ACCESSORY MOUNTING DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to headwear and more particularly pertains to a new headwear for securing over-the-ear devices, such as headphones, to the headwear.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The prior art relates to headwear. For example, baseball caps and other types of hats are often used by individuals as they are engaging in physical activity such as exercise, yard work, and construction. The hats can provide protection from the sun and the rain. The hats can also help absorb sweat from the wearer's head before the sweat drips into their eyes. Many people also prefer listening to music, podcasts, books on tape, or other audio files while engaging in such physical activity. Over-the-ear headphones are often preferred for the sound quality and for the noise-cancellation functionality. In other situations, people prefer earmuffs or other ear protective devices, particularly when the physical activity includes operating heavy machinery or other high-volume situations. However, such physical activity often requires people to bend over and make sudden movements. Over-the-ear headphones and earmuffs are prone to slipping off people's heads, particularly when people bend over. Thus, there is a need in the art for a device which inhibits these over-the-hear headphones, earmuffs, and other devices from slipping while the user is engaged in physical activity. Ideally, such a device would be compatible with headwear to enable people to wear their preferred hats at the same time as the over-the-ear devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a hat that is configured for being positionable on a head of a user. The hat has an outer surface that is configured to face away from the head of the user while the hat is positioned on the head of the user. The hat has a front side and a back side. The hat has a center point that is positioned between the front side and the back side. The center point is generally configured for being positioned over a mid-scalp region of the head of the user.

A strap is coupled to the outer surface of the hat. The strap is configured to releasably secure an accessory on the hat. The strap has a break therein to define a first end and a second end. The strap is selectively positionable in an open position and a closed position. The first end and the second end are spaced from each other when the strap is in the open position. The first end and the second end are positionable proximate to each other to define a loop when the strap is in the closed position.

A retainer is coupled to the strap to releasably secure the strap in the closed position. The retainer includes a primary member that is positioned proximate to the first end. A secondary member is releasably engageable with the primary member. The secondary member is positioned proximate to the second end.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of an accessory mounting device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new headwear embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the accessory mounting device 10 generally comprises a hat 12 configured for is positionable on a head 14 of a user 16.

The hat 12 has an outer surface 18 that is configured to face away from the head 14 of the user 16 while the hat 12 is positioned on the head 14 of the user 16. The hat 12 also generally has an inner surface 20 that is configured to be positioned against the head 14 of the user 16 while the hat 12 is positioned on the head 14 of the user 16.

The hat 12 also has a front side 22 and a back side 24. The hat 12 may have a center point 26 that is positioned between the front side 22 and the back side 24. The center point 26 is generally configured to be positioned over a mid-scalp region of the head 14 of the user 16 when the user 16 is wearing the hat 12. The center point 26 may be centered between the front side 22 and the back side 24. The hat 12 may have a midline 28 that extends between the front side 22 and the back side 24. The center point 26 may be positioned on the midline 28.

The hat 12 may include a visor 30 that is coupled to and extends outwardly from the front side 22. The visor 30 is generally configured to be positionable above a face of the user 16. For example, the hat 12 may be a baseball cap. A button 32 may be coupled to the outer surface 18 of the hat 12. The button 32 may be positioned on the center point 26 of the hat 12.

A strap 34 may be coupled to the outer surface 18 of the hat 12. The strap 34 is generally configured to releasably secure an accessory 36 on the hat 12. For example, the accessory 36 may be a pair of over-the-ear headphones having a headband that is configured to extend between lateral sides of the head 14 of the user 16. In other words, the headband may extend perpendicularly to the midline 28 of the hat 12. Over-the-ear headphones and other similar accessories often slip off the head 14 of the user 16 when the user 16 bends over, looks down, or makes sudden movements. The strap 34 secures the accessory 36 to the hat 12 to keep the accessory 36 firmly positioned over the head 14 of the user 16.

The strap 34 may include a flexible material such as canvas or fabric. The strap 34 has a break therein to define a first end 38 and a second end 40. The strap 34 is movable between an open position 42 and a closed position 44. The strap 34 may be selectively positioned in either the open position 42 or the closed position 44. The first end 38 and the second end 40 are generally spaced from each other when the strap 34 is in the open position 42. The strap 34 may be planar when the strap 34 is in the open position 42. The first end 38 may be positionable to face toward the front side 22 of the hat 12 while the strap 34 is in the open position 42. The first end 38 is generally spaced from the visor 30 while the strap 34 is in the open position 42. The second end 40 may be positionable to face toward the back side 24 of the hat 12 while the strap 34 is in the open position 42. The first end 38 and the second end 40 are generally positionable proximate to each other to define a loop when the strap 34 is in the closed position 44.

The strap 34 may be positioned on the center point 26 of the hat 12. In such embodiments, the button 32 may be positioned between the outer surface 18 of the hat 12 and the strap 34. The first end 38 and the second end 40 may be spaced equidistantly from the button 32 when the strap 34 is in the open position 42. The loop may be positioned over the button 32 when the strap 34 is in the closed position 44.

The strap 34 is generally elongated between the first end 38 and the second end 40. The strap 34 may have a centerline 46 that is aligned with the midline 28 of the hat 12. In such embodiments, the loop is generally configured to secure the accessory 36 to the hat 12 while the accessory 36 extends across the head 14 of the user 16 between lateral sides of the head 14.

The strap 34 may further include a bottom surface 48 that faces toward the outer surface 18 of the hat 12 when the strap 34 is in the open position 42. A top surface 50 of the strap 34 generally faces away from the hat 12 when the strap 34 is in the open position 42.

A retainer 52 is generally coupled to the strap 34 to releasably secure the strap 34 in the closed position 44. For example, the retainer 52 may include a primary member 54 that is positioned on the strap 34 proximate to the first end 38. For example, the primary member 54 may be positioned on the bottom surface 48 of the strap 34. The primary member 54 may extend along the strap 34 from the first end 38 toward the second end 40. The primary member 54 is generally spaced from the center point 26 of the hat 12. In embodiments according to FIG. 5, the primary member 54 may be a loop material, although other retainers such as snaps and buttons are also contemplated.

A secondary member 56 is releasably engageable with the primary member 54. The secondary member 56 is generally positioned on the strap 34 proximate to the second end 40. For example, the secondary member 56 may be positioned on the top surface 50 of the strap 34. The secondary member 56 is generally spaced from the primary member 54. The secondary member 56 may have a length that is equal to a length of the primary member 54. In other embodiments, the secondary member 56 may have a length that is less than a length of the primary member 54. The secondary member 56 may have a width that is equal to a width of the primary member 54. The secondary member 56 is generally spaced from the center point 26 of the hat 12. In embodiments according to FIG. 5, the secondary member 56 may be a hook material, although other retainers such as snaps and buttons are also contemplated.

In use, the hat 12 can be worn while the user 16 is engaged in physical activity such as exercising, dancing, or performing manual labor. Of course, the hat 12 can also be worn in other situations, particularly when the user 16 wants to prevent the accessory 36, such as the pair of over-the-ear headphones shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, from slipping or falling off of the head 14 of the user 16. To secure the accessory 36 to the hat 12, the accessory 36 can be positioned over the strap 34. The strap 34 can be moved into the closed position 44. The retainer 52 can secure the strap 34 in the closed position 44. To remove the accessory 36 from the hat 12, the retainer 52 can be released. For example, the secondary member 56 can be disengaged from the primary member 54. The strap 34 can be moved into the open position 42, releasing the accessory 36 from the hat 12.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.