Visor Brim Vent with Crescent Opening for Airflow and Shading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing headwear designs fail to effectively promote bidirectional air flow across the forehead and eyes while blocking light, which is crucial for heat dissipation during high-activity sports and warm weather, as they often trap air and hinder the natural cooling mechanism of sweat evaporation.

Innovation Solution

A headwear design featuring a brim with a crescent-shaped opening along its leading edge, unencumbered by connections to the crown or headband, allowing for vertical airflow above and below the brim to enhance ventilation and prevent heat buildup, while maintaining light-blocking properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the brim is made opaque to block light, then light-blocking properties are improved, but air flow is hindered and heat dissipation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight-blocking propertiesVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The brim is segmented into multiple functional zones: an opaque portion for light blocking and a vented portion with openings for air flow. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between light blocking and heat dissipation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the brim are given different properties: the main brim area is opaque for light blocking, while specific vented areas have openings for air flow. This local differentiation enables simultaneous achievement of light blocking and heat dissipation functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the brim is connected to the crown or headband, then structural stability is improved, but air flow across the forehead is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidair flow ventilation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The brim is designed as a separate component that can be detached from the crown or headband, creating independent air flow paths. This segmentation allows air to flow freely across the forehead while the brim remains structurally stable when worn.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between the brim and crown/headband is extracted or removed to create open air flow passages. The brim is designed to be detachable, allowing air to pass through underneath while maintaining structural integrity during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If air passages are added to the crown, then ventilation is improved, but the natural cooling mechanism of sweat evaporation is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveventilationVSAvoidheat buildup

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The brim vent design leverages the wearer's natural movement and body heat to create self-flowing air currents. The crescent-shaped opening at the leading edge captures air flow generated by the wearer's motion and directs it across the forehead, enhancing natural cooling without requiring active ventilation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The design utilizes pneumatic principles by creating a crescent-shaped opening that captures and directs air flow across the forehead. The opening's geometry and position optimize air movement through pressure differentials created by the wearer's motion, enhancing evaporative cooling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design accelerates air flow across the forehead, enhancing heat exchange and comfort by facilitating sweat evaporation, reducing facial heat and preventing fogging and eye irritation during sports and recreation.

Implementation Method 1

This design accelerates air flow across the forehead, enhancing heat exchange and comfort by facilitating sweat evaporation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow acceleration:

Implementation Method 2

the pathways permit trapped hot air to escape from a crown or peak

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

facilitating sweat evaporation, reducing facial heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS7398560B1Hat/visor with brim vent

Publication Date: 2008.07.15 SWENSEN JULIE A

AI summary

Headwear such as a hat, cap, or visor with a headband and a brim extending outwardly therefrom includes a crescent shaped opening defined by an inner portion of the brim and an external leading edge of the headband. Beyond the opening the opaque brim extends away from the headband to an outward tip, and to lateral side edges. The opaque brim is attached at its lateral edges directly to the external leading edge of the headband. The crescent shaped opening allows more flow at a central area of the brim, yet it narrows toward lateral edges of the brim to ensure that sunlight toward the wearer's sides is adequately blocked from eye contact. This novel structure provides maximum shading of the wearer's face, yet directs considerable airflow from beneath and above the brim through the opening to cool the wearer's eccrine glands along the forehead.