HATS ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY RETAIN ITEMS

Abstract

Hats for selectively retaining items. The hats include a cap and a retainer. The cap is configured to be worn on a head of a user and has an outer surface. The retainer is attached to the outer surface and configured to selectively retain an item. In some examples, the hat includes a boss projecting from a front portion of the outer surface. In certain examples, the cap defines a beanie.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to hats. In particular, hats adapted to selectively retain items are described.

People often need certain items on their person when working, traveling, or engaged in leisure activities. For example, a flashlight is often handy to have in dark settings. One often has need for a writing instrument. Eyewear, such as prescription eyeglasses or cosmetic sunglasses, may be necessary or convenient to have when driving.

Holding items with hands can limit one's ability to perform tasks. For example, holding a flashlight to illuminate an area with one hand may preclude performing tasks that require two hands, such as holding a nail and a hammer to start driving the nail into wood. Solutions for retaining items without occupying one's hands would beneficially allow people to more readily perform tasks with their hands.

Holding items with one's hand can be inconvenient and tedious. People tend to grow weary of holding items in their hands for extended periods of time and resort to stowing items away in pockets and carry bags. It would be desirable to have a more convenient solution for selectively retaining items beyond pockets and carry bags.

Pockets and carry bags are often adequate means to store and carry items, but are also not ideal solutions. Storing items in pockets and carry bags can make retrieving them inconvenient and slow. It would be beneficial to have a way to retain items that enabled more convenient and faster retrieval than pockets and carry bags.

Hats are commonly worn to provide warmth, to block the sun, to provide protection from rain, or for fashion. A skull cap or beanie is one type of hat that is typically worn over the head and ears of the wearer for warmth. Conventional hats have certain shortcomings, especially for people who wear glasses.

For example, conventional skull caps and beanies can impede wearing eyeglasses, which are typically supported on the ears of the wearer, because the ears are inaccessible to the glasses underneath the hat. Alternatively, one may have to limit the insulative capabilities of a conventional skull cap or beanie by uncovering his or her ears to accommodate wearing glasses. It would be desirable to have a skull cap or beanie that enabled wearing glasses with the wearer's ears covered.

As the preceding discussion demonstrates, there exists a need for solutions to selectively retain items and for hats that improve upon conventional hats. Examples of new and useful hats for selectively retaining items relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to hats for selectively retaining items. The hats include a cap and a retainer. The cap is configured to be worn on a head of a user and has an outer surface. The retainer is attached to the outer surface and configured to selectively retain an item. In some examples, the hat includes a boss projecting from a front portion of the outer surface. In certain examples, the cap defines a beanie.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first example of a hat configured to selectively retain items, the hat selectively supporting sunglasses in a use position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the hat shown in FIG. 1 with the hat selectively supporting the sunglasses in a stowed position.

FIG. 3 is a view of the hat shown in FIG. 1 lying flat when not being worn.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the hat shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second example of a hat configured to selectively retain multiple items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed hats will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide non-exhaustive examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.

Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various hats are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.

Definitions

The following definitions apply herein, unless otherwise indicated.

“Substantially” means to be more-or-less conforming to the particular dimension, range, shape, concept, or other aspect modified by the term, such that a feature or component need not conform exactly. For example, a “substantially cylindrical” object means that the object resembles a cylinder, but may have one or more deviations from a true cylinder.

“Comprising,” “including,” and “having” (and conjugations thereof) are used interchangeably to mean including but not necessarily limited to, and are open-ended terms not intended to exclude additional elements or method steps not expressly recited.

Terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used to distinguish or identify various members of a group, or the like, and are not intended to denote a serial, chronological, or numerical limitation.

“Coupled” means connected, either permanently or releasably, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components.

Contextual Details

Ancillary features relevant to the hats described herein will first be described to provide context and to aid discussing the hats.

Items

The hats discussed herein function to retain items. A wide variety of items may be retained by the novel hats discussed below.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a hat 100 is supporting a flashlight 190 and an eyewear article 191. With reference to FIG. 5, a hat 200 is supporting two flashlights 290, an eyewear article 291, a pen 292, and a marker 293. The items selectively supported by the hats discussed herein may be any currently known or later developed item suitable for retaining on a hat, including electronic devices, tools, wallets, cameras, pet accessories, baby accessories, and countless other items.

The size, shape, and number of items retained by the hats discussed in this document will vary in different examples. The hats may be specially configured to retain certain items and/or combinations of certain items.

Hats for Selectively Retaining Items

With reference to the figures, hats for selectively retaining items will now be described. The hats discussed herein function to selectively retain items to free one's hands for other purposes.

The reader will appreciate from the figures and description below that the presently disclosed hats address many of the shortcomings of conventional hats and conventional means for retaining items. For example, the novel hats described herein provide effective and convenient solutions for retaining items without occupying one's hands. Consequently, the novel hats beneficially allow people to more readily perform tasks with their hands.

The novel hats discussed in this document provide an alternative, more convenient, and less tedious solution to retaining items than holding them with one's hand. As a result, people using the novel hats avoid becoming weary of holding items in their hands for extended periods of time.

Desirably, the novel hats discussed herein are a more convenient solution for selectively retaining items than pockets and carry bags. Indeed, the novel hats enable retaining items simply by securing an item to the novel hat on one's head. Significantly, the novel hats enable items to be retrieved faster than is typically possible with pockets and carry bags. A further benefit is that the items may be utilized while they are retained with the novel hats, such as using a flashlight to illuminate an area or using a camera to record images or videos.

The novel hats discussed herein improve over conventional hats, especially for people who wear glasses. Unlike conventional skull caps and beanies, the novel hats allow wearing eyeglasses while one's ears are covered by the novel hat. The novel hats facilitate wearing and storing eyeglasses. With the novel hats discussed below, one does not have to limit the insulative capabilities of the novel hat by uncovering his or her ears to accommodate wearing glasses.

Further, the novel hats accommodate wearing glasses despite differences in head shape and how different people wear hats, e.g., pulled down tight or raised higher on the head. Certain examples of the novel hats include multiple retainer loops to allow a wearer to retain glasses at an angle appropriate to their personal preferences.

Further, the novel hats facilitate conveniently retaining glasses when the glasses are not worn in front of a wearer's eyes. With the novel hats discussed in this document, one can readily support eyeglasses when using the eyeglasses or moving the eyeglasses out of his or her vision path for later use.

HAT EMBODIMENT ONE

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a first example of a hat, hat 100, will now be described. A second example of a hat, hat 200, is shown in FIG. 5 and discussed in the Embodiment Two section below.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, hat 100 functions to selectively retain two items, a flashlight 190 and eyewear article 191. Of course, a wide variety of different or additional items could be retained by hat 100, such as writing instruments, tools, electronic devices, and the like. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, hat 100 supports flashlight 190 near the top of the wearer's head with flashlight 190 pointed forwards to illuminate in front of the wearer.

As further shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, hat 100 supports eyewear article 191 near the wearer's eyes. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the reader can see that hat 100 is configured to support eyewear article 191 in a position where eyewear article 191 is disposed in front of the wearer's eyes, and with reference to FIG. 2, hat 100 is configured to support eyewear article 191 in a stowed position not in front of the wearer's eyes. Of note, hat 100 covers the wearer's ears while supporting eyewear article 191 in both the use and stowed positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 and in FIG. 2, respectively.

As depicted in FIGS. 1-4, hat 100 includes a cap 101, a first retainer 111, a second retainer 112, a third retainer 113, and a boss 120.

In some examples, the hat does not include one or more features included in hat 100. For example, some hat examples do not include multiple retainers or a boss. In other examples, the hat includes additional or alternative features, such as additional retainers.

The size, shape, appearance, type, and material of construction of the hat varies in different examples. For example, some hats include brims, ear flaps, or other features. The hat may be larger or smaller relative to the wearer or items than depicted in FIGS. 1-4. The material of construction may be any currently known or later developed material suitable for hat applications.

The components of hat 100 are described in the sections below.

Cap

Cap 101 functions to provide warmth and protection from the elements. Further, cap 101 functions to support retainers 111-113 and boss 120.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 demonstrate that cap 101 is configured to be worn on a head of a user, including covering the ears while hat 100 retains items. Cap 101 has an outer surface 102 facing away from the user. As shown in FIGS. 1-4, retainers 111-113 and boss 120 are secured to outer surface 102.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the reader can see that outer surface 102 defines different regions or portions. For example, outer surface 102 defines a front portion 103, a right portion 104, a left portion 105, an upper portion 106, and a rim 107.

As evident from FIGS. 1-4, right portion 104 is adjacent to front portion 103, and left portion 105 is opposite right portion 104. Upper portion 106 overlies a top of the head of the user when cap 101 is worn on the head. Rim 107 is distal upper portion 106 and defines a peripheral edge of outer surface 102.

The reader can see in FIGS. 1-4 that first retainer 111 is attached to right portion 104 of outer surface 102. Second retainer 112 is attached to left portion 105, and third retainer 113 is attached to upper portion 106. Boss 120 is secured to front portion 103.

In the present example, cap 101 is formed from a fabric material and defines a beanie or skull cap. However, the cap may be formed from any currently known or later developed material suitable for cap applications, such as canvas and synthetic materials. The cap may define other types of caps beyond beanies and skull caps, such as baseball caps, bowlers, fedoras, ascots, berets, cowboy hats, and the like.

Retainers

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, retainers 111-113 are configured to selectively retain items, such as flashlight 190 and eyewear article 191.

Retainers 111-113 are secured to outer surface 102 of cap 101 in strategic locations for securing items. As shown in FIGS. 1-4 first retainer 111 is attached to right portion 104 of outer surface 102 and second retainer 112 is attached to left portion 105. Third retainer 113 is attached to upper portion 106.

The retainers may attach to the outer surface of the cap in any location suitable for selectively securing items in general or for selectively securing a given item. For example, third retainer 113 is attached to upper portion 106 to accommodate securing flashlight 190, which may be relatively heavy. Third retainer 113 being disposed at upper portion 106 enables the user's head to assist with supporting flashlight 190 from below.

Another example of the strategic positioning of the retainers, first retainer 111 and second retainer 112 are position to facilitate supporting eyewear article 191. As depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, first retainer 111 and second retainer 112 are positioned to cooperatively receive frame members 192 of eyewear article 191. The position of first retainer 111 and second retainer 112 enables them to partially support eyewear article 191 from cap 101.

As demonstrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, first retainer 111 and second retainer 112 cooperate with the user's nose to support eyewear article 191 in a use position. In particular, first retainer 111 and second retainer 112 are positioned and configured to cooperatively receive frame members 192 of eyewear article 191 when a bridge 193 of eyewear article 191 rests on a nose of the user and lenses 194 of eyewear article 191 are disposed in front of eyes of the user.

With reference to FIG. 2, retainers 111 and 112 cooperate with boss 120 to support eyewear article 191 in a stowed position. As shown in FIG. 2, first retainer 111 and second retainer 112 are positioned and configured to cooperatively receive frame members 192 of eyewear article 191 when a bridge 193 of eyewear article 191 rests on boss 120. When bridge 193 rests on boss 120, eyewear article 191 is not disposed in front of the wearer's eyes and eyewear article 191 is stowed for later use when needed.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1-4, retainers 111-113 are straps. However, the retainers could be a variety of other members suitable for retaining items, such cords, rigid mounting points, or magnets. In the present example, the straps are elastic, but are not elastic in all examples.

The reader can see in FIGS. 1-4 that first retainer 111, second retainer 112, and third retainer 113 are sewn to cap 100. As apparent in FIGS. 1-4, first retainer 111 and second retainer 112 are sewn to cap 100 at each longitudinal end of the retainers, which may be described as the distal ends of the retainers. The ends of the retainers may be secured to the outer surface of the cap by other means, such as mechanical fasteners, adhesives, magnetic coupling, or hook-and-loop fasteners.

Securing the distal ends of the retainers to outer surface 102 of cap 101 forms a loop. Each loop formed by retainers 111-113 is configured to selectively receive an item. For example, third retainer 113 forms a loop 116 through which flashlight 190 extends. Retainers 111-113 being elastic operates to press the retainer against the item in the loop. Further, the elastic retainers press the item in the loop against outer surface 102 of cap 101 to retain the item.

As apparent from FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, first retainer 111 and second retainer 112 are sewn to outer surface 102 at multiple medial positions in addition to the distal ends of the retainers. The medial position stitches define a plurality of medial loops 114 in first retainer 111 and a plurality of medial loops 115 in second retainer 112. Each medial loop is configured to selectively retain an item.

The medial loops enable a wearer to adjust the height or angle of eyewear article 191 by placing frame members 192 in a selected medial loop. For example, FIG. 1 shows frame member 192 placed inside a middle medial loop 114C. Moving frame member 192 to be supported in a higher medial loop 114D would function to tilt eyewear article 191 downwards. Moving frame member 192 to be supported in a lower medial loop 114B would function to tilt eyewear article 191 upwards. Additionally or alternatively, different medial loops may raise or lower eyewear article 191.

The reader can see in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 that cap 101 is adapted to extend at least partially over ears of the user when first retainer 111 and second retainer 112 receive frame members 192 of eyewear article 191. First retainer 111 and second retainer 112 retaining frame members 192 while cap 101 extends over the ears enables the wearer of hat 100 to preserve warmth from cap 101 more effectively while supporting eyeglasses 191.

The example shown in FIGS. 1-4 includes three retainers, but the number of retainers may be larger or smaller in other examples. Some examples include a single retainer, two retainers, or more than three retainers.

The size and shape of the retainers may vary in different examples. Some retainer examples have a size and shape selected to complement a given item.

Boss

Boss 120 is configured to support bridge 193 of eyewear article 191. When boss 120 supports bridge 193 and retainers 111 and 112 support frame members 192, hat 100 fully retains eyewear article 191.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, boss 120 is attached to front portion 103 of outer surface 102. Boss 120 is positioned near the wearer's nose and forehead to make convenient moving bridge 193 of eyewear article 191 between supported positions on the wearer's nose and on boss 120.

FIGS. 1-4 demonstrate that boss 120 includes a protuberance 121. Protuberance 121 is sewn onto cap 101. In particular, protuberance 121 is sewn to front portion 103 of outer surface 102 with a stitch 122.

Protuberance 121 operates to retain bridge 193 of eyewear article 191. More specifically, protuberance 121 retains bridge 193 in a position resting on stitch 122 between protuberance 121 and outer surface 102 of cap 101. Stitch 122 supports bridge 193 from below and protuberance 121 restricts bridge 193 from moving forward. As is apparent from FIGS. 1-4, protuberance 121 and front portion 103 form a channel to receive and secure bridge 193.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1-4, protuberance 121 is a planar member and defines a disk. However, the protuberance need not be planar or circular to effectively retain bridge 193 of eyewear article 191. The planar shape is advantageous in applications where minimizing the forward extent of the boss beyond the cap is preferred.

The number of bosses included in the hat and the size of the boss varies in different examples. Some examples do not include a boss while other examples include more than one boss. Some example include larger or smaller bosses.

ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 5 not yet discussed in detail, the discussion will now focus on an additional hat embodiment. The additional embodiment includes many similar or identical features to hat 100. Thus, for the sake of brevity, each feature of the additional embodiment below will not be redundantly explained. Rather, key distinctions between the additional embodiment and hat 100 will be described in detail and the reader should reference the discussion above for features substantially similar between the different hat examples.

HAT EMBODIMENT TWO

Turning attention to FIG. 5, a second example of a hat, hat 200, will now be described. As can be seen in FIG. 5, hat 200 includes a cap 201, a retainer 211, and a boss 220. Cap 201 includes an outer surface 202, which has a right portion 204, a left portion, an upper portion 206, and a rim 207.

A distinction between hat 200 and hat 100 is that hat 200 includes a single retainer 211 rather than multiple retainers 111-113 like hat 100. Retainer 211 extends from rim 207 on right portion 204 over upper portion 206 down to rim 207 on the left portion. As apparent from FIG. 5, retainer 211 is longer than retainers 111-113 shown in FIGS. 1-4.

The reader can see that retainer 211 defines a plurality of medial loops 214 configured to retain items. Hat 200 is retaining two flashlights 290, eyewear 291, a pen 292, and a marker 293 with different medial loops 214 of retainer 211. Retainer 211 retains flashlights 290 in medial loops 214 disposed on upper portion 206 to enable the wearer's head to support flashlights 290 from below.

The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.

Claims

1. A hat for selectively retaining items, comprising: a cap configured to be worn on a head of a user, the cap having an outer surface; anda retainer attached to the outer surface and configured to selectively retain an item.

2. The hat of claim 1, wherein: the outer surface defines: a front portion,a left portion adjacent to the front portion, anda right portion opposite the left portion;the retainer defines a first retainer;the first retainer is attached to the left portion of the outer surface; andthe hat includes a second retainer attached to the right portion of the outer surface.

3. The hat of claim 2, wherein the first retainer and the second retainer are positioned and configured to cooperatively receive frame members of an eyewear article to at least partially support the eyewear article from the cap.

4. The hat of claim 3, wherein the first retainer and the second retainer are positioned and configured to cooperatively receive frame members of the eyewear article when a bridge of the eyewear article rests on a nose of the user and lenses of the eyewear article are disposed in front of eyes of the user.

5. The hat of claim 4, further comprising a boss attached to the front portion of the outer surface and configured to support the bridge of the eyewear article to fully support the eyewear article.

6. The hat of claim 5, wherein the boss includes a protuberance sewn to the front portion of the outer surface of the cap with a stitch.

7. The hat of claim 6, wherein the protuberance operates to retain the bridge of the eyewear article resting on the stitch between the protuberance and the outer surface of the cap.

8. The hat of claim 7, wherein the protuberance is a planar member.

9. The hat of claim 8, wherein the protuberance is a disk.

10. The hat of claim 4, wherein the cap is adapted to extend at least partially over ears of the user when the first retainer and the second retainer receive frame members of the eyewear article.

11. The hat of claim 1, wherein the retainer is a strap.

12. The hat of claim 11, wherein the strap is sewn to the outer surface of the cap.

13. The hat of claim 12, wherein the strap is elastic.

14. The hat of claim 12, wherein: distal ends of the strap are sewn to the outer surface of the cap to form a loop;the loop is configured to selectively receive an item;the strap being elastic operates to press the strap against the item in the loop and to press the item in the loop against the outer surface of the cap.

15. The hat of claim 14, wherein a medial portion of the strap between the distal ends of the strap is also sewn to the outer surface of the cap to define medial loops of the strap between the distal ends and the medial portion of the strap.

16. The hat of claim 15, wherein each medial loop of the strap is configured to selectively retain an item.

17. The hat of claim 1, wherein: the outer surface defines: an upper portion overlying a top of the head of the user when the cap is worn on the head; anda rim distal the upper portion and defining a peripheral edge of the outer surface; andthe retainer extends from the rim to the upper portion of the outer surface.

18. The hat of claim 1, wherein the cap is formed from a fabric material.

19. The hat of claim 18, wherein the cap defines a beanie.

20. The hat of claim 1, wherein: the outer surface defines an upper portion overlying a top of the head of the user when the cap is worn on the head; andthe retainer is attached to the upper portion of the outer surface to enable the head to support the item from below when the item is selectively retained in the retainer.