Abstract:
A cap includes forward-looking illumination in the form of light beam emitted from at least one elongated flashlight of generally-cylindrical shape mounted to the visor of the cap. A clip includes adjacent semicircular and slot regions for holding the flashlight and engaging the visor respectively. The clip includes outwardly-displaceable free edges of the semicircular and slot regions for facilitating the ready installation of the flashlight and the mounting of the flashlight to the visor. Each flashlight is of the elongated type and arranged by means of an associated clip so that the light emitting end is remote from the skull-covering portion of the cap whereby light is projected along the field of view of the wearer.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to headgear. More particularly, this invention pertains to headgear that is not only protective and decorative but includes an illuminated viewing function. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    The popular “baseball cap” is a generic term for a (generally fabric) headgear that includes a cover for a substantial upper portion of one&#39;s skull and a protruding visor that is joined to the lower edge of the skull cover. Many varieties of this work and recreational item are included almost universally in wardrobes, both male and female. 
         [0005]    While normally considered an item of casual or functional dress, the baseball-style cap finds a place at both the upper and lower ends of the price scale. Additionally, it has gained acceptance not only at work and in the gymnasium, but also in restaurants of varying sophistication. 
         [0006]    The proliferation of acceptable venues for wearers of the generic baseball-style cap means that a wearer may encounter numerous environmental situations while wearing one. A number of such “venues” may provide substandard lighting. Such venues may be work related, eating related, exercise related or simply lounging related. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention addresses the preceding and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing a cap. Such cap includes an upper skull covering portion having a lower edge. A visor is attached to and extends from the lower edge of the upper skull covering portion. 
         [0008]    At least one elongated flashlight of generally-cylindrical shape is provided, each being capable of projecting a beam. A clip is provided for selectively securing at least one flashlight to the visor of the cap. 
         [0009]    The preceding and other features of the invention will become further apparent from the detailed description that follows. Such description is accompanied by a set of drawing figures. Numerals of the drawings, corresponding to those of the written description, point to the features of the invention with like numerals referring to like features throughout both the written description and the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are frontal and side elevation views, respectively, of a clip for mounting a flashlight to a baseball-style cap in accordance with the invention; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C are a series of figures for illustrating the insertion of a flashlight into a clip in accordance with the invention; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are side elevation and bottom plan views respectively of a cap with an above-visor mounted flashlight in accordance the invention; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are side elevation and bottom plan views respectively of a cap with a below-visor mounted flashlight in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a wearer with a cap with visor-mounted flashlights at opposed portions of the peripheral edge of a visor in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    Turning now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1A and 1B  are frontal and side elevation views, respectively, of a clip  10  for mounting a flashlight to a baseball-style cap in accordance with the invention. The clip  10 , which can come in various sizes in accordance with the size of the flashlight that is mounted to the visor of the cap, is preferably formed of a resilient metal alloy such as stainless steel. 
         [0016]    As can be seen, particularly with reference to  FIG. 1A , the integral clip  10  comprises two distinct sections. A round region  12  is provided for holding the generally-cylindrical body of an elongated flashlight. The round region  12  is defined by a semicircular-shaped portion  14  of the clip  10 . The free edge  16  of the semicircular-shaped portion  14  is folded slightly outwardly for facilitating the insertion and removal of a flashlight whereas the opposite edge of the portion  14  is folded somewhat greater than ninety degrees in the opposite direction to form the bottom  18  of a slot region  20  for receiving the visor of a cap. The bottom  18  joins an upright wall  22  whereby the slot region  20  is defined between the innerside of the semicircular-shaped portion  14  and the upright wall  22 . As in the case of the free edge  16  of the semicircular-shaped portion  14 , the free edge  24  of the upright wall  22  is slightly outwardly-flared to create an enlarged entrance to the passageway defined by the slot region  20  for facilitating the engagement of the clip  10  and/or clip  10 -with-attached flashlight combination to a visor. 
         [0017]    The utility of the clip  10  for mounting a flashlight is illustrated in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C, a series of figures for illustrating the insertion of a flashlight  26  for subsequent mounting to the visor of a cap. Referring first to  FIG. 2A , the flashlight  26  is positioned to contact both the free edge  16  and the inner corner at the bottom  18  of the slot region  20  as shown. Thereafter an force F is applied (presumably by one of a user&#39;s hands) to the flashlight that is opposed by a resistance force F (presumably applied by the user&#39;s other hand) as shown in  FIG. 2B . As can be seen, the application of the forces causes the flashlight  26  to slip past the outwardly-folded free edge  16  and thereby begin to enter the interior of the semicircular-shaped portion  14 . At the same time, the free edge  16  of the semicircular-shaped portion  14  is displaced outwardly (toward the right). As the clip  10  is of resilient metallic composition, the displacement does not result in measurable deformation. Finally, after continuing the application of the forces F, and F, the flashlight  26  is fully inserted as shown in  FIG. 2C  with the semicircular-shaped portion  14  substantially returning to its original shape with the flashlight tightly and securely held therein. 
         [0018]    The design of the clip  10  presumes that the flashlight  26  is generally of elongated cylindrical or barrel-like shape. Examples of commercially available flashlights of such shape and suitability for use in the present invention are those manufactured by Coast Products of Portland Oreg. and available through selected retailers in a variety of sizes and power. Examples of Coast flashlights that may be employed in a cap with illumination in accordance with the invention include those having product designations G10, G20, G45, HP2, HP3, HP4, PX20 and PX25. Each of such flashlights utilizes light emitting diode (LED) technology that offers modest to intense direct light. While Coast flashlights employing LED technology are suitable for use in the present invention, the invention is limited neither to LED technology nor to the products of such particular manufacturer. Rather, any flashlight of generally cylindrical shape and size for accommodation by a clip  10  as described above may be utilized in and form a part of a cap with illumination in accordance with the invention. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are side elevation and lower planar views, respectively, of a cap  28  having a flashlight  26  mounted above a visor  30  in accordance the invention. The complete cap comprises an upper skull covering portion  32  that is joined to the visor  30  at its lower edge. As can be seen, the clip  10  is held to a side of the visor  30  by insertion into the slot region  20  (not visible in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B) that is located at the opposed side of the bottom  18  which is roughly aligned with a portion of the free peripheral edge  34  of the visor  30 . The outwardly-folded free edge  16  of the semicircular portion  14  of the clip  10  is visible in  FIG. 3A  and it will be appreciated with reference to the preceding figures, that, to achieve the configuration of  FIG. 3A , the clip  10  is oriented so that the slot region  20  grasps the visor  30  with the semicircular portion  14  thereabove. The wall  22 , bottom  18  and folded free edge  24  of the wall  22  can be seen in intimate contact with the bottom surface of the visor  30  in  FIG. 3B . A beam of light  35  emitted from the flashlight  26  will project forwardly and aligned with the field of view of the wearer to illuminate the wearer&#39;s view of, for example, the back of a computer, work on a paper in the patio, or the like. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are side elevation and bottom plan views of a cap  28  with a below-visor  30  mounted flashlight  26  in accordance with the invention. In this case, the wall  22  and folded free edge  24  that define one side of the slot  20  lie above the visor  30  with the bottom being approximately aligned with a selected portion of the peripheral edge  34  of the visor  30 . The obverse view of  FIG. 4B  shows that the folded free edge  16  of the semicircular portion  14  of the clip  10  lies adjacent the bottom surface of the visor  30 , holding the flashlight  26  with a preferred alignment for projection of the beam of light  35  from the flashlight  26 . 
         [0021]    Comparing the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  (above-visor mount) with that of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  (below visor mount), many factors can contribute to one&#39;s preference of one to another. The clip  10  may be of various sizes for accommodating flashlights of various cross-sectional profiles. Further, the degree of collimation of the light beam emitted may vary from flashlight to flashlight. Factors such as these, in addition to the location of the “target” for illumination with respect to the field of view of the wearer, will enter into this choice. As can be appreciated, such choices need not be limited by the design of the clip  10  which can accommodate either type of mounting with respect to the visor. 
         [0022]    In addition to a choice of flashlight mountings (above visor, below visor) and flashlight (and clip) sizes, one may mount either one or two flashlights to opposed portions of the peripheral edge  34  of the visor  30 . This will reflect the preferences and needs of the wearer. A perspective view of a cap  28  with elongated flashlights  26 ,  26 ′ mounted to opposed sections of the common peripheral edge  34  of the visor  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The wearer, for example, may desire to “aim” the two flashlights beams  35 ,  35 ′ to intersect at some point in advance, thereby boosting illumination at a particular distance. 
         [0023]    By utilizing the teachings of the invention, the light emitted from a mounted flashlight follows the wearer wherever he looks, leaving his hands free. The invention is easy to use, making it convenient to do almost anything in dark/low light, including, but not limited to, walking around the house early in the morning or late at night without bothering others by turning on and off the lights, looking for missing objects, working on the car, checking the computer keyboard or when you just need extra direct light. 
         [0024]    By employing a combination of elements in which the clip is separable from the flashlight, the wearer can readily remove the flashlight from the cap when it is advantageous to hold the flashlight rather than to leave it attached to the cap. 
         [0025]    While the invention has been described with reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it is not limited thereto. Rather, this invention is limited only insofar as it is defined by the following set of patent claims and includes within its scope all equivalents thereof.