FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to headgear accessory. More specifically, the present invention is a spacing device that serves as a headrest and is adaptable with a hat, a visor, or a headband.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When traveling for long periods at a time, sleeping is an easy way to pass the time and typically happens simply from being tired from traveling. However, while on a plane, train, or car, sleeping in a comfortable position is not always easy. Positioning one’s head at a comfortable angle to sleep for an extended period of time is also strenuous on the neck of the user. If traveling alone, resting the head to a side is not an option unless sitting against a window.

The present invention serves to safely and comfortably uphold the head of a user against a surface, such as a table or a back of a seat on an airplane, a bus, a train, and a car. The present invention engages with a hat of a user in order to stabilize the head of the user with the present invention. The present invention offsets the head of the user with the table and prevents the head of the user from slipping across the table. The present invention may be connected with a variety of hats, preferably a baseball cap or visor, so that the bill may be inserted into the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. l is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a liner layer with a cushioning rim and a rigid panel of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

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.

The present invention is a headrest hat holder that serves as a universal attachment for hats with a brim. The present invention allows a user that is wearing a hat to rest his or her hear on a table. The hat may be headgear such as a baseball hat or a visor. More specifically, the present invention supports and upholds the head of the user against a table or a back of a seat while sitting in an airplane seat. The present invention may be used against a variety of similar structures as well. The present invention alleviates the stress against the neck and back of a user while resting his or her head by allowing the head of the user to naturally tilt forward while sitting and offsetting the head from the table or like structure. In order to engage with a hat being worn by the user, the present invention may comprise a rigid panel 1, a friction-inducing tab 9, and a bill receiving slot 10, seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. The rigid panel 1 supports the bill of a hat, and consequently upholding the head of the user. The rigid panel 1 is preferably made of a plastic material. It is understood that alternate embodiments of the present invention may comprise a rigid panel 1 of varying materials. More specifically, the rigid panel 1 offsets the bill of the hat from the table. In order for the head of the user positioned within the hat to comfortably rest against the rigid panel 1, the rigid panel 1 may comprise a linear edge 2, an indented edge 3, a first lengthwise edge 7, and a second lengthwise edge 8. The linear edge 2 presses against the table. The indented edge 3 accommodates the curvature of the hat and the head of the user, specifically around the forehead of the user. The first lengthwise edge 7 and the second lengthwise edge 8 define the overall length of the rigid panel 1. The friction -inducing tab 9 prevents the linear edge 2 from slipping across the table or similar structure. The friction-inducing tab 9 is preferably made of a rubber material. The bill-receiving slot 10 allows the bill of a hat to traverse into the rigid panel 1 while preserving the structural integrity of the rigid panel 1. A transversal cross-section of the bill-receiving slot 10 is rectangular in order to accommodate varying shaped brims. It is understood that the first lengthwise edge 7 and the second lengthwise edge 8, as well as the bill-receiving slot 10, may vary in length to accommodate bills of varying lengths and heights of a user. The overall length of the rigid panel 1 may be longer if the user is taller and smaller if the user is shorter so that the user may comfortably tilt forward and rest his or her head on a table.

The overall configuration of the aforementioned components effectively and comfortably supports the head of a user while resting on a table or similar structure. In order for the rigid panel 1 to evenly press against a table while simultaneously comfortably upholding the head of the user, the linear edge 2 is positioned opposite the indented edge 3 across the rigid panel 1, as seen in FIG. 3. The first lengthwise edge 7 and the second lengthwise edge 8 traverses from the linear edge 2 to the indented edge 3, thereby offsetting the head of the user from the table. More specifically, the first lengthwise edge 7 is positioned opposite the second lengthwise edge 8 across the rigid panel 1 so that the entire width of the head of the user is supported by the rigid panel 1.

As the linear edge 2 presses against the table, the friction-inducing tab 9 is positioned adjacent with the linear edge 2 and is fixed along the linear edge 2. This arrangement stabilizes the rigid panel 1 across the table. In order for the bill of the hat to engage with the rigid panel 1, the bill-receiving slot 10 traverses into the rigid panel 1 from the indented edge 3. This arrangement allows the hat of the user to be flushed with the rigid panel 1 along the indented edge 3.

The comfort of the user is further enhanced as the present invention may further comprise a cushioning rim 11, seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. The cushioning rim 11 absorbs some of the force of the rigid panel 1 against the head of the user, specifically the forehead. The cushioning rim 11 is fixed adjacent to the indented edge 3, thereby cushioning the head of the user against the rigid panel 1. More specifically, the cushioning rim 11 is perimetrically positioned around the bill-receiving slot 10. This arrangement maintains the connection between the bill of the hat with the rigid panel 1.

In order to preserve the structural integrity of the cushioning layer and the hat, the present invention may further comprise a liner layer 12, seen in FIG. 5. The liner layer 12 is positioned adjacent with the cushioning rim 11, opposite the rigid panel 1, effectively positioning the liner layer 12 between the cushioning rim 11 and the hat. More specifically, the liner layer 12 is fixed around the cushioning rim 11, allowing the brim of the hat to be positioned within the bill-receiving slot 10.

A hat is further stabilized with the rigid panel 1 as the indented edge 3 may comprise a first linear portion 4, a second linear portion 5, and a concave portion 6, seen in FIG. 3. The first linear portion 4 and the second linear portion 5 extends the rigid panel 1 slightly past the brim of the hat along both sides of the brim. The first linear portion 4 and the second linear portion 5 therefore reinforces the structural integrity of the rigid panel 1 while upholding the head of the user. The rigid panel 1 has an ergonomic design as the concave portion 6 comfortably surrounds the head of the user while wearing the hat. In order for the first linear portion 4 and the second linear portion 5 to support the sides of the head of the user, the first linear portion 4 is positioned adjacent with the first lengthwise edge 7. Similarly, the second linear portion 5 is positioned adjacent with the second lengthwise edge 8. As the head is centered along the rigid panel 1, the concave portion 6 is positioned in between the first linear portion 4 and the second linear portion 5.

Alternate embodiments of the present invention allow the head of a user to be supported against a table without a hat as the present invention may further comprise a headband 13, a pair of first fasteners 14, and a pair of second fasteners 15, seen in FIG. 4. The headband 13 serves as an alternative headgear that may be used to mount the head of the user with the rigid panel 1. The pair of first fasteners 14 connects the headband 13 to the rigid panel 1 with the pair of second fasteners 15. In order to balance the headband 13 with the rigid panel 1, the pair of first fasteners 14 is positioned offset from each other about the headband 13. The pair of first fasteners 14 is externally fixed onto the headband 13, thereby providing direct connection between the headband 13 and the rigid panel 1 while the headband 13 is being worn by the user. Similarly, the pair of second fasteners 15 is positioned opposite to each other along the indented edge 3. More specifically, the bill-receiving slot 10 is positioned in between the pair of second fasteners 15. This arrangement positions the pair of second fasteners 15 coincident with the pair of first fasteners 14. The connection between the headband 13 and the rigid panel 1 is secure as the pair of second fasteners 15 is fixed onto the rigid panel 1. The pair of first fasteners 14 is engaged with the pair of second fasteners 15, thereby stabilizing the head of the user with the headband 13 against the table.

The position of the rigid panel 1 across a table is further secured as alternate embodiments of the present invention may further comprise a plurality of friction- inducing studs 16, seen in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4. The plurality of friction- inducing studs 16 increase the friction of the friction-inducing tab 9 with a table. The plurality of friction-inducing studs 16 provide grip for the friction-inducing tab 9 with the table. Similar with the friction-inducing tab 9, the plurality of friction-inducing studs 16 is preferably made of a rubber material. In order for the plurality of friction-inducing studs 16 to press directly against the table, the plurality of friction-inducing studs 16 is positioned adjacent with the friction-inducing tab 9, opposite the rigid panel 1. The friction-inducing tab 9 is stabilized along the table as the plurality of friction-inducing studs 16 is distributed along the friction-inducing tab 9 and is fixed onto the friction- inducing tab 9. Although the 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 as hereinafter claimed.