Hat with attachable and interchangeable hairpiece

Abstract

A hat with an attachable and interchangeable hairpiece may be of any style and has one or more attachment points to which a hairpiece may be removably affixed. Hairpieces in various colors, lengths and styles may be provided, such that the user may interchange the styles with the hat to achieve varying looks.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to hairpieces and related accessories and in particular to a hat with an attachable and interchangeable hairpiece. Many individuals are suffering from medical conditions such as alopecia, or taking medical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy as a result of cancer, which cause substantial hair loss. Other users experience hair loss and thinning due to the aging process or may simply want to change their hairstyle temporarily. Particularly in the case of cancer patients, these individuals have no choice in the changes their bodies will go through, even to save their own lives. Loss of the ability to maintain their usual appearance and style lowers self-esteem and causes emotional depression, which only adds to the difficulties already faced by these individuals. A realistic system for restoring the appearance of these individuals would be well received.

A search of the prior art reveals various hats which have been developed to secure attachable hairpieces. None are closely related to the present invention, but several include features which resemble those of the present invention. Each has proven to be less than satisfactory in its own way. The present invention has been developed for the purpose of addressing and resolving these disadvantages.

Ornamental hair covering, U.S. Pat. No. 2,574,558 (filed Feb. 4, 1949), provides a mass of false hair curls adapted to be worn over the user's natural hair above the forehead, held in position by a band encircling the head, and a wrap-around or turban having a connecting strip along its front edge for detachable connection with a similar strip at the rear of the false hair curls, there being interfitting snap fasteners or the like on the two connecting strips.

Hat with detachable hair, U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,319 (filed Sep. 16, 1996), provides an improved hat having a plurality of releasably attachable hair segments, which can be attached, replaced or removed to provide a wide variety of effects. The hair segments are attached, by means of hook-and-loop fastener strips, to an elastic sweat band encircling the interior of the hat. Further, the hair segments do not entirely encircle the user's head which does not provide the most natural look to the hair coming out from beneath the hat.

Most of these inventions secure hairpieces to a hat or other head covering with snaps, hook-and-loop fastener strips, or similar devices to prevent the hairpieces from easily separating from the head covering. This creates various disadvantages. Mounting snaps singly allows a portion of the hairpiece to separate from the head covering too easily. Securing the hairpieces with hook-and-loop fastener strips introduces error in placement of the male portions on the female portions. In relation to the intended position of placement, the male portion may be rotated slightly, offset vertically, offset horizontally, or some combination thereof. These disadvantages make the hairpiece appear crooked and clearly reveal it as a hairpiece, rather than the user's natural hair. The present invention, which provides snaps mounted in pairs to better secure the hairpiece to the head covering, and to ensure the intended position of placement, resolves the disadvantages of the prior art and is not anticipated by the prior art.

The disclosure by Graber et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 2,574,558 hereinafter “Graber”), the fasteners are mounted in pairs and close examination of FIG. 2 and all other drawings in the Graber disclosure reveals that the snaps therein are mounted singly, not in pairs. Furthermore, nothing in the written specification of the Graber disclosure indicates that the snaps therein are mounted in pairs. Mounting the snaps in pairs represents a substantial improvement which is not anticipated by the prior art.

A hat with an attachable and interchangeable hairpiece, secured to the hat with paired snaps, would help to resolve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a hat with an attachable and interchangeable hairpiece. The hat may be of any style and has one or more attachment points to which a hairpiece may be removably affixed. Hairpieces in various colors, lengths and styles may be provided, such that the user may interchange the styles with the hat to achieve varying looks.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a rear view of the hairpiece component of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the hairpiece 10, and the male attachment points 11.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the hat component of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the hat 12, the female attachment points 13, and the widest inner circumference 16.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the users head 14, displaying the widest circumference 15, and the top of the user's head 21.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the interchangeable hairpiece, displaying braided 19, curled 18, straight 17, and a ponytail 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a hat 12 with an attachable and interchangeable hairpiece 10. The hat 12 may be of any style and has one or more female attachment points 13 to which a hairpiece 10 may be removably affixed. Hairpieces 10 in various colors, lengths and styles may be provided, such that the user may interchange the styles with the hat 12 to achieve varying looks. The hair styles contemplated include braided 19, curled 18, straight 17, or in a ponytail 20. Short and long length hair of varying hues is also contemplated.

The first exemplary embodiment consists of two or more components: the hat component, and one or a plurality of hairpiece components. The hat 12 may be of any style that is adequate to conceal the female attachment points 13. The female attachment points 13 are preferably arranged in pairs, in a symmetrical horizontal row around the widest inner circumference 16 of the hat component 12. The widest inner circumference 16 being equal to the widest circumference 15 of user's head 14, covering at least the occipital and temporal areas of the user's head 14. The male attachment points 11 are provided in corresponding locations on the hairpiece 10 for a smooth and natural transition along the edge between the hairpiece 10 and the hat 12. The male attachment points 11 are connected to the hairpiece 10 at the widest circumference 15 of the user's head 14 such that the male attachment points 11 and the female attachment points 13 encircle the entire circumference 15 of the user's head 14. The female attachment points 13, and the corresponding male attachment points on the hairpiece 10, may be hook-and-loop fabric strips, metal or plastic snaps, or any other similar fastening device. The hairpiece 10 should encircle the entire circumference 15 of the user's head 14, and should cover the top 21 of the user's head 14 as well.

To use the first exemplary embodiment, the user selects a hairpiece 10, and uses the male attachment points 11 to affix the hairpiece 10 to the hat 12, at the female attachment points 13. The user then puts on the hat 12, adjusting both the hat 12 and hairpiece 10 as desired for a perfect fit and a natural appearance.

The hairpiece 10 is preferably manufactured from flexible, durable materials that closely simulate the user's natural human hair, such as human hair or acrylic fibers. The male attachment points 11 and female attachment points 13 are preferably manufactured from durable materials such as steel, aluminum, plastic, and nylon. Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A system of a hat and hairpiece comprising: (a) a hat component;(b) at least one hairpiece component;(c) a plurality of female attachment points;(d) said plurality of female attachment points being affixed to the inside circumference of said hat component;(e) a plurality of male attachment points;(f) said plurality of male attachment points being affixed to said at least one hairpiece component and corresponding to said plurality of female attachment points;(g) said plurality of male attachment points and said female attachment points being equal in number;(h) said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points being configured so as to be mutually releasably attachable;(i) said at least one hairpiece component being configured to wrap about the entire circumference of a user's head; and(j) said at least one hairpiece component being configured to cover the top of said user's head.

2. The system of a hat and hairpiece of claim 1 wherein said at least one hairpiece component is a plurality of hairpiece components provided in a variety of colors lengths and styles such that said plurality of hairpiece components may be mixed and matched with said hat component.

3. The system of a hat and hairpiece of claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least one hairpiece component is constructed of natural hair.

4. The system of a hat and hairpiece of claim 2 wherein at least one of said at least one hairpiece component is constructed of synthetic hair.

5. The system of a hat and hairpiece of claim 1 wherein said plurality of female attachment points are arranged in pairs and in a symmetrical horizontal row entirely about a widest inner circumference of said hat component and said plurality of male attachment points are arranged in pairs and in a symmetrical horizontal row entirely about a widest outer circumference of said hairpiece component.

6. The system of a hat and hairpiece of claim 2 wherein said plurality of female attachment points are arranged in pairs and in a symmetrical horizontal row entirely about a widest inner circumference of said hat component and said plurality of male attachment points are arranged in pairs and in a symmetrical horizontal row entirely about a widest outer circumference of said hairpiece component.

7. The system of a hat and hairpiece of claim 3 wherein said plurality of female attachment points are arranged in pairs and in a symmetrical horizontal row entirely about a widest inner circumference of said hat component and said plurality of male attachment points are arranged in pairs and in a symmetrical horizontal row entirely about a widest outer circumference of said hairpiece component.

8. The system of a hat and hairpiece of claim 4 wherein said plurality of female attachment points are arranged in pairs and in a symmetrical horizontal row entirely about a widest inner circumference of said hat component and said plurality of male attachment points are arranged in pairs and in a symmetrical horizontal row entirely about a widest outer circumference of said hairpiece component.

9. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 1 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.

10. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 1 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are snaps.

11. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 2 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.

12. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 2 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are snaps.

13. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 3 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.

14. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 3 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are snaps.

15. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 5 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.

16. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 5 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are snaps.

17. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 7 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.

18. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 7 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are snaps.

19. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 8 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are compatible hook-and-loop fabric strips.

20. The system of hat and hairpiece of claim 8 wherein said plurality of male attachment points and said plurality of female attachment points are snaps.