This invention relates to a horizontally extending brim or visor on hats and caps.
Caps and hats have long been used to protect the head and face from sunlight. However, conventional hats do not provide full visibility. Recently, brims or visors have been incorporated into hats and caps. Again, while shielding the wearer from sunlight, these devices partially block the view of the wearer.
In one aspect, a hat with sunlight protection includes a crown and a laterally extending brim surrounding said crown, wherein at least thirty percent of the brim is an ultraviolet (UV) blocking material.
In another aspect, a cap with sunlight protection includes a crown and a laterally extending brim surrounding said crown, wherein at least thirty percent of the brim is an ultraviolet (UV) blocking material.
Implementations of the hat or cap can include one or more of the following. The brim has a surface can be curvy. The brim can be a UV inhibitor. The brim can have a thickness of about 0.020 inch to block sunlight. The crown and brim are formed from said sheet by sewing and/or vacuum forming. The brim can be formed with a textured exterior surface. An anti-glare material can be provided on the brim such as on an interior surface of said brim. A decorative element can be formed on the crown. The decoration can be a ribbon, a patch, a feature, among others. The UV material can be one of: a transparent film, a sheet, a screen, a plastic material, or a polymer material. The brim has a thickness sufficient to block transmission of substantially all UV light, and wherein said hat blocks transmission of substantially all ambient radiation having a wavelength from about 300 nm to about 850 nm. The hat with the brim can be rotatable relative the crown portion thereof.
Advantages of the hat may include one or more of the following. The hat or cap protects the wearer skin and eyes from harmful solar radiation. The brim with a close-fitting wraparound style provide the best protection because they limit how much stray sunlight reaches the eyes from above and beyond the periphery of the eyes. The hat/cap reduces overexposure to UVA radiation which has been linked to the development of certain types of cataracts, and research suggests UVA rays may play a role in development of macular degeneration. The hat/cap with UV brim also reduces UVB rays which are thought to help cause pingueculae and pterygia. These growths on the eye's surface can become unsightly and cause corneal problems as well as distorted vision.
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As used herein, the outside of crown portion 20 is the side visible to others when hat 1 is worn on a wearer's head, while the inside of crown portion 20 is the side facing the wearer's head when hat 1 is being worn. The opening of crown portion 20 is defined by a generally horizontal lower periphery 22. Crown portion 20 has a vertical central axis c that extends through the topmost point (i.e., the decorative button) of crown portion 20 and perpendicularly to lower periphery 22. The terms “horizontal” and “vertical,” as used herein, are relative terms connotating a perpendicular relationship, whereby the “horizontal” lower periphery may have any absolute orientation, and the “vertical” central axis will have the correspondingly perpendicular absolute orientation.
Alternatively, the crown portion 20 can have a cylindrical shape or the shape of a band having the lower periphery 22 and an upper periphery 23, whereby the hat has an open top or upper opening and an open bottom or lower opening. With such a configuration, a hat according to the present invention could be classified as a “visor.”
Brim 30 has a proximate portion 32 that, as shown, is either removably or substantially permanently secured to crown portion 20. Preferably, about 30% or more of the hat's brim 30 is made of UV-transparent film, sheet, screen, plastic, or polymer materials. Brim 30 extends substantially horizontally away from crown portion 20, so as to provide shade for the wearer's eyes and face. The purpose for which hat 1 is to be used may dictate varying shapes, lengths and angles with respect to brim 30. Brim 30 may be formed by any appropriate method using any suitable material or materials, for example a fabric material that is stitched to, or contains, a stiffening material, such as cardboard or plastic.
While the thickness of the brim sheet is typically about 0.020 inch, it may be as thin as about 0.012 inch and yet still produce a hat 10 which maintains its shape and completely blocks harmful ultraviolet light including both ambient UVA and UVB radiation.
The wavelength of the UV region which includes UVA and UVB light extends from about 300 nm to about 400 nm. Visible light extends over a wavelength range of about 400 to 700 nm, near infrared extends over about 700 nm to 1700 nm and for infrared from about 1700 nm to about 2600 nm.
UVC rays are the highest-energy UV rays and potentially could be the most harmful to eyes and skin. Fortunately, the atmosphere's ozone layer blocks virtually all UVC rays. But this also means depletion of the ozone layer potentially could allow high-energy UVC rays to reach the earth's surface and cause serious UV-related health problems. UVC rays have wavelengths of 100-280 nanometer (nm).
UVB rays have slightly longer wavelengths (280-315 nm) and lower energy than UVC rays. These rays are filtered partially by the ozone layer, but some still reach the earth's surface. In low doses, UVB radiation stimulates the production of melanin (a skin pigment), causing the skin to darken, creating a suntan. But in higher doses, UVB rays cause sunburn that increases the risk of skin cancer. UVB rays also cause skin discolorations, wrinkles and other signs of premature aging of the skin. UVA rays. These are closer to visible light rays and have lower energy than UVB and UVC rays. But UVA rays can pass through the cornea and reach the lens and retina inside the eye.
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Assembly of hat 1 may be accomplished using a method suitable method of construction or manufacture. As stated above, any materials may be used to make hat 1. A representative method of construction may include the following steps: (i) forming crown portion 20 by sewing together six triangular segments of a fabric, such as a heavy-weight cotton canvas, and attaching a decorative button at its top; (ii) forming brim 30 by sewing a fabric covering around a cardboard structure; (iii) attaching to the brim 30 to the crown portion 20.
In use, a wearer places hat 1 upon the wearer's head. Brim 30 will normally extend forwardly of the wearer to provide shade to the wearer's eyes. When it is desired to reorient brim 30, such as when it becomes necessary to prevent the wind from lifting the hat from the head, or such as when it becomes necessary to rapidly look upwardly to follow a bird for example, brim 30 may rapidly be rotated with respect to the wearer's head without removing hat 1.
The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.