Abstract:
A hat with integrated cigar holders includes a basket portion, a brim section extending outwardly in a first direction away from the basket portion, a plurality of openings disposed along the basket portion, and a pair of cigar straps each having a middle portion forming an adjustable sized loop disposed on the outside facing surface of the basket.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to portable cigar holders and more particularly to a hat with integrated cigar holders. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    There are over five million cigar smokers in the United States alone. As each of these smokers will attest, cigars are extremely fragile, can be quite expensive, and possess a much greater amount of tobacco than a conventional cigarette. For this reason, it is not uncommon for a single cigar to be repeatedly lit, smoked, extinguished and stored over an extended period of time. 
         [0004]    Although conventional cigar boxes and other such devices function to protect cigars from damage, they are generally bulky objects which are not easily carried by a user during travel or at social events where smoking is permissible. 
         [0005]    There are known hats which include pockets for receiving objects such as pencils and markers, for example. While these hats can, in some instances, be used to hold a cigar, they suffer from several drawbacks. For example, known pocket hats generally include an open ended pocket having a “one size fits all” approach for storing items of various shapes and dimensions. As such, when utilized to store cigars it is quite common for the cigar to fall out of the pocket when the wearer leans forward. Moreover, the cigars are often damaged by the pocket itself owing to a difference in the size and shape of the pocket versus the cigar. Finally, when utilized to store a partially smoked cigar, it is not uncommon for a portion of the tobacco or ash from the cigar to stain the pocket of the hat itself, thus shortening the overall lifecycle of both products. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there remains a need for a hat with integrated cigar holders that does not suffer from the drawbacks described above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to a hat with integrated cigar holders. One embodiment of the present invention can include a baseball style hat having a basket portion, a brim section and a plurality of loops disposed along the outside surface. The loops may be adjustable in nature so as to accommodate cigars of varying sizes, and can also have elastic qualities. 
         [0008]    Another embodiment of the present invention can include the ability to adjust the size of the hat to fit the wearer, and to secure the loops to the hat between the basket and a sweatband. 
         [0009]    This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hat with integrated cigar holders that is useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a back side view of the hat with integrated cigar holders in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is bottom facing perspective view of the hat with integrated cigar holders in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front facing view of the hat with integrated cigar holders in accordance with another embodiment of the invention 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the hat with integrated cigar holders in operation, and in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. 
         [0017]    Identical reference numerals are used for like elements of the invention or elements of like function. For the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate one embodiment of a hat with integrated cigar holders  10  that is useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. 
         [0019]    As shown, the hat  10  can be a baseball style cap having a contoured and/or elastically deformable basket portion  11 , a sweat band  12  that is sewn around the peripheral edge of the basket portion  11 , and a brim section  13 . Of course, the hat itself need not resemble a baseball style cap, as virtually any known style and shape headgear can be utilized herein. Additionally, the hat itself can include any number of designs that incorporate one or more distinct colors, patterns and markings, and can be constructed from any number of lightweight materials such as cotton and/or mesh, for example, to allow air flow and cooling of the wearer&#39;s head. 
         [0020]    The basket portion of the hat can include an inside facing surface  11   a  and an outside facing surface  11   b . In one preferred embodiment, the hat can be adjustable in nature and will include a quick-release fastener  14  suitable for allowing a wearer to quickly and easily adjust the size of the hat. Several non-limiting examples of suitable quick release fasteners including snap back fasteners, draw strings, elastic tension bands and other such devices. 
         [0021]    The hat  10  can further include a plurality of cigar straps  22  each working in conjunction with a plurality of openings  21  to form multiple loops  25 . As shown, each of the plurality of openings  21  can include an elongated shape and dimension suitable for receiving a portion of a cigar strap. One or more of the cigar straps  22  can be constructed from fabric and/or elastic to form an elongated malleable member, having a first end  22   a , a middle section  22   b  and a second end  22   c.    
         [0022]    In the preferred embodiment, the first end of each strap  22   a  can be secured to the hat at a location between the basket  11   a  and the sweat band  12  via permanent stitches  23 . Such a feature can ensure that the head of a wearer will not come in contact with the stitching which may be abrasive or uncomfortable to the skin. Of course, the straps can also be positioned at other locations on both sides of the basket, and can be secured thereon via any permanent method such as glue or adhesive tape, for example. 
         [0023]    The second end of each strap  22   c  can be secured to the inside portion of the basket  11   a  via any number of non-permanent fasteners  30 . The middle portion  22   b  of each strap can be positioned along the outside surface of the basket portion  11   b , at a location between two of the openings  21 . When so positioned, each of the straps  22  can form a loop  25  along the outside of the hat  10 . 
         [0024]    As indicated by arrows a and b, a wearer can selectively position the second end of each strap  22   c  within the basket  11   a  (see arrow a) so as to increase or decrease the size of the corresponding loop  25  (see arrow b). In this regard, each loop  25  can be independently adjusted to fit the exact size of virtually any cigar  5 . 
         [0025]    As described herein, each fastener  30  can preferably include first and second sections  30   a  and  30   b  that are constructed from opposing strips of hook and loop material (e.g., Velcro®) that are permanently affixed to the basket  11   a  and strap  22   c , respectively. Of course, the invention is not limited to utilizing strips of hook and loop material as a number of other fasteners are also contemplated. For example, in another embodiment, the fastener  30  can include a plurality of opposing magnetic elements that are secured within the strap  22   c  and basket  11   a.    
         [0026]    Although described above as being located along the basket section of the hat, the present invention is not so limiting. To this end,  FIG. 4  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the hat with integrated cigar holders  10 . As shown, the hat can include any number of straps  22  and openings  21  positioned at any location along the basket section and/or the brim  13 , so as to create loops  25  for receiving any number of cigars. The straps  22  and openings  21  being disposed along the brim in a similar manner as described above with respect to the basket section. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of the hat with integrated cigar holders in operation. As shown, each of the loops  25  formed by the combination of the straps  22  and basket body  11   b  can be independently sized to accommodate a cigar  5  of any length and dimension. Such a feature can act to provide wearers with a safe and convenient location to store new and partially smoked cigars without causing damage to the same. 
         [0028]    As described herein, one or more elements of the hat with integrated cigar holders  10  can be secured together utilizing a variety of known manufacturing techniques and seam connectors such as permanent stitches, liquid seams, hem tape and the like. As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
         [0029]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0030]    The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.