Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SECURABLE HAT
RELA 1 __ ED APPI ,TCATIONS
This international application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application
15/699,014, filed September 8, 2017, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent
application 14/806,377, filed July 22, 2015, each of which is hereby
incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to hats and, in particular, to hats that can be
secured to articles of clothing. More specifically, the invention relates to
hats that can be
secured to the body for storage; in preferred examples the hats of the present
invention
are structured to be secured to a belt worn on the person, for example, around
an
individuals waist.
BACKGROUND
Hats are a valuable defense against the sun and inclement weather. Available
in a
wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles, they may shield the wearer's eyes
from glare,
may protect the head from excessive heat and cold, and may reduce the risk of
skin
cancer. However, a perennial question remains concerning how and where one is
to
store or carry a hat that is not currently being worn; for example, when the
wearer is
indoors or at nighttime. Hats are constantly lost or misplaced as a result of
their owners
simply forgetting where they set them down or left them, or when a hat slips
onto the
floor unnoticed.
U.S. Patent No. 5,799,335 to Ethier and U.S. Patent No. 7,257,845 to Conner
disclose convertible hats that can be reassembled into handbags, shoulder
bags, satchels,
fanny packs or the like. However, each of these hat designs is somewhat
complicated
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and requires that the hat be folded, collapsed, turned inside out, or
otherwise inverted in
a way that would not be intuitive or convenient to most users. Furthermore,
although
Ethier and Conner disclose embodiments in which the hat may be converted in
form,
for example, to a fanny pack or a self-containing bag or other container, and
worn
joined to an elastic cord or strap that is incorporated as part of the
convertible hat for
use in one or more of these other, "non-hat" forms. Furthermore, none of these
convertible hats is structured and designed to be fastened to a separate,
medium-width
belt of the type normally worn with slacks, jeans or similar casual clothing.
U.S. Patent No. 6,317,892 to Galigani, U.S. Patent No. 7,036,155 to Rugg, U.S.
Patent No. 6,320,331 to Aguilar et al., and international patent application
US20060048279 by Bartos, all show hats provided with hard fasteners such as
clasps,
clips, or rings for attachment to a belt. These rigid fasteners can be
problematic,
however, in that their hardness makes them uncomfortable if they tub against
the user's
head. They also may be somewhat costly, prone to breakage, bulky, and easily
lost.
Accordingly, there is a long-felt need for hats that can easily be secured to
belts
of a wide variety of width in a simple and intuitive fashion, are inexpensive
to
manufacture, and do not require separate extra parts.
=
SUMMARY
The present invention provides hats with attachment assemblies allowing them
to be detachably secured to the wearer's body, for example to a waistbelt. The
attachment assembly is configured to be joined to a standard belt worn around
the
wearer's waist, preferably without requiring the hats to be inverted,
reversed, or folded
.. in a complex fashion, and without the need for pockets, linings, zippers,
bags, or the
like.
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In its simplest, most basic form, a hat according to the present invention may
comprise a crown portion, an optional brim portion, and an attachment
assembly. The
attachment assembly may comprise, for example, at least one strip of suitably
flexible
material, for example, a fabric material, a leather material, a polymeric
material and/or
an elastomeric material, having at least one of a first end and a second end
attached to
the exterior side of either the brim or crown portion, with the unattached
end, if any,
being attachable by any suitable fastener (such as, without limitation, a snap
fastener, a
hook fastener, a magnetic fastener, a buckle (such as a polymeric sliding side-
release
buckle), a button fastener, an alligator clip-type fastener, and/or a hook and
loop
VELCRO -type fastener). Preferably, but not necessarily always, the first
and/or
second ends and any fasteners are arranged to permit the ends of the strip to
be
attached to the exterior side of the crown portion along a substantially
vertical axis
relative to the orientation of the hat while it is being worn. However, in
some examples
the ends of the strip are fastened, or are structured to be fastened, to one
or more
interior portion of the brim or crown. A substantially vertical axis shall
mean an axis
within about 450 of the vertical. The strip is of sufficient length,
preferably at least
about 1.25", or at least about 1.50", or at least about 1.75" in length, to
enable an
ordinary belt of at least medium width to be extended through it.
In one example, a single strip is provided, in the form of a length of
material
that is joined (e.g., by sewing) and/or fastened (i.e., by a suitable
fastener) to the exterior
of the hat crown and/or brim in such a way as to define a loop. In another
exemplary
example, the strip is defined in the form of material located between two
closely spaced,
similarly oriented slits in the crown or brim portion material. In this latter
example, the
first end and second end of the strip are joined to and continuous with the
material of
the portion. In some examples, the attachment assembly may be joined to the
brim
portion. In some examples, the attachment assembly may be joined to the crown
portion. Additionally and independently, however the attachment assembly may
otherwise be configured, the attachment assembly may in a particular case
comprise a
plurality of strips, such as two, three, four or more strips.
As disclosed above, in some examples, one end of the strip is detachably
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fastened to the crown portion, so that the loop can easily be opened up,
wrapped
around the wearer's belt, and then fastened, without requiring the user to
unfasten the
belt from around his or her body or fold the hat into another form. In other
examples,
the attachment assembly may be joined to the brim portion of a hat, or may
bridge the
brim and crown portions thereof.
In addition, in some examples, the hat is formed of sufficiently flexible
material
to allow it to be folded, for example, in one or more pleat when the hat is
attached to a
belt using the attachment a assembly. Optionally, the hat may also have at
least one
retention member comprising one or more suitable fastener for holding the hat
in a
folded position when secured to the belt.
In certain examples, the hat may have one or more magnet secured in a crown
portion
or a brim portion hereof, with a magnetically attractive material secured in
an opposing
part of the hat. For example (and without limitation), in the case that the
hat is a
"newsboy" or "cheese cutter" type hat the magnet(s) may be secured in the
bottom of
the back of the crown, and the magnetically attractive material may be secured
in the
front edge of the crown, or in the front portion of the brim. The attachment
apparatus
may be located on the outside of the back of the crown portion. In this way
when the
hat is secured to the user's belt the hat may be securely folded by flipping
the brim
down so that the magnets arid magnetic material come into proximity with each
other.
In such cases, the interior of the crown may be used to provide a convenient
carrying
pouch for keys, cell phone and other items.
Of course, the fasteners required to retain the hat in a securely folded
conformation need not be magnets, but may alternatively be any other suitable
and
secure fastener type.
In another example, the present invention may comprise a short strap or cord
(hereinafter "cord") having a fastener at a plurality of positions or ends
thereof. The
cord may comprise one or more strands. In one example, the cord may comprise
the
same type of fastener at each such position or end; in another example, the
plurality of
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ends may comprise two or more different fasteners. The cord may in certain
cases
comprise a natural or synthetic elastic material such as a material having
flexibility along
the linear axis of the cord. Additionally, or alternatively the cord may be
made of any
suitably strong lightweight material, such as a strip or braided material
comprising
leather, a polymer, cloth and/or metal.
In some examples, the cord may comprise fasteners at two ends thereof
comprising magnetically attractive materials, such as a magnet at one end and
an iron
material at another end, or magnets oriented to bring magnetically attractive
opposite
poles together. In such an example the cord may comprise one or more fasteners
are
structured to attach to a hat. For example, the hat may comprise a female
portion of a
sliding side-release buckle such as those seen in backpacks or laptop carrying
cases,
while the male portion is attached at a point midway along the cord.
In use, the cord may be fastened to a hat at one end thereof, and to an
article of
clothing on the other end. This is particularly simple when, for example,
alligator-type
clips are used; one clip can be used to retain the brim or crown portion of a
hat, while
another end of the cord may be used to clip the cord and hat to a belt, a
shirt or trouser
waist. Of course, the ends of the cord may also be fastened to the hat at more
than one
end, thus resulting in a cord loop which can then be worn around the neck.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Additional aspects and examples of the present invention will become evident
upon reviewing the non-limiting examples described in the specification and
the claims,
which may be taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Herein, like
numerals in the drawings and specification designate like elements, and:
Fig. 1 is a 3/4 perspective view from the rear of an example of the invention;
Figs 2-4 are fragmentary 3/4 perspective views from the rear, showing
alternate
examples of the invention;
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Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a hat according to any one of
Figs. 1-4 in an inverted position;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the hat of Fig. 1 being worn
in
a folded configuration on the belt of a user;
Fig. 7 is a 3/4 perspective view from the rear of another exemplary
embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the hat of Fig. 7 in an inverted
position,
with an item stored within;
Fig. 9A is a perspective view of the hat of Figs. 7 and 8 in a folded
configuration.
Fig. 9B is a top view of the hat of Fig. 9A in an unfolded configuration.
Fig. 10 is a side view of a "bucket"-style cloth hat of the present invention,
showing an exemplary attachment assembly.
Fig. 11 is a view of the hat of Fig. 10 attached to a wearer's belt by the
attachment assembly.
Fig. 12 is a side view of a "bucket"-style cloth hat of the present invention,
showing an exemplary attachment assembly.
Fig. 13 is a view showing how a belt is threaded through the attachment
assembly of the hat of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a view of the hat of Fig. 12 attached to a wearer's belt by the
attachment assembly.
Fig. 15 is a side view of a woven watch cap or "beanie", having an attachment
assembly joined along a side thereof.
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Fig. 16 is a view of the hat of Fig. 12 attached to a wearer's belt by the
attachment assembly.
Fig. 17 is a bottom view of a Panama-style hat comprising an attachment
assembly of the invention.
Fig. 18 is a bottom view of a a baseball-type hat comprising another example
of
the attachment assembly of the invention.
Fig. 19 is a close-up view of the posterior portion of the hat shown in Fig.
18.
Fig. 20 is an example of a baseball-type hat comprising a detachable
attachment
assembly of the invention.
Fig. 21 shows the detached portion of the attachment assembly shown in Fig.
20.
Fig. 22 is a bottom view of a foldable newsboy-type hat showing placement of
fasteners for securing the hat in a folded configuration.
Fig. 23 shows the hat of Fig. 22 in a folded and secured configuration.
Fig. 24 is a bottom view of a further Panama-style hat comprising an example
of the attachment assembly of the invention.
Fig. 25 shows the Panama-style hat of Fig. 24 in which the hat is arranged to
be worn on a belt.
Fig. 26 shows a safari-style hat comprising an attachment apparatus and a
strap
for folding the hat when not in use.
Fig. 27 shows a close-up of the brim of the safari-style hat of Fig. 26.
Fig. 28 shows a partially folded safari-style hat of Fig. 26.
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Fig. 29 shows a folded and secured safari-style hat of Fig. 26.
DETAIT ED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1
shows a cap 10 having a generally dome-shaped crown portion 12 configured to
engage
a wearer's head, and a brim portion 14, (here a visor or bill), that projects
outwardly
from a forward portion of the cap. It will be understood that in some examples
of the
invention the brim portion may be absent, or may partially or wholly extend
around the
crown portion. An attachment assembly 16 is provided for attachment of the hat
to a
belt on the wearer's waist.
In the example shown in Fig. 1, the attachment assembly comprises a single
strip 18 of material, such as a denim or canvas fabric. First and second ends
(20, 22) of
the strip 18 are joined to the eternal back portion of the crown in such a way
that the
strip 18 and the underlying portion of the crown together define a loop
through which
the end of medium-width belt may be passed. In this example the opposite ends
20, 22
of the strip 18 are sewn to the crown 12. It will be understood that any
appropriate
means of joining the strip ends 20, 22 to the crown portion 12 of the hat,
such as sewing
or riveting, may be employed.
In an alternate example shown in Fig. 2, the attachment assembly 16' comprises
a plurality of strips 18a', 18b', and 18c' joined to the hat at closely spaced
intervals from
one another. The spacing between strips is preferably no more than about 1"-3"
or so;
thus, for example allowing the hat to be gathered into pleat folds when
attached to a
wearer's belt.
Fig. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment wherein the attachment assembly
16" comprises a flexible strip 18" having a first end 20" sewn to the crown
portion 12"
and a second end 22" fastened to the crown by means of a releasable connection
between a first fastener element (not shown) on the second end 22" and a
second
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fastener element 26" on the crown portion 12". The second fastener element 26"
is
shown here as a male snap fastener; the first fastener element is in this case
a female
fastener element. However, other releasable fastener elements such as buttons,
hook
and loop type fasteners and the like, are also suitable for use in attachment
assemblies of
this type. Of course, the hat may comprise two or more such strips suitably
oriented to
all be joined to a single belt in other examples.
A useful feature of attachment assemblies such as those shown in Fig. 3 and
described above is that the hat may advantageously be joined to the user's
belt without
taking the belt off by looping the strip around the belt and fastening the
first and
second fastener elements of each strip component.
Fig. 4 shows still another example, wherein the attachment assembly 16"
comprises a strip 18" which is defined as an integral portion of the crown
portion 12'n
disposed between a pair of closely spaced-apart slits 19, 21. In this example,
the user
secures the cap to the belt by inserting the free end of the belt into one of
the slits 19,
passing it under the strip 18", and then pulling it out through the other slit
21 before
buckling or otherwise fastening the belt.
The strip or strips 18 in each of the examples shown Figs. 1-4 preferably
extends
in a substantially radial and vertical orientation toward the apex 28 of the
hat 10.
That is, the strip should extend at an angle of no more than about 450 away
from a straight line extending between the bottom edge 30 and the apex 28 of
the hat
10. In this way, a hat, particularly a soft, foldable hat, may be oriented
when worn on a
belt in a manner permitting the hat to take up less bulk room on the belt than
it might
otherwise do.
In an optional configuration, Fig. 5 shows an example in which the hat is a
flexible cap; in this view the hat 10 in an inverted position so that its
interior surface 32
is visible, revealing a plurality of fastener members mounted along the
interior front
edge of the hat 10. These fastener members, shown here as female snap fastener
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elements 32a, 32b, and 32c, are configured to releasably engage mating male
snap
fastener elements 34a, 34b, 34c mounted along the exterior rear edge of the
hat 10 (see
Fig. 1), to maintain the hat 10 in a folded position when it has been secured
on the
wearer's belt, as shown in Fig. 5. In this and similar configurations, the
fastener
members permit the cap to folded over itself to form a pocket (see e.g., Fig.
6). Thus,
in this folded position, the hat 10 may also serve as a convenient receptacle
for
containing an item such as a cell phone 38 (see e.g., Fig. 8), wallet, car
keys or the like.
The flexible strips 18 in each of the examples shown in Figs. 1-6 are
preferably
long enough, and the positions at which they are joined to the crown portion
of the hat
1 0 sufficiently widely spaced, to provide adequate clearance for a belt 36
of at least medium
width, where the width of the belt is defined as the dimension extending
transverse to
the length or longitude of the belt. At present, a medium -width belt is a
recognized to
be at least 1-1/4" wide, with at least 1/2" clearance required to allow the
belt 36 to be
easily slipped through loops defined by the strips 18. Thus, each strip 18
should
preferably be at least about 1.25", or at least about 1.50", or at least about
1.75" inch.
Figs. 7 and 8 show an alternate example of the hat 110, wherein the attachment
assembly 116 comprises a flexible strip 118 that extends in a generally
circumferential
direction along the bottom tear edge of the crown of the hat 110. One end 120
of the
strip 118 is sewn or otherwise permanently secured to the crown, while the
other end
122 is provided with a first element of a releasable fastener member such as a
male snap
fastener element 124 that mates with a second fastener element of a releasable
connection such as female snap fastener element 126 provided on the edge of
the crown
112, preferably at a distance of at least about 1", or at least about 1.5", or
at least about
2" away from the first end 120 of the strip 118. This arrangement serves to
hold the
strip 118 in place when the hat 110 is being worn on the user's head. However,
when the
hat 110 is removed from the wearer's head, the second end 122 of the strip 118
may be
releasably secured to a third fastener element of a releasable connection such
as female
snap fastener element 128, which is provide on the rear portion of the hat,
thus defining
a loop which permits the hat to be attached to a belt when not in use.
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Alternatively, the hat of Fig. 7 may be folded in two and the first fastener
element 124 (in this case, a male fastening element) attached to a fourth
fastening
element 132 (in this case, female) provided on the exterior front portion of
the crown or
brim portion 112. This allows the hat 110 to be folded in two, forming a
convenient
receptacle for containing a cell phone 138 or the like.
As in the embodiment of Figs. 1-6, the strip 118 is preferably at least about
1.25", or at least about 1.50", or at least about 1.75" inch, to enable it to
form a loop
with sufficient clearance to receive a belt of at least medium width.
Furthermore, the
strip should be form of sufficiently flexible material to enable it to be
easily twisted
from a generally circumferential orientation allowing the second end of the
strip 118 to
be secured to the second connection element 126 to a generally radial
orientation
allowing the second end of the strip to be secured to the third fastener
element 128.
Turning now to Fig. 9A and 9B, an alternative example of a flat cap is
depicted.
In this case, the attachment assembly is substantially similar to that shown
on Fig. 7.
However, fastener elements 134a and 134b (in this case female snap fastener
elements)
are present along the lower rear edge of the crown of the hat, and configured
to be
removably joined to complementary fastener elements 136a and 136b on the outer
brim
portion of the hat. In this way, the hat can be folded over as shown in Fig.
9A, with
the send end 124 of the strip 118 joined to female fastener element 132 to
create a loop
for fastening the folded hat to a waist belt. The additional fastener elements
help create
a more secure pouch or pocket in which items may be carried while the hat is
folded.
Fig. 10 shows a "bucket"-style cloth hat of the present invention, showing an
exemplary attachment assembly. In this example, the attachment assembly
comprises
three cloth strips 118, with each strip having a first end 120 and second end
124 attached
to the brim portion 114 thereof.
Fig. 11 shows the bucket-style hat of Fig. 10 attached to a waist belt 36 with
the
attachment assembly comprising strips 118.
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Fig. 12 shows a "bucket"-style cloth hat of the present invention, showing an
exemplary attachment assembly. In this example, the attachment assembly
comprises
three strips 118, with each strip disposed between a pair of closely spaced-
apart slits 119.
In this example, the user may secure the cap to the belt by inserting the free
end of the
belt into one of the slits 119, passing it under the strip 118, and then
pulling it out
through the other slit 119 before buckling or otherwise fastening the belt.
Fig. 13 shows a way in which the hat of Fig. 12 may be attached to a waist
belt
136 and folded before buckling or otherwise fastening the belt. The belt
through each
slit 119 and under each strip 118.
In this manner, when the belt 136 is cinched up and fastened, for example, as
shown in Fig. 14, the hat is preferably carried in an inverted position,
thereby providing
a convenient pouch for keys, cell phone and other items.
Turning now to Fig. 15, a watch cap is depicted. In this example the watch cap
comprises an attachment assembly having three strips 118, each strip having a
first end
120 and second end 124 attached to the crown portion 112 of the cap. This cap
can be
fastened to a belt as shown in Fig. 16; in this configuration, a pouch may be
formed as
shown to hold items to be carried while the hat is folded; the side of the
watch cap that
is not joined to the belt by the attachment assembly (in Fig. 16, the inner
portion of the
watch cap behind the belt) may be held closed against the body by cinching the
waist
belt sufficiently tightly to prevent items carried in the pouch from spilling
therefrom.
Alternatively, the inner lower sides of the watch cap may comprise fastening
elements.
Although the hat shown, for example, in the exemplary embodiments of Figs 1-
6 is shown as a baseball-type cap, while the hat shown in other exemplary
embodiments
(such as Figs. 7, 8, 9A and 9B, in which the hat is shown as a flat cap), the
principles of
the instant invention are not intended to be restricted to use with any
particular style of
hat, but can be applied with equal effectiveness to a wide variety of hats,
including
bucket hats, newsboy hats, fisherman hats, and the like.
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In Fig. 17 a straw fedora-type hat is shown, with an attachment assembly
comprising a single strip 118 having a first end 120 and second end 124 sewn
under the
brim of the hat.
In Fig. 18 a baseball cap-type hat 201 is shown having an attachment assembly
203 comprising a cord 205 comprising a length of doubled polymeric braided
fiber.
However, in other examples the cord may be made of any suitable material
include a
fabric, fibrous material, or a metal. A top end of the cord is sewn to an
attachment
point (see Fig. 19) on the outside posterior portion 207 of the crown of the
hat. The
cord extends downward from this attachment point and extends through a loop of
fabric 209 having two ends sewn to the outside surface of the hat. The doubled
bottom
end of the cord 211 terminates in an alligator-type clamp fastener 213, for
fastening to
e.g., an article of clothing. The fastener comprises a hole 215 through which
a keychain
ring 217 is secured; a single braid of the cord 219 is also looped through the
keychain
ring.
Fig. 19 is another view of the hat of Fig. 18 showing the attachment point 221
for the top end of the cord on the outside posterior portion 207 of the crown
of the
hat. This view also shows a close up view of the loop of fabric 209 having two
ends
sewn to the outside surface of the hat, and the bottom end of the cord 211,
the keychain
ring 217 and the alligator-type clamp fastener 213. Fig. 20
shows another baseball-
type hat comprising an attachment assembly 301 comprising a cord 303
comprising a
polymeric strap having a polymeric sliding side-release buckle assembly 305.
One end of
the polymeric buckle assembly 305 is attached to an posterior portion of the
crown of
the hat 307 by a fabric loop 309 having ends attached to the crown of the hat.
The
other end of the polymeric buckle assembly is attached to each of two magnet
assemblies 311 secured to the ends of two elastic ligatures 313. The magnet
assemblies
are structured to permit opposite poles to align. Alternatively, the magnetic
materials
may comprise a magnet and a magnetically attractive substance, such as iron.
As better shown in Fig. 21, the two elastic ligatures 313 are each connected
to
the polymeric buckle assembly through each of two fabric loops 315 sewn as
part of a
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short length of the polymeric strap 317. Those of skill in the art recognize
that the
ligatures 313 need not be elastic in every example of the invention and may be
joined by
a single attachment point (rather than by multiple attachment points, as here)
to the
length of polymeric strap. Similarly, the attachment of the buckle may be
accomplished
by any suitable method and shall remain within the scope of this invention.
The other end of the polymeric strap 317 of this example is joined to a male
portion 319 of the polymeric sliding side-release buckle assembly 305. This
male
portion 319 of the sliding side-release buckle assembly fits largely within,
and connects
to a corresponding female portion (321; Fig 20) of, the polymeric sliding side-
release
buckle assembly (not shown) which remains attached to the hat.
This arrangement permits the polymeric strap 317 of the attachment assembly
shown in Figs. 19 and 20 to be detached from the hat during normal wear and
stored in
a pocket, purse or other carrier, leaving the hat with with only one fastener
attached.
Of course, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that any other
suitable type of
fasteners may be used.
Fig. 22 is a view showing the interior portion of a soft tweed newsboy-type
hat,
401. One or more first magnetically attractive materials (such as magnets) 403
are placed
in the lining of the crown of the hat toward the posterior bottom portion
thereof, and
one or more additional magnetically attractive materials (such as magnets) 405
are
placed in the brim of the hat in such a way as to align with and be attracted
to the
additional magnetically attractive material(s)403 in the lining of the bottom
crown of the
hat when folded over additional magnetically attractive material(s) in the
brim 405 as
shown in Fig. 23, thereby magnetically securing and holding closed the folded
hat.
Also as shown in Fig. 23, an attachment assembly, in this case comprising a
sewn loop of fabric 407, is located on the posterior crown of the hat so that
the secured,
folded hat may be worn on an article of clothing, such as a belt. The cavity
within the
interior crown of the hat may be used to store small items such a writing
implements,
mobile telephones, keys and the like.
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Fig. 24 depicts an inverted view of a Panama-style hat with an attachment
assembly comprising two pairs of loops located on the underside of the hat
brim; a first
pair of loops 501 attached at the left and right sides of the brim, and a
second pair of
lops 503 attached to the anterior and posterior of the underside of the hat
brim.
Each loop comprises a length of material joined (e.g. sewn) to the underside
of
the hat brim. As shown, the loops of each pair of loops are aligned to be
parallel to
each other. In this version, both loops of each pair of loops are oriented at
a 90 angle
to the other pair; however, in other examples, all the loops may be oriented
in a parallel
arrangement.
Fig. 25 shows the same view of the Panama-style hat shown in Fig. 24, with a
waist belt 505 inserted through one of the two pairs of loops. In this way,
the hat may
be worn on the belt when not being used, with the crown facing outwards from
the
body.
Fig. 26 is a view of a soft "safari"-style hat having a female snap fastener
on the
brim 603 and a male snap fastener on the crown 607 thereof to permit the brim
to be
folded against a side of the crown when worn, if desired. Those of skill in
the art
recognize that the choice of which location to place the male snap fastener
and the
female snap fastener is merely a matter of personal choice.
An attachment assembly comprises a fastener (in this case, alligator-type clip
603) affixed to the brim of the hat. Additionally, a strap 601 preferably
comprising a
length of an elastic material is shown also affixed to the brim of the hat for
folding the
hat, as shown in Figs. 27-29. The strap 601 comprises a male snap fastener at
or
proximal to the distal end thereof (not shown).
Fig. 27 is a close-up view of the brim of the hat shown in Fig 26, showing the
alligator-type clip 603 and strap 601, as well as a female snap fastener 609
matched to fit
the male snap fastener of the strap 601, with the length and placement of the
strap and
fastener 609 calibrated to retain the hat together securely when in a folded
CA 03075019 2020-03-05
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PCT/US2018/048723
configuration.
Fig. 28 depicts the hat of Figs. 26 and 27, folded in half.
Fig. 29 depicts the hat of Figs. 26-28 folded in quarters, with the distal end
of
the strap 601 fastened to fastener 609 (not shown)to hold the folded hat in
the folded
state. When affixed to a belt, waistband or other article of clothing in an
inverted
orientation using clip fastener (see Fig. 27, reference numeral 603) the
inside of the
crown of the hat forms a pouch for holding keys, wallets, loose change, mobile
telephones and/or other small personal items.
As indicated previously, features such as, without limitation, fabrics,
fastener
types, and the like described or otherwise disclosed in this specification in
connection
with certain types of hats, cords and the like altered while remaining within
the scope
iof this invention. Various modifications could be made in the types of
fasteners used,
the materials used, and so forth, without departing from the spirit of the
invention. The
appended claims are therefore intended to cover and embrace any such
modifications
within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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