Abstract:
A brim shade has a shade element, a clip, and a hinge that joins the shade element and the clip to make the brim shade. The shade element and the hinge combine to create a shade that does not allow the light to get past the brim shade. The brim shade can be adjusted through 360 degree rotation and along the side of a hat to provide protection to the wearer.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED CASE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to provisional application No. 62/300,116 filed on Feb. 26, 2016, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In sunny locales, many people wear hats to keep the sun out of their eyes and off their faces. Many times the hats are ball caps or other caps that have a visor or brim. While the visor or brim of the hat may assist when the sun is high in the sky or in the direction the person is looking, that may not always be the case. Indeed, the sun may be off to one side or lower in the sky. Such a position may make it difficult to block the sun from entering the person&#39;s eyes. Sunglasses may also be sufficient to block the sun or reflections from the sun. The brim of the hat can not be changed to accommodate such a situation. And while a baseball cap can be re-arranged to some extent, it may not always be possible to block those rays. Use of a towel or a second hat is less than ideal as they can easily shift or fall off. 
         [0003]    Thus, a movable shade that can block the sun&#39;s rays from entering the eyes of a person wearing a hat is needed. The shade also needs to be able to be moved out of the way when it is not needed. Such a device is illustrated and described below. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is directed to a brim shade that includes a shade element, a clip configured to be removably attached to a brim of a hat, a hinge having a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation, the first and second axes being parallel to one another, the hinge having a first portion operatively connected to the shade element and a second portion operatively connected to the clip, wherein the shade element is rotatable between a first and second position through an angle, the angle being at least 350 degrees. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, the opening has a longitudinal axis therethrough and the clip has an outside surface, there being a first distance between the longitudinal axis and the outside surface of the clip and a second distance between the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation, the second distance being greater than the first distance. 
         [0006]    In some other embodiments, the the hinge includes a coiled spring pin. 
         [0007]    According to another embodiment, there is a hinge that includes a first cylindrical member, the first cylindrical member having a first opening extending through the first cylindrical member along a first longitudinal axis, a second cylindrical member connected to the first cylindrical member, the second cylindrical member having a second opening extending through the first cylindrical member along a second longitudinal axis, the first and second longitudinal axes being parallel to one another, a first cut-out in the first cylindrical member to receive at least a portion of a clip therein, and at least one cut-out in the second cylindrical member to receive at least a portion of a shade element therein. 
         [0008]    In some other embodiments, the at least one cut-out comprises two cut-outs and the cut-out in the first cylindrical member is disposed between the two cut-outs in the second cylindrical member. 
         [0009]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top of one embodiment the brim shade according to the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the brim shade of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the brim shade of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the brim shade of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an underside view of the brim shade of  FIG. 1  attached to a brim of a hat; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the brim shade of  FIG. 1  in a first position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the brim shade in  FIG. 1  in a second position; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 8-14  are perspective side views of the brim shade in  FIG. 1  with the elements in different rotational positions; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 15  is a top view of another embodiment of a brim shade according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0020]    Referring to the figures, one embodiment of a brim shade  100  according to the present invention is preferably comprised of three components. The brim shade has a shade element  102 , a clip  104 , and a hinge  106  that joins the shade element  102  and the clip  104  to make the brim shade  100 . The shade element  102  has a large flat portion  110  that transitions into a cylindrical portion  112  at one edge  114  to join with the hinge  106 . The edge  114  at the hinge  106  has a width W 1  that is the same as the width W 2  of the hinge  106 . The large flat portion  110  of shade element  102  may have any shape, but is illustrated to provide a larger area  110   a  where the user&#39;s eyes would be and a smaller area  110 b where the shade element  102  would be position near the user&#39;s ear or side of the face. The large flat portion  110  may be of any shape and size and still fall within the scope of the present invention. See also  FIG. 15  for another shape as a non-limiting example. The particular thickness t 1  of the shade element  102  is not critical except that it should not be flimsy or break easily. The width W 1  is preferably the same as the width W 2  of the hinge  106  so to prevent any gaps in the protection of the person using the brim shade  100  as described in more detail below. 
         [0021]    The shade element  102  has two cylindrical portions  112  at either end of edge  114  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . These cylindrical portions  112  are at either end of the edge  114 , but could be disposed anywhere along the edge  114  as long as the clip  104  and the hinge  106  were to be configured to accept the new configuration and prevent light (or water, etc.) from passing through gaps in the brim shade  100 . The cylindrical portions  112  have a central opening  116  to receive a pin  118  therein to allow the shade element  102  to rotate relative to the hinge  106  and the clip  104 , as discussed below. Preferably, the pin  118  is a coiled spring pin to allow for the relative positions of the brim shade  100  elements to be at any angle, as illustrated in some of the figures (See, e.g.,  FIGS. 6-14 ) and discussed in detail below. However, the pin  118  could be any type of pin, including a slotted pin. 
         [0022]    The clip  104  of the brim shade  100  has two extensions  140 , 142  extending from a base  144  at a proximal portion  146  to a distal end  148 . The two extensions  140 , 142  form an opening  150  along the clip  104  to receive a portion of the brim  152  of the hat. See  FIG. 5 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the opening has a width W 3  that decreases in size between the proximal portion  146  to the distal end  148 . This allows for a tighter attachment to the brim  152 . Additionally, as is visible in  FIG. 4 , the thickness t 2  of the two extensions  140 , 142  increases between the proximal portion  146  to the distal end  148 . This is a result of the outside surfaces  154 , 156  being parallel to one another while the opening  150  decreases in width. However, two extensions  140 , 142  could also be of constant thickness, meaning that the outside surfaces  154 , 156  would not parallel to one another. At the proximal end  146  of the two extensions  140 , 142  is a squared-shape portion  158  of the opening  150 . This squared-shape portion  158  could also have other shapes, e.g., oval, round, etc. and still fall within the scope of the present invention. The squared-shape portion  158  of the opening  150  is configured to receive the edge of the brim  152  of the hat. See  FIG. 5 . This allows for the two extensions  140 , 142  to engage the brim  152  of the hat without the thicker edge of the brim preventing the two extensions  140 , 142  from securely engaging the brim  152 . 
         [0023]    As best seen in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 3 , the two extensions  140 , 142  have truncated corners  160 , 162  at the distal end  148 . These truncations  160 , 162  are illustrated to be 45 degree corners, but could be any appropriate angle. Additionally, only one of the corners of each of the extensions  140 , 142  may be truncated and still fall within the scope of the present invention. The truncated corners  160 , 162  allow the brim shade  100  to be adjusted along the brim  152  of the hat in more positions than if the corners  160 , 162  were not truncated. The truncated corners  160 , 162  allow the brim shade  100  to be pushed farther back on the brim  152  of a baseball cap than if they were not truncated. Thus, specific angles could be used for specific hats. Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 15  (egg shaped), the extensions (as well as the other elements of the brim shade) could have other configurations. 
         [0024]    The base  144  of the clip  104  is a cylindrical portion with a pin opening  164  to receive another coiled spring pin  118 . The base  144  of the clip  104  has a width that is the same as that of the two extensions  140 , 142 . However, as would be clear to one of skill in the art, they do not have to be same width, as long as there were no gaps caused between the hinge  106  and the shade element  102 . Thus the two extensions  140 , 142  or the base  144  could be wider. Additionally, the clip  104  could also be disposed along the length of the shade element  102  in a position different from that illustrated in the figures, with appropriate changes made to the construction of the shade element  102  and the hinge  106 . 
         [0025]    The clip  104  is preferably made from a material that is somewhat flexible to allow for the brim  152  of the hat to be inserted between the two extensions  140 , 142  (thereby causing them to flex outward and away from one another and then back to engage the brim  152  to hold the brim shade  100  on the hat). 
         [0026]    The hinge  106  is generally two cylindrical portions  170 , 172  joined together with their longitudinal axes A 1 , A 2  parallel to one another. Also along the longitudinal axes of each of the cylindrical portions  170 ,  172  are pin openings  174 ,  176  to receive a coiled spring pin  118  in each. To attach the other portions of the brim shade  100  to the hinge  106 , there are cut out portions  178 , 180 , respectively to receive the corresponding cylindrical portions from the shade element  102  and the clip  104 . As the cylindrical portions  112  are at either end of the edge  114  in the shade element  102 , the cut out portions  178  are at the ends of the cylindrical portion  170 . With the clip  104  having only one cylindrical portion at the base  144 , the cut out portion  180  is towards the middle of the cylindrical portion  172  of the hinge  106 . 
         [0027]    As noted above, the brim shade  100  can be used on either side of a hat, as well as being stored under the brim  152  of the hat or on top of the brim  152  of the hat. The construction of the brim shade  100 , and the hinge  106  in particular, allows for the rotation of the shade element  102  and, in part, the hinge  106 , relative to the clip  104 . The rotation of the shade element  102  between and underneath position and an on-top position will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . These two figures show the brim shade  100  in a first position in  FIG. 6 —under the brim, which is not shown for clarity purposes, and then in second position in  FIG. 7 —on-top of the brim. Thus, the shade element  102  can rotate through 360 degrees (and possibly farther) so that it would be parallel to the outside surfaces  154 , 156  of the clip  106 . The rotation through the 360 degree angle is due to the construction of the hinge  106 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the opening  150  has a longitudinal axis A 3  extending therethrough. This axis is parallel to the axis A 4  that is parallel to the outside surfaces  154 , 156  of the clip  106 . There is a distance D 1  between the axis A 3  and the axis A 4  that aligns with the outside surfaces  154 , 156  of the clip  106 . Each of the two cylindrical portions  170 , 172  have an axis of rotation about the openings  174  and  176 . As is clear from  FIG. 7 , the opening  176  is on the longitudinal axis A 3 . The other axis of rotation is through the second opening  174  and the distance between these two openings (and axis of rotations) is illustrated as being D 2 . If D 2  is larger than D 1 , then the shade element  102  can rotate at least 360 degrees around the axis of rotation about opening  176 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 8-14  show various positions of the three elements of the brim shade  100  (shade element  102 , a clip  104 , and a hinge  106 ) as the shade element  102  is rotated around from the first position to the second position—360 degree angle relative to the clip  104 . Careful consideration of these figures show that the clip  106  and the shade element  102  can both rotate about their axis of rotations independently of the other. 
         [0029]      FIG. 15  illustrates another embodiment of a brim shade  200  according to the present invention. This embodiment  200  illustrates the different variations in shape of the three elements (shade element  202 , a clip  204 , and a hinge  206 ) that still fill all of space between the three elements and prevent light from entering between the three elements. 
         [0030]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.