Sun-Protective Head Covering With Flexible Brim And Rigid Bill For Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hats with uniform material rigidity fail to accommodate varying rigidity needs for better visibility and are structurally weak in adverse weather, and multi-piece designs are not washable.
Innovation Solution
A head covering with a flexible brim and a rigid, bend-resistant visor or bill constructed from materials like cardboard, plastic, or carbon fibre, providing variable rigidity and durability, with a concave design for improved visibility and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If uniform material rigidity is used throughout the hat, then manufacturing is simple, but visibility is compromised because some areas need greater rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using rigid material specifically for the bill/visor portion of the hat while using flexible material for the crown and brim. This localized application of rigidity to the bill provides the necessary structural support for facial shading and visibility without requiring the entire hat to be made of rigid material, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving visibility.
2Illumination intensity
If the hat is constructed in multiple separate parts to provide variable rigidity, then visibility improves, but structural strength decreases in adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rigid bill portion with the flexible crown and brim into a single integrated hat structure. The bill is constructed from rigid bend-resistant material while being seamlessly attached to the flexible portions, creating a unified structure that maintains structural strength in adverse weather while providing variable rigidity for improved visibility.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple separate pieces are used to provide variable rigidity, then visibility improves, but ease of cleaning deteriorates because the hat cannot be washed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines all hat components including the rigid bill, flexible crown, and brim into a single washable unit. The rigid bill is integrated with the flexible portions using methods that allow the entire hat to be washed together, eliminating the need to disassemble multiple pieces for cleaning while maintaining the visibility benefits of variable rigidity.
Data Source
AI summary
A head covering including a cranial covering portion having a circumferential perimeter configured to encircle the head of a wearer and a flexible brim extending from the perimeter of the cranial covering portion. The brim extends incompletely around the perimeter of the cranial covering portion and having a depth no greater than 15 cm. The head covering also includes a bill extending from the perimeter of the cranial covering portion. The bill is configured to shade a face of the wearer. The bill is constructed from a rigid, bend-resistant material. The bill has a lower surface that is concave in a vertical plane.