Abstract:
A hat, comprising a brim support defining an aperture, a brim cover attached to the brim support for movement in a direction toward and away from the aperture between a first position where the aperture is closed by the brim cover and a second position where the aperture is open, and a tightening strap operatively connected to the brim cover and being tensioned when the brim cover moves from said first position to said second position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to hats, and more particularly, relating to a hat that is self-tightening to resist undesired removal from the wearers head due to wind. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hats often include a brim that protrudes horizontally from a portion of the hat to shield a wearer from sun or rain. For the best sun and rain blocking, brims are generally formed from a solid material. Because brims are formed from a solid material, they have a tendency to retain air below the lower face of the brim which can force the hat from the wearer&#39;s head. 
     Hats with brims are generally available in multiple sizes or are adjustable for the size of the wearer&#39;s head to ensure a proper fit. A properly fitted hat with a brim resists being blown off of the user&#39;s head in a slight wind, but does not resist a fast moving stream of air such as high winds or when the wearer is exposed to the air while using a form of conveyance. If a hat with a brim were to be worn tight enough to resist a fast moving stream of air, it would become uncomfortable for the wearer within a short period of time, if not immediately. 
     To counteract the tendency of a hat with a brim to blow off of a user&#39;s head in a fast moving stream of air, various designs have been used. Several of the designs have permanent air gaps in the brim to allow for the movement of air through the brim. Other designs utilize a flap which can be moved by the air below the brim to open a channel for evacuation of the air. These designs are improvements over a solid brim, but as the stream of air increases in velocity, the capacity of the openings will be overcome and the hat will still be blown from the user&#39;s head. 
     While the devices heretofore fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not provide a self-tightening hat with a brim. As such there exists a need for a self-tightening hat with a brim, which substantially departs from the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of remaining on the head of a wearer in a fast moving stream of air. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of hats with brims including brim arrangements for releasing air through the brim now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new brim and tightening strap construction wherein the same can be used for tightening the ball cap on the wearer&#39;s head in the presence of a fast moving stream of air. 
     In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for tightening a hat with a brim on the wearer&#39;s head, allows the hat to be worn in a comfortable fit under normal circumstances while automatically adjusting to stay on the wearer&#39;s head in the presence of a high velocity stream of air. 
     In general, in one aspect, a hat is provided. The hat includes a brim support defining an aperture, a brim cover attached to the brim support for movement in a direction toward and away from the aperture between a first position where the aperture is closed by the brim cover and a second position where the aperture is open, and a tightening strap operatively connected to the brim cover and being tensioned when the brim cover moves from said first position to said second position. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
     Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings illustrate by way of example and are included to provide further understanding of the invention for the purpose of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature of a feature with similar functionality. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an upper, front perspective view of a self-tightening hat constructed in accordance with the principles of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 , showing a magnet catch; 
         FIG. 3  is an upper, front perspective view of the self-tightening hat of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a brim in a tightening position; 
         FIG. 4  is a lower, rear perspective view of the self-tightening hat of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the brim in a tightening position; 
         FIG. 5  is an upper front perspective view of a self-tightening hat constructed in accordance with the principles of an another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1 , showing a hinge; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1 , showing stitching; 
         FIG. 8  is a lower, rear perspective view of the self-tightening hat with brim, illustrating the brim tilted in a tightening position; 
         FIG. 9  is an upper, front perspective view of a self-tightening hat constructed in accordance with the principles of another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an upper, front perspective view of the self-tightening hat of  FIG. 9 , illustrating a brim in a tightening position; 
         FIG. 11  is a lower, rear perspective view of the self-tightening hat of  FIG. 9 , illustrating the brim in a tightening position; 
         FIG. 12  is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 , showing a fabric connection. 
         FIG. 13  is a upper, front perspective view of the self-tightening hat of  FIG. 9 , showing the optional magnet placement; and 
         FIG. 14  is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 13 , showing the optional magnet catch. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Initially, with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 8 , there is representatively illustrated a new self-tightening hat  10  constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The self-tightening hat  10  includes a body  12  having a circular opening  13  that encircles a wearer&#39;s head in a conventional manner. As a non-limiting example, body  12  may take the form of a ball cap (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) or a visor (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). A brim support  14  is attached to and extends forwardly from the body  12 . The brim support  14  defines an aperture  16  which may be formed wholly within the brim support  14  or may be formed by a combination of the brim support  14  and the body  12 . The aperture  16  may also be more than one opening formed in the brim support  14  or by the brim support  14  in combination with the body  12 . 
     The brim support  14  has a brim cover  18  affixed thereto. Together, the brim support  14  and the brim cover  18  form a brim  20 . The brim cover  18  is substantially the same size as the brim support  14  and is affixed near the forward edge  22  of the brim support  14 . When the brim cover  18  is placed over the brim support  14 , it covers the aperture  16 . The brim cover  18  may be affixed to the brim support  14  in any manner known in the art which allows for the brim cover  18  to move in a tilting motion relative to the brim support  14 , thereby uncovering the aperture  16 . The brim support  14  may be, but need not be, rigid during the tilting motion of the brim cover  18 . The brim support  14  may bend to facilitate the tilting motion of the brim cover  18 . Bending of the brim support  14  will generally be a function of the elasticity of the material forming the brim support  14 . 
     The brim cover  18  may be affixed through the use of a hinge  28  where a bottom portion of the hinge  30  is connected to the brim support  14  and an upper portion of the hinge  32  is connected to the brim cover  34 . The brim cover  18  may also be affixed to the brim support  14  with a thread  34  stitched through both the brim cover  18  and the brim support  14 . The thread  34  may be manufactured from any material known in the art. The thread  34  may be stitched using any technique known in the art. 
     At least one tightening strap  36  is attached to the brim cover  18  through at least one brim end  38  of the at least one tightening strap  36 . Several strands of material may be run in parallel and considered as a single tightening strap  36 . In the case of a single tightening strap  36 , it is preferred that the single tightening strap  36  be of a proper length to follow along the curvature of the body  12  and be attached to the brim cover  18  through two brim ends  38  of the single tightening strap. It is further preferred that the single tightening strap  36  enter through a tightening strap opening  40  and travel at least part of the distance around the circumference of the body  12  along the circular opening  13  of the hat  10  and through a tightening strap channel  42 . The tightening strap channel  42  may be fully enclosed or may be partially open, such as an open channel top  44 . 
     Alternatively embodiments incorporating only one tightening strap  36 , may have one brim end  38  attached to the brim cover  18  and a body end  46  attached to the body  12 . It is preferred that the single tightening strap  36  enter through a tightening strap opening  40  and travel at least part of the distance around the circumference of the body  12  through a tightening strap channel  42 . The tightening strap channel  42  may be fully enclosed or may be partially open, such as an open channel top  44 . 
     In embodiments which incorporate more than one tightening strap  36 , each tightening strap will include a brim end  38  and a body end  46 . The brim end  38  of each tightening strap  36  will be attached to the brim cover  18  and the body end  46  will be attached to body  12 . It is preferred that the tightening straps  36  enter through a tightening strap opening  40  and travel at least part of the distance around the circumference of the body  12  through a tightening strap channel  42 . The tightening strap channel  42  may be fully enclosed or may be partially open, such as an open channel top  44 . 
     Some embodiments of the present invention will include a resizing space  48  which allows the hat to be resized to fit a plurality of head sizes. Embodiments incorporating a resizing space  48  will normally include a resizing element  50  near the bottom of the resizing space  48 . The resizing element  50  may be any type of resizing element known in the art, such as a Velcro fastener, buckled fastener, locking fastener, cinching fastener, or a plurality of protrusions and plurality of holes. In embodiments incorporating a resizing space  48 , it is preferred that the at least one tightening strap  36  not continue around the body  12  past the resizing space  48 . Instead, it is preferred that the tightening strap  36  include a brim end  38  and a body end  46  and that the body end  46  be attached to the body  12  at a point along the circumference of the body  12  between the entrance point  52  where the tightening strap  36  enters within the space of the body  12  and the location of the resizing space  48 . 
     The brim support  14  may optionally include one or more magnets  54 . In embodiments incorporating one or more magnets  54 , the brim cover  18  will preferably include one or more metallic elements  56 . The inverse may also be optionally used, where the brim support  14  includes one or more metallic elements  56  and where the brim cover  18  includes one or more magnets  54 . 
     In operation, when air flows in a rearward direction  24  towards the brim  20 , pressure builds below the brim  20 . When sufficient pressure builds up below the brim  20 , the brim cover  18  moves away from the brim support  14  and aperture  16  on one side in a tilting motion. The tilting motion of the brim cover  18  uncovers the aperture  16  and allows air to flow through the aperture  16  in an upward direction  26 . The tilting motion of the brim cover  18  pulls the brim end  38  of the one or more tightening straps  36 . In embodiments incorporating only one tightening strap  36  with two brim ends  38 , the tightening strap tightens around the wearer&#39;s head and increases the resistance to the hat  10  being blown off the wearer&#39;s head by a fast moving stream of air. In embodiments incorporating more than one tightening strap  36  including both brim ends  38  and body ends  46 , the tightening straps  36  pull the rear of the body  12  in a forward direction towards the brim  20  whereby the tightening straps  36  tighten the body  12  around the wearer&#39;s head and increases the resistance to the hat  10  being blown off the wearer&#39;s head by a fast moving stream of air. 
     The one or more magnets  54  and the one or more metallic elements  56 , regardless in which arrangement, function to latch the brim cover  18  to the brim support  14 . The one or more magnets  54  must, however, have a low enough attraction to the metallic elements  56  that they do not impair the functioning of the brim cover  18  to tiltably move a sufficient amount so as to uncover the aperture  16  in the brim support  14  in the presence of a fast moving stream of air. 
     In  FIGS. 9-13  self-tightening hat  60  constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the same reference numbers refer to elements previously discussed. In this embodiment, self-tightening hat  60  includes a brim cover  18  which is substantially the same size and shape as the aperture  16 . The brim cover  18  is affixed to the brim support  14 . 
     The brim cover  18  may be affixed to the brim support  14  in any manner known in the art which allows for the brim cover  18  to move in a tilting motion relative to the brim support  14 . The brim cover  18  will preferably be affixed at the forward edge  58  of the aperture  22 . The brim cover  18  may be affixed through the use of fabric  62  which is affixed around both the brim cover  18  and the brim support  14 . The fabric  62  may be affixed to the brim cover  18  with a first thread  63  stitched through both the brim cover  18  and the fabric  62 . The fabric  62  may be affixed to the brim support  14  with a second thread  64  stitched through both the brim support  14  and the fabric  62 . The first thread  63  and the second thread  64  may be manufactured from any material known in the art. The first thread  63  and the second thread  64  may optionally be the same thread rather than two distinct threads. The first thread  63  and the second thread  64  may be stitched using any technique known in the art. 
     The self-tightening hat  10  of this embodiment will include at least one tightening strap  36  with all of the advantages, features and limitations described above for other embodiments of the self-tightening hat  10 . 
     The brim support  14  may optionally include one or metallic elements  56 . In embodiments incorporating one or more metallic elements  56 , the brim cover  18  will preferably include one or more magnets  54 . The inverse may also be optionally used, where the brim support  14  includes one or more magnets  54  and where the brim cover  18  includes one or more metallic elements  56 . The brim support may further include a brim cover stop  66  which may also optionally include the metallic elements  56  or the magnets  54 . The brim cover stop  66  will ideally be situated below the brim support so when the brim cover  18  rests on the brim cover stop  66 , the brim cover  18  and the brim support  14  will be substantially aligned. 
     In operation, when air flows in a rearward direction  24  towards the brim  20 , pressure builds below the brim  20 . When sufficient pressure builds up below the brim  20 , the brim cover  18  moves away from the brim support  14  and aperture  16  on one side in a tilting motion. The tilting motion of the brim cover  18  uncovers the aperture  16  and allows air to flow through the aperture  16  in an upward direction  26 . The tilting motion of the brim cover  18  pulls the brim end  38  of the one or more tightening straps  36 . In embodiments incorporating only one tightening strap  36  with two brim ends  38 , the tightening strap tightens around the wearer&#39;s head and increases the resistance to the hat  10  being blown off the wearer&#39;s head by a fast moving stream of air. In embodiments incorporating more than one tightening strap  36  including both brim ends  38  and body ends  46 , the tightening straps  36  pull the rear of the body  12  in a forward direction towards the brim  20  whereby the tightening straps  36  tighten the body  12  around the wearer&#39;s head and increases the resistance to the hat  10  being blown off the wearer&#39;s head by a fast moving stream of air. 
     The one or more magnets  54  and the one or more metallic elements  56 , regardless in which arrangement, function to latch the brim cover  18  to the brim support  14 . The one or more magnets  54  must, however, have a low enough attraction to the metallic elements  56  that they do not impair the functioning of the brim cover  18  to tiltably move a sufficient amount so as to uncover the aperture  16  in the brim support  14  in the presence of a fast moving stream of air. 
     A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.