Animal hat apparatus and method

A hat apparatus to protect a four-legged animal from extreme heat and direct sunlight. The hat comprises a head covering section, a brim section to protect the animal's eyes, face, ears and rear neck from sunlight, and a chin strap to attach to the chin or bottom portion of the head of the animal. Preferably, the animal hat is used for dogs. The head covering section has an enclosed cavity having a liquid absorbable material for absorbing, for example, cold water in order to provide a cool hat apparatus for the animal. The head covering section has a top portion with a top liner, a right side portion with a right liner, a left side portion with a left liner, a front portion with a front liner and a rear portion with a rear liner. The liners are made of a substantially leak proof material and are stitched together to enclose the cavity. The head covering section also has a bottom portion having openable opposite pieces with strip connectors for filling the cavity with the cold water. The bottom portion permits some seepage therethrough in a downward direction to the top of the animal's head where the liquid can evaporated and cool the animal's head.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention generally relates to a head covering and ear, eye and 
rear neck protection apparatus and method for four legged animals and, 
more specifically, to a hat apparatus and method for any four-legged 
animal which keeps the animal such as a dog cool in hot weather and 
protects their skin, ears, eyes and rear neck from conditions of extreme 
heat and direct sunlight. 
Description of the Prior Art 
During periods of hot weather and/or bright sunlight, many dogs and other 
four-legged animals are in extreme heat and direct sunlight conditions for 
most of the day since they are usually in the outdoors. As a result, these 
animals often overheat. Also, sunlight is harmful for animals' eyes, as 
they have no means to protect themselves from harmful ultraviolet rays. 
The prior art apparatus, which is described in the aforementioned patent 
application, and which has a baseball cap type of shape, includes a head 
covering section; an eye protection section; a right ear aperture; a left 
ear aperture; a right lower chin strap and a left lower chin strap; 
wherein the head covering section has a top layer and a bottom layer and a 
liquid absorbing material layer disposed between the top layer and the 
bottom layer. 
One problem with the prior art apparatus is that the volume of liquid in 
the liquid absorbing material is relatively small so that the animal is 
kept comfortable for a relatively short period of time. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide a head covering and ear, eye, 
and rear neck protection apparatus and method for keeping animals at a 
comfortable and healthy temperature, over a relatively long period of 
time. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a head covering and 
ear, eye, and rear neck protection apparatus and method for protecting 
animal's ears, eyes and rear neck from direct sunlight. 
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a head covering 
and ear, eye and rear neck protection apparatus and method for protecting 
dogs with skin problems from the harmful effects of the sun. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide a head covering and 
ear, eye and rear neck protection apparatus and method for protecting 
horses and other four-legged animals from the same dangers, using the same 
invention as adapted for that animal. 
It is another object to provide a head covering and ear, eye and rear neck 
protection apparatus and method for protecting dogs and other four-legged 
animals of all sizes and breeds from these dangers. 
The aforementioned and other objects are accomplished, according to the 
present invention, by an adjustable, varying sized hat comprised of a head 
covering section having an enclosed cavity having an absorbent insulating 
material which contains a cold fluid, and comprised of a brim section 
having a front portion extending over the animal's face and eyes, and 
having respective right ear and left ear protection portions and having a 
rear neck protection portion. The brim section comprises front and rear 
portions made of rigid material. 
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of this invention 
will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the 
preferred embodiments of this invention, as illustrated in the 
accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings which set forth the 
present invention in greater detail and in which like numerals designate 
like features, a animal (i.e. dog) hat apparatus 10, which has the shape 
of a cowboy hat, is shown. Apparatus 10 is generally comprised of a brim 
section 12, a head covering section 14, a right ear strap 16 (see FIG. 1), 
a left ear strap 18, a right lower chin strap 20, and a left lower chin 
strap 22. Straps 20, 22 have respective strip connections 21, 23. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, brim section 12 includes a right ear protection 
portion 24, a left ear protection portion 26, and an eye and face 
protection portion 28, and a rear neck protection portion 30. 
As shown in FIG. 3, head covering section 14 includes a stitched top 
portion 32 with a top liner 33, a right side portion 34 with a right liner 
36, and a left side portion 38 with a left liner 40. Section 14 also has a 
front portion 42 with a front liner 43 (FIG. 2), and a rear portion 44 
with a rear liner 45 (FIG. 2). Section 14 also has a bottom portion 46, 
which has a bottom right side piece 48 and a bottom left side piece 50. 
Right piece 48 has a right connector 52. Left piece 50 has a left 
connector 54. 
Connectors 21, 23, 52, 54 are connector strips, such as the connector 
strips which are sold under the Trademark VELCRO. 
Section 14, with its stitched portions 32, 34, 38, 42, 44, 48, 50, encloses 
a cavity or reservoir or chamber 56. Cavity 56 contains a sponge-like, 
liquid absorbable material 58, which contains a liquid (not shown). 
Stitched liners 33, 36, 40, 43, 45 are composed of a relatively leak proof 
material. 
The liquid tends to seep downwardly through pieces 48, 50, thereby 
depositing some liquid on the top of the animal's head. Evaporation of 
such liquid tends to cool the animal's head. 
The liquid within cavity 56 and absorbing material 58 has a relatively 
larger volume than the corresponding volume of the liquid in the prior art 
hat apparatus so that such liquid within cavity 56 remains relatively 
cooler and lasts relatively longer. Thus, the animal can remain outdoors 
without overheating for a relatively longer period of time when wearing 
the hat apparatus 10, as compared to when wearing the prior art hat 
apparatus. 
Liners 33, 36, 40, 43, 45 minimize any seepage of liquid or vapor upwardly 
away from the animal's head. Any wastage of liquid is thereby minimized. 
Portions 48, 50 permit seepage of liquid or vapor downwardly towards and 
into contact with the animal's head. Portions 48, 50 remain relatively 
cool because some liquid is within cavity 56 and is in portions 48, 50. 
Portion 28 protects the eyes and face of the animal from the direct 
sunlight. Portions 24, 26 protect the ears of the animal, particularly the 
back of the ears. Portion 30 protects the rear neck of the animal. 
When filling cavity 56, apparatus 10 is placed upsidedown on a support. 
Connectors 52, 54 and pieces 48, 50 are separated. Liquid is poured into 
cavity 56 and over material 58. Then connectors 52, 54 and pieces 48, 50 
are closed. 
As best shown in FIG. 4, the animal hat 10 can accommodate an animal with 
pointed ears. The animal hat 10 can also accommodate an animal with floppy 
ears. The hat 10 can be constructed in a plurality of sizes to fit any 
size or breed of animal. 
The material covering the brim section 12 and the head covering section 14 
can be a fabric of any print, patter, color, or texture, as desired. The 
material of the liners is a relatively leak proof material such as a 
relatively thick material to minimize seepage into the outer fabric. 
While the invention has been particularly shown and described in reference 
to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those 
skilled in the art that changes in form and details may be made without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.