Hat Attachment Assembly Using Flexible Strip for Belt Securing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hat designs fail to provide a simple, intuitive, and cost-effective method to secure hats to belts of varying widths without requiring complex folding, inversion, or the use of rigid fasteners that can be uncomfortable and prone to breakage.
Innovation Solution
A hat attachment assembly featuring flexible strips or materials, such as fabric, leather, or polymeric materials, with ends attached to the crown portion and equipped with suitable fasteners, allowing secure attachment to a belt without needing to invert or fold the hat, and enabling easy carrying of items in a pouch configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid fasteners (clasps, clips, or rings) are used to attach the hat to the belt, then the attachment strength is improved, but the comfort deteriorates because they rub against the user's head and may be uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid fasteners with a flexible strip made of soft material (fabric, leather, or polymeric material) that attaches to the belt. This flexible strip eliminates the discomfort caused by rigid clasps, clips, or rings rubbing against the user's head while maintaining secure attachment capability through its flexibility and conformability to the belt and head.
2Adaptability or versatility
If convertible hat designs (folded, collapsed, turned inside out) are used to attach to elastic cords or straps, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hat into separate functional components: the hat body and the attachment assembly (strip with fasteners). This segmentation allows the hat to maintain its normal wearable form while the separate attachment assembly provides the belt-attachment functionality, eliminating the need to fold, collapse, or invert the hat itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the attachment function from the hat body by providing a separate attachment assembly (strip with fasteners) that can be independently attached to the belt. This extraction allows the hat to remain in its normal configuration while the separate attachment mechanism provides belt-securing capability without requiring complex folding or inversion operations.
3Ease of operation
If the hat is designed to be secured to a belt without inversion or folding, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity may increase due to additional attachment components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a universal attachment assembly (flexible strip with fasteners) that can be used with various hat styles and belt widths. This multi-functional attachment mechanism simplifies the overall design by providing a single, standardized solution that works across different hat configurations without requiring complex, hat-specific attachment mechanisms for each style.
4Reliability
If hard fasteners are used for belt attachment, then the reliability of attachment is improved, but the device complexity increases and they become prone to breakage and loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hard, fragile fasteners with a flexible strip made of durable soft material. This flexible strip maintains reliable attachment through its ability to conform to the belt and secure the hat, while eliminating the breakage and loss issues associated with rigid clasps, clips, or rings. The flexibility also reduces the overall complexity compared to mechanical fastening systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables hats to be easily and securely attached to belts of medium width without complex procedures, providing a convenient and durable solution for carrying hats and additional items like phones or keys, while minimizing bulk and discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
a fabric material, a leather material, a polymeric material and/or an elastomeric material
Data Source
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Figure 7~9A
AI summary
The present invention provides hats with attachment assemblies allowing them to be detachably secured in an exterior-side out configuration to a belt of medium width worn around the wearer's waist, without requiring the hats to be inverted, reversed, or folded in a complex fashion, and without any need for pockets, linings, zippers or the like. The hats may also be provided with retention members for holding the hats in a simple folded configuration when carried on a belt.