Headwear Articles That Are Selectively Convertible To A Mask Configuration

Abstract

A headwear article that converts between a headwear configuration and a mask configuration. The headwear article has a crown for covering at least a portion of a head of a wearer, a visor attached to a front portion of the crown, and at least one mask support element coupled to the crown. From the headwear configuration, at least a portion of the rear portion of the crown is collapsible into the front portion of the crown to position the headwear in the mask configuration. In the mask configuration, the at least one mask support element is configured to secure the headwear over a portion of a face of the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A headwear article that is convertible between a headwear configuration and a mask configuration, the headwear article comprising:
 a. a crown for covering at least a portion of a head of a wearer, the crown having a rear portion and a front portion that cooperate to define a circumference of the crown;   b. a visor attached to the front portion of the crown; and   c. a band that extends outwardly from and between opposing sides of the crown,   wherein, from the headwear configuration, at least a portion of the rear portion of the crown is collapsible into the front portion of the crown to position the headwear in the mask configuration, and   wherein, in the mask configuration, the band is configured to secure the crown of the headwear article over a portion of a face of the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The headwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the headwear article is a cap. 
     
     
         3 . The headwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the crown comprises anti-viral material. 
     
     
         4 . The headwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the band forms a continuous loop that extends between opposing sides of the crown. 
     
     
         5 . The headwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the article of headwear is a cap. 
     
     
         6 . The headwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the band comprises elastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The headwear article of  claim 1 , wherein in the mask configuration, the crown and/or the visor is selectively displaceable from a closed position that restricts access to the face of the wearer from under the visor to an open position that permits access to the face of the wearer from under the visor. 
     
     
         8 . The headwear article of  claim 7 , wherein the visor is pivotable from the closed position to the open position. 
     
     
         9 . The headwear article of  claim 8 , wherein a hinge pivotally connects the visor to the crown. 
     
     
         10 . The headwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion of the crown defines a slot that receives a filter, and wherein the filter comprises the anti-viral material. 
     
     
         11 . The headwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the band is pivotally coupled to the crown. 
     
     
         12 . The headwear article of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second fasteners positioned on respective opposing sides of the crown, wherein the first and second fasteners are configured to couple to respective portions of the band. 
     
     
         13 . The headwear article of  claim 12 , wherein the band defines a plurality of openings spaced along a length of the band, and wherein at least one of the first fastener or the second fastener comprises a button that is configured to be removably received within an opening of the plurality of openings of the band to couple the band to the crown at a selected location along the length of the band. 
     
     
         14 . The headwear article of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second fasteners comprise first and second buttons that are configured to be removably received within respective openings of the plurality of openings of the band to couple the band to the crown at selected locations along the length of the band. 
     
     
         15 . The headwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the band is a lanyard-style band that is coupled or secured to the opposing sides of the crown. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using the article of headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 a. collapsing the rear portion of the crown into the front portion of the crown to position the crown in the mask configuration;   b. placing the crown over the face of the wearer; and   c. securing the crown over the face of the wearer using the band.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a. displacing the crown and/or the visor away from the wearer to permit eating or drinking.   
     
     
         18 . A kit for modifying a headwear article having a crown, the kit comprising:
 a. a band; and   b. at least one fastener configured to couple the band to the crown of the headwear article.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises a first fastener configured to be associated with the crown of the headwear article and a second fastener associated with the band and configured to complementarily engage the first fastener.