FOLDABLE HAT

Abstract

The present invention provides a foldable hat constructed from a 2-D net shape comprising a central hub and a multiplicity of radiating spokes, each spoke of the 2-D net shape radiating from the central hub and comprising: a. a crown portion (3a) extending from the central hub; b. a brim portion (2a) extending from the crown portion; with at least one fold-line therebetween; and c. a top portion (4a) from which the crown portion extends, with at least one fold-line therebetween, the top portions of radiating spokes collectively forming the central hub; wherein adjacent spokes have interstices between their neighbouring crown and brim portions.

Claims

1. A foldable hat constructed from a 2-D net shape comprising a central hub and a multiplicity of radiating spokes, each spoke of the 2-D net shape radiating from the central hub and comprising: a. a crown portion extending from the central hub; b. a brim portion extending from the crown portion; with at least one fold-line therebetween; and c. a top portion from which the crown portion extends, with at least one fold-line therebetween, the top portions of radiating spokes collectively forming the central hub; wherein adjacent spokes have interstices between their neighbouring crown and brim portions.

2. The foldable hat of claim 1 wherein no interstices are formed between neighbouring top portions.

3. The foldable hat of claim 2 having at least one fold-line between neighbouring top portions.

4. The foldable hat of claim 1 wherein each spoke, including its top portion forming part of the central hub, radiates outwardly from the centre of the hub, forming a continuous unbroken flat surface.

5. The foldable hat of claim 1 wherein no interstices are formed between the central hub and each crown portion extending therefrom.

6. The foldable hat of claim 1 wherein the interstices formed between neighbouring crown portions have substantially the same geometrical shape as the top portion of each radiating spoke between which each interstice is situated.

7. The foldable hat of claim 1 wherein each crown portion has a proximal edge engaging with the central hub and a distal edge engaging with the brim portion.

8. The foldable hat of claim 7 wherein each crown portion proximal edge engages directly with the central hub along the entirety of its length.

9. The foldable hat of claim 1 wherein any radiating spoke portion is provided by a conjoined multiplicity of sub-portions.

10. The foldable hat of claim 9 wherein conjoined sub-portions have fold-lines therebetween, the fold-lines extending radially with the spoke.

11. The foldable hat of claim 1 wherein in its constructed 3-D hat form each radiating spoke is attached or secured to opposite neighbouring radiating spokes, wherein the hat is foldable along lines of attachment between neighbouring spokes into a substantially flat configuration without separation of any line of attachment.

12. The foldable hat of claim 11 wherein the constructed 3-D hat form is flattenable by means of folding, but not by means of unfolding.

13. The foldable hat of claim 11 wherein the foldable lines of attachment extend between the crown and brim portions of neighbouring radiating spokes.

14. The foldable hat of claim 13 wherein the foldable lines of attachment are configured to allow the hat to be folded along them, without the requirement of releasing any securing element.

15. The foldable hat according to claim 11 wherein the central hub becomes a top portion of the hat in its constructed form and is common to a plurality of the radiating spokes.

16. The foldable hat of claim 15 wherein the top portion is contiguous with multiple crown portions around substantially the whole of its perimeter or circumference.

17. The foldable hat according to claim 11, wherein the lines of attachment are configured to allow mountain and valley folds to be formed in the hat.

18. The foldable hat according to claim 17, wherein adjacent lines of attachment are configured to form alternating mountain and valley folds in the hat.

19. The foldable hat according to claim 18, wherein the respective orientation of neighbouring mountain/valley folds in the crown matches the respective orientation of corresponding neighbouring mountain/valley folds in the brim.

20. The foldable hat according to claim 19, wherein the respective orientation of neighbouring mountain/valley folds in the top portion is oppositely matched to the pattern of corresponding neighbouring mountain/valley folds in the crown and brim.

21. The foldable hat according to claim 11, having a crown comprising a plurality of crown facets (each formed from crown portions of radiating spokes) foldably connected to one another via the lines of attachment.

22. The foldable hat according to claim 21, wherein the crown facets have a quadrilateral shape, optionally substantially trapezoidal or substantially rectangular.

23. The foldable hat according to claim 21, having a brim comprising a plurality of brim facets (each formed from brim portions of radiating spokes) foldably connected to one another via the lines of attachment.

24. The foldable hat according to claim 23, wherein the brim facets have a substantially trapezoidal shape.

25. The foldable hat according to claim 21, having a top comprising a plurality of top facets (each formed from top portions of radiating spokes) foldably connected to one another.

26. The foldable hat according to claim 25, wherein the top facets have a substantially triangular shape.

27. The foldable hat according to claim 23, wherein the brim extends continuously around the entire periphery of the base of the crown.

28. The foldable hat of claim 25 wherein the top, the crown and the brim together form a continuous surface.

29. The foldable hat of claim 28 wherein the brim is within 45, optionally within 30, optionally within 25 of being parallel to the top.

30. The foldable hat of claim 27 wherein the crown within 45, optionally within 30, optionally within 25 of being perpendicular to the top and/or to the brim.

31. The foldable hat of claim 23 having an aspect ratio (the ratio between the width of the hat in its brim and the height of the hat in its crown) is at least about 1:1, optionally at least about 1.5:1, optionally at least about 2:1.

32. The foldable hat according to claim 21 which can alternate between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration.

33. The foldable hat according to claim 32, wherein the folded configuration has less than 50%, less than 20%, less than 10% or less than 5% of the surface area occupied by the hat in its unfolded configuration.

34. The foldable hat of claim 1 wherein the hat top comprises an aperture, or is omitted altogether in order to provide a visor-like foldable arrangement.

35. A foldable visor constructed from a 2-D net shape comprising a multiplicity of radiating spokes, each spoke of the 2-D net shape radiating outwardly and comprising: a. a crown portion extending from the virtual centre of the 2-D net shape; and b. a brim portion extending from the crown portion; with at least one fold-line therebetween; wherein adjacent spokes have interstices between their neighbouring crown and brim portions.

36. The foldable visor hat of claim 35 wherein in its constructed 3-D hat form each radiating spoke is attached or secured to opposite neighbouring radiating spokes, wherein the visor is foldable along lines of attachment between neighbouring spokes into a substantially flat configuration without separation of any line of attachment.

37. A method of folding the foldable hat of claim 33, or the visor according to claim 35 or claim 36, comprising the steps of: a. applying inward pressure from opposite sides of the crown effective to fold the hat radially inward in a single motion and form a plurality of folded sections; and b. arranging the folded sections to lie in substantially the same plane.

Description

[0102] The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the following figures, in which:

[0103] FIG. 1 illustrates the folding mechanism of a foldable hat in accordance with the present invention (left to rightimages A to E). The top row of images illustrates a top plan view of the foldable hat and the bottom row of images illustrates the corresponding side view of the foldable hat.

[0104] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the foldable hat in the folded configuration with the top section folded outwards (A) or inwards (B).

[0105] FIG. 3 illustrates the pattern of mountain and valley fold lines in a foldable hat in accordance with the present invention (left image) and how mountain and valley folds are formed upon folding (right image).

[0106] FIG. 4 illustrates the pattern of the 2-D form of the hat prior to construction, illustrating the spokes and the interstices between them.

[0107] FIG. 1 illustrates the folding mechanism of the foldable hat in accordance with the present invention, from the unfolded configuration (A) to the folded configuration (E).

[0108] Foldable hat (1) includes a brim (2), a crown (3) and a top section (4). Each of the brim, crown and top section comprises a plurality of facets foldably connected to one another via radially symmetric fold lines (5).

[0109] The brim (2) extends radially outwardly from the crown (3). In this embodiment, the brim has a circular shape. In other embodiments, the brim may have a radially asymmetric shape, for example oblong or oval.

[0110] Folding is initiated by applying inward pressure from opposite sides of the crown (3) as indicated by the arrows in image A. The application of inward pressure causes the hat to fold radially inward in a single motion as shown in images B to D. As can be seen in these images, adjacent fold lines form alternating mountain and valley folds in the brim and crown. The pattern of the mountain/valley folds in the crown matches the pattern of the mountain/valley folds in the brim. Conversely, the pattern of the mountain/valley folds formed in the top section (4) is opposite to the pattern of mountain/valley folds in the crown and brim meaning the top section folds inwards (not shown).

[0111] Radial inward folding of the hat (1) results in a plurality of folded sections as shown in image D. These folded sections can be arranged to lie in the same plane i.e., a flat arrangement, as shown in image E. In this embodiment, half of the folded sections are arranged on one side and half on the other side. Image E shows the foldable hat in its folded configuration. This configuration allows the hat to be easily transported and stored, for example in a small bag or pocket.

[0112] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the foldable hat in the folded configuration with the top section folded outwards (A) or inwards (B). The foldable hat comprises a plurality of sectors, wherein each sector comprises an aligned brim facet (2a, 2b), crown facet (3a, 3b) and top facet (4a, 4b). The sectors are foldably connected to one another via the radially symmetric fold lines (5a, 5b).

[0113] Radially adjacent fold lines are configured to form alternating mountain and valley folds. Along the sector, the mountain/valley fold pattern of the brim facets matches the mountain/valley fold pattern of the crown facets.

[0114] FIG. 2A shows a foldable hat where the mountain/valley fold pattern of the top facets matches the mountain/valley fold pattern of the brim/crown facets. This results in the top facets (4a) folding outwards in the folded configuration,

[0115] FIG. 2B shows a foldable hat where the mountain/valley fold pattern of the top facets is the opposite of the mountain/valley fold pattern of the brim/crown facets. This results in the top facets (4b) folding inwards and an even more compact configuration being achieved.

[0116] FIG. 3 illustrates the pattern of mountain and valley fold lines in a foldable hat in accordance with the present invention (left image) and how mountain and valley folds are formed upon folding (right image).

[0117] Foldable hat (1) includes a brim (2), a crown (3) and a top section (4). Each of the brim, crown and top section comprises a plurality of facets foldably connected to one another via radially symmetric fold lines.

[0118] The radially symmetric fold lines are configured to allow alternating mountain and valley folds to be formed in the brim (2), crown (3) and top section (4). The fold lines configured to form mountain folds are represented by solid lines (6a) and the fold lines configured to form valley folds are represented by dotted lines (6b). Mountain and valley folds are formed along fold lines 6a and 6b respectively when the hat is folded (right image).

[0119] The pattern of mountain/valley fold lines (6a, 6b) in the crown (3) matches the pattern of the mountain/valley fold lines in the brim (2). The pattern of mountain/valley fold lines in the top section (4) is the opposite of the mountain/valley fold line pattern in the brim/crown. This arrangement allows the top section of the hat to fold inwards and a very compact configuration to be achieved.

[0120] FIG. 4 illustrates the pattern of the 2-D form of the hat prior to construction, illustrating the spokes and the interstices between them. Each of the brim, crown and top section comprises a plurality of facets foldably connected to one another via radially symmetric fold lines.

[0121] FIG. 4A shows the individual facet shapes that may be joined together to form a spoke (8) of the 2-D form of the foldable hat. The facet shapes comprise, a pair of brim facets (2a), a pair of crown facets (3a) and a pair of top facets (4a), all of which are symmetrical. These individual facets may be joined together to form a spoke (8), by securing them along the symmetrical fold lines.

[0122] FIG. 4B shows a combined 2-D spoke (8) that comprises brim (2a), crown (3a) and top (4a) facets, linked by radially symmetric fold lines (5a).

[0123] FIG. 4C shows the pattern of the combined 2-D form of the hat prior to construction. The 2-D form comprises a plurality of spokes (8), each of which comprise a pair of brim (2a), crown (3a) and top (4a) facets foldably connected to one another via radially symmetric fold lines (5a). The 2D form may be a single continuous sheet, or each of the facets or spokes may be joined by a securing means. When the hat is constructed in to 3-D form, each of the spokes are joined together along securing lines (7a and 7b) via a securing means, which may be reversible or irreversible. The 3-D hat is then foldable into a compactable form, as illustrated in FIG. 1.