US20140123367A1

US20140123367A1 - Attachment visor

Info

Publication number: US20140123367A1
Application number: US14/074,353
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin Phillip Prenatt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-11-07
Filing date: 2013-11-07
Publication date: 2014-05-08

Abstract

An attachable visor may include a block, wherein the block has a doughnut hole shaped cutout having an inner ring. The block may be made from a closed cell foam. The block may be of a circular shape with a diameter of approximately fifteen to sixteen inches in length. The block thickness may be reduced down to an approximately 0.25 inches. The doughnut hole shaped cutout may be approximately five and one-half inches in diameter. The attachable visor may be placed over a hat or helmet in order to provide additional protection from the weather elements.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/723,573, filed Nov. 7, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hard hats and, more particularly, to hard hat visors.
Cloth protectors get dirty and absorb water, sweat, chemicals and the like while losing their shape. Hard plastic protectors are mechanically attached and are not portable to other hats and are hard to remove. These protectors add weight and strong winds can cause the hat to blow off. Plastic protectors jar the head of the wearer when they come in contact with work surfaces. These plastic protectors are also not one size fits all products.
As can be seen, there is a need for a hard hat visor that is easily attached and reattached, lightweight, water resistant, does not absorb water or chemicals and does not jar workers when their head comes in contact with other surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a attachable visor comprises: a block, wherein the block has a doughnut hole shaped cutout having an inner ring.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for a user to protect themselves from weather elements while working comprises: providing a attachable visor comprising a circular block comprised of closed cell foam, wherein the circular block has a doughnut hole shaped cutout having an inner ring, wherein the doughnut hole shaped cutout is approximately in the center of the circular block; removably attaching the attachable visor to the hard hat by gently stretching the inner ring of the doughnut hole shaped cutout just enough so that the doughnut hole shaped cutout covers the crown of the hard hat; and moving the attachable visor to the base of the hard hat for a snug fit.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an attachable visor that may include a block, wherein the block has a doughnut hole shaped cutout having an inner ring. The block may be made from a closed cell foam. The block may be of a circular shape with a diameter of approximately fifteen to sixteen inches in length. The block thickness may be reduced down to an approximately 0.25 inches. The doughnut hole shaped cutout may be approximately five and one-half inches in diameter. The attachable visor may be placed over a hat or helmet in order to provide additional protection from the weather elements.
The present invention may include an attachable visor that protects the user from the ultraviolet sun rays along with providing shade. The present invention may be placed securely onto a hat in order to provide additional protection. The present invention may also block rain, sleet, snow, hail, wind and the like from the ears, neck and face of the user.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention 10 may include a block 12. In certain embodiments, the block 12 may be made from a closed cell foam material. The block may be skived thin so that the weight may be reduced. In certain embodiments, the block 12 may be in a circular shape. In alternate embodiments, the shape of the block may be, but not limited to, oval, egg shaped, rectangular and the like. The block 12 may have a doughnut hole shaped cutout 16 in the center of the block 12. The doughnut hole shaped cutout 16 may have an inner ring 14. The attachable visor 10 may accommodate various types of hats and helmets such as, but not limited to, hard hats, baseball cap, bicycle helmet, mountain/rock climbing helmet, equestrian helmet, and the like. The closed cell foam may be stretchable so that the user may easily attach the attachable visor to a hat, such as a hard hat in order to gain relief from the sun and other weather elements. The closed cell foam's ability to stretch may allow the design to be a one size fits all attachable visor.
In certain embodiments, the closed cell foam may be anti micro-bacterial, solvent resistant, nontoxic and waterproof. The closed cell foam may be of various thicknesses, weights and foam classifications from different foam manufacturers. Because of the material and weight of the attachable visor, the attachable visor may be flexible. This flexibility may allow the attachable visor to stay on while there are gusts of wind or the like. Also, the attachable visor may be flexible so that when a user makes contact with a work surface while wearing the attachable visor, there may not be a shock, or jarring motion associated with that contact. In certain embodiments, the attachable visor may retain memory such as with a particular type of hat or helmet.
A method of making the present invention may include the following. An individual may convert the closed cell foam block material to sheets approximately 0.25 inches thick. The closed cell foam may be formed from a block approximately four inches by forty-eight inches. The process to convert the size of these blocks may be skiving. The block may then be die-cut to the finished size and configuration. In certain embodiments, an additional fire retardant additive may be added to the closed cell foam during the manufacturing process.
In certain embodiments, the diameter of the circular block may be approximately fifteen to sixteen inches in length. In certain embodiments, the diameter of the circular block may be approximately fifteen inches in length. In certain embodiments, the thickness of the block may be approximately 0.25 inches. In certain embodiments, the diameter of the doughnut hole shaped cutout may be approximately five and one-half inches in length.
A method of using the present invention may include the following. A user may obtain the attachable visor and removably attached the attachable visor to a hat 18. In certain embodiments, the hat 18 is a hard hat. The inner ring of the doughnut hole shaped cutout may be gently stretched so that the attachable visor may cover the crown of the hard hat. The user may then move the attachable visor to the base of the hard hat for a snug fit as is shown in FIG. 1. A user may remove the attachable visor and place it on another hat or helmet with ease following the same process. In certain embodiments, the attachable visor may be used as a recreational sun hat for the beach or any other outdoor activity that would require sun protection to the wearer for their ears, neck and face.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An attachable visor comprising:

a block, wherein the block has a doughnut hole shaped cutout having an inner ring.

2. The attachable visor of claim 1, wherein the doughnut hole shaped cutout is approximately in the center of the block.

3. The attachable visor of claim 1, wherein the block comprises of closed cell foam.

4. The attachable visor of claim 1, wherein the block is circular.

5. The attachable visor of claim 4, wherein the block diameter is approximately fifteen to sixteen inches in length.

6. The attachable visor of claim 5, wherein the block diameter is approximately fifteen inches in length.

7. The attachable visor of claim 1, wherein the block thickness is approximately 0.25 inches.

8. The attachable visor of claim 1, wherein the doughnut hole shaped cutout is approximately five and one-half inches in diameter.

9. A method for a user to protect themselves from weather elements while working comprising:

providing a attachable visor comprising a circular block comprised of closed cell foam, wherein the circular block has a doughnut hole shaped cutout having an inner ring, wherein the doughnut hole shaped cutout is approximately in the center of the circular block;

removably attaching the attachable visor to the hard hat by gently stretching the inner ring of the doughnut hole shaped cutout just enough so that the doughnut hole shaped cutout covers the crown of the hard hat; and

moving the attachable visor to the base of the hard hat for a snug fit.