Winged Visor Stiffener for Hat Brim Flopping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hats with smaller brims do not provide optimal protection from the sun in windy or wet conditions, as their brims tend to droop or flop, compromising vision and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A winged visor stiffener is integrated into the hat's brim, featuring a flat horizontal front section connected to angled offset sections and horizontal wings, which are sewn in with tight stitching to prevent flopping and provide enhanced sun protection while maintaining peripheral vision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a smaller brim is used to make the hat easier to wear and more fashionable, then the hat becomes more practical and stylish, but the brim cannot provide optimal protection from the sun in windy or wet conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The brim is divided into multiple functional sections: a front section for sun protection, side sections extending backward, and temple brace sections that contact the wearer's head. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while maintaining overall brim stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The brim extends from the traditional two-dimensional flat structure into three dimensions by adding angled offset sections and temple brace sections that wrap around the sides of the head. This dimensional extension provides both structural stability and enhanced sun protection coverage.
2Ease of operation
If the brim is made flexible and soft for comfort, then the hat is more comfortable to wear, but the brim droops when wet and flops in windy conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the brim have different structural properties. The front section maintains flexibility for comfort, while the temple brace sections and angled offset sections provide the rigidity needed to prevent drooping and flopping. The stitching density varies by section to achieve appropriate stiffness in each area.
Solution Approach 2:
The brim combines multiple materials with different properties: flexible fabric for comfort, stiffening elements (such as wire, plastic, or cardboard) for structural support, and adhesive or stitching for bonding. This composite structure achieves both comfort and stability simultaneously.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a wider brim is used to provide better sun protection, then sun protection is improved, but the hat becomes larger and less fashionable or practical
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a uniformly wide brim, the protection is segmented into a front section, side sections, and temple brace sections. This provides comprehensive sun protection across different areas of the face and head without requiring a uniformly large brim structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The brim utilizes three-dimensional space by extending sideways and wrapping around the temples, providing enhanced protection coverage without increasing the forward projection of the brim. This maintains a compact, fashionable profile while delivering wide-brimmed protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A winged visor stiffener for a hat's brim. A flat horizontal front section is connected to two angled offset sections. Two flat horizontal wings are connected to the two angled offset sections. Two temple brace sections are each formed into the two flat horizontal wings. The temple brace sections function to brace the winged visor against the wearer's head to prevent the brim from flopping up and down, The winged visor stiffener is sewn into the hat's brim via a plurality of rows of tight stitching. The winged visor stiffener provides protection to the wearer's face from the sun while optimizing peripheral vision and prevents the bill from flopping up or down in wet and windy conditions.