GB2301273A - Novelty hat - Google Patents

Abstract

A novelty hat is constructed in the form of a megaphone or may incorporate a megaphone. The hat is formed from or includes a hollow meter 1 which is shaped to have a mouthpiece at one end 5 and a head locatable portion 4 at its opposing end. The member may have, for example, a strap 2 for holding the member on a user's head. The member may be incorporated in the shape of a top hat or cap and the outer surface of the hat may be decorated with text or favours 14. In an embodiment the hat is telescopable or concertinerable. The megaphone may include amplifying means.

Description

NOVELTY HAT This invention relates to a novelty hat.

Crowd support of competing teams or individuals is integral to major sporting events and can create an atmosphere in which the performance of the participants is improved and the enjoyment of the supporters is enhanced.

Any such support which can be safely and considerately given is therefore encouraged by sporting authorities.

Novelty hats are well known, including those worn, for example, by sports supporters, which may incorporate or carry favours of a supported team. Audible forms of encouragement are also popularly used, as witness the use of, for example, rattles, whistles and hooters. However, none are as effective as use of the human voice in expressing encouragement or otherwise, provided it can be made audible.

Megaphones are well known for increasing the directionality of the voice and thereby increasing the volume in a required direction. Although more sophisticated megaphones may include electrical amplification of the sound, simple acoustic devices are effective. As such they are attractive for sports or other groups of people shouting encouragement, but traditional devices, because of their weight and solidity, are unsuitable for safe use in a crowd and are bulky and inconvenient to transport.

According to the present invention in its broadest aspect there is provided a novelty hat, constructed to be used as, or including a megaphone.

According to an aspect of this invention there is provided a novelty hat formed from or including a hollow member which generally tapers outwardly from a mouthpiece formed at one end thereof to a head locatable portion formed at an opposite end thereof, wherein means are provided for securing said member to the head of a user.

Conveniently, the member has a substantially circular, elliptical or polygonal (including triangular or rectangular) cross-section and said securing means is a strap, string, cord or the like attached at opposite ends thereof to spaced apart surfaces of the member whereby said securing means may secure the member to a user's head.

Advantageously, the member is in the shape of a hat or cap or is included within a structure in the form of a hat adapted to be used as a megaphone by providing access to the mouthpiece and allowing the head locatable portion of the member to be open to the air to broadcast sound.

Preferably, the novelty hat has an outer surface which is decorated with text or favours in the form of, for example, symbols, logos, flags or colours. Conveniently, fixing means are provided for attaching favours or other decorations to said novelty hat.

Preferably the hat and/or member are made from paper, waxed paper, plastics or similar lightweight material.

Advantageously, amplifying means are incorporated associated with the mouthpiece.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a novelty hat in accordance with this invention, Figure 2 shows the novelty hat of Figure 1 with the addition of favours, Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention in which a megaphone forming member is incorporated within a structure in the form of a hat, Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the invention in the shape of a cap.

In the Figures like reference numbers denote like parts.

The novelty hat shown in Figure 1 has a hollow frustoconical shaped member 1 having a base 4 and cut-off top portion 5. It is to be understood that the base and top portion are not necessarily planar and if planar the planes are not necessarily parallel to each other. The top portion 5 is sized and arranged to be a mouthpiece of a megaphone.

A strap, string, cord or the like 2 is secured at each end thereof to the member 1 in the vicinity of the base 4 so as to secure the member 1 to a user's head, for example, under a user's chin. The inner peripheral rim of the base may be shaped or otherwise adapted to conform to a user's head.

The novelty hat may be decorated with text or colours or favours 3, of a team or individual supported by a user, which may be affixed or removably fixed to the outer surface of the member 1.

Referring to Figure 2, favours in the form of flags 14 may alternatively, or additionally, be carried on the member 1 by the incorporation of a supporting element or elements (not shown) moulded or otherwise formed within or upon the body of the hat. Thus, the supporting element(s) may be lugs secured to the outer surface of member 1 or a hat band.

In a further embodiment, shown in Figure 3, the member 1 may be contained within a superstructure, for example within the confines of a hat, with a suitable aperture in the top of the hat to give access to the top portion 5 for use as a mouthpiece. Further, the superstructure, itself, may provide the adaptation to wear the megaphone as a hat without the requirement for a strap, string, cord or the like.

In another embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the novelty hat may be in the shape of a cap.

It is envisaged that the material of the member and hat may be waxed paper, pre-printed with a message or favours or of plastics material.

Although the member 1 has been described as being frusto-conical, it may be of any suitable cross-section such as square or some other polygon.

Furthermore, the top portion 5 forming the mouthpiece may incorporate amplifying means known ter se.

There is, thus, disclosed a lightweight novelty hat incorporating a megaphone.

In another embodiment the member 1 may be telescopic or concertinerable, for example like an opera hat, so the hat may be flattened.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS:

1. A novelty hat, constructed to be used as, or including, a megaphone.

2. A novelty hat formed from or including a hollow member which generally tapers outwardly from a mouthpiece formed at one end thereof to a head locatable portion formed at an opposite end thereof, wherein means are provided for securing said member to the head of a user.

3. A novelty hat as claimed in claim 2 wherein the member has a substantially circular, elliptical or polygonal (including triangular or rectangular) cross-section and said securing means is a strap, string, cord or the like attached at opposite ends thereof to spaced apart surfaces of the member whereby said securing means may secure the member to a user's head.

4. A novelty hat as claimed in claim 3 wherein the member is in the shape of a hat or cap or is included within a structure in the form of a hat adapted to be used as a megaphone by providing access to the mouthpiece and allowing the head locatable portion of the member to be open to the air to broadcast sound.

5. A novelty hat as claimed in claim 2 or 3 having an outer surface which is decorated with text or favours in the form of, for example, symbols, logos, flags or colours.

6. A novelty hat as claimed in claim 5 wherein fixing means are provided for attaching or other decorations to said novelty hat.

7. A novelty hat as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the hat and/or member are made from paper, waxed paper, plastics or similar lightweight material.

8. A novelty hat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein amplifying means are incorporated associated with the mouthpiece.

9. A novelty hat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hat or member is telescopable or concertinerable.

10. A novelty hat substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in each of the embodiments shown in the accompanying Figures.