Hat With Extendable Visor Using Cable-Driven Sliding Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hats with extendable visors lack strength, stability, and durability in their adjustment mechanisms, leading to flimsy and non-smooth visor adjustments, which fail to provide adequate protection from direct sunlight.

Innovation Solution

A hat design featuring an adjustable visor with elongated slots and pairs of rails connected to tab assemblies, allowing for smooth extension and retraction, enhancing strength and stability through a sliding mechanism that uses pairs of rails and tab assemblies for seamless adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fasteners such as rivets and press fit pins are used in the adjustable track, then the visor can be extended or retracted, but the adjustment mechanism lacks strength, stability and durability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisor adjustabilityVSAvoidadjustment mechanism strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical fastener system (rivets and press fit pins) with a cable-driven mechanical system. The cable runs through a channel in the visor and connects to a reel mechanism on the hat body, allowing the visor to be extended or retracted by winding or unwinding the cable. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple discrete fasteners while providing a more robust and durable adjustment mechanism that maintains strength throughout the visor's range of motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If fasteners such as rivets and press fit pins are used in the adjustable track, then the visor can be extended or retracted, but the adjustment mechanism lacks stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisor adjustabilityVSAvoidadjustment mechanism stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical fastener system (rivets and press fit pins) with a cable-driven mechanical system. The cable runs through a channel in the visor and connects to a reel mechanism on the hat body, allowing the visor to be extended or retracted by winding or unwinding the cable. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple discrete fasteners while providing a more robust and durable adjustment mechanism that maintains strength throughout the visor's range of motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cable as an intermediary element that transmits force between the reel mechanism and the visor. The cable runs through a channel in the visor, acting as a mediator that allows smooth force transmission without the need for direct mechanical connections between multiple rigid components. This intermediary approach reduces friction and wear while maintaining stable visor positioning throughout its adjustment range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If traditional fasteners are used, then the visor can be adjusted, but the adjustment is not smooth and the mechanism is prone to wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisor adjustment smoothnessVSAvoidmechanism durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical fastener system (rivets and press fit pins) with a cable-driven mechanical system. The cable runs through a channel in the visor and connects to a reel mechanism on the hat body, allowing the visor to be extended or retracted by winding or unwinding the cable. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple discrete fasteners while providing a more robust and durable adjustment mechanism that maintains strength throughout the visor's range of motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cable as an intermediary element that transmits force between the reel mechanism and the visor. The cable runs through a channel in the visor, acting as a mediator that allows smooth force transmission without the need for direct mechanical connections between multiple rigid components. This intermediary approach reduces friction and wear while maintaining stable visor positioning throughout its adjustment range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11844386B2Hat with exendable visor

Publication Date: 2023.12.19 ARMENDARIZ STEVEN LUIS

AI summary

A hat with an adjustable visor includes a shell disposed on a user's head, an upper visor coupled to the shell and having a plurality of elongated slots, each elongated slot having a pair of rails extending along opposing side walls of the elongated slot, and a lower visor slidably mounted to the upper visor and having a plurality of tab assemblies, each tab assembly slidably mounted to the pair of rails of one of the plurality of elongated slots in the upper visor. The lower visor slidably adjusts relative to the shell to enable the plurality of tab assemblies of the lower visor to traverse the pairs of rails in the plurality of elongated slots of the upper visor, thereby extending the lower visor beyond the upper visor in an extended position or retracting the lower visor to align with the upper visor in a retracted position.