Adjustable strap fastener assembly for body-encircling hat band, collar or belt

A hat comprising:

• a crown portion for covering the crown of a wearer's head, the crown portion having a front for location at the front of a wearer's head, a rear for location at the rear of a wearer's head, a concave inner face for facing a wearer's head when the hat is worn, and a convex outer face for facing outwardly from a wearer's head;
• the crown portion having a cut out opening at the rear of the hat, the opening having opposite first and second side edges;
• a pair of overlapping rings secured to the first side edge of the opening;
• a fastener strap having opposite inner and outer faces, a first end of said strap secured to the second side edge of the opening and a second, free end for threading through said rings with the free end projecting from the rings, whereby said rings and fastener strap together form a first fastener for securing the hat on a wearer's head;
• and
• a second fastener for securing the free end of the fastener strap to the hat.

A securing assembly, comprising:

• an elongate member bent to form a loop the elongate member having an inner face facing inwardly into the loop and an opposing, outer face, and opposite first and second ends:
• a pair of overlapping rings secured to the first end of the elongate member:
• a first interengageable portion secured to one face of the elongate member adjacent the second end and a second interengageable portion secured to said one face at a location spaced from said second end for releasable attachment to the first interengageable portion;
• the second end of the elongate member being threaded through both of said rings and the first interengageable portion being secured to the second interengageable portion to secure the member in a loop;
• the first and second interengageable portions being on the outer face of the elongate member and the second end of the elongate member being threaded through both of said rings from the inside to the outside of the loop;
• the second end of the elongate member being threaded through the innermost ring and the outermost ring around the outside of the outermost ring, and back through the innermost ring to leave a free end on the outside of the loop, the free end carrying said first interengageable portion which is secured to said second interengageable portion;
• and
• an additional fastener for securing the second end of the elongate member to the outer face of the loop.

A securing assembly, comprising:

• an elongate member bent to form a loop the elongate member having an inner face facing inwardly into the loop and an opposing, outer face, and opposite first and second ends;
• a pair of overlapping rings secured to the first end of the elongate member, the rings being of non-rigid material;
• a first interengageable portion secured to one face of the elongate member adjacent the second end and a second interengageable portion secured to said one face at a location spaced from said second end for releasable attachment to the first interengageable portion;
• and
• the second end of the elongate member being threaded through both of said rings and the first interengageable portion being secured to the second interengageable portion to secure the member in a loop.

A method of securing an elongate member around a portion of a wearer's body, comprising the steps of:

• extending an elongate member around a portion of a wearer's body to form a loop having an inside and an outside, with an inner face of the member facing inwardly into the loop and outer face of the member facing outwardly, the member having a pair of overlapping rings at one end and a second, free end, the rings comprising an innermost ring and an outermost ring;
• threading the second end of the elongate member through both of the rings;
• pulling the second end through the rings until the loop has a selected diameter;
• securing the second end to the loop;
• and
• the elongate member comprising the periphery of a hat and the step of extending the elongate member to form a loop comprising placing the hat on a wearer's head so that the elongate member extends around the periphery of the head.

A method of securing an elongate member around a portion of a wearer's body, comprising the steps of:

• extending an elongate member around a portion of a wearer's body to form a loop having an inside and an outside, with an inner face of the member facing inwardly into the loop and outer face of the member facing outwardly, the member having a pair of overlapping rings at one end and a second, free end, the rings comprising an innermost ring and an outermost ring;
• threading the second end of the elongate member through both of the rings;
• pulling the second end through the rings until the loop has a selected diameter;
• securing the second end to the loop;
• the step of threading the second end of the elongate member through both of the rings comprising threading the second end from the inside to the outside of the loop so that the second end lies on the outside of the loop;
• and
• inserting the second end of the elongate member through a hole in the loop.