Patent Application
20240188670
This disclosure relates generally to visor brims for headgear.
Headgear and visor brims are used during sporting activities, such as cycling or winter sports. Wearers of these products need to protect their heads and eyes from injury or impact, which can be caused by environmental debris and/or harsh conditions. Additionally, wearers of these products need to protect their eyes from sunlight glare. As a result, opaque visor brims are designed to block environmental debris and sunlight from the wearer's eyes. However, opaque visor brims must be limited in size and shape to avoid hampering the wearer's field of view.
Aspects of this disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the common practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.
Illustrative embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements.
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. As used herein, the formation of a first feature on a second feature means the first feature is formed in direct contact with the second feature. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “underlying,” “underneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “over,” “upper,” “lower,” and the like may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.
It is noted that references in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” “exemplary,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it would be within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by those skilled in relevant art(s) in light of the teachings herein.
In some embodiments, the terms “about” and “substantially” can indicate a value of a given quantity that varies within 5% of the value (e.g., ±1%, ±2%, ±3%, ±4%, or ±5% of the value).
As used herein, the term “between a first value and a second value,” as used for example in “a wavelength range is between 440 nm and 520 nm,” means that the wavelength range is from 440 nm to 520 nm, where end points of 440 nm and 520 nm are both included in the wavelength range.
As used herein, the term “visible spectral range” refers to a wavelength range from about 380 nm to about 780 nm.
As used herein, the term “across a spectral range” refers to all wavelengths (e.g., with an increment of 1 nm) within the spectral range, including the endpoints of the spectral range.
As used herein, the terms “over a spectral range” and “in a spectral range” refer to at least one wavelength within the spectral range.
As used herein, the term “optical transmittance” refers to the fraction of incident electromagnetic power transmitted through an object.
As used herein, the term “visible light transmittance (VLT)” refers to a luminous transmittance profile, such as using Commission Internationale de l'Elcairage (CIE) standard illuminant D65, ISO 12331, or ANSI Z80.3.
As used herein, the term “chroma enhancement filter” refers to a chroma enhancement material, a chroma enhancement dye, a chroma enhancement doping, a chroma enhancement coating, a chroma enhancement film, a chroma enhancement layer, a chroma enhancement wafer, or a chroma enhancement visor brim body that can provide chroma enhancement to increase the vividness of the perceived colors.
As used herein, the term “disposed,” as used for example in “a first layer is disposed over a second layer,” means that the first layer is either directly placed against the second layer's surface, or that the first layer is indirectly placed over the second layer's surface with at least a third layer in between.
As used herein, the term “coupled,” as used for example in “a first layer is coupled to a second layer” means that the first layer is disposed over the second layer (as “disposed” is defined above), or that the first layer is integrated into the second layer.
In some aspects, the wearer can be a participant in an athletic sport that involves wearing helmets with visor brims. In one example, the sport may be a road or trail sport, such as bicycling or motocross. In another example, the sport may be baseball. In another example, the sport may be a snow sport, such as skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling. In many sports, the participant can experience harsh conditions from wind and light. Additionally, environmental debris such as dirt, road debris, rain, snow, and ice can impact the wearer. To minimize the impact of these factors and protect the wearer, headgear 100 and visor brim 102 can deflect light, wind, and environmental debris. The wearer can adjust the position of visor brim 102 relative to the wearer's eyes and/or headgear 100. In this way, the wearer can optimize the performance of headgear 100 and visor brim 102. While
Visor brim 102 may be attached to headgear 100 by one or more fasteners 106 such as bolts, adhesive, magnets, clips, rotatable cams, and the like, or may be fused onto or otherwise integrated with headgear 100. Visor brim 102 may be permanently attached to headgear 100, or may be separable from headgear 100.
Many visor brims are opaque, such that they block light in addition to any safety or wind/debris blocking functionality. While an opaque visor brim can be beneficial in preventing bright, overhead sunlight from reaching a wearer's eyes in a head-up orientation, an opaque visor brim can also be a hindrance to a wearer because it similarly blocks the wearer's field of view. This is particularly a concern when a wearer is positioned in a head-down orientation, as illustrated in
To mitigate such potential reductions in the field of view, all or a portion of a visor brim, in accordance with some embodiments herein, may be made of a translucent material. This translucency permits the wearer to see through the visor brim, so that the wearer's field of view is not impeded when the visor brim is located in the wearer's line of sight. In some embodiments, a portion of the visor brim may be opaque and the remaining portion may be translucent or transparent. In some embodiments, the visor brim may include a gradient of tinting. In some embodiments, the visor brim may include distinct portions of separate tints. In some embodiments, the visor brim may be entirely transparent.
Indeed, because the wearer's field of view is not blocked by translucent visor brim 102, visor brim 102 is not constrained by the size and functional limitations of traditional opaque visor brims. For example, visor brim 102 can have various shapes and sizes to provide enhanced functions without impeding the wearer's field of view, due to its translucency. For example, visor brim 102 can be flat, have one axis of curvature, two axes of curvature, or more than two axes of curvature, or of freeform shape. Visor brim 102 can be cylindrical, parabolic, spherical, toroidal, flat, or elliptical, or any other shape such as a meniscus, catenoid, or irregular.
Visor brim 102 can direct air into, away from, or around headgear 100, thus allowing the wearer to experience venting and cooling. Additionally, visor brim 102 can provide aerodynamic benefits by controlling airflow around headgear 100 to reduce air drag.
Visor brim 102 can be optically finished to improve the wearer's visual experience. A molded, but unfinished (“tooled”) surface of a visor brim can be rough and wavy. To remove such imperfections from the tooled surface, visor brim 102 can be polished to acquire varying degrees of an optical grade finish. Forming a coating or a laminate on visor brim 102 can produce varying degrees of an optical grade finish as well. By polishing or forming a coating or a laminate on the surface of visor brims 102, visor brim 102 can acquire at least one of a marginal optical grade finish, a semi-optical grade finish, or an optical grade finish. In some embodiments, visor brim 102 can be finished to optical grade without surface distortions. In some embodiments, visor brim 102 can be finished to be optically correct like a lens.
An optical finish for visor 102 can be attained by polishing a surface to a predetermined surface roughness. Surface roughness can be calculated by measuring heights of peaks and valleys across the surface. A “Roughness Average” (Ra) can be calculated as an average of the heights of peaks and valleys on the surface in micrometers. A “Root Mean Square” (RMS) can be calculated by measuring the heights of peaks and valleys, squaring those measurements, finding an average of the squares, and computing a square root of the average in micrometers. Both values for Ra and RMS can be used to ensure the surface finishes comply with industry standards.
A surface of visor brim 102 can be finished according to surface finish standards set by, for example, the Society of the Plastics Industry (“SPI”) or the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, also known as the Society of German Engineers (“VDI”). The SPI surface finish standard includes twelve grades of finishes, comprising four categories that range from glossy (A-1) to dull (D-3). For example, SPI A-grade finishes can be a glossy finish when polished by diamond buffs; SPI B-grade finishes can be a semi-glossy finish when polished by sandpapers; SPI C-grade finishes can be a matte finish when polished by stone powder; and SPI D-grade finishes can be a dull finish when dry blasted by aluminum oxide or glass beads. The VDI 3400 surface finish standard includes 45 grades of textures, ranging from #0 to #45. The SPI surface finish standards and the VDI 3400 surface finish standards can share similar grades of finishes at certain values for Ra and RMS.
Table 1 provides guidelines that can assist a skilled artisan in choosing an appropriate surface finish for visor brim 102 based on SPI surface finish standards, finishing methods, typical applications, Ra, RMS, or VDI 34000 surface finish standards.
SPI surface finish standards can produce different results depending on the material used in the mold of visor brim 102. Some materials can produce a smooth finish, while other materials can produce a dull, textured surface. The tables below illustrate the suitability of several injection molding materials for various SPI surface finish standards to be used on visor brim 102. Table 2A details suitable materials for SPI A-grade glossy finishes; Table 2B details suitable materials for SPI B-grade semi-glossy finishes; Table 2C details suitable materials for SPI C-grade matte finishes; and Table 2D details suitable materials for SPI D-grade dull finishes.
Providing curvature in the visor brim 102 can result in various advantageous optical qualities for the wearer, including reducing the prismatic shift of light rays passing through the visor brim 102, and providing an optical correction, such as correcting an optical distortion or modifying an optical focal power. Regardless of the particular vertical or horizontal curvature of upper surface 108 and lower surface 110 of visor brim 102, however, other types of upper surface 108 and lower surface 110 of visor brim 102 may be chosen such as to minimize one or more of power, prism, and astigmatism of visor brim 102.
Translucent visor brim 102 can include one or more optical filters configured to filter undesired wavelengths. Objects that humans can visually observe in the environment typically emit, reflect, or transmit visible light from one or more surfaces. The surfaces can be considered an array of points that the human eye is unable to resolve any more finely. Each point on the surfaces does not emit, reflect, or transmit a single wavelength of light; rather, it emits, reflects, or transmits a broad spectrum of wavelengths that are interpreted as a single color in human vision. Generally speaking, if one were to observe the corresponding “single wavelength” of light for that interpreted color (for example, a visual stimulus having a very narrow spectral bandwidth, such as 1 nm), it would appear extremely vivid when compared to a color interpreted from a broad spectrum of observed wavelengths.
Translucent visor brim 102 can incorporate an optical filter to remove outer bands of a broad visual stimulus to make colors appear more vivid as perceived in human vision. The outer bands of a broad visual stimulus refer to wavelengths that, when substantially, nearly completely, or completely attenuated, decrease the bandwidth of the stimulus such that the vividness of the perceived color is increased. Such an optical filter can be configured to substantially increase the colorfulness, clarity, and/or vividness of a scene. Such an optical filter can allow the wearer to view the scene in high definition color (HD color).
The vividness of interpreted colors is correlated with an attribute known as the chroma value of a color. The chroma value is one of the attributes or coordinates of the CIE L*C*h* color space. Together with attributes known as hue and lightness, the chroma can be used to define colors that are perceivable in human vision. It has been determined that visual acuity is positively correlated with the chroma values of colors in an image. In other words, the visual acuity of an observer is greater when viewing a scene with high chroma value colors than when viewing the same scene with lower chroma value colors.
An optical filter can be configured to enhance the chroma profile of a scene when the scene is viewed through a translucent visor brim that incorporates the optical filter. The optical filter can be configured to increase or decrease chroma in a plurality of spectral ranges (e.g., two spectral ranges, three spectral ranges, four spectral ranges or five spectral ranges) in order to achieve any desired effect. The spectral ranges over which an optical filter increases or decreases chroma can be called chroma enhancement windows (CEWs). The chroma-enhancing optical filter can be configured to preferentially transmit or attenuate light in any desired chroma enhancement windows. Any suitable process can be used to determine the desired chroma enhancement windows. For example, the colors predominantly reflected or emitted in a selected environment can be measured, and a filter can be adapted to provide chroma enhancement in one or more spectral regions corresponding to the colors that are predominantly reflected or emitted.
In some embodiments, CEWs include portions of the visible spectrum in which an optical filter provides a substantial change in chroma compared to a neutral filter having the same average attenuation within each 30 nm stimulus band, as perceived by a person with normal vision. In certain cases, a substantial enhancement of chroma can be seen when a filter provides a chroma increase greater than or equal to about 2% compared to the neutral filter. In other cases, a chroma increase greater than or equal to about 3% or greater than or equal to about 5% compared to the neutral filter is considered a substantial increase. Whether a chroma change represents a substantial increase can depend on the spectral region in which the increase is provided. For example, a substantial chroma enhancement can include an increase in chroma greater than or equal to about 6% over a neutral filter when the visual stimulus is centered at about 560 nm. A substantial chroma enhancement can include an increase in chroma greater than or equal to about 3% over a neutral filter when the visual stimulus is centered at about 660 nm. A substantial chroma enhancement can include an increase in chroma greater than or equal to about 15% over a neutral filter when the visual stimulus is centered at about 570 nm. Accordingly, the amount of change in chroma relative to the neutral filter that is considered substantial can differ depending on the spectral range of the CEW.
In certain embodiments, a substantial chroma enhancement is provided by an optical filter configured to increase chroma in one or more CEWs over a neutral filter without any significant decrease in chroma compared to a neutral filter within the one or more CEWs. A substantial chroma enhancement can also be provided by an embodiment of an optical filter configured to increase chroma in one or more CEWs over a neutral filter without any significant decrease in chroma compared to a neutral filter within a particular spectral range, such as, for example, between about 420 nm and about 650 nm.
The optical filter can be configured to provide any desired chromaticity, a chroma-enhancing effect, a photochromic effect, an electrochromic effect, an optical polarizing effect, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, visor brim 102 can be configured to provide a substantially neutral visible light spectral profile as seen through visor brim 102. For example, an overall color appearance of visor brim 102 can be substantially color neutral and substantially translucent. In another example, an overall color appearance of visor brim 102 can be substantially color neutral and substantially transparent. In some embodiments, an overall color appearance of visor brim 102 can be substantially any desired color (e.g., grey, pink, orange, red, brown, amber, yellow, etc.). For example, an overall color appearance of visor brim 102 can be substantially any desired color and substantially translucent. In another example, an overall color appearance of visor brim 102 can be substantially any desired color and substantially transparent.
Visor brim body 208 can be formed of polycarbonate (PC), allyl diglycol carbonate monomer (being sold under the brand name CR-39®), a resin layer (e.g., MR-8®), glass, nylon, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate polyester film (BoPET, with one such polyester film sold under the brand name MYLAR®), acrylic (polymethyl methacrylate or PMMA), triacetate cellulose (TAC), a polymeric material, a co-polymer, a doped material, any other suitable material, or any combination of materials. The visor brim body 208 can be manufactured by any suitable technique, such as, for example, casting or injection molding. In some embodiments, visor brim body 208 can be an injection molded, polymeric visor brim body.
In some embodiments, one or more surfaces of visor brim body 208 may be of irregular shape. Irregular shape means a shape that is not constrained by a particular base curvature. In some embodiments, visor brim body 208 can have a concave surface and a convex surface. Visor brim body 208 can have a desired base curve and thickness to provide optical correction. For example, each of visor brim body 208's upper surface 212 and lower surface 210 can have a turned (e.g., spheric, toric, cylindrical) or freeform geometry with proper thickness distribution (e.g., tapering thickness along upper surface 212 and/or lower surface 210). Upper surface 212 and/or lower surface 210 can have turned geometries with a non-zero base curve in a horizontal and/or vertical direction. In some embodiments, upper surface 212 and/or lower surface 210 can have turned geometries with a base curve of about base 4 and greater, about base 6 and greater, or about base 8 and greater.
In some embodiments, visor brim body 208 can contain one or more chroma enhancement filters as described above, configured to increase a scene's vividness viewed through translucent visor brim 102 on headgear 100. For example, the chroma enhancement filters can be dispersed throughout visor brim body 208. In some embodiments, the chroma enhancement filter can be at least partially incorporated into visor brim body 208. In some embodiments, visor brim body 208 can be impregnated with, loaded with, or otherwise include the chroma enhancement filters. Therefore, visor brim body 208 can be configured to enhance the chroma profile of a scene viewed through visor brim 200. In some embodiments, visor brim body 208 having chroma enhancement properties can be a molded body. In some embodiments, the chroma enhancement filter can be provided as a layer enclosed by or intermixed with visor brim body 208. In some embodiments, visor brim body 208 having chroma enhancement properties can be configured to increase or decrease the chroma value in one or more chroma enhancement windows in the visible spectral range. The chroma enhancement filter(s) integrated with visor brim body 208 can be further configured to preferentially transmit or attenuate light in the one or more chroma enhancement windows to provide enhanced chroma values. For example, an environment can predominantly reflect or emit a color, where the chroma enhancement filter integrated with visor brim body 208 can be adapted to provide the chroma enhancement by attenuating or enhancing an optical transmittance for one or more wavelengths associated with the predominantly reflected or emitted color.
In some embodiments, the chroma enhancement filter is integrated with visor brim body 208, and can include one or more dyes. In some embodiments, the dyes are organic dyes. In some embodiments, the dyes include one or more of an Exciton ABS absorber dye.
In some embodiments, visor brim 200 can further include one or more functional layers (not shown in
In some embodiments, the visor brim can include an ultraviolet (UV) absorption layer in the optical filter or a layer that includes UV absorption outside of the optical filter layer. Such a layer can decrease bleaching of the optical filter. In addition, UV absorbing agents can be disposed in any visor brim component or combination of visor brim components (e.g., optical filter 104). In some embodiments, the visor brim may have an UV transmission cutoff at a wavelength from about 380 nm to about 400 nm. In some embodiments, the transmission below about 400 nm, below about 390 nm, or below about 380 nm is less than about 10%, less than about 5%, or less than about 1%. In some embodiments, the visor brim has a sharp spectral cutoff at about 390 nm or at about 400 nm.
Chroma enhancement layer 214 can be placed over visor brim body 208's upper surface 212 and/or visor brim body 208's lower surface 210. Chroma enhancement layer 214 may be an embodiment of optical filter 104. In some embodiments, chroma enhancement layer 214 can physically contact visor brim body 208. Chroma enhancement layer 214 can be configured to provide the chroma enhancement for visor brim 220. Chroma enhancement layer 214 can be further configured to preferentially transmit or attenuate light in the one or more chroma enhancement windows to provide enhanced chroma values. For example, an environment can predominantly reflect or emit a color, where chroma enhancement layer 214 can be adapted to attenuate or enhance an optical transmittance for one or more wavelengths associated with the predominantly reflected or emitted color. In some embodiments, optical filter 104 may also be at least partially incorporated in visor brim body 208.
In some embodiments, visor brim 220 can further include one or more functional layers (not shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, optical filter 104 may be incorporated or partially incorporated in one or more of the visor brim body 208, the hard coat layer 216, or the hard coat layer 218.
In some embodiments, hard coat layers 216 and 218 can include a polymeric material configured to increase an abrasion resistance, a mechanical durability, and/or chemical resistance of visor brim 240. Hard coat layer 216 can be disposed over visor brim body 208's upper surface 212, and can have a surface 226 facing upwards. Hard coat layer 218 can be disposed over visor brim body 208's lower surface 210, and can have a surface 228 facing downwards. In some embodiments, hard coat layer 216 and/or hard coat layer 218 can be impregnated with, loaded with, or otherwise include chroma enhancement filters.
As a result, hard coat layers 216 and 218 can protect visor brim body 208 from being damaged (e.g., scratched), thus avoiding degrading visor brim 102. In some embodiments, hard coat layers 216 and 218 can have substantially identical material and/or thickness to each other.
Anti-reflection layers 222 and 224 can be disposed over visor brim 240's surfaces 108 and/or 110, and can be configured to reduce an optical reflectivity for such surface across or over the visible spectral range.
In some embodiments, visor brim 240 can further include one or more functional layers (not shown in
An optical filter can be designed to be activity-specific by providing relatively lower chroma in one or more spectral regions associated with a specific background (e.g., the ground, the sky, an athletic field or court, a combination, etc.) and providing relatively high chroma in one or more spectral regions associated with a specific foreground or object (e.g., a ball). Alternatively, an optical filter can have an activity-specific configuration by providing increased chroma in both a background spectral region and an object spectral region.
In certain embodiments, headgear visor brims and optical filters provide one or more CEWs corresponding to a specific activity. A filter can include one or more CEWs in a portion of the visible spectrum in which an object of interest, such as, for example, a baseball, emits or reflects a substantial spectral stimulus. When referring to the spectral stimulus of an object of interest, a corresponding CEW can be referred to as the object spectral window. When referring to spectral stimulus of a background behind an object, a corresponding CEW can be referred to as the background spectral window. Moreover, when referring to the spectral stimulus of the general surroundings, the spectral window can be referred to as the surrounding spectral window. An optical filter can be configured such that one or more edges of an absorbance peak lie within at least one spectral window. In this way, an optical filter can enhance chroma in the spectral ranges corresponding to a given spectral stimulus (e.g. object, background, or surroundings).
In such implementations, the optical filter is configured to enhance object visibility while preserving the natural appearance of viewed scenes. A visor brim having an optical filter as described according to embodiments herein can be provided for different sporting activities such as baseball, tennis, badminton, basketball, racquetball, handball, archery, target shooting, trap shooting, cricket, lacrosse, football, ice hockey, field hockey, hunting, soccer, squash, sailing, skiing, snowboarding, cycling, trail running, or volleyball and/or non-sporting activities such as driving or other daily activities. An optical filter configured to provide chroma enhancement (CE) according to embodiments described herein can absorb specific wavelengths in the visible spectral range (e.g., between about 390 nm and about 850 nm) to enhance the color quality of the visual environment viewable through the visor brim, and to allow the sportsperson to engage in the sporting activity to the best of their ability. For example, it would increase a skier's skiing experience if the CE providing optical filter system were configured to make the slope and other objects on the slope stand out from the background. As another example, including an optical filter system that can also enhance chroma in the visor brim can make a baseball stand out against the grass thus improving the player's ability to spot the ball. An optical filter system that can also enhance chroma can be provided so that backgrounds are apparent, scenes appear natural, and the wearer's focus and depth perception are improved. Accordingly, a visor brim including an optical filter that can provide chroma enhancement can be advantageous for various sporting activities and for activities other than sports in which it is desirable to identify, locate, or track an object against backgrounds associated with the activity such as, for example, dentistry, surgery, bird watching, fishing, or search and rescue operations. Such implementations of optical filters (and implementations of headgear visor brims that include such filters) can be configured for a wide range of recreational, sporting, professional, and other activities. For example, chroma-enhancing, enhanced-visibility filters can be provided for activities that include viewing objects against water such as fishing, sailing, rowing, surfing, etc. As another example, chroma-enhancing, enhanced-visibility filters can be provided for activities that include viewing objects against grass such as baseball, tennis, soccer, cricket, lacrosse, field hockey, etc. As another example, chroma-enhancing, enhanced-visibility filters can be provided for activities that include viewing objects indoors in artificial illumination such as badminton, basketball, target shooting, racquetball, squash, table tennis, etc. As another example, chroma-enhancing, enhanced-visibility filters can be provided for activities that include viewing objects against snow such as skiing, ice hockey, etc. As another example, chroma-enhancing, enhanced-visibility filters can be provided for activities that include viewing objects outdoors in sunlight such as skiing, baseball, golf, shooting, hunting, soccer, etc.
Implementations of chroma-enhancing, enhanced-visibility filters that are configured for activities that include viewing objects against a particular background can have a common characteristic. For example, chroma-enhancing, enhanced-visibility filters that are provided for activities that include viewing objects against water can be configured to be polarizing to reduce glare resulting from light reflected from the water. As another example, chroma-enhancing, enhanced-visibility filters that are provided for activities that include viewing objects against water can be configured to attenuate light in the blue and/or blue-green spectral range to make objects stand-out against water. As another example, chroma-enhancing, enhanced-visibility filters that are provided for activities that include viewing objects against grass can be configured to attenuate light in the green spectral range to make objects stand-out against grass.
Baseball is one example of an activity that corresponds to the CEW configuration for a chroma-enhancing optical filter shown in
The outfield players and infield players play under different lighting conditions and thus would benefit from having visor brims tailored to spot the baseball in their respective lighting conditions. Additionally, it would be advantageous for outfield players to have the ability to spot the baseball from a distance. Thus, it would be beneficial for various embodiments of visor brims to be configured to have different optical characteristics for infield players and outfield players. For example, since the outfield is usually sunnier than the infield and/or has less shadows as compared to the infield, it would be useful if the visor brims configured for the players in the outfield included filters that reduced glare and overall brightness but transmitted different colors in the visible spectral range via select chroma enhancement windows so that the white baseball can be spotted from a distance. As another example, it would be advantageous if the visor brims configured for the players in the infield included filters that reduced glare, increased contrast between the blue sky and the green grass and in general made the white ball and the red stitching on the baseball stand-out against the field.
As discussed above, the effective absorbance profile depicted in
Referring to
Referring to the effective absorbance profile, depicted in
Referring to the effective absorbance profile, depicted in
Referring to the effective absorbance profile, depicted in
Referring to the effective absorbance profile, depicted in
Referring to the effective absorbance profile, depicted in
Referring to the effective absorbance profile, depicted in
Referring to the effective absorbance profile, depicted in
Referring to the effective absorbance profile, depicted in
Furthermore, the one or more filters included in the embodiment of the visor brim suitable for baseball players in the outfield and baseball players in the infield can be configured to attenuate light having wavelengths less than 400 nm (e.g., in the ultraviolet range). Thus, the embodiment of the visor brim suitable for baseball players in the outfield and baseball players in the infield can reduce the amount of ultraviolet light incident on the player's eyes, thereby providing safety and health benefits.
Comparing the effective absorbance profiles of the implementations of optical filters configured for use by baseball players in the outfield and baseball players in the infield, it is noted that the optical filter implementation configured for use by baseball players in the infield absorb wavelengths around 475 nm (e.g., blue light) to a greater extent as compared to the optical filter implementations configured for use by baseball players in the outfield and absorb wavelengths around 575 nm (e.g., greenish-yellow light) and 660 nm (e.g., red light) to a lesser extent as compared to the optical filter implementations configured for use by baseball players in the outfield.
The attenuation factor of the absorbance peaks in the blue spectral region (e.g., between 440 nm and 490 nm) and red spectral region (e.g., between 620 nm and 670 nm) can be greater than or equal to about 0.8 and less than 1 in various implementations of optical filters configured for use by baseball players in the outfield and/or infield. Without any loss of generality, the attenuation factor of an absorbance peak can be obtained by dividing an integrated absorptance peak area within the spectral bandwidth by the spectral bandwidth of the absorbance peak.
As discussed above, the peaks in the effective absorbance profile corresponds to notches in the effective transmittance profile. The presence of notches in the effective transmittance profile creates distinct pass-bands. Wavelengths in each of the distinct pass-bands are transmitted with lower attenuation than wavelengths in the notches. In the illustrated transmission spectra in
In the illustrated transmittance profile in
Comparing the embodiments of the visor brims for outfield players and infield players, it is noted that embodiments of visor brims for outfield players are configured to transmit more light in the violet-blue spectral range and the orange-red spectral range as compared to embodiments of visor brims for infield players. It is also noted that embodiments of visor brims for outfield players are configured to transmit less light in the green-yellow spectral range as compared to embodiments of visor brims for infield players.
It is further observed from
It is also observed from
As discussed above, the one or more embodiments that are suitable for infield and/or outfield players can include dielectric stacks, multilayer interference coatings, rare earth oxide additives, organic dyes, or a combination of multiple polarization filters as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,902, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification for cosmetic purposes and/or to darken various embodiments of the visor brims. Some embodiments of interference coatings are sold by Oakley, Inc. of Foothill Ranch, California, U.S.A under the brand name Iridium®.
A skilled artisan will recognize that visor brims for use with headgear can be tailored in size and shape to other sports as well, with chroma enhancement windows suitable for the specific sport. For example, appropriate chroma enhancement windows can be selected and incorporated into translucent (which may include partially translucent and/or transparent) visor brims for road sports (e.g., bicycling, motocross), snow sports (e.g., skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling), grass sports (e.g., golf), etc., in similar fashion as described above. Other examples of activity-specific chroma enhancement windows are detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,575,335, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The foregoing disclosure outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
It is contemplated that the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any embodiments discussed herein can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more separate embodiments not expressly illustrated or described. For example, it is understood that an optical filter can include any suitable combination of light attenuation features and that a combination of light-attenuating elements can combine to control the chroma of an image viewed through a visor brim. In many cases, structures that are described or illustrated as unitary or contiguous can be separated while still performing the function(s) of the unitary structure. It is further understood that the optical filters disclosed herein can be used in at least some visor brim configurations and/or optical systems besides those explicitly disclosed herein. Any conflict that may exist between this disclosure and disclosure that is incorporated by reference should be resolved in favor of this disclosure.
It should be appreciated that in the above description of embodiments, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require more features than are expressly recited in that claim. Moreover, any components, features, or steps illustrated and/or described in a particular embodiment herein can be applied to or used with any other embodiment(s). Thus, it is intended that the scope of the inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular embodiments described above, but should be determined by a fair reading of the claims that follow.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/386,486, filed Dec. 7, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63386486 | Dec 2022 | US |
