Abstract:
A method of wearing a hat is accomplished by providing a hat with a crown and a brim projecting from the crown. A hole is provided in a sidewall of the crown and a hole in the brim. The hat is positioned on a wearer&#39;s head and the hair of the wearer is passed through at least one of the holes of the crown or brim. A hat is also disclosed having a crown with a sidewall that defines a central opening for receiving a wearer&#39;s head. A brim projects from the crown. The brim has a hole configured for allowing passage of the wearer&#39;s hair therethrough.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The invention relates generally to hats and headwear.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which:  
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a hat constructed in accordance with the invention;  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  is cross-sectional view of a portion of the hat of  FIG. 1  taken along the lines II-II;  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the hat of  FIG. 1 , shown with hair of a wearer being passed through holes of the hat in accordance with the invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a hat constructed in accordance with the invention; and  
         [0007]      FIG. 5  is side perspective view of still another embodiment of a hat constructed in accordance with the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0008]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a hat  10  having a crown  12  and a brim  14 , which surrounds all or a portion of the crown  12 , is shown. The hat  10  may be of various configurations and styles and may be formed from a variety of materials such as those that may be common to the construction of hats or headwear (egs. straw, felt, fabric, leather, plastic, etc.). In the embodiment shown, the hat  10  has a cowboy-style configuration.  
         [0009]     The crown  12  may have a circumferential sidewall  16  that defines a lower central opening for receiving the head of a wearer. The upper end or peak of the crown  12  may be closed with a top portion or wall  18  or the peak may be open.  
         [0010]     The brim  14  may be joined at its innermost edge to the lower edge or portion of the crown sidewall  16 . An optional hat band  20  may be provided with the hat  10  and may circumferentially extend around the lower portion of the crown  12 , as is shown. In the embodiment shown, the brim  14  extends circumferentially around the entire crown  12  and projects generally radially outward from the lower edge of the crown  12 . It should be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that the brim  14  may extend around all or only a portion of the crown  12 .  
         [0011]     Formed in the sidewall  16  of the crown  12  is an opening or hole  22 . The hole  22  may be located at the rear or back portion of the crown  12 , but may be located at different locations as well. The hole  22  may be located at a position on the crown sidewall  16  so that a gathering of the wearer&#39;s hair, such as a pony tail, may be readily passed through the hole  22  from the interior of the crown to the exterior, while the hat  10  is being worn on the wearer&#39;s head. This may include the hole  22  being located near or slightly above the lower edge of the crown sidewall  16 . The hole  22  may be bounded on all sides by portions of the crown sidewall.  
         [0012]     The hole  22  may be of various sizes to facilitate the passage of the wearer&#39;s hair. This may include a hole having a cross dimension of approximately 1″, 1½″, 2″, 2½″ or more. The hole  22  may also be configured in various shapes, which may include circular and oval shapes, as well as non-circular or non-oval shapes. The shape of the hole  22  may be decorative or thematic in nature and may depict various recognizable objects. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the hole  22  is shown as being in a heart shape.  
         [0013]     A border piece  24  is provided with the hole  22 . The border piece  24  may be secured to and cover all or a portion of the edges of the hole  22  to provide a finished or decorative appearance. The border piece  24  may be formed from a variety of materials, such as metal, plastic, wood, leather, etc. In particular, decorative metals, such as silver, gold, copper, bronze, brass, etc. may be used for the border piece  24 . Additionally, the border piece may be sculptured, jeweled, carved, textured or otherwise be provided with a decorative appearance. In the embodiment shown, the border piece  24  is in the shape of heart to correspond to the heart-shaped hole  22 . The border piece  24  may be secured to the hole by the use of fasteners, adhesive, crimping, stitching or other fastening means well known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0014]     An opening or hole  26  is also formed in the brim  14  of the hat  10 . The hole  26  may be spaced between the inner and outer edges of the brim  14  and may be bounded on all sides by portions of the brim  14 . The hole  26  may be similar in size and configuration to the hole  22  of the crown  12 . As shown, the hole  26  is located on the back or rear portion of the brim  14  and may be generally aligned with the hole  22 , as shown, to facilitate the passage of hair from the interior of the crown  12  through the hole  22  and to the hole  26 . In the particular embodiment shown, the hole  26  is also configured in a heart shape.  
         [0015]     A border piece  28  may also be provided with the hole  26  of the brim  14 . The border piece  28  may be similar to the border piece  24 , previously described, including a heart-shaped body  29 . In the embodiment shown, the border piece  28  includes a hair band  30 , which extends transversely across the width of the hole  26 . The hair band  30  may be of an elastic material so that it may be stretched to facilitate positioning of hair beneath the band  30 . The band  30  may be secured at either end to opposite sides of the border piece  28 .  
         [0016]     In the embodiment shown, the heart-shaped border piece  28  is configured to appear as if it has an arrow, such as those used in archery, passing through the heart-shaped body  29 . To accomplish this, opposite arrow head and fletching end portions  32 ,  34  may be provided with the border piece  28 . The hair band  30  may be oriented and sized to approximate a shaft of the arrow, terminating with the arrow end portions  32 ,  34 .  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the end portions  32 ,  34  also may be used to secure the border piece  28  to the brim  14  of the hat  10 . Each of the end portions  32 ,  34  may carry a fastener. In the embodiment shown, the fastener may be a Chicago-type screw wherein a screw post  36  is joined to the end portions  32 ,  34  and projects from the underside of the end portion through small holes or apertures formed in the brim  14 . A mating screw  38  engages the screw post  36  to secure the end portions  32 ,  34  to the brim  14 . The ends of the hair band  30  may be provided with loops  40  that may be secured to the screw post  36  to facilitate securing of the hair band  30  to the border piece  28 .  
         [0018]     In use, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a wearer may pass a gathering or collection  42  of their hair from the interior of the crown  12  through the opening  22 . If the hair is of sufficient length, the gathering  42  may be further passed downward through the opening  26  of the brim  14 . The hair  42  may be positioned beneath the hair band  30  to facilitate holding the hair within the opening  26 .  
         [0019]     The openings  22  and  26  allow the hat  10  to accommodate large gatherings of hair that may otherwise be collected within the crown itself when the hat is worn on the wearer&#39;s head. This may make wearing of the hat uncomfortable to the wearer or require that a hat with a larger crown be used to accommodate the collection of hair. The passing of the wearer&#39;s hair through the openings may also facilitate holding of the hat  10  in place upon the wearer&#39;s head. This may be particularly beneficial during activities where the hat  10  may be prone to being displaced from the wearer&#39;s head. If desired, non-hair items may be passed through the openings  22 ,  26 , such as ribbons, streamers, etc.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of a hat  50  is shown. The hat  50  is similar in construction to the hat  10 , previously described, with similar elements being designated with the same reference numerals. The hat  50  is provided with an opening  52  formed in the crown  12 , which may similarly located as the opening  22 . Additionally, an opening  54  is provided in the brim  14  of the hat  50 , which may be similarly located as the opening  26 .  
         [0021]     As is shown, the openings  52  and  54  are dissimilar in shape. The hole  52  has the configuration of the state of Texas, whereas the hole  54  is configured in the shape of a cowboy boot. Both openings  52  and  54  are each provided with an embroidered bordering  56 ,  58 , respectively. Additionally, no hair band or other device is provided with the opening of the brim.  
         [0022]     In use, the hat  50  may be worn in manner similar to the hat  10 , previously described. The wearer&#39;s hair may be passed through one or both the openings  52  and  54  in a manner similar to that shown for the hat of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows still another embodiment of a hat  60 . The hat  60  is similar in construction to the hats  10  and  50 , previously described, with similar elements being designated with the same reference numeral. The hat  60  is provided with openings  62 ,  64  in the crown  12  and brim  14 , respectively. The openings  62 ,  64  are configured in diamond shapes and are each provided with an embroidered bordering  66 ,  68 .  
         [0024]     The hat  60  is also provided with an elastic band  70 . The band  70  is positioned adjacent to the opening  64  of the brim  14  in the area between the opening  64  and the outer edge of the brim  14 . The ends of the elastic band  70  are secured to the brim  14  by fasteners or other fastening means, such as the Chicago-type screw fasteners  72 ,  74 . It should be noted that an elastic band, such as the band  70  may be positioned adjacent to either openings or holes of the crown or brim and on either side of such holes and should not necessarily be limited to the positions shown.  
         [0025]     The hat  60  may be worn in a manner similar to that previously described for the hats  10  and  50 .  FIG. 5  shows the hat  60  being worn with a gathering  76  of the wearer&#39;s hair being passed solely through the hole  64  of the brim  14  so that the hair passes upward from bottom of the brim  14  and out the top, as shown. The gathering  76  is further secured under the elastic band  70 .  
         [0026]     As can be seen, the hats of the invention can have various configurations and can be worn in a variety of different manners with the wearer&#39;s hair being passed through one or both openings of the crown or brim. The wearer&#39;s hair can also be conveniently secured beneath a hair band to facilitate holding of the wearer&#39;s hair thereunder. Additionally, the hat may be worn without passing of the wearer&#39;s hair through the openings in a conventional manner.  
         [0027]     While the invention has been shown in only some of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.