Hats, hat inserts, and related methods

Abstract

A hat insert for maintaining a structure of a hat and a characteristic of a head of a wearer, and related methods of manufacture and use. The hat insert is constructed by attaching a shaper configured for supporting the hat to a liner configured for contacting the wearer's hair or scalp. An improved hat is constructed by inserting the hat insert into the hat. When the improved hat is worn by the wearer, the hat insert supports the hat and protects it from damage and also engages the wearer's hair or scalp and protects hair strands, hair follicles, and skin pores from becoming damaged or soiled as a result of wearing the hat.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A hat insert comprising a shaper associated with a liner;
 wherein the shaper is configured to support a hat, and wherein the liner is configured to contact a head of a wearer when an improved hat that comprises the hat insert and the hat is worn by the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The hat insert of  claim 1 , wherein the shaper is attached to the liner. 
     
     
         3 . The hat insert of  claim 1 , wherein the liner comprises a crown support that engages and supports a crown of the hat. 
     
     
         4 . The hat insert of  claim 1 , wherein the liner comprises at least one friction tab that is configured to secure the hat insert to the interior of the hat and reduce movement of the hat insert relative to the hat. 
     
     
         5 . The hat insert of  claim 1 , wherein the shaper comprises a material that deforms with application of a compressive force and reforms with removal of the compressive force. 
     
     
         6 . The hat insert of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the liner comprises a material that absorbs moisture. 
     
     
         7 . The hat insert of  claim 1 , wherein the shaper comprises a lower portion that is removably insertable into a sweatband of the hat and an upper portion that is removably engageable with the interior of the hat, wherein the lower portion is delineated from the upper portion by a centerline of the shaper. 
     
     
         8 . The hat insert of  claim 7 , wherein the lower portion comprises a plurality of lower protrusions separated by lower notches that prevent bulge and facilitate alignment of the shaper to the hat, and wherein the upper portion comprises a plurality of upper protrusions separated by upper notches that prevent bulge and support a sidewall of the hat. 
     
     
         9 . The hat insert of  claim 1 , wherein the shaper is malleable to conform with and maintain a shape of the hat. 
     
     
         10 . The hat insert of  claim 9 , wherein the shaper comprises a malleable skeleton therein, wherein the malleable skeleton comprises a primary member with a plurality of secondary members that extend therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . The hat insert of  claim 1 , wherein the liner comprises a soft material that engages the wearer's hair or scalp and protects hair strands, hair follicles, and skin pores of the wearer from becoming damaged or soiled as a result of wearing the improved hat. 
     
     
         12 . The hat insert of  claim 11 , wherein the soft material comprises silk, satin, nylon, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The hat insert of  claim 1 , wherein the hat is a billed cap with a hat aperture at a posterior portion thereof, and wherein the liner includes a liner aperture positioned at a posterior portion thereof that is configured to align with the hat aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The hat insert of  claim 13 , wherein the liner aperture is defined by a liner fastener configured to secure the liner at a diameter suitable for fitting the head of the wearer. 
     
     
         15 . An improved hat, comprising:
 a hat; and   a hat insert removably attached to an interior of the hat, wherein the hat insert comprises a shaper associated with a liner;   wherein the shaper is configured to support the hat, and wherein the liner is configured to contact a head of a wearer when the improved hat is worn by the wearer.   
     
     
         16 . The improved hat of  claim 15 , wherein the shaper is attached to the liner, and
 wherein the liner comprises a crown support that engages and supports a crown of the hat and at least one friction tab that is configured to secure the hat insert to the interior of the hat and reduce movement of the hat insert relative to the hat, wherein at least a portion of the liner comprises a material that absorbs moisture;   wherein the shaper comprises a material that deforms with application of a compressive force and reforms with removal of the compressive force.   
     
     
         17 . The improved hat of  claim 15 , wherein the shaper comprises a lower portion removably inserted into a sweatband of the hat and an upper portion removably engaged with the interior of the hat, wherein the lower portion is delineated from the upper portion by a centerline of the shaper;
 wherein the lower portion comprises a plurality of lower protrusions separated by lower notches that prevent bulge and facilitate alignment of the shaper to the hat, and wherein the upper portion comprises a plurality of upper protrusions separated by upper notches that prevent bulge and support a sidewall of the hat.   
     
     
         18 . The improved hat of  claim 15 , wherein the shaper is malleable to conform with and maintain a shape of the hat;
 wherein the shaper comprises a malleable skeleton therein, wherein the malleable skeleton comprises a primary member with a plurality of secondary members that extend therefrom.   
     
     
         19 . The improved hat of  claim 15 , wherein the liner comprises a soft material that engages the wearer's hair or scalp and protects hair strands, hair follicles, and skin pores of the wearer from becoming damaged or soiled as a result of wearing the improved hat;
 wherein the soft material comprises silk, satin, nylon, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         20 . The improved hat of  claim 15 , wherein the hat is a billed cap with a hat aperture at a posterior portion thereof;
 wherein the liner includes a liner aperture positioned at a posterior portion thereof that is configured to align with the hat aperture, wherein the liner aperture is defined by a liner fastener configured to secure the liner at a diameter suitable for fitting the head of the wearer.