Hat with music player

#The present invention relates to headgears such as hats or caps, more specifically, hats or caps configured to carry music generating devices such as Satellite Receivers (for example, Sirius™ or XM), MP3 players, Nanopods™ or Shuffles™.

#Advances in electronic miniaturization technology has led to the design of extremely light and compact music players of brands such as the Nanopod™ and the Shuffle™, Satellite Receivers (Sirius™ and XM™) and has made possible the incorporation of these devices into clothing such as headgear. While prior art describes hats configured to hold such music players, the approaches described by previous inventors are far from optimum. At issue with the configurations suggested by the prior art are manufacturing costs, obtrusiveness of the music player and flexibility of its use.

#In addition, one of the problems that the prior art does not address is the blocking of environmental sounds by the insertion of earphones into the user's ears. The muffling of sound presents a danger to the user when he drives a car or rides a bicycle. Several states have enacted laws prohibiting the insertion of earphones into ears by users performing these tasks. This invention solves the aforementioned problems.

#FIG. 1 illustrates how the invention is used. A music player is clipped on a hat through a button hole on the side of the hat.

#FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1, showing the button holes used for attaching the music player.

#FIG. 3 shows how the headband can be used as a conduit for the cables between the music player and the earphones. This figure shows the earphones fully deployed.

#This invention is a hat specially configured to carry a music player and also to carry earphones connected to the music player by electrical cables. The wearer can, at his option, listen to music without obstructing surrounding sound by keeping the earphones tucked away in the hat near his ears; alternatively he can listen to music while obstructing surrounding sound by lowering the earphones and inserting them in his ears.

#The hat can carry music players equipped with a clip as well as music not equipped with a clip. The hat has at least one pair of openings cut in its surface on each side. The first opening is configured to allow the insertion of a music player attachment clip thereby permitting the attachment of the music player to the hat. The second opening is located near the first opening and is configured to allow the passage of electrical cables connecting the music player to the earphones. For example, one pair of such opening can be located on the right, and another pair on the left, of the hat.

#The hat also comprises a headband loosely attached to the inside surface of the hat. The headband is affixed at its bottom edge by a seam around the inside surface of the hat at its rim, except above the ears of the wearer where the seam is left open. This opening is configured to allow the passage of the earphones. The headband is also attached by stitch points at its top edge to the inside surface of the hat. The headband forms with the inside of the hat surface a conduit through which the cables can pass. The headband forms a retainer area above the ears of the wearer, configured to hold the earphones. The user can, at his option, listen to music without obstructing surrounding sound by leaving the earphones tucked away between the headband and the inner surface of the hat, or listen to music while blocking surrounding sounds by lowering the earphones through the seam openings and inserting them in his ears.