COMBINATION HAT RETENTION DEVICE AND ORNAMENTAL JEWELRY APPARATUS

Abstract

A hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a necklace and a leash formed of a material and design similar or complimentary to the ornamental design of the necklace. First and second connectors are carried on opposite ends of the leash and are selectively attachable to a hat worn on the head of a wearer and to the necklace. The leash functions to maintain the hat in close proximity to the wearer in the event that the hat is separated from the head of the wearer; providing an ornamental appearance complementary to the design of the necklace.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATION

This application claims priority benefit to the Nov. 10, 2014 filing date of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/123,139 for a Combination Hat Retention Device and Ornamental Jewelry Apparatus by Alin E. Steele and Harvey P. Steele Jr., the entire contents of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a device, apparatus and method of construction of hat retaining devices.

Heretofore, many devices and methods have been proposed for the purpose of maintaining possession of a hat blown off by the wind or otherwise inadvertently removed. Many of these devices and methods can be described as utilizing a strap that goes under the chin. Many currently marketed hats include chin straps as part of the hat's design and manufacture, for example cowboy hats frequently have a “stampede string”. The chin straps may be strings, cords or straps, adjustable with beads or buckles, they may even tie under the chin. There have been numerous hat retention devices proposed which utilize some form of a strap or cord which goes under the wearer's chin and can be attached to a hat.

The major disadvantage of all hat retention chin straps is that they are uncomfortable and awkward to wear due to their proximity to the wearer's face and sensitive throat area. In addition, chin straps tend to be very unattractive. Hat chin straps are not designed to be an attractive component of the wearer's attire and frequently interfere, visually and physically, with the wearer's clothing, hair style, accessories and jewelry.

Many of the remaining hat retention devices and methods can be described as utilizing a cord with an attachment means at one end for the hat and one at the other end to attach to the wearer's clothing. The currently marketed hat retention devices in this group generally include some variation of a cord with alligator-type clips at each end. There are several variations on this theme and are disclosed in numerous patents including those which allow a loop for the hat attachment and a mechanism for a retractable cord. To be functional, these all require that the wearer is wearing clothing suitable for clipping a hat retainer to, and a hat which is suitable to accommodate the proposed attachment means, generally a clip. Many of the more recently disclosed devices utilize an alligator or suspender type clip, generally suitable for use with a baseball cap style hat or visor with a rear adjustment band. Some of the older prior art discloses cumbersome pins which either go through the hat material or are permanently or semi-permanently attached. However all of these variants have three limitations: 1) the wearer must secure to the hat retainer to some other article of clothing, 2) the clip is not designed to be easily attached to and detached from hats other than the ball-cap type of hat or visor, and 3) the retaining device is not designed to be visually appealing and serve as jewelry.

A major disadvantage of prior art hat retention devices is that all of the modern instances are designed only to retain hats with the rear adjustment band or flat brimless section of a baseball cap or sun visor available for the clip or loop. The older prior art devices from the first half of the 20th century utilize cumbersome attachments schemes consistent with the hats of the time and available construction methods and materials. There are no prior art hat retention devices that attach to the inside of a modern hat, with a generally planar, low profile and visually inconspicuous fastener mechanism which is both comfortable to wear and easy to attach and detach. This is required in order to be suitable to retain a hat of modern construction with a brim, a woven textile sun hat for instance, in an efficient, comfortable and attractive manner.

Further, none of the prior art devices are designed to be visually appealing and serve as jewelry. All of the prior art devices are designed to simply retain a hat, generally a baseball cap, with no design feature allowing the device serve the dual functionality of hat retainer and jewelry. The prior art devices are not designed to have a pleasing shape and construction, accommodate decorative elements and complement the aesthetic of the hat and the wearer's clothing ensemble. It is very common for people, women in particular, to wear hats while pursuing outdoor activities such as boating, picnicking, golfing, going to the beach, pool and attending various outdoor social functions and sporting events including horse racing. It is desirous to maintain possession of one's hat while enhancing one's appearance and allowing an unlimited choice of clothing and accessories.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present, combination hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus, is a combination jewelry article, generally a necklace, and a hat retention device which provides the dual functions of jewelry ornamentation and hat retention. This is accomplished by providing a hat retaining device which includes three main components: a necklace (or other article of jewelry), a leash and a hat fastener. First, a necklace constructed of typical jewelry materials, components and methods is selected to meet both the performance requirements of hat retention and visual aesthetics. Secondly, the leash between the necklace or other jewelry article and the hat fastener constructed of materials visually and structurally complementary to the necklace and selected to meet the performance requirements of hat retention. Thirdly, the hat fastener between the hat and the leash can be a small, generally planar and low profile loop, pin or clip which can be inconspicuously attached to the underside of the hat close to the head, either to the base hat material or to an interior structure such as the headband, label or a sewn-in loop. This hat fastener may be constructed of material, such as metal, plastic, composite or textile of sufficient strength, to perform adequately in the event of the hat being blown from the wearer's head. The small, generally planar and low profile hat fastener affixed to the underside of the hat easily secures the hat while being both visually inconspicuous and comfortable for the wearer.

In one aspect, the leash carries first and second connectors, coupled to the opposite ends of the leash, for connecting the leash to a hat worn on a wearer's head and to a necklace worn around a wearer's neck. The second connector may be one of a fixed connector, a slidable connector and an adjustably positionable connector. The first connector maybe one of a fixed position connector and a movable connector.

In one aspect, the second connector can have one of a pierce connection and a clip on connection to an underside of a hat. The pierce connection can include at least one pierce end on the second connector. The clip on connection enables the second connector to clip over one of hat head band, a hat label, or a hat loop on the underside of the hat.

In one aspect, the leash forms a continuation of a necklace disposed around a wearer's neck. The second connector is defined by one end of the leash coupled to an intermediate portion of the necklace.

In one aspect, at least one of the first and second connections includes a removable clasp between the leash and the one of the first and second connections to enable at least one end of the leash to be removably coupled to and separated from the at least one of the first and second connections.

In one aspect, a separable breakaway element is carried by one of the necklace and the leash to allow separation of the necklace base or the leash from the wearer.

In one aspect, ornamental jewelry or a pendant is carried on a portion of the necklace adapted to be disposed on a wearer's chest and acts as a counterweight to forces acting on the hat after the hat is separated from the head of the wearer and still retained by the leash to the necklace.

In one aspect, the necklace can include ornamental elements carried on the necklace base and disposed adjacent to the clasp. One end of the leash pass through at least one ornamental element adjacent to the clasp before a connection to the clasp to direct the leash off center relative to the clasp on the necklace.

In another aspect, a hat retention apparatus for retaining a hat worn by a wearer in close proximity to the wearer in the event the hat is blown off or otherwise separated from the wearer's head when the wearer is wearing an ornamental necklace, includes a leash formed of an ornamental jewelry material, and first and second connectors, coupled to the opposite ends of the leash, for connecting the leash to a hat worn on a wearer's head and to a necklace worn around the wearer's neck.

The second connector maybe one of a fixed connector, a slidable connector and an adjustably positionable connector. The first connector maybe one of a fixed position connector and a movable connector.

In this aspect, the leash forms a continuation of a necklace disposed around a wearer's neck. The second connector defined by one end of the leash coupled to an intermediate portion of the necklace.

In this aspect, at least one of the first and second connections includes a removable clasp between the leash and the one of the first and second connections to enable at least one end of the leash to be removably coupled to and separated from the at least one of the first and second connections.

The leash and the necklace may have identical or complimentary ornamental jewelry designs.

A separable breakaway element can be carried by the leash to allow separation of the leash or a portion of the leash attachable to the from the necklace base under forces acting on the leash exceeding the retention force of the safety breakaway element.

In one aspect, the second connector can have one of a pierce connection and a clip on connection to an underside of a hat. The pierce connection can include at least one pierce end on the second connector. The clip on connection enables the second connector to clip over one of hat head band, a hat label, or a hat loop on the underside of the hat.

In another aspect, a hat retention apparatus for retaining a hat worn by a wearer in close proximity to the wearer in the event the hat is blown off or otherwise separated from the wearer's head includes a flexible leash with first and second connectors coupled to opposite ends of the leash for connecting the leash to an article worn by the wearer and to a hat to be worn on a wearer's head. The second connector can have a flat profile to attach to an underside of a hat between the underside of the hat and a wearer's head. The second connector may have one of a pierce connection and clip on connection to an underside of a hat. The second connector can be one of a fixed position connector or a movable connector with respect to the underside of a hat. In one aspect, an openable clasp may be coupled between the leash and the second connector to enable one end of the leash to be removably coupled to and separated from the second connector.

A separable breakaway element can be carried by the leash to allow separation of the leash or a portion of the leash attachable to the hat from the necklace base under forces acting on the leash exceeding the retention force of the safety breakaway element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A clear understanding of the features of the present hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus may be had by reference to the appended drawings, although it will be understood that such drawings depict aspects of the hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus and, therefore, are not to be considered as limiting its scope with regard to other aspects. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating one aspect of the present method and apparatus;

FIG. 2 is partial perspective view showing a hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus fastened to the inner headband of a hat;

FIG. 3 is a close up view of the marked section of FIG. 2 showing detail of how the hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus is fastened to a hat;

FIG. 4 is a side view of hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus, being worn by a hat wearer;

FIG. 5 is a side view of hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus with hat shown being blown from the wearer's head while still fastened to and retained close to the wearer;

FIG. 6 is a close up partial view of the hat fastener and the leash;

FIG. 7A is a plan view illustrating one aspect of the present method and apparatus;

FIG. 7B is an enlarged perspective view of the necklace to leash connector shown in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A is a plan view of another aspect of the present method and apparatus;

FIG. 8B is an enlarged perspective view of the necklace to leash connector shown in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A is a plan view of another aspect of the present method and apparatus;

FIG. 9B is an enlarged perspective view of the necklace to leash connector shown in FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10A is a plan view of another aspect of the present method and apparatus;

FIG. 10B is an enlarged perspective view of the necklace to leash connector shown in FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11A is a plan view of another aspect of the present method and apparatus;

FIG. 11B is an enlarged perspective view of the necklace to leash connector shown in FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12A is a plan view of another aspect of the present method and apparatus;

FIG. 12B is an enlarged perspective view of the necklace to leash connector shown in FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13A is a plan view of another aspect of the present method and apparatus;

FIG. 13B is an enlarged perspective view of the necklace to leash connector shown in FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view showing another aspect of the present method and apparatus depicting an adjustable length leash;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing another aspect of the present method and apparatus depicting another aspect of a leash to hat connector; and

FIG. 16 is perspective view showing another aspect of the present method and apparatus depicting another aspect of a leash to hat connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus is a device to be worn to serve two functions: 1) to maintain a hat or other head ware within close proximity to the wearer, and 2) to be jewelry which enhances the wearer's appearance, generally in the form of a necklace. It is designed to perform the functions without reliance on any attachment to clothing other than the head ware item. It is suitable for use with hats with any brim style, or hats with no brim, or head ware of any type of construction. The term “hat” is used here to include any type of hat or headwear worn for aesthetics, fashion and/or protection from the elements, including but not limited to sun hats, cowboy hats, straw hats, baseball caps, golf hats, rain hats, sun visors, scarves and berets. Hard hats worn for industrial safety and other specialty safety headgear such as riding hard hats or sports helmets are excluded.

Referring to FIG. 1, the combination hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus 10 is comprised of three main units of construction: an ornamental necklace or jewelry article 20, a flexible leash 40 and the hat fastener 50. Taken together, the hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus 10 is intended to be worn around the neck as a necklace (or otherwise attached to the body), with the leash 40 attached to the hat via the hat fastener 50 so that the hat is maintained in close proximity to the wearer in the event that the hat is blown off or otherwise becomes separated from the wearer's head as shown in FIG. 5. The hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus is designed to also serve as an article of jewelry, enhancing the wearer's appearance.

The necklace or jewelry article 20, shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, may be constructed of a flexible or rigid construction which is long enough to go around the circumference of the wearer's neck 80 at a minimum but may be longer. The circumference of the necklace 20 is most ideally in the range of normally worn necklaces; that is greater than the circumference of the wearer's neck 80 and less than the circumference of the wearer's body at the top of the shoulders. A necklace base 22 forms the base structure of the necklace and is constructed of any material and components which can be used to create a necklace. Such materials of construction, for example, may include plastics, natural fibers and materials, leather, metals, glass, ceramics, synthetic fibers and composites. These materials could be forged, woven, treated, manufactured, assembled or otherwise processed to create components of construction such as cord, straps, rope, ribbon, chain, beads, textiles, leather, or metals; singly or in combination. These components of construction may be processed, assembled and joined in such a way that the resultant necklace 20 encircles the wearer's neck 80, ideally in a comfortable and attractive manner. One aspect can include a clasp 24 to facilitate donning and removal of the necklace 20 by the wearer. A safety breakaway element 26 is provided to reduce the risk of injury to the wearer in case undue force is applied to the apparatus 10. The safety breakaway element 26 could be a component of the construction dedicated solely to this purpose. Alternately, a single component of construction could serve multiple functions including the safety breakaway function. The safety breakaway element 26 could be incorporated into the leash 40 or into a leash to necklace connector 44 or into the clasp 24 on the necklace base 22.

One aspect of the hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus 10 can include ornamental elements 28 to achieve the purpose of being aesthetically pleasing. These ornamental elements could include any combination of beads, charms, rings, varied textures and colors of necklace base 22 materials, jewelry findings, ornamental knots, gems, shells and other natural and synthetic materials incorporated into the construction to provide visual interest and a pleasing interaction with the wearer.

One aspect of the hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus 10 may include a pendant 30 which further enhances the visual aesthetic of the necklace 20. The ornamental elements 28 and pendant 30 can be used to improve both the aesthetics of the necklace 20 and the utility performance. One configuration may incorporate beads or a textile of a minimum diameter and non-irritating surface in order to create a smooth and comfortable interaction with the wearer's neck, particularly with respect to the force applied when a hat 100 is blown off the head. Another configuration may include the ornamental elements 28 or the pendant 30 to maintain optimal weight and alignment of the hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus 10 for hat retention performance. The necklace 20, constructed of all of its component parts, will be of sufficient strength to withstand the force of the weight of the hat 100 and its momentum when being blown off the wearer's head in a moderate wind 200 as shown in FIG. 5, or otherwise separated from the wearer, and would be constructed such that the wearer suffers no injury or discomfort in such an instance.

In a typical wearing application, the necklace 20 will form a generally oblong or oval shape on the wearer, with one end portion of the necklace 20 disposed in contact with the back of the wearer's neck, and the opposed end portion of the necklace 20 hanging from the wearer's neck down on the wearer's chest. This provides a weight distribution for the necklace 20 relative to the wearer which places a significant portion of the weight of the necklace 20 in front of the wearer which can act as a counterweight to the forces, such as the wind 200, acting on the hat after the hat has been separated from the wearer's head. This counterweight minimizes the potential for injury to the wearer since the necklace 20 is not drawn up into sudden forced contact with the front of the wearer.

This counterweight feature can be enhanced by use of additional ornamental elements on the necklace base 22. The pendant 30 may be added to the necklace base 22 as shown in FIG. 1 to serve as a counterweight function. As later described in FIGS. 7A and 7B, ornamental beads and larger, heavier chain links or loops may also be provided as shown in FIGS. 7A, 8A, 10A and 12A.

The leash 40 connects the necklace 20 to the hat fastener 50, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. The leash base 42 forms the base structure of the leash 40 and is constructed of ornamental jewelry materials and components similar to and/or complementary with the necklace 20 construction. Such materials of construction could include plastics, natural fibers and materials, leather, metals, glass, ceramics, synthetic fibers and composites. These materials could be forged, woven, treated, manufactured, assembled or otherwise processed to create components of construction such as cord, straps, rope, ribbon, chain, beads, textiles, leather, or metals; singly or in combination. These components of construction may be processed, assembled and joined in order to create the resultant leash component.

The leash 40 is attached to the necklace 20 by a necklace leash connector 44. In one aspect, the necklace leash connector 44 can be constructed of materials appropriate for connecting the necklace base 22 and the leash base 42, using connecting means and methods used in jewelry manufacture such as a ring, a loop, a knot, a clasp, a station, stitching or any other means appropriate to the materials and components used. In one aspect where a chain is utilized for both the necklace base 22 and the leash base 42, an appropriate necklace leash connector 44 would be constructed of an appropriately sized jump ring, clasp or other suitable jewelry finding. In another aspect, the necklace leash connector 44 may be fashioned by using the leash base 42 to create a loop around the necklace base 22 and then securing the loop in a manner such as with a stitch, glue, staple or crimp. In another aspect the necklace base 22 and the leash base 42 could be constructed of a continuous piece of material, in which case the necklace leash connection 44 is the point where the leash 40 diverges from the necklace 20.

The location of the necklace leash connector 44 relative to the necklace 20 may be fixed or not and may be optimized for performance and aesthetics. In one aspect, the necklace leash connector 44 is located at or near the center of the back of the wearer's neck so that the leash 40 will align close to the head and minimize interference with hair, glasses, earrings and field of vision.

The leash 40 can have a clasp 46 which would allow the leash 40, in total or in part, to be disconnected from the necklace 20. This could be convenient for the wearer if they wanted to remove their hat without removing the necklace 20. The clasp 46 would be constructed of materials appropriate in size, strength and appearance relative to the necklace base 22 and the leash base 42 materials and may be made of any sort of jewelry or textile clasp or hook.

The leash 40 can include ornamental elements 48 to enhance the appearance and improve the utility performance. These ornamental elements within the leash 40 might include any combination of beads, charms, rings, varied textures and colors of leash base 42 materials, jewelry findings, ornamental knots, gems, shells and other natural and synthetic materials incorporated into the construction of the leash 40 to provide visual interest and provide the optimal weight, balance and alignment for the leash 40. Another aspect of the leash 40 utilizes materials which are poorly visible and are discrete, blending into the user's appearance and being inconspicuous. The leash 40, constructed of all of its component parts, will be of sufficient strength to withstand the force of the weight of the hat and its momentum when being blown off the wearer's head in a moderate wind 200 as shown in FIG. 5, or otherwise separated from the wearer, and would be constructed such that the wearer suffers no injury or discomfort in such an instance.

The leash 40 is attached to a hat 100 with the temporary or permanent hat fastener 50. The temporary or permanent hat fastener 50 of the leash 40 to the hat 100 may employ a relatively small pin 52 that attaches to the underside of the hat 100 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The tapered end 56 of the pin 52 allows the pin to easily pass through the hat material. The pin 52 is secured to the leash 40 by a leash pin connector 54. FIG. 6 shows the detail of the pin 52 and part of the leash 40. In one aspect, the leash pin connector 54 can be constructed of materials appropriate for connecting the leash base 42 to the pin 52, using connecting means and methods used in jewelry manufacture, such as a ring, a loop, a knot, a clasp, stitching or any other means appropriate to the materials used. In one aspect where a chain is utilized for the leash base 42, an appropriate leash pin connector 54 would be constructed of an appropriately sized jump ring, clasp or other suitable jewelry component. The leash pin connector 54 may be fashioned by using the leash base 42 to create a loop around the pin 52 and then securing the loop in a closed manner, such as with a stitch, glue, staple or crimp. Alternately, an end link of a chain forming the leash base 42 can be engaged with the pin 52.

The pin 52 can be constructed of low profile metal in a generally flat, planar shape with a tapered end 56 of the pin 52 that is readily pushed through the material of the hat 100 and secures to it easily as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. One aspect would include the pin 52 that is small enough to lay flat between the interior of the hat 100 and the wearer's head without being uncomfortable. The pin 52 can be made of metal or plastic, with a tapered end 56 which can easily pierce the hat material (such as the hat band, label or interior loop) and then be secured by compression, a latch or other method.

The second hat connector 50 can also be in the form of any shaped pin or clip which has an essentially flat or planar narrow thickness so as to fit comfortably when engaged with an interior surface in the underside of a hat between the underside of the hat and the wearer's head. The second connector can be in the form of a connector which has an end suitable for piercing an interior surface in the underside of the hat, such as a head band, label, sewn in loop, etc. The second connector can also be in the form of a flat clip, similar to a paper clip, or the spiral pin 52, which clips over an interior surface in the underside of the hat, such as the edge of the head band, the edge of the label, or the edge of loop sewn into the interior of the hat.

The second hat connector 50 can also be in form a pin or a clip having an openable end which, when closed, engages another portion of the clip to cover the typically tapered or sharp end of the openable portion of the pin or clip. This aspect of the second hat connector 50 is similar to a safety pin, but can also be in the form of a straight pin which has one end which can pierce an interior surface in the underside of the hat, such as the hat band, in a manner to be exposed, after an initial piercing, in the interior of the hat so as to be able to engage one end of the leash, such as by slipping a link of a chain-formed leash, over the exposed portion of the pin, before the end of the pin is again pierced through the interior surface of the hat to be typically covered by the interior surface, such as the head band.

FIGS. 7A-16 depict other aspects of the present hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus wherein different leash to hat connectors, leash to necklace connectors, different necklace configurations and other features are depicted.

In FIGS. 7A and 7B, a necklace 110 is depicted as having a necklace base 112 formed of a flexible cord or cords, the ends of which are releasably joined by a clasp 114. The clasp 114 may be a breakaway clasp or a separate breakaway element, such as breakaway element 26 described above and shown in FIG. 1, incorporated into the necklace base 112.

Various ornamental features, such as beads 116 and interwoven links 118 are carried on or attached to the necklace base 112 and form a part of the necklace 110. The beads 116 can be strung over the cord forming the necklace base 112. The links 118 can be connected to ring-shaped connectors on the end most beads and can be located a central front portion of the overall necklace 110 when worn by a user, for example.

The leash 40 includes the leash base 42 formed of metal or plastic links, as described in previous aspects of the present hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus. A leash to necklace connector 120 is configured in a manner that allows the attachment position of the connector 120 to be adjustable along the length of the necklace base 112. At the same time, the connector 120 includes detachable features which allow separation and disengagement of the leash 40 from the necklace base 112. As shown in greater detailed in FIG. 7B, the leash to necklace connector 120 includes an annular ring 124. The cord or cords of the necklace base 112 are looped around the ring 124 and releasably locked in position by a slidable collar 126. Movement of the collar 126 toward the ring 124 tightens the engagement of the cord or cords or portions of the necklace base 112 to the ring 124 and locks the connector 120 in a desired position along the length of the necklace base 112. Sliding movement of the collar 126 in an opposite direction away from the ring 124, see FIG. 9B, allows the ring 124 to be repositioned to a different location on the cord of the necklace base 112.

The connector 120 is also detachable by means of a clasp 122 there by allowing separation of the leash 40 from the necklace 110.

The leash to hat connector 50 is shown by example in FIG. 7A as being in the form of a pin connector 54 in the form of a leash link connected to the spiral pin 52. It will be understood that other leash to hat connections may also be employed in conjunction with the leash to necklace connector 120 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

FIGS. 8A and 8B depict the same necklace 110 and leash 40 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B; but with a fixed, non-detachable leash to necklace connector 128. This configuration is achieved by attaching an annular ring 129 to the annular ring 124 about which the necklace base 112 is wrapped. The annular ring 129 may also be in the form of the end most link on the leash base 42 when the leash base 42 is formed of metal or plastic links.

Also depicted in the necklace 110 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, is the formation of the necklace base 112 without a clasp 114. The necklace base 112 is formed large enough to be easily placed over the wearer's head and removed on to the wearer's neck over the wearer's head. It will be understood that the necklace base 112 can be formed with or without the clasp 114 shown in previous drawings.

In addition, the safety breakaway element 26 has been added to the leash 42 instead of the necklace 110 in previous aspect of the apparatus. In this manner, when the hat is separated from the wearer's head, if forces acting on the hat exceed the counterweight provided by the necklace 110, the safety breakaway element 26 will separate allowing the hat and the attached portion of the leash 42 to completely separate from the wearer to prevent injury to the wearer.

In FIGS. 9A and 9B, a necklace 130 includes a necklace base 132, on which a plurality of ornamental beads 133 are disposed on all or substantially all of the length of the necklace base 132, for example. The necklace base 132 may be formed of a chain, cords, fabric, as described above and provided with a separable clasp 114.

The leash 40 is shown by example as being the same leash base 42 described in previous aspects of the present apparatus. Similarly, the leash to hat connector 54 and the pin 52 are the same as previously described; although other leash to hat connections, described herein, may also be employed.

A leash to necklace connector 134 is provided for a fixed position attachment of the leash base 42 to the necklace base 132. In this aspect, the connector 134 includes a first ring 136 and a second ring 138; although the first and second rings 136 and 138 may be combined into a single ring, where the second ring 138 or the combined ring has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the adjacent ornamental beads 133 to prevent movement of the combined ring or the rings 136 and 138 from the illustrated stationary position on the necklace base 132.

The connector 134 may also have a detachable feature by means of a clasp 122 affixed to one end of the leash base 42 and detachably connectable to the first ring 136 or to the combined first and second rings 136 and 138.

In FIGS. 10A and 10B, the leash to necklace connector 144 has an adjustable or floating position feature which allows the connector 144 to be easily repositioned by the wearer of the necklace 140 or to naturally move with movement of the wearer and/or hat 100.

The floating/adjustable positioning feature is also in the form of non-detachable connection via the connector 144 to the leash base 42. It will be understood that a detachable connection to the leash base 42 may also be employed by employing, for example, the clasp 122.

The connector 144 includes an end ring 146 which may also comprise one of the links in the leash base 42 when the leash base 42 is in the form of a chain. The ring 146 is looped around a second ring 148 which itself is looped around the necklace base 112. The second ring 148 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the necklace base 112. Further, the diameter of the second ring 148 may be either smaller or larger than the diameter of any ornamentation, such as the beads 116 or 142, to allow the connector 144 to move to any position along the length of the necklace base 112 or be limited to a smaller range over only a portion of the necklace base 112.

FIGS. 11A and 11B depict another aspect of the present apparatus in which a leash to necklace connector 156 is non-detachably attached to a necklace base 151 of a necklace 150 in a non-detachable manner. In this aspect, of the necklace 150 includes a plurality of ornamental jewelry, such as beads 153 of the same or different shapes mounted along substantially the entire length of the necklace base between a separable clasp 114.

In this aspect, a leash 152 includes a leash base 154 in the form of a flexible cord which is attached to the hat connector 50, such as the pin 52. One end of the leash base 154 is formed in a loop 158 around a portion of the pin 52 and adjustably affixed in place by the slidable collar 159. It will be understood that the collar 159 may be loosened or moved to a different location allowing the length of the leash base 154 between the end of the leash base 154 attached to the leash necklace connector 156 and the pin 52 to vary adjust the overall length of the leash 152.

One end of the leash base 154 is attached to the necklace base 151 in a fixed non-positional movable arrangement by means of fixedly attaching one end of the leash base 154 to the necklace base between two beads 152 or to the clasp.

The ends of the cord like necklace base 151 pass through opposite sections of the two part clasp 114. The ends of the necklace base 151 are knotted 155 and then pulled into the interior of the clasp 114 sections to be hidden from view.

One end 157 of the leash base 152 also passes into the interior of one clasp 114 section and is knotted 155 and pulled into the clasp 114 section to form a fixed position attachment to the necklace base 151.

The one end 157 of the leash base 152 can pass directly into the end of one clasp 114 section. Alternately, the one end 157 can first pass through one or more beads 152 or jewelry ornamentation adjacent to the clasp 114 before passing into the clasp 114 section. This attachment configuration offsets the leash to necklace attachment from the center of the wear's back to the side for less interference with the wearer's hair and, also, for ease of reach.

Another aspect of the present system is depicted in FIGS. 12A and 12B. In this aspect, the necklace 160 is illustrated, by example, as being formed of decorative chain links, the ends of which are releasably joinable by a clasp 114. The leash 40 can also be formed of decorative chain links.

The leash 40 to necklace 160 connector 164, in this aspect, is adjustably repositionable along the length of the necklace base 162 by means of an annular ring 166 which has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the necklace base 162. The ring 166 can be non-detachably coupled to an end link of the leash base 42 or detachable coupled to the leash base 42 by the clasp 122.

Another aspect of the present apparatus is shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. In this aspect, a necklace 170 includes a necklace base 172 in the form of a chain formed of interwoven links, the opposite ends of which are releasably joinable by a clasp 114. The leash 40 includes a leash base 42 also constructed of a chain formed of interwoven links.

In this aspect, the necklace base 172 and the leash base 42 are formed as a one piece, unitary, continuous necklace/leash base by non-detachably forming a leash to necklace connection by means of a link 176 on an intermediate portion of the necklace base 172 and a link 178 on one end of the leash base 42. The leash 40 thereby forms a one-piece continuation of the necklace 170.

FIG. 14 depicts another aspect of the present apparatus. In this aspect, the length of the leash base 42 is adjustable with respect to the hat connector 50 shown, by example as the pin 52. An openable clasp 122 is affixed by interweaving an annular ring 123, formed as a unitary part of the clasp 122 or attached to one end of the clasp 122, to a first ring 182. The first ring 182 is interwoven or coupled to a second ring 184 which may be coupled to the spiral pin 52. It will be understood that the first and second rings 182 and 184 may be combined into a single ring. Alternately, the ring 123 at one end of the clasp 122 may replace the first and second rings 182 and 184 and be directly coupled to the spiral pin 52.

The openable clasp 122 allows the connector portion 185 of the clasp 122 to be selectively engaged with any one of the links on the leash base 42 thereby providing a variable length end 186 on the leash base 42 extending from the clasp 122. The variable length end 186 may be made shorter or longer, depending on the preference of the wearer by moving the engagement of the clasp 122 to a different one of the links on the leash base 42.

Another aspect of the hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus 10 can include a more permanent attachment to the hat 100. This attachment can include a permanent loop or other connection point such as a narrow fabric strip 190 in FIG. 15 sewn into, or otherwise connected to, the hat 100 which would allow a small clip or loop, serving as the pin 52, to be attached directly to it.

Another means of a permanent attachment hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus to the hat 100 would involve constructing the combination hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus 10 in a manner integral to the hat 100, that is to say, with the leash 40 permanently attached to the hat 100 with the attachment means replacing as the pin 52. As shown in FIG. 16, the permanent attachment can be used as a leash 194 having a leash base 196 formed of a flexible fabric strip, such as a decorative, ornamental ribbon. One end of the leash base 196 is attached by being sewn, or by use of adhesive or at one end 198 to an interior portion of the hat 100.

One aspect of the hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus 10 can provide a hat fastener 50 which is comfortable to the wearer, is simple to deploy, minimizes damage to the hat, and is inconspicuous in its placement. The fastener 50, constructed of all of its component parts, will be of sufficient strength to withstand the force of the weight of the hat and its momentum when being blown off the wearer's head in a moderate wind 200, or otherwise separated from the wearer, and would be constructed such that the wearer suffers no injury or discomfort in such an instance.

In one aspect, the leash may be manufactured and sold as a unitary part of the hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus 10. In this manner, the materials and ornamental design use to form the leash can be easily constructed to be identical to or complimentary to the materials, colors and shape of the necklace or necklace base. It is also possible for the leash to be constructed and sold separately from a necklace but formed in readily available necklace complimentary colors, shapes and configurations. For example, the leash can be formed of a flexible chain made of or having gold, silver or other appearance to match chains commonly used in necklaces. The leash could also be formed of a flexible leather-like cord for complimentary use with necklaces having a cord-like necklace base. The various leash to necklace connectors described herein enable a separate leash to be easily attached to and removed from a necklace as well as being permanently attached to a necklace.

In another aspect, the leash includes first and second connectors for respective connection to an article worn by a wearer and to a hat also worn by a wearer. The leash to hat connector has a flat profile to connect to an underside of a hat and to fit comfortably between the underside of a hat and the wearer's head. In this aspect, the second connector may have a pierced or clip on connector configuration as well as a fixed or movable configuration.

Spatially relative terms such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, and the like, are used for ease of description to explain the positioning of one element relative to another element. These terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to different orientations than those depicted in the figures. Further, terms such as “first”, “second”, and the like, are also used to describe various elements, regions, sections, etc. and are also not intended to be limiting. Like terms refer to like elements throughout the description.

As used herein, the terms “having”, “containing”, “including”, “comprising” and the like are open ended terms that indicate the presence of stated elements or features, but do not preclude additional elements or features. The articles “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural as well as the singular, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The present hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus. The present aspects of the hat retention device and ornamental jewelry apparatus are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

1. A hat retention apparatus for retaining a hat in close proximity to a wearer in the event the hat is separated from a wearer's head, the hat retention apparatus comprising:

an ornamental necklace with a necklace base disposable in a loop about a wearer's neck;

a leash formed of an ornamental jewelry material; and

first and second connectors, coupled to the opposite ends of the leash, for connecting the leash to the necklace to be worn around the wearer's neck and to a hat to be worn on a wear's head.

2. The hat retention apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first connector comprises:

one of a fixed, a slidable and an adjustably fixedly positionable connector.

3. The hat retention apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

the first connector is a fixed connector non removably attached to the necklace base.

4. The hat retention apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first connector is a slidable connector including a first ring having a larger diameter than a diameter of the necklace base or decorative elements carried on the necklace base.

5. The hat retention apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first connector comprises:

an adjustably positionable connector having a ring about which the necklace base is wrapped; and

a collar slideably mounted on two portions of the necklace base wrapped around the ring, the collar adjustably positionable along portions of the necklace base, engaged with the ring to tighten or loosen the necklace base extending from the ring as the collar is moved relative to the ring.

6. The hat retention apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second connector comprises: one of a fixed position connector and a movable connector.

7. The hat retention apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the leash forms a continuation of the necklace base; and

the first connector defined by one end of the leash coupled to an intermediate portion of the necklace.

8. The hat retention apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the first and second connectors includes a openable clasp between the leash and the one of the first and second connectors to enable at least one end of the leash to be removably coupled to and separated from the at least one of the first and second connectors.

9. The hat retention apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the leash and the necklace have at least one of identical or complimentary ornamental jewelry designs.

10. The hat retention apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a separable breakaway element carried by one of the necklace base and the leash to allow separation of the necklace or at least a portion of the leash from the wearer.

11. The hat retention apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

ornamental elements carried on a portion of the necklace base to be disposed on a wearer's chest and acting as a counterweight to forces acting on the hat after the hat is separated from the head of the wearer while still retained by the leash to the necklace.

12. The hat retention apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

openable clasp having first and second sections respectively coupled to opposite ends of the necklace base to secure the necklace base around a user's neck; and

the first connector is fixably connected to one of the first and second sections of the clasp.

13. The hat retention apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

the necklace including ornamental elements carried on the necklace base and disposed adjacent to the clasp; and

one end of the leash passing through at least one ornamental element adjacent to the clasp before a connection to the clasp to direct the leash off center relative to the clasp on the necklace.

14. The hat retention apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the second connector having a flat planar profile.

15. The hat retention apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the second connector has one of a pierce connection engagable with an underside of a hat and a clip on connection to one of a hat head band, a hat label and a loop on an underside of a hat.

16. A hat retention apparatus for retaining a hat in close proximity to a wearer in the event the hat is separated from a wearer's head when the wearer is wearing an ornamental necklace, the hat retention apparatus comprising:

a flexible leash formed of an ornamental jewelry material; and

first and second connectors, coupled to the opposite ends of the leash for connecting the leash to a necklace to be worn around a wearer's neck and hat to be worn on a wear's head.

17. The hat retention apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first connector comprises: one of a fixed connector, a slidable connector and an adjustably positionable connector.

18. The hat retention apparatus of claim 17 wherein the second connector comprises:

one of a fixed position and a movable connector.

19. The hat retention apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

the leash forms a continuation of a necklace to be disposed around a wearer's neck; and

the first connector defined by one end of the leash coupled to the necklace base.

20. The hat retention apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

at least one of the first and second connectors includes an openable clasp between the leash and the one of the first and second connectors to enable at least one end of the leash to be removably coupled to and separated from the at least one of the first and second connectors.

21. The hat retention apparatus of claim 16 wherein:

the first connector is a fixed connector non removeably attachable to a necklace base.

22. The hat retention apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first connector is a slidable connector including a first ring having a larger diameter than a diameter of a necklace base or decorative elements carried on a necklace base.

23. The hat retention apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first connector comprises:

an adjustably positionable connector having a ring about which a necklace base is wrapped; and

a collar slideably mounted on two portions of a necklace base wrapped around the ring, the collar adjustably positionable along the two portions of a necklace base with respect to the ring to alternately tighten or loosen the two portions of a necklace base extending from the ring.

24. The hat retention apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

an openable clasp having first and second sections respectively coupled to opposite ends of the necklace base to secure the necklace base around a user's neck; and

the first connector of the leash is fixably connected to one of the sections of the clasp.

25. The hat retention apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

one end of the leash passing through at least one decorative element carried on a necklace adjacent to the clasp for connection via the first connector to the clasp to direct the leash to necklace connection off center relative to the clasp on the necklace.

26. The hat retention apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

the second connector having a flat planar profile.

27. The hat retention apparatus of claim 17 wherein:

the second connector has one of a pierce connection engageable with an underside of a hat and a clip on connection to one of a hat head band, a hat label and a loop on an underside of the hat.

28. The hat retention apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a separable breakaway element carried by one of the necklace base and the leash to allow separation of the necklace or leash from the wearer.

29. The hat retention apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

ornamental elements carried on a portion of the necklace base to be disposed on a wearer's chest and acting as a counterweight to forces acting on the hat after the hat is separated from the head of the wearer while still retained by the leash to the necklace.

30. A hat retention apparatus for retaining a hat in close proximity to a wearer in the event the hat is separated from a wearer's head when the wearer is wearing an ornamental necklace, the hat retention apparatus comprising:

a flexible leash;

first and second connectors, coupled to the opposite ends of the leash for connecting the leash to a necklace to be worn around a wearer's neck and hat to be worn on a wearer's head; and

the second connector having a flat profile to fit within an underside of a hat and a wearer's head.

31. The hat retention apparatus of claim 30 wherein:

the second connector has one of a pierce connection engagable with an underside of a hat and a clip on connection to one of a hat head band, a hat label and a loop on an underside of the hat.

32. The hat retention apparatus of claim 30 wherein the second connector comprises:

one of a fixed position connector and a movable connector.

33. The hat retention apparatus of claim 30 wherein:

openable clasp coupled between the leash and the second connector to enable one end of the leash to be removably coupled to and separated from the second connector.

34. The but retention apparatus of claim 30 further comprising:

a separable breakaway element carried by one of the necklace base and the leash to allow separation of the necklace or at least a portion of the leash from the wearer.

35. The hat retention apparatus of claim 30 further comprising:

ornamental elements carried on a portion of the necklace base to be disposed on a wearer's chest and acting as a counterweight to forces acting on the hat after the hat is separated from the head of the wearer while still retained by the leash to the necklace.