# US 8,782,815 B2 · Wind-stabilized baseball cap

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,782,815 B2
- Document ID: US8782815B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/468,087
- Filed: 2012-05-10
- Published: 2013-09-19
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-05-23
- Applicants: Thomas H. Greene, Jr.
- Inventors: Thomas H. Greene, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8782815B2

## CPC

- A42B 1/0182: Peaks or visors
- A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00)

## Abstract

A baseball cap including features for stabilizing the cap in a moving stream of air. The cap includes a modified bill having a downforce generator configured to create a relatively stagnate recirculation zone between the downforce generator and the head covering. This recirculation zone tends to negate the lifting effect found in prior art bills. The invention preferably includes a vent through the bill. The vent is located behind the downforce generator, to connect the underside of the bill to the recirculation zone formed in the wake of the downforce generator. The vent is selectively closed by a flexible flap. The flap remains closed to prevent rain from passing through the vent. However, if pressure beneath the bill significantly exceeds pressure above the bill, the vent opens to equalize the pressure. This action prevents the creation of a net lifting force which might lift the cap off the wearer's head.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A baseball cap, comprising:
a. a head covering, including a forward region;
b. a bill extending outward from said forward region of said head covering, said bill having a leading edge distal to said head covering and a trailing edge proximal to said head covering;
c. a downforce generator, extending upward from said bill, wherein said downforce generator extends only part of the way from said leading edge of said bill to said forward region of said head covering and ending in a trailing portion, thereby creating a gap between said trailing portion of said downforce generator and said forward region of said head covering with said gap having a distance across said gap;
d. a vent, extending through said bill into said gap, with said vent having a forward portion and a rearward portion;
e. a flexible flap lying across said vent, with said flexible flap having a forward edge and a trailing edge;
f. said forward edge of said flexible flap being joined to said bill proximate said forward portion of said vent;
g. said flexible flap being bendable into an open configuration wherein said trailing edge of said flap is approximately parallel to said forward region of said head covering, thereby forming a throat between said flexible flap and said forward region of said head covering, said throat having a distance across said throat;
h. wherein said distance across said throat is between about ½ and ¼ said distance across said gap;
i. wherein said downforce generator has a middle portion, a first side extreme, and a second side extreme; and
j. wherein said downforce generator has a splitter located in said middle portion, with said splitter being configured to divide said air flow into a first portion directed toward said first side extreme and a second portion directed toward said second side extreme.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A baseball cap as recited in claim 1 wherein:
a. said downforce generator is a thin structure attached along said leading edge of said bill, thereby forming a cavity between said downforce generator and said bill: and
b. said downforce generator includes a drain passing through said downforce generator, thereby draining said cavity.