Abstract:
A cow boy style hat has a crown removeably attached to the brim by fasteners, enabling different combinations of crown and brim. Some embodiments employ a crown providing a hard protective shell combined with a soft brim to reduce force transmission from the brim to the crown. Other embodiments combine a soft crown with a soft brim. Still other embodiments allow interchangeability between various styles of crowns and brims, sometimes combining diverse crown and brim materials.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is co-pending with the following design applications:
       “Hat” #29/507,662 filed Oct. 30, 2014 by Zina Denny, Docket D1409Den   “Hat” #29/507,662 filed Oct. 30, 2014 by Zina Denny, Docket D1408Den       
 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0005]    Not applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE AND/OR SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0006]    Not applicable 
       STATEMENTREGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES 
       [0007]    Not applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to the field of hats. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Hats serve a number of purposes for the wearer. Among these purposes are protection from the elements such as sun, wind and precipitation. Other protections may be from a hazardous work or recreational environment. Still other purposes may involve fashion or serving as a means of identification of the wearer. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In one embodiment, a cowboy style hat for a wearer, features a cowboy hat style crown. The crown has an inside near the head of the wearer and an outside. A cowboy hat style brim remove-ably attaches around the inside periphery of the crown. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the crown employs materials to from a hard protective shell around the wearer&#39;s head, serving a similar function as a construction hard hat. Such embodiments may further include an adjustable suspension inside the crown to better fit the head of the wearer and add additional protection. Other embodiments also include straps such as chin straps or string straps. 
         [0012]    In other embodiments the brim may be of a softer material than the crown. The brim may be designed to crush or distort to absorb, dissipate, reduce or mitigate the effects of an applied force. This action lessens the danger of an applied force being transferred in such a way as to act through the crown causing neck injury. 
         [0013]    A removable brim is attached to the crown by complementary fasteners, including but not limited to, mating snaps, hook and latch, and buttons and button holes. This arrangement allows different crowns to be attached to different brims. This interchangeability enables combinations of colors, styles, materials and functions among other things. Example functions include water repelling or an open mesh for partial shade. 
         [0014]    In still other embodiments, the hat has a band, configured to cover the area where the brim attaches around the inside of the crown, the band is disposed between the head of the wearer and the brim where the brim attaches around the inside of the crown. The band folds over the complementary fasteners to protect the head of the wearer from the fasteners such as mating snaps. The band can be attached to the crown or brim and positioned to allow access to the fasteners during attachment and positioned over the fasteners when the hat is worn. 
         [0015]    In yet other embodiments the edge of the brim has a stiffening member such as a metal, plastic or organic material cord that allows the user to shape the brim. The style and appearance of the hat can be changed by altering the shape of the brim. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The summary above, and the following detailed description will be better understood in view of the enclosed drawings which depict details of preferred embodiments. Like reference numbers designate like elements. It should however be noted that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. The features, functions and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the claimed invention or may be combined in yet other embodiments. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of the cow boy style hat with the crown separated from the brim. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows an inside view of the crown of the cow boy style hat where the brim attaches to the crown. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  also shows a sectional view of the brim revealing a stiffening member in the edge of the brim. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  shows the crown of the cow boy style hat when the crown forms a hard, protective shell. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  shows the inside of the crown with one type of adjustable suspension 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  shows an example where the brim of softer, crushable material absorbs a blow reducing the transfer of the blow to the crown and thus the head of the wearer. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A -6C  show examples of various types of complementary fasteners. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that modification to the various disclosed embodiments may be made and other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a crown  200  of the cow boy style hat  100 . The outside of the crown  210  is exposed, while the inside of the crown  220  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) is adjacent the head of the wearer. A brim  300  attaches around the periphery  230  of the crown  200  by complementary fasteners  400 . The fasteners  400  of  FIG. 1  are mating snaps  410 A and  410 B. While  FIG. 1  shows mating snaps  410 A and  410 B, it will be understood that the complementary fasteners  400  can also include, but are not limited to, hook and latch type fabrics or materials. Other examples of complementary fasteners can also include buttons and button holes and eyelets threaded together with a cord. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of the brim  300 . The brim has an upper surface  320  and an under surface  330 . The inside of the crown  220  is clearly visible. In  FIG. 2  the inside of the crown  220  is a soft surface, although other types of crown may have adjustable suspension. The brim  300  attaches to the inside periphery of the crown  240 . The complementary fasteners  400  of  FIG. 1  are visible in cross section in  FIG. 2 . Mating snap  410 A on the brim attaches to mating snap  410 B on the crown. The complementary fasteners  400  attach completely around the periphery  230  of the crown. This is in contrast to other hat designs such as baseball style hats where the bill or brim does not attach all the way around the crown. In  FIG. 2  a band  500  covers the area where the brim  300  attaches to the inside periphery  240  of the crown  200 . This band  500  can attach to the brim  300  or the inside of the crown  220  and fold out of the way during attachment or detachment between the crown  200  and brim  300 . During use, the band  500  folds over the attachment area and is disposed between the attachment area and the head of the wearer. This reduces irritation to the wearer by the complementary fasteners  400  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  also shows a portion of the brim  300  in partial cross section. The outer edge of the brim  340  has a stiffening member  350 . This stiffening member can be a number of materials including, but not limited to, metal, plastic or an organic material such as straw. Stiffening member  350  enables the user to fashion the edge of the brim  340  in a variety of ways. The stiffening member is chosen to substantially hold a shape when bent. The wearer can therefore shape the edge of the brim  340  and therefore the brim itself  300  to suit a particular style or use. Different uses may include protection from or more exposure to weather such as sun, wind, dust or rain. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of the crown  200  of  FIG. 1  that forms a hard, protective shell  600  for the head of the wearer. The hard protective shell  600  can be made of a number of different materials known to those in the protective head gear industry. In contrast to the traditional protective hard hat, the hard protective shell  600  of  FIG. 3  has the distinctive cow boy hat style. Like the embodiments of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  the hat of  FIG. 3  can use similar or diverse materials for the brim  300  and crowns  200  or  600 . Although not shown in detail, the hat of  FIG. 3  also has a crown  600  detachable from the brim  300 . The complementary fasteners are not visible in  FIG. 3  but function in a similar manner to those of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Note in  FIG. 3  that some embodiments may include a strap. A number of different strap styles are possible.  FIG. 3  shows a string strap  260  as one example. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows one embodiment of the inside of the crown  600  of  FIG. 3 . The protective style crown of  FIG. 3  can be equipped with a suspension  610 . The suspension  610  is known to those in the protective head gear industry. The hard protective shell  600  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  can also employ an adjustable suspension  620 . The adjustable suspension  620  expands to allow the wearer to use warm head clothing in cool weather while allowing a snug adjustment when no head clothing is warn in warmer environments. For clarity, although present, the complementary fasteners of  FIGS. 1 and 2  are not shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  shows the hard protective shell  600  of  FIG. 3  attached to a brim  300  of material  310  softer than the hard protective shell  600 .  FIG. 5  depicts a blow impacting the front of the brim  300 . If the brim  300  were of the same material as the hard protective shell  600 , the force of the blow could easily be transferred through the brim  300  and to the hard protective shell  600 . The leverage provided by a hard brim  300  could lead to serious neck injuries to the wearer. By employing a brim with softer material  310 , the brim  310  is configured to distort or deform thus absorbing some of the energy of the impact and reducing a injurious transfer of force to the head and neck of the wearer. In some ways, the crushing or deformation of the brim is analogous to car bodies which are designed to deform while protecting the occupants of the passenger compartment. In some embodiments, since the brim  300  is detachable from the crown  200  ( FIG. 1 ) a brim can be designed deform while absorbing impacts and then be replaced. In some embodiments a number of different strap types may also be attached to the crown  600 . In  FIG. 5  a chip strap  270  reduces the chance that the protective head gear will come off during a collision or fall. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 6A through 6C  show other embodiments of the complementary fasteners  400  described previously. Although only one set of complementary fasteners  400  are shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C , it will be understood that multiple sets of complementary fasteners  400  are used around the periphery of the crown  200  and brim  300 .  FIG. 6A  shows a button  420 A and Button hole  420 B securing the crown  200  to the brim  300 .  FIG. 6B  shows an example of a hook  430 A and latch  430 B fastener securing the crown  200  to the brim  300 . Hook and latch fasteners are also known by the trade name of “Velcro”.  FIG. 6C  shows eyelets  440 A and cord  440 B securing the crown  200  to the brim  300 . The cord is woven through the eyelets. The cord can also be of various colors or designs to further add to the appeal of the hat. 
         [0032]    Previous embodiments highlighted a hard, protective shell  600 . The Cowboy Style Hat however can employ both a soft crown  200  and a soft brim  300 . The types of materials available for both the crown  200  and brim  300  are numerous. The possible combinations of materials between the crown  200  and brim  300  are nearly endless. Examples of materials possible for the crown  200  and brim  300  include, but are not limited to, mesh, canvas, plastic, leather, straw, beaver and wool and felt. Thus, the crown  200  might be one type of material, while the brim  300  another type of material. Additionally, depending upon weather, fashion or whim, custom hats can be quickly assembled by varying materials, styles or colors. 
         [0033]    Thus in operation, the various embodiments of the cowboy style hat described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 through 5  can be used in a variety of situations and for a variety of purposes. With the brim  300  detachable from the crown  200  or  600 , a user or seller, may mix colors, styles and functions. A mixture of colors for example allows a shopkeeper to put together a wide variety of team or school colors from a small inventory of brims and crowns. In a work environment, different trades or crews can be identified at a distance by a distinctive color or style of brim. Meanwhile, in some embodiments, the hard protective shell  600  can remain the same. The combination of a soft brim  310  together with a hard protective shell  600  reduces the risk of neck or head injury due to a blow to the brim. 
         [0034]    In use, to remove a brim  300  from a crown  200  or  600 , the user folds back the band  500  to expose the complementary fasteners  400 . The user, unbuttons, unsnaps or separates the hook and latch fasteners to separate the brim  300  from the crown  200  or  600 . To reassemble a brim  300  to a crown  200  or  600 , the user aligns the brim  300  with the inside periphery of the crown  240  and engages the complementary fasteners around the inside periphery of the crown  240 . The user then folds the band  500  over the area of the complementary fasteners  400 . 
         [0035]    In applications where a hard protective shell  600  is not desired or required, the user can detach the brim  300  and attach a soft crown  200 . 
         [0036]    Glossary 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Ref Number 
                 Name 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 100 
                 Cowboy style hat 
               
               
                   
                 200 
                 Crown 
               
               
                   
                 210 
                 Outside of crown 
               
               
                   
                 220 
                 Inside of crown 
               
               
                   
                 230 
                 Periphery of crown 
               
               
                   
                 240 
                 Inside periphery of crown 
               
               
                   
                 260 
                 String strap 
               
               
                   
                 270 
                 Chin strap 
               
               
                   
                 300 
                 Brim 
               
               
                   
                 310 
                 Brim of material softer than crown 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Brim material configured to crush or deform 
               
               
                   
                 320 
                 Brim upper surface 
               
               
                   
                 330 
                 Brim under surface 
               
               
                   
                 340 
                 Outer Edge of brim 
               
               
                   
                 350 
                 Stiffening member in edge of brim 
               
               
                   
                 400 
                 Complementary fasteners such as: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Mating snaps 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Hook and latch fasteners 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Button holes and buttons 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Eyelets and cord 
               
               
                   
                 410A 410B 
                 Mating snaps 
               
               
                   
                 420A 420B 
                 Button and Button Hole 
               
               
                   
                 430A 430B 
                 Hook and Latch 
               
               
                   
                 440A 440B 
                 Eyelets and cord 
               
               
                   
                 500 
                 Band (covers fasteners of crown and brim) 
               
               
                   
                 600 
                 Hard protective shell 
               
               
                   
                 610 
                 Suspension 
               
               
                   
                 620 
                 Adjustable suspension 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0037]    Although the hat has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including embodiments that do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope of this invention. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined only by reference to the appended claims and equivalents thereof.