Headwear Interface for Animals

Abstract

A headwear device is provided for the comfortable and secure positioning of a hat on the head of an animal, such as a dog. The device features a body having an interior adapted to engage the head of the animal with side portions having openings therein adapted for encircling the ears of the animal during wearing of the headwear. A position-adjustable fastener adapted for locating under the chin of the animal, is slidably engageable with both of two straps connected to opposing sides of the hat body. A slide adjuster on both of the first and second straps may be employed to cinch both straps and tighten the engagement on the head of the animal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A headwear apparatus for positioning on the head of an animal, comprising:
 a body, said body having a first side portion opposite a second side portion;   said body having a front side extending between said first side portion and said second side portion, said front portion positioned opposite a rear side of said body;   a first strap having a first end thereof in a first connection to said first side portion at a position thereon adjacent said front side of said body and having a second end thereof opposite said first end thereof;   said second end of said first strap having a second connection thereof to said first side portion at a position thereon adjacent said rear side of said body;   a second strap having a first end thereof engaged in a first connection to said second side portion at a position thereon adjacent said front side of said body, and having a second end thereof opposite said first end thereof;   said second end of said second strap in a second connection thereof to said second side portion at a fixed position thereon adjacent said rear side of said body;   a fastener, said fastener extending between a first end thereof and a second end thereof;   said fastener having a first fastener portion which is engageable in a removable engagement with a second fastener portion;   said first end of said fastener in a first sliding engagement upon said first strap;   said second end of said fastener in a second sliding engagement upon said second strap;   said fastener being slidable along said first sliding engagement and along said second sliding engagement, between a frontal location below a bill projecting from said front side of said body and a rearward positioning adjacent said rear side of said body; and   said fastener is configured to substantially engage the underside of the neck of the animal between the first and second end of the fastener when said fastener is at the frontal location.   
     
     
         2 . The headwear apparatus of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 a first curved recess formed through said first side portion of said body;   a second curved recess formed through said second side portion of said body; and   wherein said first curved recess is adapted for positioning around a first ear of an animal wearing said headwear, and said second curved recess is adapted for positioning around a second ear of said animal wearing said headwear.   
     
     
         3 . The headwear apparatus of  claim 2 , additionally comprising:
 said first curved recess defined by a first curved edge formed in said first side portion;   said second curved recess defined by a second curved edge formed in said second side portion; and   said first curved edge extending above and around said first ear of said animal wearing said headwear, and said second curved edge extending above and around said second ear of said animal wearing said headwear.   
     
     
         4 . The headwear apparatus of  claim 3 , additionally comprising:
 said first curved edge extending in between said first connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said second connection of said first strap to said first side portion; and   said second curved edge extending in between said first connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second connection of said second strap to said second side portion.   
     
     
         5 . The headwear apparatus of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 said removable engagement between said first fastener portion and said second fastener portion having cooperative fasteners positioned in each of said first fastener portion and said second fastener portion, said cooperative fasteners being from a group including hook and loop fabric, snaps, buttons, clips, magnets, or grommets.   
     
     
         6 . The headwear apparatus of  claim 4 , additionally comprising:
 said removable engagement between said first fastener portion and said second fastener portion having cooperative fasteners positioned in each of said first fastener portion and said second fastener portion, said cooperative fasteners being from a group including hook and loop fabric, snaps, buttons, clips, magnets, or grommets.   
     
     
         7 . The headwear apparatus of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 a first slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said first strap and a second portion of said first strap;   said first portion of said first strap extending between said first connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   said second portion of said first strap extending between said second connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   a second slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said second strap and a second portion of said second strap;   said first portion of said second strap extending between said first connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster; and   said second portion of said second strap extending between said second connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster.   
     
     
         8 . The headwear apparatus of  claim 2 , additionally comprising:
 a first slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said first strap and a second portion of said first strap;   said first portion of said first strap extending between said first connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   said second portion of said first strap extending between said second connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   a second slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said second strap and a second portion of said second strap;   said first portion of said second strap extending between said first connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster; and   said second portion of said second strap extending between said second connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster.   
     
     
         9 . The headwear apparatus of  claim 3 , additionally comprising:
 a first slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said first strap and a second portion of said first strap;   said first portion of said first strap extending between said first connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   said second portion of said first strap extending between said second connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   a second slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said second strap and a second portion of said second strap;   said first portion of said second strap extending between said first connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster; and   said second portion of said second strap extending between said second connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster.   
     
     
         10 . The headwear apparatus of  claim 4 , additionally comprising:
 a first slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said first strap and a second portion of said first strap;   said first portion of said first strap extending between said first connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   said second portion of said first strap extending between said second connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   a second slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said second strap and a second portion of said second strap;   said first portion of said second strap extending between said first connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster; and   said second portion of said second strap extending between said second connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster.   
     
     
         11 . The headwear apparatus of  claim 5 , additionally comprising:
 a first slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said first strap and a second portion of said first strap;   said first portion of said first strap extending between said first connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   said second portion of said first strap extending between said second connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   a second slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said second strap and a second portion of said second strap;   said first portion of said second strap extending between said first connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster; and   said second portion of said second strap extending between said second connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster.   
     
     
         12 . The headwear apparatus of  claim 6 , additionally comprising:
 a first slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said first strap and a second portion of said first strap;   said first portion of said first strap extending between said first connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   said second portion of said first strap extending between said second connection of said first strap to said first side portion and said first slide adjuster;   a second slide adjuster in a sliding engagement with both of a first portion of said second strap and a second portion of said second strap;   said first portion of said second strap extending between said first connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster; and   said second portion of said second strap extending between said second connection of said second strap to said second side portion and said second slide adjuster.   
     
     
         13 . A headwear apparatus for positioning on the head of an animal, comprising:
 a body having a first side portion opposite a second side portion;   said body having a front side extending between said first side portion and said second side portion   a rear side of said body positioned between said first side portion and said second side portion in a location opposite said front side of said body;   a first strap having a first end thereof connected to said first side portion at a first connection position thereon adjacent said front side of said body;   said first strap having a second end thereof opposite said first end thereof;   said second end of said first strap in a second connection thereof to said first side portion at a second connection position thereof adjacent said rear side of said body;   a second strap having a first end thereof connected to said second side portion at a first position thereon adjacent said front side of said body;   said second strap having a second end thereof opposite said first end thereof;   said second end of said second strap in a second connection thereof to said second side portion at a second position adjacent said rear side of said body;   a fastener, said fastener having a first fastener portion thereof which is engageable in a removable engagement with a second fastener portion thereof;   a first end of said fastener in a first sliding engagement upon said first strap;   a second end of said fastener in a second sliding engagement upon said second strap;   said fastener being slidable along said first sliding engagement and along said second sliding engagement, between a frontal location below a bill projecting from said front side of said body and a rearward positioning adjacent said rear side of said body; and   said fastener is configured to substantially engage the underside of the neck of the animal between the first and second end of the fastener when said fastener is at the frontal location.