Cross Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Serial No. 63345324, filed on May 24, 2022, and of U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application, Serial No. 18201729, filed on May 24, 2023, the entire disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

Background

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to headwear. In particular, headwear articles configured to facilitate videography are described.

[0003] Videography is the process of capturing or steaming moving images on electronic media. Professionals, amateurs, enthusiasts, and everyday people find occasion to engage in videography.

[0004] For example, a professional videographer may have a career focused on recording videos for others. An amateur videographer may be hired occasionally to capture a video at a local event, such as school plays or sporting events. An enthusiast videographer may enjoy capturing artistic videos. An everyday person may value capturing videos of friends and family to memorialize special moments or occasions.

[0005] Videos can be captured with a variety of devices. Special purpose video cameras provide specialized capabilities. Smart phone and handheld devices are ubiquitous and include video capture capabilities as well.

[0006] Using video capture devices (hereinafter simply “cameras”) is not always convenient. Typically cameras must be held in one’s hand, which limits one’s ability to hold or manipulate other things. Conventionally, cameras must be aimed by looking through a viewfinder or at a display screen of the camera, which consumes a person’s focus and takes him or her out of a given moment.

[0007] Often cameras are stored somewhere, such as in a bag or in one’s pocket, and must be retrieved to be used. Sometimes events sought to be captured can pass quickly before one has time to retrieve a camera and begin capturing a video.

[0008] It would be desirable to have a solution that enabled convenient videography without requiring one to hold a camera. It would be further desirable to enable videography without requiring one to look through a viewfinder or at a display screen to aim the camera. Further videography benefits would derive from having a camera in a position to use quickly without having to retrieve the camera from a bag or pocket.

[0009] Thus, there exists a need for videography solutions that improve upon and advance the design of known videography approaches. Examples of new and useful videography headwear articles relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below. Summary

[0010] The present disclosure is directed to videography headwear articles including a hat and a mount. The mount is mounted to the hat and configured to secure a camera in a position adapted to capture images. In some examples, the videography article includes a user input device configured to selectively activate a camera secured to the mount to capture images. In some examples, the videography article includes a light mounted to the hat in a position to illuminate an area where a camera secured by the mount captures images.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a first example of a videography headwear article with the videography headwear article supporting a smartphone with an integrated video camera.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the videography headwear article shown in Fig. 1 with the smartphone removed.

[0013] Fig. 3 is a top view ofthe videography headwear article shown in Fig. 1 with the smartphone removed.

[0014] Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the videography headwear article shown in Fig. 1 depicting a threaded fastener compressing a bill of a hat.

[0015] Fig. 5 is a tilted side view of the videography headwear article shown in Fig. 1 with a body of the mount spaced above the brim of the hat and a threaded fastener spaced below the brim of the hat to depict a threaded recess defined in the body, a port extending through the brim, and a threaded fastener configured to extend through the port and into the threaded recess.

[0016] Fig. 6 is a view of a person wearing the videography headwear article depicting the person capturing a video of a subject in front of him while illuminating the subject with the light.

Detailed Description

[0017] The disclosed videography headwear articles will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.

[0018] Throughout the following detailed description, a variety of videography headwear article examples are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.

Definitions

[0019] The following definitions apply herein, unless otherwise indicated.

[0020] “Substantially” means to be more-or-less conforming to the particular dimension, range, shape, concept, or other aspect modified by the term, such that a feature or component need not conform exactly. For example, a “substantially cylindrical” object means that the object resembles a cylinder, but may have one or more deviations from a true cylinder.

[0021] “Comprising,” “including,” and “having” (and conjugations thereof) are used interchangeably to mean including but not necessarily limited to, and are open-ended terms not intended to exclude additional elements or method steps not expressly recited.

[0022] Terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used to distinguish or identify various members of a group, or the like, and are not intended to denote a serial, chronological, or numerical limitation.

[0023] “Coupled” means connected, either permanently or releasably, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components.

[0024] “Communicatively coupled” means that an electronic device exchanges information with another electronic device, either wirelessly or with a wire-based connector, whether directly or indirectly through a communication network.

[0025] “Controllably coupled” means that an electronic device controls operation of another electronic device.

Videography Headwear Articles

[0026] With reference to the figures, videography headwear articles will now be described. The videography headwear articles discussed herein function to support a camera in a hands-free position to capture videos.

[0027] The reader will appreciate from the figures and description below that the presently disclosed videography headwear article examples address many of the shortcomings of conventional videography approaches. For example, the novel videography headwear articles discussed herein enable one to engage in videography conveniently without having to hold a camera in his or her hands. Further, the novel videography headwear articles discussed in this document enable videography without requiring one to look through a viewfinder or at a display screen to aim the camera. Beneficially, the novel videography headwear articles disclosed herein supports a camera in a position to be used quickly without having to retrieve the camera from a bag or pocket. Contextual Details

[0028] Ancillary features relevant to the videography headwear articles described herein will first be described to provide context and to aid the discussion of the videography headwear articles.

Camera

[0029] The videography headwear disclosed herein are often used to support cameras in a handsfree manner for capturing videos. One example of a suitable camera, camera 101 is depicted in Fig. 1 . As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, camera 101 is incorporated into a smart phone.

[0030] However, the camera may be any currently known or later developed type of camera suitable for capturing images, including still images and a series of still images known as a video. The camera may be a standalone device or incorporated into another device, such as a smart phone or handheld media device.

[0031] The size and shape of the camera may be different than depicted in Figs. 1 and 6. A variety of camera shapes exist and the videography headwear articles may be configured to support different shaped cameras. The camera may be larger or smaller than camera 101 depicted in Figs. 1 and 6.

Videography Headwear Embodiment One

[0032] With reference to Figs. 1-6, a first example of a videography headwear article, videography headwear article 100, will now be described. As shown in Figs. 1-6, videography headwear article 100 includes a hat 102, a mount 103, a user interface device 106, and a light 107. In some examples, the videography headwear article does not include one or more features included in videography headwear article 100. In certain examples, the videography headwear article includes additional or alternative features.

[0033] As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, videography headwear article 100 supports camera 101 in a hands-free manner on a person’s head when videography headwear article 100 is worn by the user. The reader can see that videography headwear article 100 aims camera 101 directly in front of hat 102 (and, therefore, in front of a person wearing hat 102) without requiring a user to look through a viewfinder or at a screen of camera 101 . In the example shown in Fig. 6, videography headwear article 100 aims camera 101 to capture a video of a person standing in front of the person wearing videography headwear article 100.

Hat

[0034] As can be seen in Figs. 1-6, hat 102 includes a crown 104 and a brim 105. Crown 104 is complementarily configured with a user’s head and is supported on the user’s head. Brim 105 (also known as a bill or visor) extends from a front of crown 104. The reader can see in Figs. 1-6 that brim 105 includes a forward portion 108 extending forward of a person wearing the hat. With reference to Fig. 5, the reader can see that brim 105 defines a port 109 through which a threaded fastener 11 1 may pass. [0035] As shown in Figs. 1 -3, brim 105 couples to and supports mount 103 primarily on a top side of brim 105. However, as shown in Figs. 1 , 4, and 5, a portion of mount 103, threaded fastener 111 , is supported below brim 105. Mount 103 is mounted to forward portion 108 of brim 105.

[0036] As can be seen in Figs. 1-6, brim 105 supports mount 103 approximately in the center of brim 105; however, the mount may be supported in any suitable location of the brim. Brim 105 is sufficiently rigid to support mount 103 with and without camera 101 mounted to mount 103.

[0037] In the present example, mount 103 couples to brim 105 via a threaded fastener 111 extending through brim 105. However, the mount may couple to the brim by any currently known or later developed means. Suitable coupling means include mechanical fasteners, hook-and-loop fasteners, adhesives, sewing, material bonding techniques, such as welding, and magnetic coupling.

[0038] The reader can see in Figs. 1-6 that brim 105 also supports user interface device 106 and light 107. As shown in Figs. 1-6, user interface device 106 is secured underneath brim 105. As shown in Fig. 6, user interface device 106 is secured underneath brim 105 in a position conveniently reached by a person’s thumb when grasping brim 105. However, the user interface device may be supported in other positions on the brim, such as towards the center, on top of the brim, or to left, right, or front side of the brim. In some examples, the user interface device is mounted to the crown of the hat or to the mount.

[0039] As shown in Figs. 1-6, light 107 is secured on a front edge of brim 105. As shown in Fig. 6, the front edge position of light 107 enables it to illuminate an area where camera 101 secured by mount 103 captures videos. In the example shown in Fig. 6, light 107 illuminates a person standing in front of the user wearing videography headwear article 101 .

[0040] In the examples shown in Figs. 1-6, hat 102 is a baseball cap. However, the hat may be any currently known or later developed style of hat. In some examples, the hat is a baseball cap, a cowboy hat, a fedora, a mariner or sailor hat, a trilby, a military cap, a bowler or derby hat, a flat cap, a panama hat, an ascot, a boater, a bucket hat, a gambler, or a beret.

[0041] The size and shape of the hat may differ from hat 102 depicted in Figs. 1-6. In some examples, the hat is larger or smaller. In some examples, the bill is wider, narrower, longer, shorter, or a different shape.

[0042] The hat may be made of any suitable material. In some examples, the hat is made from fabric, leather, or natural fibers. In other examples, the hat is made from polymers. In some examples the hat defines a mesh layer for ventilation.

Mount

[0043] As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, mount 103 functions to support camera 101 . In particular, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, mount 103 is configured to support camera 101 such that camera 101 may record video and/or capture images of scenes in front of a person wearing videography headwear article 100. Of course, the mount could be selectively oriented to point the camera in different angles other than directly in front of the wearer. However, having mount 103 support camera 101 such that camera 101 captures video from directly in front of the wearer helps make it easier for the wearer to aim camera 101 to capture desired scenes.

[0044] In the example shown in Figs. 1-6, mount 103 is a smart phone mount that supports camera 101 from top, bottom, and back sides. The reader can see in Figs. 1-6 that mount 103 is C-shaped and complementarily configured with camera 101 incorporated within a smartphone (expressed another way, mount 103 is complementarily configured with a smartphone including a camera). However, the mount may be any currently known or later developed type of mount suitable for supporting a camera. The mount may be complementarily configured with a given camera, including different smartphone, handheld devices, and special purpose cameras. Some mount examples include gimbals, shock absorbers, or other motion attenuating features to improve the quality of video captured by the camera.

[0045] With reference to Fig. 5, the reader can see that mount 103 includes a body 110 and a threaded fastener 111. The components of mount 103 are discussed further in their corresponding sections below.

Body

[0046] Body 110 functions to support camera 101. As shown in Fig. 1 , body 110 defines a resilient clamp configured to compress camera 101 along top and bottom edges of camera 101 to secure camera 101 within mount 103. Resilient clamp in this context means that the clamp arms are not configured to move like clamp arms in a vice, but instead are resilient members that flex apart when subject to force and are biased to return to a standard spacing when not forced apart. As shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 6, body 110 is C-shaped and complementarily configured with camera 101 .

[0047] In the examples shown in Figs. 1-6, body 1 10 releasably supports camera 101 . Body 110 is configured to allow camera 101 to be selectively inserted into body 110 by pressing camera 101 between resilient clamp arms of body 110. Moreover, body 110 is configured to allow camera 101 to be selectively removed from body 110 by pulling camera 101 out from between resilient clamp arms of body 110.

[0048] The reader can see in Figs. 1 , 2, 5 and 6 that body 110 includes compressible layers 116 in positions that abut camera 101 mounted in mount 103. The compressible layer may be any currently known or later developed material suitable for padding and gripping a camera pressed against it.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 5, body 110 defines a threaded recess 112. Threaded recess 112 is complementarily configured with a threaded shaft 113 of threaded fastener 111. Threaded recess 1 12 and threaded shaft 113 are configured to threadingly couple.

[0050] In the present example, body 110 is formed from plastic. However, the body may be formed from any suitable material, including polymers, metal, wood, and composite materials. Threaded Fastener

[0051] Threaded fastener 111 cooperates with body 1 10 and port 109 to selectively secure mount 103 to brim 105. Threaded fastener 111 also enables mount 103 to selectively decouple from brim 105.

[0052] In the example shown in Figs. 1-6, threaded fastener 1 11 includes a threaded shaft 113 and a head 114. Threaded shaft 113 is complementarily configured with threaded recess 1 12. Threaded recess 112 and threaded shaft 113 are configured to threadingly couple.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 5, head 114 extends radially from threaded shaft 1 13 at an end of threaded shaft 113. In the example shown in Figs. 1-6, head 114 is radially largerthan threaded shaft 113 and port 109. Head 1 14 being radially largerthan port 109 serves to restrict threaded fastener 11 1 passing through port 109 when threaded shaft 113 extends through port 109 to threadingly couple with threaded recess 112.

[0054] Head 114 being radially larger than port 109 also serves to compress brim 105 between body 110 and head 114 when theaded shaft 113 extends through port 109 and threadingly couples with threaded recess 112. The reader can see in Figs. 1 and 5 that head 114 is disposed on a first side of brim 105 and body 1 10 is disposed on a second side of brim 105 opposite the first side. The reader will appreciate that threadingly coupling threaded shaft 113 deeper into the threaded recess 112 increases the compression of brim 105 between head 114 and body 110.

User Input Device

[0055] User input device 106 is complementarily configured with camera 101 secured by mount 103 and enables a user to selectively operate camera 101. In particular, in the example shown in Figs. 1- 6, user input device 106 is configured to selectively activate camera 101 to capture videos or images. In the case of capturing a video, user input device 106 is configured to selectively start camera 101 recording a video and to selectively stop camera 101 recording the video. In some examples, the user input device has additional or alternative functions.

[0056] As shown in Figs. 1-6, user input device 106 is a button. However, the user input device may be any currently known or later developed type of user input device, such as toggle switches, touchpads, sliders, and the like. The size and shape of the user input device may be varied as needed in other examples.

[0057] As depicted in Fig. 1 , user input device 106 is configured to wirelessly communicate with camera 101. In other examples, the user input device may be wired to the camera or the mount to facilitate data communication. In the present example, user interface device 106 wirelessly communicates with camera 101 via a Bluetooth™ data protocol, but any suitable data protocol may be used, such as WiFi™, ZigBee™, Z-Wave™, and other wireless data protocols. [0058] As shown in Figs. 1-6, user input device 106 is secured underneath brim 105. As shown in Fig. 6, user input device 106 is secured underneath brim 105 in a position conveniently reached by a person’s thumb when grasping brim 105. However, the user input device may be supported in other positions on the brim, such as towards the center, on top of the brim, or to left, right, or front side of the brim. In some examples, the user input device is mounted to the crown of the hat orto the mount.

Light

[0059] Light 107 function to illuminate an area or subject where camera 101 is aimed to capture videos or images. Additionally or alternatively, light 107 function to illuminate a region to assist a wearer of headwear article 100 navigate or see items in the dark. The light is optional and some videography headwear article examples do not include a light and/or utilize a light incorporated into the camera or smartphone mounted to the mount.

[0060] As shown in Figs. 1-6, light 107 is secured on a front edge of brim 105. As shown in Fig. 6, the front edge position of light 107 enables it to illuminate an area where camera 101 secured by mount 103 captures videos or images. In the example shown in Fig. 6, light 107 illuminates a person standing in front of the user wearing videography headwear article 101. In other examples, the light is secured to the hat in other positions than the front edge of the brim.

[0061] The light may be any currently known or later developed type of light. It may employ light emitting diodes or other types of illumination means, such as incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs, or fluorescent bulbs. In some examples, the user input device functions to activate the light in addition or alternatively to activating the camera.

Industrial Applicability

[0062] The videography headwear articles may be made by a variety of industrial processes, including by various mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic assembly techniques. Further, the inventions described herein may be used in industrial contexts, including filming job sites and surveying projects.

[0063] The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

[0064] Applicant^) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.