US20150055327A1

US20150055327A1 - Cap With Aligned Illumination Device

Info

Publication number: US20150055327A1
Application number: US13/974,424
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregory G. Mascitti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-08-23
Filing date: 2013-08-23
Publication date: 2015-02-26

Abstract

A cap includes forward-looking illumination in the form of light beam emitted from at least one elongated flashlight of generally-cylindrical shape mounted to the visor of the cap. A clip includes adjacent semicircular and slot regions for holding the flashlight and engaging the visor respectively. The clip includes outwardly-displaceable free edges of the semicircular and slot regions for facilitating the ready installation of the flashlight and the mounting of the flashlight to the visor. Each flashlight is of the elongated type and arranged by means of an associated clip so that the light emitting end is remote from the skull-covering portion of the cap whereby light is projected along the field of view of the wearer.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to headgear. More particularly, this invention pertains to headgear that is not only protective and decorative but includes an illuminated viewing function.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The popular “baseball cap” is a generic term for a (generally fabric) headgear that includes a cover for a substantial upper portion of one's skull and a protruding visor that is joined to the lower edge of the skull cover. Many varieties of this work and recreational item are included almost universally in wardrobes, both male and female.
While normally considered an item of casual or functional dress, the baseball-style cap finds a place at both the upper and lower ends of the price scale. Additionally, it has gained acceptance not only at work and in the gymnasium, but also in restaurants of varying sophistication.
The proliferation of acceptable venues for wearers of the generic baseball-style cap means that a wearer may encounter numerous environmental situations while wearing one. A number of such “venues” may provide substandard lighting. Such venues may be work related, eating related, exercise related or simply lounging related.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the preceding and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing a cap. Such cap includes an upper skull covering portion having a lower edge. A visor is attached to and extends from the lower edge of the upper skull covering portion.
At least one elongated flashlight of generally-cylindrical shape is provided, each being capable of projecting a beam. A clip is provided for selectively securing at least one flashlight to the visor of the cap.
The preceding and other features of the invention will become further apparent from the detailed description that follows. Such description is accompanied by a set of drawing figures. Numerals of the drawings, corresponding to those of the written description, point to the features of the invention with like numerals referring to like features throughout both the written description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are frontal and side elevation views, respectively, of a clip for mounting a flashlight to a baseball-style cap in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are a series of figures for illustrating the insertion of a flashlight into a clip in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are side elevation and bottom plan views respectively of a cap with an above-visor mounted flashlight in accordance the invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are side elevation and bottom plan views respectively of a cap with a below-visor mounted flashlight in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a wearer with a cap with visor-mounted flashlights at opposed portions of the peripheral edge of a visor in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1A and 1B are frontal and side elevation views, respectively, of a clip 10 for mounting a flashlight to a baseball-style cap in accordance with the invention. The clip 10, which can come in various sizes in accordance with the size of the flashlight that is mounted to the visor of the cap, is preferably formed of a resilient metal alloy such as stainless steel.
As can be seen, particularly with reference to FIG. 1A, the integral clip 10 comprises two distinct sections. A round region 12 is provided for holding the generally-cylindrical body of an elongated flashlight. The round region 12 is defined by a semicircular-shaped portion 14 of the clip 10. The free edge 16 of the semicircular-shaped portion 14 is folded slightly outwardly for facilitating the insertion and removal of a flashlight whereas the opposite edge of the portion 14 is folded somewhat greater than ninety degrees in the opposite direction to form the bottom 18 of a slot region 20 for receiving the visor of a cap. The bottom 18 joins an upright wall 22 whereby the slot region 20 is defined between the innerside of the semicircular-shaped portion 14 and the upright wall 22. As in the case of the free edge 16 of the semicircular-shaped portion 14, the free edge 24 of the upright wall 22 is slightly outwardly-flared to create an enlarged entrance to the passageway defined by the slot region 20 for facilitating the engagement of the clip 10 and/or clip 10-with-attached flashlight combination to a visor.
The utility of the clip 10 for mounting a flashlight is illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, a series of figures for illustrating the insertion of a flashlight 26 for subsequent mounting to the visor of a cap. Referring first to FIG. 2A, the flashlight 26 is positioned to contact both the free edge 16 and the inner corner at the bottom 18 of the slot region 20 as shown. Thereafter an force F is applied (presumably by one of a user's hands) to the flashlight that is opposed by a resistance force F (presumably applied by the user's other hand) as shown in FIG. 2B. As can be seen, the application of the forces causes the flashlight 26 to slip past the outwardly-folded free edge 16 and thereby begin to enter the interior of the semicircular-shaped portion 14. At the same time, the free edge 16 of the semicircular-shaped portion 14 is displaced outwardly (toward the right). As the clip 10 is of resilient metallic composition, the displacement does not result in measurable deformation. Finally, after continuing the application of the forces F, and F, the flashlight 26 is fully inserted as shown in FIG. 2C with the semicircular-shaped portion 14 substantially returning to its original shape with the flashlight tightly and securely held therein.
The design of the clip 10 presumes that the flashlight 26 is generally of elongated cylindrical or barrel-like shape. Examples of commercially available flashlights of such shape and suitability for use in the present invention are those manufactured by Coast Products of Portland Oreg. and available through selected retailers in a variety of sizes and power. Examples of Coast flashlights that may be employed in a cap with illumination in accordance with the invention include those having product designations G10, G20, G45, HP2, HP3, HP4, PX20 and PX25. Each of such flashlights utilizes light emitting diode (LED) technology that offers modest to intense direct light. While Coast flashlights employing LED technology are suitable for use in the present invention, the invention is limited neither to LED technology nor to the products of such particular manufacturer. Rather, any flashlight of generally cylindrical shape and size for accommodation by a clip 10 as described above may be utilized in and form a part of a cap with illumination in accordance with the invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are side elevation and lower planar views, respectively, of a cap 28 having a flashlight 26 mounted above a visor 30 in accordance the invention. The complete cap comprises an upper skull covering portion 32 that is joined to the visor 30 at its lower edge. As can be seen, the clip 10 is held to a side of the visor 30 by insertion into the slot region 20 (not visible in FIGS. 3A, 3B) that is located at the opposed side of the bottom 18 which is roughly aligned with a portion of the free peripheral edge 34 of the visor 30. The outwardly-folded free edge 16 of the semicircular portion 14 of the clip 10 is visible in FIG. 3A and it will be appreciated with reference to the preceding figures, that, to achieve the configuration of FIG. 3A, the clip 10 is oriented so that the slot region 20 grasps the visor 30 with the semicircular portion 14 thereabove. The wall 22, bottom 18 and folded free edge 24 of the wall 22 can be seen in intimate contact with the bottom surface of the visor 30 in FIG. 3B. A beam of light 35 emitted from the flashlight 26 will project forwardly and aligned with the field of view of the wearer to illuminate the wearer's view of, for example, the back of a computer, work on a paper in the patio, or the like.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are side elevation and bottom plan views of a cap 28 with a below-visor 30 mounted flashlight 26 in accordance with the invention. In this case, the wall 22 and folded free edge 24 that define one side of the slot 20 lie above the visor 30 with the bottom being approximately aligned with a selected portion of the peripheral edge 34 of the visor 30. The obverse view of FIG. 4B shows that the folded free edge 16 of the semicircular portion 14 of the clip 10 lies adjacent the bottom surface of the visor 30, holding the flashlight 26 with a preferred alignment for projection of the beam of light 35 from the flashlight 26.
Comparing the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B (above-visor mount) with that of FIGS. 4A and 4B (below visor mount), many factors can contribute to one's preference of one to another. The clip 10 may be of various sizes for accommodating flashlights of various cross-sectional profiles. Further, the degree of collimation of the light beam emitted may vary from flashlight to flashlight. Factors such as these, in addition to the location of the “target” for illumination with respect to the field of view of the wearer, will enter into this choice. As can be appreciated, such choices need not be limited by the design of the clip 10 which can accommodate either type of mounting with respect to the visor.
In addition to a choice of flashlight mountings (above visor, below visor) and flashlight (and clip) sizes, one may mount either one or two flashlights to opposed portions of the peripheral edge 34 of the visor 30. This will reflect the preferences and needs of the wearer. A perspective view of a cap 28 with elongated flashlights 26, 26′ mounted to opposed sections of the common peripheral edge 34 of the visor 30 is illustrated in FIG. 5. The wearer, for example, may desire to “aim” the two flashlights beams 35, 35′ to intersect at some point in advance, thereby boosting illumination at a particular distance.
By utilizing the teachings of the invention, the light emitted from a mounted flashlight follows the wearer wherever he looks, leaving his hands free. The invention is easy to use, making it convenient to do almost anything in dark/low light, including, but not limited to, walking around the house early in the morning or late at night without bothering others by turning on and off the lights, looking for missing objects, working on the car, checking the computer keyboard or when you just need extra direct light.
By employing a combination of elements in which the clip is separable from the flashlight, the wearer can readily remove the flashlight from the cap when it is advantageous to hold the flashlight rather than to leave it attached to the cap.
While the invention has been described with reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it is not limited thereto. Rather, this invention is limited only insofar as it is defined by the following set of patent claims and includes within its scope all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A cap comprising, in combination:

a) an upper skull covering portion having a lower edge;

b) a visor attached to and extending from said lower edge of said upper skull covering portion;

c) at least one elongated flashlight of generally-cylindrical shape, each of said at least one flashlight being capable of projecting a beam; and

d) a clip for selectively securing each of said at least one flashlight to said visor of said cap;

e) said clip includes a semicircular portion for holding said flashlight adjacent a slot region for engaging said visor; and

f) said slot region and said semicircular portion of said clip are side-by-side and share a common portion for positioning said flashlight adjacent a surface of said visor.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. A cap as defined in claim 1 wherein said slot region includes an outwardly-displaced free edge for facilitating engagement to said visor.

5. A cap as defined in claim 1 wherein said semicircular portion includes an outwardly-displaced free edge for facilitating engagement of said flashlight to said clip.

6. A cap as defined in claim 1 wherein:

a) said visor has opposed upper and lower surfaces;

b) said clip holds said flashlight; and

c) said clip is selectively engageable to said visor for positioning said flashlight relative to said visor.

7. A cap as defined in claim 6 wherein:

a) said flashlight is generally longitudinally elongated between opposed ends;

b) said flashlight emits illumination from one end; and

c) said clip is selectively engageable to said visor for positioning said flashlight relative to said visor so that said light emitting end is remote and said other end is proximal with respect to said upper skull covering portion of said cap.

8. A cap as defined in claim 7 wherein said flashlight is positioned by said clip to overlie the upper surface of said visor.

9. A cap as defined in claim 7 wherein said flashlight is positioned by said clip to lie under the lower surface of said visor.

10. A cap as defined in claim 7 further characterized in that:

a) said cap includes two flashlights; and

b) each of said flashlights is affixed to an opposed portion of a common peripheral edge of said visor by an associated clip.

11. A cap as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one flashlight is of the light emitting diode type.

12. A cap as defined in claim 1 wherein said clip is of resilient metallic composition.