Securable Hat

Abstract

The present invention provides hats with attachment assemblies allowing them to be detachably secured in an exterior-side out configuration to a belt of medium width worn around the wearer's waist, without requiring the hats to be inverted, reversed, or folded in a complex fashion, and without any need for pockets, linings, zippers or the like. The hats may also be provided with retention members for holding the hats in a simple folded configuration when carried on a belt.

1 . A securable hat comprising:
 a crown portion for covering a wearer's head, the crown portion including an interior side for engaging the head and an exterior side for facing away from the head;   a brim portion extending outwardly from a lower edge of the crown portion, the brim portion including an interior side and an exterior side; and   an attachment assembly for detachably securing the hat in an exterior-side out configuration to a belt worn on the wearer's waist, the attachment assembly comprising at least one strip of flexible material having at least one of a first end and a second end attached to either the brim portion or the crown portion of the hat;   wherein the strip has a length sufficient to extend transversely over a waist belt of at least medium width.   
     
     
         2 . The securable hat according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the strip is permanently secured to the exterior side of the crown portion of the hat. 
     
     
         3 . The securable hat according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the hat and the strip are formed of fabric; and the first end of the strip is sewn to the crown portion of the hat.   
     
     
         4 . The securable hat according to  claim 2 , wherein the attachment assembly further comprises:
 a first fastener element of a releasable connection mounted on the second end of the strip; and   a second fastener element of a releasable connection mounted on the crown portion of the hat;   wherein said first fastener element and second fastener element are configured to releasably engage one another to detachably secure the second end of the strip to the crown of the hat; and   wherein the strip and a portion of the crown underlying the strip cooperate to define a loop.   
     
     
         5 . The securable hat according to  claim 1 , wherein the strip is at least about 1.75 inches long. 
     
     
         6 . The securable hat according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one strip comprises at least two closely spaced-apart slits. 
     
     
         7 . The securable hat according to  claim 6 , where the at least two slits are spaced no more than about 4 inches from one another. 
     
     
         8 . The securable hat according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the attachment assembly includes at least one pair of spaced-apart slits formed in the crown of the hat; and   the flexible strip comprises an integral portion of the crown disposed between the two slits.   
     
     
         9 . The securable hat according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the hat is formed of sufficiently flexible material to enable to the hat to be folded across an axis; and   the attachment assembly further comprises at least one fastener member for maintaining the hat in a folded configuration when secured to the belt.   
     
     
         10 . The securable hat according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one fastener member comprises a third fastener element of a releasable connection mounted on the exterior side of the crown of the hat at a location approximately diametrically opposite the second fastener element of a releasable connection. 
     
     
         11 . The securable hat according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one fastener member comprises:
 at least one male member mounted on the crown of the hat; and   at least one female fastener located on the crown of the hat at a position approximately diametrically opposite the male fastener when the hat is unfolded, and configured to engage the male fastener element when the hat is folded.   
     
     
         12 . The securable hat according to  claim 11 , wherein one of the male and female fastener elements is located on the exterior side of the crown and the other of the male and female fastener elements is located on the interior side of the crown. 
     
     
         13 . The securable hat according to  claim 1 , wherein the strip extends in a generally radial direction relative to the top of the crown portion. 
     
     
         14 . The securable hat according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the second fastener element is located generally circumferentially of the first end of the strip;   the third fastener element is located generally radially of the first end of the strip; and   the strip is formed of sufficiently flexible material to allow the second end to be pivoted from a first orientation wherein the strip extends in a generally circumferential direction toward the second element to a second orientation wherein the strip extends in a generally radial direction toward the third fastener element.   
     
     
         15 . The securable hat according to  claim 1 , wherein the crown and brim portions are unlined. 
     
     
         16 . A method for retaining a hat on a person's body comprising fastening a hat comprising an attachment assembly in an exterior side-out configuration to a waist belt worn, or to be worn, by said person; said fastening step comprising a step selected from the group consisting of:
 a) inserting an end of said waist belt through an attachment assembly comprising at least one strip of flexible material having a length sufficient to extend transversely over a waist belt of at least medium width, said strip having first and second ends joined to the exterior side of a crown portion of the hat, and   b) inserting an attachment assembly component around said waist belt, said attachment assembly component comprising a strip of flexible material having a first end including a first fastener element and a second end joined to a crown portion of said hat, and releasably securing the first fastener element of said first end to a second fastener element disposed on the crown portion of said hat;   
       wherein said hat is maintained in an exterior side-out configuration while being retained on the person's body. 
     
     
         17 . The securable hat of  claim 1  wherein said at least one of a first end and a second end is attached to the brim portion of the hat. 
     
     
         18 . The securable hat of  claim 17  wherein the attachment assembly includes at least one pair of spaced-apart slits formed in the brim portion of the hat; and
 the at least one strip of flexible material comprises an integral portion of the brim portion disposed between the two slits. 
 
     
     
         19 . The securable hat of  claim 17  wherein the attachment assembly further comprises:
 a first fastener element of a releasable connection mounted on the second end of the strip; and 
 a second fastener element of a releasable connection mounted on the brim portion of the hat; 
 wherein said first fastener element and second fastener element are configured to releasably engage one another to detachably secure the second end of the strip to the crown of the hat; and 
 wherein the strip and a portion of the brim portion underlying the strip cooperate to define a loop. 
 
     
     
         20 . The securable hat according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the hat is formed of sufficiently flexible material to enable to the hat to be folded; and   the attachment assembly further comprises at least one fastener member for maintaining the hat in a folded configuration when secured to the belt.