US20060260023A1 - Hat - Google Patents

Abstract

A hat has a head-covering part; a forward extension extending forwardly from said head-covering part; and an additional element extending substantially downwardly from said extension so as to at least reduce falling of light radiation onto user's eyes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates generally to headware.
• More particularly, it relates to hats having a forwardly projecting substantially horizontal part which is usually formed for protecting eyes from directly falling light, sunrays, etc.
• The existing hats of the above mentioned general type are produced in many varieties and widely used by population. It is believed that such hats can be further improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hat of the above mentioned type which is a further improvement of the existing hats.
• In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a hat which has a head-covering part; a forward extension extending forwardly from said head-covering part; and an element extending downwardly from said extension and being formed for reducing light radiation directed towards user's eyes.
• When the hat is designed in accordance with the present invention, then in addition to the head-protecting functions and additional functions performed by the forward extension, also the user's eyes are protected from direct impingement by sun rays, bright light, etc.
• In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the additional element is formed as a portion of an extension which is bendable downwardly, so as to form said element.
• In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the additional element is formed as an additional layer which extends along the extension and has at least a portion bendable downwardly so as to provide said element.
• In accordance with still a further feature of the present invention, the additional element is formed as a detachable element which can be attached to the extension of the hat.
• The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a view showing a hat in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a view showing a hat in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 3 is a view showing a hat in accordance with still a further embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• A hat in accordance with the present invention has a head-covering part which is identified in general withreference numeral1. The head-coveringpart1 can be of any shape and size. It can be completely solid and interrupted, or it can be provided with holes, or it can only partially cover the head of a user, in accordance with many possible modifications.
• The hat in accordance with the present invention has a forward extension which is identified as a whole withreference numeral2. Theforward extension2 is attached to a forward end of the head-covering part, as known in the art, and extends substantially horizontally. The term “substantially horizontally” means that theextension2 can be completely flat and horizontal, or can be slightly curved as also well known in the art. Theextension2 is connected with the head-coveringpart1 in a known manner, which is not germain for the present invention.
• In accordance with the new features of the present invention, the hat is provided with an additional element which is identified withreference numeral3. The main feature of theadditional element3 is that it is formed so as to at least reduce light radiation passing through this element. For example, it is formed so that it reduces penetration of sun rays through theelement3 so that a user is not blinded by the sun, or it reduces penetration of light so that the user is not blinded by lights of oncoming car, etc.
• For this purpose theadditional element3 can be composed of a corresponding material, for example of a transparent plastic with properties impeding the penetration of light radiation. For example, the transparent plastic can be provided with corresponding pigment which reduces passage of the light radiation, or can be composed of light radiation reducing material as a whole, etc.
• In accordance with the first embodiment shown inFIG. 1, theelement3 is formed turnable relative to theextension2. In a simple case, theelement3 is formed as a part of theextension2, but composed of a light radiation impeding material. It can be just bent down from theextension2. For this purpose a connection area between theextension2 and theelement3 can be formed weaker, so as to allow bending of theadditional element3 from theextension2.
• It is also possible to connect theadditional element3 with theextension2 by connecting means formed so that theadditional element3 can be adjusted relative to theextension2 at any desired angle relative to theextension2 and therefore at the desired position relative to the user's eyes. For this purpose theadditional element3 can be connected with theextension2 for example by a hinge4. The hinge4 can be formed by a pin which is immovably connected with theextension2, and a loop provided in theadditional element3 and surrounding the pin4, so as to allow theadditional element3 to pivot around the pin4.
• In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the loop on theadditional element3 has such an inner diameter that it is placed very tight on the pin of the hinge4, so that theadditional element3 can be pivoted relative to theextension2 and retained by the above mentioned tight connection in any of the desired angular positions relative to theextension2.
• Another embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIG. 2. Here the hat also has a head-coveringpart1′, and aforward extension2′ which is connected with the head-coveringpart1′. Here theadditional element3′ is formed by a separate layer which extends along theextension2′ and has at least a portion which is turnable downwardly relative to a remaining portion of the additional layer. In this case, the whole area of theextension2′ remains intact, and the light radiation protecting function is performed by a bendable-down portion of theadditional layer3′ located under theextension2′.
• Still further embodiments of the invention is shown inFIG. 3. Here the hat in accordance with the present invention also has a head-coveringpart1″ and aforward extension2″ which is connected with a head-coveringpart1″. An additional element of this embodiment is formed somewhat differently. The additional element which is identified here withreference numeral3″ is formed as a separate element which can be attached to theextension2″, and detached from it. Theadditional element3″ is also formed for impeding passage of light radiation.
• Various connecting means can be used for detachedly connecting of theadditional element3″ with theextension2″. In an exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 3 the connecting means include a plurality of projections which are identified with reference numeral5 and can be formed as mushroom-shaped projections on theadditional element3″, and a plurality of holes6 provided on theextension2″. The projections5 and/or holes6 can be elastically deformable so that by simple pressing of the projections5 into the holes6, theadditional element3″ can be connected with theextension2″ by snap action.
• On the other hand, the holes6 can be elongated and the projections5 can be elongated as well, so that the interconnection is formed by introducing the elongated projection5 into the elongated hole6 and then turning of the elongated projection to extend transversely to the direction of elongation of the corresponding hole, so as to provide a bayonet connection.
• In accordance with the present invention, severaladditional elements3″ can be provided and differ from one another by different degrees of permeability for light radiation, so that a user can select the corresponding one of the additional elements in accordance with needs, such as the degree of illumination, intensity of sun radiation, etc.
• It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
• While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a hat, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
• Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of priorart, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims (10)

1. A hat, comprising a head-covering part; a forward extension extending forwardly from said head-covering part; and an additional element extending substantially downwardly from said extension so as to at least reduce falling of light radiation onto user's eyes, said additional element constituting a part of said extension but being composed of a material which reduces passing of light radiant through said additional element, while a remaining part of said extension is composed of a solid, light-impermeable material, said part of said extension being bendable down from the remaining part of said extension, said additional element having a width coextensive with a width of said remaining part of said extension.

2-3. (canceled)

4. A hat as defined inclaim 1, wherein said additional element is connected with said extension so that it can be displaced relative to said extension to assume a plurality of positions at different angles relative to said extension.

5. A hat as defined inclaim 1, wherein said additional element constituting a part of said extension but being composed of a material which reduces passing of light radiation through said additional element, while a remaining part is composed of said extension of a solid, light-impermeable material, said part of said extension being bendable down from the remaining part of said extension.

6-12. (canceled)

13. A hat as defined inclaim 1, wherein a connection between said additional element which constitutes a part of said extension and the remaining part of said extension is weaker so as to allow bending of said parts of said extension down from the remaining part of said extension.

14. A hat, comprising a head-covering part; a forward extension extending forwardly from said head-covering part; and an additional element extending substantially downwardly from said extension so as to at least reduce falling of light radiation onto user's eyes, wherein said additional element is located under said extension and formed by a separate layer which extends along said extension and has at least a portion which is turnable downwardly relative to a remaining portion of said additional element, so that a whole area of said extension remains intact, and a light radiation reduction is performed by said turnable downwardly portion of said additional element located under said extension, said additional element having a width and a length coextensive with a width and a length of said extension.

15. A hat, comprising a head-covering part; a forward extension extending forwardly from said head-covering part; and an additional element extending substantially downwardly from said extension so as to at least reduce falling of light radiation onto user's eyes, said additional element having a width and a length coextensive with a width and a length of said extension, said additional element extending forwardly of said extension and at both sides of said extension.

16. A hat as defined inclaim 15; and further comprising means for connecting said additional element with said extension and including openings provided in one of said extension and said additional element, and a projection provided in the other of said extension and said additional element.

17. A hat as defined inclaim 16, wherein said openings are elongated in a predetermined direction, while said projections are also elongated to extend in an assembled position transversely to said elongated openings.

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