Adjustable, configurable hat

Abstract

An adjustable, configurable hat is described that can be configured to accommodate a variety of hairstyles. In general, the adjustable, configurable hat has a crown member, an enlarged opening and a panel that is releasably attachable to the crown member. In one example, the adjustable, configurable hat generally has an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the panel is releasably attached to the crown member by the fastening mechanisms, covers the enlarged opening and generally has the appearance of a hat that is not adjustable and configurable. In the open configuration, the panel is releasably attached to the inside of the crown member by the fastening members such that it is not visible when the hat is worn and the enlarged opening allows the wearer of the hat to wear a variety of hairstyles while wearing the hat. In both configurations, the fastening mechanisms and the panel are hidden by the crown member. In another example, the crown is split down the back center to have a left and right half and the hat can be configured to its open configuration by separating the left half from the right half and folding each half inside two respective pockets inside the hat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hat comprising
 a headband shaped to fit about the circumference of a person's head;   a crown member attached to the headband, the crown member configured to cover a portion of a person's head, the crown member comprising:
 an interior surface; 
 an exterior surface; and 
 at least one opening in the crown member configured to allow an accumulation of hair to pass through the crown member; and 
   at least one panel configured to at least partially cover the at least one opening in the crown member;   at least one tether configured to fixably attach the at least one panel to the crown member, the tether being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface; and   a fastening system comprising at least a first and second fastening mechanism, the first fastening mechanism being fixed to the crown member, and the second fastening mechanism being fixed to the at least one panel;   wherein the fastening system is configured to releasably attach the at least one panel relative to the crown member in at least two configurations:
 a first configuration wherein the at least one panel is releasably attached by the fastening system to substantially cover the at least one opening in the crown member, the fastening system and the at least one tether being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface; and 
 a second configuration wherein the at least one panel is releasably attached by the fastening system adjacent to the interior surface of the crown member such that the at least one panel does not cover the at least one opening in the crown member, the at least one panel, the fastening system and the at least one tether being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel and the crown member are configured to be substantially, visually indistinguishable when the at least one panel is releasably attached by the fastening system relative to the crown member to cover the at least one opening in the crown member, the crown member having the appearance as though the crown member does not comprise the at least one opening. 
     
     
         3 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening system is further configured to releasably attach the at least one panel in at least one additional intermediate configuration relative to the crown member, wherein the at least one panel partially covers the at least one opening in the crown member, the portion of the at least one panel not covering the at least one opening in the crown member being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface. 
     
     
         4 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein there is one opening in the crown member, the one opening in the crown member extending vertically from the base of the crown member toward the apex of the crown member and extending horizontally for one eighth to one half of the circumference of the crown member near or at the back of the hat when the hat is placed on a person's head. 
     
     
         5 . The hat of  claim 1 , further comprising a bill attached to the headband and extending angularly forward from the headband and the crown member. 
     
     
         6 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein the headband is adjustable to accommodate different head sizes. 
     
     
         7 . The hat of  claim 6 , wherein the headband is adjustable using hook-and-loop. 
     
     
         8 . The hat of  claim 6 , wherein the headband is adjustable using adjustable snapback. 
     
     
         9 . The hat of  claim 6 , wherein the fastening system is further configured to releasably attach the at least one panel in a plurality of configurations relative to the crown member, the plurality of configurations being purposed in varying the collective circumference of the crown member and the panel. 
     
     
         10 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening system can include any combination of fastening mechanisms, including snaps, buttons, button holes, hook-and-loop, zippers and magnets. 
     
     
         11 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel is detachable from the at least one tether. 
     
     
         12 . A hat comprising:
 a headband shaped to fit about the circumference of a person's head;   a crown member attached to the headband, the crown member configured to cover a portion of a person's head, the crown member comprising:
 an interior surface; 
 an exterior surface; 
 at least one opening in the crown member configured to allow an accumulation of hair to pass through the crown member; and 
 at least one flap configured to at least partially cover the at least one opening in the crown member; 
   a fastening system comprising at least a first and second fastening mechanism, the first fastening mechanism being fixed to the crown member, and the second fastening mechanism being fixed to the at least one flap;   wherein the fastening system is configured to releasably attach the at least one flap relative to the crown member in at least two configurations:
 a first configuration wherein the at least one flap is releasably attached by the fastening system to substantially cover the at least one opening in the crown member, the fastening system being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface; and 
 a second configuration wherein the at least one flap is releasably attached by the fastening system adjacent the interior surface of the crown member such that the at least one flap does not cover the at least one opening in the crown member, the at least one flap and the fastening system being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface. 
   
     
     
         13 . The hat of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one flap and the crown member are configured to be substantially, visually indistinguishable when the at least one flap is releasably attached by the fastening system relative to the crown member to cover the at least one opening in the crown member, the crown member having the appearance as though the crown member does not comprise the at least one flap and the at least one opening. 
     
     
         14 . The hat of  claim 12 , wherein the fastening system is further configured to releasably attach the at least one flap in at least one additional intermediate configuration relative to the crown member, wherein the at least one flap partially covers the at least one opening in the crown member, the portion of the at least one flap not covering the at least one opening in the crown member being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface. 
     
     
         15 . The hat of  claim 12 , wherein there is one opening in the crown member, the one opening in the crown member extending vertically from the base of the crown member toward the apex of the crown member and extending horizontally for one eighth to one half of the circumference of the crown member near or at the back of the hat when the hat is placed on a person's head. 
     
     
         16 . The hat of  claim 12 , further comprising a bill attached to the headband and extending angularly forward from the headband and the crown member. 
     
     
         17 . The hat of  claim 12 , wherein the headband is adjustable to accommodate different head sizes. 
     
     
         18 . The hat of  claim 17 , wherein the headband is adjustable using hook-and-loop. 
     
     
         19 . The hat of  claim 17 , wherein the headband is adjustable using adjustable snapback. 
     
     
         20 . The hat of  claim 17 , wherein the fastening system is further configured to releasably attach the at least one flap in a plurality of configurations relative to the crown member, the plurality of configurations being purposed in varying the collective circumference of the crown member and the panel. 
     
     
         21 . The hat of  claim 12 , wherein the fastening system can include any combination of fastening mechanisms, including snaps, buttons, button holes, hook-and-loop, zippers and magnets. 
     
     
         22 . A hat comprising:
 an adjustable headband shaped to fit about the circumference of a person's head;   a crown member attached to the adjustable headband, the crown member configured to cover a portion of a person's head, the crown member comprising:
 an interior surface; 
 an exterior surface; 
 at least one opening in the crown member; and 
 at least one panel configured to at least partially cover the at least one opening in the crown member; 
   a fastening system being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface, the fastening system comprising at least a first and second fastening mechanism, the first fastening mechanism being fixed to the crown member, and the second fastening mechanism being fixed to the at least one panel;   wherein the fastening system is configured to releasably attach the at least one panel relative to the crown member in a plurality of configurations, the plurality of configurations being purposed in varying the collective circumference of the crown member and the panel.   
     
     
         23 . The hat of  claim 22 , wherein the fastening system is further configured to releasably attach the at least one panel relative to the at least one opening in the crown member in such a way to substantially cover the at least one opening in the crown member, the fastening system and the at least one tether being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface. 
     
     
         24 . The hat of  claim 22 , wherein the fastening system is further configured to releasably attach the at least one panel relative to the at least one opening in the crown member in such a way that the at least one panel does not cover the at least one opening in the crown member, the at least one panel, the fastening system and the at least one tether being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface; and 
     
     
         25 . The hat of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one flap and the crown member are configured to be substantially, visually indistinguishable when the at least one flap is releasably attached by the fastening system to cover the at least one opening in the crown member, the crown member having the appearance as though the crown member did not comprise the at least one flap and the at least one opening. 
     
     
         26 . The hat of  claim 22 , wherein there is one opening in the crown member, the one opening in the crown member extending vertically from the base of the crown member toward the apex of the crown member and extending horizontally for one eighth to one half of the circumference of the crown member, the one opening being centered near or at the adjustable portion of the adjustable headband. 
     
     
         27 . The hat of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one opening in the crown member is configured to allow an accumulation of hair to pass through the crown member. 
     
     
         28 . The hat of  claim 22 , further comprising a bill attached to the adjustable headband and extending forward from the adjustable headband at an angle substantially orthogonal to the adjustable headband and the crown member. 
     
     
         29 . The hat of  claim 22 , wherein the adjustable headband is adjusted using hook-and-loop. 
     
     
         30 . The hat of  claim 22 , wherein the adjustable headband is adjusted using adjustable snapback. 
     
     
         31 . The hat of  claim 22 , wherein the fastening system can include any combination of fastening mechanisms, including snaps, buttons, button holes, hook and loop, zippers and magnets. 
     
     
         32 . The hat of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one tether configured to fixably attach the at least one panel to the crown member, the tether being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface 
     
     
         33 . The hat of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one panel is detachable from the at least one tether. 
     
     
         34 . A hat comprising
 a headband shaped to fit about the circumference of a person's head;   a crown member attached to the headband, the crown member configured to cover a portion of a person's head, the crown member comprising:
 an interior surface; 
 an exterior surface; and 
 an opening in the crown member exposing at least about 30% of a person's head; and 
   a panel configured to substantially cover the opening in the crown member;   a tether configured to fixably attach the panel to the crown member, the tether being visibly hidden by the crown member from the exterior surface; and   wherein the hat can be configured in one of two configurations:
 a closed configuration wherein the panel covers the opening in the crown member; and 
 an open configuration wherein the panel does not cover the opening in the crown member but rather lies adjacent to the interior surface of the crown member so that various hairstyles may pass through the opening. 
   
     
     
         35 . A hat comprising:
 a headband shaped to fit about the circumference of a person's head;   a crown member attached to the headband, the crown member configured to cover a portion of a person's head, the crown member comprising:
 an interior surface; 
 an exterior surface. 
   wherein the crown member includes a left half and a right half that can be configured in one of two configurations:
 a closed configuration wherein the left half is joined to the right half to form a first opening in the crown member exposing a first portion of a person's head; 
 and an open configuration wherein the left half is not joined to the right half and the left half and the right half are each folded to face the interior surface of the crown member to form a second opening in the crown member exposing a second portion of a person's head which is inclusive of the first portion, the second opening being larger than the first opening. 
   
     
     
         36 . The hat according to  claim 35  further comprising a first and a second pocket located on the interior surface of the crown member to accommodate the left and right halves respectively when the crown member is configured in its open configuration.