Headband that Resists Blowing Off

Abstract

A headband for a hat is disclosed. The headband includes an annular member configured to be positioned within a hat body. The annular member includes an inwardly projecting gripping element and a responsive section. The responsive section is configured to transition between a first, relaxed configuration when the hat is worn or donned, providing a first level of tension against a wearer's head; and a second, engaged configuration when an upward removal force is applied to the hat. The responsive section responds to the upward removal force by increasing the tension of the gripping element against the wearer's head, thereby providing a second, greater level of tension against the wearer's head to resist removal. In some embodiments, the annular member includes directionally biased elements configured to provide greater resistance to upward movement of the hat relative to the wearer's head than to downward movement.

1 . A headband for a hat, comprising:
 an annular member configured to be positioned within a hat body, the annular member including:
 an inwardly projecting gripping element; and 
 a responsive section; and 
   wherein the responsive section is configured to transition between:
 a first, relaxed configuration when the hat is worn or donned, providing a first level of tension against a wearer's head; and 
 a second, engaged configuration when an upward removal force is applied to the hat, the responsive section responding to the upward removal force by increasing the tension of the gripping element against the wearer's head, thereby providing a second, greater level of tension against the wearer's head to resist removal. 
   
     
     
         2 . A headband for a hat, comprising an annular member configured to be positioned within a hat body, the band having an inner surface comprising a plurality of directionally biased elements configured to engage a wearer's head or hair, wherein the directionally biased elements provide greater resistance to upward movement of the hat relative to the wearer's head than to downward movement of the hat onto the wearer's head. 
     
     
         3 . The headband of  claim 2 , wherein the directionally biased elements have a surface texture comprising a plurality of asymmetrical surface features, each asymmetrical surface feature having a gradual slope in a direction corresponding to downward movement of the hat onto the wearer's head, and a steeper slope in a direction corresponding to upward movement of the hat. 
     
     
         4 . The headband of  claim 2 , wherein the asymmetrical surface features comprise a plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         5 . The headband of  claim 2 , wherein the asymmetrical surface features comprise a plurality of overlapping scales. 
     
     
         6 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped structure comprises a substantially flat, annular ring configured to be positioned within a hat body in a substantially horizontal plane when the hat is worn upright, and wherein the annular ring is configured to flex to allow its inner diameter to increase when the headband is donned and to decrease when an upward force is applied to the hat, and wherein an inner circumferential edge of the annular ring comprises a gripping element or has a gripping element attached. 
     
     
         7 . The headband of  claim 6 , wherein the substantially flat, annular ring comprises a plurality of slits or spaces extending radially outward from the inner circumferential edge. 
     
     
         8 . The headband of  claim 6 , wherein the annular ring is made of an elastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped structure comprises an annular ring configured to be positioned within a hat body, wherein the ring-shaped structure is substantially rigid in a transverse direction and is configured to change its effective inner diameter through a pivoting action of portions of the ring-shaped structure, wherein the inner diameter increases when the headband is donned and decreases when an upward force is applied to the hat, and wherein an inner circumferential edge of the annular ring comprises a gripping element or has a gripping element attached. 
     
     
         10 . The headband of  claim 9 , wherein the annular ring comprises a plurality of substantially rigid segments, and wherein adjacent segments are pivotally connected at or near their outer edges. 
     
     
         11 . The headband of  claim 9 , wherein the annular ring is made of a continuous, elastic material, and wherein a plurality of substantially rigid, inwardly projecting struts are attached to the inner circumferential portion of the ring, wherein the struts are configured to allow an inner diameter defined by the tips of the struts to increase when the headband is donned and to decrease when an upward force is applied to the hat. 
     
     
         12 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion comprises a plurality of inwardly projecting bristles, wherein the bristles are configured to flex to allow an inner diameter defined by the tips of the bristles to increase when the headband is donned and to decrease when an upward force is applied to the hat. 
     
     
         13 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the headband comprises a constricting tube configured to have a larger inner diameter when compressed and a smaller inner diameter when stretched. 
     
     
         14 . The headband of  claim 13 , wherein the constricting tube comprises a diagonally woven structure. 
     
     
         15 . The headband of  claim 13 , wherein the constricting tube comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         16 . The headband of  claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped structure has a gripping portion, and wherein the gripping portion comprises a plurality of gripping elements configured to engage a wearer's head or hair. 
     
     
         17 . The headband of  claim 16 , wherein the gripping elements comprise a plurality of inwardly projecting protrusions. 
     
     
         18 . The headband of  claim 16 , wherein the gripping elements comprise a spiral spring. 
     
     
         19 . The headband of  claim 16 , wherein the gripping element comprises a substantially vertical band attached to the inner circumferential edge of the annular ring, the band having a plurality of pleats configured to allow the inner diameter of the band to change as the annular ring flexes, and wherein the inner surface of the band has gripping properties, and may optionally have an additional gripping element attached thereto. 
     
     
         20 . The headband of any one of  claims 6, 9, 12, 13, 16 , wherein the gripping elements comprise a directional friction surface per  claim 2 .