Floatable headwear

Abstract

Floatable headwear comprises a head engaging portion adapted for placement on the head of a wearer and a bill having a proximal end attached to the head engaging portion. The bill comprises a rigid layer having a upper surface and a lower surface, an upper fabric layer covering the upper surface of the rigid layer, a lower fabric layer covering the lower surface of the rigid layer, and a neoprene layer between the rigid layer and the lower fabric layer configured to cause the headwear to float when in a body of water with the distal end of the bill extending above the surface of the body of water such that it is visible and graspable by a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Floatable headwear, comprising:
 a head engaging portion adapted for placement on a head of a user; and   a bill having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being attached to the head engaging portion, said bill having an original curved or straight shape, said bill comprising:
 a rigid plastic shape retainer board comprising High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) having a thickness of about 1.5 mm to 3 mm sufficient to resist bending or collapsing of the bill to maintain the original curved or straight shape of the bill in a singular fixed configuration, said rigid plastic shape retainer board having an upper surface and a lower surface; 
 an upper fabric layer covering the upper surface of the rigid plastic shape retainer board; 
 a lower fabric layer; and 
 a neoprene layer between the rigid plastic shape retainer board and the lower fabric layer and covering substantially all of the lower surface of the rigid plastic shape retainer board, said neoprene layer having a thickness of about 1 mm to 3 mm sufficient to provide buoyancy to the headwear such that the headwear floats when in a body of water with the distal end of the bill extending above the surface of the body of water and graspable by the user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The floatable headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid plastic shape retainer board, the neoprene layer, the upper fabric layer, and the lower fabric layer comprise separate individual components joined together by one or more lines of stitches. 
     
     
         3 . The floatable headwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure having a neoprene lining on the head engaging portion opposite the bill. 
     
     
         4 . The floatable headwear of  claim 3 , wherein the closure comprises a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The floatable headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the headwear comprises a baseball style cap. 
     
     
         6 . The floatable headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the headwear comprises a sun visor. 
     
     
         7 . The floatable headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the neoprene layer comprises polychloroprene. 
     
     
         8 . The floatable headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid plastic shape retainer board has a thickness of about 2.4 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The floatable headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the neoprene layer has a thickness of about 2 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A floatable hat or visor, comprising:
 a head engaging portion comprising a crown or a headband adapted to be worn on a user's head, said head engaging portion including a closure having a neoprene lining; and   a bill having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being attached to the head engaging portion, said bill having an original curved or straight shape, said bill comprising:
 a rigid plastic shape retainer board comprising High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) having a generally uniform thickness of about 1.5 mm to 3 mm sufficient to resist bending or collapsing of the bill to maintain the original curved or straight shape of the bill in a singular fixed configuration, said rigid plastic shape retainer board having an upper surface and a lower surface; 
 an upper fabric layer covering the upper surface of the rigid plastic shape retainer board; 
 a lower fabric layer; and 
 a neoprene layer between the rigid plastic shape retainer board and the lower fabric layer and covering substantially all of the lower surface of the rigid plastic shape retainer board, said neoprene layer having a thickness of about 1 mm to 3 mm sufficient to provide buoyancy to the headwear such that the headwear floats when in a body of water with the distal end of the bill extending above the surface of the body of water and graspable by the user. 
   
     
     
         11 . The floatable hat or visor of  claim 10 , wherein the rigid plastic shape retainer board, the neoprene layer, the upper fabric layer, and the lower fabric layer comprise separate individual components joined together by one or more lines of stitches. 
     
     
         12 . The floatable hat or visor of  claim 10 , wherein the closure comprises a hook-and-loop fastener or a snap fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The floatable hat or visor of  claim 10 , wherein the neoprene layer has a thickness of about 2 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The floatable hat or visor of  claim 10 , wherein the neoprene layer comprises polychloroprene. 
     
     
         15 . The floatable hat or visor of  claim 10 , wherein the rigid plastic shape retainer board has a thickness of about 2.4 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The floatable hat or visor of  claim 10 , wherein the bill is curved. 
     
     
         17 . The floatable hat or visor of  claim 10 , wherein the bill is straight. 
     
     
         18 . A floatable hat or visor, comprising:
 a head engaging portion comprising a crown or a headband adapted to be worn on a user's head, said head engaging portion including a closure having a hook-and-loop fastener and a neoprene lining; and   a bill having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being attached to the head engaging portion, said bill having an original curved or straight shape, said bill comprising:
 a rigid plastic shape retainer board comprising High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) having a generally uniform thickness of at least 1.5 mm sufficient to resist bending or collapsing of the bill to maintain the original curved or straight shape of the bill in a singular fixed configuration, said rigid plastic shape retainer board having an upper surface and a lower surface; 
 an upper fabric layer covering the upper surface of the rigid plastic shape retainer board; 
 a lower fabric layer; and 
 a neoprene layer between the rigid plastic shape retainer board and the lower fabric layer and covering substantially all of the lower surface of the rigid plastic shape retainer board, said neoprene layer having a thickness of at least 1 mm sufficient to provide buoyancy to the headwear such that the headwear floats when in a body of water with the distal end of the bill extending above the surface of the body of water and graspable by the user. 
   
     
     
         19 . The floatable hat or visor of  claim 18 , wherein the rigid plastic shape retainer board, the neoprene layer, the upper fabric layer, and the lower fabric layer comprise separate individual components joined together by one or more lines of stitches. 
     
     
         20 . The floatable hat or visor of  claim 18 , wherein the floatable hat or visor is a baseball-style cap and the bill is curved.