US20130219593A1 - Hat with protective band - Google Patents

Abstract

A protective band that may be added to a hat, such as a baseball hat, is included. The protective band may include an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer may include cloth and the inner layer may include foam. The protective band may fit within the hat and may be worn with the hat.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to a protective band and, more particularly, to protective band insert that fits within a hat.
• Currently, when a pitcher is playing baseball, the pitcher is exposed to a line drive hit from the batter. The pitcher may sustain a head injury if the batted baseball strikes the pitcher's head. This may occur in the Little League and up to the Major League. One option is for the pitcher to use a baseball helmet. However, baseball helmets may cause too much discomfort to the pitcher. Further, a pitcher's head moves aggressively when the pitcher releases the ball. The extra weight of the helmet may cause neck discomfort or injury.
• As can be seen, there is a need for a lightweight protective hat for a baseball pitcher
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In one aspect of the present invention, a protective hat comprising: a hat having an inside that is configured to fit on a humans head; and a protective band comprising an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein the outer layer comprises a cloth and the inner layer comprises a foam, wherein the protective band fits within and is adjacent to at least a portion of a circumference of the inside of the hat.
• In another aspect of the present invention, the protective band is affixed to at least a portion of a circumference of the inside of the hat.
• In another aspect of the present invention, the protective band is stitched to at least a portion of a circumference of the inside of the hat.
• In another aspect of the present invention, the protective band is stitched to the entire circumference of the inside of the hat.
• In another aspect of the present invention, the protective band extends from the inside of the hat to the outside of the hat and is configured to substantially cover a forehead of a user.
• In another aspect of the present invention, the protective band further comprises ear cut out portions configured to fit around a user's ears.
• In another aspect of the present invention, the cloth is made of at least one of synthetic fibers and natural fibers.
• In another aspect of the present invention, the hat is a baseball hat. In another aspect of the present invention, the protective band is an adjustable protective band.
• In another aspect of the present invention, the adjustable protective band comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end comprises a first strap with a hook fastener and the second end comprises a second strap with a loop fastener.
• These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown in use;
• FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the invention;
• FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the invention;
• FIG. 4 is an exploded rear perspective view of the invention;
• FIG. 5 is a section view of the invention taken along line5-5 inFIG. 2;
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention showing the cloth coveredfoam band10 unrolled and removed from thebaseball hat20;
• FIG. 7 is a section view of the invention taken along line7-7 inFIG. 6 shown withstitching16 removed for clarity;
• FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention shown with the adjustable cloth coveredfoam band34 closed;
• FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment the invention shown with the adjustable cloth coveredfoam band34 open;
• FIG. 10 is an exploded rear perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the invention shown with the adjustable cloth coveredfoam band34 open;
• FIG. 11 is a section view of the alternate embodiment of the invention taken along line11-11 inFIG. 8 shown withstitching16 removed for clarity; and
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the invention showing the adjustable cloth coveredfoam band34 unrolled and removed from thebaseball hat20.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.
• Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a protective band that may be added to a hat, such as a baseball hat. The protective band may include an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer may include cloth and the inner layer may include foam. The protective band may fit within the hat and may be worn with the hat.
• The present invention may include a protective hat for pitchers. The protective hat may include a force absorbing dense foam insert extending down from the baseball hat. The insert may wrap around the entire head of the player. The dense foam insert in the baseball hat may significantly reduce the force of the impact of a baseball when the baseball strikes the head. Further, the foam adds little weight to the baseball hat.
• Referring toFIGS. 1 through 12, the present invention may include ahat20. Thehat20 of the present invention may include a baseball hat with abrim22. However, the present invention may be used on any hat or helmet needing additional impact protection as known by those in the art. Thehat20 may include an inside and an outside. The inside of thehat20 may be configured to fit on a human's32 head.
• In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include aprotective band10. Theprotective band10 may include anouter layer12 and aninner layer14. Theprotective band10 may fit within and may be adjacent to at least a portion of a circumference of the inside of thehat20. In certain embodiments, theprotective band10 may be affixed to at least a portion of a circumference of the inside of thehat20. For example, theprotective band10 may be stitched to the inside of thehat20, or thehat20 and theprotective band10 may be attached by a hook and loop fastener configuration. In certain embodiments, theprotective band10 is stitched to the entire circumference of the inside of thehat20.
• As mentioned above, theprotective band10 may include anouter layer12 and aninner layer14. Theouter layer12 of theprotective band10 may be made of a cloth. The cloth may be made from synthetic fibers, natural fibers, or a combination thereof. For example, the cloth may be made of silk, Gor-tex®, cotton, polyester and the like. Theinner layer14 may be made of foam. The foam may be a dense protective foam that absorbs the energy when impacted. Thereby, when abaseball player32 is wearing thehat20 with theprotective band10 and is struck by a baseball, the foam of theprotective band10 may absorb at least a portion of the energy and reduce the injury sustained by theplayer32.
• In certain embodiments, theprotective band10 may extend from the inside of thehat10 to the outside of thehat10. In certain embodiments, theprotective band10 may wrap around the player's32 head and cover the player's32 forehead. Theprotective band10 may further includeear cutouts18. The ear cutouts18 may fit around the player's32ear30 for a more comfortable fit.
• The present invention may include a fittedband configuration36 and anadjustable configuration38. The fittedband configuration36 may not be adjustable and the dimensions of theband10 may be made for a specific player's36 head. Theadjustable configuration38 may be a one-size fits all type configurations. The adjustable cloth coveredfoam band34 may include afastener28 near the rear of thebaseball hat20, on the opposite end of thebrim22. Thefastener28 may include ahook24 andloop26 fastener, a clip, an adjustable strap and the like.
• A method of making the present invention may include the following. A cloth may be cut to size and foam may be cut to a desired length with a two and one-half inch width. However, the width may be cut in different desired sizes. The cloth may be wrapped around the strip of the dense foam material. The cloth may be sewn together to contain the foam strip. In the adjustable configuration, the end of the rectangular unit may be affixed with a hook and loop fastening strip to accommodate multiple head sizes. In the fitted band configuration, the ends of the rectangular unit may be stitched together. The protective band may then be stitched directly to the hat. A player, prior to pitching, may place the hat on their head for protective use.
• It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims (10)

What is claimed is:

1. A protective hat comprising:

a hat having an inside that is configured to fit on a humans head; and

a protective band comprising an outer layer and an inner layer, wherein the outer layer comprises a cloth and the inner layer comprises a foam,

wherein the protective band fits within and is adjacent to at least a portion of a circumference of the inside of the hat.

2. The protective hat ofclaim 1, wherein the protective band is affixed to at least a portion of a circumference of the inside of the hat.

3. The protective hat ofclaim 2, wherein the protective band is stitched to at least a portion of a circumference of the inside of the hat.

4. The protective hat ofclaim 3, wherein the protective band is stitched to the entire circumference of the inside of the hat.

5. The protective hat ofclaim 1, wherein the protective band extends from the inside of the hat to the outside of the hat and is configured to substantially cover a forehead of a user.

6. The protective hat ofclaim 1, wherein the protective band further comprises ear cut out portions configured to fit around a user's ears.

7. The protective hat ofclaim 1, wherein the cloth is made of at least one of synthetic fibers and natural fibers.

8. The protective hat ofclaim 1, wherein the hat is a baseball hat.

9. The protective hat ofclaim 1, wherein the protective band is an adjustable protective band.

10. The protective hat ofclaim 1, wherein the adjustable protective band comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end comprises a first strap with a hook fastener and the second end comprises a second strap with a loop fastener.

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