Abstract:
The present invention is an earmuff including first and second muff portions with a clip disposed between them. The clip is manipulatable into closed and open positions. When the clip is open, the upper sections of the first and second muff portions are separated. When the clip is closed, the upper sections are together. The earmuffs are designed to cover a human ear and are to be clipped to the headband of a cap by putting the earmuff into the open position, positioning the earmuff around the headband, and positioning the earmuff into the closed position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to cold weather accessories, and in particular, to earmuffs that are attachable to headwear. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Ears are particularly susceptible to the discomfort associated with cold weather. As such, throughout history, garments and accessories have been made to protect, cover, and/or warm ears. Such garments and accessories range from hats with ear flaps to balaclavas to headbands to earmuffs. Classic earmuffs include a band that stretches across one&#39;s head and end in a muff on each side that covers each ear. The band of the earmuff often includes an adjustment mechanism to accommodate larger or smaller heads. The band can be uncomfortable on the wearer&#39;s head and often slips around on the head so that the muff portion also slips from place on the ears. In addition, the attachment mechanism for the muffs to the band can be awkward and get caught in the wearer&#39;s hair. Therefore, there is a need for earmuffs that eschew the uncomfortable and unwieldy band and that stay in place over the wearer&#39;s ears. 
         [0003]    Endeavors have been made toward this end. U.S. Pat. No. 379,965 to Lippincott, for example, discloses an earmuff with a fastening by which it is attached to the sweat-band of a hat. The fastening includes projections on one piece and corresponding depressions on the other piece, whereby the two pieces composing the attachment and being of spring metal may be locked together when positioned vertically to each other. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,303,850 to Liederman discloses a cap and earmuff combination where the cap has a cap band of stiffening material to which are riveted the means for attaching the earmuffs. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,333,392 to Rosenzweig discloses earmuffs which may be mounted on a hat or cap, where the earmuff includes a member made of a single piece of resilient wire that is external from the earmuff covering portion, a looped frame portion to support a covering, and a clamp consisting of a pair of pressed together spring clamp portions. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,442,825 to Rabushka discloses an earmuff arrangement for use upon a cap, which incorporates the use of bent metal clip-like members that preferably have depressed or indented portions therein. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,640,199 to Funk discloses a cap comprising a crown, a lining, and a headband disposed between the crown and the lining, said crown, lining and headband being secured together in the form of a unitary assembly and defining the lower edge of said cap, said crown being provided on each side above the region of the ears of the wearer when the cap is being worn with pairs of spaced parallel slits perpendicular to said edge, a relatively short strip of stiff material rigidly secured adjacent one of its ends to the headband on each side of the cap so as to be positioned above the ears of the wearer when the cap is being worn and passing outwardly through one of said slits and back inwardly through the other slit of each of said pairs so that a short portion of each of said strips is exposed, and swivel means swingably secured to the said exposed portions of each of said short strips for supporting earmuffs. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,739 to Fogarty discloses a device for supporting a pair of earmuffs that enables the support band to be retained on the head, while the earmuff support frame is slid along the band and clamped thereto in its adjusted position; the individual earmuff support frame being supported in such a manner that it can be rotated out of its normal mounting position, thereby moving the earmuffs away from the ears of the wearer. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,307 to Vantine discloses an ear protector for use with a headband or similar appliance, which protector comprises a cap member of sufficient size and shape for covering an ear; suspension means including first and second ends; means pivotally connecting the cap member to the first end of the suspension means for permitting the adjustable positioning of the cap member with respect to the disposition of the ear; means for attaching the second end of the suspension means to a headband; and means for securing the protector to the temple of an eyeglass frame, which securing means includes arms attached to the cap member, each arm having a free end, and means carried at each free end for detachably securing same to the temple. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,507 to Brown discloses an accessory attachment for headwear having a rearwardly disposed generally vertical rim portion extending around the rear portions of the headwear when applied to the head of a wearer, comprising, in combination, a plurality of U-shaped clips frictionally encompassing the rim portion and being positionable thereon in a plurality of selected peripherally spaced positions; each clip having a patch of hooked locking fibers secured to the outwardly facing surface of the clip; an accessory attachment formed of flexible material and having a band formed on its upper end; and a plurality of patched fibrous material secured to the band in the same spaced relationship as the clips, whereby the accessory attachment may be detachably secured to the locking fibers on the clips. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,790 to Robertson discloses an apparatus for protecting a person&#39;s ears from the damaging ultra-violet rays of the sun. The ear protector apparatus conveniently clips to the outside of a cap. The protective ear apparatus is positionable along the headband of the cap in accordance with the anatomical configuration of a person&#39;s head. Furthermore, the protective ear apparatus is removable and may be applied from one cap to another. The ear apparatus shades the ear, rather than covers it for warmth, like an earmuff. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,971,282 to Berge discloses earmuffs for use with protective headgear, primarily helmets, wherein the earmuffs are in the form of sleeves with flaps that overlap the edges of the sleeves, include a base element that spans a wearer&#39;s head and couples left and right sleeves, and include a chin cover that receives the portion of a chin strap that extends beyond the sleeve. 
         [0013]    U.S. Patent App. No. 2008/0263749 to Leong discloses hearing protection muffs that comprise a sound attenuating cap, a self-attachment member for engaging the sound attenuating cap to the ear of a use, and optionally a sealing member. 
         [0014]    U.S. Patent App. No. 2011/0113537 to Young-Hua Peng discloses a multifunction safety mask with earmuffs clip, composed of a front hoop ring equipped with a connection portion, including a brim hinge joint part, back hoop ring hinge joint part, and top belt hinge joint hole, wherein an earmuffs clamp groove is placed at the top side of the connection portion; a brim body hinged on the brim hinge joint part of the front hoop ring; a back hoop ring, in which the two ends of the back hoop ring are buckled in a front hoop ring and back hoop ring pivot hole; a top belt buckled, in which the two ends of the top belt are buckled in the top belt hinge joint hole placed at the two sides of the front hoop ring; and earmuffs including two earmuff bodies with a link plate between them, in which the two sides of the link plate enter and buckle in the earmuffs clamp groove; thus the mask not only is stably worn on a user&#39;s head, but also prevents the user from noise damage with the earmuffs stably buckled on the mask. 
         [0015]    Although each of the above cited patents and patent application addresses some of the issues inherent in earmuffs none do so sufficiently. In particular, none is easily removable and reattachable and those that are removable either require a special attachment to the hat upon which they are attached or cause damage to the hat by virtue of their attachment mechanism, none may be easily and inexpensively manufactured, and none have a thin profile that allow them to easily fit in a wearer&#39;s pocket while not in use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention is a clip-on earmuff and a clip-on earmuff kit. 
         [0017]    In its most basic form, the earmuff of the present invention includes a first muff portion with a first muff inside, a first muff outside, a first muff lower section, a first muff upper section, and a first muff central section; a second muff portion with a second muff inside, a second muff outside, a second muff lower section, a second muff upper section, and a second muff central section; and a clip between the first muff inside and the second muff inside. The first muff lower section and the second muff lower section are affixed to one another so that the first muff inside and the second muff inside face one another. The first muff upper section and the second muff upper section are not affixed. The first and second muff portions are of the same size and shape, which is at least 2 inches by 2 inches. The clip includes a first clip side disposed proximate to the first muff inside; a second clip side disposed proximate to the second muff inside; a closed end where the first clip side and the second clip side are affixed to one another; and an open end. The closed end is disposed between the first muff central section and the second muff central section. The open end includes a first open end side affixed to the first muff upper section and comprised by the first clip side, and a second open end side affixed to the second muff upper section and comprised by the second clip side. The clip is manipulatable between an open position where the first open end side and the second open end side are separated and a closed position wherein the first open end side and the second open end side are securely together. 
         [0018]    The preferred clips are hairpin-type clips, butterfly-type clips, or binder-type clips, but any clip as described above may be used successfully with the present invention. With each of these preferred clips, the clips will remain in the closed position unless pressure is exerted on the clip in some way to force the clip into the open position. Once that pressure is released, the clip returns to the closed position. 
         [0019]    The earmuffs may include a logo or other decoration on their outsides. They may be made of any material, but are preferably made a soft material for comfort, as they are worn against the ears, and a warm material, as one of their objects is to warm the ears. The earmuff may include an inner portion between and attached to the first and second muff insides to cover the clip. In addition to the clip being affixed to the first and second upper sections at the first and second open end sides of the clip, the clip may also be affixed to the first and second muff insides at the first and second clip sides of the clip and/or to the first and second muff central sections at the closed end of the clip. 
         [0020]    In its most basic form, the earmuff kit of the present invention includes two substantially identical earmuffs of the present invention, as described above, and a headwear with an unobstructed headband. In this context, “substantially identical” means that each of the earmuffs is the same shape and size and has the same type of clips within the earmuff. The earmuffs may look different on their outsides, however. For example, they may be different colors or have different logos. So long as they are the same shape and size, and have the same clips within, they are considered “substantially identical” for purposes of the present invention. In this context, a headwear with an “unobstructed headband” means a headwear, such as a baseball cap, that does not have a brim or other disruption on the headband where the headband passes over where the ear of the headwear wearer would be. To be clear, a baseball cap, for example, does typically have a brim, but the brim does not pass over the part of the headband of the cap that will be over the ear of someone wearing the cap, so it has an “unobstructed headband.” A baseball cap, therefore, qualifies as a headwear of the kit of the present invention. A fedora, on the other hand, typically has a brim that passes all the way around the headband of the hat. Such that a fedora would therefore not qualify as a headwear of the kit of the present invention because it does not have an “unobstructed headband.” 
         [0021]    In practice, the earmuff of the present invention is clipped to the headband of the headwear at a place on the headband that is right above the ear of a wearer of the headwear. A user will feel the clip within the earmuff and manipulate it into the open position; position the first and second muff portions on either side of that spot on the headband; and then release the clip back into the closed position so that the headband is caught between the first and second muff portions and the earmuff is held in place on the headband so that the earmuff covers the wearer&#39;s ear. 
         [0022]    Therefore, is an aspect of the invention to provide an earmuff that is easily removable from and reattachable to a user&#39;s hat. 
         [0023]    It is a further aspect of the invention to provide an earmuff that does not require a special attachment to the hat upon which they are attached. 
         [0024]    It is a further aspect of the invention to provide an earmuff that will not cause damage to the hat by virtue of their attachment mechanism. 
         [0025]    It is a further aspect of the invention to provide an earmuff that may be easily and inexpensively manufactured. 
         [0026]    It is a still further aspect of the invention to provide an earmuff that has a thin profile that allow them to easily fit in a wearer&#39;s pocket while not in use. 
         [0027]    These aspects of the present invention are not meant to be exclusive and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read in conjunction with the following description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIGS. 1A-1C  are examples of different embodiments of the outside of the earmuff of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are side views of the earmuff of the present invention in closed and open positions, respectively. 
           [0030]      FIG. 2C  is a side view of the earmuff of the present invention in the closed position and applied to a headband of a cap. 
           [0031]      FIG. 2D  is a cross-sectional view of the side view shown in  FIG. 2B , showing the clip within the earmuff of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are side views of a hairpin-type clip alone and incorporated into an earmuff of the present invention, respectively. 
           [0033]      FIGS. 4A-4D  are front views of various embodiments of clips that may be incorporated into an earmuff of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are side views of a butterfly-type clip in a closed position, open position, and incorporated into an earmuff of the present invention, respectively. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 6A-6C  are side views of a binder-type clip in a closed position, open position, and incorporated into an earmuff of the present invention, respectively. 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an earmuff of the present invention clipped to the headband of a cap. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    Referring first to  FIGS. 1A-1C , examples of several embodiments of outside  16 ,  28  of earmuff  10  are provided. First muff portion  12  is indicated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . Second muff portion  24  is indicated in  FIG. 1C . It is understood that the designation between first muff portion  12  and second muff portion  24  is arbitrary. First and second muff portions  12  and  24  are substantially identical and reversible in that they are of the same size and shape. First muff outside  16 , second muff outside  28 , first muff lower section  18 , first muff upper section  20 , and second muff central section  34  are also indicated. Earmuff  10  may be round, as shown in  FIG. 1A . It may also be a rounded or rectangular flap, as shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C , respectively. The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C  are merely exemplary, and one of at least ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the size and shape, both two-dimensionally and three-dimensionally, of an earmuff  10  of the present invention, may vary widely. The width  38  and height  40  of earmuff  10  must always be at least 2 inches for both dimensions, however, as the purpose of earmuff  10  is to cover and warm a human ear. If earmuff  10  were any smaller than 2″×2″, it likely would not serve this purpose well. In requiring that the dimensions be at least 2″×2″, it is not to suggest that earmuff  10  must be square. Instead, the requirement is that whatever shape earmuff  10  is, that shape have a width  38  of at least 2″ and a length  40  of at least 2″. Earmuff  10  may include a logo  64 , which may be of any size on the outside  16  of earmuff  10 . Logo  64  may be a word or design trademark, trade dress, or any other type of indicia. Logo  64  may be the mascot for a sports team, for example. Logo  64  may also simply be one or more of a sports team&#39;s colors. If a team&#39;s colors are maroon and blue, for example, logo  64  may be one earmuff  10  being maroon on the outside  16  or  28  and the other earmuff  10  being blue on the outside  16  or  28 . 
         [0038]    Now referring to  FIGS. 2A-2C , side views of earmuff  10  in closed position  58 , open position  56 , and closed position  58  applied to a headband  68  are provided, respectively. Earmuff  10  includes first muff portion  12  and second muff portion  24 . First muff portion  12  includes first muff inside  14 , first muff outside  16 , first muff lower section  18 , and first muff upper section  20 . Second muff portion  24  includes second muff inside  26 , second muff outside  28 , second muff lower section  30 , and second muff upper section  32 . First and second muff lower sections  18 ,  30  are affixed to one another so that first and second muff insides  14 ,  26  face one another. First and second muff lower sections  18 ,  30  may be affixed by any means commonly used in the art, such as by stitching, heat gluing, or other adhesion. First and second muff upper sections  20 ,  32  are not affixed to one another so that earmuff  10  may move between open position  56  and closed position  58 . Although the separation between first and second muff sections  20 ,  32  is shown to extend about halfway down earmuff  10 , it is understood that the separation may be smaller, so that the separation only extends a short distance down from first and second upper sections  20 ,  32 , or larger so that the separation extends down further toward first and second lower sections  18 ,  30 . The embodiment of earmuff  10  shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C  also includes inner portion  36 , which covers clip  42 , so that clip  42  is not visible even when earmuff  10  is in open position  56 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . This is as opposed to an embodiment such as that shown in  FIG. 3B , discussed below, that does not include an inner portion  36 , so that clip  42  is visible and uncovered, even when earmuff  10  is in open position  56 . 
         [0039]    Now referring to  FIG. 2D , a cross-sectional view of the side view shown in  FIG. 2B , showing clip  42  within earmuff  10  is provided. Clip  42  is a hairpin-type clip  60 , which will be discussed in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Clip  42  sits between first and second muff portions  12 ,  24 , and is specifically set against first and second muff insides  14 ,  26 . Clip  42  has first clip side  44 , which is against first muff portion  12 , and second clip side  46 , which is against second muff portion  26 . First and second clip sides  44 ,  46  come together at closed end  48  of clip  42 . Closed end  42  is disposed between first and second muff central sections  22 ,  34 . Central muff sections  22 ,  34  may be roughly in the middle of earmuff  10 , or may extend higher toward upper sections  20 ,  32 , or lower toward lower sections  18 ,  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2D . Clip  42  also includes open end  50 , which includes first and second open end sides  52 ,  54  of clip  42 . Clip  42  is affixed to first and second muff portions  12 ,  24  in that the first and second open end sides  52 ,  54  are affixed to first and second upper sections  20 ,  32 , respectively. This affixation may be made by heat gluing, epoxy, other adhesion, stitching, or any other affixation means commonly used in the art. It may also be removably affixed, as it the case in embodiments of the kit of the present invention in which multiple muffs are provided. 
         [0040]    Closed end  48  of clip  42  may also be similarly affixed to first and second muff central sections  22 ,  34 . First and second clip sides  44 ,  46  may also be similarly affixed to first and second muff insides  14 ,  26 . Earmuff  10  includes inner portion  36 , which covers clip  42 , so that clip  42  is not visible from the outside of earmuff  10 , even when earmuff  10  is in open position  56 . Inner portion  36  may be affixed to first and second muff insides  14 ,  26  by any means commonly used in the art, such as stitching or gluing. 
         [0041]    Now referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , side views of hairpin-type clip  60  alone and incorporated into earmuff  10  are provided, respectively. Hairpin-type clip  60  is one preferred embodiment of clip  42 . First and second clip sides  44 ,  46  of hairpin-type clip  60  are made of a flat, rigid material so that when first and second clip sides  44 ,  46  are placed against one another, they are flush with each other. First and second clip sides  44 ,  46  are held tightly together at closed end  50  by any means commonly used in the art, such as welding, bolting, etc. Hairpin-type clip  60  will therefore remain in closed position  56  unless pressure is applied to pull first and second clip sides  44 ,  46  apart into open position  56 . Such pressure is indicated in  FIG. 3A  by arrows at open end  50 . Once that pressure is released, hairpin-type clip  60  will naturally return to closed position  58 . In  FIG. 3B , inner portion  36  is not included, as it was in  FIGS. 2B and 2D . First and second clip sides  44 ,  46  are therefore visible when earmuff  10  is in open position  56 . First and second clip sides  44 ,  46  are set directly against first and second muff insides  14 ,  26 . First and second open end sides  52 ,  54  of hairpin-type clip  60  are affixed to first and second muff upper sections  20 ,  32  as described above with reference to  FIG. 2D . First and second clip sides  44 ,  46  may be affixed to first and second muff insides  14 ,  26  and closed end  48  may be affixed to first and second muff central sections  22 ,  34 , also as described above with reference to  FIG. 2D . 
         [0042]    Now referring to  FIGS. 4A-4D , front views of various embodiments of clips  42  that may be incorporated into earmuff  10  are provided.  FIG. 4A  shows a simple hairpin-type clip  60 , as described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Hairpin-type clip  60  may be sticklike as shown, but may also have a larger area as seen from the front, such as in  FIG. 4B  or  4 C, while still being very straight and narrow from the side, as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B .  FIGS. 4B and 4C  may be a hairpin-type clip  60 , as discussed, but may also be a butterfly-type clip  62 , as described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 5A-5C , or a binder-type clip  63 , as described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 6A-6C .  FIG. 4D  is likely a butterfly-type clip  62 . The side views of any clip  42  are going to be fairly thin and prong-like as shown in  FIGS. 2D ,  3 A,  3 B,  5 A- 5 C, and  6 A- 6 C. The front views of clip  42 , on the other hand, may vary much more as far as area and shape.  FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate just four examples of such variations. One of at least ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the fronts of clips  42  may be of many variations, and that the four shown in  FIGS. 4A-4D  do not limit such variations. 
         [0043]    Now referring to  FIGS. 5A-5C , side views of a butterfly-type clip  62  in closed position  58 , open position  56 , and incorporated into earmuff  10  are provided, respectively. Butterfly-type clip  62  is one preferred embodiment of clip  42 . Butterfly-type clip  62  includes spring  70  at closed end  48  and first and second closed end sides  72 ,  74  extending down from spring  70  so that some portion of first and second clip sides  44 ,  46  are on either side of spring  70 . Spring  70  is preferably a coil-type spring where one end of the spring extends slightly up first clip side  44  toward open end  50  and the other end of the spring extends slightly down second clip side  46  toward closed end  48 , so that butterfly-type clip  62  will naturally tend to remain in closed position  58 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . If pressure, indicated by arrows in  FIG. 5B , is applied to push first and second closed end sides  72 ,  74  together below spring  70 , this will force first and second open end sides  52 ,  54  apart so that butterfly-type clip  62  is forced into open position  56 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . Once that pressure is released, butterfly-type clip  62  will return to closed position  58 . Although first and second clip sides  44 ,  46  are shown as curved, it is understood that they may be substantially straight, so long as first and second closed end sides  72 ,  74  are curved or angled away from one another below spring  70  so that pressure may be exerted on them to push them together and have them spring back apart, as described. In  FIG. 5C , we see butterfly-type clip  62  incorporated into earmuff  10 . In this embodiment, earmuff  10  has slightly rounded first and second muff outsides  16 ,  28  to accommodate the curvature of first and second clip sides  44 ,  46 . Other embodiments incorporating hairpin-type clips  60  or flatter butterfly-type clips  62  may have flatter first and second muff outsides  16 ,  28 . 
         [0044]    Now referring to  FIGS. 6A-6C , side views of binder-type clip  63  in closed position  58 , open position  56 , and incorporated into earmuff  10  are provided, respectively. Binder-type clip  63  is one preferred embodiment of clip  42 . Binder-type clip  63  is similar to a binder clip. Closed end  48  of binder-type clip  63  is flat. First and second clip sides  44 ,  46  extend upward on either side from closed end  48 . When binder-type clip  63  is in closed position  58 , as shown in  FIG. 6A , emboldened cross-section  65  is substantially triangular, forming angle A between closed end  48  and first clip side  44 ; angle B between closed end  48  and second clip side  46 ; and angle C between first and second clip sides  44 ,  46 . Binder-type clip  63  includes first and second clip levers  76 ,  78 , which are affixed to first and second open end sides  52 ,  54  and extend flush along and beyond first and second clip sides  44 ,  46 , ending in first and second lever ends  82 ,  84 , so that first and second lever ends  82 ,  84  are beyond and lower than closed end  48 . First and second clip levers  76 ,  78  are preferably affixed to first and second open end sides  52 ,  54  like a binder clip, with metal of first and second open end sides  52 ,  54  wrapped around the metal of the first and second clip levers  76 ,  78 , but may be affixed by any means commonly used in the art, such as welding or bolting. Binder-type clip  63  will remain in closed position  58 , as shown in 
         [0045]      FIG. 6A , unless pressure (indicated by arrows in  FIG. 6B ) is exerted to push first and second clip lever ends  84  toward one another, which forces first and second open end sides  52 ,  54  apart into open position  56 , as shown in  FIG. 6B . In  FIG. 6C , we see binder-type clip  63  incorporated into earmuff  10 . In this embodiment, earmuff  10  has rounded first and second muff outsides  16 ,  28  to accommodate the distance between first and second clip lever ends  82 ,  84 . 
         [0046]    Hairpin-type clip  60 , shown in  FIGS. 2D ,  3 A, and  3 B; butterfly-type clip  62 , shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C ; and binder-type clip  63 , shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C  are preferred embodiments of clip  42 . These embodiments should not be construed as limiting the embodiments considered to be a part of this invention. One of at least ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many types of clip  42  may be used successfully, as envisioned and described herein, when incorporated into earmuff  10  of the present invention. 
         [0047]    Now referring to  FIG. 7 , a side view of earmuff  10  clipped to headband  68  of cap  66  is provided. Earmuff  10  will work most successfully with headwear  66  that does not include a brim that goes all the way around the head. Baseball caps, skull caps, wool caps, berets, etc. are examples of such headwear  66 . It is difficult to used earmuff  10  with headwear, such as a fedora, that has a brim that encircles the headband  68  because earmuff  10  is clipped to the headband  68  of headwear  66  above the wearer&#39;s ear. Headband  68  of headwear  66  is the band or portion of headwear  66  that encircles the head of the wearer above the ear. 
         [0048]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the description should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.