Ear insulating garment to be worn with a hat

Abstract

An ear-insulating garment is configured for wearing with close-fitting headwear such as cowboy hats, helmets, equestrian helmets, baseball caps and the like. The garment comprises an insulating member is preferably made of a flexible, insulating fabric and wraps around the back of the wearer's head. A strap extends from the forward ends of the ear-insulating member and over the top of the wearer's head. The strap is thin and flexible and does not interfere with the fit of the hat, even when the hat is of a fixed size and/or has a tightly fitting sweatband.

1 . An insulating garment for wearing on a wearer's head, comprising:
 an ear-insulating member having opposite ends and a length configured for wrapping around the rear of the wearer's head and extending over both ears;   a securing strap having opposite ends attached to the opposite ends of the ear-insulating member and configured for extending over the wearer's cranium.   
   
   
       2 . The insulating garment according to  claim 1  wherein the securing strap further comprises a first strap portion having a first end attached to one of the ear-insulating members and a second free end, and a second strap portion having a first end attached to the opposite of the ear-insulating members and a second free end, and a strap interconnecting member on one of the free ends. 
   
   
       3 . The insulating garment according to  claim 1  wherein the securing strap comprises a thin, flexible material that does not interfere with the fit of a hat worn by the wearer. 
   
   
       4 . The insulating garment according to  claim 3  wherein the ear-insulating member defines a longitudinal axis and the securing strap is attached to the ear-insulating member at an angle of about 20° to about 60° relative to the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       5 . The insulating garment according to  claim 3  wherein the portion of the ear-insulating member that covers the wearer's ears further comprises a cupped portion defined by darts in the ear-insulating member. 
   
   
       6 . The insulating garment according to  claim 3  wherein the securing strap is less than about 1 mm thick. 
   
   
       7 . The insulating garment according to  claim 6  wherein the securing strap is elastomeric. 
   
   
       8 . The insulating garment according to  claim 1  worn with a hat having a sweatband. 
   
   
       9 . An insulating garment for wearing on a wearer's head in combination with a hat having a sweatband and a crown, comprising:
 an ear-insulating member having opposite ends and a length configured for wrapping around the rear of the wearer's head and extending over and covering both ears, said ear-insulating member having an outwardly cupped portion adjacent each opposite end, said cupped portions configured for fitting over the wearer's ears;   a securing strap having opposite ends attached to the opposite ends of the ear-insulating member, said securing strap including an adjustment member positioned under the crown of the hat and said securing strap fitting under the sweatband, wherein the ear-insulating member rests on the wearer's head beneath the sweatband and does not interfere with the fit of the hat.   
   
   
       10 . The insulating garment according to  claim 9  wherein the securing strap further comprises a first strap portion having a first end attached to one of the ear-insulating member and a second free end, and a second strap portion having a first end attached to the opposite of the ear-insulating members and a second free end, and a strap interconnecting member on one of the free ends. 
   
   
       11 . The insulating garment according to  claim 10  wherein the ear-insulating member defines a longitudinal axis and the securing strap is attached to the ear-insulating member at an angle of about 20° to about 60° relative to the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       12 . The insulating garment according to  claim 9  wherein the opposite ends of the ear-insulating member further comprise outwardly cupped ear-covering members. 
   
   
       13 . The insulating garment according to  claim 9  wherein the outwardly cupped ear-covering members are defined by a dart formed in each of the opposite ends of the ear-insulating member. 
   
   
       14 . The insulating garment according to  claim 9  worn with a hat. 
   
   
       15 . An insulating garment for wearing on a wearer's head, comprising:
 an ear-insulating member having opposite ends and a length configured for wrapping around the rear of the wearer's head such that the opposite ends extend over both ears, said ear-insulating member defining a longitudinal axis;   a first securing strap having a free end and an end attached to one of the opposite ends of the ear-insulating member, said first securing strap defining a first securing strap axis that intersects the longitudinal axis at an angle between about 20° to about 60°;   a second securing strap having a free end and an end attached to the other opposite end of the ear-insulating member, said second securing strap defining a second securing strap axis that intersects the longitudinal axis at an angle between about 20° to about 60°;   securing strap connecting means for interconnecting the free ends of the first and second securing straps and for adjusting the length of the interconnected straps.   
   
   
       16 . The insulating garment according to  claim 15  wherein the securing strap connecting means comprises an adjustable buckle. 
   
   
       17 . The insulating garment according to  claim 15  wherein the first securing strap axis intersects the longitudinal axis at an angle between about 45° to about 55°, and the second securing strap axis intersects the longitudinal axis at an angle between about 45° to about 55°. 
   
   
       18 . The insulating garment according to  claim 17  wherein the portion of the ear-insulating member that covers the wearer's ears further comprises a cupped portion defined by darts in the ear-insulating member. 
   
   
       19 . The insulating garment according to  claim 18  wherein the securing straps are less than about 1 mm thick. 
   
   
       20 . The insulating garment according to  claim 19  wherein the securing strap is elastomeric.