Patent Publication Number: US-2013227762-A1

Title: Hats with changeable antenna toppers

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/595,640, filed Feb. 6, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to hat accessories and, more particularly, to a hat with changeable antenna toppers affixed by a plastic dowel, for example. 
     Hats have been around for a long time and offer fans to express their fondness for a particular sports team, entertainment group (such as Disney, Warner Brothers, or the like), or character (such as Mickey Mouse or the like). Typically, a design is imprinted on the face of the hat, or, sometimes, across the entire surface of the hat. There are, however, no current ways to add a personal touch to a hat to further show one&#39;s support for the sports team, group, character or the like. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for improved hat design where an additional accessory can be added to show added support or individuality. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a hat comprises a topper mount extending from a top portion of the hat; and a topper adapted to be disposed on the topper mount. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a hat conversion kit for converting a hat into a changeable antenna mount hat comprises a topper mount operable to extend through a top portion of a hat; and a topper removable secured to an end of the topper mount. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hat with a changeable antenna topper, worn by a user, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the hat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the hat of  FIG. 1  with a different changeable antenna topper applied thereto; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the hat of  FIG. 1  with a different changeable antenna topper applied thereto; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the hat of  FIG. 1  showing removal of the antenna topper; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a dowel base, neck and knob used to secure the antenna topper in the hat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the hat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the hat of  FIG. 1  showing the antenna topper disposed on the dowel knob; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view showing a changeable antenna topper directly mountable onto a hat button; and 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view showing a changeable antenna topper mounted to a hat button via a dowel base, neck and knob. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a hat having a topper mount extending from a surface of the hat, where the topper mount can receive a topper, such as an antenna topper. In some embodiments, the invention relates to a hat having the topper mount and/or a topper. In some embodiments, the invention relates to a retrofit kit that may convert a conventional hat into a hat with a topper mount and topper. Once the mount is installed in the hat, the topper may be interchangeable. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 through 8 , a hat topper  24  may fit on a topper mount  14  that extends through a hole  22  in an outer surface of a hat  12 . Typically the topper mount  14  may extend from a top, central region of the hat  12 , however, other locations may be within the scope of the present invention. 
     The topper mount  14  may be made of various materials, such as plastic, metal, or the like. Typically, the topper mount  14  may be a plastic mount having a bulbous end  16 , similar to an automotive antenna, attached to a topper neck  20  that extends from a topper base  18 . The hat topper  24  may be similar to an antenna topper and may securely fit on the topper mount  14 . Typically, the hat topper  24  may have a hole  26  centrally disposed from the bottom of the hat topper  24  to frictionally fit the topper mount  14  therein. 
     In some embodiments, the topper mount  14  may be designed into the hat  12  such that the topper mount  14  extends from the top of the hat and a wearer  10  may customize the topper mount  14  with various hat toppers  24 . In some embodiments, the hat  12  may be adapted to use a topper mount  14 . For example, a hole  22  may be formed in the top of the hat  12  with a flap (not shown) covering the hole  22  on the inside of the hat  12 . The topper mount  14  may extend through the hole  22  from the inside of the hat  12 . The base  18  of the topper mount  14  may be larger than the hole  22 , to keep the topper mount  14  from sliding all the way through the hole  22 . The flap may keep the topper mount  14  from falling off when the hat  12  is removed from the user&#39;s head. In this embodiment, the topper mount  14  may be removed when not in use without interfering with the function of the hat  12 . 
     In some embodiments, the topper mount  14  may attach to a conventional hat  12  to permit the attachment of a topper  24  thereto. The topper mount  14  may attach to the conventional hat in various methods. For example, the topper mount  14  may include a piercing portion adapted to pierce the material of the hat  12  from the outside to the inside of the hat  12 . A retaining member may fit on the piercing portion on the inside of the hat, securing the topper mount to the hat. This design may be similar to an earring and earring back, for example. In some embodiments, the topper mount  14  can be designed to fit onto a hat button  28  manufactured into a top portion of the hat  12 . This design is exemplified in  FIG. 10 , for example. 
     In some embodiments, the topper mount  14  can be eliminated and the topper  24  may be designed to fit over the hat button  28  manufactured into the top portion of the hat  12 . This design is exemplified in  FIG. 9 , for example. 
     While the drawing show exemplary hat designs, the hat toppers of the present invention may be incorporated into almost any type of hat. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.