Sports visor with sweatband and removal visor

A sports visor having a sweatband and a normally flat, sheet-like removable visor fixed to the sweatband. The visor is comprised of a top face and a bottom face and may be secured to the sweatband with a securing means located on the bottom face of the visor.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The field of the present invention relates to headgear and, more 
specifically, to sweatbands with removable visors. 
Recreational and professional athletes utilize and require various types of 
headgear depending upon factors such as the type of sport they are 
involved in, the weather conditions in which the headgear is to be worn 
and so forth. In each instance the athlete selects a headgear to provide 
several functions which may include, for example, a sweatband for 
absorbing perspiration, a headband which is generally lighter than a 
sweatband for holding the hair back away from the face, a visor for 
protecting the eyes and face from the sun, a cap for keeping the head warm 
or protecting the head from rain or any combination thereof. Other 
considerations for selecting a headgear may include comfort, the ability 
of the headgear to remain secure around an athlete's head without 
slipping, and whether the headgear is made of safe or soft materials that 
will not injure the athlete in, for example, a fall or collision with 
another athlete. 
Along the same lines, an athlete requires a sports visor that is versatile 
enough to keep the sun out of the wearer's eyes without obstructing his 
field of vision. One of the primary problems with existing headgear/visor 
combination is that the visors are designed to extend from a fixed 
position underneath the base or bottom edge of the headgear. However, this 
positions the visor too close to the top of the wearer's eyes thereby 
obstructing the wearer's vision, both, upwardly and peripherally. Although 
this headgear/visor combination will shield the wearer's eyes from the 
sun, it will also block the wearer's field of vision making it difficult 
to, for example, adequately follow the trajectory of a fast-moving tennis 
ball. As a result it is rare to see professional athletes in fast moving 
sports such as tennis, wearing visors. A tennis player, for example, 
concerned with having a visor that blocks the sun, will forego using such 
a visor if it also blocks his forward and/or peripheral vision. As an 
alternative, some headgear such as the type used by baseball and 
volleyball players permits the visor to fold or flip upwardly away from 
the wearer's eyes to provide a greater range of vision. But, in this 
upwardly folded position, the visor does not protect the wearer's eyes 
from the sun requiring constant repositioning of the visor which may 
detrimentally spoil the athlete's concentration during the game. 
Another important feature often desired is a sweatband with a removable 
visor that permits the sweatband to be worn alone. For example, a visor 
may not be required on a cloudy morning but may be required if the sun 
comes out later in the day. Also, the sweatband may be desired merely to 
hold the hair back away from the face. Along the same lines, 
interchangeable visors that can be positioned in different locations on 
the sweatband are also desired. Although removable visors exist, they can 
only be secured in singular or limited positions on the headgear. As a 
result the wearer is unable to adjust the visor to place it in a desired 
position on the sweatband or headgear. 
It is also sometimes desirable to have a sweatband that permits a variety 
of different visors to be interchanged or used simultaneously. For 
example, a neck drape or cloth that hangs down the back of the visor may 
be desired to protect the back of the neck from the sun. Similarly, a 
visor that surrounds the entire circumference of the sweatband may be 
desired. However, there are many problems in existing headgear/visor 
combinations that prevent such an interchangeable feature. For example, 
many headgear/visor combinations provide only singular affixation means 
for mounting the visors and/or may not have the room or the means to mount 
more than one visor. In addition, they often require involved procedures 
to secure the visors to the headgear such as threading a headband through 
holes provided in the visor, buttoning the visor to the headgear, removing 
the headband to attach to the visor and so forth. 
Another very important feature that is desired is a durable sweatband that 
adequately absorbs perspiration and/or supports a visor as compared with 
the typical headband which is merely a thin strip of non-absorbent 
material such as leather or an elastic strip of minimally absorbent 
material such as terry cloth. In other words, most headbands absorb very 
little moisture. When subjected to substantial amounts of perspiration, 
they become soggy to the point where they are uncomfortable or useless to 
wear. In addition, these headbands often lose their ability to support a 
visor. 
Another desired feature in a sports visor is a sturdy and comfortable 
headgear and visor that can be securely worn and yet will not fly off the 
wearer's head when encountering substantial or high wind resistance. 
Oftentimes, for example, a baseball player loses his baseball cap while 
sprinting towards first base or to catch a fly ball. Although the baseball 
player is able to eventually retrieve his cap, another athlete, such as a 
sailor on a racing boat; may not have that luxury. Several problems 
contribute to the inability of a headgear to support a visor. One aspect 
is that the visor often exceeds the weight of the headgear, enabling wind 
or the like to pull the headgear off the head upon encountering wind or 
the like. Another aspect is that the visors, being secured from underneath 
the base or bottom edge of the headgear, may contact the wearer's head, 
making it uncomfortable or impossible for the wearer to tighten the 
headgear around his head, and leading to slippage or the like. That is, 
tightening the headgear causes the visor edge to dig into the wearer's 
forehead. 
Along the same lines headgear with removable visors often fall apart or 
separate when encountering substantial wind resistance or the like. In 
other words, the visor may be blown off of or separate from the headgear. 
One reason for this problem is that the associated visors are too heavy 
and/or thick to be supported by the headgear or, alternatively, the 
headgear is too light to adequately hold the visor. Still further, a 
related problem is that the headgear is typically adjusted to conform to 
the wearer's head with an elastomeric band or the like, which typically 
loses its elasticity upon washing. Consequently, over time, these bands 
may lose their ability to be adjusted securely against the head. 
Comfort and safety are also important features required in a sports visor 
This requires, for example, that the headband be made of a soft, sturdy 
material and that the visor be lightweight, flexible and without hard, 
sharp edges. Many existing sports visors, for example, utilize metal 
buttons, plastic headband adjusters, thin ropes or pre-formed and molded 
visors, which all can be painful when pressed against the wearer's head in 
order to secure them. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a sports visor having a sweatband and 
a removable visor. To this end, a sweatband is provided having an outside 
face and an inside face wherein the outside face includes an affixation 
means for retaining a visor in various locations thereon. A thin, flat, or 
sheet-like visor having a top face and a bottom face is also provided 
wherein said bottom face comprises a securing means for securing the visor 
in various positions on the front face of the sweatband. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
versatile sports visor having a sturdy, durable and highly absorbent 
sweatband that is designed to support one or several removable visors such 
that the visors can be angled or positioned on the sweatband to provide 
maximum protection from the sun in order to protect the wearer's eyes, 
face and/or neck while minimally obstructing the wearer's range of vision. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sweatband having an 
internal stuffing that absorbs and transports moisture away from the 
inside face of the sweatband towards the outside face of the sweatband. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a normally flat, 
sheet-like visor (which is capable of flexing into a curved shape while 
secured to the visor) and a means for securing the visor to the sweatband 
without including an additional curved forehead portion on the visor. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality or system 
of removable and interchangeable sweatbands and visors that can be 
utilized in connection with each other. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sports visor that, 
in addition to protecting the wearers eyes, also protects the entire face 
and/or neck from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. 
Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Turning in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a sports visor 10 
having a sweatband 12 and a visor 14 attached thereto. The sweatband 12 is 
comprised of an inside face 16, an outside face 18, a top edge 20 and a 
bottom edge 22. The inside face 16 is an absorbent material such as terry 
cloth, fleece, COOLMAX.RTM. manufactured by DuPont, MICROFT.RTM. 
manufactured by Teijin COOLMAX.RTM. manufactured by DuPont, MICROFT.RTM. 
manufactured by Teijin or any other suitable material designed to absorb 
and transport moisture such as perspiration. The absorbent material 
extends from under the bottom edge 22, up to and over the top edge 20 and 
around the inside face 16 of the sweatband 12. In other embodiments, the 
material utilized on the inside and/or outside faces may be changed to 
better suit the activity in which the wearer is involved. For example, it 
may be desirable to utilize a waterproof material when the sports visor 10 
is to be worn in connection with a watersport such as windsurfing. 
Similarly, a warm or heat retaining fabric may be used when the sports 
visor 10 is to be worn in connection with a winter sport such as skiing. 
The outside face 18 is a flat planar surface comprised of a smooth fabric 
or fabric-like material which has the ability to serve as an affixation 
means for retaining the visor 14 on the sweatband 12 such as brushed 
nylon, polyester and other fabrics. The fabric-like material extends from 
under the bottom edge 22 up to and over the top edge 20 and around the 
entire outside face 18 of the sweatband 12. Since the fabric is on the 
outside face 18 it may be desirable to provide a visually appealing fabric 
in order to decorate or personalize the sweatband 12. The inside face 16 
and outside face 18 are sewn, interwoven or otherwise connected along a 
seam 24 on the top edge 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 and on the 
bottom edge 22 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Together the fabric-like material 
on the outside face 18 and the absorbent material on the inside face 16 
serve as a covering around a highly absorbent moisture absorbing means or 
internal stuffing 26. The moisture absorbing means inside the sweatband 12 
is comprised of a stuffing 26 which serves to remove or transport moisture 
such as perspiration away from the inside face 16 of the sweatband 12 
towards the outside face 18. The absorbent stuffing 26 may be provided in 
a portion of or in the entire sweatband and consists of natural or 
man-made soft fiber-fill such as bound or trussed cotton. The stuffing 26 
is secured or sewn to the exterior fabric-like material of the outside 
face 18 and/or the inside face 16 which helps to prevent the stuffing 26 
from becoming loose or clumping or bunching up inside the sweatband 12. 
Furthermore, all the materials of the sweatband 12 are machine-washable 
which allows the sweatband 12 to be cleaned and reused. The stuffing 26 
also provides a thick cushion or cushion-like sweatband 12 that is soft, 
comfortable and safe to wear yet heavy and durable enough to support a 
visor 14 even when wet. One embodiment of the present invention utilizes 
approximately two (2) ounces of internal stuffing 12 inside an average 
size sweatband 12. Similarly, a greater or lesser amount of internal 
stuffing may be utilized. A second embodiment of the present invention as 
shown in FIG. 11a illustrates the stuffing 26 as used in the other various 
embodiments. 
The flat, planar surface of the inside face 16 of the sweatband 12 is 
adapted for contacting a wearer's forehead and designed to provide 
sufficient contact to support the sweatband 12 around the wearer's head. 
In one embodiment, for example, the width of the sweatband 12 from the top 
edge 20 to the bottom edge 22 ranges from approximately one inch to 
approximately three inches while the thickness from the inside face 16 to 
the outside face 18 is approximately one quarter inch. The length of the 
sweatband 12 will vary to fit various head sizes and purposes. In one 
embodiment, for example, the sweatband is approximately seventeen and one 
half (17-1/2) inches long interconnected with an elastic fastening means 
40 which is approximately six and one half (6-1/2) inches in length. Of 
course, other dimensions are possible and can be provided to suit 
particular needs. For example, the sweatband and/or elastic fastening 
means may be shorter to fit a smaller head and longer to fit a larger head 
although the elastic fastening means which can range from, for example, 
approximately one (1) inch in length to approximately twelve (12) inches 
in length, can also be stretched to accommodate variations in head sizes. 
Also, more rigorous sports may require thicker and more absorbent 
sweatbands 12 to compensate for greater amounts of perspiration. 
Similarly, a sweatband 12 used merely to hold back the wearer's hair may 
be lighter and thinner. 
The combination of a heavy, durable sweatband 12 permits the sweatband 12 
to support a lightweight visor 14 affixed thereto. In one embodiment of 
the present invention the visor 14 weighs less than one (1) ounce and can 
be at least as light as 0.50 ounces. Thus, a particular embodiment having 
a sweatband 12 weighing two ounces and a visor weighing one-half an ounce 
will have a sweatband-to-visor weight ratio of approximately 4:1. Of 
course, this ratio will vary depending upon factors such as the size of 
the sweatband 12, the amount of stuffing included in the sweatband and the 
weight of the visor 14. In contrast, existing headband/visor combinations 
have a weight ratio wherein the weight of the visor exceeds the weight of 
the headband making it difficult for the headband to support the visor. 
Furthermore, the visor 14 of the present invention is secured to the 
outside face 18 of the sweatband 12 as distinguished from underneath the 
base or bottom edge 22 of the sweatband 12 as in other versions of 
headgear that support visors. As a result, the rim or rear edge 36 of the 
visor 14 does not press or "dig" into the wearer's forehead when the 
sweatband 12 is tightened around the wearer's head. Thus, the sweatband 12 
can be secured relatively tightly around the wearer's head without 
discomfort to the wearer to insure that the sweatband 12 and visor 14 
remain on the wearer's head even when subjected to substantial wind 
resistance and the like. 
The fabric or fabric-like material on the outside face 18 serves as an 
affixation means for retaining the visor 14 in various locations on the 
outside face 18 and, if desired, on the top edge 20 and bottom edge 22 of 
the sweatband 12. The fabric or affixation means extends around the entire 
outside circumference or outside surface of the sweatband 12 and, although 
visible even when the visor 14 is attached to the sweatband 12, is not 
recognized as an affixation means. The integrity of the sweatband design 
is such that the entire outside circumference or outside surface is one 
fabric that functions as the affixation means. Thus, utilizing a colorful 
or artistic fabric-like material for the affixation means provides a 
visually appealing sweatband 12. Along the same lines, the affixation 
means can be limited to only a portion of the outside surface. 
The combination of using a fabric and visible affixation means around the 
entire circumference of the sweatband 12 serves a dual purpose. It 
provides a versatile sweatband 12 that has sufficient room or space to 
permit one or more interchangeable visors 14, such a visors having 
different purposes, to be simultaneously mounted thereon. It is also 
visually appealing and allows an athlete to exhibit such things as team 
colors. In this regard, a plurality or kit of interchangeable sweatbands 
12 having a variety of different purposes, colors or designs may be 
provided or used with an individual visor 14. Likewise, a plurality or kit 
of inter-changeable visors 14 having a variety of different purposes, 
colors or designs may be provided or used with an individual sweatband 12. 
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 14, a neck drape visor or neck guard 
28 made of cloth or other suitable materials and which hangs off the back 
of the sweatband 12 for protecting the back of the wearer's neck can be 
provided. As illustrated in FIG. 15, a visor 31 that extends around the 
entire circumference of the sweatband 12 to protect both the back of the 
wearer's neck and the wearer's eyes can also be provided. As illustrated 
in FIG. 16 a flip-top visor 33 for protecting the top of the wearer's head 
and/or forehead can also be provided. The flip-top visor 33 can be a visor 
14 of the first embodiment turned upside down or it can be a smaller 
version of the visor 14. Similarly, the flip-top 33 can be slightly curved 
with a concave portion facing the wearer's head and a convex portion 
facing away from the wearer's head. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, a first embodiment of the removable or 
detachable visor 14 is comprised of a top face 30, a bottom face 32, a 
convex shaped front edge 34, a concave shaped rear edge 36 and a securing 
means 38 for securing the visor in various positions on the outside face 
18 of the sweatband. The visor 14 is crescent-shaped when viewed from the 
top or bottom and is very thin, flat and sheet-like when viewed from the 
side. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the visor is normally flat when not 
secured to the headboard although normally curved visors can be adapted to 
be utilized in the present invention. In one embodiment of the present 
invention the visor 14 is approximately 0.023 millimeters thick but can 
also range between 0.010 millimeters to 0.025 millimeters. Of course, 
other thicknesses are envisioned without departing from the inventive 
concepts herein. The visor 14 may be comprised of any flexible and 
lightweight material that permits the visor 14 to be easily stored or 
carried in, for example, a side pocket of a tennis racket face cover. 
Similarly, the material may be made of a translucent, opaque or 
imprintable-type plastic or a material that provides ultraviolet 
protection. In other embodiments, the visor 14 material may be made of 
cloth, such as the neck drape visor 28 in FIG. 14, or any other material 
that permits the visor 14 to be flexed or supported by the sweatband 12 as 
described herein. 
The visor 14 is shaped and designed so as not to obstruct the wearer's 
forward or peripheral vision when secured to the sweatband 12. For 
example, earlier headgear/visor combinations secure the visor underneath 
the base of the headgear. However, positioning the visor so low on the 
headgear places the visor directly over the wearers eyes when the wearer 
puts the headgear on thereby impairing the wearer's range of vision in the 
upward and sideways directions. This requires the wearer to arch his head 
further backwards to see upwardly and to turn his head further to each 
side to see in these side directions. 
In the alternative, other headgear/visor combinations secure the visor to 
the front of the headgear utilizing some variation of a forehead portion 
securing means shaped or curved to the configuration of the forehead In 
other words, the visor is either preformed with or secured to a forehead 
portion which is a wide planar surface designed to rest on or cover the 
forehead such that the visor extends perpendicularly from the base of the 
forehead portion. The curved forehead portion (i.e. --not the visor 
itself) is secured to the headgear. This forehead portion may range 
anywhere from a width of one to three or more inches which rests upon the 
wearer's forehead. The present invention uses neither of these previously 
mentioned alternatives. It does not employ a planar surface or forehead 
portion substantially perpendicular to the visor which serves as the 
securing means. 
The present invention provides a securing means 38 underneath or on the 
bottom face 32 of the visor 14. Thus, the visor 14 or bill itself is 
secured to the sweatband 12. As best illustrated in FIG. 10, the securing 
means 38 is comprised of a thin Velcro.TM. strip sewn or otherwise affixed 
into or along the rear edge 36 on the bottom face 32 of the visor. Thus, 
the securing means 38 is parallel to the visor 14. Even with the securing 
means 38, the visor 14 is substantially flat and sheet-like when viewed 
from the side as illustrated in FIG. 9. The positioning of the securing 
means 38 on the rear edge 36 on the underside or bottom face 32 of the 
visor 14 eliminates the need for including a forehead portion on the visor 
14 in order to mount or mate the visor 14 to the sweatband 12. 
The securing means 38 employed also permits the visor 14 to be centered on 
the front of outside face 18 of the sweatband 12 or mounted anywhere on 
the outside face or circumference of the sweatband 12. As illustrated in 
FIG. 10, the securing means 38 is a single strip of Velcro.TM. material 
interconnected along the entire concave rear edge 34 on the bottom face 
32. The securing means 38 can be adhesively applied or sewn to the visor 
14. In addition, the securing means 38 can be provided with a finished 
edge for decorative purposes using self-colored Tricot binding or 
decorative binding. In one embodiment, the Velcro.TM. strip 38 is 
approximately 5/16 of an inch wide with a finished edge. However, 
alternative embodiments may include thinner or wider strips and/or a 
plurality of shorter strips of securing means 38 spaced along the inside 
or rear edge 34. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the neck drape 
visor 28 is comprised of two short strips 29 of securing means. 
In order to secure or fasten the visor 14 to the sweatband 12, the securing 
means 38 of the visor 14 is merely pressed onto the outside face 18 of the 
sweatband 12. Since the entire outside face 18 is the affixation means it 
is not necessary to remove the sweatband 12 in order to affix the visor 14 
as in other more complex headgear/visor combinations. The wearer merely 
positions the visor 14 in the desired position and presses it onto the 
sweatband 12. As illustrated in FIG. 3, placing the bottom rear edge 36 of 
the visor 14 against the outside face 18 causes the flexible visor to 
bend, forming a curved visor 14 which flexes or angles to provide a 
downwardly curving visor 14 to shade the wearer's eyes. Alternatively, the 
visor 14 can be secured to the sweatband 12 without bending or flexing the 
visor such that the visor 14 extends substantially perpendicular to the 
sweatband 12 without curling. 
Although the visor 14 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as being vertically centered 
on the sweatband 12, the visor 14 can be positioned in the most desirable 
location on the sweatband 12 to obtain the greatest range of visibility or 
to obtain the maximum amount of protection from the sun. The Velcro.TM. 
strip 38 may be secured higher up, near to, or directly on the top edge 20 
or lower near the bottom edge 22. If the visor 14 is turned upside down, 
it can be secured directly on the bottom edge 22 to extend outwardly from 
the base of the sweatband 12. Similarly, the visor 14 can be placed 
horizontally or diagonally across the sweatband 12 so as to angle over the 
wearer's eyes or positioned around the circumference of the sweatband 12. 
For example, the visor 14 can be secured to the rear outside face 18 of 
sweatband 12 to shade the wearer's neck. Similarly, a plurality of visors 
14 designed to serve different purposes can be attached at one time. For 
example, a visor 14 can be secured t front of the sweatband 12 a flip-top 
31 can be secured above the visor 14 and a neck drape visor 28 can be 
secured to the rear of the sweatband 12. As another example, the visors 14 
can be layered such that one visor 14 is secured above a second visor 14. 
The sweatband 12 is further comprised of an adjustable fastening means 40 
to allow the sweatband 12 to be adjusted to fit various size heads. As 
illustrated in FIG. 1, the fastening means 40 is an elastic strip sewn to 
both ends of the sweatband from the top edge 20 to the bottom edge 22. 
Alternatively, and in a second embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 11, the 
fastening means 40 may consist of a hook and loop type closure each 
portion of which is approximately three (3) inches long in one embodiment 
but which can range in length, for example, from one (1) inch to several 
inches. Other embodiments of the fastening means 40 include a series of 
elastic strips, two loose ends of cloth which can be tied together, as 
well as any other fastening means that permits the sweatband to be 
adjusted to fit various size heads. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 11-13, a second embodiment of the present invention 
is shown. The elements of the second embodiment are numbered to correspond 
to similar elements in the first embodiment. Since many of the elements 
have already been addressed with respect to the first embodiment, the 
second embodiment will primarily address the differences that exist in the 
second embodiment. 
The second embodiment of the sports visor 10 is comprised of a sweatband 12 
having a first tubular element 50 sewn or otherwise interconnected to a 
second tubular element 52, a fastening means 40 for fastening a first end 
54 of the sweatband 12 to a second end 56 of the sweatband 12, and a visor 
14 having a securing means 38 for securing the visor 14 to the sweatband 
12. Each of the tubular elements 50, 52 are merely smaller versions of the 
first embodiment of the sweatband 12. In addition, several tubular 
elements can be utilized to form the sweatband 12. 
The sweatband 12 is comprised of an inside face 16 and an outside face 18 
but differs from the first embodiment, for example, because it is provided 
with an inside ridge 17 and an outside ridge 19 formed along a seam 58 
between the first and second tubular elements 50, 52 where they are 
interconnected or sewn together. The material utilized on the inside face 
16 and outside face 18 of the second embodiment may be the same materials 
utilized on the inside face 16 and outside face 18 the first embodiment, 
respectively. In the alternative, the entire surface of the first and 
second tubular elements 50, 52 may be comprised of the a smooth fabric or 
fabric-like material such as brushed nylon or other fabric which has the 
ability to serve as an affixation means for retaining the visor 14 on the 
sweatband. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 11-13, the visor 14 is substantially similar to the 
visor 14 described in the first embodiment. However, the visor 14 is 
provided with two ends 60, 62 that extend around the circumference of the 
sweatband 12 until it touches the edges of the fastening means 40. A 
securing means 38 is sewn into or otherwise connected to the bottom face 
32 of the visor 14 along the inside or rear arcuate edge 36. Although the 
visor 14 is secured to the outside ridge 19 of the sweatband 12 which 
provides a natural ledge for resting the visor 14, it can also be secured 
anywhere between the top and bottom edges 20, 22. Similarly, the outside 
ridge 19 may be provided with a second securing means for mating with the 
first securing means 38 on the visor. 
A fastening means 40 is also provided for securing the two distal ends 54, 
56 of the sweatband together. The fastening means 40 utilized in the 
second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it is 
comprised of a hook and loop type connection. 
Thus, a sports visor is disclosed which provides a truly functional and 
absorbent sweatband with one or more thin, flat removable visors and other 
protective shields that can be positioned relative to the sweatband to 
allow the greatest range of vision and/or greatest amount of protection 
from the sun. While embodiments and applications have been shown and 
described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more 
modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concepts 
herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the 
spirit of the appended claims.