Novelty hat apparatus

• US 6,438,760 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeremiah Wakefield, Tony Wakefield
• Original Assignee: Jeremiah Wakefield, Tony Wakefield
• Inventors: Wakefield, Jeremiah, Wakefield, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Nerbun, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORAN, KATHERINE M
• Application Number:
  US09/865,820
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 220/913, 242/2, 404/28, 994/19, 994/21.A, 446/27, 446/352, 446/353
• US Class Current: 2/209.13
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/004 Decorative arrangements or effects

Abstract

A novelty hat apparatus having a spit for simulating the roasting of objects, a headpiece for supporting the apparatus on the head of a wearer, and a first and second spit frame member attached to the headpiece and extending upward therefrom, the first and second spit frame members each having apertures defined therein for receiving the ends of the spit. The headpiece has at least one simulated fire member attached to the headpiece and extending upward therefrom toward the spit. The apparatus may include a motor with a drive shaft extending therefrom and engaging a toothed wheel on the spit for turning the spit by operation of the motor. Additionally, a strap may be attached to the headpiece for retaining the apparatus on the head of the wearer. The spit may also have a spit crank fixed to an end.

Claims

1. A novelty hat apparatus to be worn by a wearer for simulating the spit-roasting of an object, comprising:

a spit for holding the object to be roasted;

a headpiece for supporting the apparatus on the head of the wearer, the headpiece having at least one simulated fire member attached to the headpiece and extending from the headpiece upward toward the spit; and

a frame supporting the spit from the headpiece.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a powered drive system for rotating the spit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the powered drive system comprises:

an electric motor; and

a drive train extending from the motor and engaging the spit, so that the spit is rotated by the electric motor and the drive train.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the electric motor is battery-powered.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the electric motor is solar-powered.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an on/off switch for controlling the operation of the motor.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the drive train further comprises a drive shaft extending from the motor, the drive shaft ending in a drive head, the drive head drivably engaging the spit for rotating the spit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the drive head comprises a pitched, threaded portion engaging the spit for rotation of the spit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spit further comprises a toothed wheel axially mounted on the spit, the toothed wheel engaging the drive head for rotating the spit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one detachable doll for removably attaching to the spit.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the headpiece further comprises an adjustable headband for adjustably fitting the headpiece to the head of the wearer.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a strap attached to the headpiece for retaining the apparatus on the head of the wearer.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises:

a first spit frame member having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being attached to the headpiece, and the upper end having an aperture defined therein for receiving a first end of the spit; and

a second spit frame member having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end having an aperture defined therein for receiving a second end of the spit.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a crank attached to the second end of the spit.

15. A novelty hat apparatus to be worn by a wearer for simulating the spit-roasting of an object, comprising:

a spit for holding the object to be roasted, the spit having a first end and a second end, the spit further having a toothed wheel axially mounted on the first end of the spit, and a crank attached to the second end of the spit;

a headpiece for supporting the apparatus on the head of the wearer, the headpiece having at least one simulated fire member attached to the headpiece and extending from the headpiece upward toward the spit, the headpiece further comprising an adjustable headband for adjustably fitting the headpiece to the head of the wearer;

a spit frame supporting the spit from the headpiece, the spit frame further including;

a first spit frame member having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being attached to the headpiece, and the upper end having an aperture defined therein for receiving the first end of the spit; and

a second spit frame member having a lower end and an upper end, the upper end having an aperture defined therein for receiving the second end of the spit;

a powered drive system for rotating the spit, the drive system including;

an electric motor;

an on/off switch for controlling the operation of the motor; and

a drive train extending from the electric motor and engaging the spit for rotating the spit, the drive train including a drive shaft extending from the motor, the drive shaft ending in a drive head, the drive head having a pitched, threaded portion for engaging the spit for rotation of the spit, the pitched, threaded portion drivably engaging the toothed wheel on the spit for rotating the spit;

a strap attached to the headpiece for retaining the apparatus on the head of the wearer; and

at least one detachable doll for removably attaching to the spit.

16. A kit for a novelty hat apparatus to be worn by a wearer for simulating the spit-roasting of an object, comprising:

a spit;

a headpiece;

a spit frame for supporting the spit from the headpiece; and

a plurality of detachable mascot dolls constructed to be detachably mounted on the spit.