Sports Hat with Accessory-Holding Features

Abstract

A sports hat with accessory-holding features is a device that allows the removable attachment of several sports accessories so that the sports accessories can be comfortably carried without obstructing the user's body. The device includes a hat crown, a hat peak, a left magnetic feature, a right magnetic feature, several left tee-receiving features, several right tee-receiving features, a left fastener, and a right fastener. The hat crown and the hat peak correspond to the main portions of the selected sports hat. The left magnetic feature and the right magnetic feature allow the removable attachment of metallic golf accessories to the device. The left tee-receiving features and the right tee-receiving features allow the removable attachment of several golf tees to the device. The left fastener and the right fastener allow the removable attachment of golf accessories equipped with matching fasteners, such as golf gloves with hook and loop fasteners.

Claims

1. A sports hat with accessory-holding features comprising: a hat crown; a hat peak; a left magnetic feature; a right magnetic feature; a plurality of left tee-receiving features; a plurality of right tee-receiving features; at least one left fastener; at least one right fastener; the hat crown comprising a front crown section, a rear crown section, a left crown section, a right crown section, and a crown rim; the hat peak being connected about the crown rim, adjacent to the front crown section; the left magnetic feature being mounted into the front crown section, adjacent to the left crown section and adjacent to the crown rim; the right magnetic feature being mounted into the front crown section, adjacent to the right crown section and adjacent to the crown rim; the plurality of left tee-receiving features being externally mounted to the left crown section, adjacent to the crown rim; the plurality of right tee-receiving features being externally mounted to the right crown section, adjacent to the crown rim; the at least one left fastener being externally mounted to the rear crown section, adjacent to the plurality of left tee-receiving features and adjacent to the crown rim; and the at least one right fastener being externally mounted to the rear crown section, adjacent to the plurality of right tee-receiving features and adjacent to the crown rim.

2. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the left magnetic feature and the right magnetic feature each comprising a magnet-receiving pocket, a disc-shaped magnet, and a quantity of heat-activated adhesive; the magnet-receiving pocket comprising a pocket opening; the magnet-receiving pocket being attached within the hat crown by the quantity of heat-activated adhesive; the pocket opening being oriented away from the crown rim; and the disc-shaped magnet being positioned within the magnet pocket.

3. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 1 comprising: a left band; a plurality of left heat-activated adhesive patches; the plurality of left heat-activated adhesive patches being discretely deposited along the left band; the left band being externally attached to the left crown section at each of the plurality of left heat-activated adhesive patches, adjacent to the crown rim, wherein a plurality of left loops is formed between the left band and the left crown section; the plurality of left loops being interspersed amongst the plurality of left heat-activated adhesive patches; and the plurality of left loops being the plurality of left tee-receiving features.

4. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 3, wherein a central axis for each of the plurality of left loops is oriented at an acute angle with a central axis of the crown rim.

5. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 1 comprising: a right band; a plurality of right heat-activated adhesive patches; the plurality of right heat-activated adhesive patches being discretely deposited along the right band; the right band being externally attached to the right crown section at each of the plurality of right heat-activated adhesive patches, adjacent to the crown rim, wherein a plurality of right loops is formed between the right band and the right crown section; the plurality of right loops being interspersed amongst the plurality of right heat-activated adhesive patches; and the plurality of right loops being the plurality of right tee-receiving features.

6. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 5, wherein a central axis for each of the plurality of right loops is oriented at an acute angle with a central axis of the crown rim.

7. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one left fastener is a loops portion of a hook-and-loop fastener.

8. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one left fastener being externally attached to the rear crown section by a quantity of heat-activated adhesive.

9. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one right fastener is a loops portion of a hook-and-loop fastener.

10. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one right fastener being externally attached to the rear crown section by a quantity of heat-activated adhesive.

11. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 1 comprising: at least one golf-related tool; the at least one golf-related tool being made of a ferrous metal; and the at least one golf-related tool being externally mounted to the hat crown.

12. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one golf-related tool is magnetically attached to the left magnetic feature.

13. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one golf-related tool is magnetically attached to the right magnetic feature.

14. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 11 comprising: the at least one golf-related tool comprising a divot tool; the divot tool comprising a tool base and a pair of curved prongs; and the pair of curved prongs being peripherally connected to the tool base.

15. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 14, wherein a curvature radius for the pair of curved prongs is equal to a curvature radius of the crown rim.

16. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 11 comprising: the at least one golf-related tool comprising a tee-height-adjusting tool; the tee-height-adjusting tool comprising a curved panel and a plurality of tee-head grooves; the plurality of tee-head grooves being integrated into the curved panel; and the plurality of tee-head grooves being serially positioned along the curved panel.

17. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 16, wherein a curvature radius of the curved panel is equal to a curvature radius of the crown rim.

18. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 1 comprising: a ball marker; the ball marker being made of a ferrous metal; and the ball marker being externally mounted to the hat crown.

19. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 18, wherein the ball marker is magnetically attached to the left magnetic feature.

20. The sports hat with accessory-holding features as claimed in claim 18, wherein the ball marker is magnetically attached to the right magnetic feature.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a top-front-left perspective view of the present invention, wherein the tee-receiving features, the magnetic features, and the fasteners are shown attached around the hat crown of a hat.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a bottom-rear-right perspective view of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a bottom-rear perspective view of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a top view of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a right view of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a left view of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a top-front-left perspective view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is shown with a divot tool and a ball marker, and wherein several golf tees are shown attached.

[0018] FIG. 8 is a bottom-rear-right perspective view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is shown with a divot tool and a ball marker, and wherein several golf tees are shown attached.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a top-front-left perspective view of a tee-height-adjusting tool of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 10 is a bottom-rear-right perspective view of a tee-height-adjusting tool of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the tee-receiving features, the magnetic features, and the fasteners of the present invention, wherein each feature and fastener is shown with heat-activated adhesive patches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0023] The present invention discloses a sports hat with accessory-holding features. The present invention allows the removable attachment of several sports accessories to the sports hat so that the sports accessories can be comfortably carried without obstructing the user's body. In the preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a hat crown 1, a hat peak 7, a left magnetic feature 8, a right magnetic feature 9, a plurality of left tee-receiving features 13, a plurality of right tee-receiving features 14, at least one left fastener 15, and at least one right fastener 16, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11. The hat crown 1 and the hat peak 7 correspond to the main portions of the sports hat designed so that the sports hat has a golf style. The left magnetic feature 8 and the right magnetic feature 9 allow the removable attachment of metallic golf accessories to the sports hat. The plurality of left tee-receiving features 13 and the plurality of right tee-receiving features 14 allow the removable attachment of several golf tees to the sports hat. The at least one left fastener 15 and the at least one right fastener 16 allows the removable attachment of golf accessories equipped with matching fasteners to the desired sports hat.

[0024] The general configuration of the aforementioned components allows the user to comfortably play golf while having the desired accessories in a readily accessible manner. As previously discussed, the sports hat of the present invention is preferably designed with a golf style. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11, the hat crown 1 and the hat peak 7 can be made of different materials according to different user specifications. In addition, the hat crown 1 and the hat peak 7 can have different sizes to accommodate various body sizes. In general, the hat crown 1 comprises a front crown section 2, a rear crown section 3, a left crown section 4, a right crown section 5, and a crown rim 6. The front crown section 2 and the rear crown section 3 correspond to two large opposite sections of the hat crown 1. Similarly, the left crown section 4 and the right crown section 5 correspond to adjacent lateral sections of the hat crown 1 that are also positioned opposite each other. The crown rim 6 corresponds to the edge of the hat crown 1 that forms the perimeter of the hat crown 1.

[0025] In general, the present invention can be arranged as follows: the hat peak 7 is connected about the crown rim 6, adjacent to the front crown section 2, to secure the hat peak 7 to the hat crown 1, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11. The overall orientation of the hat peak 7 to the hat crown 1 depends on the style of the sports hat.

[0026] Further, the left magnetic feature 8 is mounted into the front crown section 2, adjacent to the left crown section 4 and adjacent to the crown rim 6, to secure the left magnetic feature 8 to the hat crown 1. Similarly, the right magnetic feature 9 is mounted into the front crown section 2, adjacent to the right crown section 5 and adjacent to the crown rim 6, to secure the right magnetic feature 9 to the hat crown 1. The left magnetic feature 8 and the right magnetic feature 9 can be integrated onto the hat crown 1 during the manufacturing process of new sports hats. Alternatively, the left magnetic feature 8 and the right magnetic feature 9 can be attached onto the hat crown 1 of existing hats which the user wants to customize. This way, the left magnetic feature 8 and the right magnetic feature 9 allow the removable attachment of metallic golf accessories to the front crown section 2 of any hat.

[0027] Further, the plurality of left tee-receiving features 13 is externally mounted to the left crown section 4, adjacent to the crown rim 6, to secure each of the left tee-receiving features to the hat crown 1, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11. Similarly, the plurality of right tee-receiving features 14 is externally mounted to the right crown section 5, adjacent to the crown rim 6, to secure each of the right tee-receiving features to the hat crown 1. Both the plurality of left tee-receiving features 13 and the plurality of right tee-receiving features 14 can accommodate several tees in a comfortable manner.

[0028] This way, several golf tees can be attached on opposite sides of the hat crown 1 to accommodate the golf tees in a practical manner that does not obstruct the user's body while playing.

[0029] Further, the at least one left fastener 15 is externally mounted to the rear crown section 3, adjacent to the plurality of left tee-receiving features 13 and adjacent to the crown rim 6, to secure the at least one left fastener 15 to the hat crown 1, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11. Similarly, the at least one right fastener 16 is externally mounted to the rear crown section 3, adjacent to the plurality of right tee-receiving features 14 and adjacent to the crown rim 6, to secure the at least one right fastener 16 to the hat crown 1. This way, the golf accessories with the matching fasteners can be removably attached to the rear crown section 3 using the at least one left fastener 15 and the at least one right fastener 16.

[0030] As previously discussed, the left magnetic feature 8 and the right magnetic feature 9 allow the attachment of metallic golf accessories or golf accessories equipped with magnets to the hat crown 1. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11, the left magnetic feature 8 and the right magnetic feature 9 may each comprise a magnet-receiving pocket 10, a disc-shaped magnet 12, and a quantity of heat-activated adhesive 28. The magnet-receiving pocket 10 corresponds to a structure of the hat crown 1 that allows the removable attachment of the disc-shaped magnet 12 to the hat crown 1. The disc-shaped magnet 12 is magnet strong enough to enable the magnetic attachment of the desired metallic golf accessory to the hat crown 1. Further, the magnet-receiving pocket 10 comprises a pocket opening 11 that allows the user to selectively insert and/or remove the disc-shaped magnet 12 for maintenance. Moreover, the quantity of heat-activated adhesive 28 corresponds to adhesive that allows the attachment of both magnetic features to the hat crown 1 by applying heat.

[0031] This embodiment of the left magnetic feature 8 and the right magnetic feature 9 can be implemented as follows: the magnet-receiving pocket 10 is attached within the hat crown 1 by the quantity of heat-activated adhesive 28 to secure the magnet-receiving pocket 10 is secured to the hat crown 1, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11. The magnet-receiving pocket 10 can be made from the same material as the hat crown 1 and secured to the hat crown 1 with the appropriate fastening methods. Further, the pocket opening 11 is oriented away from the crown rim 6 to prevent the disc-shaped magnet 12 from falling off the magnet-receiving pocket 10. Then, the disc-shaped magnet 12 is positioned within the magnet-receiving pocket 10 to secure the disc-shaped magnet 12 within the magnet-receiving pocket 10. In other embodiments, closure mechanisms for the pocket opening 11 can be implemented to help the user to selectively open and close the magnet-receiving pocket 10 to access the disc-shaped magnet 12.

[0032] As previously discussed, several golf tees can be comfortably attached to the hat crown 1 using the plurality of left tee-receiving features 13 and the plurality of right tee-receiving features 14. In one embodiment, the present invention may further comprise a left band 17 that is used to form the plurality of left tee-receiving features 13, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11. In addition, the present invention may further comprise a plurality of left heat-activated adhesive patches 33 that facilitates the selective attachment of the left band 17 to an existing sports hat. To do so, the plurality of left heat-activated adhesive patches 33 is discretely deposited along the left band 17 to provide enough heat-activated adhesive patches on the left band 17. In addition, the left band 17 is externally attached to the left crown section 4 at each of the plurality of left heat-activated adhesive patches 33, adjacent to the crown rim 6, to secure the left band 17 to the hat crown 1. The left band 17 is further attached in such a way that a plurality of left loops 19 is formed between the left band 17 and the left crown section 4. The plurality of left loops 19 is interspersed amongst the plurality of left heat-activated adhesive patches 33 to ensure that the left band 19 is fully secured to the existing sports hat. The plurality of left loops 19 corresponds to the plurality of left tee-receiving features 13. Each left loop from the plurality of left loops 19 has an overall diameter large enough to receive the shaft of the corresponding golf tee.

[0033] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11, the left band 17 is preferably made from an elastic material so that each of the plurality of left loops 19 can be stretched to receive the corresponding golf tee. This prevents the attached golf tee from falling off the corresponding left loop. To further secure the attached golf tees to the hat crown 1, a central axis 21 for each of the plurality of left loops 19 is oriented at an acute angle 22 with a central axis 21 of the crown rim 6. Each of the plurality of left loops 19 is oriented away from the hat peak 7 so that the attached golf tee is comfortable to wear on the sports hat. In other embodiments, the plurality of left tee-receiving features 13 can include different mechanisms that allow the removable attachment of the golf tees to the sports hat. The plurality of left loops 19 can also be oriented differently on the hat crown 1 relative to different components.

[0034] Similar to the left band 17, the present invention may further comprise a right band 18 that is used to form the plurality of right tee-receiving features 14 and a plurality of right heat-activated adhesive patches 34 that facilitates the attachment of the right band 18 to an existing sports hat. To do so, the plurality of right heat-activated adhesive patches 34 is discretely deposited along the right band 18 to provide enough heat-activated adhesive patches that secure the right band 18 to the sports hat. In addition, the right band 18 is externally attached to the right crown section 5 at each of the plurality of right heat-activated adhesive patches 34, adjacent to the crown rim 6, to secure the right band 18 to the hat crown 1, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11. The right band 18 is further attached to the existing sports hat in such a way that a plurality of right loops 20 is formed between the right band 18 and the right crown section 5. The plurality of right loops 20 is interspersed amongst the plurality of right heat-activated adhesive patches 34 to ensure the plurality of right loops 20 stayed formed. The plurality of right loops 20 preferably corresponds to the plurality of right tee-receiving features 14. Each right loop from the plurality of right loops 20 has an overall diameter large enough to receive the shaft of the corresponding golf tee.

[0035] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11, the right band 18, like the left band 17, is preferably made from an elastic material so that each of the plurality of right loops 20 can be stretched to receive the corresponding golf tee. This prevents the attached golf tee from falling off the corresponding right loop. To further secure the attached golf tees to the hat crown 1, a central axis 21 for each of the plurality of right loops 20 is oriented at an acute angle 22 with a central axis 21 of the crown rim 6. Each of the plurality of right loops 20 is oriented away from the hat peak 7 so that the attached golf tee is comfortable to wear on the sports hat. In other embodiments, the plurality of right tee-receiving features 14 can include different mechanisms that allow the removable attachment of the golf tees to the sports hat. The plurality of right loops 20 can also be oriented differently on the hat crown 1.

[0036] As previously discussed, the at least one left fastener 15 and the at least one right fastener 16 enable the removable attachment of golf accessories equipped with matching fasteners. In the preferred embodiment, the at least one left fastener 15 is a loops portion of a hook-and-loop fastener so that a golf accessory with the hooks portion of a hook-and-loop fastener can be attached to the hat crown 1, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 8 and 11. For example, a golf glove having a hook-and-loop fastener can be attached to the sports hat by engaging the glove's hook portion with the loops portion of the at least one left fastener 15. In addition, the at least one left fastener 15 can be externally attached to the rear crown section 3 by a quantity of heat-activated adhesive 28 to allow the user to customize the desired hat.

[0037] Similarly, the at least one right fastener 16 is also preferably a loops portion of a hook-and-loop fastener. This way, the user can attach the golf glove or other golf accessories with a hook-and-loop fastener to either the at least one left fastener 15 or the at least one right fastener 16 as desired by the user. In addition, the at least one left fastener 16 can also be externally attached to the rear crown section 3 by a quantity of heat-activated adhesive 28 to allow the user to customize the desired hat. In other embodiments, different types of fasteners can be utilized for the at least one left fastener 15 and the at least one right fastener 16.

[0038] Generally, the present invention allows at least one golf-related tool 32 to be removably attached to the hat crown 1. Different types of golf-related tools can be attached around the hat crown 1 as long as the at least one golf-related tool 32 has the means to engage the magnetic features or the fasteners of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the at least one golf-related tool 32 is made of a ferrous metal that allows the at least one golf-related tool 32 to be attached to the hat crown 1 using the magnetic features. This allows the at least one golf-related tool 32 to be externally mounted to the hat crown 1 for ease of accessibility to the tool. Further, the at least one golf-related tool 32 can be magnetically attached to either left magnetic feature 8 or the right magnetic feature 9.

[0039] In some embodiments, the at least one golf-related tool 32 may comprise a divot tool 23 customized to match the design of the sports hat of the present invention, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. The divot tool 23 can also be externally mounted to the hat crown 1 using either the left magnetic feature 8 or the right magnetic feature 9. To do so, the divot tool 23 may comprise a tool base 24 and a pair of curved prongs 25. The tool base 24 is designed to allow the removable attachment of the divot tool 23 to the hat crown 1, while the pair of curved prongs 25 serve to facilitate the repair of pitch marks on the green. Further, the pair of curved prongs 25 is peripherally connected to the tool base 24 to form a single structure that can be easily retrieved and used. In addition, the tool base 24 is preferably made of a ferrous metal.

[0040] This design of the divot tool 23 can be comfortably worn on the hat crown 1 by magnetically attaching the tool base 24 to either the left magnetic feature 8 or the right magnetic feature 9, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. Further, the curvature radius 26 for the pair of curved prongs 25 is equal to a curvature radius 26 of the crown rim 6 so that the divot tool 23 perfectly fits around the hat crown 1 when attached to either the left magnetic feature 8 or the right magnetic feature 9. In other embodiments, different custom designs for the divot tool 23 can be implemented for other styles of sports hats or to implement different features.

[0041] In other embodiments, the at least one golf-related tool 32 may comprise a tee-height-adjusting tool 29 that facilitates the positioning of a golf tee at the desired height on the grass, as can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. Like the divot tool 23, the tee-height-adjusting tool 29 is specially designed to comfortably fit around the hat crown 1. Generally, the tee-height-adjusting tool 29 comprises a curved panel 30 and a plurality of tee-head grooves 31. The curved panel 30 corresponds to the main rigid structure of the tee-height-adjusting tool 29 that fits around the hat crown 1, while the plurality of tee-head grooves 31 corresponds to several grooves the accommodate the head of the selected golf tee.

[0042] In general, the tee-height-adjusting tool 29 is arranged as follows: the plurality of tee-head grooves 31 is integrated into the curved panel 30 so that each tee-head groove is part of the curved panel 30, as can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. Further, the plurality of tee-head grooves 31 serially positioned along the curved panel 30 so that the tee-head grooves are evenly distributed along the curved panel 30. The size of the plurality of tee-head grooves 31 matches the standard size of a golf tee. This way, the selected golf tee can be inserted into any of the plurality of tee-head grooves 31 corresponding to the preferred tee height of the user. Further, the curved panel 30 has a curvature radius 26 that is equal to the curvature radius 26 of the crown rim 6. In other embodiments, the tee-height-adjusting tool 29 can be modified to accommodate different features and/or accessories.

[0043] Like the divot tool 23, the present invention may further comprise a custom ball marker 27 designed to match the style of the sports hat, as can be seen in FIG. 7. The ball marker 27 can be externally mounted to the hat crown 1 along with the other golf accessories. The ball marker 27 is also preferably made of a ferrous metal that allows the ball marker 27 to be magnetically attached to either the left magnetic feature 8 or the right magnetic feature 9. In other embodiments, the ball marker 27 can be altered to have different designs. Additionally, other golf accessories with metallic portions or integrated magnets can be provided to enable the removable attachment of different golf accessories to the sports hat of the present invention.

[0044] Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.