Fishing hat

An apparatus may include a hat. The hat may include a crown. The hat may include a bill coupled to the crown. The bill may protrude away from the crown. The apparatus may include a strip of pliant, resilient material. The strip may be coupled to the hat. The pliant, resilient material of the strip may include a high-density, closed-cell foam. The strip may be coupled to the bill of the hat.

FIELD

This invention relates to hats and more particularly relates to a fishing hat.

BACKGROUND

When people go fishing, they use a variety of equipment, such as lures, jigs, hooks, and the like. Fishers need convenient access to this equipment. However, retrieving the equipment can be difficult during fishing. For example, a fisher may be standing in the middle of a river and his or her tackle box may be on the shore of the river, and the fisher may need a new hook, fly, or the like. In another example, the fisher may be holding other fishing equipment and, thus, have limited use of his or her hands. Thus, a more convenient way of holding fishing gear is needed.

SUMMARY

An apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include a hat. The hat may include a crown. The hat may include a bill coupled to the crown. The bill may protrude away from the crown. The apparatus may include a strip of pliant, resilient material. The strip may be coupled to the hat. In some embodiments, the pliant, resilient material of the strip may include a high-density, closed-cell foam. In one embodiment, the strip may be coupled to the bill of the hat.

An apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include a hat. The hat may include a crown. The hat may include a bill. The bill may be coupled to the crown. The bill may protrude away from the crown. The apparatus may include a means for coupling a fishing hook. The means for coupling may be disposed on the hat. In one embodiment, the means for coupling may be disposed on the bill of the hat.

A hat is disclosed. In one embodiment, that hat may include a crown. The hat may include a bill coupled to the crown. The bill may protrude away from the crown. The hat may include a strip of high-density, closed-cell foam. The strip may be integrally coupled to a non-center portion of the bill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” also refer to “one or more” unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like” do not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive or mutually inclusive, or that the items include any certain order. The term “based on” includes in its meaning “based on, at least in part” and “based only on” unless expressly specified otherwise. Also, when discussing items and referring to items as “a portion,” “a section,” “a part,” or the like, the portion, section, part, or the like of the item may include the entire item unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “above,” “below,” “side,” “upper,” “lower,” or the like are used for ease of explanation in reference to items discussed herein and do not necessarily indicate an absolute position unless expressly specified otherwise.

FIG. 1depicts one embodiment of an apparatus100. In one embodiment, the apparatus100may include a hat. The hat may include a crown102. The crown102may include one or more pieces of material that form a dome-like shape and may be adapted to fit over the head of a person. For example, in one embodiment, the crown102may include one or more panels104coupled together. In some embodiments, a panel104may include a piece of material. In one embodiment, a panel104may include a mesh. The crown102may include a lower portion106. The lower portion106may include a portion of the crown102that is closer to an opening of the dome-like shape. The crown102may include an upper portion108. The upper portion108may be disposed distal to the lower portion106. In some embodiments, the crown102may include an adjuster to accommodate different sizes of heads. The adjuster may include a band that may snap into one or more positions with another band, a belt, a flexible opening of the lower portion106, or the like.

In some embodiments, the hat of the apparatus100may include a bill110. The bill110may be coupled to the crown102. For example, as depicted inFIG. 1, the bill110may couple to the crown102at the lower portion106of the crown102. In another embodiment, the bill110may couple to the crown102at the upper portion108of the crown102or at a middle portion of the crown102. The bill110may protrude away from the crown102. The bill110protruding away from the crown102may include the bill110protruding perpendicular to the crown102. In one embodiment, the bill110may protrude away from the crown102at an incline. The bill110may include a resilient, semi-rigid material. The bill110may include a curve. In some embodiments, the bill110may include a flat, horizontal plane. The bill110may couple to the crown102around the length of the lower portion106of the crown102, for example, as with a safari hat. In some embodiments, the bill110may couple to a portion of the crown102less than the length of the lower portion106of the crown102, for example, as with a baseball cap and as depicted inFIG. 1.

In one embodiment, the apparatus100may include a strip112of material. The strip112may be coupled to the hat. The material may include a pliant, resilient material. The material may include a material that may releasably couple a fishing hook, fly, lure, or the like to material. For example, the material may include a material into which a person can insert a hook and remove the hook. The material may include a polymer that can releasably engage the hook. In one embodiment, the material may include a high density foam. The material may include a closed-cell foam such as an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam or a polyethylene foam. The material may include neoprene, polyurethane, or another polymeric foam. The foam may include a non-absorbent foam or a water-resistant foam. The material may include wool. The material may include cork.

In some embodiments, the strip112may be coupled to the bill110. In one embodiment, the strip112being coupled to the bill110may include the strip112being sewn to the bill110. The strip112being couple to the bill110may include an adhesive coupling the strip112to the bill110, or the like. The adhesive may include an adhesive designed to selectively couple the strip112to the bill110or an adhesive designed to couple the strip112to the bill110permanently.

The strip112being coupled to the bill110may include the strip112being integrated into the bill110. The strip112being integrated into the bill110may include a portion of the strip112being inserted into the bill110. The strip112being integrated into the bill110may include a portion of the bill110being inserted into the strip112. In some embodiments, the strip112may selectively couple to the bill110. This may allow a wearer to replace the strip112with a different strip112.

FIG. 2Adepicts one embodiment of an apparatus200. The apparatus200may include features similar to those of the apparatus100, such as the crown102, one or more panels104, the lower portion106of the crown102, the bill110, and the strip112as explained above in relation to the apparatus100. In one embodiment, the strip112may include an upper portion202, a lower portion204, and a connecting portion206. The connecting portion206may couple the upper portion202to the lower portion204. In some embodiments, the upper portion202, lower portion204, and connecting portion206may include being formed of an integral material. In some embodiments, the upper portion202, lower portion204, or connecting portion206may include different materials or may include being coupled together from separate parts. For example, in some embodiments, the upper portion202may include a foam, as explained above, and the lower portion204or the connecting portion206may include a plastic, vinyl, or the like.

In one embodiment, the strip112being coupled to the bill110may include the bill110including an aperture208. The aperture208may include an indent, hole, pocket, depression, or the like and a portion of the strip112may be adapted to fit into the aperture208. For example, as shown inFIG. 2B, the aperture208may include a chamber210that may extend away from the opening aperture208. The lower portion204of the strip112may include a flange212. The flange212may be adapted to insert into the chamber210and couple the strip112to the bill110. The upper portion202of the strip112may fit against an upper side of the bill110and may rest above the bill110.

FIG. 2Bdepicts one embodiment of an apparatus200. The apparatus200may include features similar to those of the apparatus100, such as the crown102, one or more panels104, the lower portion106of the crown102, the bill110, and the strip112as explained above in relation to the apparatus100. The bill110may include an aperture208. The aperture208may be similar to the aperture208as explained above in relation toFIG. 2A. The aperture208may extend through the width bill110as shown inFIG. 2B. The strip112may include an upper portion202, lower portion204, and connecting portion206similar to those portions as explained above.

In one embodiment, the upper portion202may include the flange212. The flange212may be adapted to insert into the chamber210and couple the strip112to the bill110. The chamber210may be positioned such that the top of the upper portion202is substantially flush with the upper side of the bill110. The upper portion202being substantially flush with the upper side of the bill110may allow the bill110to appear as a uniform construction or may allow the strip112to have a lower profile on the bill110. The lower portion204may extend away from the lower side of the bill110. The lower portion204may include a flange similar to the flange208of the lower portion204as explained above in relation toFIG. 2A. The flange of the lower portion204may couple the strip112to the bill110.

FIG. 2Cdepicts one embodiment of an apparatus200. The apparatus200may include features similar to those of the apparatus100, such as the crown102, one or more panels104, the lower portion106of the crown102, the bill110, and the strip112as explained above in relation to the apparatus100. The bill110may include an aperture208. The aperture208may be similar to the aperture208and chamber210as explained above in relation toFIG. 2AorFIG. 2B. In one embodiment, the strip112may include the upper portion202. The upper portion202may include a flange212similar to the flange212of the upper portion202as explained in relation toFIG. 2B. The flange212may be adapted to insert into the chamber210and couple the strip112to the bill110. The chamber210may be positioned such that the top of the upper portion202is substantially flush with the upper side of the bill110.

In some embodiments, the strip112may be disposed on an underside of the bill110. The strip112being disposed on the underside of the bill110may protect the strip112, a hook, a lure, or the like from rain or the like. In one embodiment, the strip112being disposed on an underside of the bill110may include a portion of the strip112being disposed on the underside of the bill110as explained above in relation toFIG. 2B. In one embodiment, the strip112being disposed on the underside of the bill110may include the strip112being disposed only on the underside of the bill110.

It should be noted that the elements ofFIG. 2A,FIG. 2B, andFIG. 2Care illustrative only and are not to scale. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the strip112may not include a connecting portion206and the upper portion202may couple to the lower portion204. In some embodiments, the strip112may couple to other parts of the apparatus200, such as the crown102. The strip112may couple to other parts of the apparatus200in a similar manner to coupling to the bill110.

FIG. 3depicts one embodiment of an apparatus300. The apparatus300may include features similar to those of the apparatus100or the apparatus200. In one embodiment, the strip112may include a variety of shapes. In one embodiment, the strip112may include a circular shape. For example, as depicted inFIG. 1, the strip112may include the strip112and may include a circular shape. In another embodiment, the strip112may include a rectangular shape. For example, as depicted inFIG. 3, the strip112may include a rectangular shape. The rectangular shape may include some straight edges and some rounded edges. The straight edges may be disposed opposite each other and the rounded edges may be disposed opposite each other as shown inFIG. 3. In some embodiment, the strip112may include other shapes such as a square shape (which may be a subset of the rectangular shape), a rhombus shape, a shape with five or more sides. The shape may include irregular shapes. An irregular shape may include alphanumeric characters, an image, an outline of an image, a logo, or the like.

In some embodiments, the strip112may include one or more patterns.FIG. 4Adepicts one embodiment of a strip112. In one embodiment, a pattern may include one or more protrusions402. A protrusion402may be coupled to a base of the strip112or may be integrally formed as part of the strip112. A protrusion402may allow a fisher to insert a hook, fly, or the like into the protrusion402. Having two or more protrusions402may allow a fisher to organize and separate hooks, flies, and the like. The one or more protrusions402may include a variety of shapes or a variety of positional arrangements on the strip112. For example, as depicted inFIG. 4A, a protrusion402may include a circular shape and the one or more protrusions402may be arranged in an alternating grid arrangement. In one embodiment, a protrusion402may include a gradient disposed away from the base of the strip112. For example, a gradient may include a mound shape, like a hill, or a pyramid shape. The gradient may have a circular base, rectangular base, or the like.

FIG. 4BandFIG. 4Ceach depict one embodiment of a strip112. In one embodiment, a pattern may include one or more grooves404. A groove404may be cut into the material of the strip112. A groove may be integrally formed as part of the strip112. The one or more grooves404may include a variety of widths or lengths. The one or more grooves may include a variety of positional arrangements on the strip112. The one or more grooves may include a variety of shapes. For example, as shown inFIG. 4B, the one or more grooves404may be arranged in parallel and at an angle to the sides of the strip112. As shown inFIG. 4C, the one or more grooves404may be arranged perpendicular to other grooves404and may be parallel to one or more sides of the strip112. In one embodiment, the one or more grooves404may include a curve shape. In some embodiments, the one or more grooves404may not engage with a side of the strip112. This may prevent a hook from slipping away from the strip112while inserting the hook into the strip112, while the hook is coupled to the strip112, or the like. In one embodiment, a groove404may allow a fisher to insert a hook into the groove404, and the hook may not protrude away from the strip112as much as it would without the groove404. This may allow the hook to have a lower profile while inserted into the strip112.

FIG. 5AandFIG. 5Bdepict embodiments of an apparatus500. The apparatus500may include features similar to those of the apparatus100, the apparatus200, or the apparatus300as explained above. As depicted inFIG. 5A, in some embodiments, the strip112may be disposed in a centered position502on the bill110. The strip112being disposed in a centered position502may allow a wearer of the apparatus500to access the strip112(for example, to place or retrieve a hook in the strip112) equally comfortably with either hand. This may be useful in response to the wearer having one hand occupied, for example, with a fishing rod.

As depicted inFIG. 5B, in one embodiment, the strip112may be disposed in a non-centered position504on the bill110. For example, in one embodiment, the strip112may be disposed on the bill110on a side portion of the bill110. The strip112being disposed on a non-centered position504on the bill110may allow a wearer of the hat500to place a hook, lure, or the like in the strip112more comfortably and with more convenient access than the strip112being disposed in other areas of the bill110.

In one embodiment, the strip112may include a first strip, and the apparatus500may include a second strip of pliant, resilient material coupled to the bill110. The apparatus100including two or more strips112may allow a wearer to attach more hooks, lures, or the like to the apparatus100. In some embodiments, the two or more strips112may be disposed in various positions on the bill110. For example, a first strip may be disposed on a first non-centered portion504of the bill110, and a second strip may be disposed on a second non-centered portion504of the bill110. In another embodiment, the first strip may be disposed on a first non-centered portion504of the bill110, and the second strip may be disposed on the first non-centered position504of the bill110of an underside of the bill110.

FIG. 6depicts one embodiment of an apparatus600. The apparatus600may include features similar to those of the apparatus100, the apparatus200, the apparatus300, or the apparatus500as described above. In one embodiment, the strip112may be disposed on the crown102. The strip112may be disposed on various locations of the crown102. The strip112may be disposed on a lower portion106of the crown102. The strip112may be disposed on an upper portion108of the crown102. The strip112may be disposed on a side portion of the crown102as shown inFIG. 6. The strip112may be disposed on a front portion of the crown102or a back portion of the crown102. The strip112being disposed on the crown102may include the strip112being coupled to the crown102. The strip112may couple to the crown102in a variety of ways, including as explained above in relation toFIG. 2A,FIG. 2B, andFIG. 2Cin relation to the strip112being coupled to the bill110. In some embodiments, the apparatus600may include two or more strips112. A first strip112of the two or more strips112may be disposed on the crown102and a second strip112of the two or more strips112may be disposed on the bill110.