US20210259346A1

US20210259346A1 - Eyewear retainer

Info

Publication number: US20210259346A1
Application number: US17/313,975
Authority: US
Inventors: Russell R. Hodgdon; James Stinson
Original assignee: Sunday Afternoons Inc
Current assignee: Sunday Afternoons Inc
Priority date: 2014-07-24
Filing date: 2021-05-06
Publication date: 2021-08-26

Abstract

Embodiments are disclosed for headwear including an eyewear retaining pocket. For example, the headwear may include a headwear body, a first top opening disposed on a first side of the headwear body and providing access to a first pocket formed at the first side of the headwear body, the first pocket including a first inner surface and a second inner surface, and a first bottom opening disposed on the first side of the headwear, below the first top opening, and providing access to the first pocket or to another pocket formed at the first side of the headwear body, where the first top opening and the first bottom opening are of unequal size.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/184,875 entitled “EYEWEAR RETAINER”, and filed on Nov. 8, 2018. U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/184,875 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/809,055 entitled “EYEWEAR RETAINER” and filed on Jul. 24, 2015. U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/809,055 claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/028,772 entitled “FORAGE HAT,” and filed Jul. 24, 2014. The entire contents of each of the above-listed applications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a hat including an eyewear retainer.

BACKGROUND

Headwear may be utilized to shield a wearer from environmental hazards, such as sunlight, debris, rain, etc. A wearer may also perform various activities while wearing headwear. During some conditions and/or activities, a wearer may stow eyewear, such as eyeglasses or sunglasses, away temporarily. In order to allow quick retrieval of the stowed eyewear, some hats provide openings to accept earpieces of eyewear. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,885 (Viggiano) discloses slots in a side of a crown of a hat that allow for insertion of earpieces of eyewear. However, while performing activities, such as moving his/her head around or down, a wearer may easily dislodge eyewear stowed in such openings.
For example, the inventors have recognized some disadvantages with the eyewear retainers of Viggiano. In Viggiano, attempts to secure the eyewear are made by lining the openings with a hook and loop material. However, in order to provide the intended security, the wearer would continually adjust the openings by detaching opposing segments of the hook and loop material to one another to accept the eyewear, then reattaching opposing segments of the hook and loop material to one another around the earpieces of the eyewear. Furthermore, the hook and loop material itself does not have any adhesive quality with respect to the surface of the earpieces, but rather merely creates a smaller pocket for the earpieces. Further still, the large area of hook and loop material provided in the hat of Viggiano would create a dense region of additional material along the crown of the hat, affecting aesthetics, airflow, and flexibility/comfort of the hat.
Additionally, the eyewear retainers of Viggiano are designed to accommodate eyewear when the eyewear is resting on a brim of the hat and may not securely retain the eyewear when the eyewear is in a different position. Further still, the hat of Viggiano does not provide any guidance features on the outside of the hat that may facilitate easy placement of the eyewear in the eyewear retainers.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides embodiments of an eyewear retainer that mitigate the above-described issues. For example, headwear according to the following disclosure may include a headwear body including a crown, a hat brim extending from the crown, and one or more slits disposed on a side panel of the crown, each slit providing access to a pocket formed in the side panel of the crown, the pocket including one or more strips of a retaining material coupled to an inner surface of the pocket. By providing a lining for an eyewear retaining pocket as described herein, the disclosed embodiments enable eyewear to be inserted, secured, and removed without adjustment of the retainer by the user. The disclosed striping of retaining material in the pocket also promotes air flow through the pocket to help cool a wearer and retains flexibility and comfort of the hat. Further features of eyewear retainer embodiments are described below.
In another example, headwear includes a headwear body, a first top opening formed by a first slit disposed on a first side panel of the headwear body and providing access to a first pocket formed at the first side panel of the headwear body, the first pocket including a first inner surface and a second inner surface, the first slit including a top point and a bottom point, and a first bottom opening disposed on the first side of the headwear, vertically below the first top opening, and providing access to the first pocket or to another pocket formed at the first side of the headwear body, where the first top opening and the first bottom opening are of unequal size. By providing two openings of unequal size, eyewear (e.g., sunglasses) may be held securely in multiple positions, including a position relatively low on the headwear such that the eyewear may be retained via the headwear while in use (e.g., across the eyes of the wearer of the headwear).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure may be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:

FIG. 1 shows a front isometric view of example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a rear isometric view of example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows an example detail view of a size adjustment mechanism in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows an example left side view of example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows an example right side view of example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7A shows an example headwear with sunglasses secured to a front of the headwear in a respective sunglasses holder in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7B shows an example headwear with sunglasses secured to a rear of the headwear in a respective sunglasses holder in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8A shows an example interior view of an eyewear retaining pocket in example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8B shows an exploded view of an example eyewear retaining pocket in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 8C through 8G show example arrangements of retaining material in an eyewear retaining pocket in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows a left side view of an example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 shows a front view of the headwear of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a top view of the headwear of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 12A and 12B show eyewear being held in headwear in a first position and a second position, respectively, via optics holders according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 shows a magnified view of an optics holder of the headwear of FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 shows another example arrangement of retaining material in an eyewear retaining pocket in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 shows a left side view of another example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 16 shows a left side view of another example headwear in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An updated Sunglass Lock technology is included in the disclosed headwear, which may provide the dual functionality of increased security during eyewear storage and increased airflow to a wearer's head. For example, an interior of a pocket and/or channel formed in a side of the headwear may have an internal side (e.g., closest to a wearer's head) that provides ventilation to the wearer's head via ventilating material of a sweatband. The interior of the pocket and/or channel may also have an external side (e.g., closest to an outer environment of the headwear, farther from the head of the wearer than the internal side) that includes one or more strips of retaining material (e.g., silicone in one non-limiting example) to assist in gripping eyewear within the interior of the pocket and/or channel. Therefore, when an earpiece of eyewear is inserted into the pocket/channel, the strips may be positioned on one side of the earpiece and the ventilation material of the sweatband may be positioned on an opposite side of the earpiece. In this way, one side of the pocket/channel may provide retention features, while the opposite side of the pocket/channel may provide ventilation access for increased air flow to a wearer's head. The eyewear retainer may utilize various venting slit sizes/segmentations and possible liners to make the eyewear “lock” in even more securely. Additional features of an eyewear retainer and/or associated slip stream venting are described and illustrated in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 7A-8G.
A completely new sizing system, described and illustrated in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4, included in the headwear utilizes no moving parts, and may be made of material with more durability than plastics that might fail in the field in some embodiments. For example, a sizing buckle may be stepped on in the field, and the brittle materials of said sizing buckle may result in breakage of the buckle, removing the ability to adjust the size of the hat. Such malfunctioning gear in the field becomes a liability. By removing the moving parts and brittle materials used in some sizing mechanisms, the present disclosure provides a more robust sizing mechanism that may be reliably used in even the toughest environments.
The example headwear provided in this disclosure may provide a silhouette that is similar to an early 20^thcentury German or Russian Forager Cap and may include a unique technical twist with a plurality of technical features, as well as a flexible application of trims and fabrics. For example, the headwear may be configured with a material composition that is effective for providing camouflage, blocking UV rays, transferring heat away from the head, resisting and/or repelling water, etc. Structural supports may be embedded in various regions of the headwear to provide additional support of a biased shape of the headwear.
A tactical wearer of headwear may frequent locations such as a shooting range and wear a traditional cadet/patrol style hat. Such hats traditionally have a high front panel that carries around the entire circumference. The present disclosure provides headwear that maintains the traditional military style look in the front with a lower profile appearance in the back. Wearing shooting ear muffs (ear pro) all day may make more traditional military-style hats bunch up on the sides and may generally be uncomfortable for extended use. The present disclosure provides headwear with a crown pattern that may include a one piece pattern with specifically curved darts to match the natural curvature of a wearer's head in the rear. The pattern differs from ball caps (traditional 6 and 5 panel caps) as well as performance hats (rounded in the front and rear). The hat offers the wearer the traditional military style silhouette with the comfort of a ball cap along with the convenience of stowing sunglasses (eye pro) in a secure sunglass lock system and features an unbreakable sizing system on the rear. It is to be understood that the silhouette described above provides just one example of headwear that may include the various features described in this disclosure, and one or more of the features may be interchangeable and/or included on various styles of headwear.
These and other features (described in more detail below) may be provided in various combinations of headwear embodiments to provide a robust, flexible, and functional cap that performs well in any environment and stands up to heavy use. Although illustrated and described as a cap, it is to be understood that any one or more of the features described herein may be included in any suitable style of hat, including, without limitation, a charter hat, a sun fedora, a boonie hat, a capotain, a gat, a hardee hat, a homburg, a panama, a sombrero, a sun visor, a top hat, a legionnaire hat, a flap hat, and/or any other suitable head covering.
FIG. 1 shows a front isometric view of an example headwear 100. Headwear 100 may include a foldable brim 102 (e.g., a visor) extending from or otherwise carried by a hat body 104. Hat body 104 may include a multi-paneled crown in some embodiments, while in other embodiments the hat body may be formed of a single panel or piece of fabric (e.g., a unibody construction) forming any suitable hat body shape. The crown may comprise a cap configured to extend over a top of a wearer's head. In some embodiments, the crown may include a plurality of panels extending around a circumference or perimeter of the crown and intersecting at a central region (e.g., attaching to a top panel of the crown). In some embodiments, the crown may not include a cap. For example, a cap may be defined as a covering over the top of a wearer's head (e.g., providing material in all areas of the crown). A crown without a cap may include a crown that does not cover all of a wearer's head within the crown. A visor is an example of a hat including a crown without a cap, as a visor may allow a wearer's head to remain exposed to the environment while wearing the hat.
In the illustrated example, a front panel 106 may be of a generally rectangular shape (e.g., with parallel substantially straight vertical sides, a substantially straight bottom side that curves around a circumference of the crown of the hat, and a top side that curves/extends upward) curved around the circumference of the hat body. In some embodiments, each panel (or the entirety of the hat body/brim) may include the same type of fabric or other material. In other embodiments, one or more panels (or the hat brim) may include a different type of material than the other panels.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the front panel 106 may be formed of felt or other loop or hook type of fabric, enabling objects to be secured to the panel (e.g., via a hook/loop fastening) as shown in more detail in FIG. 6. Such fabric may be used as the front panel (e.g., with no other material positioning in that location) or may be attached to one or more under layers of material (e.g., material matching the remaining panels of the hat, mesh lining, etc.). The front panel 106 and/or the outer material of front panel 106 may be secured to the surrounding panels via stitching along each side of the panel or by any other suitable securing mechanism. Front panel 106 may be symmetric along an axis formed approximately in the center of the foldable brim 102.
Headband 108 may form another panel of the hat body and/or a junction between the hat body and the foldable brim 102. Headband 108 may extend around the circumference of the base of the hat body and house the sizing mechanism 110 described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4. In some embodiments, the headband 108 may extend around the entire circumference of the hat body (e.g., formed from a single, continuous loop of material) and/or may extend partly around the circumference (e.g., leaving an opening in the back of the hat body). For example, headband 108 may be formed from a substantially rectangular panel that includes terminating ends that are spaced from one another. The size of the hat may be adjusted by pulling the terminating ends closer to one another (or farther apart) using sizing mechanism 110.
One or more additional panels may form the remainder of hat body 104. The panels may be configured to provide a head-mapping contour, allowing for a low-profile fit. For example, front panel 106 may include the highest point of the hat body, and the panels along the side and top of the hat may converge toward one another as the panels extend to the rear of the hat. This head-mapping crown feature will be described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 2.
Foldable brim 102 may be configured to fold inward, such that the outer edges of the brim converge toward one another in a downward direction (when the hat is oriented as illustrated in FIG. 1) when folded. The folding operation may be facilitated by a slit 112 formed in the generally rigid or semi-rigid material of the brim substrate. The brim may be formed of one or more layers of brim substrate covered in one or more outer layers of fabric (or other flexible material), the brim substrate being more rigid than the outer layers of fabric. For example, one or more portions of the brim (e.g., the brim substrate) may include pre-curved polymer material (e.g., 1.5 mm thick) that can be biased to retain a particular shape and have a density that enables floatation in water. In some embodiments, the material under the brim substrate (e.g., facing a wearer's face) may be different than the material above the brim substrate (e.g., facing away from the wearer).
In order to provide more robust folding operation, slit 112 may be reinforced by self-fabric exterior bias material (e.g., bias material that is the same as the outer material of the brim). The slit may be reinforced at an associated seam with grosgrain or another suitable material to keep out debris and add lateral strength. For example, a piece of fabric may be folded over each edge of the slit. The additional reinforcement described above may be provided by attaching a piece of material to the underside of each seam (e.g., under the edges of each side of the slit), the material stretching between the edges of the slit. Accordingly, when folded, the piece of reinforcement material under the slit may be exposed, rather than a brim substrate or other element. The material under the slit may be formed of the same material and/or have the same pattern as the material on the upper side of the brim in some examples in order to provide a seamless transition between the brim and the reinforced slit opening.
Headwear 100 may include one or more pairs of optics (e.g., sunglasses/glasses) holders 114 along the side of the hat body 104. For example, a slit may be present in each of the side panels of the hat body providing access to one or more pockets formed in the panels. As used herein, it is to be understood that a pocket may be formed of two or more materials coupled together in a manner that enables elements to be inserted therein. For example, earpieces/legs of the frames of the optics may be inserted into the pockets as illustrated and described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8. Accordingly, a pocket, as used herein, may encompass a channel formed between two or more materials (e.g., two or more materials layered on top of one another and joined along two opposing edges to form an opening therebetween with at least two entrances to the channel), a partially-enclosed pocket (e.g., two or more material layered on top of one another and joined along at least three edges to form an opening therebetween with only one entrance to the pocket, the pocket being segregated from other material and/or closed at both or either end), and/or any suitable variation thereof. It is to be understood that joining or coupling, as used throughout the disclosure, may refer to any suitable coupling mechanism, including but not limited to attaching, stitching, gluing, adhering, chemical bonding, sewing, etc. Particular coupling mechanisms may be performed to provide advantages relating to that coupling mechanism, and disclosure of a particular coupling mechanism to join two or more elements together may be understood to also cover the disclosure of any other suitable coupling mechanism to join those two or more elements together.
In some examples, headwear may provide a different silhouette from the illustrated silhouette while maintaining the same core features (e.g., sunglasses holders 114, sizing mechanism 110, head-mapping crown as shown in FIG. 2, etc.). For example, the silhouette of such headwear may provide a more cylindrical hat body than the illustrated headwear 100, as opposed to the head-mapping contour of the domed hat body of headwear 100. In this way, the hat body of an alternative example headwear may include a front, side, and rear region each having substantially similar height to one another and a substantially rectangular two dimensional projection.
FIG. 2 shows a rear view of headwear 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates the contoured appearance of the head-mapping crown for headwear 100. Panels 202 may be formed of different pieces of material sewn together (or otherwise attached) and/or by altering the material (e.g., sewing darts). For example, multiple panels may be formed from one continuous piece of material by providing one or more darts in the piece of material, creating multiple seams to form the edges of the panels. Each panel may be wider at a front end of the cap (e.g., toward the brim) and narrower toward a rear of the cap (e.g., toward the opening and sizing mechanism of the cap). The panels may terminate toward the front of the cap at a front and/or side panel, and may terminate toward the rear of the cap at an opening 204. For example, a side panel of the cap may have a non-rectangular shape that tapers inward toward a rear opening in a back of the cap.
The shaping of the head-mapping crown may be formed based on anatomical structures of a head of a wearer (e.g., based on average measurements and/or configurable in different measurements for different sizes of headwear). For example, darts, stitching, and/or panel measurements may be matched to regions of a skull of a wearer. As an additional or alternative example, a central seam may be aligned with a central region of a skull or head of a wearer, and darts/seams may be positioned to be aligned with one or more side regions of a skull or head of a wearer. Opening 204 may be made larger or smaller by adjusting the sizing mechanism. Side edges of the panels 202 may be formed by darts, stitching, or other folding/attachment structures. It is to be understood that the head-mapping crown may be utilized in any other suitable headwear than those illustrated. For example, a full-brim hat (and/or a hat with a larger brim that that illustrated in FIG. 1) may include a crown having head-mapping contours as described herein.
FIGS. 3 and 4 provide detailed views of sizing mechanism 110 of FIG. 1. Sizing mechanism 110 may be provided to enable the headwear to be size adjustable and conform to a variety of head sizes and types. As illustrated, sizing mechanism 110 includes a strap 302 extending from an inner region of the cap to an outer region of the cap along a circumference of the hat body when disposed in a locked position. For example, strap 302 may be housed and secured to the cap within a pocket formed in headband 108 (e.g., sandwiched between at least two layers of material) at a first end and attached to a sizing clip 304 at a second end, opposite from the first end. In other embodiments, the strap may be attached to an interior of the cap (e.g., exposed to a wearer when placed on the head of the wearer and not within a pocket of material) or an exterior of the cap at the first end. Strap 302 may include and/or be composed of flexible material, such as an elastic polymer, in order to provide a resilient tightening mechanism. In one example, strap 302 may include sizing tape including webbing with elastic extension (e.g., ¾″ elastic).
A guiding loop 306 may be attached to an outer region of the cap near a plurality of looped fasteners 308, also secured to the outer region of the cap. Guiding loop 306 may be formed of flexible material (e.g., material that is more flexible than the material of strap 302 and/or looped fasteners 308) that may stretch to allow the passage of the sizing clip 304 when the strap is directed through the guiding loop toward the looped fasteners. The guiding loop 306 may also provide an anchor to which the sizing clip may be attached for additional size customization. The looped fasteners may be made of the same material as strap 302 or of a different material (e.g., with a different amount of flexibility). For example, the looped fasteners may be formed by attaching a strip of material to a headband of the cap (e.g., sewing vertical stitching) in multiple locations along the strip while the strip is allowed to loosely gather between attachments. The looped fasteners may be any suitable size relative to the sizing clip 304. In some embodiments, each of the looped fasteners may be a same size (e.g., have a same opening area when not stretched and/or have a same width/height). In other embodiments, one or more looped fasteners may be sized differently from one or more other looped fasteners. Although illustrated along a right side of the headwear, it is to be understood that the looped fasteners and other sizing mechanism elements may be located in any suitable region of the cap. For example, the sizing mechanism may be mirror-reversed or have a shifted location from the illustrated example and still fall within the scope of this disclosure.
The sizing clip 304 may be formed of any suitable material. For example, sizing clip 304 may be formed of metal or a metal alloy for strength, plastic for weight reduction, and/or any suitable combination of materials. As a more detailed example, a combination of materials that may be utilized includes the stretch of an elastic overlap stitched to a military grade 20MM webbing, sewn to a nylon coated steel “G” hook that acts as the hook (e.g., sizing clip 304) that latches onto the webbing sizing loops (e.g., 308) on the other side of the rear hat opening. The sizing clip may include a first closed loop that is attached to an associated loop of material from the strap 302 and a second, partially open loop configured to be removably attached to a selected looped fastener 308. The partially open loop may include two substantially parallel prongs (e.g., an innermost prong 402 of FIG. 4 forming a side of the first closed loop and an outermost prong 404 of FIG. 4 spaced from the first closed loop) attached at one end and opened at another such that one of the prongs may pass through a looped fastener. As described above, one of the prongs may be configured to attach to guiding loop 306 in order to provide additional width beyond that supplied by the looped fasteners.
In some embodiments, a hook 406 (illustrated in FIG. 4) along the outermost prong 404 may be provided that is configured to wrap around a lower edge of a selected looped fastener or guiding loop for further securing the sizing clip to the fastener/loop. In other embodiments, the hook may be absent in order to enable the sizing clip to pass through a looped fastener more easily. In some embodiments, a latch or other securing mechanism, represented by dashed line 408 of FIG. 4, may be included on the hook to provide an additional locking mechanism for locking the hook onto a particular looped fastener or onto the guiding loop 306. In additional or alternative embodiments, one or more additional sizing hooks may be including in the sizing mechanism. For example, utilizing a plurality of sizing hooks may enable the snapback force of the elastic strap to be divided across each hook, reducing the overall force on each hook and reducing the possibility that all of the hooks will be pulled from out of the respective loops.
In some embodiments, the opening of the looped material for each looped fastener may be sized to be close to a width of the widest point of the prong of the sizing clip. For example, the loop of the fastener may be sized such that the loop of the fastener stretches during insertion of the prong and snap back to a tight fit once the prong is in a locked position inside of the lopped fastener. Any suitable number of looped fasteners may be provided. A shock cord elastic sizing tape retention loop may be utilized for the looped fasteners and/or the guiding loop.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show side views of headwear 100 of FIG. 1. As illustrated, one or more panels may include curved or otherwise non-uniform edges that may ultimately converge toward a rear of the cap. FIG. 6 further illustrates an exemplary attachment of a badge or other object 602 to a front panel 106. For example, object 602 may include a hook and loop or other attachment mechanism on a rear (e.g., hat-facing) surface that is configured to connect to an associated attachment mechanism on the front panel 106. Dashed lines 604 represent any suitable connection mechanism. For example, object 602 may be sewn, embroidered, glued/adhered, snapped, and/or otherwise attached to front panel 106. Each of the caps illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 may include a brim 102 that is biased or angled in a downward direction in order to provide a large amount of protection of the eyes and face of the wearer from debris, sunlight, rain, or other elements.
FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate forward- and backward-facing optics holder poses. In order to secure optics along the front and/or the back of the cap, multiple openings and/or reverse-access openings may be provided in a side panel of the cap. For example, a pocket or channel 702 configured to house a portion of an earpiece or other structure of an optical device 704 (e.g., sunglasses, eyeglasses, reading glasses, safety glasses, goggles, etc.) may be provided within a side panel of the hat (e.g., formed by a gap between at least two layers of material). Although optical devices are described as being inserted into the pocket, it is to be understood that any suitable object may be inserted and retained in the pocket. The pocket may be accessible by one or more slits 706 formed in the side panel. For example, a slit at a front of the pocket (e.g., toward a brim of the cap) may provide access for an earpiece of a forward-facing optic (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 7A), while a slit at a back of the pocket may provide access for an earpiece of a rear-ward facing optic (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 7B). Accordingly, four or more slits may be present on the cap to allow access to two or more pockets for holding optics in the above-described embodiments.
In other embodiments, multiple pockets (e.g., pocket or channel 702 and pocket or channel 703) may be included in the side of the cap and a single slit (e.g., slit 706 that is positioned between pocket or channel 702 and pocket or channel 703) may provide access to each pocket, depending upon the direction at which an object passes through the slit. In such an embodiment, two or more slits may be present on the cap to allow access to four or more pockets. It is to be understood that any number or combination of slits and pockets may be used to secure optics or other objects to the cap. The slit may also may segmented in some embodiments. For example, horizontal stitching forming a dart or tack (e.g., 707 a, 707 b, and 707 c) may be provided across the slit in one or more locations to create a more secure holding mechanism for the optics when housed in a given pocket. For example, eyewear including curved earpieces may be inserted above at least one dart or tack, and the dart or tack may provide a security mechanism to catch the curved region of the earpieces if the eyewear inadvertently slides out of the pocket. In the illustrated example, if optical device 704 includes curved earpieces, such earpieces may be caught on dart or tack 707 c upon inadvertent sliding out of the pocket in order to keep the optical device retained until the wearer can reinsert the device. The segmentation of the slits may also provide differently sized openings for differently sized optics. Furthermore, the segmentation of the slits may enable earpieces or other frame elements to be inserted relatively high on the crown of the hat (e.g., in an upper-most opening, above a horizontal stitch) or relatively low on the crown of the hat (e.g., in a lower-most opening, below a horizontal stitch and the upper-most opening). For example, sunglasses with larger frames/lenses may be inserted into an uppermost opening of the slit in order to allow the bottom of the sunglasses lenses/frames to rest on the brim of the hat. The darts or tacks 707 a-707 c may be any suitable size capable of extending across the slit 706. For example, the darts or tacks may be approximately ¼ inch long. As illustrated in FIG. 7, optics 704 may be able to rest on the brim when inserted into a lower opening of the slit 706 below the horizontal stitching 707 b.
Material may be inserted into the slits 706 and/or around the opening/edges of the slits 706 to further prevent and/or promote movement of the optics out of/into the pockets. For example, material having a relatively more adhesive quality (e.g., rubber, texturized material for gripping, silicone, rough fabric, etc.) may be utilized within a pocket and/or along an interior of the edges of openings of the slits 706 to help retain inserted optics within the pocket. Material having a relatively less adhesive or slicker quality (e.g., metal, leather, smooth plastic/fabric, etc.) may be provided along edges of the slits and/or an outer region of the slits in order to promote insertion of optics into the slits/pocket and/or guide the optics into the slits/pocket.
One or more of the slits used for accessing an optics holder may additionally provide ventilation for the cap. For example, the slit may open to a mesh lining of the cap or otherwise provide a path of airflow from an exterior of the cap to an interior of the crown of the cap. Slits 706 may be positioned in any suitable location or configuration on the headwear. For examples, the slits may be positioned higher or lower on the crown, spaced further apart from/closer to one another, shifted along a circumference of the cap, and/or otherwise repositioned relative to the illustrated examples without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Further, it is to be understood that the optics holders described herein may be utilized in any other suitable headwear than those illustrated. For example, a full-brim hat (and/or a hat with a larger brim that that illustrated in FIG. 1) may include one or more of the optics holders described herein.
Examples of an eyewear retaining pocket that also provides for slip stream venting are described in more detail in FIGS. 8A-8G. FIG. 8A shows an example interior view of an eyewear retaining pocket 802 in example headwear 800. Headwear 800 may include a crown 804 and a brim 806 extending from the crown 804. The crown 804 may be largely formed from a sweatband or headband in the illustrated example (e.g., where headwear 800 includes a capless visor). However, it is to be understood that the example embodiments of the eyewear retaining pocket described herein may be included in any suitable location (e.g., a single pocket on each side of a crown, two pockets on each side of the crown, etc.) of any suitable hat (e.g., a baseball style cap, a visor, a full-brimmed hat, an adventure hat, a sun hat, etc.), including but not limited to those illustrated and described herein. For example, retaining pockets with locking features as described herein may be included on baseball style caps to allow wearers to stow eyewear while performing sporting activities without worrying about losing the eyewear.
As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the eyewear retaining pocket 802 may be accessed via a slit or other opening 808 in a side of the crown. In some examples, the crown may be formed of multiple layers of material, and the opening 808 may penetrate at least one layer and allow the eyewear to rest behind the at least one layer and/or be sandwiched between the at least one layer and at least one other layer. The eyewear retaining pocket may include one or more strips 810 of retaining material. The strips may be of any suitable size that is smaller than the width of the pocket (e.g., in a direction extending circumferentially around the crown). An example retaining material includes silicone or a silicone composite. Silicone may be selected to provide comfort via the soft and flexible material, and to have a minimal impact on the outward appearance of the hat. Silicone may also stay tacky in both warm and cold weather, while still allowing eyewear to be removed with a reasonable amount of pulling tension. Silicone provides retention capabilities for a variety of materials that may be utilized in eyewear, such as metal, polymers, etc. Silicone is also resistant to dirt and oil build up and easier to clean than other materials (e.g., hook and loop material, which easily retains dirt and other debris within both the hook and loop portions of the material), and the retention properties of silicone are unaffected by perspiration from a sweatband. Silicone also reduces interference with airflow through the pocket to increase ventilation properties of the slits. However, it is to be understood that any suitable material capable of providing additional friction (e.g., beyond that provided by the material of the crown and/or headband) for assisting in the retaining of eyewear within the pocket may be utilized for hats configured for different types of activities/environments. Although shown as multiple strips having the same material, it is to be further understood that only a single strip may be included in the eyewear retaining pocket or multiple strips, all or some of which being composed of different retaining material, may be included in the pocket.
In the illustrated example of FIG. 8A, the strips 810 may be provided on a rear/interior surface of an outermost layer of the crown 804, such that eyewear may be positioned between the retaining material and an inner layer of the crown (e.g., a layer of the crown closer to the wearer's head than the outermost layer). The illustrated positioning may enable the opening 808 to serve as a vent for the headwear by allowing airflow through the opening to the wearer's head via mesh or other venting material 809 forming the inner layer of the crown. In other examples, the strips 810 of retaining material may be provided on the inner layer of the crown and the venting material 809 may be provided in between the strips to maintain some airflow through to the wearer. In such examples, the eyewear may rest on top of the strips 810 (e.g., with the strips positioned between the eyewear and the inner layer of the crown/the wearer), and an outermost layer of the crown (e.g., positioned on top of the eyewear to form the retaining pocket) may be formed of mesh or other ventilation material in order to further promote airflow through to the wearer's head.
FIG. 8B shows an exploded view of an example eyewear retaining pocket 812. Eyewear retaining pocket 812 may be an example configuration of eyewear retaining pocket 802 of FIG. 8A. As shown in FIG. 8B, an outermost layer 814 of a crown may form an outermost layer of the retaining pocket 812. For example, the outermost layer 814 may be comprised of a material covering a substantial majority of the crown of the headwear, and may include any suitable fabric, leather, suede, elastomer, and/or other material or composite material. In some examples, outermost layer 814 may include a breathable material that allows additional airflow to flow through the pocket 812.
At a second layer, (in order from an environment to a wearer's head), one or more strips 816 of retaining material may be provided. The strips 816 may correspond to the strips 810 of FIG. 8A, and the disclosure provided above with respect to strips 810 may likewise apply to strips 816. Strips 816 may be coupled to an inner surface of outermost layer 814 of the crown by any suitable mechanism, including but not limited to heat transfer, stitching, sewing, embroidering, gluing/adhering, snapping, and/or other adhesive mechanisms. When inserted, an earpiece 818 of eyewear may provide a third layer of the retaining pocket 812. The earpiece 818 may be sandwiched between the strips 816 and a ventilation material 820 (serving as the fourth layer of the pocket when eyewear is inserted, or the third layer when eyewear is not inserted). Ventilation material 820 may form a portion of a headband and/or sweatband of a hat including the retaining pocket 812, and may be composed of a material that allows more airflow through the material than the outermost layer 814 and/or the strips 816. For example, the ventilation material 820 may include mesh, loosely-woven fabric, or another suitable material or composite that allows air to flow through the material. Although the illustrated example provides for ventilation material to serve as the fourth layer of the pocket (e.g., a closest layer to the wearer's head), the retaining pocket may additionally or alternatively be formed using insulating material (e.g., material that retains heat and/or has the same or lower ventilation capabilities to allow the same or less airflow than the outermost layer 814 and/or the strips 816, which may be utilized in a winter hat, for example), material similar to the outermost layer 814, elastomeric material, and/or any other suitable material included in a sweatband/headband and/or layered thereon.
In constructing the pocket 812, the strips 816 may be coupled to the outermost layer 814 (e.g., via heat transfer, sewn, embroidered, glued/adhered, snapped, and/or otherwise attached to the outermost layer). These combined layers may be sewn or otherwise attached to another layer (as represented by dashed lines 823), which may include the ventilation material 820 and/or any other intervening layer not illustrated. The attachment may leave an opening along one edge of the combined layers to allow for insertion of the eyewear therein.
FIGS. 8C and 8D show example arrangements of retaining material 822 in an eyewear retaining pocket (e.g., as viewed from an interior surface 824 of a channel, such as an interior surface of an outermost layer 826 of a crown). In the example of FIG. 8C, three evenly-spaced strips of the retaining material 822 are provided on the interior surface 824. Each strip may be 4 mm wide and spaced from adjacent strips and/or an edge of the pocket by 4 mm in one non-limiting example. The even spacing may allow for distributed airflow and an ability to fold that portion of the crown to maintain flexibility and comfort. However, it is to be understood that any suitable arrangement of strips may be used to provide other benefits. Additional arrangements are shown in FIGS. 8D-8G. For example, arrangements 828 a and 828 b of FIG. 8D show retaining material (illustrated with crosshatching) in diagonal arrangements around a central vertical strip and arrangements 828 c and 828 d show uniform angular disposal of the retaining material. Such angularity may promote additional retention for insertion in a plurality of directions. As a horizontal arrangement may not provide sufficient adhesion to the eyewear, the angularity of the strips in arrangements 828 a-828 d may vary from approximately +/−80 degrees relative to the vertical arrangement illustrated in FIG. 8A.
For example, as described above, a pocket may be formed such that eyewear may be inserted from a rear and/or a front of the pocket in some examples. The differential angularity shown in arrangements 828 a and 828 b may help to retain eyewear in the pocket when inserted from either direction by angling toward the insertion direction, for example. Headwear that includes separate pockets for forward and rear insertion may utilize each of the arrangements 828 c and 828 d for the respective pockets (e.g., 828 c for a forward insertion pocket and 828 d for a rear insertion pocket). In some examples, different material may be used for different angles of retaining material. For example, for a forward insertion pocket, arrangement 828 a may be used in which angulated material to the right of the pocket are composed of slick material (having less friction or adhesive qualities than the other retaining material) to guide the eyewear into the pocket, while the angulated material to the left of the pocket is composed of more adhesive material to retain the eyewear in the pocket. In this way, the strips of retaining material may work together to increase resistance within the pocket and prevent eyewear from falling out during activity. Other arrangements of retaining material may also be utilized, including spiral, concentric circle, rectangular, and other suitable arrangements of retaining material on crown material.
FIGS. 8E, 8F, and 8G show further example arrangements of strips of retaining material disposed on an interior surface (e.g., interior surface 831 of arrangement 829 a of FIG. 8E) of a channel or pocket of a hat (e.g., pocket/ channel 702 or 703 of FIG. 7A), where, in each example arrangement, at least one strip of retaining material has a different friction or adhesive quality than at least one other strip of retaining material. For example, FIG. 8E shows example arrangements 829 a-829 l of strips forming chevron shapes (e.g., where each strip forms an upper or lower half of an associated chevron shape, such as strip 832 a, which forms an upper half of chevron shape 832 and strip 832 b, which forms a lower half of chevron shape 832) that have different friction or adhesive qualities. In the example of FIG. 8E, the different friction or adhesive qualities in the strips may include a different amount of retaining material (e.g., where the dotted strips such as strips 832 a and 832 b utilize less of a retaining material than the solid strips such as strips 834 a and 834 b, as the dotted strips include retaining material that is interrupted by space or other material while the solid strips include uninterrupted retaining material). In some examples, the strips 832 a and 832 b may include a different type or composition of retaining material than strips 834 a and 834 b. In other examples, the strips 832 a and 832 b may be formed of the same type or composition of retaining material as strips 834 a and 834 b. In FIG. 8E, at least one strip in each arrangement is positioned at a non-zero angle relative to at least one other strip in the respective arrangement, and the chevrons formed by the strips are oriented in the same direction. In FIG. 8F, example arrangements 836 a-836 h include at least one strip that is positioned at a non-zero angle relative to at least one other strip in the respective arrangement, and at least one of the chevrons formed by the strips is oriented in a different direction than at least one other of the chevrons formed by the strips of a respective arrangement.
FIG. 8G shows still further example arrangements 838 a-838 j of retaining strips that have different friction or adhesive qualities. In arrangement 838 a, strip 840 is shown having a different number and different size of spaces between deposits of retaining material relative to strip 842, which may thereby provide a different friction or adhesive quality. In arrangement 838 b, strip 844 is shown having a different (e.g., thicker) width than strip 846, which may thereby provide a different friction or adhesive quality. In arrangement 838 c, both the width of retaining material and the pattern of retaining material of strip 848 is different than the width and pattern of retaining material of strip 850, thereby providing different friction or adhesive qualities in the two strips. In arrangement 838 d, a first strip 852 of a first chevron shape includes differently-sized deposits of retaining material relative to a second strip 854 of the first chevron shape. In arrangement 838 e and 838 f, strips within each chevron are angled relative to one another by different angles (e.g., the strips of first chevron 856 are angled approximately 90 degrees relative to one another, whereas the strips of second chevron 858 are angled greater than 90 degrees relative to one another). In arrangements 838 g-838 h, different patterns of fill of the strips in the arrangements represent different frictional properties that provide different friction or adhesive qualities for the strips, which may include any of the examples described herein (e.g., the strips having different amounts, patterns, textures, compositions, and/or other features of retaining material). It is to be understood that any of the illustrated example arrangements of strips of retaining material may be combined, rearranged, and/or reoriented for use in a given channel without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
Positions, orientations, types of material, textures, and/or other features of the strips of retaining material may provide for a retaining pocket that includes multiple locking positions for inserted eyewear. A wearer may select a locking position for eyewear based on a type of eyewear and/or activity being performed. For example, while reading, a wearer may not be moving his/her head extensively, however the wearer may be continually inserting, withdrawing, and reinserting eyewear. In such an example, the wearer may value ease of access of the eyewear above retention of the eyewear, and thus may select a first locking position. For example, the first locking position may correspond to the eyewear being retained and/or in face-sharing contact primarily or only by a first strip of retaining material and/or a first subset of strips of retaining material (e.g., and may not be retained or in face-sharing contact with other strips, such as strips not included in the first subset). This first strip and/or subset of strips may be configured for easy extraction/insertion of eyewear by being composed of a less resistant/tacky/adhesive material, by having a smoother texture, by having a first orientation, and/or by being positioned in a first position closer to an insertion opening (e.g., a slit) of the pocket/front of the headwear (or rear of the headwear, if the pocket is configured for insertion from a rear of the headwear, such as when the headwear is worn backward) than other strips in the pocket.
When performing activities that subject the head to frequent/intense movement and/or position the head downward (e.g., during gardening), a user may select a second locking position. For example, the first locking position may correspond to the eyewear being retained and/or in face-sharing contact primarily or only by a second strip of retaining material, a second subset of strips of retaining material, and/or a combination of the first and second strips/subsets of strips (e.g., and may not be retained or in face-sharing contact with other strips, such as strips not included in the first and/or second subset). The second strip and/or subset of strips may be configured for heavier retention of eyewear by being composed of a more resistant/tacky/adhesive material, by having a rougher/more varied texture, having a second orientation (different from the first orientation, for example), and/or by being positioned in a second position farther from an insertion opening (e.g., a slit) of the pocket/front of the headwear (or rear of the headwear, if the pocket is configured for insertion from a rear of the headwear, such as when the headwear is worn backward) than other strips in the pocket (e.g., such as the first strip and/or subset of strips).
Although only two locking positions are described herein for illustrative purposes, it is to be understood that any number of locking positions may be provided in the retaining pocket of the headwear. In some examples, the strips and/or other element in the retaining pocket may include features for providing feedback regarding successful locking in a selected position. For example, notching, stitching, and/or other elements may be provided to present a haptic and/or audible feedback upon insertion in a selected locking position. In one example, a notch near and/or within the strips for each locking position may enable a user to determine when a desired locking position is achieved by providing a haptic “snap” as the eyewear is inserted to each position (e.g., when the eyewear is inserted to a level that is deep enough to ensure retention via all strips of that locking position).
FIGS. 9-17 show further examples of headwear including optics holders as disclosed herein. As described in more detail below, the example headwear may include positioning panels adjacent to the slits of the optics holders. For example, the positioning panels may be positioned in a way such that they terminate at the respective slit of the optics holders, or the positioning panels may extend at least partially into the respective pocket/channel of the optics holders. Each positioning panel may help in guiding an earpiece of the eyewear into the pocket/channel, thereby facilitating easy placement of the eyewear in the optics holders. The positioning panels may be made of a reflective material which may provide a smoother and more rigid surface than the rest of the headwear, which may act to facilitate insertion of the eyewear into the pockets/channels of the optics holders as well as provide high durability, excellent reflective brightness features, and enhanced visibility in some embodiments.
The slits of the optics holders may be segmented by darts or tacks, which may be formed by intersecting stitching or another suitable mechanism across the slits. The intersecting stitching may extend horizontally (e.g., parallel to the bottom circumferential edge of the crown and perpendicular to the extent of the slits), vertically (e.g., parallel to the extent of the slits), at an angle, or a combination thereof. Since the positioning panels terminate at the slits, a portion of the tacks may also overlap the positioning panels. In some examples, each tack may be positioned half-way between a top point and a bottom point of the respective slit. In another example, however, each tack may be positioned between the top point and the bottom point of the slit and closer to the top point than the bottom point. In a further example, each tack may be positioned between the top point and the bottom point of the slit and closer to the bottom point than the top point. The positioning of the tack may create differently sized openings allowing insertion of differently sized eyewear and/or different positioning of the eyewear relative to the headwear. This creates a more secure holding mechanism for the eyewear when housed in a given pocket of the optics holder.
While FIGS. 9-17 show tacks positioned at the slits in order to form multiple openings of equal or unequal size, it is to be appreciated that the tacks are exemplary and other mechanisms of forming the openings without the use of tacks are possible without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, as explained in more detail below, the side regions (e.g., side panels) of the headwear body may include two or more layers of material and the openings may be formed from cuts to at least the top layer of material. In such an example, the top opening may be differentiated from the bottom opening by uncut segment(s) of the top layer of material.
FIG. 9 shows a left side view of an example headwear 900. FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show a front view and a top view of the headwear described in FIG. 9, respectively. FIGS. 9-11 are collectively described herein. Headwear 900 may include a brim 902 extending from or otherwise carried by a hat body 904. Hat body 904 may include a multi-paneled crown 905 in some embodiments, while in other embodiments the hat body may be formed of a single panel or piece of fabric (e.g., a unibody construction) forming any suitable hat body shape. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the crown may be in the form of a cap configured to extend over a top of a wearer's head. In some embodiments, the crown may include a plurality of panels extending at least partially around a circumference or perimeter of the crown and intersecting at a central region (e.g., attaching to a top panel of the crown). In some embodiments, the crown may not include a cap. For example, a cap may be defined as a covering over the top of a wearer's head (e.g., providing material in all areas of the crown). A crown without a cap may include a crown that does not cover all of a wearer's head within the crown.
In the illustrated example, the crown 905 may include a front panel 906, a first side panel 908, and a second side panel 909. The front panel 906 may be formed of a first sub-panel 911 and a second sub-panel 912 coupled via a third seam 996. In the illustrated example, the front panel 906 may extend from the front of the hat body (e.g., at the brim 902) to the rear of the hat body. In some examples, the front panel 906 may be the same size as the first side panel 908 and the second side panel 909. In other examples, the front panel 906 may be a different size (e.g., larger or smaller) than the first side panel 908 and the second side panel 909. In some examples, some or all panels of the multi-paneled crown 905 may have a similar shape. In other examples, however, all panels of the crown 905 may have a different shape.
In some embodiments, each panel (or the entirety of the hat body/brim) may include the same type of fabric or other material. In other embodiments, one or more panels (or the hat brim) may include a different type of material than the other panels. The front panel 906 and/or the outer material of front panel 906 may be secured to the surrounding panels via stitching along each side of the panel or by any other suitable securing mechanism. In the illustrated example, a plurality of seams attaches the crown panels together. For example, the front panel 906 is coupled to the first side panel 908 via a first seam 994. The front panel 906 is coupled to the second side panel 909 via a second seam 998. The first sub-panel 911 and the second sub-panel 912 of the front panel 906 are coupled to each other via the third seam 996. Front panel 906 may be symmetric along an axis formed approximately in the center of the brim 902. In the example shown, the headwear 900 includes a size adjusting mechanism 910 positioned at the rear of the crown 905 (e.g., opposite the brim 902). The size adjusting mechanism 910 may be configured to adjust a size/circumference of the crown 905 to match a wearer's head and may be any suitable size adjusting mechanism, such as a snapback mechanism, a pullable strap, a ballistic mechanism, etc.
In the illustrated example, the brim 902 traverses around a front of the crown 905. The brim 902 may extend across a first portion 922 of the first side panel 908, the front panel 906, and a first portion 924 of the second side panel 909 of the crown 905. The brim 902 may be coupled to the front of the crown 905 along a bottom circumferential edge of the first portion 922 of the first side panel 908, a bottom circumferential edge of the front panel 906, and a bottom circumferential edge of the first portion 924 of the second side panel 909. In some examples, the brim 902 may traverse around the entirety of the crown 905. In other examples, the brim may be omitted.
Similar to headwear 100, headwear 900 may include one or more pairs of optics (e.g., sunglasses/glasses) holders 914 along the side of the hat body 904. For example, a slit may be present in each of the side panels of the hat body providing access to one or more pockets formed in the panels. In the illustrated example, a first slit 916 may be present on the first side panel 908 of the crown 905 forming a first opening to provide access to a first channel or pocket. The first channel or pocket may include a first inner surface and a second inner surface (not shown in FIGS. 9-11). A second slit 956 may be present on the second side panel 909 of the crown 905 forming a second opening to provide access to a second channel or pocket. The second channel or pocket may also include a first inner surface and a second inner surface (not shown in FIGS. 9-11). As used herein, it is to be understood that a pocket may be formed of two or more materials coupled together in a manner that enables elements to be inserted therein, as described above with respect to FIG. 1 and FIG. 7A. For example, earpieces/legs of the frames of the optics may be inserted into the pockets as illustrated and described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 12A and 12B.
In the illustrated example, the first slit 916 on the first side panel 908 of the crown 905 may comprise a top point 918 and a bottom point 919. The top point 918 and the bottom point 919 may be the coupling points of two or more materials forming the first opening of the first channel/pocket of the optics holder 914 (e.g., the first slit 916 may terminate at the top point 918 and at the bottom point 919). In some examples, the first slit 916 may be angled such that the top point 918 is positioned closer to a front of the hat body 904 than the bottom point 919. In other examples, the first slit 916 may not be angled or may be angled such that the top point 918 is positioned closer to a rear of the hat body 904 than the bottom point 919. The top point 918 may be positioned at or adjacent the first seam 994 where the first side panel 908 is coupled to the front panel 906. The bottom point 919 may be positioned at or adjacent the bottom circumferential edge of the crown, specifically the bottom edge of the first side panel 908. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the bottom point 919 is positioned at the bottom edge of the first side panel 908 where the coupling of the first side panel 908 to the brim 902 terminates.
Headwear 900 further includes a pair of positioning panels positioned toward the front of the hat body on each side of the hat body. The pair of positioning panels may include a first positioning panel 930 and a second positioning panel 960. The first positioning panel 930 may be positioned on the first portion 922 of the first side panel 908 in an area framed by the front panel 906, the brim 902, and the first slit 916. The first positioning panel 930 may be shaped as a triangle, including a bottom edge that is coupled to or extends along the brim 902, a first side edge coupled to or extending along the front panel 906 from the bottom edge of the first positioning panel 930, and a second side edge extending along the first slit 916 from the bottom edge of the first positioning panel 930. The first side edge and the second side edge of the first positioning panel 930 may angle toward each other, terminating at an apex of the first positioning panel 930 that is positioned at an intersection of the first slit 916 and the front panel 906. In this way, the first slit 916 may be positioned adjacent to the first positioning panel 930, such that the first positioning panel 930 may be present in front of the first slit 916 (e.g., closer to the front of the headwear). While the first positioning panel 930 is described herein as terminating at the first slit 916, in some examples, the first positioning panel 930 may extend into the opening created by the first slit 916 (which is described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 14).
In the illustrated example, the second slit 956 on the second side panel 909 of the crown 905 is the same as the first slit 916 and thus may comprise a top point 958 and a bottom point 959. The top point 958 and the bottom point 959 may be the coupling points of two or more materials forming the second opening of the second channel/pocket of the optics holder 914. The second slit 956 may be angled or not angled in the same manner as the first slit 916. The second slit 956 may be positioned adjacent to the second positioning panel 960, which is the same in size and shape as the first positioning panel 930 and is positioned on the first portion 924 of the second side panel 909. The second positioning panel 960 may be positioned on the second side panel 909 adjacent to the second slit 956, such that the second positioning panel 960 may be present in front of the second slit 956.
Each of the first positioning panel 930 and the second positioning panel 960, according to the present disclosure, may serve as an optics guidance feature of the headwear 900. Each of the first positioning panel 930 and the second positioning panel 960 may help in guiding a respective earpiece/leg of the frame of the eyewear into the respective pocket/channel of the optics holder 914, thereby facilitating easy placement of the eyewear in the optics holder 914. Additionally, each of the positioning panels described above may be made of a reflective material. The reflective material of positioning panels may generate less friction when the earpieces/legs of the eyewear are placed into the first and second slits relative to the material of the front panel and/or side panels, which may help guide the eyewear into the slits. Further, the reflective material may provide high durability, excellent reflective brightness features, and enhanced visibility in some embodiments. In some examples, the positioning panels may be the only areas of the headwear 900 with reflective material, such that the brim, crown, etc., are not comprised of reflective material. In other examples, the majority of the crown and brim may not include reflective material, but one or more additional regions of the brim or crown may include reflective material, e.g., reflective strips or panels may be included on the sides of the crown, at the rear of the crown, etc.
Further, the triangular shape matches the shape of the headwear at the regions where the positioning panels are located. However, the positioning panels may have a different shape in some embodiments, such as rectangular, circular, etc.
Similar to the optics holder 114 described above, each slit of the optics holder 914 may also be segmented in some embodiments. For example, a dart or tack may be provided across each of the first slit 916 and the second slit 956 in one or more locations to create a more secure holding mechanism for the optics when housed in a given pocket, similar to darts or tacks 707 a, 707 b, and/or 707 c. The darts or tacks may be formed from stitching that intersects the first slit 916 (e.g., horizontal, vertical, or angled stitching) or another suitable mechanism, such as glue, RF welding, etc. In the illustrated example, two tacks are positioned across each of the first slit 916 and the second slit 956. As shown, a first tack 932 and a first bottom tack 934 may be positioned across the first slit 916. The first tack 932 and the first bottom tack 934 may be positioned perpendicular with respect to the first slit 916, though other arrangements are possible without departing from the scope of this disclosure, so long as the first tack 932 segments the first slit 916 into multiple openings. The first bottom tack 934 may be positioned at the bottom point 919, whereas the first tack 932 may be positioned closer to the top point 918 of the first slit 916 than to the bottom point 919 in the illustrated example. Since the first positioning panel 930 abuts the first slit 916 (or extends into the opening/pocket created by the first slit 916), a portion of each of the first tack 932 and the first bottom tack 934 may also overlap the first positioning panel 930. The first tack 932 and the first bottom tack 934 may each have a suitable length, such as ¼ of an inch.
As shown, a second tack 962 and a second bottom tack 964 may be positioned across the second slit 956. The second tack 962 and the second bottom tack 964 may be formed by intersecting stitching, glue, RF welding, etc., and may be positioned similarly to the first tack 932 and first bottom tack 934, e.g., perpendicular with respect to the second slit 956 with second bottom tack 964 be positioned at the bottom point 959 and the second tack 962 positioned closer to the top point 958 than the bottom point 959. More details about the positioning of the tacks across the slits will be presented with respect to FIG. 13. This segmentation of slits creates a more secure optics holding mechanism and provides flexibility of where the eyewear may be positioned relative to the headwear. In one example, eyewear including curved earpieces may be inserted into the slits (e.g., the first slit 916 and the second slit 956) of the optics holder above the darts or tacks (e.g., the tacks described above) across each slit, and the respective dart or tack may provide a security mechanism to catch the curved region of the earpieces if the eyewear inadvertently slides out of the pocket/channel. In this position, the eyewear may be held in position higher up on the crown/cap of the headwear (e.g., above the brim). In other examples, the eyewear may be inserted into the slits below the tacks and the tacks may provide a security mechanism to prevent the earpieces from traveling or angling upward toward the top of the headwear. In this position, the eyewear may be held in position lower down relative to the headwear, such as below the crown/cap, where the eyewear may be worn by the wearer (e.g., across the wearer's eyes).
While the optics holders shown in FIGS. 9-11 each include two tacks, the bottom tacks may be provided to maintain structural integrity, prevent puckering of the side panels at the slits, and/or create a target opening size, and may be omitted in some examples. As such, each of the optics holders of FIGS. 9-11 form only two openings. However, additional tacks may be included such that more than two openings are formed (e.g., three openings may be formed by including another tack at each slit, such another tack positioned below the first tack). Further, the headwear 900 does not include a headband and thus the slits (e.g., first slit 916) extend to the bottom circumferential edge of the headwear where the headwear terminates and/or couples to the brim. This positioning of the slits may allow for eyewear to be secured in the optics holders even when the eyewear is being worn across eyes of a wearer of the headwear, as shown in FIG. 12B and explained in more detail below. Further, in some examples, one or more structural tacks (e.g., similar to the bottom tacks) may be positioned elsewhere relative to the slits.
As described above, each positioning panel may be triangular shaped, which may result in each positioning panel being wider across a bottom portion of the positioning panel than across a top portion of the positioning panel. This shape may provide feedback to the wearer of the headwear when inserting the earpieces/legs of the eyewear into the optics holders, in order to allow the wearer a better sense of whether the eyewear is being inserted above or below the tacks. Further, it is to be understood that the optics holders and positioning panels described herein may be utilized in any other suitable headwear than those illustrated. For example, a full-brim hat (and/or a hat with a larger brim than that illustrated in FIGS. 9-11), a hat without a brim, a capless visor, or an earband (e.g., a panel extending around the forehead/ears without a brim or a top crown) may include the optics holders and positioning panels described herein. Some of those examples are described in subsequent figures.
FIGS. 12A and 12B show a pair of eyewear 1218 positioned on a headwear 1201 in a first position 1200 and a second position 1250, respectively. FIGS. 12A and 12B are described herein collectively. Headwear 1201 is a non-limiting example of headwear 900, though some features of headwear 1201 are different relative to headwear 900.
In the illustrated example, the headwear 1201 is a brimless cap, which may be referred to as a beanie or skullcap. A hat body 1204 of the headwear may include a top panel 1206 and a bottom panel 1208. The top panel 1206 may comprise a cap configured to extend over a top of a wearer's head. In some embodiments, the top panel 1206 may include a plurality of sub-panels extending around a circumference or perimeter of the headwear and intersecting at a central region. However, in other embodiments the top panel 1206 may be formed of one or more pieces of material forming any suitable hat body shape. Further, in some examples the top panel 1206 may be omitted, such that headwear 1201 forms an earband. The bottom panel 1208 of the headwear may be attached to the top panel 1206 along a bottom circumferential edge 1240 of the top panel 1206. The bottom panel 1208 may be configured to be positioned over the ears of the wearer when the headwear 1201 is worn.
The bottom panel 1208 may be made of multiple layers. In the illustrated example, the bottom panel 1208 includes a first layer 1209 and a second layer 1211, where the first layer 1209 forms an inner layer and the second layer 1211 forms an outer layer of the bottom panel 1208. The first layer 1209 of the bottom panel 1208 extends around the entirety of the headwear, such that an entirety of the bottom circumferential edge 1240 of the top panel 1206 is coupled to the first layer 1209, while the second layer 1211 does not extend around the entirety of the headwear or top panel 1206. For example, the second layer 1211 may extend around a back of the headwear 1201 and terminate on two sides of the headwear 1201. A first terminating edge 1213 of the second layer 1211 of the bottom panel 1208 is shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. As an example, FIGS. 12A and 12B may show a right side view of the headwear 1201. While not shown, a second terminating edge of the second layer 1211 of the bottom panel 1208 may be present on a left side of the headwear 1201.
Headwear 1201 may include one or more pairs of optics (e.g., sunglasses/glasses) holders along the side of the hat body 1204. For example, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, an optics holder 1210 may be present on the right side of the headwear 1201 and may be positioned on the bottom panel 1208. The optics holder 1210 may include one or more openings or pockets for retaining an earpiece of an eyewear. In the illustrated example, a pocket is formed between the first layer 1209 and the second layer 1211 of the bottom panel 1208. Because the second layer 1211 does not extend fully around the circumference of the bottom panel 1208, a first terminating edge 1213 of the second layer 1211 of the bottom panel 1208 creates access to (e.g., an opening for) the pocket for the optics holder 1210. The first terminating edge 1213 may comprise a top point 1212 and a bottom point 1214. The top point 1212 of the first terminating edge 1213 may be coupled to the first layer 1209 of the bottom panel 1208 at or adjacent the bottom circumferential edge 1240 of the top panel 1206, while the bottom point 1214 of the first terminating edge 1213 may be coupled to the first layer 1209 of the bottom panel 1208 at or adjacent a bottom edge 1242 of the bottom panel 1208. Thus the opening of the pocket of the optics holder 1210 may terminate at the top point 1212 and at the bottom point 1214. In some examples, the first terminating edge 1213 may be angled such that the top point 1212 is positioned closer to a front of the hat body 1204 than the bottom point 1214. In other examples, the first terminating edge 1213 may not be angled or may be angled such that the top point 1212 is positioned closer to a rear of the hat body 1204 than the bottom point 1214.
As described previously with respect to FIGS. 9-11, the optics holder 1210 may be segmented by a tack or dart positioned across the opening, specifically positioned across the first layer 1209, the first terminating edge 1213, and the second layer 1211. As depicted in FIGS. 12A and 12B, a tack 1216 may be positioned across the opening of the optics holder 1210 between the top point 1212 and the bottom point 1214. The tack 1216 may be formed by intersecting stitching, glue, RF welding, or other mechanism, and may be positioned perpendicular, parallel, or any other orientation with respect to the first terminating edge 1213. In some examples, the tack 1216 may be positioned half-way between the top point 1212 and the bottom point 1214. In other examples, however, the tack 1216 may be positioned closer to the top point 1212 than to the bottom point 1214, or closer to the bottom point 1214 than the top point 1212. In the illustrated example, this segmentation of the optics holder 1210 by placement of the tack 1216 creates two openings, a top opening 1220 positioned above the tack 1216 and below the top point 1212 and a bottom opening 1222 positioned below the tack 1216 and above the bottom point 1214. The top opening 1220 and the bottom opening 1222 of the optics holder 1210 may or may not be similar in size, depending on where the tack 1216 is positioned. For example, if the tack 1216 is positioned half-way between the top point 1212 and the bottom point 1214, the top opening 1220 and the bottom opening 1222 of the optics holder 1210 may be of similar size. However, if the tack 1216 is positioned closer to the top point 1212 than to the bottom point 1214, the top opening 1220 may be smaller in size than the bottom opening 1222 of the optics holder 1210. In this way, different sizes of the top and bottom openings of the optics holder may allow differently sized eyewear to be accommodated inside the openings.
While the optics holder 1210 of FIGS. 12A and 12B is described herein as including two openings, it is to be appreciated that the top opening 1220 and the bottom opening 1222 provide access to a single pocket formed by the first layer 1209 and the second layer 1211. However, in other examples, the top opening 1220 may provide access to a first pocket and the bottom opening 1222 may provide access to a second pocket that is at least partially separate from the first pocket. Such a configuration may be formed via the tack, which may extend further toward the rear of the headwear than in the example shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. For example, the tack may extend one inch, two inches, three inches, or more.
In still further examples, the second layer 1211 may extend further around the circumference of the bottom panel 1208, such as around an entirety of the circumference of the bottom panel 1208. In such examples, rather than being formed from a slit and a tack, the optics holder 1210 may be formed via two (or more) cuts into the second layer 1211. For example, a first opening may be formed via a first cut (e.g., a vertical or angled cut) extending partially down the bottom panel 1208, terminating at, above, or below the vertical midway point of the bottom panel 1208 (e.g., halfway between the top point 1212 and the bottom point 1214). A second opening may be formed via a second cut (e.g., a vertical or angled cut) extending partially down the bottom panel 1208, starting at, above, or below the vertical midway point and vertically below where the first cut terminates. The first and second cuts may be formed in a suitable manner, such as via a laser. Further, rather than being vertical cuts, the first and second cuts may be angled with respect to a vertical axis. Such an example may provide access to two openings of equal or unequal/different size without the use of tacks, which may create a more seamless appearance.
FIG. 12A shows the headwear 1201 is worn by a wearer 1202 and the eyewear 1218 is held in a first position 1200 on the headwear 1201, such that an earpiece 1219 of the eyewear 1218 is inserted in the top opening 1220 of the optics holder 1210. As shown, when the eyewear 1218 is held in the first position 1200, the eyewear 1218 may be positioned higher up on the headwear 1201 above the eyes of the wearer 1202 (e.g., on the bottom panel 1208 or on the top panel 1206 of the headwear 1201) and the eyewear may extend across the headwear 1201 (e.g., across the bottom panel 1208). In this example, the earpiece 1219 of the eyewear 1218 is positioned above the tack 1216 such that the eyewear 1218 is prevented from inadvertently sliding out of the pocket and/or sliding downward on the wearer's face.
FIG. 12B shows the eyewear 1218 being held in the second position 1250 on the headwear 1201, such that the earpiece 1219 of the eyewear 1218 is inserted in the bottom opening 1222 of the optics holder 1210. As shown, the eyewear 1218 may be positioned lower down relative to the headwear 1201 and can be worn over/extend across the eyes of the wearer 1202, when the eyewear 1218 is held in the second position 1250. In this example, the earpiece 1219 of the eyewear 1218 is positioned below the tack 1216 such that the eyewear 1218 is prevented from traveling or angling upward toward the top of the headwear 1201. In the second position 1250, the eyewear may be held in place over the eyes of the wearer without requiring the earpieces of the eyewear to extend over the ears of the wearer or be in face-sharing contact with the ears or neck of the wearer. In doing so, eye protection and/or vision enhancement may be provided to the wearer by the eyewear without the discomfort that can often be associated with wearing eyewear in the standard manner, particularly when the eyewear is worn with headwear that covers the ears and/or when additional apparel is worn that includes ear loops, such as face masks.
While not shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, it should be appreciated that headwear 1201 may include a second optics holder on the left side of the hat body. The configuration of the second optics holder may be similar to the optics holder 1210 as described above. In the illustrated example, the eyewear 1218 is shown to be positioned in the optics holder of a beanie. It may be appreciated that the eyewear 1218 may be positioned in the optics holder of other hats (e.g., a full-brim hat, capless visor, a messenger hat, an earband, a headband, etc.) in a similar manner and that the headwear 1201 may take on a different form than shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, such as the top panel 1206 being omitted (thereby forming a headband). For example, eyewear may be worn in a similar first position or second position via the optics holder 914 on the headwear 900 of FIGS. 9-11, with the earpieces being held in upper openings above the respective tacks in the first position and the earpieces being held in lower openings below the respective tacks in the second position. In some examples, the headwear 1201 may include positioning panels adjacent to the optics holder along the side of the hat body. The configuration of the positioning panels may be similar to the first and second positioning panels described previously with reference to FIGS. 9-11.
FIG. 13 shows a magnified view 1300 of the eyewear retainer of the headwear 900 of FIG. 9. As described previously with reference to FIGS. 9-11, two tacks (the first tack 932 and the first bottom tack 934) may be positioned across the first slit 916, thereby segmenting the first slit 916 into a top slit segment 916 a and a bottom slit segment 916 b. The top slit segment 916 a extends from the top point 918 to the first tack 932 and forms a first, top opening and the bottom slit segment 916 b extends from the first tack 932 to the first bottom tack 934 and forms a second, bottom opening. In examples where the first bottom tack 934 is omitted, the bottom slit segment 916 b may extend to the bottom point 919. As explained above with respect to FIGS. 12A and 12B, the top slit segment 916 a and the bottom slit segment 916 b each provide access to a single pocket formed in the first side panel 908. However, in other examples, the top slit segment 916 a may provide access to a first pocket formed in the first side panel 908 and the bottom slit segment 916 b may provide access to a second pocket formed in the first side panel 908.
The first slit 916 may have a length L extending from the top point 918 to the bottom point 919. A mid-point 1302 of the length L of the first slit 916 may be positioned half-way between the top point 918 and the bottom point 919. In the examples shown herein, the first slit 916 may be positioned at position 1304, which may be located two-thirds of the length L from the bottom point 919. Thus, the first tack 932 may be positioned closer to the top point 918 of first slit 916 than the bottom point 919 of the first slit 916. The first tack 932 may be positioned across the first slit 916 below the top point 918 by a distance in a range of 30-35% of the length L of the first slit 916. In some examples, however, the first tack 932 may be positioned at another suitable position along the first slit 916 between the mid-point 1302 and the top point 918, such as at the mid-point 1302 of the length L of the first slit 916, halfway between the mid-point 1302 and the top point 918, or another suitable position. Although not shown, the second tack 962 may be positioned across the second slit 956 of the optics holder 914 at the same position (relative to the second slit 956) as the first tack 932 (e.g., at a position two-thirds of the length of the second slit above the bottom point of the second slit).
The segmentation of the slits using one or more darts or tacks may provide differently sized openings for accommodating differently sized/shaped optics worn by the user. The segmentation of the slits and the specific positioning of the dart or tack may enable earpieces or other frame elements to be inserted relatively high on the crown of the hat (e.g., in an upper-most opening, above a stitch or tack) or relatively low on the crown of the hat (e.g., in a lower-most opening, below a stitch or tack and the upper-most opening). For example, sunglasses with larger frames/lenses may be inserted into an uppermost opening of the slit in order to allow the bottom of the sunglasses lenses/frames to rest on the brim of the hat.
As described above with respect to FIGS. 7A-8G, material may be inserted into the slits and/or around the opening/edges of the slits to further prevent and/or promote movement of the optics out of/into the pockets. For example, material having a relatively more adhesive quality (e.g., rubber, texturized material for gripping, silicone, rough fabric, etc.) may be utilized within a pocket and/or along an interior of the edges of openings of the slits to help retain inserted optics within the pocket. Material having a relatively less adhesive or slicker quality (e.g., metal, leather, smooth plastic/fabric, etc.) may be provided along edges of the slits and/or an outer region of the slits in order to promote insertion of optics into the slits/pocket and/or guide the optics into the slits/pocket. Any of the locking features described above with respect to FIGS. 8A-8G may be included in the pockets of the optics holders, or the pockets may not include additional locking features. For example, the different sized openings described herein may alleviate the need for additional locking features in the pockets of the optics holders.
FIG. 14 shows another magnified view 1400 of the eyewear retainer of the headwear 900 of FIG. 9 with an example arrangement of retaining material in an eyewear retaining pocket in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
As described previously with reference to FIGS. 9-11, the first positioning panel 930 is positioned adjacent to the first slit 916 and guides an earpiece of the optics to be inserted through the first opening into the first channel/pocket formed by the first slit 916. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 14, the first positioning panel 930 may be configured to extend into the first opening formed by the first slit 916, instead of terminating at the first slit 916. For example, a first portion 1402 of the first positioning panel 930 may extend inside the first opening and the pocket/channel and may not be visible from an outside of the headwear. In some examples, the first portion 1402 of the first positioning panel 930 may partially form the first inner surface of the first pocket formed by the first slit 916 (e.g., the inner surface of the first opening closest to the wearer's head). The first portion 1402 may extend into the first opening/pocket a relatively small distance (e.g., 0.5-2 cm) or a longer distance (e.g., 2 cm or greater) and may match the shape of the first side panel 908 (as shown) or not match the shape of the first side panel 908. For example, the first portion 1402 may extend with a continuous height rather than an increasing height as shown. A second portion 1404 of the first positioning panel 930 may be configured to remain outside of the first opening formed by the first slit 916. The second portion 1404 may be sized and shaped as described for the first positioning panel 930 with respect to FIGS. 9-11. Although not shown, the second positioning panel 960 positioned adjacent to the second slit 956 may have a similar configuration with a portion of the second positioning panel 960 extending into the second opening formed by the second slit 956 of the optics holder 914. In this way, the portion of a positioning panel that is present outside and to the front of the slit may serve to guide an earpiece of an optics to be inserted into the opening formed by the slit, whereas the portion of the positioning panel that is retained inside the slit may assist in placing the inserted optics within the pocket securely.
FIG. 15 shows a left side view of another example headwear 1500 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The headwear 1500 is an example of a full-brim hat showing a positioning panel positioned adjacent to an optics holder as described previously with reference to FIGS. 9-11.
A hat body 1504 of the headwear 1500 may include a crown 1505 and a brim 1502. The brim 1502 may be coupled to the crown 1505 along a bottom circumferential edge of the crown 1505 and the brim 1502 may traverse around the entirety of the crown 1505. The crown 1505 may be multi-paneled. The multi-paneled crown 1505 of the headwear 1500 may be similar to the crown 905 of the headwear 900 as described previously with reference to FIGS. 9-11. The crown 1505 of the illustrated example shows a front panel 1506 and a side panel 1508. The front panel 1506 may be coupled to the side panel 1508 via a seam 1594.
Headwear 1500 may include one or more pairs of optics (e.g., sunglasses/glasses) holders and positioning panels along the side of the hat body 1504. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, an optics holder 1514 and a positioning panel 1530 adjacent to the optics holder 1514 may be present on the side panel 1508 of the crown 1505. The features of the optics holder 1514 and the positioning panel 1530 may be similar to the features of the optics holder and the positioning panel described previously in FIGS. 9-11. As depicted in FIG. 15, a slit 1516 of the optics holder 1514 may be present in the side panel 1508 of the crown 1505 providing access to one or more pockets formed in the panel. The positioning panel 1530 may be positioned on a first portion 1522 of the side panel 1508 adjacent to the slit 1516 of the optics holder 1514, such that the positioning panel 1530 terminates at the slit 1516. Moreover, the positioning panel 1530 is shown to be present in front of the slit 1516, thereby guiding an optics into the slit 1516 of the optics holder 1514. The positioning panel 1530 may be composed of a reflective material.
The slit 1516 may have a top point 1518 and a bottom point 1519. A first tack 1532 and a first bottom tack 1534 may be positioned across the slit 1516 between the top point 1518 and the bottom point 1519 for enhanced security of an eyewear. As shown in the illustrated example, the first tack 1532 may be positioned across the slit 1516 closer to the top point 1518 than the bottom point 1519 of the slit 1516. For example, the first tack 1532 may be placed two-thirds of a length of the slit 1516 above the bottom point 1519. In other examples, however, the first tack 1532 may be positioned half-way between the top point 1518 and the bottom point 1519 of the slit 1516, or the first tack 1532 may be positioned closer to the bottom point 1519 than the top point 1518. In some examples, the slit 1516 may provide access to a single pocket positioned below the first tack 1532 and above the bottom point 1519. In other examples, the slit 1516 may provide access to two pockets, a first pocket positioned above the first tack 1532 and below the top point 1518 and a second pocket positioned below the first tack 1532 and above the bottom point 1519. In still further examples, the slit 1516 may provide access to a single pocket extending from the top point 1518 to the bottom point 1519.
Additionally, a rectangular portion 1570 may be coupled to the side panel 1508 of the crown 1505 or the rectangular portion 1570 may form a part of the side panel 1508. As shown in FIG. 15, the rectangular portion 1570 terminates at the slit 1516. A seam 1572 coupling the rectangular portion 1570 with the rest of the side panel 1508 may be aligned along the first tack 1532. The rectangular portion 1570 may be comprised of a different material than the remainder of the side panel 1508, for example the side panel may include mesh material and the rectangular portion may not include mesh, at least on an outside of the headwear (e.g., the rectangular portion may include a mesh lining on the interior of the headwear).
While not shown in FIG. 15, it should be appreciated that headwear 1500 may include a second optics holder and a second positioning panel adjacent to the second optics holder on another side panel of the crown 1505. For example, the view shown in FIG. 15 may be a view of a left side of the headwear 1500, and a right side of the headwear 1500 may include the other side panel with the second optics holder and second positioning panel positioned at/between the other side panel and the front panel. The second optics holder and the second positioning panel may be similar to the optics holder 1514 and positioning panel 1530.
FIG. 16 shows a left side view of another example headwear 1600 with an alternative positioning of the guidance feature of the eyewear retainer in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The headwear 1600 is an example of a capless visor showing a positioning panel positioned adjacent to an optics holder as described previously with reference to FIGS. 9-11.
In the illustrated example, a hat body 1604 of the headwear 1600 may include a crown 1605 and a brim 1602. The crown 1605 may include a front panel 1606 and a side panel 1608. The crown 1605 may not cover the wearer's head, allowing a wearer's head to remain exposed to the environment while wearing the hat. The brim 1602 may be coupled to the crown 1605 along a bottom circumferential edge of the front panel 1606 of the crown 1605. The brim 1602 of the headwear 1600 may be similar to the brim 902 of the headwear 900 as described previously with reference to FIGS. 9-11.
Headwear 1600 may include one or more pairs of optics (e.g., sunglasses/glasses) holders and positioning panels along the side of the hat body 1604. For example, as shown in FIG. 16 an optics holder 1614 and a positioning panel 1630 adjacent to the optics holder 1614 may be present on the side panel 1608 of the crown 1605. Although some of the features of the optics holder 1614 and the positioning panel 1630 may be similar to the features of the optics holder and the positioning panel described previously in FIGS. 9-11, the positioning of the positioning panel 1630 is different in headwear 1600. As depicted in FIG. 16, a slit 1616 of the optics holder 1614 may be present at an interface of the side panel 1608 and the front panel 1606. The slit 1616 may provide access to one or more pockets formed in the side panel 1608. The positioning panel 1630 may be positioned adjacent to the slit 1616 of the optics holder 1614, such that the positioning panel 1630 forms a portion of the side panel 1608. In the illustrated example, the positioning panel 1630 is positioned behind the slit 1616 rather than in front of the slit as described in previous embodiments. This allows the positioning panel 1630 to be a part of an outer portion of the material forming the pocket/channel. The positioning panel 1630, in the illustrated example, may be composed of a reflective material.
The slit 1616 may have a top point 1618 and a bottom point 1619. A first tack 1632 and a first bottom tack 1634 may be positioned across the slit 1616 between the top point 1618 and the bottom point 1619 for enhanced security of an eyewear. The positioning of tack across the slit 1616 in this embodiment may be similar to the positioning of tack described previously with reference to FIG. 13. In some examples, the first tack 1632 may be positioned half-way between the top point 1618 and the bottom point 1619 of the slit 1616. In other examples, however, the first tack 1632 may be positioned across the slit 1616 closer to the top point 1618 than the bottom point 1619 of the slit 1616 or closer to the bottom point 1619 than the top point 1618. For example, the first tack 1632 may be placed two-third of a length of the slit 1616 above the bottom point 1619 as shown in FIG. 16.
While the example shown in FIG. 16 includes the positioning panels positioned to the rear of the optics holders, in some examples, additionally or alternatively, a slit 1690 may be present to the rear of the positioning panel 1630. One or more tacks may be positioned at the slit 1690, as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 16.
As used herein, the term “tack” may refer to intersecting stitching as described above, but may also include virtually any anchor mechanism that can delineate a top opening from a bottom opening, including but not limited to an RF weld, glue, and stitching other than horizontal stitching (e.g., vertical stitching, a circular dot of stitching, etc.). Further, in some examples, the tacks described herein may reversibly anchor one or more top layers of material to one or more underlying layers of material, and thus may include snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, etc. Additionally, as used herein, the term “headwear” may include any article configured to be worn on a head of a wearer, including caps, visors, earbands, etc. Headwear as defined herein may include headwear with a brim, without a brim, with a crown (that covers a top of a wearer's head), or without a crown.
The example headwear described above provides many technical advantages. For example, optic holders may allow a wearer to secure protective eyewear in exterior crown slits and reduce chance of losing glasses. If the wearer is wearing the hat backward (e.g., for spotting or scope use), the reverse-facing holders may be used to still secure protective eyewear or other optics for easy access. An arrangement of retaining material in a retaining pocket may help to secure the eyewear while simultaneously allowing air to flow through the pocket and to a wearer's head.
The disclosure also provides support for headwear comprising: a headwear body, a first top opening disposed on a first side of the headwear body and providing access to a first pocket formed at the first side of the headwear body, the first pocket including a first inner surface and a second inner surface, and a first bottom opening disposed on the first side of the headwear, below the first top opening, and providing access to the first pocket or to another pocket formed at the first side of the headwear body, where the first top opening and the first bottom opening are of unequal size. In a first example of the headwear, the headwear further comprises: a second top opening disposed on a second side of the headwear body and providing access to a second pocket formed at the second side of the headwear body, and a second bottom opening disposed on the second side of the headwear, below the second top opening, and providing access to the second pocket or to another pocket formed at the second side of the headwear body, where the second top opening and the second bottom opening are of unequal size. In a second example of the headwear, optionally including the first example, the first top opening and the first bottom opening are formed via a first slit disposed on the first side of the headwear and a first tack provided at the first slit, wherein the first slit has a top point and a bottom point. In a third example of the headwear, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the first top opening and the first bottom opening being of unequal size includes the first tack being positioned closer to the top point than the bottom point or positioned closer to the bottom point than the top point. In a fourth example of the headwear, optionally including one or more or each of the first through third examples, the first top opening and the first bottom opening being of unequal size includes the first tack being positioned closer to the bottom point than the top point. In a fifth example of the headwear, optionally including one or more or each of the first through fourth examples, the first slit is angled such that the top point is positioned closer to a front of the headwear body than the bottom point. In a sixth example of the headwear, optionally including one or more or each of the first through fifth examples, the first tack is the only tack that is positioned at the first slit. In a seventh example of the headwear, optionally including one or more or each of the first through sixth examples, the first tack is formed by stitching, glue, RF welding, or a snap. In an eighth example of the headwear, optionally including one or more or each of the first through seventh examples, the headwear body further comprises a front region and a positioning panel coupled between the front region and the first top opening and first bottom opening, the positioning panel comprised of a reflective material. In a ninth example of the headwear, optionally including one or more or each of the first through eighth examples, the positioning panel is triangular shaped. In a tenth example of the system, optionally including one or more or each of the first through ninth examples, the positioning panel terminates at the first top opening and the first bottom opening. In a eleventh example of the headwear, optionally including one or more or each of the first through tenth examples, the positioning panel extends into the first top opening and first bottom opening and at least partially forms the first inner surface.
The disclosure also provides support for headwear comprising: a headwear body, a first opening formed by a first slit disposed on a first side panel of the headwear body and providing access to a first pocket formed at the first side panel of the headwear body, the first pocket including a first inner surface and a second inner surface, a first tack provided at the first opening, and a positioning panel coupled to a front panel of the headwear body and terminating at the first slit. In a first example of the headwear, the positioning panel is comprised of reflective material. In a second example of the headwear, optionally including the first example, the first tack is positioned half-way between a top point and a bottom point of the first slit. In a third example of the headwear, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the first tack is positioned between a top point and a bottom point of the first slit and is positioned closer to the top point than the bottom point.
The disclosure also provides support for headwear configured to be worn by a wearer, comprising: a headwear body, and a pair of optics holders comprising a first opening formed on a first side of the headwear body and providing access to a first pocket, the first opening segmented by a first tack at the first opening, and a second opening formed on a second side of the headwear body and providing access to a second pocket, the second opening segmented by a second tack at the second opening, wherein the pair of optics holders is configured to hold optics in a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, earpieces of the optics are configured to be positioned above the first tack and the second tack and the optics are configured to extend across the headwear body, and in the second position, the earpieces of the optics are configured to be positioned below the first tack and the second tack and the optics are configured to extend across eyes of the wearer. In a first example of the headwear, the first opening has a first top point and a first bottom point and the first tack is positioned half-way between the first top point and the first bottom point, and wherein the second opening has a second top point and a second bottom point and the second tack is positioned half-way between the second top point and the second bottom point. In a second example of the headwear, optionally including the first example, the first opening has a first top point and a first bottom point and the first tack is positioned closer the first top point than the first bottom point, and wherein the second opening has a second top point and a second bottom point and the second tack is positioned closer to the second top point than the second bottom point. In a third example of the headwear, optionally including one or both of the first and second examples, the headwear further comprises: a pair of positioning panels, a first positioning panel of the pair of positioning panels located adjacent the first opening and a second positioning panel of the pair of positioning panels located adjacent the second opening.
It will be understood that the configurations and/or approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various structures and configurations, and other features, functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any and all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. Headwear comprising:

a headwear body;

a first top opening disposed on a first side of the headwear body and providing access to a first pocket formed at the first side of the headwear body, the first pocket including a first inner surface and a second inner surface; and

a first bottom opening disposed on the first side of the headwear, below the first top opening, and providing access to the first pocket or to another pocket formed at the first side of the headwear body, where the first top opening and the first bottom opening are of unequal size.

2. The headwear of claim 1, further comprising a second top opening disposed on a second side of the headwear body and providing access to a second pocket formed at the second side of the headwear body; and

a second bottom opening disposed on the second side of the headwear, below the second top opening, and providing access to the second pocket or to another pocket formed at the second side of the headwear body, where the second top opening and the second bottom opening are of unequal size.

3. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the first top opening and the first bottom opening are formed via a first slit disposed on the first side of the headwear and a first tack provided at the first slit, wherein the first slit has a top point and a bottom point.

4. The headwear of claim 3, wherein the first top opening and the first bottom opening being of unequal size includes the first tack being positioned closer to the top point than the bottom point or positioned closer to the bottom point than the top point.

5. The headwear of claim 3, wherein the first top opening and the first bottom opening being of unequal size includes the first tack being positioned closer to the bottom point than the top point.

6. The headwear of claim 3, wherein the first slit is angled such that the top point is positioned closer to a front of the headwear body than the bottom point.

7. The headwear of claim 3, wherein the first tack is the only tack that is positioned at the first slit.

8. The headwear of claim 3, wherein the first tack is formed by stitching, glue, RF welding, or a snap.

9. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the headwear body further comprises a front region and a positioning panel coupled between the front region and the first top opening and first bottom opening, the positioning panel comprised of a reflective material.

10. The headwear of claim 9, wherein the positioning panel is triangular shaped.

11. The headwear of claim 9, wherein the positioning panel terminates at the first top opening and the first bottom opening.

12. The headwear of claim 9, wherein the positioning panel extends into the first top opening and first bottom opening and at least partially forms the first inner surface.

13. Headwear comprising:

a headwear body;

a first opening formed by a first slit disposed on a first side panel of the headwear body and providing access to a first pocket formed at the first side panel of the headwear body, the first pocket including a first inner surface and a second inner surface;

a first tack provided at the first opening; and

a positioning panel coupled to a front panel of the headwear body and terminating at the first slit.

14. The headwear of claim 13, wherein the positioning panel is comprised of reflective material.

15. The headwear of claim 13, wherein the first tack is positioned half-way between a top point and a bottom point of the first slit.

16. The headwear of claim 13, wherein the first tack is positioned between a top point and a bottom point of the first slit and is positioned closer to the top point than the bottom point.

17. Headwear configured to be worn by a wearer, comprising:

a headwear body; and

a pair of optics holders comprising a first opening formed on a first side of the headwear body and providing access to a first pocket, the first opening segmented by a first tack at the first opening, and a second opening formed on a second side of the headwear body and providing access to a second pocket, the second opening segmented by a second tack at the second opening,

wherein the pair of optics holders is configured to hold optics in a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, earpieces of the optics are configured to be positioned above the first tack and the second tack and the optics are configured to extend across the headwear body, and in the second position, the earpieces of the optics are configured to be positioned below the first tack and the second tack and the optics are configured to extend across eyes of the wearer.

18. The headwear of claim 17, wherein the first opening has a first top point and a first bottom point and the first tack is positioned half-way between the first top point and the first bottom point, and wherein the second opening has a second top point and a second bottom point and the second tack is positioned half-way between the second top point and the second bottom point.

19. The headwear of claim 17, wherein the first opening has a first top point and a first bottom point and the first tack is positioned closer the first top point than the first bottom point, and wherein the second opening has a second top point and a second bottom point and the second tack is positioned closer to the second top point than the second bottom point.

20. The headwear of claim 17, further comprising a pair of positioning panels, a first positioning panel of the pair of positioning panels located adjacent the first opening and a second positioning panel of the pair of positioning panels located adjacent the second opening.