WO2012046150A1

WO2012046150A1 - A hat brim for supporting spectacles

Info

Publication number: WO2012046150A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/053832
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franco Barbieri
Original assignee: Franco Barbieri
Priority date: 2010-10-08
Filing date: 2011-09-01
Publication date: 2012-04-12
Also published as: IT1401836B1; ITBO20100596A1

Abstract

A brim (1) for a hat (C), destined to support a pair of spectacles (O) comprising: two lenses (L) and a frame (M) in turn comprising two temples (A); the brim (1) comprising a peak (2); at least two passages (3, 4), each of which can receive a temple (A) of the pair of spectacles (O), the passages (3, 4) being arranged at a distance from one another such as to enable a concurrent insertion therein of the temples (A) of the pair of spectacles (O), such that the peak (2) supports the spectacles (O) once the temples (A) have been inserted in the passages (3, 4).

Description

A HAT BRIM FOR SUPPORTING SPECTACLES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical sector of hats and spectacles. The invention relates to a brim for a hat, which is destined to support a pair of spectacles.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

In the daily experience of many it is necessary to put on and take off a pair of spectacles, either reading glasses or sun-glasses, many times.

There exist certain situations, for example due to particular atmospheric conditions, such as for example changes in weather, or to various visibility needs, such as driving, sport, reading, where it is necessary and/or desirable to put on and take off a pair of spectacles a considerable number of times.

Once the spectacles have been removed, it is advantageous to put them where damage can be avoided, but also where they will be available subsequently.

For this purpose, the spectacles are arranged in their relative cases which usually have a rigid or semi-rigid structure, and are not very practical in some circumstances.

Often, in fact, it is inconvenient to carry these cases when performing certain activities, for example working or sporting activities, as they are unwieldy or indeed can impede the carrying out of the activities themselves. Further, daily experience teaches that frequently, at moment of need, one cannot always remember where the spectacles have been left, with or without the relative case. Beyond this, if the spectacles have not been properly stored, they risk being inadvertently damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention consists in obviating the above-cited drawbacks, by disclosing, in accordance with claim 1 , a brim for a hat destined to support a pair of spectacles, comprising: a peak; at least two passages, each for receiving a temple of a pair of spectacles, the passages being arranged at a distance from one another which is such as to enable contemporaneous insertion therein of the pair of spectacles, such that the brim supports the spectacles once the temples have been inserted in the passages. For the sake of clarity, the expression brim herein used relates to the element which in a hat projects from the crown of the hat or which, as will emerge herein below, can be worn by itself.

In particular, in the following reference will be made, without losing in terms of generality, to a peak, i.e. a particular type of brim, which comprises a brim of small dimensions, relatively rigid and normally having a half-moon profile.

The peak is present for example in sporting headwear such as baseball caps, which protect the eyes from the sun's rays.

A further example of peak is the one used on its own, for example by means of an elastic band (such as a croupier's peak).

The two passages afforded in the brim, appropriately dimensioned and distanced from one another, advantageously enable insertion therein of the temples of a spectacle frame, such that the spectacles can consequently be supported by the brim.

In practice, once the temples of the spectacles have been inserted in the passages, they cross the brim from side to side. In this way, damage to the spectacles is entirely avoided, due for example to accidental impacts which can occur when the spectacles are rested without the relative case.

Further, when the spectacles are supported by the brim in the described way, their vertical dimension is sub-divided between the upper half- space and the lower half-space defined by the peak, such that the view of the user wearing the hat with the present brim is completely unhindered.

In practice, for example, the lenses and the part of the frame which supports them can be arranged above the brim, while the temples are arranged below.

Therefore, not only is vision unhampered, the overall dimensions of the assembly of the hat and brim is contained.

The brim of the invention further enables resting the spectacles after use such that they are easily available when required, without causing a hindrance to the activities being carried out.

Further, the spectacles thus rested can be carried by the user without any need for the spectacle case therefor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Specific embodiments of the invention, and advantageous technical- functional characteristics correlated to the embodiments which are only partly derivable from the above description, will be described in the following of the present description, according to what is set out in the claims and with the aid of the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which: - figure 1 is a perspective view, from below, of a hat comprising the brim of the invention, in a first embodiment; figure 2 is a perspective view, from above, of a hat comprising the brim of the invention and a pair of spectacles supported thereby, in a second embodiment; - figure 3 is a perspective view from below of the embodiment of figure 2, in a different configuration; figure 4 is a perspective view, from above, of a hat comprising the brim of the invention and a pair of spectacles supported thereby, in a third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the accompanying figures of the drawings, 1 denotes a brim for a hat C, object of the invention, destined for supporting a pair of spectacles O. The pair of spectacles O comprises two lenses L, a frame M comprising in turn two temples A, and a nose-piece P.

In the described case the two temples A are foldable on one another thanks to hinge joints present in the frame M, which define two configurations; a closed configuration with the above temples A folded on one another, and an opening with the temples A opened out. Further, the nosepiece P comprises two nose rests N. As mentioned, in the following description reference will be made in particular to a brim 1 , for example a sporting-type peak, as of a baseball cap.

The brim 1 comprises a peak 2 which has an upper surface 20 and a lower surface 21.

In practice, the peak 2 is the element which serves to protect the user's eyes from direct exposure to the sun's rays (as can be seen by observing the figures).

Further, an edge 8 of the brim 1 is solidly sewn to an edge of the crown K of the hat C.

The peak 2 comprises two passages 3, 4 which each receive one of the temples A of the pair of spectacles O.

These passages 3, 4 can be for example arranged in proximity of lateral edges of the peak 2, at a reciprocal distance which is such as to enable concurrent inserting therein of the temples A of the pair of spectacles O. In this way, once the temples A have been inserted in the passages 3, 4 in order to project from the lower surface 21 of the peak 2, the peak 2 itself supports the spectacles O. In more detail, the temples A can be inserted in the passages 3, 4 such that the part of the frame M between the temples A, the lenses L and the nose piece P abut the upper surface 20 of the peak 2 and can remain resting there.

Alternatively the temples A can be inserted in the passages 3, 4 such as to project from the upper surface 20 of the peak 2, as will be more fully explained in the following. With reference to figure 1 , in a first embodiment, the two passages 3, 4 of the peak 2 comprise two lateral through-holes 3 in which the temples A of the pair of spectacles O can be inserted. The lateral through-holes 3 will then be arranged at a determined distance from the lateral edges of the peak 2.

This embodiment comprises a housing 50 for receiving the nose-rest P of the spectacles O. The housing 50 comprises two slots 5 arranged centrally with respect to the lateral through-holes 3, such as to be able each to receive one of the nose-pieces N of the nose-rest P, once the temples A of the frame M have been inserted in the lateral through- holes 3.

Usually, as in the illustrated case, the nose-pieces of a nose-rest of a pair of spectacles are slightly inclined towards one another; for this reason the slots 5 can each exhibit an oval profile and be suitably inclined such as to enable insertion of the nose-rests N therein.

In this way, the vertical dimension of the brim-spectacles assembly O is advantageously particularly contained, including in the case of brims exhibiting an upwards convexity, or a curve.

As the nose-piece P, comprising nose-rests N, or not, is received in the housing 50, it does not press against the peak 2 and therefore a situation is totally prevented in which a part of the frame M projects excessively from the peak 2. Further, this detail enables easy folding of the temples A after insertion in the lateral through-holes 3.

The brim 1 further comprises retaining means 6, 7 associable to the peak 2 and the temples A such as to maintain the temples A of the frame M folded one on another once they have been inserted in the lateral through-holes 3 and have been folded on one another.

This not only prevents the fact that the temples A might obstruct the user's view or in any case irritate the user; it also reduces the overall dimensions to a minimum.

In particular, in the embodiment of figure 1 , the retaining means 6, 7 comprise a strip 6 couplable to the peak 2 by means of ends thereof, a first end 60 and a second end 61 ; one of the ends is fixed to the brim 1 , while the other is associated to at least a retaining element 9, 10 such as to attach or detach the strip 6 to or from the peak 2 by action of a user. In particular, two retaining elements can be present; a first 9 and a second 10.

In detail, the strip 6 is couplable to the peak 2 such as to cover and abut the temples A folded on one another, once they have been inserted in the lateral through-holes 3, such that they cannot open out.

More specifically, the first end 60 of the strip 6 can be sewn to the brim 1 at the median point of the edge 8 of the brim 1 , which is sewn to the crown K of the hat C. The second end 61 can, differently, bear the first retaining element 9 able to removably couple to the lower surface 21 of the peak 2. the peak bears the second element 10, which together with the first element 9 makes the strip 6 connectable to the peak 2.

The first and the second retaining elements 9, 10 can respectively comprise the part known as the hook and the part known as the eye in the known Velcro type closing system, fastened by sewing and/or by gluing respectively to the second end 61 of the strip 6 and to the lower surface 21 of the peak 2.

Then the temples A of the spectacles O are inserted in the through- holes 3 up to when the hinge joints of the frame M cross the lateral through-holes 3; at the same time, the nose-rests N are inserted in the slots 5. Thereafter the temples A can be folded on one another, covering them partially with the strips 6, and attaching the first retaining element 9 to the second retaining element 10, and thus preventing the temples A from opening out. The force of gravity would tend to cause the temples to open out; the strip 6 is advantageously able to keep them folded on one another and in some cases even in contact with the lower surfaces 20 of the peak 2.

In particular, the first retaining element 9 and the second retaining element 10 can be positioned in such a way that the strip 6, when coupled removably to the peak 2, is arranged transversally with respect to the temples A, once in the relative closed configuration.

Alternatively, the first and the second retaining element 9, 10 can be arranged in such a way that the strip 6, coupled to the peak 2, is oblique with respect to the two temples A folded on one another. As mentioned herein above, the strip 6 is couplable to or decouplable from the peak 2 by action of a user; the user can in fact easily act to rest the spectacles O on the brim 1 as described above, or collect the spectacles later, by decoupling the first retaining element 9 of the strip 6 by the second retaining element 10 of the peak 2, opening out the temples A and removing them from the lateral through-holes 3.

Alternatively, in an embodiment that is not illustrated, the two ends of the strip can both comprise a retaining element for removably coupling the strip to the peak, constituted for example by Velcro or by a button.

In a further embodiment, illustrated in figures 2 and 3, the passages 3, 4 of the peak 2 each comprise a through-hole 4, which originates from the edge of the peak 2 and develops towards the inside thereof, up to a respective internal margin (as clearly visible in figure 2). In a particular embodiment, illustrated in figures 2 and 3, the retaining means 6, 7 of the brim 1 comprise a thread element 7; further, the peak 2 comprises two central through-holes 11 to enable passage therethrough of the thread element 7. The central through-holes 11 , in particular, can be arranged in the peak 2 such that once the temples A have been inserted in the through-holes 4 and folded on one another, the thread element 7 can be inserted in the central through-holes 11 (as shown by the arrows of figure 2), such as to be able to close the temples A, by abutting and retaining them, and can be thus knotted, such as to prevent opening of the temples A.

In detail, the thread element 7 is wound such as to contain both the folded temples A and a portion of the brim 1 present between the two central through-holes 1 , and thereafter is knotted (as clearly shown in figure 3). In the case illustrated in figures 2 and 3, the thread element 7 is inserted in the central through-holes 11 such that the relative ends project from the lower surface 21 of the peak 2.

Alternatively the thread element 7 can be inserted from below upwards, such that the relative ends project from the upper surface 20 of the peak 2.

The central through-holes 11 are positioned such as to be, once the temples A have been inserted in the through-holes 4, at the position of the nose rest P, and therefore of the frame M portion, interposed between the lenses L. More precisely, in the described situation, the portion of frame M is between the two central through-holes 11 , through which an axis of symmetry of the spectacles O which separates the two lenses L ideally passes. In this embodiment too the user can easily act to rest the spectacles O on the brim 1 as described above, or to remove the spectacles at a later time, by opening the knot of the thread element 7, opening out the temples A and removing them from the through-openings 4. Alternatively, as mentioned herein above, a user can insert the temples A of the spectacles O in such a way that they project from the upper surface 20 of the peak 2, and then fold them one on another before fastening them using the thread element 7. In this way the temples A of the spectacles O contact the upper surface 20 of the peak 2, and in practice the spectacles O are supported by the temples A thereof, retained against the upper surface 20 of the peak 2 by the thread element 7, or another type of retaining means.

In a third embodiment, illustrated in figure 4, the brim 1 further comprises a covering element 12 comprising in turn an edge 120 fixed to the peak 2 and to the crown K of the hat C by means of sewing.

The covering element 12, together with the peak 2 itself, defines a case for protecting the lens L of the pair of spectacles O, once the temples A have been inserted in the lateral through-holes 3.

The covering element 12 exhibits sufficient dimensions to totally cover the lenses L of the spectacles O, once arranged in the mentioned configuration; further, the covering element 12 can be raised or lowered, like a lid, to open or close the case thus-defined.

The covering element 12 can be made of a soft material, can be waterproof and in practice can also be a peak. In the described third embodiment, further, the brim 1 comprises removable fastening means 13 for removably fixing the covering element 12 to the upper surface 20 of the peak 2 in such a way that the case thus-defined is openable and closable by action of the user.

The removable fastening means 13 can comprise two press-studs which, as known, are essentially each constituted by two jointed parts applied to the two flaps which are to be joined. A part of the studs is therefore applied to the covering element 12, while the other is fixed to the upper surface of the peak 2.

In this way, a user can removably fasten the covering element 12 to the peak 2, once the temples A of the spectacles O have been inserted in the lateral through-holes 3, such as to guarantee that the lenses L of the spectacles O do not get damaged; it is, if required, possible to insert and retain accessories in the case thus-formed, such as for example a cloth Q for cleaning the spectacles O.

In a particular variant of the invention, a hat C can be provided with comprises the brim 1 as described above, visible in the accompanying figures.

The above description can relate to a brim which is part of a different hat from the baseball cap type, such as for example a sombrero or a beret, a trilby-type hat or any other type of hat.

Alternatively, in a variant that is not illustrated, the above-described brim 1 can be used alone, for example with an elastic band which means it can be worn like a croupier's visor.

The above has been described by way of non-limiting example, and any eventual constructional variations are understood to fall within the protective ambit of the present technical solution, as claimed in the following.

Claims

1. A brim (1) for a hat (C), destined to support a pair of spectacles (O) comprising: two lenses (L) and a frame (M) in turn comprising two temples (A); the brim (1) comprising a peak (2) and being characterized in that it comprises at least two passages (3, 4), each of which can receive a temple (A) of the pair of spectacles (O), the passages (3, 4) being arranged at a distance from one another such as to enable a concurrent insertion therein of the temples (A) of the pair of spectacles (O), such that the peak (2) supports the spectacles (O) once the temples (A) have been inserted in the passages (3, 4).

2. The brim (1) of claim 1 , destined to support a pair of spectacles (O) the temples (A) of which are foldable on one another; the brim (1) further comprising retaining means (6, 7) associable to the peak (2) and to the temples (A) such as to maintain the temples (A) of the frame (M) of the pair of spectacles (O) folded one on another once the temples (A) have been inserted in the passages (3, 4) and have been folded on one another.

3. The brim (1) of claim 1 , destined to support a pair of spectacles (O) comprising a nosepiece (P), wherein the peak (2) comprises a housing (50) arranged, with respect to the passages (3, 4), in such a way as to be able to receive the nosepiece (P) once the temples (A) of the frame (M) of the pair of spectacles (O) have been inserted in the passages (3, 4).

4. The brim (1) of the preceding claim, destined to support a pair of spectacles (O) the nosepiece (P) of which comprises two nose-rests (N) and wherein the housing (50) comprises two slots (5) arranged reciprocally such as each to receive one of the nose-rests (N) once the temples (A) of the frame (M) of the pair of spectacles (O) have been inserted in the passages (3, 4).

5. The brim (1) of claim 2, wherein the retaining means (6, 7) comprise at least a strap (6) which is couplable to the peak (2) such as to pass around and at least partially abut the temples (A) of the pair of spectacles (O) once the temples (A) have been inserted in the passages (3, 4) and folded one on the other, thus preventing the temples (A) from opening out.

6. The brim (1) of claim 2, wherein an end (60) of the strap (6) is fixed to the brim (1), and a further end (61) of the strap (6) is associated to at least a retaining element (9, 10) for attaching or detaching the strap (6) to and from the peak (2) by action of a user.

7. The brim (1) of claim 2, wherein the retaining means (6, 7) comprise a thread element (7); the peak (2) further comprising at least two central through-holes (11) for enabling passage of the thread element (7); the central through-holes (11) being arranged in the peak (2) such that once the temples (A) have been inserted in the passages (3, 4) and folded on one another, the thread element (7) can be inserted in the central through-holes (11) such as to pass around the temples (A) and retain them, and can be knotted, such as to prevent opening-out of the temples (A).

8. The brim (1) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a covering element (12), comprising an edge (120) which is fastenable to the peak (2) such as to define together there-with a casing for protecting the lenses (L) of the pair of spectacles (O), the covering element (12) being raisable or lowerable in a manner of a cover, respectively in order to open or close the casing, and having dimensions which are sufficient to totally cover the lenses (L) of the pair of spectacles (O) when the temples (A) have been inserted in the passages (3, 4).

9. The brim (1) of the preceding claims, comprising removable fastening means (13) for removably fastening the covering element (12) to the brim (1), such that the casing defined in this way is openable or closable by action of a user.

10. The brim (1) of claim 1 , wherein the two passages (3, 4) each comprise a through-hole (3).

11. The brim (1) of claim 1 , wherein the two passages (3, 4) each comprise a through-opening (4) which originates from an edge of the peak (2) and develops in an internal direction thereof, up to a respective internal margin.

12. A hat (C) comprising a brim (1) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.