U.S. patent application number 12/299468 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-06 for cap with moveable visor.
Invention is credited to Claudia Bonifer, John Brown, Andrew Hosie, Jose Romagnoli.
Application Number | 20100107308 12/299468 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38667315 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100107308 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hosie; Andrew ; et
al. |
May 6, 2010 |
CAP WITH MOVEABLE VISOR
Abstract
A cap including a head attachment portion having a front
section, a rear section and two side sections; a visor pivotally
connected to said head attachment portion and being selectively
moveable between a first position adjacent said front section and a
second position; and movement limiting means, formed of a flexible
material, having a first end attached to said visor and a second
end attached to said head attachment portion intermediate said
front and rear sections, said movement limiting means being adapted
to inhibit movement of said visor beyond said second position.
Inventors: |
Hosie; Andrew; (New South
Wales, AU) ; Bonifer; Claudia; (New South Wales,
AU) ; Brown; John; (New South Wales, AU) ;
Romagnoli; Jose; (New South Wales, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET, FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
38667315 |
Appl. No.: |
12/299468 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
May 3, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU2007/000572 |
371 Date: |
December 7, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/209.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/0184 20210101;
A42B 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/209.12 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/00 20060101
A42B001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 4, 2006 |
AU |
2006201877 |
Claims
1. A cap including: a head attachment portion having a front
section, a rear section and two side sections; a visor connected to
said head attachment portion and being selectively moveable between
a first position adjacent said front section and a second position;
and movement limiting structure, formed of a flexible material,
having a first end attached to said visor and a second end attached
to said head attachment portion intermediate said front and rear
sections, said movement limiting structure being adapted to inhibit
movement of said visor beyond said second position.
2. A cap according to claim 1 wherein the second position is
adjacent the rear section of the head attachment portion.
3. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the visor comprises a base
rim and the first end of the movement limiting structure is
attached to the base rim of the visor.
4. A cap according to any one of claims 1, wherein the second end
of the movement limiting means is attached to the head attachment
portion substantially midway between said front and rear
sections.
5. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the visor is adapted to
rotate about first and second pivot points on the two side sections
of the head attachment portion.
6. A cap according to claim 5 wherein the second end of the
movement limiting structure extends substantially between said
first and second pivot points.
7. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the head attachment portion
includes a primary cap skin which extends from said front section
to said rear section.
8. A cap according to claim 7 wherein the primary cap skin also
extends between said two side sections.
9. A cap according to claim 7, wherein the second end of the
movement limiting structure is attached to the primary cap
skin.
10. A cap according to claim 7, wherein the movement limiting
structure includes a secondary cap skin, partially overlying the
primary cap skin.
11. A cap according to claim 10 wherein the visor comprises a base
rim and the first end of the secondary cap skin is affixed to and
extends substantially along the base rim of said visor and the
second end of the secondary cap skin is affixed to the primary cap
skin and extends substantially between the first and second pivot
points.
12. A cap according to claim 1 further including a chin strap to
inhibit removal of the cap from a wearer's head.
13. A cap according to claim 12 wherein the chin strap extends
substantially between the two side sections of the head attachment
portion and is adapted to fit under a chin of a user.
14. A cap according to claim 12, wherein the chin strap is
adjustable to accommodate different head sizes.
15. A cap according to claim 12, wherein the chin strap includes
holes adapted to enable the ears of a wearer to extend
there-through.
16. A cap according to claim 12, wherein the chin strap is formed
of a material which is substantially transparent or
translucent.
17. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a cap having a visor for protecting
the eyes of a wearer from the sun. In particular, the invention
relates to a cap having a visor which is selectively moveable
between a first position in which the visor provides sun protection
to the eyes and a second position away from the eyes of a
wearer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In this specification, where a document, act or item of
knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion
is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or
any combination thereof was at the priority date: [0003] (i) part
of common general knowledge; or [0004] (ii) known to be relevant to
an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is
concerned.
[0005] Caps with visors, for providing a wearer's eyes with some
protection against the sun, are now in common use. Such caps are
frequently used in outdoor sports, such as golf, tennis and
baseball. Such caps are also commonly used for other outdoor
recreational activities and even simply as fashion accessories.
Some such caps consist simply of a visor and headband for securing
the visor to the head of a wearer. Other such caps cover the head
or crown of a user (eg in baseball cap style).
[0006] A disadvantage of such caps is that the visor is in a fixed
position and cannot be moved relative to the rest of the cap. In
order to reposition the visor of such a cap on a wearer's head, it
is generally necessary to remove the cap and replace it with the
visor positioned in an alternate desired position, such as adjacent
to the back of the wearer's head (e.g. in the style of a baseball
pitcher).
[0007] In order to address this disadvantage, a limited number of
alternate caps have been disclosed having selectively moveable or
removable visors.
[0008] For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,246 discloses a cap with a
removable and reversible visor. The cap of U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,246
includes a visor which is attachable to the body of the cap by
means of a zipper arrangement. The visor may be attached with
either of the flat surfaces of the visor facing upwardly (as
desired). The relevant visor is removable but is not moveable,
relative to the remainder of the cap, whilst remaining attached to
the cap. If it is desired that the visor be moved away from the
wearer's eyes, the visor needs to be removed or the cap
repositioned with the visor facing another way.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,772 discloses a sports cap having a
rotatable visor. This cap incorporates a track system and a
relatively stiff visor able to be rotated circumferentially about
the base of the cap by means of this track system. The track system
comprises two corresponding semi-rigid elongated members on the
body and the visor. The incorporation of these members into the cap
results in a relatively complex arrangement which substantially
increases the difficulty and cost of manufacturing such a cap.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,935 describes a cap with an adjustable
and interchangeable visor attachment. This cap includes a cap body
having a visor which is rotatably connected to the body by means of
a swivel mechanisms located on each of the opposed sides of the
body. The actual connection is formed by the two lateral ends of
the visor being connected to a swivel mechanism located on the
opposed sides of the cap body. This arrangement allows for the
visor to be rotatably moved from its usual position (protecting the
wearer's eyes from the sun) to an elevated position at which the
visor typically sits above the forehead of a wearer. This cap also
includes a system, having a plurality of dish-shaped recesses,
positioned along an arc on a particular plate, which serve as
position stops to enable the visor to be positioned in a number of
desired positions along the relevant arc. This arrangement is
relatively complex which increases the difficulty and expense in
manufacturing the relevant cap.
[0011] Another problem with prior art caps is that they tend not to
be suitable for use in water sports, such as surfing, where water
often rushes over the head of a participant tending to cause any
headwear to be washed off the participant's head. This problem has
previously been identified and some caps, having a visor, have been
developed which include chin straps for preventing the cap from
being washed off the head of a wearer. However, these caps
typically have a fixed visor, which is unsuitable and inconvenient
for use whilst surfing. Although, in its usual position, the visor
is effective in providing some protection to the eyes against
sunlight, it is particularly inconvenient when a surfer is paddling
out, against the direction of the waves. As will be appreciated,
when a surfer is paddling out, he or she is lying face down on the
surfboard and, in order to see where he or she is going, the
surfer's head needs to be bent upwardly. However, when in this
position and wearing a visor, the visor substantially restricts the
surfer's vision requiring the surfer to further bend his or her
neck, which causes additional strain and discomfort on the surfer's
neck. Also, the inclusion of a fixed visor in caps for surfing has
a further disadvantage that, when hit by a wave, the visor can be
forced against the nose and face of a wearer which can cause injury
or (at least) discomfort.
[0012] As will be appreciated from the above, there is a need for a
cap with a moveable visor which is relatively simple and
inexpensive to manufacture. There is a further need for such a cap
which is usable in a wide range of activities including water
sports, such as surfing.
[0013] The present invention is directed towards ameliorating at
least some of the above described problems associated with prior
art caps. In particular, the present invention is directed towards
providing a cap which is selectively moveable between a first
position, in which the visor is adapted to provide sun protection
to the eyes, and a second position, in which the visor is
positioned away from the eyes, the cap being relatively easy and
cost effective to manufacture. It is further desired that the cap
of the subject invention is usable in water sports such as
surfing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] According to a first aspect of this invention there is
provided a cap including: [0015] a head attachment portion having a
front section, a rear section, and two side sections; [0016] a
visor pivotally connected to said head attachment portion and being
selectively moveable between a first position adjacent said front
section and a second position; and [0017] movement limiting means,
having a first end attached to said visor and a second end attached
to said head attachment portion, adapted to inhibit movement of
said visor beyond said second position.
[0018] The second position of the visor may be located at any
desired position whereby, in use, the second position is located
rearward of the forehead of a user. In one preferred embodiment,
the second position is adjacent the rear section of the head
attachment portion. It is further preferred that the visor can,
selectively, also be positioned anywhere between the first position
and the second position.
[0019] The first end of the movement limiting means is preferably
attached to a base rim of the visor. In a particularly preferred
embodiment, the movement limiting means is formed of a flexible
material. In this embodiment, the first end of the movement
limiting means is affixed to and extends substantially along the
base rim of said visor.
[0020] The second end of the movement limiting means is preferably
attached to the head attachment portion intermediate said front and
rear sections. It is particularly preferred that the second end of
the movement limiting means is attached to the head attachment
portion substantially midway between said front and rear sections.
According to this embodiment, the visor will then be selectively
moveable between the first position, in which the visor is adapted
to provide sun protection to the eyes of the wearer, and the second
position, in which the visor may provide sun protection to the neck
of a wearer. This feature is particularly advantageous in sporting
situations where the wearer may be required to face either into the
sun or away from the sun for brief or extended periods.
[0021] According to a further preferred embodiment of the
invention, the visor is adapted to rotate about first and second
pivot points on the two side sections of the head attachment
portion. In this embodiment, the second end of the movement
limiting means, which is attached to the head attachment portion,
extends substantially between said first and second pivot
points.
[0022] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the
head attachment portion includes a primary cap skin which extends
between said front and rear sections. This cap skin further
preferably extends between said two side sections of the head
attachment portion. In this embodiment, the second end of the
movement limiting means is preferably attached to the primary cap
skin.
[0023] It is further preferred that the movement limiting means
includes a secondary cap skin partially overlying the primary cap
skin. In this embodiment, the first end of the secondary cap skin
is affixed to and preferably extends substantially along the base
rim of said visor and the second end of the secondary cap skin is
affixed to the primary cap skin and preferably extends
substantially between the first and second pivot points.
[0024] Preferably, the cap will include size adjustment means for
accommodating different head sizes. The size adjustment means may
be an elastic strip located about at least a portion of the
circumferential rim of the cap. Alternatively, the size adjustment
means may comprise a clip or Velcro.TM. arrangement enabling the
cap to be loosened or tightened.
[0025] The cap of this invention preferably also includes a chin
strap adapted to inhibit removal of the cap from the wearer's head.
The chin strap preferably extends substantially between each of the
two side sections of the head attachment portion. The chin strap is
preferably adjustable to accommodate different head sizes.
[0026] The chin strap may also include holes adapted to enable the
ears of a wearer to extend there-through. This feature inhibits
forward and rearward movement of the cap relative to the wearer's
head. This feature is particularly advantageous in windy conditions
or in water situations, such as surfing, where water (e.g. waves)
may rush over the wearer's head tending to cause the cap to shift
forward or backwards over the wearer's head. For aesthetic reasons,
the chin strap may be formed of a material which is substantially
transparent or translucent so that the chin strap is less prominent
visually.
[0027] The cap described above, and the various components of the
cap, may be formed of any suitable materials. Typically, the head
attachment portion of the cap will be formed of a cloth or other
suitable textile material. When the head attachment portion
includes the primary cap skin described above, this skin may be
formed of cloth, nylon, Lycra.TM., Tyvek.TM., neoprene, rubber or
other suitable textile or plastic materials. The material of the
primary cap skin may be a mesh material. The material of the
secondary cap skin may be selected from the same (or other)
materials. The primary and secondary cap skins may be made of the
same materials but they do not need to be.
[0028] The chin strap may also be formed of any suitable material.
Such materials may include cloth, neoprene and/or plastic. Another
suitable material for the chin strap is silicone (which can come in
transparent or translucent forms).
[0029] The visor may of course be formed of similar cloth or
textile materials or it may be formed of (or it may include) a more
rigid material such as a suitable plastic or rubber material. in
one preferred form, the visor includes a layer made of EVA
foam.
[0030] The cap according to a preferred embodiment of this
invention is intended for use in water sports, such as surfing.
Accordingly, it is preferable that the visor is formed of a
material which is not so rigid so as to be likely to cause injury
or discomfort if the visor happens to be pressed against the nose
or face of the wearer.
[0031] The connection between the secondary cap skin and the
primary cap skin may be formed in any suitable way. For instance,
the secondary cap skin may be sewn to, or glued to, the primary cap
skin.
[0032] As will be appreciated, the cap of this invention may be
embellished with corporate logos and/or other advertising material.
The cap of this invention has particular advantages in this regard.
For instance, when the cap of this invention incorporates the
primary and secondary cap skins described above, either or both of
these skins may incorporate such logos and/or advertising material.
Furthermore, as the secondary cap skin can selectively be located
adjacent the front section and/or the rear section of the cap,
logos or other advertising material located on the secondary cap
skin can be adapted so as to face either forwardly or rearwardly
depending upon the positioning of the secondary cap skin. Of
course, front and rear (and even side) portions of the primary cap
skin can also contain logos or other advertising matter, which will
be visible when not covered by the secondary cap skin.
[0033] Similarly, as the visor has two flat faces which
alternatively face upwards and downwards, depending on whether the
visor is facing forwardly or rearwardly, the visor can contain such
logos and/or advertising materials on either or both of the
faces.
[0034] The above features provide the cap of this invention with
substantial scope and benefits as an advertising or promotional
tool.
[0035] The use of the primary and secondary cap skins also enables
a substantial range of aesthetic appearances to be applied to the
cap. For instance, the primary and secondary cap skins may be of
the same colour or pattern (in which case the two skins will be
substantially indistinguishable visually). Alternatively, the
primary and secondary skins may be of different or contrasting
colours. Another option is for the primary and secondary skins to
incorporate different patterns, providing contrasting effects and
giving scope to a large range of different appearances. Also, the
two flat faces of the visor can have contrasting colours or designs
to provide further aesthetic variety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] The invention will now be further explained and illustrated
by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0037] FIG. 1 is a side view of a cap, according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, having a visor located in the
usual forward position on a wearer's head.
[0038] FIG. 2 is a side view of the cap showing in FIG. 1, with the
visor located in an intermediate position (between the forehead and
the back of the wearer's head).
[0039] FIG. 3 is a side view of the cap shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in
which the visor is located adjacent the back of the wearer's
head.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0040] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a cap 1 according to a particularly
preferred embodiment of the invention. This cap 1 includes a first
skin 2 which covers the wearer's head and which is similar in shape
to the type of caps worn by Australian surf lifesavers. The cap 1
also includes a second skin 3 and a visor 5 which extends from the
second skin 3. A first end 4 of second skin 3 is joined to first
skin 2 along a seam which extends laterally across the cap 1 from
one side of the cap 1 to the opposed side.
[0041] This seam is typically formed by sewing the first end 4 of
the second skin 3 to the first skin 2. Alternatively, however, the
seam could be formed by glue or some other suitable adhesive
means.
[0042] The cap 1 also typically includes a chin strap 6 which
extends from opposed side edges 7 of the cap 1. The chin strap 6 is
designed to fit under a wearer's chin in order to retain the cap on
the wearer's head when engaged in activities such as surfing or in
high wind situations. The chin strap 6 may be a single unitary
strap or it may comprise two portions which can be joined together
in use (e.g. by way of a clip, Velcro.TM. connection or any other
suitable connection). The chin strap 6 also typically includes
holes 8 through which the ears of a wearer can fit. This
arrangement further secures the cap 1 to the head of a wearer and
inhibits the cap 1 from being washed off or blown off the wearer's
head.
[0043] As more particularly shown in FIG. 2, the visor 5 can be
rotated between a forward position (as exemplified in FIG. 1) and a
rearward position (as exemplified in FIG. 3). If the aim of the
wearer is just to temporarily move the visor 5 away from his or her
eyes, the visor 5 may be positioned intermediate the forward and
rearward positions (as exemplified in FIG. 2).
[0044] As more clearly shown in FIG. 3, the visor 5 may be
positioned in a rearward position. This position is particularly
suitable when a surfer is paddling a surfboard or where the wearer
wishes to provide sun protection to his or her neck.
[0045] As can be seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, when the visor 5 is
moved from its forward position to its rearward position, the visor
5 is inverted (in that a first face 5a of the visor 5 changes from
facing upwardly to facing downwardly). Similarly, a second face 5b,
which faces downwardly when the visor 5 is in the forward position,
will face upwardly when the visor 5 is located in its rearward
position.
[0046] Also, the surface of the second skin 3 is inverted when the
visor 5 is moved from the forward position to the rearward
position. As mentioned above, this provides substantial opportunity
to provide a range of different aesthetic appearances of the
cap.
[0047] The word `comprising` and forms of the word `comprising` as
used in this description do not limit the invention claimed to
exclude any variants or additions.
[0048] Modifications and improvements to the invention will be
readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications
and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this
invention.
* * * * *