U.S. patent application number 10/760855 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-05 for anti-fogging hunter's camouflage veil.
Invention is credited to Lindaman, Glenn.
Application Number | 20040148683 10/760855 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32776261 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040148683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lindaman, Glenn |
August 5, 2004 |
Anti-fogging hunter's camouflage veil
Abstract
A hunter's camouflage veil extending from the bridge of the
wearer's nose to approximately the shoulders has a barrier panel
that confines exhalation to behind the barrier panel and is
configured to seal substantially with the wearer's face across the
bridge of the nose and under the wearer's eyes. The veil prevents
fogging of eyeglasses or goggles. The main panel of the veil can be
two ply, with an outer camouflage fabric and an inner barrier ply
of tightly woven fabric or plastic sheet. The seal is made using a
malleable metal strip to conform the top edge to the wearer's nose,
etc., and a compressible fleece pad to fill any remaining gaps. The
top strip can be held by an elastic band or other tie encircling
the head, and the veil drapes loosely over the wearer's face below
the eyes.
Inventors: |
Lindaman, Glenn; (Whitehall,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DUANE MORRIS, LLP
IP DEPARTMENT
ONE LIBERTY PLACE
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-7396
US
|
Family ID: |
32776261 |
Appl. No.: |
10/760855 |
Filed: |
January 20, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60444892 |
Feb 4, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/207 ;
2/900 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/0187 20210101;
A61F 9/045 20130101; A42B 5/00 20130101; A42B 1/0182 20210101; G02C
11/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/207 ;
002/900 |
International
Class: |
A42B 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An anti-fogging veil to be worn over the face of a human wearer,
comprising: a panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and lateral
edges, the panel being sized to encompass an area below the
wearer's eyes and to cover a nose and mouth of the wearer; wherein
the top edge is configured for attachment to the wearer below the
wearer's eyes and the panel drapes loosely downward from the top
edge; and, wherein the panel comprises at least one ply that
defines a barrier substantially confining air flow from exhalation
to an area behind the panel.
2. The anti-fogging veil of claim 1, wherein the panel has a
camouflage pattern on an outer side of the panel opposite from the
wearer.
3. The anti-fogging veil of claim 2, wherein the camouflage pattern
is provided on an outer ply that is substantially coextensive with
said ply that defines the barrier.
4. The anti-fogging veil of claim 1, further comprising an
attachment at the top edge of the panel for affixing the panel to
the wearer.
5. The anti-fogging veil of claim 4, wherein the attachment
comprises at least one of a band with affixable ends for tying
around the wearer's head, an elastic cinch band for encircling the
wearer's head, an adhesive element, and a component shaped for
engagement with one or more of the wearer's nose, ears and
eyewear.
6. The anti-fogging veil of claim 4, further comprising a
compressible pad associated with the attachment at the top edge,
for sealing along the top edge between the wearer and the ply that
defines the barrier.
7. The anti-fogging veil of claim 6, wherein the pad comprises a
fleece portion having a thickness, the fleece portion begin
disposed along the top edge between the wearer and the ply that
defines the barrier.
8. The anti-fogging veil of claim 4, wherein the attachment
comprises a malleable bar along the top edge of the panel, the
malleable bar being bendable for conforming to the wearer.
9. The anti-fogging veil of claim 8, wherein the malleable bar
extends over a central pert of the top edge and is bendable for
conforming with a bridge of the wearer's nose.
10. The anti-fogging veil of claim 8, wherein the malleable bar
comprises a strip of aluminum.
11. The anti-fogging veil of claim 4, wherein the attachment
comprises a hemmed tube along the top edge of the panel and the
hemmed tube is stitched together with at least one of a malleable
strip in the tube, a hanging band extending beyond the lateral
edges, and a compressible pad for sealing with the wearer.
12. The anti-fogging veil of claim 1, wherein the at least one ply
that defines the barrier substantially confining air flow from
exhalation comprises at least one of a substantially impermeable
plastic; a closely woven fabric; a non-woven fabric having closely
spaced fibers; and, a composite of fiber and a filler.
13. The anti-fogging veil of claim 1, wherein the at least one ply
that defines the barrier substantially confining air flow from
exhalation comprises a closely woven nylon fabric.
14. The anti-fogging veil of claim 1, wherein the at least one ply
that defines the barrier substantially confining air flow from
exhalation comprises a polymer sheet.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/444,892, filed Feb. 4, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to clothing items, particularly
camouflage coverings for hunting and other sporting events, and in
particular provides a covering extending over the nose and below
the eyes, such as a veil or mask, with aspects to minimize fogging
of the eyeglasses.
[0003] Facial coverings are known for various purposes including
warmth, protection of the wearer from pathogens, protection of
others from pathogens of the wearer, etc. Facial coverings such as
ski masks are disposed over the whole face, but for openings for
the eyes and perhaps also for the nose and/or mouth. Other sorts of
facial coverings extend below the eyes and over the nose and mouth,
such as a surgical mask. In the case of camouflage masks for
hunters, a loose veil can be worn to extend from a line below the
eyes, to below the chin. The objects in the case of a hunter's mask
include avoiding any obstruction of vision, and breaking up the
visual outline of the wearer.
[0004] An exemplary camouflage mask is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,065,833--Tiano, wherein a camouflage veil depends from the lower
edge of goggles that are disposed over the eyes. As discussed in
Tiano, there is a problem with the fact that a camouflage veil
tends to confine warm exhaled breath and contributes to fogging of
the goggles, namely condensation of warm breath on the cold surface
of the goggles. Tiano deals with this problem by providing openings
in the frame of the goggles to improve air circulation. Improved
air circulation can be expected to evaporate condensation and also
tend to maintain the goggles at a lower temperature than they might
be in the absence of circulation, and thus less subject to
condensation.
[0005] The extent to which a veil or mask confines warm exhaled
breath is partly a matter of the porosity of the material of the
mask. A more open material obviously is less prone to confine
breath and lead to condensation. This approach has some limits. A
camouflage mask needs to be sufficiently opaque to conceal the
wearer. Other sorts of facial coverings, such as surgical masks,
need to have a tight weave or small pore size, to confine pathogens
that may be carried on airborne particles or droplets. Such masks
are intended to pass the user's breath through the material.
Surgical masks also may seal to the user's face so as to eliminate
or reduce the size of unobstructed passages. Free routing of the
breath through the mask material reduces confinement of warm breath
and for that reason may prevent eyeglass fogging in some
situations. However in the case of outdoor use in cold weather,
condensation occurs in the material, which is cold. The mask can
become wet and uncomfortable or can stiffen from freezing or can
become rimed.
[0006] An improved mask or veil is desired, with a structure that
is particularly apt for use by hunters and sportsmen. The improved
mask is preferably provided with a suitable camouflage outer layer
and has a structure that is comfortable and minimizes or eliminates
eyeglass condensation by routing the breath as well as confining
warm breath in an area away from the eyeglasses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide an item of
apparel that functions as a mask or veil and is optimized for cold
weather use. The mask is particularly intended for a facial
camouflage covering for hunters, i.e., to break up the visual
outline of the hunter with a pattern that is not easily
distinguished from the background.
[0008] It is another object to provide such an item that is
comfortable to wear and use.
[0009] It is a further object to facilitate use of a camouflage
mask together with eyeglasses or goggles, and in particular to
divert exhalations of the wearer from the area of the wearer's
glasses or goggles and thus prevent fogging in cold weather.
[0010] These and other objects are met according to the invention,
wherein an outer layer of camouflage fabric is superimposed on an
inner layer of relatively closely woven fabric, forming a two ply
mask panel dimensioned to extend vertically from the bridge of the
wearer's nose to approximately the shoulders. This basic mask panel
is provided with an elastic band along a top edge, and flexibly
encloses the wearer's head below the eyes, extending around at
least the front and sides of the face. The elastic band can be
enclosed in a tubular hem along the edge of the two ply mask panel,
or can be sewn to the lateral edges so as to complete a
circumference with the mask panel for elastic placement over the
user's face. The remaining free edges of the mask panel can be
over-edge stitched against fraying and to provide a substantially
unitary panel having a relatively tight internal fabric structure
for blocking air currents and an appropriately printed or otherwise
depicted camouflage outer appearance.
[0011] According to an inventive aspect, the top edge of the two
ply mask is provided with additional structures intended to improve
the seal of the mask to the wearer's face, by use of a bendable
supporting strip incorporated in the fabric at the top edge, which
can be formed to complement the topography of the wearer's face.
The strip is formable to form closely over the bridge of the nose
and insofar as possible to eliminate gaps that would pass air
currents, most notable warm, moist exhalation of breath that could
fog the wearer's glasses or goggles.
[0012] According to another inventive aspect, the mask is further
effectively sealed against passage of exhalation at the top edge,
by attachment to the mask of a depending flap of compressible
fleece fabric. The compressible fleece effectively forms a packing
that plugs any remaining gaps between the upper edge of the mask
and the wearer's face. In cold weather, the fleece also tends
somewhat to condense and wick away moisture in the wearer's exhaled
breath.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A number of additional objects and aspects are apparent from
the appended description and the associated illustrations of
preferred embodiments, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation view of a hunter's
camouflage veil with protection from fogging of eyeglasses,
according to the invention, and shown worn by a person with
eyeglasses.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mask from the rear,
showing aspects of its construction.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the
respective parts of the mask and illustrating steps in construction
of the mask.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Camouflage facial coverings are used by hunters to break up
the visual outline of the human face using a covering having
light/dark and/or colored patterns that appear more prominently
than the outline of the facial covering. There are various
camouflage patterns including patterns of distinct blotch shapes
characteristic of military camouflage, and patterns of leaves and
tree trunks or branches simulating brush or woods, which are
increasingly popular with hunters. Camouflage fabrics are
available, for example, under the trademarks Mossy Oak (Haas
Outdoors, Inc., West Point, Miss.), Realtree (Jordan Outdoor
Enterprises, Ltd., Columbus, Ga.), and from other sources. FIG. 1
depicts a generally blotch shape sort of camouflage, but such other
and perhaps more realistic patterns are also advantageous.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the camouflage mask 22 of the invention
generally encloses around the front and sides of the face or head
of the wearer 30. An elastic strap 42, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is
provided to permit the mask 22 to be stretched to pass over the
head and pulled down to a position at which the top edge of the
mask extends over the bridge of the nose.
[0019] An elastic band 42 is preferred as the operative attachment
structure. However it is also possible to provide a similar
arrangement with other specific forms of attachment such as a clip
or button fastener, zipper, etc. It is also possible to integrally
form the edge of the mask fabric as an elastic, using gathers and
stretch thread at least for a limited length of the circumference.
In the preferred arrangement shown, however, an elastic band is
provided to bridge across the span between the ends 44 of the mask
fabric at the rear, the fabric being substantially a rectangular
hanging veil shape.
[0020] The elastic band 42 could simply be sewn at its ends to the
respective parts of the mask. However in the preferred arrangement,
the elastic band 42 extends for approximately 180 degrees of the
circumference between attachment points 46 at the lateral sides.
The ends of the elastic band 42 are sewn at laterally opposite
places on the mask and the elastic band extends loosely through a
tubular hem 52 that extends along the top edge of the mask 22 from
the attachment points 46 to the rear ends 44 of the mask panel. In
this way the mask panel fabric can be gathered or bunched freely
along the length of the elastic toward the rear of the elastic
attachment points, like a curtain on a curtain rod.
[0021] The mask panel is preferably at least two plies. In the
preferred arrangement, the outer layer or ply 62 comprises
camouflage material, namely a printed 100% cotton knit or weave
fabric that is substantially porous. Lightweight camouflage fabrics
such as the Mossy Oak or Realtree varieties, as mentioned above,
are preferred.
[0022] A second ply 64 is coextensive with the camouflage outerply.
This second or inner ply comprises a closely woven or knitted
material, or an impervious plastic sheet, so as to block currents
of air. The preferred inner ply comprises 100% nylon closely woven
fabric, such as "ripstop" nylon or another close weave of the type
used in windbreakers, parachute fabric and the like. The nylon
layer is provided as a barrier to air currents specifically in the
form of the user's breath, which if passed through the mask could
form a visible plume of condensation. As a result of the barrier,
the user's breath is generally confined to an area behind the
mask.
[0023] Confining the user's breath is advantageous for avoiding or
breaking up a visible vapor plume otherwise occurring due to
exhalation by the wearer, thus improving the effectiveness of the
camouflage. However confining the breath in that way presents a
problem in that warm, moist air rising from convection behind the
mask tends to fog the wearer's eyeglasses or goggles 72.
[0024] According to an inventive aspect, this problem is addressed
by certain improvements to the seal formed between the mask and the
wearer's face along the top edge 82 of the mask in the area of the
tubular hem 52. In particular, a formable malleable strip is
incorporated into the top edge of the mask construction. The strip
can be a formable plastic or resin or other material, and in the
preferred embodiment comprises a malleable aluminum strip about 1.0
by 10 by 0.1 cm. The strip is captured in the tubular hemmed
portion at the top edge of the mask, at the front and center part
of the mask panel corresponding to the point over the bridge of the
wearer's nose. Furthermore, the strip can specifically be captured
in the tubular hem 52 between the attachment points 46 at which the
elastic band 42 is affixed by stitching across the lumen of the
tubular hem and through the ends of the elastic band. Machine
stitching is advantageously used, across the tubular hem, for
capturing the aluminum strip as well as affixing the elastic
band.
[0025] The aluminum strip 84 is readily formed to shape the mask
panel so as to complement and to follow closely over the bridge of
the nose, holding the top edge 82 of the mask 22 back against the
wearer's cheeks on either side of the nose. This reduces any gap
that otherwise would be provided on the sides of the nose by the
elastic band pulling the edge of the mask panel taut between the
bridge of the nose and the cheeks. The aluminum strip is malleable
but resists deformation sufficiently that the pull from the elastic
does not straighten the aluminum strip.
[0026] According to another aspect, the mask 22 is further sealed
relative to the wearer's face by a relatively thick fleece strip 86
that forms a packing between the top edge of the mask panel and the
wearer's face. As shown in FIG. 2, a fleece strip extends between
the laterally spaced attachment points of the elastic strip and
depends loosely about 10 cm down from the top edge of the mask
panel. The fleece is sewn at the top edge 82 of the mask, but the
bottom edge of the fleece hangs freely.
[0027] The fleece can be a nonwoven cotton batt material, for
example about 3 mm in thickness, and readily compressible. Due to
its thickness, the fleece tends to plug any remaining gaps between
the wearer's skin and the edge of the mask at the top edge 82 and
up to where the relatively impermeable nylon material extends.
Insofar as any gap is formed between the mask and the cheeks and/or
nose, the fleece either occupies the gap or otherwise forms a
depending barrier through which the wearer's breath must pass to
exit the area encompassed by the mask.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates the respective parts laid out in order,
namely the two plies forming the mask panel, the outer ply 62 being
decorated with camouflage and the inner ply 64 being tightly woven
to form a partial air barrier. The short strip of fleece 86 is
disposed on the inside surface. The fleece (and also the other
layers of the two ply panel are folded over to form a tubular hem
in which the aluminum strip is encased. The ends of the enclosure
thereby formed are closed by attachment points for the ends of the
elastic band.
[0029] As thus embodied, the invention is an anti-fogging veil 22
to be worn over the face 30 of a human wearer, comprising a panel
62, 64 having a top edge 82, a bottom edge and lateral edges, the
panel being sized to encompass an area below the wearer's eyes and
to cover a nose and mouth of the wearer. The top edge 82 is
configured for attachment to the wearer below the wearer's eyes and
the panel drapes loosely downward from the top edge. The panel
comprises at least one ply 64 that defines a barrier substantially
confining air flow from exhalation to an area behind the panel.
[0030] The panel advantageously has a camouflage pattern, on an
outer side of the panel, opposite from the wearer. In the
embodiment described, the camouflage pattern is on an outer 62 ply
that is substantially coextensive with the ply 64 that defines the
barrier.
[0031] An attachment structure at the top edge 82 of the panel
affixes the panel to the wearer. The attachment can comprise one or
more of a band with affixable ends for tying around the wearer's
head, an elastic cinch band for encircling the wearer's head. An
adhesive element can affix the band. A component can be shaped for
engagement with one or more of the wearer's nose, ears and
eyewear.
[0032] According to another aspect, a compressible pad is
associated with the attachment at the top edge, for sealing along
the top edge between the wearer and the ply that defines the
barrier. In the exemplary embodiment, the compressible pad
comprises a fleece portion having a thickness, disposed along the
top edge between the wearer and the ply that defines the barrier.
Affixing the top edge 82 compresses the pad between the top edge of
the barrier ply and prevents exhaled air from rising behind the
mask to fog the wearer's glasses or goggles.
[0033] The attachment can comprise a malleable bar, for example of
a strip of aluminum, sewn into the top edge of the panel. The
malleable bar is bendable for conforming to the wearer,
particularly for conforming with a bridge of the wearer's nose.
[0034] The attachment at the top edge can involve a hemmed tube
stitched together with at least one of the malleable strip in the
tube, a hanging band extending beyond the lateral edges (which can
be elastic or inelastic and may bear temple bows and ear hooks or
the like), and a compressible pad for sealing with the wearer.
[0035] The ply that defines the barrier against exhalation vapor,
i.e., substantially confining air flow from exhalation, comprises a
substantially impermeable plastic, a closely woven fabric, a
non-woven fabric having closely spaced fibers, and/or a composite
of fiber and filler. In one embodiment, the barrier comprises a
closely woven nylon fabric. In another embodiment, the barrier
comprises a polymer sheet.
[0036] The invention having been disclosed in connection with the
foregoing preferred arrangements, variations will now be apparent,
and should be considered encompassed within the scope and spirit of
the invention.
* * * * *