Patent Application
20220330643
The present invention relates generally to the field of bucket hats. More specifically, the present invention relates to a topless, or open top, bucket hat that provides the advantages of a visor of open-aired top portion of the head of a wearer and a brim for protecting from sunlight. More specifically, the hat includes a strap to circumscribe the head like a headband, and a brim extending radially from the strap to protect the wearer from sunlight. The hat affords users the shade benefits of a bucket hat while also enabling the benefits of an open top visor cap. The hat is proposed to be unisex, wherein one size fits most, and can be adjusted by a drawstring. The hat can be available in a variety of colors and patterns. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.
By way of background, different styles and types of hats are used to provide protection against the sun. In addition, some individuals wear hats to accessorize their attire and for fashion statements. Generally, ball caps, bucket hats and other similar hats are used to provide protection from harsh sunlight and to ensure the wearer remains comfortable while going out in the summer heat. Typical ball caps comprise a small brim portion that prevents the sunlight from one side of the cap, however, other sides of the cap fail to protect the wearer from sun. Also, the ball cap is covered from the top, disturbs the hairstyle of the wearer, and prohibits venting from the top of the head. There is no way to wear a ball cap without damaging or disturbing the hairstyle of the wearer.
Further, bucket hats are often used by individuals to provide enhanced sun protection. Bucket hats comprise a brim throughout the perimeter of the hat to provide sun protection from all directions and angles. However, heretofore known bucket hats cover the head area (i.e. top of the head) and disturb the hairstyle of the wearer. Individuals desire a hat that allows their hair to flow freely, similar to a visor, rather than being covered inside the hat.
Furthermore, the standard bucket hats available in the market are fixed in dimensions and individuals are required to buy a bucket hat that fits to their head circumference. Sometimes, a bucket hat of desired size may not be available, thereby leaving the customers unhappy.
Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a hat that allows the hair of the wearer to flow freely while wearing the hat. There is also a long felt need in the art for a hat that provides enhanced protection against the sun. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for an improved hat that allows the users to adjust the size of the hat to fit to different head sizes. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a modified hat that does not cover the head and therefore prevents the hairstyle of the wearer from being disturbed. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a hat that prevents the wearer from getting worried about their hairstyle while wearing hats. Furthermore, there is a long felt need in the art for a hat that ensures a single hat can fit a plurality of wearers having different head sizes. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for an improved hat that offers all-encompassing (i.e. circumferential) sun protection while allowing the wearer's hair to fly free.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an adjustable crownless (i.e. open-topped) bucket hat that provides an all-encompassing circumferential protection against the sun while allowing the wearer's hair to fly freely. The adjustable crownless bucket hat comprises a circular headband section having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface includes a decorative band and a drawstring concealed in the decorative band. The drawstring is used for clinching or cinching the circumference of the circular headband. The drawstring can be accessible from a drawstring opening disposed on the decorative band. The headband includes a top edge, a bottom edge and a brim extending radially and circumferentially from the bottom edge in an outward direction for providing a bucket hat look. Further, the circular headband provides a continuous opening to provide an open aired top portion similar to a visor.
In this manner, the novel adjustable crownless bucket hat of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides a hybrid hat that includes the advantages of both a visor and a bucket hat. The bucket hat allows the hair of a wearer to flow freely while wearing the hat by providing a top or open-aired portion. The hat fits to different head sizes using a drawstring or a flexible cord, and offers all-encompassing circumferential sun protection under the brim while allowing for the wearer's hair to fly free.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an adjustable crownless bucket hat. The adjustable crownless bucket hat includes a circular headband section having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The exterior surface includes a decorative band. A drawstring can be concealed in the decorative band, wherein the drawstring is used for clinching/cinching the size or circumference of the circular headband. The drawstring is accessible from a drawstring opening disposed on the decorative band. The headband includes a top edge, a bottom edge and a brim extending radially and circumferentially from the bottom edge in an outward direction for providing a bucket hat look. Further, the circular headband provides a continuous opening to provide an open-aired top portion similar to a visor.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a topless bucket hat is disclosed. The topless bucket hat can include a hook and look strap having an exterior surface and an interior surface, a hook fastener disposed on the exterior surface at one end of the strap and a loop fastener on the interior surface at an opposing end. The hook fastener and the loop fastener are detachably-attached to form a closed circular opening for adjustably circumscribing the head of a wearer, and a brim extending radially from a lower edge of the strap in a continuous and uniform manner. The exterior surface can include a decorative band and a logo for aesthetic purposes.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a visor-type bucket headwear that is fully adjustable and provides a means for adjustably securing around a wearer's head. The headwear includes an integrated flexible drawstring, which can extend around the entire circumference of a closed circular strap in a concealed manner within a decorative band and can be used to adjust the circumference size of the headwear. Therefore, the closed circular strap is fully adjustable and can be modified to a variety of sizes, as needed. The integrated flexible drawstring can be accessed from drawstring openings disposed on the decorative band. A brim extending from the strap in a radial manner provides the bucket hat look to the headwear.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a unisex and adjustable visor-type bucket hat is disclosed. The bucket hat includes a strap having an exterior surface and an interior surface, a decorative band sewn on the exterior surface, one of a hook and loop fastener at opposite ends of the strap or a drawstring concealed in the decorative band for snugly fitting the strap around the head of a wearer and a brim extending radially and outwardly from a bottom edge of the strap for providing shade benefits of a bucket hat. The bucket hat includes the open top area enabling users to have an open-aired top portion, similar to a visor. The drawstring is used for clinching or cinching the circumferential length of the strap to adjustably fit same to the head of a small size and can be accessed through an opening disposed in the decorative band.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the hat is unisex, one size fits most, and capable of being adjusted by a drawstring. The brim width can be in the range of from about 2.75″ to about 3.0″, and the width of the headband or strap can be in the range of from about 2.75″ to about 3.0″. The length of the strap can be in the range of from about 8.25″ to about 9.25″ and the drawstring can clinch/cinch the closed circular band formed by the strap to a diameter in the range of from about 5.0″ to about 9.0″.
In yet another embodiment, a logo or other indicia and the drawstring openings can be disposed at opposing ends or sides on the strap and the logo can be positioned on the front of the wearer when the hat is donned by a wearer.
In yet another embodiment, the adjustment in length of the strap does not cause distortion in the brim of the head. The drawstring adjusts the length such that the hat snugly fits around the head of the wearer while maintaining the desired shape of the brim for providing shade to the wearer's face, neck, and ears therebelow.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long felt need in the art for a hat that allows the hair of wearer to flow freely while wearing the hat. There is also a long felt need in the art for a hat that provides enhanced protection against the sun. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for an improved hat that allows the users to adjust the size of the hat to fit to different head sizes. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a modified hat that does not cover the head, and therefore prevents the hairstyle of the wearer from being disturbed. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a hat that prevents the wearer from getting worried about his or her hairstyle while wearing hats. Furthermore, there is a long felt need in the art for a hat that ensures a single hat can fit to a plurality of wearers having different head sizes. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for an improved hat that offers all-encompassing (i.e. circumferential) sun protection while allowing for the wearer's hair to fly free.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, discloses a novel topless bucket. The topless bucket hat includes a hook and look fastener strap having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The hook fastener disposed on the exterior surface at one end of the strap and the loop fastener on the interior surface at an opposing end. The hook fastener and the loop fastener are detachably-attached to form a closed circular adjustable opening for circumscribing the head of a wearer. The bucket hat further includes a brim extending radially from a lower edge of the strap in a continuous and uniform manner. The exterior surface includes a decorative band and a logo for aesthetic purposes.
Referring initially to the drawings,
It should be appreciated that the hat 100 of the present invention does not have a crown, similar to a visor, and provides a continuous opening on the top of the head of the wearer to offer the all-encompassing sun protection of a conventional bucket hat due to presence of the brim 108, while allowing for the wearer's hair to fly free. The exterior surface 110 of the headband section 102 can optionally have a logo or other indicia 118 for display. Preferably, the logo 118 is positioned opposite to the opening 116, thereby allowing the logo 118 to be visually present in the front when the hat 100 is donned by the wearer.
The drawstring 114 can be made from a flexible material such as strands of cotton, polyester, nylon or the like. In some embodiments, the drawstring 114 can be made from an elasticized material, such as multiple thin elastic bands combined within flexible cotton piping. The drawstring 114 includes sufficient length to surround the entire circumference of the decorative band or sleeve 113.
The topless bucket hat 100 is unisex and can come in various colors and designs. The width or extension of the brim 108 up to brim edge 1080 can be about 2.75″ and the width of the headband 102 can be about 2.75″. The brim 108 provides an adequate shield from the sunlight while the headband section 102 can cover the side of the head of the wearer. The decorative band or sleeve 113 can be about 0.75″ in width and conceals the drawstring 114 therein. The diameter of the circular headband section 102 can be about 9.0″ in a first relaxed orientation, and the drawstring 114 can be clinched/cinched to decrease the diameter to 5.0″ or even smaller to fit various head sizes in a second orientation (i.e. adults and youths).
The topless bucket hat 100 can be made from a breathable and weatherproof material that is machine-washable. Preferably, the hat 100 can be made from one or more of a cotton, a leather, a denim, woven and non-woven polymeric materials and others.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “hybrid hat”, “topless bucket hat”, “crownless bucket hat”, “hat”, and “bucket hat” are interchangeable and refer to the topless bucket hat 100, 200, 500 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the topless bucket hat 100, 200, 500 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the topless bucket hat 100, 200, 500 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the topless bucket hat 100, 200, 500 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the topless bucket hat 100, 200, 500 are important design parameters for user convenience, the topless bucket hat 100, 200, 500 can be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/175,090, which was filed on Apr. 15, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63175090 | Apr 2021 | US |
