High-performance head wear

Abstract

Innovative hat bills can include a relatively stiff body member in combination with a pressure-distribution member. The pressure distribution member can be configured to reduce or eliminate concentrations of pressure applied to a wearer's head, improving comfort and fit compared to conventional head wear. In some embodiments, the pressure-distribution member comprises a viscoelastic material. Disclosed hat bills can include a member defining one or more apertures configured to promote airflow over a wearer's head. Such airflow can promote evaporation of perspiration, cooling a wearers head. Additionally or alternatively, such airflow can reduce a pressure gradient from one side (e.g., an underside) of the bill to another side (e.g., an upper side) of the bill, reducing a likelihood that the headwear will be blown off a wearer's head.

1 . An article of headwear comprising:
 a head engagement member configured to extend at least partially circumferentially around a wearer's head;   a body member configured to extend outwardly of the head engagement member relative to the wearer's head, wherein the head engagement member is further configured to retain the body member in the outwardly extending orientation relative to the wearer's head and to urge the body member toward the wearer's head and thereby apply a brim force to a portion of the wearer's head;   a compliant pressure-distribution member disposed in a proximal portion of the body member and applying the brim force to the portion of the wearer's head.   
     
     
         2 . An article of headwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the compliant pressure distribution member is configured to distribute the brim force generally uniformly over the portion of the wearer's head, and wherein the body member defines a recessed head-engagement region having a concave region and a convex region, and wherein the compliant pressure-distribution member is positioned within the recessed head-engagement region. 
     
     
         3 . An article of headwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure-distribution member comprises a material which exhibits viscoelastic properties in response to a compressive load. 
     
     
         4 . An article of headwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the head engagement member and the compliant pressure-distribution member define a substantially unitary construction, or the head engagement member and the body member define a substantially unitary construction. 
     
     
         5 . An article of headwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the compliant member further comprises a brim portion configured to extend generally outwardly relative to the wearer's head and a vertical portion extending generally transversely relative to the brim portion. 
     
     
         6 . An article of headwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the body member and the compliant member comprise respective shell portions, and wherein an outwardly extending portion of the compliant member matingly engages a corresponding recessed portion of the body member such that the compliant member and the body member together define a concave region generally corresponding to a contour of a wearer's head. 
     
     
         7 . An article of headwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the body member defines a recessed region having a secondary, outwardly extending recess, and wherein a portion of the compliant member is positioned in the secondary recess. 
     
     
         8 . An article of headwear according to  claim 6 , wherein a periphery of the body member defines a first concave portion corresponding to the recessed region of the body member, a second concave portion corresponding to the secondary recess and a convex portion positioned between the first concave portion and the second concave portion. 
     
     
         9 . An article of headwear according to  claim 7 , wherein the recessed region of the body member defines a periphery having a generally S-shaped contour corresponding to the secondary, outwardly extending recess. 
     
     
         10 . An article of headwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the compliant pressure-distribution member comprises a material having a relatively lower durometer than a durometer of material forming the body member. 
     
     
         11 . An article of headwear comprising:
 a crescent-shaped shell portion defining a convex outer periphery and a concave inner periphery, wherein the concave inner periphery defines a secondary recess having a corresponding recessed periphery;   a compliant member positioned within the secondary recess, wherein the compliant member defines a corresponding outer periphery and a corresponding inner periphery, wherein the outer periphery of the compliant member corresponds to the recessed periphery of the secondary recess and wherein the inner periphery of the compliant member has a contour corresponding to the concave inner periphery of the crescent-shaped shell portion.   
     
     
         12 . An article of headwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the compliant member is configured to exhibit a viscoelastic response to a compressive load. 
     
     
         13 . An article of headwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the compliant member at least partially defines a head-engagement region configured to urge against a wearer's head and to distribute a contact force between the wearer's head and the brim member more evenly than the contact force would be distributed absent the compliant member. 
     
     
         14 . An article of headwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the shell defines an aperture extending therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . An article of headwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the aperture comprises a louvered aperture configured to direct a flow of air toward a wearer's head. 
     
     
         16 . An article of headwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the shell defines a generally planar surface, a portion of a generally cylindrical surface, a portion of a generally hyperbolic surface, a portion of a generally parabolic surface, a saddle-shaped surface, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . An article of headwear according to  claim 16 , wherein an aperture extends through the shell in a generally transverse direction and is configured to direct a flow of air toward a wearer's head. 
     
     
         18 . An article of headwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the secondary recess of the shell portion defines a generally s-shaped contour. 
     
     
         19 . An article of headwear according to  claim 11 , further comprising a cover extending over at least a portion of the shell portion and a portion of the compliant member. 
     
     
         20 . A bill of an article of headwear, wherein the bill has a shell-configuration comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein, when the headwear is donned by a wearer, the distal portion is spaced apart from the wearer's head and the proximal portion is positioned between the wearer's head and the distal portion, wherein the hat bill has a non-homogeneous construction at least as between the proximal portion of the hat bill and the distal portion of the hat bill. 
     
     
         21 . A bill of an article of headwear according to  claim 20 , wherein the distal portion of the hat bill has a substantially higher durometer than a durometer of the proximal portion. 
     
     
         22 . A bill of an article of headwear according to  claim 21 , wherein the durometer of the proximal portion is between about 20 shore A and about 60 shore A. 
     
     
         22 . A bill of an article of headwear according to  claim 19 , wherein the proximal portion of the hat bill comprises a viscoelastic material.