It is common for the organizers of endurance sports to provide aid stations along the route where participants may receive water to prevent dehydration. To reduce waste at these events, organizers encourage ‘cupless’ races that requiring participants to carry their own vessels. The present invention comprises a hat with a visor, such as a baseball style cap, with a collapsible drinking vessel integrated into the visor. During the course of the race, a runner may encounter a water stop and require a vessel to contain the liquid for immediate consumption. At such time the runner can simply remove their hat and configure the vessel to the open position to receive the liquid. Post-consumption the vessel is configured back to the closed position and becomes seamlessly integrated into the visor with no negative effects upon the runner.

It is common for the organizers of endurance sports to provide aid stations along the route where participants may receive water to prevent dehydration. To reduce waste at these events, organizers encourage ‘cupless’ races that requiring participants to carry their own vessels. The present invention comprises a hat with a visor, such as a baseball style cap, with a collapsible drinking vessel integrated into the visor. During the course of the race, a runner may encounter a water stop and require a vessel to contain the liquid for immediate consumption. At such time the runner can simply remove their hat and configure the vessel to the open position to receive the liquid. Post-consumption the vessel is configured back to the closed position and becomes seamlessly integrated into the visor with no negative effects upon the runner.

A backpack including a body and at least one shoulder strap. A haul handle to be grasped and including a hollow interior and a closure so as form a selectively openable rain cover storage compartment. A rain cover configured and sized to cover at least the backpack body, the rain cover having at least a deployed condition in which the rain cover extends from the top portion downwardly to cover over the entire backpack body to protect the backpack body and the articles contained within the backpack body from precipitation while the backpack is worn by the user during precipitation, and the rain cover having at least a stowed condition within the rain cover storage compartment of the haul handle to provide padding to the haul handle when the hand of the user grasps the haul handle to pick-up the backpack.

A backpack including a body and at least one shoulder strap. A haul handle to be grasped and including a hollow interior and a closure so as form a selectively openable rain cover storage compartment. A rain cover configured and sized to cover at least the backpack body, the rain cover having at least a deployed condition in which the rain cover extends from the top portion downwardly to cover over the entire backpack body to protect the backpack body and the articles contained within the backpack body from precipitation while the backpack is worn by the user during precipitation, and the rain cover having at least a stowed condition within the rain cover storage compartment of the haul handle to provide padding to the haul handle when the hand of the user grasps the haul handle to pick-up the backpack.

A directional lock or a headgear or interface assembly comprising one or more directional locks that include a catch arrangement for initiating or assisting in movement of a lock member of the direction lock. In some configurations, the catch arrangement assists movement of the lock member in only a portion of a range of travel of the lock member. In some configurations, the directional lock comprises a housing and a sleeve and the catch arrangement comprises a catch arm carried by the sleeve. The catch arm includes a catch end that contacts the lock member, which can be a lock washer in some configurations.

A directional lock or a headgear or interface assembly comprising one or more directional locks that include a catch arrangement for initiating or assisting in movement of a lock member of the direction lock. In some configurations, the catch arrangement assists movement of the lock member in only a portion of a range of travel of the lock member. In some configurations, the directional lock comprises a housing and a sleeve and the catch arrangement comprises a catch arm carried by the sleeve. The catch arm includes a catch end that contacts the lock member, which can be a lock washer in some configurations.

Embodiments of particle protection headwear apparatuses and use thereof are detailed herein. In general, embodiments of the present invention include a shield and a shroud which couple to, or are partially or wholly integral with, a hat. The shield extends downwardly from the hat and is typically embodied as part of the hat. Further, the shield is designed for a user to be able to look through it. The shroud is coupled to and extends downwardly from the shield and the hat. The shroud extends entirely around a perimeter of the hat to form a breathable barrier between particles and the user's head. The shroud may be removeable from the shield and washable.

Embodiments of particle protection headwear apparatuses and use thereof are detailed herein. In general, embodiments of the present invention include a shield and a shroud which couple to, or are partially or wholly integral with, a hat. The shield extends downwardly from the hat and is typically embodied as part of the hat. Further, the shield is designed for a user to be able to look through it. The shroud is coupled to and extends downwardly from the shield and the hat. The shroud extends entirely around a perimeter of the hat to form a breathable barrier between particles and the user's head. The shroud may be removeable from the shield and washable.

It is common for the organizers of endurance sports to provide aid stations along the route where participants may receive water to prevent dehydration. To reduce waste at these events, organizers encourage ‘cupless’ races that requiring participants to carry their own vessels. The present invention comprises a hat with a visor, such as a baseball style cap, with a collapsible drinking vessel integrated into the visor. During the course of the race, a runner may encounter a water stop and require a vessel to contain the liquid for immediate consumption. At such time the runner can simply remove their hat and configure the vessel to the open position to receive the liquid. Post-consumption the vessel is configured back to the closed position and becomes seamlessly integrated into the visor with no negative effects upon the runner.

It is common for the organizers of endurance sports to provide aid stations along the route where participants may receive water to prevent dehydration. To reduce waste at these events, organizers encourage ‘cupless’ races that requiring participants to carry their own vessels. The present invention comprises a hat with a visor, such as a baseball style cap, with a collapsible drinking vessel integrated into the visor. During the course of the race, a runner may encounter a water stop and require a vessel to contain the liquid for immediate consumption. At such time the runner can simply remove their hat and configure the vessel to the open position to receive the liquid. Post-consumption the vessel is configured back to the closed position and becomes seamlessly integrated into the visor with no negative effects upon the runner.