Securable Hat

Abstract

The present invention provides hats with attachment assemblies allowing them to be detachably secured to an article of clothing. In one example, the attachment assembly permits the hat 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 or reversed, 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 the person. In such a configuration small personal items such as keys, loose change, mobile telephones may be carried in the retained, folded hat.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A securable hat assembly comprising:
 a) a waist belt for securing around the waist of a wearer, and   b) a hat component comprising   a crown portion for covering the wearer's head, the crown portion including an interior side and an exterior side;   a brim portion extending 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 to said waist belt when worn on the wearer's waist, the attachment assembly comprising at least one strip of flexible material having first and second ends attached to the exterior side of the of the hat;   wherein said at least one strip has a length sufficient to extend transversely over a waist belt of at least medium width.   
     
     
         22 . The securable hat according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the at least one strip is formed of fabric; and   a first end of the strip is sewn to the crown portion of the hat.   
     
     
         23 . The securable hat according to  claim 22 , wherein the attachment assembly further comprises:
 a first fastener element of a releasable connection mounted on a second end of the at least one strip; and   a second fastener element of a releasable connection mounted on the hat;   wherein said first fastener element and second fastener element are configured to engage one another to detachably secure the second end of the at least one strip to the hat; and   wherein the at least one strip and a portion of the hat underlying the at least one strip cooperate to define a loop.   
     
     
         24 . The securable hat according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one strip comprises at least two closely spaced-apart strips. 
     
     
         25 . The securable hat according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the attachment assembly includes at least one pair of spaced-apart slits formed in the crown of the hat and defining said at least one strip, said at least one strip comprising an integral portion of material disposed between the two slits.   
     
     
         26 . The securable hat according to  claim 24 , wherein:
 the hat is formed of sufficiently flexible material to enable to the hat to be folded across an axis; and comprises at least one fastener member on an exterior side thereof for maintaining the hat in a folded configuration.   
     
     
         27 . The securable hat according to  claim 26 , wherein the at least one fastener member comprises:
 at least one male fastener member mounted on the exterior side of the hat; and   at least one female fastener member located on the exterior side of the hat and configured to engage the male fastener element when the hat is folded.   
     
     
         28 . The securable hat according to  claim 27 , wherein the at least one strip extends in a generally radial direction relative to the top of the crown portion. 
     
     
         29 . The securable hat according to  claim 27 , wherein the crown and brim portions are unlined. 
     
     
         30 . The securable hat of  claim 21  wherein said attachment assembly comprises a snap fastener, a hook fastener, a magnetic fastener, a buckle, a button fastener, an alligator clip-type fastener, and/or a hook and loop VELCRO®-type fastener). 
     
     
         31 . The securable hat assembly of  claim 25  wherein said attachment assembly includes at least two pair of spaced-apart slits, wherein each said pair of spaced-apart slits defines a flexible strip therebetween. 
     
     
         32 . 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 on said person's waist;
 said fastening step comprising a step selected from the group consisting of:
 a) inserting an end of said waist belt through an attachment assembly component comprising at least one strip of flexible material having a length sufficient to extend transversely over a waist belt of at least medium width, and 
 b) inserting an attachment assembly component comprising at least one strip of flexible material having a length sufficient to extend transversely over a waist belt of at least medium width around said waist belt; 
   wherein said hat is maintained in an exterior side-out configuration while being retained on the person's body.   
     
     
         33 . An attachment assembly for securing a hat to an article of clothing comprising an attachment assembly including a cord having a first end and a second end, in which at least one of said first end and second end comprises a fastener element structured to secure said hat and at least one of said first and second end comprises a fastener element structured to secure said cord to an article of clothing; and wherein at least one fastener element is structured to be detachable from said hat or said article of clothing. 
     
     
         34 . The attachment assembly of  claim 33  in which said cord comprises at least one fastener selected from the group selected from a snap fastener, a hook fastener, a magnetic fastener, a buckle, a button fastener, an alligator clip-type fastener, and a hook and loop VELCRO®-type fastener. 
     
     
         35 . The attachment assembly of  claim 33  in which said cord comprises leather, a polymer, cloth and/or a metal. 
     
     
         36 . The attachment assembly of  claim 34  in which said cord comprises leather, a polymer, cloth and/or a metal.