Caps and hats vary greatly in terms of design and functionality. While baseball hats are very trendy in contemporary times, they fail to provide the warmth necessary for extreme drops in temperature. A typical baseball cap is constructed of a webbed plastic mesh. Such a hat prevents sun from obstructing the wearer's view, but the hat does little in the way of maintaining body heat. In fact, baseball hats are generally worn as ornamental pieces outside the realm of sporting events. Although some baseball hats are constructed of heavy cotton and other materials, the basic skeleton of a baseball hat forces the hat to sit atop the wearer's head, not on and around the wearer's head.
Snow hats, on the other hand, are traditionally constructed primarily of wool and acrylic. They are designed to keep the wearer's head warm. In this regard, a typical snow hat exhibits uniform construction and has little structural integrity when removed from the wearer's head. Snow hats are not intended to be rigged and present obstructions to the sun, wind, and rain; but rather, snow hats are designed to be close fitting and insulating with respect to the wearer's head, maintaining anterior temperature as moisture and heat are conserved.
The prior art is replete with various types of hats, none of which approach the design and functionality of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 80,352, issued to Ibach and Weidenman on Jul. 28, 1868, illustrates a method of attaching a paper visor to a paper cap wherein a visor and a loop of material is fitted to the bottom rim of a skullcap. When the cap becomes dirty, the visor can be attached to another cap, whereas in the present invention, the visor must firmly remain in combination with a head covering to remain fully effective. Moreover, unlike the present invention, Ibach and Weidenman's device does not flexibly surround the user's head to promote heat retention. U.S. Pat. No. 442,921, issued to Stohr on Dec. 16, 1890, shows a knitted cap with a visor in which a hat with depending ear flap and ties is combined with a visor. Stohr, unlike the present invention, does not provide any means of capturing moisture from the brow or forehead of the user during athletic activity. Furthermore, Stohr's invention, unlike the present invention, employs incisions in the cap to attach the visor.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,149,655, issued to Yamaguchi on Aug. 3, 1938, illustrates a head covering made entirely of crocheting yarn. The device discloses a means for reinforcing a crocheted visor to a crocheted hat. Unlike the present invention, Yamaguchi's device is concerned with forming a bead at the junction of the crown and the visor to add stability to stiching.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,158,861, issued to Meyer on Sep. 2, 1937, shows a visor for collapsible caps which is capable of assuming a flat position when a collapsible cap is in a folded, flat position. Unlike the present invention, Meyer's device is not capable of providing a visor in combination with a knit type hat.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,417,986, issued to Marder et al. on Mar. 25, 1947, is directed to a cap and visor with draw strings extending to the nape of the user's neck. Unlike the present invention, Marder's invention has multiple lines of stitching and is secured behind the user's head.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,420,569, issued to Sewell on May 13, 1947, shows a baseball cap. Unlike the present invention, Sewell's device has a visor which is attached to the crown of the cap.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,651,044, issued to Stankiewicz et al. on Sep. 8, 1953, depicts a scarf hat having interfitting concentric outer and inner head band members for receiving between them an edge of a scarf. Unlike the present invention, the visor is attached by fitting between the outer and inner head band members.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,070, issued to Sargentini on Jul. 22, 1986, shows a novelty ski hat. Unlike the present invention, there is no visor attached to the hat.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,684, issued to Casale on Dec. 5, 1995, shows a sports cap with a sliding brim. Unlike the present invention, the brim is detachably secured to the bottom edge of the cap. Furthermore, unlike the present invention, the majority of the cap can be detached from the bottom edge of the cap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,759, issued to Rinaldi on Jan. 9, 1996, illustrates an expandable baseball hat and cover. Unlike the present invention, Rinaldi's device employs tabs engaged to gather flexible material for a snug fit. The present invention, by nature of its design, fits snugly to the user's head without employing a complicated tab system.
French Publication No. 621,305, invented by Menant and published on May 9, 1927, shows a woven cap. Unlike the present invention, Menant's device employs multiple stiches about the middle periphery of the cap. Further, Menant's device is not designed, by virtue of its shape and inability to snugly fit the user's head, for athletic use.
Accordingly, the need arises for a multi functional hat with a brim or visor, which is a blends the functionality of both the typical snow hat and the typical baseball cap. The multi functional hat must be rigid so as to protect the wearer's face from the outdoor elements. Moreover, the multi functional hat should be capable of maintaining the warmth of the wearer's head despite baseball cap type adaptations. The multi functional hat should be of a design that does not compromise the advantages of existing snow hats, while at the same time, exploiting the current weaknesses of headgear design.