Abstract:
Head wear for providing partial concealment of the wearer while simultaneously allowing visibility therethrough, the apparatus comprising, a head-mountable portion and a visor portion, the visor portion comprising a generally crescent-shaped framing member defining a generally crescent-shaped opening, the opening being covered with a foraminous see-through mesh bound to the framing member with a cloth binding. The framing member is constructed of a semi-flexible and malleable material, preferably but not essentially a plastic which may be formed, stamped or cut into the desired shape. At least two embodiments of the invention are provided, namely a compression fitted visor and a baseball type cap. The apparatus is useful for hunters of foul as well as law enforcement personnel engaged in covert operations.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The subject invention relates generally to head wear and more particularly to head wear of the variety including a foraminous mesh visor to partially conceal the wearer&#39;s face from view while permitting the wearer to see therethrough (hereinafter “concealment headwear”). The subject invention has utility in hunting and law enforcement applications among others. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Heretofore, caps specially designed for hunters of foul have been provided to provide a degree of concealment from prey while permitting the wearer to see through the visor portion thereof. Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,720 issued in November 1992 and entitled, Hunter&#39;s Hat, teaches a cap with a see-through nylon mesh visor having a dull camouflage pattern that matches the rest of the hat to provide undetectable cover from above. By looking through the mesh front, a hunter is able to see the water fowl as it comes into view while the hunter&#39;s face is still being hidden by the camouflage design. 
         [0003]    The &#39;720 reference teaches at least two embodiments, one of which is a baseball cap variation having a visor comprised of a shaped section of nylon mesh which is sewed at its inner edge to a crown. To the outer edge of the nylon mesh, a wire rim is attached by rolling the mesh over the wire rim and securing the wire rim with the binding to the outer edge of the nylon mesh, the same lines of stitching securing the binding to the nylon mesh and fastening the wire rim. Such a design, however, suffers from a significant shortcoming. Namely, the wire rim secured about the outer perimeter of the visor fails to provide a sufficient support for the mesh panel. Accordingly, the wire rim proved unable to support the visor in the desired angular orientation relative to the wearer&#39;s forehead, often sagging over the wearer&#39;s face. Moreover, the wire rim of the &#39;720 apparatus too easily disfigured to maintain the desired shape of the visor. 
         [0004]    All patents, patent applications, provisional applications, and publications referred to or cited herein, or from which a claim for benefit of priority has been made, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety to the extent they are not inconsistent with the explicit teachings of this specification. 
         [0005]    In view of the shortcomings and limitations of the prior art there has existed a longstanding need for concealment headwear comprising a visor portion that substantially maintains its original shape as well as its angular orientation relative to the wearer&#39;s forehead. The subject apparatus fulfills these objectives and others as set forth in greater detail herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The subject invention more specifically relates to head wear for providing partial concealment of the wearer while simultaneously allowing visibility therethrough, the apparatus comprising, a head-mountable portion and a visor portion, the head-mountable portion having an arcuate leading edge, the visor portion extending from at least a portion of the leading edge and comprising a generally crescent-shaped framing member defining a generally crescent-shaped opening, the opening being covered with a foraminous see-through mesh bound to the framing member with a cloth binding. The framing member is constructed of a semi-flexible and malleable material, preferably but not essentially a plastic which may be formed, stamped or cut into the desired shape. The framing member may be may be constructed of a plurality of separate parts which are coupled together to define the crescent-shaped opening, or may be of unibody construction. At least two embodiments of the invention are provided, namely a compression fitted visor and a baseball type cap although it should be appreciated that other variations of head wear incorporating the novel visor portion are also contemplated. 
         [0007]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important components and features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0008]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0009]    It is, therefore, a primary object of the subject invention to provide improved head wear wherein the visor is adapted to provide concealment for the wearer and yet allows maximum visibility overhead without upward head movement. 
         [0010]    It is another primary object of the subject invention to provide improved head wear of the aforementioned type and comprising a head-mountable portion and a see-through visor portion, the latter being comprised of a framing member suitable for supporting the visor in a desired angular orientation relative to the head-mountable portion such that sagging is prevented. 
         [0011]    It is yet another object of the subject invention to provide improved head wear of the aforementioned type wherein the visor portion is malleable to form the shape desired by the wearer, yet having sufficient rigidity to substantially maintain its original shape and orientation relative to the head-mountable portion. 
         [0012]    It is also an object of the subject invention to provide improved head wear comprised of relatively few components to facilitate easy assembly and use as well as reduce the chances of mechanical failure. 
         [0013]    Another object of the subject invention is to provide improved head wear which is relatively simple in design and therefore capable of rapid construction at relatively low costs. 
         [0014]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the subject concealment headwear embodying the invention, 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the internal framing member of the subject apparatus. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is top plan view of a second embodiment of the subject headwear embodying the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawings figures, as such elements, portions or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal” and “vertical” simply refer to the orientation of an object relative to level ground, and the terms “left”, “right”, “top” and “bottom” “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation as appropriate. Moreover, in describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0022]    Reference is first made to  FIGS. 1 through 3  wherein top, bottom and side elevation views, respectively, of a first embodiment the subject concealment headwear are illustrated and identified generally by reference numeral  10 . Apparatus  10  is comprised of two primary portions, namely a head-mountable portion  12  and a visor portion  14 . Head-mountable portion  12  may come in a variety of forms and essentially serves as a head-mountable substrate to which visor portion may be anchored By way of example, in a first embodiment of the subject apparatus  10 , head-mountable portion  12  is comprised of a dome-shaped crown  16  formed of fabric panels  18  of any suitable rugged material. Thusly configured and combined with visor portion  14 , this first embodiment of concealment headwear  10  is in the style of a cap of the baseball type. The rear panels  20  may be cut out as at  22  to provide a notched lower portion therein, which notched portion may be bridged by a two-piece band  24 . Band  24  is comprised of a hole strap  26  and a projection strap  28  which when mated, provide an adjustment of length to provide an adjustable size to fit all head sizes. Alternatively, band  24  may be adapted with hook and loop strapping for adjustability in a manner well known in the art. 
         [0023]    When used by hunters for camouflage purposes, the crown and visor portion are preferably constructed of a suitable water repellent fabric material such as cotton duck or nylon colored in the dull camouflage pattern colors commonly used for hunting gear. Crown  16  includes an opening defined by edge  30  to receive the crown of the wearer&#39;s head. Edge  30  includes an arcuate leading edge portion  32  which extends around the front of crown  16  and comes into engagement with the wearer&#39;s forehead and temporal regions. A soft elastic banding  34  may be secured to edge  30  via stitching or other means such that it overlaps a portion of the bottom interior of crown  16  to provide additional comfort to the wearer in terms of padding and absorption of perspiration. 
         [0024]    Visor  14  is of the usual configuration with a convexly curved (Le., curving outward) forward edge  36  and a rear edge  38  of concave shape (hollowed or rounded inward) for engagement with and securement to leading edge portion  32  of crown  16  in a manner described in greater detail below. Referring now to  FIG. 4 , visor  14  is comprised of a generally D-shaped framing member  40  having open area  42  which is generally crescent shaped and covered with a foraminous see-through mesh material  44  (not shown in this Figure), preferably but not essentially of nylon. Framing member  40  is comprised of frontal C-shaped member  48  having a convexly curved exterior edge  50  and similarly shaped first interior edge  52  and terminating in ends  54 A,B. Mesh  46  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) overlaps the top of C-shaped member  48 , and is stitched thereto. An arcuate transverse bridge member  56  having a concavely shaped rear edge  58  and similarly shaped second interior edge  60  bridges ends  54 A,B of C-shaped member  48 , and is joined thereto at first and second junctures  62 A,B, respectively. Bridge member  56  and C-shaped member  48  form the aforesaid D-shape of framing member  40 . C-shaped member  48  and bridge member  56  are preferably of unibody construction (i.e., integrally connected), but may be separate components joined together. First interior edge  52  and second interior edge  60  together form opening  42 . Framing member  40  is preferably constructed of a planar sheet of semi-rigid (i.e., semi-flexible), semi-malleable thermoplastic material such as polyethylene which may be molded, stamped or cut into the above described shape and which may thereafter be formed into the visor shape desired by the individual wearer, some individuals preferring a more flat visor while others preferring a cupped shape. A first cloth binding strip  64  is folder over bridge member  56 , underneath mesh  46 , and secured to bridge member  56  via stitching  66 . A second cloth binding strip  68  is folded over C-shaped member  48  and juncture  62 A,B and secured via stitching  66 . Mesh  46  overhangs the top of bridge member  56  forming flange portion  70  and mesh  46  is secured to bridge member  56  via stitching  66 . An oval shaped insert  72  is also stitched to the apex of C-shaped member  48  underneath second binding strip  68  to provide a finger gripping area for donning headwear  10 . 
         [0025]    Visor  14  is secured to head-mountable portion  12  by bringing rear edge  58  of bridge member  56  into abutting relationship with leading edge portion  32  to form mounting juncture  74 , and securing that portion of flange portion  70  that is adjacent to rear edge  58  to leading edge portion  32 . Thusly attached, flange portion  70  of mesh  46  is situate between and optionally bound to at least one of the lower interior portion of crown  16  and banding  34 , and is concealed from view. Referring in particular to  FIG. 3 , typical of active sports headwear visor  14  is constructed so that it intersects at an angle with respect to head-mountable portion  12 . In other words, an angle is defined between visor  14  and the front profile of head-mountable portion  12  adjacent banding  34  so as to extend outwardly from leading edge  32  in a manner that does not interfere with a wearer&#39;s forward vision. Said angle measured externally of the upper surface of visor  14  typically ranges from substantially more than 90 degrees to substantially less than 180 degrees, as for example from around 110 to 140 degrees. 
         [0026]    In a second embodiment of the subject concealment headwear  10 , head-mountable portion  12  is comprised of elastic headband  76  sized and shaped to fit around at least the fore and side areas of the wearer&#39;s head. Headband  76  may, for instance, be generally C-shaped as shown in  FIG. 5 , or may be a complete ring (not shown) such that it engages the entire circumference of the wearer&#39;s head. Headband  76  may be constructed of any material having suitable elasticity such that it will resume its original shape after side elements  78 A,B are stretched further apart from one another to accommodate various head sizes. More specifically, as is well known in the crownless visor field, headbands  76  are typically fabricated or molded of a structure with material memory. This is so that they may be deformed to part slightly from an initial relaxed configuration to be placed on the wearer&#39;s head. On pressure release, side elements  78 A,B recover their original shape so as to press against the head in a known manner, thus snuggly mounting to a wearers head at a position generally above the wearers ears. Thermoplastics are an ideal material for this purpose due to its lightness and resiliency. 
         [0027]    As may now be appreciated, visor  14  may be pulled down low over the eyes to properly conceal any eye movement and yet afford maximum visibility above the wearer&#39;s head through the mesh covered opening  44 . In addition to finding utility in hunting as described in applicant&#39;s prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,720, the subject apparatus also provides advantages for law enforcement, investigators, tactical responders, secret service and the like who need to conceal their eyes from view while preserving their ability to observe people around them. Moreover, the novel construction of the subject apparatus with a framing member built into visor  14  provides structural integrity superior to the perimeter wire rim of the prior art, thereby overcoming the problems of unwanted sagging and bending of the visor. Of significant importance is transverse bridge member  56  which also resists unwanted twisting (torsion) of the visor thereby assuring that it maintains the desired shape. 
         [0028]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiments herein set forth, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoing specifications, but rather only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.