Adjustable fit cap with movable ear flap

Abstract

An adjustable cap or headwear intended for cold weather use that includes an ear flap that is movable between a retracted and an extended position to provide additional protection for the ears of the wearer. The adjustable cap or headwear includes a pair of expansion zones formed in the crown portion of the cap that adjust the size of the head opening of the cap such that the cap can be used by wearers having different head sizes. When the ear flap is in the retracted position, the ear flap is positioned along the outer surface of the crown portion to conceal the pair of expansion zones.

1 . Adjustable headwear, comprising:
 a crown portion shaped to fit over at least a portion of the wearer's head, the crown portion having a front, a back and opposite sides, the crown portion having a lower peripheral edge defining a head opening;   at least one expansion zone formed in the crown portion, wherein the expansion zone comprises a stretchable material that stretches to adjust the size of the head opening to fit wearers of different head size; and   a movable ear flap positioned along the crown portion, the movable ear flap extending along at least the back and opposite sides of the crown portion, the ear flaps being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the ear flap covers the expansion zone in the retracted position.   
   
   
       2 . The adjustable headwear of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of expansion zones each formed in one of the sides of the crown portion. 
   
   
       3 . The adjustable headwear of  claim 2  wherein both of the pair of expansion zones are covered by the ear flap when the ear flap is in the retracted position. 
   
   
       4 . The adjustable headwear of  claim 3  further comprising a brim attached to the front of the crown portion. 
   
   
       5 . The adjustable headwear of  claim 2  wherein each of the expansion zones extends into the crown portion from the lower peripheral edge. 
   
   
       6 . The adjustable headwear of  claim 5  wherein the crown portion is shaped to fit over the entire crown of a wearer's head, the crown portion being formed from a plurality of gores sewn together. 
   
   
       7 . The adjustable headwear of  claim 6  wherein each of the expansion zones is formed in one of the gores. 
   
   
       8 . The adjustable headwear of  claim 2  further comprising a headband attached to an interior surface of the crown portion along the lower peripheral edge, the headband configured to contact the wearer's head, wherein the headband is removed in the pair of expansion zones. 
   
   
       9 . An adjustable cap, comprising:
 a crown portion shaped to fit over the crown of a wearer's head, the crown portion having an outer surface, a front, a back, opposite sides and a lower peripheral edge defining a head opening;   a pair of expansion zones formed in the opposite sides of the crown portion, wherein the expansion zones comprise a stretchable material that stretches to adjust the size of the head opening; and   a movable ear flap positioned along the outer surface of the crown portion and extending along the back and the opposite sides of the crown portion, the ear flaps being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the ear flap covers the expansion zone in the retracted position.   
   
   
       10 . The adjustable cap of  claim 9  wherein a bottom edge of the ear flap is generally aligned with the lower peripheral edge of the crown portion when the ear flap is in the retracted position. 
   
   
       11 . The adjustable cap of  claim 9  wherein each of the expansion zones extends into the crown portion from the lower peripheral edge. 
   
   
       12 . The adjustable cap of  claim 11  wherein the crown portion is formed from a plurality of gores sewn together. 
   
   
       13 . The adjustable cap of  claim 12  wherein each of the expansion zones is formed in one of the gores. 
   
   
       14 . The adjustable cap of  claim 9  further comprising a headband attached to an inner surface of the crown portion along the lower peripheral edge, the headband being configured to contact the wearer, wherein the headband is removed in the pair of expansion zones.