking element  104  is positioned at the rear section  101   c  of the substantially hemispherical crown  101 . Furthermore, the locking element  104  is configured to lock the drawstring  105 . The retractable visor  103  retracts from an extended position to a retracted position when the drawstring  105  is pulled and extends from the retracted position to the extended position when the drawstring  105  is released from the locking element  104 . When a user pulls the drawstring  105  the retractable visor  103  of the retractable headgear  100  retracts, allowing the user to swim freely with the retractable headgear  100  on. Upon releasing the locking element  104 , the retractable visor  103  is extended. This will allow swimmers to continue using protection, while doing their underwater activities, without having to run in and out of the water to protect themselves from the dangers of sun exposure. 
     The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the retractable headgear  100 , disclosed herein. While the retractable headgear  100  has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the retractable headgear  100 , has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the retractable headgear  100  is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the retractable headgear  100  extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the retractable headgear  100  disclosed herein in their aspects.