Military hat construction

Abstract

A military or uniform hat comprising a frame having an annular headband and visor connected thereto. A stay is connected to the frame and extends outwardly, above the visor so as to at least partially define a frontal portion of the hat. The stay includes an elongated channel formed rearward of a front face of the stay and structured to enclose and support at least a portion of the length of a grommet used to support an at least partially configure a cover of the hat. The stay includes an at least partially smooth, substantially uninterrupted front surface and oppositely disposed open ends of the channel cooperatively configured to eliminate or significantly reduce the possibility of any unsightly deformations, protrusions, etc. observable on the portion of the cover overlying the stay and/or frontal portion of the military hat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A military hat comprising:
 a frame including an annular headband and a visor connected to said headband, said visor extending outwardly from and at least partially defining a frontal portion of said frame,   a stay connected to said frame and extending upwardly from said visor to further at least partially define said frontal portion of said frame,   a grommet connected in supported relation to said stay and structured to support and at least partially configure a hat cover,   said stay comprising an elongated channel formed on a rear face thereof and extending along and in adjacent relation to an outer periphery of said stay, said channel structured to support and enclose a portion of said grommet,   said channel including oppositely disposed open ends and an at least partially closed configuration extending along the length thereof between said open ends, and   each of said open ends comprising a front end segment and a rear end segment; each front end segment recessed inwardly along the length of said channel relative to a corresponding rear end segment.   
     
     
         2 . A military hat as recited in  claim 1  wherein said stay comprises a front face having a substantially uninterrupted configuration extending between at least said headband and said outer periphery. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said uninterrupted configuration is at least partially defined by said channel and said grommet contained therein disposed rearward of said front face on said rear face thereof. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly as recited in  claim 3  wherein said closed configuration of said channel extends continuously between and terminates at said oppositely disposed open ends. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said rear end segment of each of said opposite open ends is disposed in underlying, covered relation to said grommet. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein said front end segment of each of said opposite ends is disposed in overlying, covering relation to a portion of said grommet. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said closed configuration of said channel extends continuously between and terminates at said oppositely disposed open ends. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said stay comprises a front panel and a rear panel disposed in overlying relation to one another, at least one connecting seam extending along said outer periphery of said stay in interconnecting relation to said front and rear panels. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein said channel is disposed between said front and rear panels rearward of a front face of said stay and adjacent said outer periphery and said connecting seam, said grommet disposed within said channel rearward of said front face of said front panel. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein said connecting seam is disposed and structured to define a longitudinal boundary of said channel. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein said connecting seam is disposed and structured to define an outer periphery of said channel, said connecting seam extending continuously along the length of said channel between and terminating at said front end segments of said opposite open ends. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein said outer periphery of said channel and said outer periphery of said stay coincide along the respective lengths thereof. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein said front and rear panels comprise a substantially common dimension and configuration over at least a majority of overlying portions thereof. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein said front and rear panels are formed of a plastic material; said one connecting seam defining a heat seal connection between said front and rear panels. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly as recited in  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of seams disposed in spaced relation to one another and to said one connector seam and in interconnecting relation to said front and rear panels. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly as recited in  claim 15  wherein said front and rear panels are formed of a plastic material; said one connecting seam defining a heat seal connection between said front and rear panels. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said channel is disposed on said rear face of said stay in segregated relation to a front face of said stay; an outer connecting seam and an inner connecting seam extending along the length of said channel and relatively disposed to define opposing longitudinal boundaries thereof. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly as recited in  claim 17  wherein each of said outer and inner connecting seams comprise stitching.