Rotatable Hat Brim T-Shaped Rail Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hats with rotatable bills are bulky and uncomfortable due to their construction, and the movement of the brim is not smooth or easily adjustable.
Innovation Solution
A hat design featuring a T-shaped rail with a figure four shaped track system, where the rail is affixed to both headband layers with specific seams to create a pocket that allows the bill to rotate freely around the crown, with a substrate sandwiched between fabric layers and a fabric band encircling the track stem for enhanced comfort and adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sliding members are used to provide rotatable brim, then the brim can rotate, but the construction becomes bulky and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential rotatable brim function from the bulky sliding member construction by using a simplified rail and track system. The rail is affixed to the crown and the track is affixed to the brim, eliminating the need for complex sliding members while maintaining rotatability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the rotatable brim mechanism into separate components: a rail affixed to the crown and a track affixed to the brim. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and comfortable while working together to provide the rotatable function.
2Ease of operation
If sliding members are used for rotatable brim, then the brim can rotate, but the movement is not smooth and easy to adjust
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical sliding member system with a rail and track system that guides the brim's movement. The track has a channel that receives and retains the rail, providing smooth guidance and easy adjustment without complex mechanical components.
3Ease of operation
If track stem is oriented towards inner headband layer, then comfort is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the track stem orientation towards the inner headband layer during the initial design and manufacturing phases. The track is affixed to the brim with the stem already positioned correctly, so that when the brim is assembled to the crown, the flat surface of the track stem is disposed along the inner headband layer for comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
A hat including a crown with a base. An outer headband layer is affixed to the crown at the base by a base seam that extends around a circumference of the crown. an inner headband layer is affixed to the outer headband layer at a position opposite the base to define a circumferential pocket between the outer headband layer and the inner headband layer. A rail has a T-shaped cross section disposed in the pocket. The T-shaped cross section is defined by a stem and an arm. The rail is affixed to the outer headband layer and the inner headband layer by a first rail seam through the stem, the outer headband layer, and the inner headband layer. The rail is further affixed to the outer headband layer by a second rail seam only through the outer headband layer and the stem. A bill has a track with a figure four shaped cross section affixed thereon. The track has a channel that receives and retains the rail therein to guide the bill around the crown.