US20080222777A1

US20080222777A1 - Solar fan hat with interchangeable ears

Info

Publication number: US20080222777A1
Application number: US11/716,498
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark Schneider
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-12
Filing date: 2007-03-12
Publication date: 2008-09-18

Abstract

Hat with interchangeable ears with a head covering cap, a brim, a solar cell, an electric motor, a motor holding member, a pair of conducting wires, a fan blade, a pair of ear receiving members and a pair of decorative ears. The brim is attached in a standard way to the cap. The brim includes a centrally located aperture. The motor holding member is attached to the top surface of the brim so that the fan blade attached to the motor shaft resides half way through the aperture. The sides of the cap include opposing apertures that allow the ear receiving members to protrude through the apertures. The ear receiving members are fixedly attached to the cap sides. The ears include apertures that allow the ears to removably snap onto the ear receiving members. The solar cell is fixedly attached to the top most portion of the cap.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of shade producing hats and more specifically to a hat with interchangeable ears.
Caps and hats of various types have been worn for thousands of years by people to help keeps their heads shaded from hot summer sun. More recently, Caps or hats that include fans powered by solar cells have increased the cooling capacity of the hat. The fans are either built into the hat or clip onto the hat.
Additionally, there have been decorative hats designed for specific purposes. One such hat includes a pair of mouse ears so that the wearer can resemble the popular cartoon character Mickey Mouse.
No one to date has combined the features of a hat with decorative ears along with a solar powered fan. Furthermore, no one to date has designed a hat that allows the user to remove and replace the ears for various purposes. For example, the user may be attending a baseball game and decide to plug on baseball shaped ears, or the user may be attending a NASCAR race and which to plug in flag shaped ears that have the NASCAR logo on them.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a hat that helps cool a person by the inclusion of a solar powered fan.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hat that provides a way to incorporate interchangeable ears.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed Hat with interchangeable ears comprising: a head covering cap, a brim, a solar cell, an electric motor, a motor holding member, a pair of conducting wires, a fan blade, a pair of ear receiving members, a pair of decorative ears, said brim attached in a standard way to said cap, said brim including a centrally located aperture, said motor holding member attached to the top surface of said brim so that said fan blade attached to said motor shaft resides half way through said brim aperture, the sides of said cap including opposing apertures that allow said ear receiving members to protrude through said apertures, said ear receiving members fixedly attached to said cap sides, said ears including apertures that allow said ears to removably snap onto said cap sides, said solar cell fixedly attached to the top most portion of said cap, and said conducting wires connecting said solar cell to said motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front section view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ear retaining portion of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention with baseball ears in place.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention with football ears in place.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the invention with NASCAR ears in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the invention 100. A hat is comprised of a cap portion 4 and a brim portion 2. A solar cell 20 is attached to the top of the cap 4 B by rivets 18, 22. a pair of insulated wire conductors 6 travels from solar cell 20 to a motor 24 located in motor housing 10. The motor housing 10 is held onto brim 2 by rivets 12. The motor turns a fan blade 14. The blade is situated so that it is half way through an aperture 8 in brim 2. In this way, the breeze created by the fan can reach the wearer's face. The cap 4 also includes a pair of stylized ears 16 22 that are commonly seen on a Mickey Mouse hat. Mickey Mouse is a popular Disney character. The ears are made of rigid molded plastic, either injection molded or vacuum formed. The cap and brim are made of standard materials found in standard baseball caps.
FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the invention 100. Ears 16, 22 are retained by ear retaining members 40, 42 and will be explained in further detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. A sewn channel 48 helps direct wire conductors 6 to the DC motor 24. Fan blade 14 can be seen protruding partly down below the lower surface of brim 2.
FIG. 3 is a front section view as defined by section line 50 shown in FIG. 2. The brim 2 and motor 24 are not shown for clarity purposes. This view shows ear retaining members 40, 42 held to cap portion 4 by rivets 62. The flexible tabs 44 on ear retaining members 40, 42 protrude through apertures 76 in a snap fit so that the barbs on tabs 44 engage the top edge of aperture 76 and hold the ear 22, 16 in place until and unless the user decides to remove the ears 22, 16 by squeezing in on the tabs 44 thereby dislodging the ears 22, 16 from the ear retaining members 40, 42. In this way, the user, or a manufacturer has the ability to place a variety of decorative ears on a cap as described above. The ear retaining member 42 also includes a U shaped wire guide 46 that helps keep wire conductors 6 in place as they travel to the motor 24.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an ear retaining member 42. Flexible tabs 44 can be clearly seen as can wire guide 46. Rivets 62 are placed through apertures 48 and also through cap 4 to hold ear retaining member 42 fixedly in place on cap 4.
Other standard means for removing and replacing interchanging ears 22, 16 can be utilized such as standard snap fasteners, hook and loop type fasteners, magnets or quarter turn twist type fasteners.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a version of the invention 200 with baseball type ears 202, 204 in place on cap 4.
FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a version of the invention 300 with a graphic display on the ears 302, 304 representing “Defense”, as used in Football games.
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a version of the invention 400 with flag type ears 402, 404 that may be appropriate for NASCAR fans.
Additional ear designs can be envisioned for other sporting events or theme parks. Because the ears are removable, they can be packed within the hat for compact shipping and storage.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Hat with interchangeable ears comprising:

a head covering cap;

a brim;

a solar cell;

an electric motor;

a motor holding member;

a pair of conducting wires;

a fan blade;

a pair of ear receiving members;

a pair of decorative ears;

said brim attached in a standard way to said cap;

said brim including a centrally located aperture;

said motor holding member attached to the top surface of said brim so that said fan blade attached to said motor resides half way through said aperture;

the sides of said cap including opposing apertures that allow said ear receiving members to protrude through said apertures;

said ear receiving members fixedly attached to said cap sides;

said ears including apertures that allow said ears to removably snap onto said cap sides;

said solar cell fixedly attached to the top most portion of said cap; and

said conducting wires connecting said solar cell to said motor.

2. Hat with interchangeable ears as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ears represent mouse ears.

3. Hat with interchangeable ears as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ears represent flags.