Combined cap and carrying bag

Abstract

A cap having the ability to convert to a bag is disclosed herein. The cap comprising a crown having inner and outer surfaces and a lower edge from which the crown projects upwardly to accommodate the head of a wearer, including a band surrounding at least a portion of the internal surface of the cap where the band has opposing edge portions and a mechanical engagement attachment feature on the edge portions wherein the mechanical engagement attachment feature is configured to engage and form an internal storage compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cap capable of converting into a bag to provide an internal storage compartment comprising:
 a crown having inner and outer surfaces and a lower edge from which the crown projects upwardly to accommodate the head of a wearer; and   a band surrounding at least a portion of the inner surface of the cap, wherein said band includes opposing edge portions and a mechanical engagement attachment feature on said edge portions; and   wherein said mechanical engagement attachment feature is configured to engage and form said internal storage compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanical engagement attachment feature includes an open configuration to allow for said crown to be worn on the head of the wearer, and a closed configuration to removably couple said opposing edge portions to each other and define said internal storage compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanical engagement attachment feature comprises one or more of a zipper, snap connector, button fasteners, overlapping fabric snaps, magnetic connectors, carabineer type connectors, and/or hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said band extending from said crown lower edge comprises a sweatband that is configured to absorb moisture. 
     
     
         5 . The cap of  claim 4 , wherein said sweatband comprises terry cloth, cotton, polyester, polyurethane or nylon fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said band rests against the inner surface of the cap and is configured to engage and contact the head of the wearer. 
     
     
         7 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said band attaches to and extends from said crown lower edge. 
     
     
         8 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said mechanical engagement attachment feature comprises a zipper provided by a zipper insert attached to said crown lower edge. 
     
     
         9 . The cap of  claim 8 , wherein said zipper insert defines a tip configured to extend beyond the crown lower edge. 
     
     
         10 . A cap capable of converting into a bag to provide an internal storage compartment comprising:
 a crown that defines a cavity and an aperture in communication with the cavity to receive and accommodate the head of a wearer within the cavity;   a band surrounding at least a portion of an internal surface of the cap defining the cavity, wherein said band includes opposing edge portions; and   a mechanical engagement attachment feature configured to selectively couple the opposing edge portions of the band to each other and at least partially close the aperture and define the internal storage compartment for storing one or more user items, and decouple the opposing edge portions of the band from each other to allow for removal of the one or more items stored in the internal storage compartment and/or to allow the aperture to receive and accommodate the head of the wearer within the cavity.   
     
     
         11 . The cap of  claim 10 , wherein said mechanical engagement attachment feature comprises one or more of a zipper, snap connector, button fasteners, overlapping fabric snaps, magnetic connectors, carabineer type connectors, and/or hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         12 . The cap of  claim 10 , further comprising a visor extending from the crown, and wherein the mechanical engagement attachment feature is configured to couple the opposing edge portions together and form an interface between the opposing edge portions, wherein an imaginary line drawn along the interface extends substantially parallel with the visor. 
     
     
         13 . The cap of  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical engagement attachment feature comprises a zipper, the zipper providing a track that defines the interface at which the opposing edge portions couple together. 
     
     
         14 . A cap capable of converting into a bag and providing an internal storage compartment comprising:
 a crown that defines a cavity and an aperture in communication with the cavity to receive and accommodate the head of a wearer within the cavity;   a band surrounding at least a portion of an internal surface of the cap defining the cavity, wherein said band includes opposing edge portions; and   means for at least partially closing the aperture of the crown and defining an internal storage compartment for storing one or more user items.   
     
     
         15 . The cap of  claim 14 , wherein the means for at least partially closing the aperture is configured to removably couple the opposing edge portions together, the opposing edge portions at least partially defining the internal storage compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The cap of  claim 14 , further comprising a visor extending from the crown. 
     
     
         17 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the means for at least partially closing the aperture is configured to couple the opposing edge portions together and form an interface therebetween, and wherein an imaginary line drawn along the interface extends substantially parallel with the visor. 
     
     
         18 . The cap of  claim 16 , wherein the means for at least partially closing the aperture is configured to couple the opposing edge portions together and form an interface therebetween, and wherein an imaginary line drawn along the interface extends transverse relative to the visor.