Abstract:
A baseball hat protective insert and a protective baseball hat containing the protective insert are disclosed. The protective insert is a unitary piece of unique shape and construction that is placed in the inside of a baseball hat to reduce, soften, and otherwise deflect and disperse blunt trauma to the head. The protective insert is comfortable to wear, lightweight and virtually unnoticeable to an observer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This, application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/418,053 filed Nov. 30, 2010 entitled “Plastic/Rubber Cushion Placed in the Inside Lip of a Baseball Cap Used to Soften/Defect Blunt Trauma to the Head” by Robert Francis Motroni of East Meadow, N.Y. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates generally to sports equipment, and more specifically to a baseball hat protective insert for reducing the likelihood of head injuries. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In many games there is a need for protective equipment to prevent injury due to collision with other players, contact with equipment, or collision with balls, pucks, or the like. Of the body parts that require protection, the head is not only the most susceptible to injury, it is also the most important part of the body to protect. Injuries to the head can result in concussions, permanent brain damage, and even death. The serious nature of head injuries in sports has resulted in widespread use of helmets. Helmets are mandatory in many sports today, and there are even laws that require the use of helmets in sports such as bicycling. Helmets and protective headwear have advanced greatly over the years in an effort to reduce the likelihood of serious head injuries occurring while playing many sports. Hockey is a prime example of such advancements. For many years hockey was played without helmets. The frequency of serious head injuries was such, however, that helmets became mandatory. At that point, helmet manufacturers created ever safer helmets, and this legacy of ongoing innovation continues to this day. Not all sports, however, have advanced in the area of head protection. Baseball, for example, still predominantly sees the use of baseball caps with no intrinsic head protection whatsoever. Many attribute this lack of head protection in the sport of baseball to the lack of contact. While player to player contact in a sport increases the chance of head injury, the risk of accidental contact, or contact with equipment or the ball is still present. 
         [0006]    It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a baseball hat protective insert that reduces the potential for head injuries. It is another object of the present invention to provide a baseball hat protective insert that conforms to the inside of a baseball hat. It is another object of the present invention to provide a baseball hat protective insert that is discretely worn inside a baseball cap. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a baseball hat protective insert that provides comfort to the user and integrates with an existing baseball cap. These and other objects of the present invention are not to be considered comprehensive or exhaustive, but rather, exemplary of objects that may be ascertained after reading this specification with the accompanying drawings and claims. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a baseball hat protective insert for dispersing force exerted from an object striking a wearer&#39;s head, the baseball hat protective insert comprising a unitary protective piece shaped as a modified spherical digon having a first side, a second side and two vertices, the two vertices of the modified spherical digon each having an internal angle of less than about fifty degrees, the second side of the modified spherical digon being truncated with a cut almost parallel to the first side but having a slight downward direction toward the center of the second side, and a radius at the exterior angle of each vertex. 
         [0008]    The foregoing paragraph has been provided by way of introduction, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as described in this specification, claims and the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention will be described by reference to the following drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the baseball hat protective insert; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a left side view of the baseball hat protective insert; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the baseball hat protective insert; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the baseball hat protective insert; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the baseball hat protective insert; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a protective baseball hat; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a cutaway side view of a protective baseball hat; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is an underside cutaway perspective view of a protective baseball hat. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    The present invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, however, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment described. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by this specification, claims and the attached drawings. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    The present invention relates to a protective insert that is placed within the interior of a baseball hat as well as a protective baseball hat containing the protective insert. The protective insert may be placed within an interior lip or seam of an existing baseball hat, or may be a part of a protective baseball hat where the protective insert is stitched, sewn, glued, or otherwise fastened or placed within the interior of a baseball hat. 
         [0020]    For a general understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the baseball hat protective insert  100 . As can be clearly seen in  FIG. 1 , the baseball hat protective insert is a unitary piece with a shape similar to a modified spherical digon. The curved insert is designed to be worn on the inside of a hat such as a baseball hat. Many baseball hats have an interior cloth lip that allows placement of the baseball hat protective insert toward the front of the hat as it is being worn. The baseball hat protective insert has a first side  101  and a second side  103 . Two vertices are formed, a first vertex  105  and a second vertex  107 . Each of the two vertices has an internal angle typically of less than fifty degrees, but in some embodiments the internal angle may be greater than fifty degrees. At each of the two vertices, the exterior angle has a radius to it so that there are no sharp or angular corners to interfere with a wearer&#39;s comfort or safety. The second side  103  further is truncated with a cut that is almost parallel to the first side but has a slight downward direction toward the center of the second side  103 . This cut has a generally symmetrical curve to it. The general shape of the baseball hat protective insert may, in some embodiments of the present invention, be modified to increase aesthetic appeal, user comfort, fit, and the like. In addition, additional features may be incorporated into the baseball hat protective insert. These additions and modifications being natural to those skilled in the art, and are still considered to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as described and depicted herein. 
         [0022]    Various materials may be used to make the baseball hat protective insert. One example of a suitable material is a plastic such as, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) being a thermoplastic known for its impact resistance and durability. The baseball hat protective insert may be made by injection molding, blow molding, die cutting, or similar techniques used to fabricate plastic components. Other materials may include various plastics containing reinforcements such as fibers, particles, or the like. Rubber may also be used, for example, an acrylic rubber, butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, polychloroprene, silicone, and the like. Closed cell rubber may be used to impart further impact absorbing attributes. In addition, a plastic and rubber composite may be used to provide both strength and impact absorbing properties. In the case of a plastic and rubber composite, the two or more materials may be bonded using an adhesive, heat processing, mechanical fasteners, tape, glue, thermoforming or thermosetting, or the like. 
         [0023]    The baseball hat protective insert may also have, in some embodiments of the present invention, a fabric retention device to maintain placement within a hat. Fabric retention devices include, but are not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, pins, magnets, rivets, snaps, and the like. The baseball hat protective insert may also have, in some embodiments of the present invention, an interior liner or interior padding such as a jersey fabric, neoprene, microfiber or related polyester fabrics, and the like. Still other embodiments of the present invention may contain ventilation holes, stiffeners, reinforcements, corrugations, and related structural features. 
         [0024]    To provide a complete understanding of the baseball hat protective insert, additional drawing views are provided.  FIG. 2  depicts a left side view of the baseball hat protective insert.  FIG. 3  in turn depicts a right side view of the baseball hat protective insert.  FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the baseball hat protective insert. And  FIG. 5  is a front view of the baseball hat protective insert. 
         [0025]    The present invention may be considered both the baseball hat protective insert and a protective baseball hat where the protective insert has been installed either temporarily or permanently. Such a protective baseball hat is depicted in  FIG. 6  and subsequent  FIGS. 7 and 8 .  FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a protective baseball hat  600  according to one embodiment of the present invention. A head covering crown portion  601  is shown along with a headband  603  or similar structure for retention on a wearer&#39;s head and optional adjustability. A bill  605  is also depicted. In some embodiments of the present invention, the bill  605  may be omitted or may be modified from that depicted in  FIG. 6  for aesthetic or performance reasons. The materials to make these hat components are typically a fabric such as cotton, polyester, nylon, or the like. The baseball hat protective insert  100  can be seen placed above the bill  605  and approximately parallel with a portion of the headband  603 . The baseball hat protective insert  100  may be held in place with an interior cloth lip or may use fasteners or fabric retention devices. The placement of the baseball hat protective insert  100  can be seen in  FIG. 7  which is a cutaway side view of a protective baseball hat where the cut is along line A-A of  FIG. 6 . The unique and novel placement and angle of the baseball hat protective insert  100  within the protective baseball hat  600  can clearly be seen in both  FIG. 7  and accompanying  FIG. 8 , which is an underside cutaway perspective view of a protective baseball hat. To use the protective baseball hat  600 , a player or other sports personnel dons the protective baseball hat  600  with the baseball hat protective insert  100  being worn in a forward facing, direction to protect the most exposed portion of the wearer&#39;s head. 
         [0026]    It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the various objects of the present invention, a baseball hat protective insert. While the various objects of this invention have been described, in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of this specification, claims and the attached drawings.