Hat accessory

Abstract

A hat accessory which may be used as a flight training aid for creating intentional vision restriction. The hat accessory is adapted to be readily attached to common baseball-style caps. The hat accessory includes a lower bill panel with an upper bill panel bonded to the lower bill panel along an arcuate bonding band. This configuration forms an envelope or pocket for receiving the cap bill. A pair of lateral wings can be provided which are bent in a downward direction to restrict peripheral vision. The hat accessory may be used for other applications including the display of commercial, political, or other messages.

1 . A hat accessory for attachment to a baseball-style cap with an extending bill comprising:
 a first bill panel forming a panel surface; and   a second bill panel affixed to the first bill panel along an arcuate attachment line forming a pocket for receiving the cap bill, one of the first or the second bill panel formed of a material being more flexible than that forming the other of the first or the second bill panel whereby the extending bill can be frictionally maintained in position within the pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The accessory according to  claim 1  wherein the first bill panel is formed of the material being more flexible than the second bill panel. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory according to  claim 2  wherein the first bill panel is positioned on an upper surface of the second bill panel. 
     
     
         4 . The accessory according to  claim 3  wherein the second bill panel is positioned on an upper surface of the first bill panel. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory according to  claim 1  wherein one of the first or second bill panels further comprises a pair of lateral wings which can extend downwardly about score lines to obscure vision of the wearer of the device. 
     
     
         6 . The accessory according to  claim 1  wherein one of the first or second bill panels further comprises a decorative extension. 
     
     
         7 . The accessory according to  claim 6  wherein one of the first or second bill panels further comprises the decorative extension forming a football styled helmet. 
     
     
         8 . The accessory according to  claim 1  wherein one of the first or second bill panels further comprises a wing affixed to an upper surface thereof which may be hinged between a vertical and a horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         9 . The accessory according to  claim 1  wherein one of the first or second bill panels further provides a visual indicia. 
     
     
         10 . The accessory according to  claim 1  wherein one of the first or second bill panels further comprises a surface having a flocking or textured material affixed thereto. 
     
     
         11 . The accessory according to  claim 1  wherein one of the first or second bill panels further comprises one or more downwardly projecting panels formed of a transparent or translucent material. 
     
     
         12 . The accessory according to  claim 1  wherein one of the first or second bill panels further comprises a pair of upwardly extending wings. 
     
     
         13 . The accessory according to  claim 1  wherein one of the first or second bill panels further comprises a pair of downwardly projecting wings. 
     
     
         14 . The accessory according to  claim 1  further comprising the accessory a providing a flight training device in which the first panel is formed of a more rigid material and features a pair of laterally downwardly extending wings for obscuring peripheral vision, and the second panel formed of the more flexible material and affixed to an upper surface of the first panel. 
     
     
         15 . The accessory according to  claim 14  further comprising the second panel formed of a neoprene material. 
     
     
         16 . The accessory according to  claim 14  further comprising the second panel formed of a neoprene material and forming an inner and outer arcuate edge, the first panel forming an arcuate cut out, the second panel affixed along the arcuate attachment line along the outer arcuate edge of the second panel. 
     
     
         17 . The accessory according to  claim 1  wherein the first and the second panels are affixed along the attachment line by adhesive bonding. 
     
     
         18 . The accessory according to  claim 1  wherein the first and the second panels are affixed along the attachment line by stitching. 
     
     
         19 . A flight training device for attachment to a baseball-style cap with an extending bill for obscuring the peripheral vision of a wearer comprising:
 a first bill panel forming of a relatively rigid material forming a pair of lateral projecting panels from lateral fold lines of the first bill panel, the first bill panel forming an arcuate cut out; and   a second bill panel forming an inner and outer arcuate edge and affixed to an upper surface of the first bill panel along an arcuate attachment line adjacent the outer arcuate edge forming a pocket for receiving the cap bill, the second bill panel formed of a material being more flexible than that forming the other of the first bill panel, wherein the flight training device assumes a flat planar configuration and may be used by attachment to the cap bill with the lateral projecting panels foldable to a downward position for obscuring the peripheral vision of the wearer.   
     
     
         20 . The accessory according to  claim 19  further comprising the second panel formed of a neoprene material. 
     
     
         21 . The accessory according to  claim 19  wherein the first and the second panels are affixed along the attachment line by adhesive bonding. 
     
     
         22 . The accessory according to  claim 19  wherein the first and the second panels are affixed along the attachment line by stitching.