REMOVABLE STRAW BRIM FOR HARD HAT

Abstract

A removable straw brim for a hard hat. The hard hat has a crown and brim. The removable straw brim is crownless and has center opening. An elastic center fabric band is sewn into the center opening and forms a center fabric band opening. A brim pocket is sewn to the bottom side of the straw hat brim. A plurality of elastic retention straps is also sewn to the bottom side of the straw hat brim. A hard hat is secured to the removable straw hat brim when the hard hat crown is inserted into the center fabric band opening and the center fabric band squeezes tightly around said crown, when the hard hat brim is inserted into the hard hat brim pocket, and when the elastic retention straps are wrapped around the hard hat.

Description

The present invention relates to hats, and in particular, to brims for hats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hard hats are well known and are worn in a variety of circumstances. Construction workers, road workers, ship workers and many other types of workers wear hard hats for safety purposes. FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art hard hat 10.

Workers are very concerned about their health and unnecessary exposure to the sun. Unfortunately, hard hat 10 has a very small brim 11. It only offers very minimal protection from the sun.

Some workers, in a desperate effort to protect themselves from the sun, have obtained a straw hat and cut out the crown so that only the brim of the straw hat remains. The worker has then inserted the crown of the hard hat into the center of the brim in an effort to create a hat that offers greater sun protection. There are problems with this solution. For example, the brim is very unstable and can easily fall off the hard hat. Or, once the straw hat has been cut, the straw brim can easily become torn or frayed and fall apart after a short time.

What is needed is a better removable straw brim for a hard hat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a removable straw brim for a hard hat. The hard hat has a crown and brim. The removable straw brim is crownless and has center opening. An elastic center fabric band is sewn into the center opening and forms a center fabric band opening. A brim pocket is sewn to the bottom side of the straw hat brim. A plurality of elastic retention straps is also sewn to the bottom side of the straw hat brim. A hard hat is secured to the removable straw hat brim when the hard hat crown is inserted into the center fabric band opening and the center fabric band squeezes tightly around the crown, when the hard hat brim is inserted into the hard hat brim pocket, and when the elastic retention straps are wrapped around the hard hat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prior art hard hat.

FIG. 2 shows the top side of a preferred removable straw brim.

FIG. 3 shows the bottom side of a preferred removable straw brim.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a hard hat secured to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of a hard hat secured to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Straw brim 20 includes upper straw surface 22. Straw brim 20 is crownless. Instead, elastic center fabric band 24 extends partially across the center of straw brim 20, as shown. In a preferred embodiment, elastic center fabric band 24 is formed by sewing an elastic band into fabric as shown. The center of straw brim 20 is open to receive hard hat 10 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of straw brim 20. In the preferred embodiment shown the bottom of straw brim 20 is covered by fabric layer 26. Pockets 28 and 32 are preferably sewn to the top and bottom of straw brim 20 as shown. Elastic retention straps 34 are sewn to the bottom of straw brim 20 adjacent elastic center fabric band 24. Preferably elastic retention straps 34 each include hook and loop fasteners 36, as shown.

Attaching the Removable Straw Brim to the Hard Hat FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of removable straw brim 20 attached to hard hat 10. As shown in FIG. 4, hard hat 10 has been pushed up through the center of straw brim 20. Elastic center fabric band 24 squeezes tightly onto hard hat 10 to help hold straw brim 20 in place. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, neck flap 35 is sewn to the bottom of straw brim 20 and extends downward from the bottom of straw brim 20 to help protect the wearer's neck from sun exposure.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of straw brim 20 attached to hard hat 10. Brim 11 (FIG. 1) of hard hat 10 is tucked into pocket 28. Elastic retention straps 34 are wrapped around the rear portion of hard hat 10 and pulled tight to secure straw brim 20 to hard hat 10. Hook and loop fasteners 36 (FIG. 3) are used to secure elastic retention straps as shown. Pocket 32 may be utilized for receiving hard hats that have rearward facing brims.

Although the above-preferred embodiments have been described with specificity, persons skilled in this art will recognize that many changes to the specific embodiments disclosed above could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the attached claims and their legal equivalents should determine the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A removable straw brim for a hard hat having a hard hat crown and a hard hat brim, comprising:

A. a crownless straw brim comprising a center opening, a straw brim top side and a straw brim bottom side,

B. an elastic center fabric band sewn into said center opening and comprising a center fabric band opening,

C. at least one brim pocket sewn to said straw brim bottom side and for receiving said hard hat brim, and

D. a plurality of elastic retention straps sewn to said straw brim bottom side and for wrapping around said hard hat, wherein said hard hat is secured to said straw hat brim when said hard hat crown is inserted into said center fabric band opening and said center fabric band squeezes tightly around said crown, when said hard hat brim is inserted into said hard hat brim pocket, and when said plurality of elastic retention straps are wrapped around said hard hat.

2. The removable straw brim as in claim 1, further comprising a fabric bottom cover sewn to the bottom surface of said straw brim.

3. The removable straw brim as in claim 1, wherein said at least one brim pocket is two brim pockets.

4. The removable straw brim as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of elastic retention straps each comprise a hook and loop fastener.

5. The removable straw brim as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of elastic retention straps is two elastic retention straps.

6. A method for attaching a removable straw brim for a hard hat having a hard hat crown and a hard hat brim, comprising the steps of:

A. acquiring a removable straw brim, comprising: i. a crownless straw brim comprising a center opening, a straw brim top side and a straw brim bottom side, ii. an elastic center fabric band sewn into said center opening and comprising a center fabric band opening, iii. at least one brim pocket sewn to said straw brim bottom side and for receiving said hard hat brim, and iv. a plurality of elastic retention straps for wrapping around said hard hat,

B. inserting said hat brim crown into said center fabric band opening so that said center fabric band squeezes tightly around said hard hat crown,

C. inserting said hard hat brim into said hard hat brim pocket, and

D. wrapping said plurality or retention straps around said hard hat.

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein said removable straw brim further comprises a fabric bottom cover sewn to the bottom surface of said straw brim.

8. The method as in claim 6, wherein said at least one brim pocket is two brim pockets.

9. The method as in claim 6, wherein said plurality of elastic retention straps each comprise a hook and loop fastener.

10. The method as in claim 6, wherein said plurality of elastic retention straps is two elastic retention straps.