Combination Hat And Helmet

Abstract

A hat-helmet combination includes a hat having a protective helmet removably disposed therein. The hat has a continuous lower rim, and a hollow dome extending from the lower rim to a central crown, the lower rim and dome collectively defining a forward portion, a rearward portion, and lateral portions of the hat. The helmet includes an outer impact-resistant shell, an inner foam liner, and a chin strap. The shell and the liner each have a continuous lower rim and a hollow dome extending from the lower rim to a central crown, the lower rim and dome collectively defining a forward portion, a rearward portion, and lateral portions of the helmet.

1 . A hat-helmet combination, comprising:
 a hat having a continuous lower rim, and a hollow dome extending from said lower rim to a central crown, said lower rim and dome collectively defining a forward portion, a rearward portion, and lateral portions of said hat;   a helmet removably disposed in said hat, said helmet comprising:   an outer impact-resistant shell having a continuous lower rim and a hollow dome extending from said lower rim to a central crown, said lower rim and dome collectively defining a forward portion, a rearward portion, and lateral portions of said outer shell;   an inner foam liner nested in the dome of said outer shell, said inner liner having a continuous lower rim coextensive with said outer shell lower rim and a hollow dome extending from said lower rim to a central crown to provide a head receiving cavity, said lower rim and said dome collectively defining a forward portion, a rearward portion, and lateral portions of said inner liner;   said helmet being removably retained in said hat solely by way of a tight friction fit provided by a relatively large area of frictional contact between said helmet and said hat, said frictional contact area comprising said outer shell forward, rearward and lateral portions being substantially vertical from said lower rim to nearly the level of said central crown, and said hat forward, rearward and lateral portions having a substantially matching configuration in tight fitting frictional contact therewith: and   a chin strap secured to said helmet.   
   
   
       2 . A hat-helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said hat comprises felt or fur material. 
   
   
       3 . A hat-helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said hat comprises a decorative hat band surrounding said lower rim. 
   
   
       4 . A hat-helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said hat comprises a continuous brim extending from said lower rim. 
   
   
       5 . A hat-helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said hat comprises a decorative recess in said crown. 
   
   
       6 . A hat-helmet according to  claim 5 , wherein said helmet crown is spaced from said hat crown in order to accommodate said recess. 
   
   
       7 . A hat-helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said hat comprises an English derby configuration. 
   
   
       8 . A hat-helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said hat-helmet comprises cooling vents. 
   
   
       9 . A hat-helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said helmet dome is shaped to conform to a wearer's head while minimizing the size of said hat dome. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A head protection customization method, comprising:
 providing a set of one or more helmets of different size, each helmet including:   an outer impact-resistant shell having a continuous lower rim and a hollow dome extending from said lower rim to a central crown, said lower rim and dome collectively defining a forward portion, a rearward portion, and lateral portions of said outer shell;   an inner foam liner nested in the dome of said outer shell, said inner liner having a continuous lower rim coextensive with said outer shell lower rim and a hollow dome extending from said lower rim to a central crown to provide a head receiving cavity, said lower rim and said dome collectively defining a forward portion, a rearward portion, and lateral portions of said inner liner;   said helmet being removably retained in said hat solely by way of a tight friction fit provided by a relatively large area of frictional contact between said helmet and said hat, said frictional contact area comprising said outer shell forward, rearward and lateral portions being substantially vertical from said lower rim to nearly the level of said central crown, and said hat forward, rearward and lateral portions having a substantially matching configuration in tight- fitting frictional contact therewith: and   a chin strap;   providing a set of two or more hats of different style, each hat having a continuous lower rim, and a hollow dome extending from said lower rim to a central crown, said lower rim and dome collectively defining a forward portion, a rearward portion, and lateral portions of said hat;   providing configuration instructions for use by a headgear wearer, said instructions including:   instructions relating to said wearer selecting one of said helmets according to a size of said helmet;   instructions relating to said wearer selecting one of said hats according to a desired hat style;   instructions relating to said wearer removably mounting said selected hat on said selected helmet solely by way of said tight friction fit to constitute a hat-helmet; and   instructions relating to said wearer placing said hat-helmet on said wearer's head and securing said helmet for use by way of said chin strap.   
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said hats comprise felt or fur material. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said hats comprise a decorative hat band surrounding said lower rim. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said hats comprise a continuous brim extending from said lower rim. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said hats comprise a decorative recess in said crown. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said helmet crown is spaced from said hat crown in order to accommodate said recess. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein one of said hats comprises an English derby configuration. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said hat-helmet comprises cooling vents. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said helmet dome is shaped to conform to a wearer's head while minimizing the size of said hat dome. 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A hat-helmet combination, comprising:
 a hat having a continuous lower rim, and a hollow dome extending from said lower rim to a central crown, said lower rim and dome collectively defining a forward portion, a rearward portion, and lateral portions of said hat, said hat comprising felt or fur material and having a derby configuration that includes said dome being rounded with a decorative recess, a continuous brim extending from said lower rim, and a decorative hat band surrounding said lower rim;   a vented helmet removably disposed in said hat, said helmet having an impact-resistant outer shell and an inner foam liner, a continuous lower rim comprising coextensive continuous lower rim portions of said outer shell and said inner liner, and a hollow dome extending from said lower rim to a central crown, said lower rim and dome collectively defining a forward portion, a rearward portion, and lateral portions of said helmet, said dome being shaped to minimize the size of said hat dome and said helmet crown being spaced from said hat crown;   said helmet being removably retained in said hat solely by way of a tight friction fit provided by a relatively large area of frictional contact between said helmet and said hat, said frictional contact area comprising said outer shell forward, rearward and lateral portions being substantially vertical from said lower rim to nearly the level of said central crown, and said hat forward, rearward and lateral portions having a substantially matching configuration in tight fitting frictional contact therewith: and   a chin strap secured to said helmet.