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US-20260123703-A1 - BASEBALL CAP

US20260123703A1US 20260123703 A1US20260123703 A1US 20260123703A1US-20260123703-A1

Abstract

Baseball caps to be worn on a person's head are provided. According to one embodiment, a baseball cap includes a strap assembly configured to adjust a tightness of the dome on the wearer's head, the strap assembly including an outer strap attached to a first edge portion of the dome and an inner strap attached to a second edge portion of the dome. The inner strap is configured to be movable within the outer strap, and the first cable is configured to draw the inner strap closer to the first edge portion of the dome and the second cable is configured to draw the outer strap closer to the second edge portion of the dome.

Inventors

  • Trafton D. RODGERS

Assignees

  • Trafton D. RODGERS

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251105

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A cap comprising: a dome configured to be placed on a wearer's head and including one or more panels and one or more cooling channels; a hub positioned at a top of the dome, the hub comprising a central cavity and one or more conduit channels in gaseous communication with the one or more cooling channels of the dome; and a coolant output port in gaseous communication with the central cavity and being configured to supply a coolant gas to the one or more cooling channels of the dome via the central cavity of the hub.
  2. 2 . The cap of claim 1 , further comprising a proximity sensor positioned on a top inside surface of the dome and configured to detect when the dome is placed on the wearer's head, wherein the coolant output port is not activated when the proximity sensor detects that the dome has not been placed on the wearer's head.
  3. 3 . The cap of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor to determine a temperature within the dome when the cap is on the wearer's head.
  4. 4 . The cap of claim 3 , further comprising a power supply and a wireless transmission device configured to transmit temperature information related to a receiver for determining a heat level in the dome.
  5. 5 . The cap of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more cooling channels includes one or more bleeder holes directed toward an inside of the dome.
  6. 6 . The cap of claim 1 , wherein the dome includes six panels alternately positioned with respect to six cooling channels.
  7. 7 . The cap of claim 1 , further comprising a coolant container including a coolant reservoir configured to store the coolant gas, a valve, and the coolant output port.
  8. 8 . The cap of claim 7 , wherein the valve is configured to separate an interior space of the coolant reservoir from the coolant output port during a non-cooling state and configured to allow coolant to escape from the coolant reservoir through the coolant output port during a cooling state.
  9. 9 . The cap of claim 8 , wherein: the valve of the coolant container extends downward from a stem attached to an inside top surface of the coolant reservoir and covers the coolant output port during the non-cooling state, and when a force is applied to an outside of the coolant container, the stem is tilted with respect to the coolant output port causing the valve to release coolant from the coolant reservoir through the coolant output port.
  10. 10 . The cap of claim 9 , wherein the hub is configured to hold the coolant container such that the coolant output port of the coolant container is adjacent to the central cavity of the hub.
  11. 11 . The cap of claim 9 , wherein the hub comprises stand-offs formed on a bottom surface of the central cavity for creating channels between the coolant output port and the one or more conduits when the coolant container is positioned in the hub.
  12. 12 . The cap of claim 9 , wherein the hub comprises a reduced diameter portion configured to apply a compression force on exterior side walls of the coolant container to keep the coolant container in a fixed position with respect to the hub.
  13. 13 . The cap of claim 1 , further comprising an injection insert including an inflation valve and the coolant output port, wherein the coolant gas is supplied by an external source through a needle inserted in the inflation valve.
  14. 14 . A method of cooling a head of a wearer wearing cap, the method comprising: detecting when a dome of the cap is placed on the wearer's head, the dome being configured to be placed on the wearer's head and including one or more cooling channels, wherein a hub is positioned at a top of the dome and comprises a central cavity and one or more conduit channels in gaseous communication with the one or more cooling channels of the dome, supplying a coolant gas to the one or more cooling channels of the dome via the central cavity of the hub via a coolant output port in gaseous communication with the central cavity.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising a proximity sensor positioned on a top inside surface of the dome and configured to detect when the dome is placed on the wearer's head, wherein the coolant output port is not activated when the proximity sensor detects that the dome has not been placed on the wearer's head.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising a sensor to determine a temperature within the dome when the cap is on the wearer's head.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more cooling channels includes one or more bleeder holes directed toward an inside of the dome.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising storing the coolant gas, a valve, and the coolant output port using a coolant reservoir.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising separating, via the valve, an interior space of the coolant reservoir from the coolant output port during a non-cooling state and configured to allow coolant to escape from the coolant reservoir through the coolant output port during a cooling state.
  20. 20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein: the valve of the coolant container extends downward from a stem attached to an inside top surface of the coolant reservoir and covers the coolant output port during the non-cooling state, and when a force is applied to an outside of the coolant container, tiling the stem with respect to the coolant output port causing the valve to release coolant from the coolant reservoir through the coolant output port.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/620,328 filed Mar. 28, 2024, which in turn is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/047,541 filed Oct. 14, 2020, which is a National Stage Application of PCT/US 2019/029114 filed Apr. 25, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. 62/663,685, filed Apr. 27, 2018. The disclosure of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND Baseball caps are generally designed for providing protection to a wearer's head. Particularly, a top part of a baseball cap protects the top of the wearer's head from potentially harmful solar rays, while the brim of the cap is intended to protect the wearer's eyes and face from direct sunlight. In general, baseball caps have seen relatively few changes over the past several decades. Some accessories have been added to baseball caps, such as those that are intended to provide a cooling effect for the wearer. For example, one such accessory is a fan that is designed to direct airflow to the wearer's head. Another example is a water-cooling apparatus. However, these devices are marginal in their cooling effectiveness, especially in environments of high humidity. In some environments, a wearer may face the issue regarding the effectiveness of blocking the sun's rays from reaching the wearer's face or neck. Thus, the wearer may turn the cap backward (i.e., catcher's position) or turn the cap to the side to strategically position the brim of the cap to block the sun's rays from a certain direction. One problem with turning the cap in different directions on the top of the wearer's head is that the cap may not fit properly, especially when turned to the side. Also, plastic size-adjustment straps may be pressed against the forehead or side of the head in these alternate positions, causing discomfort for the wearer. In addition, when turned to the side or back, the logo may not be visible to others as it is no longer be oriented facing forward. Another issue with traditional baseball caps is that the wearer must manually adjust the size of the caps, which may take a bit of time and effort. Also, when the cap is snug and is then taken off of the head, the cap typically messes up the wearer's hair, leaving the wearer with “hat hair.” Therefore, since conventional baseball caps include a number of inherent issues that may be undesirable for many wearers, there is a need to provide improved baseball caps having features that overcome these undesirable issues. SUMMARY According to one embodiment, a baseball cap as describe in the present disclosure may include a dome configured to be placed on a wearer's head, wherein the dome comprises one or more panels and one or more cooling channels. The baseball cap may also include a hub positioned at a top of the dome. The hub comprises a central cavity and one or more conduits in gaseous communication with the one or more cooling channels of the dome. In addition, the baseball cap further includes a coolant output port in gaseous communication with the central cavity. The coolant output port is configured to supply a coolant gas to the one or more cooling channels of the dome via the central cavity of the hub. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a baseball cap comprises a dome configured to be placed on a wearer's head, the dome including one or more panels and a downward-extending fold. The baseball cap also comprises a brim including an upward-extending fold configured to interlock with the downward-extending fold of the dome. The position of the brim is adjustable with respect to the dome by sliding the upward-extending fold of the brim with respect to the downward-extending fold of the dome. According to yet another embodiment, a baseball cap includes a dome configured to be placed on a wearer's head and a strap assembly configured to adjust a tightness of the dome on the wearer's head. The strap assembly includes an outer strap attached to a first edge portion of the dome and an inner strap attached to a second edge portion of the dome. The inner strap is configured to be movable within the outer strap. The baseball cap further includes a motor attached to first and second cables. The first cable is configured to draw the inner strap closer to the first edge portion of the dome and the second cable is configured to draw the outer strap closer to the second edge portion of the dome. In yet another embodiment, a baseball cap comprises a dome and a plurality of brainwave sensors positioned on an inside surface of the dome such that the brainwave sensors are configured to contact a wearer's head when the baseball cap is placed on the wearer's head. The brainwave sensors are configured to be receptive to brainwave activity of the wearer. The baseball cap further comprises a control box in electrical communication with the plurality of brainwave sensors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF