Light reflective headwear

Abstract

A light reflective headwear in the form of a baseball style cap is provided in which substantially all exterior surfaces of each of the several portions of the headwear are formed of light reflecting material such as retroreflective material which is colored so as to appear substantially the same as a non-light reflective headwear of corresponding color under normal light conditions. The headwear has a favorable and aesthetic appearance because it appears and feels substantially the same as conventional headwear during normal lighting conditions, but is also a very effective piece of safety wear-gear as it provides a high degree of visibility for persons wearing same under low lighting or dark conditions, reflecting light up to approximately 1000 meters from a source of light.

1 . A light reflective baseball style cap for providing a high level of visibility and safety for a wearer, comprising: 
 a crown adapted to engage the wearer's head, and including a plurality of soft fabric panels joined together along seams thereof;    a brim attached to a front portion of said crown; and    an adjustment mechanism disposed at a rear portion of said crown and permitting adjustment of a circumference of a lower portion of the crown;    wherein substantially all exterior surfaces of said crown, said brim, and said adjustment mechanism are formed of retroreflective material, such that the cap reflects light directed at the wearer from any direction.    
   
   
       2 . The light reflective headwear of  claim 1 , wherein said crown further includes a rivet joining upper portions of said panels and having a cover of said retroreflective material.  
   
   
       3 . The light reflective headwear of  claim 1 , wherein said retroreflective material comprises reflective microbeads and pigment adhered to a surface of a fabric substrate so as to substantially completely cover same, such that said cap appears the color of said pigment under normal light conditions and appears a brilliant white when reflecting light under low light conditions.  
   
   
       4 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 3 , wherein said pigment covers less than five percent of a total area of said surface of the fabric substrate.  
   
   
       5 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 3 , wherein said fabric substrate is colored the same as said pigment.  
   
   
       6 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 3 , wherein said fabric substrate is formed of a cotton based material.  
   
   
       7 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 1 , wherein said retroreflective material comprises reflective microbeads adhered to a surface of a fabric substrate so as to substantially completely cover same, such that said cap appears to have substantially a color of said fabric under high light conditions and appears a brilliant white when reflecting light under low light conditions.  
   
   
       8 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 7 , wherein said retroreflective material has a coefficient of retroreflectivity exceeding 500 candelas per lux per square meter.  
   
   
       9 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 1 , wherein said retroreflective material appears dark in color under normal light conditions and has a coefficient of retroreflectivity of approximately 175-250 candelas per lux per square meter.  
   
   
       10 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 1 , 
 wherein at least one of said soft fabric panels of said crown has a breathable mesh portion.    
   
   
       11 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said retro-reflective material has 100% light reflectivity, and is capable of reflecting a light back towards a source of the light up to a distance of 1000 meters.    
   
   
       12 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the retroreflective material is resistant to water and stains.  
   
   
       13 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 1 , wherein the cap appears a dark color under normal light conditions.  
   
   
       14 . A light reflective headwear for providing a high level of visibility and safety for a wearer, wherein substantially all exterior surfaces of the headwear are formed of light reflecting material so that the cap provides 360° of light reflectivity around a person wearing the cap, and wherein the light reflecting material is colored so as to appear substantially the same as a non-light reflective baseball style cap of corresponding color under normal light conditions, and to appears a brilliant white when reflecting light under low light conditions.  
   
   
       15 . A light reflective headwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the exterior surfaces of said headwear are formed of retroreflective material.  
   
   
       16 . The light reflective headwear of  claim 15 , wherein said retroreflective material comprises reflective microbeads and pigment adhered to a surface of a fabric substrate so as to substantially completely cover same, such that said cap appears the color of said pigment under normal light conditions and appears a brilliant white when reflecting light under low light conditions.  
   
   
       17 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 16 , wherein said pigment covers less than five percent of a total area of said surface of the fabric substrate.  
   
   
       18 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 16 , wherein said fabric substrate is colored the same as said pigment.  
   
   
       19 . A light reflective headwear of  claim 16 , wherein said fabric substrate is formed of a cotton based material.