Select to expand quote The SURF CAP with a chin strap ...ever guessed who invented it? I invented it circa. 2011 at Bondi Beach. I could not find anything like it on line and so I made my own from a cheap baseball cap and two pieces of old neoprene wetsuit material. The only thing that resembled it was the Rip Curl 'Dawn Patrol' but this was a balaclava with a very thin peak to guard against the sun. The motivation was to protect my wife's beatiful face and turned-up pixie nose from the sun, as she also surfs. Stacks of people approached me at Bondi asking where they could buy one ...but at the time I was working as a high-school teacher and didn't have the time to manufacture them. In 2017, we travelled to Hawaii and again, twice during 2018 where we wore our caps in the surf. Since then they have appeared globally everywhere! My guess is Chinese manufacturers ripped my idea off and it has spiralled out of control since then. My patent attorney informed me that I had 'buckleys chance' (even though I have date stamped evidence in the form of photos) of a law-suit since they were being manufactured everywhere by untold large companies. It still burns me up a little when I see some dude ...even though a novice wearing one on the beach or when I search them out online. But, you know ...I've retired to the Gold Coast, a veritable heaven of surf, sun and wallabies and other beautiful wildlife in my bushy back-yard and about 3 minutes from Currumbin Beach! I made enough bread from my other ideas that I never need to work again! (lucky me ...eh?). So guys, gals and kiddies ...the lesson is get your patents in real quick if you have a world shaking idea! [/b]
Yours Truly, Mike Tanner[/b]
