Illuminable hat

• US 5,680,718 A
• Filed: 12/20/1994
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: First Trading Choice Limited
• Original Assignee: First Choice Drilling
• Inventors: Loose, Erik, Ratcliffe, William R., Ratcliffe, William Blake
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANSEN, JAMES ORVILLE
• Application Number:
  US08/360,216
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 40/329, 40/546, 40/547, 40/714, 362/31, 362/103, 362/105, 362/106, 362/806, 2/195.1, 2/906, 2/209.12
• US Class Current: 40/329
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/248 Insignia, logos, emblems or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/02 by a carrier person or animal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/906 Head covering or protector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

The front end of a body portion on a hat (e.g. cap) may be continuous and the rear end may have separable sections. The hat may have a visor to form a cap defined by two (2) cloth layers separated by a backing member (e.g. cardboard). The backing member and the visor lower layer may have matching apertures to receive a module defined by a container and a cover pivotable on the container between open and closed positions. A switch, a battery and a printed circuit board may be disposed in the container. The switch may be manually closed, with the container closed, to energize electrical circuitry on the board. Such energizing may illuminate a member (e.g. LED) preferably disposed on the body portion and optically coupled to a display member to illuminate an individual design on the display member. The display member may be attached to the continuous front external surface of the body portion. Alternatively, the hat may have a band on the internal surface of the body portion. A switch on the band may become automatically closed to illuminate the LED when the body portion is disposed on a wearer'"'"'s head. Straps on the separable rear sections of the body portion may converge the rear sections when detents on these sections are engaged. A member (e.g. another LED) on one of the straps may become illuminated by the switch closure to illuminate such strap. The strap may illuminate a design on a display member optically coupled to such strap.

Claims

1. In combination in a cap,

a body portion,

a visor operatively coupled to the body portion,

a module disposed on the visor,

switching means enclosed by the module and having open and closed positions and normally disposed in the open position and actuatable to the closed position upon depression of the module,

electrical circuitry enclosed by the module and connected to the switching means to become energized upon the actuation of the switching means to the closed position,

illuminable means disposed on the body portion and electrically connected to the electrical circuitry to become illuminated upon the energizing of the electrical circuitry,

display means disposed on the body portion and optically coupled to the illuminable means for providing an illuminated display when the illuminable means becomes illuminated,

the module being constructed and disposed on the visor for access to the switching means and the electrical circuitry,

the module including a container and a cover operatively coupled to the container and movable between a first position for opening the container and a second position for closing the container,

the electrical circuitry and the switching means being disposed within the container,

the module being constrainable upon being depressed and the switching means including a spring constrainable in accordance with the constraint imposed upon the module as a result of the depression of the module to actuate the switching means to the closed position.

2. In a combination as recited in claim 1,

a printed circuit board for holding the electrical circuitry, the printed circuit board being disposed within the container, and

a battery disposed within the container for energizing the electrical circuitry on the printed circuit board when the switching means is closed,

the constrainable spring being electrically conductive and establishing an electrical continuity with the battery when the spring is constrained.

3. In combination in a cap,

a body portion,

a visor operatively coupled to the body portion,

a module disposed on the visor,

switching means enclosed by the module and having open and closed positions and normally disposed in the open position and actuatable to the closed position upon a depression of the module,

electrical circuitry enclosed by the module and connected to the switching means to become energized upon the actuation of the switching means to the closed position,

illuminable means disposed on the body portion and electrically connected to the electrical circuitry to become illuminated upon the energizing of the electrical circuitry,

display means disposed on the body portion and optically coupled to the illuminable means for providing an illuminated display when the illuminable means becomes illuminated,

the module being constructed and disposed on the visor for access to the switching means and the electrical circuitry,

the visor having top and bottom layers,

a backing member disposed between the top and bottom layers of the visor,

there being apertures in the bottom layer of the visor and in the backing member to receive the module in a recessed relationship within the layer,

the module including a container and a cover operatively coupled to the container and movable between a first position for opening the container and a second position for closing the container,

the electrical circuitry and the switching means being disposed within the container,

a printed circuit board for holding the electrical circuitry, the printed circuit board being disposed within the container, and

a battery disposed within the container for energizing the electrical circuitry on the printed circuit board when the switching means is closed,

the module being constrainable upon becoming depressed and the switching means including a spring constrainable in accordance with the constraint upon the module as a result of a depression of the module.

4. In combination in a cap,

a body portion having inner and outer surfaces,

a visor extending from the body portion,

switching means supported by the visor and having open and closed states and normally operative in the open state and actuatable to the closed state,

a battery supported by the visor,

first means at least partially disposed on the body portion and responsive to the closure of the switching means for providing an illumination,

display means optically coupled to the first means and disposed on the body portion for providing an illuminated display when the first means becomes illuminated,

the first means being disposed relative to the display means to provide an edge illumination of the display means,

a module supported by the visor,

the switching means and the battery being disposed in the module and the switching means being constructed to become closed upon a depression of the visor,

the display means constituting a first display means,

the body portion having a front and a rear,

the first display means being disposed on the front of the body portion,

second means disposed on the rear of the body portion and responsive to the closure of the switching means for providing an illumination, and

second display means optically coupled to the second means and disposed on the rear of the body portion for providing a second display,

the second means being disposed relative to the second display means to provide an edge illumination of the second display means.

5. In combination in a hat,

a body portion having front and rear ends and separated at its rear end into two (2) separate sections,

a pair of straps each disposed on an individual one of the separate sections and constructed for coupling to the other one of the straps to move the separate sections together,

switching means having open and closed states and normally operative in the open state and actuatable to the closed state when the body portion is disposed on a wearer'"'"'s head,

illuminating means,

first means responsive to the closure of the switching means for providing an illumination by the illuminating means,

second means disposed relative to a particular one of the straps for passing the illumination from the illuminating means to such particular strap,

the particular one of the straps being constructed to pass the illumination from the first means,

display means optically coupled to the particular one of the straps for receiving the illumination from the particular one of the straps and for becoming illuminated by such illumination from the particular one of the straps to provide an illuminated display,

the body portion having a front,

third means disposed on the front of the body portion for providing an illumination,

the display means constituting first display means, and

second display means disposed on the front of the body portion and optically coupled to the second means for receiving the illumination from the second means and for becoming illuminated by such illumination to provide an illuminated display,

one of the straps having a plurality of male detents progressively disposed along the length of the strap and the other strap having a plurality of female detents progressively disposed along the length of the strap for providing a selective coupling between the male and female detents to move the sections together,

a visor coupled to the front end of the body portion,

a backing member disposed within the visor,

a module retained by the backing member, and

a battery for energizing the first means, and

the battery and the switching means being disposed within the module.

6. In combination in a hat,

a body portion having front and rear ends and separated at its rear end into two (2) separate sections,

a pair of straps each disposed on an individual one of the separate sections and constructed for coupling to the other one of the straps to move the separate sections together,

switching means having open and closed states and normally operative in the open state and actuatable to the closed state when the body portion is disposed on a wearer'"'"'s head,

illuminating means,

first means responsive to the closure of the switching means for providing an illumination by the illuminating means,

second means disposed relative to a particular one of the straps for passing the illumination from the illuminating means to such particular strap,

the particular one of the straps being constructed to pass the illumination from the first means, and

display means optically coupled to the particular one of the straps for receiving the illumination from the particular one of the straps and for becoming illuminated by such illumination from the particular one of the straps to provide an illuminated display,

the body portion having a front,

third means disposed on the front of the body portion for providing an illumination,

the display means constituting first display means, and

second display means disposed on the front of the body portion and optically coupled to the second means for receiving the illumination from the second means and for becoming illuminated by such illumination to provide an illuminated display,

one of the straps having at least one male detent and the other strap having at least one female detent for providing a coupling between the straps to move the sections together,

the particular one of the straps being disposed relative to the first display means and being constructed to provide an edge effect illumination of the first display means,

third means disposed relative to the second display means and constructed to provide an edge effect illumination of the second display means,

the hat having a visor coupled to the body portion,

the display means constituting first display means,

the switching means being supported by the visor,

a battery,

a module supported by the visor and enclosing the switching means and the battery for actuating the switching means to the closed state in accordance with a depression of the module, the module being disposed relative to the visor to become depressed upon a depression of the visor,

second means disposed on the front of the body portion and responsive to the closure of the switching means for providing an illumination, and

second display means disposed on the front of the body portion and optically coupled to the second means for receiving the light from the second means and for becoming illuminated by such light to provide an illuminated display.

7. In combination in a hat,

switching means disposed on the hat and having open and closed states and normally operative in the open state and operable to the closed state,

a body portion having a front continuous exterior surface,

illuminating means operatively coupled to the switching means and disposed on the body portion for becoming illuminated upon the closure of the switching means,

display means disposed on the front continuous exterior surface of the body portion and optically coupled to the illuminating means for providing an illuminated display when the illuminating means becomes illuminated, and

means for securing the display means to the front continuous exterior surface of the hat,

the illuminating means being disposed on the front continuous exterior surface of the body portion and having an edge effect optical coupling to the display means at the front continuous exterior surface of the body portion,

a visor,

energizing means operatively coupled to the switching means for becoming energized upon the closure of the switching means and for illuminating the illuminating means upon becoming energized,

the module being disposed within the visor in a position shielding the module from view when the hat is disposed on a wearer'"'"'s head,

the energizing means being enclosed within the module with the battery and the switching means.

8. In combination in a hat,

switching means disposed on the hat and having open and closed states and normally operative in the open state and operable to the closed state,

a body portion having a front continuous exterior surface,

illuminating means operatively coupled to the switching means and disposed on the body portion for becoming illuminated upon the closure of the switching means,

display means disposed on the front continuous exterior surface of the body portion and optically coupled to the illuminating means for providing an illuminated display when the illuminating means becomes illuminated, and

means for securing the display means to the front continuous exterior surface of the hat,

the illuminating means being disposed on the front continuous exterior surface of the body portion and having an edge effect optical coupling to the display means at the front continuous exterior surface of the body portion,

a visor coupled to the body portion,

a module supported by the visor,

energizing means operatively coupled to the switching means for becoming energized upon the closure of the switching means and for illuminating the illuminating means upon becoming illuminated,

the energizing means and the switching means being disposed in the module,

the module being disposed relative to the visor to become depressed upon the depression of the visor and the switching means being disposed in the module relative to the module and the visor and being constructed to become operative in the closed state upon the depression of the visor.

9. In combination in a hat,

switching means disposed on the hat and having open and closed states and normally operative in the open state and operable to the closed state,

a body portion having a front continuous exterior surface,

illuminating means operatively coupled to the switching means and disposed on the body portion for becoming illuminated upon the closure of the switching means,

display means disposed on the front continuous exterior surface of the body portion and optically coupled to the illuminating means for providing an illuminated display when the illuminating means becomes illuminated,

means for securing the display means to the front continuous exterior surface of the hat,

a visor coupled to the body portion and having top and bottom layers,

a module,

a backing member disposed in the visor between the top and bottom layers and constructed to support the module between the top and bottom layers,

a battery, and

energizing means operatively coupled to the switching means for becoming energized upon the closure of the switching means,

the battery, the switching means and the energizing means being disposed within the module.

10. In a combination as recited in claim 9,

the module being constrainable,

the switching means including a member constrainable in accordance with the constraints imposed upon the module to operate the switching means to the closed states.

11. In combination in a hat,

switching means disposed on the hat and having open and closed states and normally operative in the open state and operable to the closed state,

a body portion having a front continuous exterior surface,

illuminating means operatively coupled to the switching means and disposed on the body portion for becoming illuminated upon the closure of the switching means,

display means disposed on the front continuous exterior surface of the body portion and optically coupled to the illuminating means for providing an illuminated display when the illuminating means becomes illuminated, and

means for securing the display means to the front continuous exterior surface of the hat,

a visor coupled to the body portion,

a module supported by the visor, and

energizing means operatively coupled to the switching means for becoming energized upon the closure of the switching means and for illuminating the illuminating means upon becoming illuminated,

the energizing means and the switching means being disposed in the module,

the module being disposed relative to the visor and the switching means being disposed in the module relative to the module and the visor and being constructed to become operative in the closed state upon the depression of the visor.