Hat with hair opening

Abstract

An example hat includes a visor, and a dome defining a cavity sized to accommodate a wearer's head. The dome has an apex, a lower peripheral rim, a front dome portion from which the visor extends, and a rear dome portion opposite the front dome portion. A band lines an interior of the dome along the lower peripheral rim, and the band has an inner surface that faces inwards towards the cavity. A gripping material is disposed on the inner surface of the band for gripping the wearer's head. The dome includes an arc segment extending between the apex and a rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim. An elongated slot provided along the arc segment defines a hair passage that extends through the rear dome portion into the cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hat comprising:
 a visor;   a dome defining a cavity sized to accommodate a wearer's head and having an apex, a lower peripheral rim, a front dome portion from which the visor extends, and a rear dome portion opposite the front dome portion;   a band that lines an interior of the dome along the lower peripheral rim, the band having an inner surface that faces inwards towards the cavity; and   a gripping material disposed on the inner surface of the band for gripping the wearer's head;   the dome comprising an arc segment extending between the apex and a rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim, and an elongated slot along the arc segment defining a hair passage that extends through the rear dome portion into the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated slot has lateral sides that are continuous. 
     
     
         3 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein a major portion of the dome is composed of one or more first materials, and a minor portion of the dome, which defines the elongated slot, is composed of a second material that includes a greater amount of spandex than each of the one or more first materials. 
     
     
         4 . The hat of  claim 3 , wherein the second material includes 7-50 times more spandex than each of the one or more first materials. 
     
     
         5 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein the hat is a fitted hat, and a portion of the arc segment between the rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim and the elongated slot is continuous. 
     
     
         6 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein the band is an elasticized band that is stretchable to accommodate different head sizes. 
     
     
         7 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the elongated slot along the arc segment is 20%-30% of the total length of the arc segment. 
     
     
         8 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated slot is located in the 4/10 of the arc segment that is closest to the apex. 
     
     
         9 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the elongated slot, as measured along an outer surface of the dome is 1.5-2 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping material comprises at least one strip of rubber disposed on a portion of the inner surface of the band that at least partially lines the band along the rear dome portion. 
     
     
         11 . The hat of  claim 10 , wherein the gripping material extends along an entire circumference of inner surface of the band. 
     
     
         12 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the dome comprises a plurality of triangular panels that are sewn together and meet at the apex, including two first panels of the front dome portion and two second panels of the rear dome portion, the elongated slot formed between the two second panels; and   an area of each of the second panels is less than an area of each of the first panels.   
     
     
         13 . The hat of  claim 12 , wherein the two second panels are spaced apart from the lower peripheral rim. 
     
     
         14 . The hat of  claim 12 , wherein one of the two second panels includes a flap that extends onto the other of the two second panels to conceal the elongated slot when hair is not extending through the elongated slot. 
     
     
         15 . The hat of  claim 12 , wherein the dome comprises at least one third panel that defines a portion of the lower peripheral rim, and is disposed in both the front dome portion and the rear dome portion. 
     
     
         16 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein an angle at which an outer perimeter of the visor meets the dome portion is 140°-150°. 
     
     
         17 . The hat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the arc segment is a first arc segment,   the dome has a second arc segment that extends from the apex to the visor; and   a difference between a length of the second arc segment and a length of the first arc segment is 0.5-1.5 inches.   
     
     
         18 . The hat of  claim 1 , comprising a reflective material provided on an exterior of one or more portions of the dome or visor. 
     
     
         19 . A hat comprising:
 a visor; and   a dome defining a cavity to accommodate a wearer's head and having an apex, a lower peripheral rim, a front dome portion from which the visor extends, and a rear dome portion opposite the front dome portion;   the dome comprising an arc segment extending between the apex and a rearmost point of the lower peripheral rim, and an elongated slot along the arc segment defining a hair passage that extends through the rear dome portion into the cavity, the elongated slot having lateral sides that are continuous;   wherein a major portion of the dome is composed of one or more a first materials, and a minor portion of the dome, which defines the elongated slot, is composed of a second material that includes a greater amount of spandex than each of the one or more first materials; and   wherein a section of the rear dome portion that extends from the rearmost point to the elongated slot is continuous.   
     
     
         20 . The hat of  claim 19 , comprising:
 a band that lines of an interior of the dome along the lower peripheral rim, the band having an inner surface that faces inwards towards the cavity; and   a gripping material disposed on the inner surface of the band for gripping the wearer's head.