Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/967,673, filed Sep. 6, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. As Sep. 6, 2008 fell on a Saturday, the application is considered timely. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to hats, and more particularly to a hat wherein the brim and the diameter of the bucket are adjustable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Hats, particularly of the bucket type, must fit the head of the wearer. Some hats are custom made to fit well. However, dimensions of hats may change especially with variations in ambient temperatures. Therefore, even a custom fitted hat may fit poorly under some conditions. 
         [0004]    A second characteristic of hats, and again, particularly to bucket hats, is that traditional brims are limited in their configuration and therefore in the visual impression they form. 
         [0005]    There exists a need for hats, and especially bucket hats, which can accommodate changes in temperature, as that relates to closeness of fit. There also exists a need for hats which can display different styles of brim. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention brings adjustability to hats, especially of the bucket type. In one aspect of the invention, the bucket is provided with circumferential belt which can be adjusted in its length. This changes the overall diameter of the bucket. While the degree of adjustment is limited in that excessive constriction of the belt will eventually distort the bucket to an objectionable extent, the degree of adjustment is sufficient to result in a suitably tight fit for any one individual wearer of the hat. 
         [0007]    The above adjustment may be provided by a belt which is disposed outside the bucket, is held in place by loops fixed to the hat, and can be selectively lengthened and shortened to relax or constrict the bucket of the hat. The belt may be retained in a selected condition of adjustment by a fastener such as hook and loop type fastener. 
         [0008]    In another aspect of the invention, the brim is adjustable as to the final contour or configuration. Unlike the bucket, the overall dimensions do not change, but the shape and therefore the visual effect does change. 
         [0009]    Adjustment to the brim is accommodated by incorporating into the hat a form holding yet flexible filamentary member, such as a metallic wire. The filamentary wire is selected from a material which may be readily bent and otherwise formed by hand, but which holds its new configuration. 
         [0010]    It is an object of the invention to provide a hat which can be adjusted to individual preferences of the wearer. 
         [0011]    In particular, one object of the invention is to enable adjustment of the overall diameter of the bucket of a hat. 
         [0012]    A second important object of the invention is to enable adjustment to the contour of the brim of a hat. 
         [0013]    It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
         [0014]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bucket type hat according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the hat of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side view similar to  FIG. 2 , but illustrating an adjustment to the brim of the hat. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a bucket type hat  10  comprising a bucket  11  which comprises a generally circular side wall  16 . It will be appreciated that the side wall  16  is in most cases other than purely circular in that it must conform to the wearer&#39;s head, which is rarely if ever purely circular. The circular side wall  16  may have an upper edge  18  and a lower edge  24 . 
         [0020]    It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such as upper and lower and others refer to the drawing as viewed by an observer. Orientational terms must be understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and do not limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way. 
         [0021]    A brim  17  projects radially outwardly from the bottom edge  24  of the bucket  11 . 
         [0022]    Both the bucket  11  and the brim  17  may be formed from generally flaccid materials, such as leather, fabrics, woven and non-woven polymeric materials, and others. Such materials are flaccid yet are form holding to one degree or another. 
         [0023]    As employed herein, “flaccid” signifies that the subject material is readily bendable, and may deform under gravity if not restrained by a reinforcing influence. By way of example of one reinforcing influence, the hat  10  may hold its form due to its configuration. That is, because the side wall  16  forms a generally circular closed loop, and if provided with a top panel such as the top panel  22  which closes the otherwise open top of the side wall  16 , the hat  10  avoids spontaneous collapse. However, the hat  10  is nonetheless susceptible to undesirable deformation such as by incidental contact with environmental objects, repositioning by the wearer, temperature fluctuations, and other effects. 
         [0024]    Form holding signifies that the element so described has sufficient rigidity by virtue of inherent properties of the material or by its configuration or both, so as to maintain its form in the absence of outside forces other than those imposed by the mass and, where provided, elasticity of the constituent materials. 
         [0025]    The hat  10  has at least one adjuster for adjusting a visual aspect of the bucket  11  and the brim  17 . Each adjuster, the nature of which will shortly be described, is disposed to maintain the respective conditions to which each is adjusted. 
         [0026]    A first adjuster serves the purpose of adjusting the diameter of the bucket  11 . A second adjuster serves the function of adjusting a visual aspect of the brim  17 . 
         [0027]    The first adjuster may comprise at least one loop such as the loop  15  of  FIG. 1 , and a belt  12  which is dimensioned and configured to encircle the bucket  11  and to pass through and be retained in place against the bucket  11  by the loop  15 . The belt  12  has a fastening element disposed to hold the belt  12  at a selected length. 
         [0028]    The belt  12  may be long enough to overlap itself after encircling the bucket  11 . The fastening element may comprise hook and loop fastening material comprising hook material  13  and loop material  14 . The loop material  14  engages and adheres to the hook material  13  upon contact and is manually separable there from. One side of the belt  12  may bear the hook material  13  and the other side of the belt  12  may bear the loop material  14 . This arrangement assures that one end of the belt  12  may engage the other end of the belt  12  without twisting the belt  12 . 
         [0029]    The loop  15  may comprise a plurality of loops  15  located about the periphery of the lower edge  24  of the bucket  11 , and each spaced apart from each adjacent loop  15  (see  FIG. 2 ). Alternatively, the loop  15  may comprise an elongated sleeve (not shown) which spans a sufficient extent of the circumferential periphery of the bucket  11  to assure that the belt  12  will perform the function described herein. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show illustrative effects of adjustment of the belt  12 . In  FIG. 1 , the belt  12  is shown only loosely engaging the bucket  11 . The bucket  11  displays sagging and non-planar configuration of the side wall  16  and of the top panel  22 . In  FIG. 2 , the belt  12  has been drawn slightly tighter, thereby constricting the bucket  11 . The bucket  11  has thereby been squeezed such that the sagging and non-planar configuration of  FIG. 1  gives way to smooth, flat configuration of the side wall  16  and the top panel  22 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the second adjuster may comprise a form holding element disposed in the brim of the hat. The form holding element may comprise a manually formable filament such as a metallic wire  20 . The metallic wire  20  may be located along the periphery of the brim  17 . 
         [0032]    The present invention is susceptible to modifications and variations which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concepts. For example, although the invention has been described with respect to the hat  10  including a top panel  22 , a hat according to aspects of the invention need not include the top panel  22 . The top of the side wall  16  may be open. Alternatively, the top of the hat  10  may be domed, conical, or otherwise configured (these variations are not shown). 
         [0033]    Locations of features of the invention may be varied from those shown. For example, the belt  12  and the loops  15  may be concealed within the side wall  16  rather than outside the side wall  16  as shown. Also, the belt  12  may be located anywhere along the vertical dimension of the side wall  16 , where of course the vertical dimension refers to the drawing figures as rendered. The precise location is not critical to the invention. The location merely need assure that the belt  12  be operable as described to modify the appearance of the bucket  11 . 
         [0034]    Components of a hat according to any aspect of the invention may be incorporated into the hat or alternatively may be separate there from. For example, the belt  12  may be arranged to drop into place over the bucket  11 , rather than being held to the bucket  11  by the loops  15 . 
         [0035]    Components presented in the singular may be provided in the plural. Where feasible, it would be possible to provide a single component rather than a plurality of components. For example, the wire  20  may comprise a plurality of wire segments (not shown) rather than a single length filament. Along a similar vein, the belt  12  may comprise joined sections (not shown) rather than comprising a single strip of material. 
         [0036]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.

Technology Category: 1