Headwear apparatus with a flexible panel to accommodate the natural expansion and contraction of a wearers head with integrated openings for hair

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn to adjustable wearable headwear with integrated openings for accommodating one or more styles of hair. Aspects of the present disclosure also relate to adjustable headwear with integrated openings having a flexible member formed from one or more flexible elements (e.g., elastic bands, elastic straps, etc.) for permitting the headwear to adjust (e.g., expand or contract) based on a wearer's head size and/or hairstyle (e.g., a bun, a ponytail, or similar hairstyle), and for permitting natural contraction or expansion of the wearer's head. In an embodiment, the flexible elements may be arranged in a “ladder” pattern in a rear, flexible panel of the headwear. In another example of a headwear, the flexible elements may be arranged in a generally “X-shaped” pattern in a rear, flexible panel of the headwear. In such an example, two or more “X-shaped” elastic or flexible elements may be used.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A headwear item for the natural expansion and contraction of a wearer's head comprising:
 a brim portion;   a cap portion formed as a generally semi-spherical body having an apex at a top of the cap portion and an annular periphery at a bottom of the cap portion that defines a head opening for receiving the head of the wearer within the cap portion, wherein the cap portion is formed from a plurality of panels, and wherein one of the panels is flexible; and   a flexible panel,   wherein the flexible panel comprises a plurality of elastic members disposed horizontally forming integrated hair openings to permit the expansion and contraction of the headwear and for passing a bundle of hair of the wearer therethrough, wherein each elastic member is configured to divide the hair opening into separate hair location sections.   
     
     
         2 . The headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the openings formed between the elastic members are usable for locating the bundle of hair at different positions on the head of the wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the elastic member is less than or equal to the width of the openings formed between the elastic members. 
     
     
         4 . The headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the openings in the flexible panel is less than or equal to 1.5 times the width of the elastic member. 
     
     
         5 . The headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the width of the elastic member to the width of the openings increase in proportion to the coefficient of elasticity of the elastic members. 
     
     
         6 . The headwear of  claim 1 , wherein an adjustment strap is located at the base of the flexible panel. 
     
     
         7 . A headwear item for the natural expansion and contraction of a wearer's head comprising:
 a brim portion;   a cap portion formed as a generally semi-spherical body having an apex at a top of the cap portion and an annular periphery at a bottom of the cap portion that defines a head opening for receiving the head of the wearer within the cap portion, wherein the cap portion is formed from a plurality of panels, and wherein one of the panels is flexible; and   a flexible panel,   wherein the flexible panel comprises a plurality of elastic members, wherein each elastic member is formed from crisscrossed elastic members along an integrated hair opening for passing a bundle of hair of the wearer therethrough, wherein each elastic member is configured to divide the hair opening into separate hair location sections.   
     
     
         8 . The headwear of  claim 7 , wherein an angle formed by the elastic members is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The headwear of  claim 7 , wherein an angle formed by the elastic members is greater than 30 degrees but less than or equal to 60 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The headwear of  claim 7 , wherein the width of the elastic member is less than or equal to the width of the openings formed between the elastic members. 
     
     
         11 . The headwear of  claim 7 , wherein the width of the openings in the flexible panel is less than or equal to 1.5 times the width of the elastic member. 
     
     
         12 . The headwear of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the width of the elastic member to the width of the openings increase in proportion to the coefficient of elasticity of the elastic members. 
     
     
         13 . The headwear of  claim 7 , wherein an adjustment strap is located at the base of the flexible panel.