Abstract:
This invention relates to a hat. In particular, to a hat adapted for clearance around the ears.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference thereto, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/154,463 filed on Apr. 29, 2015 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a hat. In particular, to a hat adapted for clearance around the ears. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    Hats are very common, especially baseball style hats or caps. As shown in  FIG. 1  below, this type of hat comprises a forward extending bill and an upper dome portion. The dome or crown portion is frequently comprised of a number of panels and a rim at the bottom of the crown. A button or post cap is often located at that the top of the hat where the panels join together. The rim can include a band to adjust the size of the hat, or just as often the rim is not adjustable and the hats come in different sizes. 
         [0006]    On problem with prior art hats of this type occurs where the rim of the hat meets the user&#39;s ears, or more precisely the upper portion of the ear lobe. The rim comes close or overlaps with the ear lobes. This creates discomfort. If the rim is located inside the ear lobe it can rub and irate the inner ear lobe. If the rim of the hat goes over the ear lobe it can irate the outside of the earlobe, or irritate the entire upper ear by compressing it between the rim and the head. The problem is worse when the person wearing the hat wears glasses (sunglasses, prescription glasses, or reading glasses). The tines of the glasses must navigate the area where the rim of the hat meets the ears, further decreasing the space available for ear clearance. 
         [0007]    The tines can travel over the top of the rim of the hat; however, this creates tension in the glasses causing discomfort. The tines can be placed below the rim of the glasses, but this presses the tines into the top of the ear. Or, the tines can go under the rim of the hat, but this also creates discomfort by pressing the tines into the user&#39;s head. 
         [0008]    Prior art embodiments include those found in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 20120096625, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,237,159; 8,740,379; 6,397,396; 5,860,167; 4,179,753; 264,574; 6,647,554 (the foregoing listing of references shall not be construed as an admission that any of the foregoing are material to patentability of the present invention). These references disclose embodiments that suffer from various drawbacks, and/or are not relevant to the problem addressed by the present invention, but are instead provided for reference purposes. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, a need exists for a hat that does not create discomfort to the user&#39;s ears, especially, when that person is wearing glasses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a prior art baseball hat. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a hat retrofitted in accord with the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is side views of three version of the hat of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows multiple view of the version  1  of the hat, the views being from left to right in the top row: front, side, back, and cut-away side view at the bottom left. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  shows multiple view of the version  2  of the hat, the views being from left to right in the top row: front, side, back, and cut-away side view at the bottom left. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  shows multiple view of the version  3  of the hat, the views being from left to right in the top row: front, side, back, and cut-away side view at the bottom left. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    In the Figures, is shown a hat  10  that substantially to completely eliminates the problems of the prior art. In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 2-6 , the hat  10  is of a type commonly referred to as a baseball hap/cap. The hat  10  comprises a bill  12  that attaches to the bottom front portion of a dome/crown  14 . The bill  12  of a baseball hat  10  only covers the front portion of the hat  10 , does not extend over to the sides of the hat  10 , and provides shade for the face. 
         [0017]    The dome  14  of the hat is typically comprised of a plurality of panels  16  that are stitched, or otherwise joined, and that terminate at the top of the hat  10  where a button/post cap  20  is attached at the point where the panels  16  converge. As is described below, not all hats  10  have buttons  20 , and the number of and orientation of the panels can and will vary. 
         [0018]    The hat  10  also includes a rim  18  along the bottom of the dome  14 , which may or may not include a band  36  that can be tightened or loosened with a fastener  24  located at the back of the hat  10 . This configuration allows for adjusting the hat  10  to fit different user head sizes. As an alternative, the hat  10  many have a stationary nonadjustable rim  18 , and then come in different sizes to accommodate user preferences as to fit. 
         [0019]    The rim  18  of the hat  10  comprises two curved or raised portions  26  on either side of the hat  10  over the ears  32 . This creates a sizable gap between the bottom of the hat  10  and the top of the ear  32  such that the hat  10  does not impact/contact the top of the ear  32  with, or without glasses  28 . The hat  10  can be altered to remove a portion of the rim  18  (as in retrofitting existing hats that have the typical uniform circumferential rim found in the prior art—see  FIG. 2 ), or the hat  10  can be constructed with a curved, raised, or arched portion  26  of the rim  18  of the hat  10  over the ear area, wherein the rim  18  is appropriately distanced from the ear. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows in profile, views of three different configurations of the hat  10  of the present invention. In particular,  FIG. 4  is a close up view of version  1  of the hat  10  shown in in  FIG. 3 . The hat  10  includes a bill  12 , dome  14 , and a plurality of panels  16  that terminate in a button  20 . The rim  18  includes curved sections  26  over each ear to easily accommodate the tines  30  of glasses  28  without any interference by the hat  10 . Eyelets  32  in the panels  16  are provided for ventilation. The inside of the dome  14  of the hat  10  at the back has an elastic band  36 . The band  36  gently resists expansion when the hat  10  is worn in order to provide a comfortable and secure fit. Further, the back of the dome  14  of the hat  10  is curved or sloped to match the contour of the users head to provide a better and more secure fit. 
         [0021]    The seams of the panels  16  are generally stitched (with a single needle top stitch), and the seams are pressed to one side for comfort. A contrast band  38  secures to the inside bottom of the dome  14  and is secured with single needle edge stich. 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a close up view of version  2  of the hat  10  shown in  FIG. 3 . The hat  10  includes a bill  12 , dome  14 , and a plurality of panels  16  that terminate in a button  20 . The rim  18  includes curved sections  26  over each ear to easily accommodate the tines  30  of glasses  28  without any interference by the hat  10 . The hat  10  further comprises a fastener  24 , which allows the hat  10  to be adjusted to the user&#39;s head size. Fastener  24  is a double ring through which a strap is threaded for a controlled and adjustable fit. The configuration of the panels  16  varies from that of the hat  10  of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a close up view of version  3  of the hat  10  shown in in  FIG. 3 . The hat  10  includes a bill  12 , dome  14 , a plurality of panels  16 , but does not terminate in a button as shown in the other versions. The rim  18  includes curved sections  26  over each ear to easily accommodate the tines  30  of glasses  28  without any interference by the hat  10 . The configuration of the panels  16  varies from the other versions in that the panels are more circumferential in orientation rather than radial (as in version  1  and  2 ). 
         [0024]    The hat  10  includes a fastener  24 , which is an elastic band that compresses to varying degrees based on the size of the user&#39;s head. 
         [0025]    The prior art included hats that have pockets or slots in the hat to receive the tines of a glasses, however, this does not solve the problem as the glasses are now tight against the users head, and it complicates the manufacture of the hat. Further, these designs generally are for storing glasses when not worn and would not be or any use when the user actually wears the glasses. Also, while not addressing the problem solved by the present invention, these designs may negatively affect the aesthetics of the hat in the mind of many users. The present invention solves these problems by allow the user to wear a hat and wear glasses in the same manner as if the hat was not present. Also, the appearance of the hat is not negatively affected; in fact, the hat can even be more attractive in appearance. Because less material is used the hat should be incrementally less expensive to manufacture. 
         [0026]    Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods, and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. 
         [0027]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art that have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the invention can be used with any style of hat that encloses the area around or above the ear such as baseball hats, leather hats, barmah hats, panama hats, ascot caps, bowlers, pork pie hats, sun hats, straw hats, top hats, western hats, travel hats, safari hats, helmets, flat hats, berets, fezzes, fisherman caps, cadet hats, military hats, and the like.