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. A 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 retention device is 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 retention device secures the hard hat.

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. a 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 retention device for engagement with said hard hat, wherein said retention device is connected to said center opening for retaining said hard hat securely to said straw brim, 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 and when said hard hat brim is inserted into said at least one brim pocket.

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 retention device engages the inner head band of said hard hat.

5. The removable straw brim as in claim 1, wherein said retention device is silicone rows.

6. The removable straw brim as in claim 1 wherein said retention device is a plurality of retention straps each comprising a hook and loop fastener.

7. The removable straw brim as in claim 6 wherein said plurality of retention straps is two retention straps.

8. The removable straw brim as in claim 1, wherein said straw brim is for a construction worker's hard hat.

9. The removable straw brim as in claim 1, wherein said straw brim is for an equestrian hard hat.

10. The removable straw hat as in claim 1, wherein said retention device is at least two retention clips sewn to said straw brim and for engagement with said inner head band of said hard hat.

11. The removable straw hat as in claim 1, wherein said retention device are a plurality of retention straps sewn to said straw brim and for engagement with said inner head band of said hard hat.

12. 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. a 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 retention device for engagement with 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. engaging said hard hat with said retention device.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein said removable straw brim further comprises a fabric bottom cover sewn to the bottom surface of said straw brim.

14. The method as in claim 12, wherein said at least one brim pocket is two brim pockets.

15. The method as in claim 12, wherein said plurality of retention straps is two retention straps.

16. The method as in claim 12, wherein said retention device is silicone rows.

17. The method as in claim 12, wherein said wherein said retention device is at least two retention clips sewn to said straw brim and for engagement with said inner head band of said hard hat.

18. The method as in claim 12, wherein said straw brim is for a construction worker's hard hat.

19. The method as in claim 12, wherein said straw brim is for an equestrian hard hat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 shows a prior art hard hat.

[0008] FIG. 2 shows the top side of a preferred removable straw brim.

[0009] FIG. 3 shows the bottom side of a preferred removable straw brim.

[0010] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a hard hat secured to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of a hard hat secured to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 7.

[0014] FIGS. 8-10 show a preferred embodiment of the present invention for equestrian hard hats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] 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).

[0016] 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. Retention straps 34 are sewn to the bottom of straw brim 20 adjacent elastic center fabric band 24. Preferably retention straps 34 each include hook and loop fasteners 36, as shown.

Attaching the Removable Straw Brim to the Hard Hat

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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. Retention straps 34 are wrapped around inner head band 67 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 retention straps as shown. Pocket 32 may be utilized for receiving hard hats that have rearward facing brims.

Other Preferred Embodiment

[0019] FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pocket 28 is preferably sewn to the front underside of straw brim 20 as shown. High-visibility orange neck flap 61 is attached to the rear portion of straw brim 20, as shown. Retention straps 34 are sewn to the bottom of straw brim 20 adjacent silicone rubber rows 84. Silicone rows 84 function to grip hard hat 10 securely in place. In a preferred embodiment, straw brim 20 includes two silicone rubber rows 84. Preferably retention straps 34 each include hook and loop fasteners 36, as shown.

[0020] FIG, 7 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 6. High-visibility orange neck flap 61 includes reflective tape 93. High-visibility orange fabric binding 99 surrounds silicone rubber rows 84 (FIG. 6) and functions to provide additional visibility for safety.

Other Preferred Embodiment for Utilization with an Equestrian Hard Hat

[0021] FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of straw brim 80 for equestrian hard hat 200. Straw brim 110 includes flange 102 for providing strength for straw brim 110. Pocket 103 is positioned to receive forward brim 250 of equestrian hard hat 200 (FIGS. 9-10). Flexible binding 105 is connected to brim 110 as show. Binding 105 may be fabricated from neoprene, silicone, microsuede or other suitable flexible material. Hard hat retention clips 104 are sewn connected to binding 105 and brim 110 as shown.

[0022] In FIG. 9, equestrian hard hat 200 has been attached to straw brim 110 as shown. Retention clips 104 are connected to inner head band 67 and function to help secure brim 80 in place on equestrian hard hat 200.

[0023] 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.