Hat and cap retainer apparatus

Abstract

A retainer capable of securing headwear to a user's head includes one or more keepers, one or more flexible elongated members, and an adjustment device. The one or more keepers may be capable of being secured to the headwear. The one or more flexible elongated members may extend from the one or more keepers and be capable of being positioned around at least a portion of the user's head (e.g., his or her chin, etc.). The adjustment device may enable adjustment of an effective length of the one or more flexible elongated members and, thus, tightening or loosening of the one or more flexible elongated members relative to the portion of the user's head around which they are positioned (e.g., the user's chin, etc.).

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A retainer for securing headwear to a head of a wearer, comprising:
 at least one keeper adapted to be secured to the headwear;   a flexible elongated member connected to the at least one keeper to enable the headwear to be attached to the headwear, the flexible elongated member capable of being positioned around a portion of the head of the wearer while the headwear is positioned upon the head of the user; and   an adjustment device connected to the flexible elongated member and capable of adjusting an effective length of the flexible elongated member and of tightening and/or loosening the flexible elongated member relative to the head of the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one keeper comprises a pair of keepers, each keeper of the pair of keepers adapted to be secured to the headwear. 
     
     
         3 . The retainer of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible elongated member comprises a strap, a cord, a lace, a string, or a lanyard connected to each keeper of the pair of keepers. 
     
     
         4 . The retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one keeper comprises a single keeper, with portions of the at least one keeper that receive opposite ends of the flexible elongated member adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the headwear. 
     
     
         5 . The retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated member comprises two flexible elongated members, each flexible elongated member connected to a corresponding keeper of the pair of keepers. 
     
     
         6 . The retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated member comprises a single flexible elongated member, with opposite ends of the single flexible elongated member being secured to the at least one keeper. 
     
     
         7 . The retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one keeper is adapted to attach to a band of the headwear. 
     
     
         8 . The retainer of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one keeper is adapted to removably attach to the band of the headwear. 
     
     
         9 . The retainer of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one keeper is adapted to attach to a sweatband of the headwear. 
     
     
         10 . The retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one keeper is adapted to attach to a hat or a cap. 
     
     
         11 . The retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment device is adapted to slide along the flexible elongated member to increase or decrease an effective length of the flexible elongated member. 
     
     
         12 . A retainer for securing a hat or a cap to a head of a user, comprising:
 two keepers adapted to be secured to a band of the hat or the cap;   one or more straps capable of being connected between the two keepers and secured around a chin of the head of the user; and   an adjustment device connected to the one or more straps and capable of tightening or loosening the one or more straps relative to the chin of the user.   
     
     
         13 . The retainer of  claim 12 , wherein the two keepers are adapted to be secured to a band of the hat or the cap. 
     
     
         14 . The retainer of  claim 13 , wherein the two keepers are adapted to be removably disposed behind the band on opposite sides of the band. 
     
     
         15 . The retainer of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the one or more straps extends from each keeper of the two keepers to the adjustment device. 
     
     
         16 . The retainer of  claim 15 , wherein the adjustment device comprises a slider that secures different locations along the one or more straps together. 
     
     
         17 . The retainer of  claim 16 , wherein the slider is adapted to tighten the two keepers around the chin of the user by moving the slider along the one or more straps toward the hat or the cap. 
     
     
         18 . The retainer of  claim 12 , wherein the two keepers comprise clips capable of being removably secured to the band of the hat or the cap. 
     
     
         19 . The retainer of  claim 12 , wherein the two keepers comprise pins capable of being removably pinned to the band of the hat or the cap. 
     
     
         20 . A retainer for securing a hat or a cap to a head of a user, comprising:
 two removable keepers, each keeper of the two removable keepers adapted to be positioned behind a band on opposite sides of the hat or the cap;   one or more straps connected between the two removable keepers and capable of being placed under a chin of the head of the user; and   a slider connected to the one or more straps and capable of tightening and/or loosening the one or more straps around the chin of the user.   
     
     
         21 . The retainer of  claim 20 , wherein ends of the one or more straps are connected to each keeper of the two removable keepers by a knot at an end of the one or more straps, behind at least one hole in each keeper. 
     
     
         22 . The retainer of  claim 20 , wherein a pin secured to each keeper is capable of further securing each keeper to the band of the hat or the cap.