Abstract:
A size-adjustable hat comprises a front panel attached at a center portion to the body of the hat to form two laterally extending straps. The straps are removably attached to the sides of the hat. The straps can be attached closer to the front of the hat or closer to the rear of the hat to adjust the inner circumference of the hat to thereby accommodate heads of different sizes.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/319,929, filed Feb. 7, 2003, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates generally to hats, and more particularly to a hat having a front panel that enables the size of the hat to be adjusted.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Hats for protecting the head of the wearer against cold weather are ubiquitous. Cold weather hats are typically made of warm material such as wool, fleece, or animal furs. In order to completely cover of the head of the wearer, cold weather hats typically are not adjustable. Rather, resilience in the material, such as fleece and wool, enables the hat to be stretched to accommodate heads of different sizes. However, the constriction caused by the stretched material may be uncomfortable to the wearer. Alternatively, with materials having little or no stretch, such as animal furs, the hats can be fabricated in a range of different sizes. However, the preselected sizes may not comfortably accommodate every wearer, and a retailer must have available a sufficient supply of each hat in every size in order to accommodate all possible customers.  
           [0006]    Adjustable hats are also ubiquitous. A well-known example is a baseball style cap which has an adjustable strap at the back of the cap. A portion of the cap material adjacent the strap must be removed in order to facilitate the adjustability, and maintain the appearance, of the cap. Because of the removal of the cap material, such an adjustment would be unsuitable for a cold weather hat. Furthermore, cold weather hats are typically warn low on the head to protect the back of the head and the neck, unlike baseball-style caps. Because of this, an adjustable strap at the back of the hat would be unworkable and uncomfortable.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0007]    An adjustable hat according to the invention has a forward portion, a top portion, side portions, and a rear portion. The hat includes a brow panel attached to the forward portion so that the brow panel, the forward portion, the top portion, the side portions and the rear portion together form an envelope adapted to cover a wearer&#39;s head. At least one strap extends rearwardly from the brow panel along one of the side portions and is removably attachable to the side portion at more than one position. Thus, attaching the strap to the side portion can selectively increase or decrease the size of the envelope to adjust the hat for wearers&#39; heads of differing sizes.  
           [0008]    Preferably, a strap extends from the brow panel along each of the side portions and is removably attachable at more than one position. The brow panel can be attached to the forward portion by stitching or by a hook and loop closure. Also, the straps can be removeably attachable to the side portions by a hook and loop closure or by a snap closure.  
           [0009]    In one aspect, the adjustable hat can include a pair of ear flaps attached to the side portions for covering a wearer&#39;s ears. Preferably, the ear flaps can be folded into the envelope adjacent to the side portions. A pair of ear straps is also attached to the side portions. A chinstrap can interconnect the ear straps to secure the hat to a wearer&#39;s head.  
           [0010]    The adjustable hat can be fabricated of fleece, synthetic material, leather, denim, or wool. The rear portion can be sized to cover the nape of a wearer&#39;s neck. Preferably, the strap or straps are integral with the brow panel. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    In the drawings:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable hat according to the invention in use.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1 showing a fold-down ear flap in position for covering a wearer&#39;s ear.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a left side perspective view of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1 illustrating the adjustment of the hat.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a plan view of a side panel piece comprising an element of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a plan view of a center panel piece comprising an element of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a plan view of a neck panel piece comprising an element of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a plan view of an ear flap panel piece comprising an element of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a plan view of an inner brow panel comprising an element of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is a plan view of an outer brow panel comprising an element of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 14 is a left side perspective view of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 16 is a bottom perspective view of the adjustable hat of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]    Referring now to the figures, and in particular to FIGS.  1 ,  3 - 5 , and  14 - 16 , an embodiment of an adjustable hat  10  according to the invention has an exterior surface  12 , and an interior surface  14  adapted to be in contact with a wearer&#39;s head. The hat  10  has a front side  16  adapted to be disposed toward the front of the wearer&#39;s head, a rear side  18  adapted to cover the rear of the wearer&#39;s head and at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s neck, side portions comprising a left side  20  and a right side  22 , and a top portion  30 . As shown in FIG. 4, the left side  20  and the right side  22  are each provided with an ear cutout  24  that can leave the wearer&#39;s ears uncovered. A pair of ear straps  26  is sized and located to partially encircle the wearer&#39;s ears. A chinstrap  28  is attached to the ear straps  26  and is adapted to pass underneath a wearer&#39;s chin to secure the hat  10  to the wearer&#39;s head. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is designed to replicate a conventional helmet worn by hockey players. However, the adjustable hat  10  can take other forms and designs.  
         [0029]    As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the adjustable hat  10  comprises an assemblage of several panels, including a left side panel  40 , a right side panel  42 , a center panel  44 , a neck panel  46 , a brow panel  48 , and a pair of ear flaps  50 . The panels are preferably comprised of a fabric, a synthetic material, or leather suitable for cold weather wear, such as fleece in the sense of any fabric with a soft deep pile, wool, animal furs, or a combination of fabrics, synthetics, and leathers.  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 8, the side panels  40 ,  42  comprise an irregularly-shaped, generally curvilinear side panel piece  58  having a curved edge  60  terminating at a first end in a back bottom edge  62  extending generally radially from the curved edge  60 , and at a second end in a brow edge  68  extending toward the first end. Extending toward the curved edge  60  from the back bottom edge  62  and generally perpendicular thereto is an ear cutout rear edge  64 . The ear cutout rear edge  64 , the back bottom edge  62 , and an adjacent portion of the curved edge  60  define a neck flap  66 . The ear cutout rear edge  64  terminates in an ear cutout top edge  78  extending generally perpendicular thereto. The brow edge  68  terminates in a downwardly depending front edge  70  which terminates in a front bottom edge  72  generally parallel to the back bottom edge  62 . An ear cutout front edge  74  extends from the front bottom edge  72  to the ear cutout top edge  78 . The ear cutout front edge  74 , the front bottom edge  72 , and the front edge  70  define a temple flap  76 . The ear cutout front edge  74 , the ear cutout top edge  78 , and the ear cutout rear edge  64  define the ear cutout  24  separating the temple flap  76  from the neck flap  66 .  
         [0031]    In a preferred embodiment, the back bottom edge  62  is 3Â{fraction (1/4)} inches long, the ear cutout rear edge  64  is 2⅝ inches long, the brow edge  68  is 2Â1/4 inches long, the front edge  70  is 3Â½ inches long, the front bottom edge  72  is 2 inches long, the ear cutout front edge  74  is 1⅞ inches long, and the ear cutout top edge  78  is 1{fraction (5/8 )} inches long. The distance from the ear cutout top edge  78  to the top of the side panel piece  58 , identified as dimension “A” in FIG. 8, is approximately 8 inches, and the distance from the front edge  70  to the curved edge  60  along a line collinear with the ear cutout top edge  78 , identified as dimension “B” in FIG. 8, is 7Â{fraction (3/4)} inches.  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIG. 9, the center panel  44  comprises a somewhat rectangular-shaped, elongated panel piece  88  having a brow edge  90 , a neck edge  92  generally parallel to and spaced away from the brow edge  90 , an outwardly curved left side panel edge  94  extending between the brow edge  90  and the neck edge  92 , and an outwardly curved right side panel edge  96  extending between the brow edge  90  and the neck edge  92  in symmetrical, spaced-apart juxtaposition with the left side panel edge  94 . In the preferred embodiment, the brow edge  90  and the neck edge  92  are 3 inches long, the length of the center panel  44  is 14 inches, and the width of the center panel  44  at its widest point is 3⅞ inches.  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIG. 10, the neck panel  46  is a rectangular-shaped panel piece  108  having a left side panel edge  110  and a right side panel edge  112  in parallel, spaced-apart juxtaposition and an outer edge  114  and an inner edge  116  in parallel, spaced-apart juxtaposition extending from the left side panel edge  110  to the right side panel edge  112 . In the preferred embodiment, the neck panel  46  is 9Â½ inches long and 3Â¼ inches wide.  
         [0034]    The brow panel  48  comprises an inner brow panel  130  and an outer brow panel  150 . Referring now to FIG. 12, the inner brow panel  130  is a somewhat elliptical-shaped piece having a curved left edge  132  and a curved right edge  134  in symmetrical, spaced-apart juxtaposition joined by an outwardly-curved upper edge  136  and an outwardly-curved lower edge  138  in symmetrical spaced-apart juxtaposition. In the preferred embodiment, the inner brow panel  130  is 17 inches long and 3Â½ inches wide at its widest point. The radius of curvature of the curved edges  132 ,  134  is approximately Â¾ inch to 1 inch. Referring now to FIG. 13, the outer brow panel  150  is a somewhat elliptical-shaped piece having a curved left edge  152  and a curved right edge  154  in symmetrical, spaced-apart juxtaposition joined by an outwardly-curved upper edge  156  and an outwardly-curved lower edge  158  in symmetrical spaced-apart juxtaposition. In the preferred embodiment, the outer brow panel  150  is 17 inches long and 4 inches wide at its widest point. The radius of curvature of the curved edges  152 ,  154  is approximately 1 inch.  
         [0035]    As shown in FIG. 11, the ear flap  50  comprises a somewhat rectangular-shaped panel piece  168  having an upper edge  170 , terminating at a first end in a front edge  174  and at a second end in a back edge  176  orthogonal thereto. An outwardly-extending curved lower edge  172  extends between the front edge  174  and the back edge  176 . The ear flap  50  is sized to completely cover the ear cutout  24  when the ear flap  50  is folded down over the ear cutout  24 , based upon the sizes selected for the other panels.  
         [0036]    The various panels are joined together, preferably by sewing in a well-known manner using generally conventional sewing techniques. The left side panel  40  and the right side panel  42  each comprise a pair of identical side panel pieces  58  which are brought together in perimetrical alignment and joined by stitching along a panel seam  80  to form a single panel  40 ,  42  comprising a double thickness of fabric. Similarly, the center panel  44  comprises a pair of identical center panel pieces  88  which are brought together in perimetrical alignment and joined by stitching along a panel seam  98  to form a single panel  44  comprising a double thickness of fabric. The brow panel  48  is fabricated by symmetrically aligning the inner brow panel  130  and the outer brow panel  150  so that the left edge  132  is in corresponding relationship with the left edge  152  and the right edge  134  is in corresponding relationship with the right edge  154 . The brow panels  130 ,  150  are then joined by stitching along a panel seam  140  in the inner brow panel  130  and a panel seam  160  in the outer brow panel  150  so that the finished seam is only visible along the inner brow panel  130 . Finally, the ear flaps  50  comprise a pair of identical ear flap panel pieces  168  which are brought together in perimetrical alignment and joined by stitching along a panel seam  178  to form a single ear flap  50  comprising a double thickness of fabric.  
         [0037]    The panels are assembled into the hat  10 , preferably by sewing in a well-known manner using generally conventional sewing techniques. In a preferred embodiment, the panels are stitched together so that the edges of the joined panels extend inwardly along the interior surface  14 , thereby giving the exterior surface  12  a smooth, finished appearance, as shown in FIGS.  3 - 5 . The curved edge  60  of the left side panel  40  is joined to the left side panel edge  94  of the center panel  44  by stitching along a suitable seam. Similarly, the curved edge  60  of the right side panel  42  is joined to the right side panel edge  96  of the center panel  44  by stitching along a suitable seam. The ear flaps  50  are stitched along the upper edge  170  to the side panels  40 ,  42  adjacent the ear cutout top edge  78  to be joined to the interior surface  14 . The ear flaps  50  can thus be folded upward flat against the interior surface  14  when the wearer desires to leave his or her ears exposed through the ear cutouts  24 , or alternately folded downward behind the ear cutouts  24  to provide additional covering for the ears as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0038]    The neck panel  46  is attached to the rear side  18  of the hat  10  by first folding the neck panel  46  along the fold line  118  so that the neck panel  46  is folded over the back bottom edge  62  of the side panels  40 ,  42  and the neck edge  92  of the center panel  44 , with the outer edge  114  extending along the exterior surface  12  and the inner edge  116  extending along the interior surface  14 , as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and  5 . The neck panel  46  is then stitched to the side panels  40 ,  42  and the center panel  44  along the panel seam  120 .  
         [0039]    The brow panel  48  is attached to the front side  16  of the hat  10  by stitching the brow panel  48  to the brow edge  90  of the center panel  44  along the central portion of the edge formed by the joining of the upper edge  136  to the upper edge  156 , thereby forming a left brow panel strap  192  and a right brow panel strap  194  that can extend toward the rear side  18  of the hat  10  along the upper portion of the side panels  40 ,  42 , as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and  7 . The inner surface of each panel strap  192 ,  194  is provided with a brow panel fastener  196  (FIG. 5), such as a hook-and-loop or Velcro closure, or snaps. Similarly, the outer surface of each side panel  40 ,  42  is provided with a side panel fastener  190  in corresponding operable relationship to the brow panel fasteners  196  (FIG. 7).  
         [0040]    The ear straps  26  are attached to the folded neck panel  46  at the left side panel edge  110  and the right side panel edge  112 , and to the temple flap  76  at the front bottom edge  72 , as shown in FIG. 4. The chin strap  28  is permanently attached at a first end to a first ear strap  26 , such as by stitching, and removably attached at a second end to a second ear strap  26 , such as with straps or a hook-and-loop closure, as shown in FIGS.  2 - 4 .  
         [0041]    The hat  10  can be readily adjusted to accommodate heads of different circumferences by adjusting the attachment of the brow panel straps  192 ,  194  to the side panels  40 ,  42 , as shown in FIG. 7. For heads having smaller circumferences, the brow panel straps  192 ,  194  can be pulled toward the rear side  18  of the hat  10  to tighten the brow panel  48  relative to the rest of the hat  10 . Conversely, for heads having larger circumferences, the brow panel straps  192 ,  194  can be loosened toward the front side  16  of the hat  10  to loosen the brow panel  48  relative to the rest of the hat  10 . Regardless of the point of attachment of the brow panel straps  192 ,  194  to the side panels  40 ,  42 , the brow panel  48  will maintain a constant configuration so that the hat  10  will retain the same appearance. Furthermore, regardless of the point of attachment, the brow panel  48  will completely cover the front of the user&#39;s head without forming any openings that can leave part of the user&#39;s head exposed, thereby providing complete warmth and protection to the user.  
         [0042]    Alternatively, in lieu of stitching, the brow panel  48  can be attached to the front side  16  of the hat  10  by the use of one or more fasteners (not shown), such as hook-and-loop or Velcro closures, or snaps, attached to the lower center portion of the inner brow panel  130  adjacent the lower edge  138 , and the center panel  44  adjacent the brow edge  90 , in cooperative relationship. This enables the brow panel  48  to be completely removed for use of the hat  10  without a brow panel. It also enables different brow panels having different colors and/or team logos to be selectively interchanged by the wearer. Finally, it enables further refinement of the size adjustment of the hat  10  to provide a more comfortable, customized fit for the wearer.  
         [0043]    As disclosed previously, the embodiment described herein comprises an adjustable hat replicating a conventional hockey helmet such as worn by high school, college, and professional hockey players. The hockey-style adjustable hat can be fabricated in combinations of colors to replicate the hockey helmets worn by a favorite hockey team. The hat can also be provided with team logos. Hockey fans can combine a team hat with a team jersey, thereby strengthening fan loyalty and keeping the wearer warm while at the hockey rink or outdoors.  
         [0044]    While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing description and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is described in the appended claims.