Headwear

Abstract

Hats with one to a multiplicity of openings through a molded crown are provided with a flounce that can be drawn upwardly to cover the inside surface of the crown and display shapes through the openings.

1 . A headwear apparatus comprising a headband comprising a front and a rear section, a foraminous crown attached to the headband, the crown comprising a multiplicity of frames, each frame comprising at least one side member around an opening and connecting means to connect the frames together to form the crown, the apparatus further comprising a sheet panel comprising a rear edge, a front edge, an upwardly facing surface, and a length extendable from proximate the rear section of the head band over and conforming to a surface of the crown to reach proximate the front section of the headband, first means to detachably attach the rear edge to the rear section of the headband, second means to detachably attach the front edge to the front section of the headband. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is fabric and the upwardly facing surface of the panel is adapted to be drawn upwardly to abut an inside surface of the crown. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is shaped to fit over an outside surface of the crown and adapted to abut the outside surface of the crown. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the number of frames is at least ten and less than two hundred. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the number of frames is at least twenty. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the crown is semi-rigid. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the crown is flexible and self supporting. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting means comprises an integral molding of the frames with a plurality of connecting points on each frame to adjacent frames. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the number of side members is chosen from the group consisting of one side member and four side members. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a pattern printed on the upwardly facing surface of the panel is adapted to be visible through the openings of the frames when the panel is drawn upwardly to abut the inside surface of the crown. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the pattern printed on the upwardly facing surface of the panel comprises a multiplicity of shapes that are adapted to be visible through the openings of the frames when the panel is drawn upwardly to abut the inside surface of the crown. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein first means to detachably attach the rear edge to the rear section of the headband is a permanent attachment. 
   
   
       13 . A headwear apparatus comprising a flexible and self supporting foraminous crown comprising at least ten and less than two hundred frames, each frame comprising side members, wherein the number of side members is chosen from the group consisting of one side member and at least three side members, and connecting means to connect the frames together to form the crown comprising an integral molding of the frames with a plurality of connecting points on each frame to adjacent frames. 
   
   
       14 . A headwear apparatus comprising a headband comprising a front and a rear section, and a flexible, self supporting crown attached to the headband, the crown comprising at least one opening, and a fabric flounce comprising an upper edge attached to the rear section of the headband with a length hanging downwardly from the rear of the apparatus, wherein a frontwardly facing surface of the flounce is adapted to be drawn upwardly to abut an inner surface of the crown and be visible through at least one opening. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein there are a plurality of openings in the crown. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein there are a multiplicity of openings in the crown. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein there are at least ten and less than two hundred openings in the crown. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the frontwardly facing surface of the flounce comprises at least one shape that is adapted to be visible through at least one opening in the crown when the flounce is drawn upwardly to abut the inner surface of the crown.