U.S. patent application number 11/153147 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-31 for protective helmet cap with improved ventilation.
Invention is credited to Palmer Rampell.
Application Number | 20060191061 11/153147 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46322117 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060191061 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rampell; Palmer |
August 31, 2006 |
Protective helmet cap with improved ventilation
Abstract
A protective helmet cap having improved ventilation and a method
of using the cap, wherein the cap includes a cap piece, a cap bill,
and a plurality of apertures designed to increase ventilation of
the wearer's head under the cap piece. The helmet cap offers impact
protection to the wearer's head while also being more comfortable
to wear due to the increased ventilation. The helmet cap may also
include structure that helps secure the helmet cap to the wearer's
head. The helmet cap may be constructed from a variety of different
materials, and may also include additional additives designed to
enhance selected characteristics of the helmet cap. The helmet cap
may be used in a wide variety of outdoor activities, such as water
sports and golf.
Inventors: |
Rampell; Palmer; (Palm
Beach, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AKERMAN SENTERFITT
P.O. BOX 3188
WEST PALM BEACH
FL
33402-3188
US
|
Family ID: |
46322117 |
Appl. No.: |
11/153147 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11067955 |
Feb 28, 2005 |
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11153147 |
Jun 15, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/410 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/08 20130101; A42B
1/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/410 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/06 20060101
A42B001/06 |
Claims
1. A method of preventing injuries while participating in an
outdoor activity comprising: wearing a protective helmet cap having
improved ventilation; wherein the protective helmet cap having
improved ventilation comprises: a cap piece, wherein said cap piece
covers a top portion of a wearer's head; and a bill connected to
the cap piece; wherein the cap piece includes a plurality of
apertures in the cap piece, wherein the apertures occupy at least
about 20% of a surface area of the cap piece and less than about
70% of the surface area of the cap piece, and wherein the cap piece
is constructed of a material capable of providing impact protection
to a wearer's head.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cap piece is comprised of a
high impact plastic selected from polypropelene, impact
polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic resin,
polycarbonate, nylon, or blends and combinations thereof.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cap piece is comprised of
polycarbonate.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cap piece is comprised of at
least one of carbon-fiber, graphite, and metal.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cap piece and bill are
comprised of the same material.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cap piece and bill are
comprised of a high impact plastic selected from polypropelene,
impact polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic
resin, polycarbonate, nylon, or blends and combinations
thereof.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the cap piece and bill are
comprised of polycarbonate.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the cap piece and bill are
comprised of at least one of carbon-fiber, graphite, and metal.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a chin strap.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a removable head band
attached to an inner surface of the cap piece.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the removable head band is
connected to the inner surface of the cap piece using a
hook-and-loop fastener.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising a removable head band
that is separate from the cap piece.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the bill includes a plurality of
apertures.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising an additive selected
from an ultraviolet stabilizer, an impact modifier polymer, an
antioxidant, a plasticizer, a lubricant, an emulsifier, a pigment,
a rheology additive, a catalyst, a flow-control agent, an optical
brightener, a flameproofing agent, an antistatic agent, a blowing
agent, or a combination thereof.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the additive comprises an
ultraviolet stabilizer, an impact modifier polymer, or a
combination thereof.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the outdoor activity is selected
from surfing, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, golf,
softball, river rafting, or baseball.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/067,955, which was filed Feb.
28, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention is directed generally to safety devices. In
particular, the present invention is directed to safety devices
that may be worn while watching and/or participating in outdoor
activities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is generally recognized that head injuries are some of
the most serious and potentially life threatening type of injuries
that may occur. These types of injuries may occur in a wide variety
of sports and activities. Increasing concern for safety has
resulted in the development of specialized helmets for various
activities, such as motorcycling, automobile competitions, and
bicycling. However, there are many other activities that may pose
some risk of head injury to participants wherein helmets have not
been universally accepted in those activities. Examples of such
include water sports, such as surfboarding, windsurfing, sailing,
canoeing, kayaking, river rafting, and the like, as well as other
outdoor activities wherein spectators and/or participants are at
risk from flying objects, such as golf, baseball and softball.
These are activities in which protective headgear could be used to
prevent or minimize injuries to a wearer's head. Surfboarding,
sailing and windsurfing are specific examples of water sports in
which a person may benefit from wearing appropriate protective
headgear.
[0004] In particular, sailing and other boating activities are
activities in which a safety helmet could prove to be especially
valuable. While sailing in particular, and boating in general, are
quite safe sports, there is nevertheless some chance that serious
head injury may occur. The boom of a typical sailing vessel sweeps
an arc relatively close to the deck, to provide as much sail area
and efficiency as possible. While all sailors are aware of the
boom, and the arc through which it travels when the boat comes
about, it can nevertheless catch a person off guard at times, and
may possibly result in serious injury. Even a blow that renders a
person unconscious, but does no other damage, can be fatal in
sailing if the person is knocked overboard, even with appropriate
flotation gear, as the person may not be able to keep their head
clear of the water. In addition to the mainsail boom of the typical
sailboat, there are a large number of lines and other rigging which
may occasionally come loose, and it can be difficult for even an
experienced sailor to remain clear of all such rigging in all
directions at all times. Kayakers, river rafters, and people
canoeing are all at risk from oars. Accordingly, protective
headgear can help prevent these types of injuries.
[0005] In addition, many outdoor activities are often done in
bright sunlight, especially in tropical climates. After an extended
period without a visor or other sun shield, a person's eyes may
become sore and suffer from a number of conditions such as
pteryguim. One solution has been to wear a standard cap having a
cap piece and bill. However, due to the temperatures on the water
or on land, especially in tropical climates, a standard cap may
become unbearable to wear due to the build-up of heat. In addition,
a standard cap offers little protection from swinging booms, golf
clubs or other equipment that may strike the wearer during
participation in the outdoor activity.
[0006] In other outdoor activities, spectators and/or participants
may be at risk at being struck in the head. For example, more and
more children and adults are starting to play and/or watch golf.
But as they do, they are at risk from errant balls, errant swings
and golf cart mishaps. In addition, spectators in the stands of
baseball games are at risk from flying bats and/or balls, while
many softball players, such as recreational players, do not wear
any safety equipment at all and are at risk from balls and
bats.
[0007] A wide variety of protective head gear comprising features
for protecting a user's head, eyes and ears is available, but it is
generally unsatisfactory for use in water sports and certain
outdoor activities. For example, a football helmet comprises a
hard, rigid shell with an interior padding and/or webbing for
absorbing blows to a wearer's head. The shell typically is
displaced from the wearer's forehead and thus provides a degree of
visor-like protection to the wearer's eyes from the effects of
sunlight.
[0008] While providing head, eye and ear protection, the football
helmet, even without its mask, is unsuitable for use in water
sports for a number of reasons. For example, a football helmet,
like similar types of headgear, is bulky and heavy. The shell does
not fit snugly about a wearer's head, but is retained on the
wearer's head by a chin strap. If worn by a surfer, the force of
water against the interior surface of the shell if the surfer fell
would act against the holding force of the chin strap could produce
considerable stress and strain on the wearer's neck. Moreover,
since such helmets generally are enclosed, there is insufficient
ventilation to relieve the build-up of heat under the helmet,
making the helmet uncomfortable to wear, especially in tropical
climates.
[0009] A majority of other types of head gear that provide, such
as, for example, helmets worn by motorcyclists, baseball players,
bicyclists, skateboarders, racquetball players and the like, all
suffer from one or more of the above-described disadvantages of a
football helmet if worn by a person engaged in certain outdoor
activities sports.
[0010] Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a protective
helmet cap having improved ventilation. It would also be beneficial
to provide a protective helmet cap that may be easily adjusted to
block wind and sun based upon the direction of the wind and sun
during participation in an outdoor activity. It would also be
beneficial to provide a protective helmet cap that is easy to put
on and/or take off.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention provides a protective helmet cap
having improved ventilation. The helmet cap includes a cap piece
worn over the wearer's head, a cap bill, and a plurality of
apertures designed to increase ventilation of the wearer's head
under the cap piece. The helmet cap offers impact protection to the
wearer's head while also being more comfortable to wear than prior
art helmets due to the increased ventilation. The helmet cap may
also include means for helping secure the helmet cap to the
wearer's head, such as a removable headband and/or a chin strap.
The helmet cap may be constructed from a variety of different
materials, including plastic materials and metals. When constructed
from a plastic material, the helmet caps may also include
additional additives designed to enhance selected characteristics
of the helmet cap.
[0012] In particular, in one aspect, the present invention provides
a method of preventing injuries while participating in an outdoor
activity by wearing a protective helmet cap having improved
ventilation, wherein the protective helmet cap having improved
ventilation includes a cap piece, wherein said cap piece covers a
top portion of a wearer's head and a bill connected to the cap
piece, wherein the cap piece includes a plurality of apertures in
the cap piece, wherein the apertures occupy at least about 20% of a
surface area of the cap piece and less than about 70% of the
surface area of the cap piece, and wherein the cap piece is
constructed of a material capable of providing impact protection to
a wearer's head.
[0013] In alternative embodiments, the cap piece may be constructed
from a high impact plastic selected from polypropelene, impact
polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic resin,
polycarbonate, nylon, or blends and combinations thereof. In one
beneficial embodiment, the cap piece may be constructed from
polycarbonate. In other alternative embodiments, the cap piece may
be constructed from at least one of carbon-fiber, graphite, and
metal.
[0014] In certain embodiments, the cap piece and bill may also be
constructed from the same material. In these embodiments, the cap
piece and bill may be constructed from a high impact plastic
selected from polypropelene, impact polystyrene,
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic resin, polycarbonate,
nylon, or blends and combinations thereof. In a beneficial
embodiment, the cap piece and bill may be constructed from
polycarbonate. In alternative embodiments, the cap piece and bill
may be constructed from at least one of carbon-fiber, graphite, and
metal.
[0015] In other embodiments, the helmet cap may include additional
structure, such as a chin strap or a removable head band separate
or attachable to an inner surface of the cap piece. In one
embodiment, the removable head band is connected to the inner
surface of the cap piece using a hook-and-loop fastener.
Alternatively, the bill may include a plurality of apertures.
[0016] In still other alternative embodiments, the helmet cap may
include an additive selected from an ultraviolet stabilizer, an
impact modifier polymer, an antioxidant, a plasticizer, a
lubricant, an emulsifier, a pigment, a rheology additive, a
catalyst, a flow-control agent, an optical brightener, a
flameproofing agent, an antistatic agent, a blowing agent, or a
combination thereof. In select embodiments, the helmet cap may
include an additive selected from an ultraviolet stabilizer, an
impact modifier polymer, or a combination thereof The helmet cap
may be used during an outdoor activity selected from surfing,
sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, golf, softball, river
rafting, or baseball.
[0017] These and other uses will become apparent upon review of the
detailed description below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the
presently disclosed invention and, together with the description,
disclose the principles of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view of a protective helmet cap with
improved ventilation according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front view of a protective helmet cap with
improved ventilation according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a top view of a protective helmet cap with
improved ventilation according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention is more particularly described in the
following description and examples that are intended to be
illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations
therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As used in
the specification and in the claims, the singular form "a," "an,"
and "the" may include plural referents unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the specification and in the
claims, the term "comprising" may include the embodiments
"consisting of" and "consisting essentially of".
[0023] The present invention provides a method of preventing
injuries while participating in an outdoor activity. The method
involves the use of a protective helmet cap having improved
ventilation. The helmet cap used in the present invention provides
improved ventilation while also providing impact protection to
individuals participating in various outdoor activities, such as
golf, softball, sailing, windsurfing, river rafting, baseball, and
the like, as well as while being a spectator at various outdoor
activities, such as golf and baseball. The helmet cap is relatively
easy to put on and take off. In addition, the helmet cap is easily
adjusted while being worn to adjust to changing weather conditions.
Due to the increased ventilation, the helmet cap is more
comfortable to wear than standard caps, thereby increasing the
likelihood that a wearer will want to wear the helmet cap.
[0024] The helmet cap may be made from any material that offers
impact protection to the head of the wearer. As used herein, the
term "impact protection" is meant to include any material that
would absorb 30% or more of the force of the object striking the
helmet cap. In an alternative embodiment, the material would absorb
50% or more of the force of the object striking the helmet cap. In
yet another alternative embodiment, the material would absorb 70%
or more of the force of the object striking the helmet cap.
[0025] Materials that offer impact protection and that may be used
in the present invention include, in one embodiment, high impact
plastics. High impact plastics include, but are not limited to,
polypropelene, impact polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
(ABS) thermoplastic resin, polycarbonate, nylon, or blends and
combinations thereof. In alternative embodiments, the helmet cap
may be constructed of carbon-fiber or graphite. In yet other
alternative embodiments, the helmet cap may be constructed from a
metal, such as stainless steel.
[0026] In one embodiment, the cap piece and the cap bill are
constructed from the same material. It is also contemplated in an
alternative embodiment that the cap piece may be constructed from
one material, with the cap bill being constructed from a different
material.
[0027] The helmet cap used in the present invention includes a
plurality of apertures in the helmet cap to increase ventilation,
thereby making the helmet cap more comfortable to wear and/or
increasing the likelihood that a user will wish to wear the cap for
protection purposes. The apertures may be located solely in the cap
piece, or may be located in both the cap piece and the bill of the
cap. Apertures in the cap piece offer ventilation and make the cap
more comfortable to wear. Apertures in the cap bill do not increase
ventilation, but decrease the degree of wind drag associated with
the cap bill, thereby decreasing the likelihood that wind will blow
the helmet cap off of the wearer's head. Alternatively, a solid cap
bill offers increased protection from the sun, although a cap bill
with apertures will still offer an increased degree of sun
protection for the wearer's eyes than prior art devices that do not
include a visor or cap bill.
[0028] The apertures, in one embodiment, cover at least about 20%
of the surface area of the cap piece to ensure proper ventilation.
Nevertheless, the apertures should not cover so much of the surface
area of the cap piece that the helmet cap fails to provide proper
impact protection. Accordingly, the apertures generally do not
cover more than about 70% of the surface area of the cap piece. The
shape of the apertures may be altered as beneficial. Factors that
may be used in determining the shape or shapes of the apertures
include, but are not limited to, the location of the aperture on
the helmet cap, the degree of ventilation selected, or a
combination thereof. The apertures may be in the shape of circles,
ovals, squares, rectangles, stars, or any other geometric or
decorative shape capable of permitting ventilation to occur in the
cap piece. In one embodiment, the apertures all have the same
shape. In alternative embodiments, the apertures have different
shapes.
[0029] As the helmet caps used in the present invention are likely
to be worn outdoors, may be constructed of a plastic material
and/or are designed to offer impact protection, the helmet caps
used in the present invention may include one or more additives
that are added to the helmet cap to increase selected attributes of
the helmet cap. For example, in one embodiment, the composition
used to construct the helmet cap may also include one or more
stabilizers to impart stability to the composition during mixing,
during mechanical processing and/or during the intended end use
application, which may include exposure to elevated temperatures or
exposure to sunlight or both. Examples of stabilizers that may be
used include, but are not limited to, antioxidants such as
tocopherols, hydroxylated thiodiphenyl ethers, hydroxybenzylated
malonates, aromatic hydroxybenzyl compounds, triazine compounds,
ascorbic acid or derivatives, aminic antioxidants, and the like;
ultraviolet light absorbers and light stabilizers such as
acrylates, nickel compounds, sterically hindered amines, oxamides,
and the like; plasticisers; lubricants; emulsifiers; pigments;
rheology additives; catalysts; flow-control agents; optical
brighteners; flameproofing agents; antistatic agents; blowing
agents; or a combination thereof
[0030] Also, since the helmet cap is used to help prevent injuries
by offering impact protection to the wearer, the impact strength of
the helmet cap, if it is constructed of a plastic material, may be
increased through the addition of an impact modifier polymer.
Examples of impact modifier polymers include, but are not limited
to, elastomeric materials such as ethylene/propylene rubber (EPIM)
or ethylene/propylene diene monomer terpolymer (EPDM). Other
examples of impact modifier polymers include, but are not limited
to, ethylene/.alpha.-olefin interpolymers; isoprene rubbers such as
polyisoprene (including natural rubber) and isobutylenelisoprene
rubber (butyl rubber); polychloroprene; butadiene rubbers such as
polybutadiene, styrenelbutadiene rubber, and
acrylonitrilelbutadiene rubber; and block copolymer rubbers such as
styrene/isoprenelstyrene triblock, styrene/butadienelstyrene
triblock, and hydrogenated styrenelbutadienelstyrene block, e.g.
styrene/ethylene/-butene/styrene block copolymer. The term
".alpha.-olefin" means a hydrocarbon molecule or a substituted
hydrocarbon molecule (i.e. a hydrocarbon molecule comprising one or
more atoms other than hydrogen and carbon, e.g. halogen, oxygen,
nitrogen, etc.), the hydrocarbon molecule including (i) only one
ethylenic unsaturation, this unsaturation located between the first
and second carbon atoms, and (ii) at least 3 carbon atoms,
preferably of 3 to 20 carbon atoms, in some cases beneficially of 4
to 10 carbon atoms, and in other cases beneficially of 4 to 8
carbon atoms. Examples of beneficial .alpha.-olefins from which the
elastomers used in this invention are prepared include, but are not
limited to, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene,
1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, and mixtures of two or
more of these monomers.
[0031] The helmet caps used in the present invention may be worn
alone. Nevertheless, in alternative embodiments, a removable head
band may also be worn in conjunction with the helmet cap for
increased comfort and/or increased utility of the helmet cap. In
one embodiment, a removable headband is a separate article on top
of which the helmet cap rests and such a separate article may be
easily cleaned, such as by using a washing machine. By using a
removable head band, the degree of friction associated with the
protective materials forming the helmet cap may be reduced. In
addition, the removable head band may be attachable to the inner
surface of the cap piece; depending on the type of attachment
mechanism, the helmet cap may be worn in different positions while
still being attached to the headband and, therefore, being attached
to the wearer's head. For example, if the sun were located on the
right side of the wearer's face, the helmet cap may be turned such
that the bill of the cap is blocking the sun from the wearer's
face. If the wearer then changes direction, the helmet cap may be
adjusted accordingly to continue to block the sun from the wearer's
eyes.
[0032] Accordingly, the removable headband, in beneficial
embodiments, is constructed from a material that remains on the
wearer's head as needed, while also being easily attached and
detached from an inner surface of the helmet cap. In one
embodiment, the removable headband includes one half of a
hook-and-loop fastener system, such as those made by Velcro.RTM.,
with the other half of the system located on the inner surface of
the helmet cap. The removable headband may also include an elastic
material such that the removable headband comfortably conforms to
the wearer's head. Accordingly, when the cap is removed and/or
adjusted, the removable headband stays in place on the wearer's
head, thereby making adjustment of the cap easier. This also helps
to ensure that when the helmet cap is reattached to the headband,
the helmet cap is more securely attached to the wearer's head than
simply placing the helmet cap on the wearer's head with no
headband.
[0033] In addition, to the removable headband, or in lieu of such,
the helmet caps used in the present invention may include an
additional securing device for securing the helmet cap to the
wearer. This may be especially beneficial for excessively windy
days when wind may catch the bill of the cap during use and blow
the helmet cap off of the wearer's head. The securing device may be
any securing device capable of securing the helmet cap to the
wearer's head when a removal force is applied to the cap. In one
embodiment, the securing device may include a chin strap. The chin
strap may, in one embodiment, include string. In an alternative
embodiment, the chin strap may include a strap composed of nylon or
other suitable material that may be secured using a buckle, clasp,
snap, or any other suitable fastener. In another embodiment, a thin
rope or string may be tied in a bow or knot to serve as the chin
strap.
[0034] The helmet caps may be formed using any known methods of
forming plastic, metal, or carbon-based articles. For example, if
the helmet cap is constructed using a plastic material, the helmet
cap may be formed using any known plastic article forming method,
including, but not limited to, injection-molding and blow-molding.
Other examples of methods of forming plastic articles may be used
in the present invention and are well known in the art. If the
helmet cap is constructed using a metal material, the helmet cap
may be formed using any known metal article forming method,
including, but not limited to, welding. Other examples of methods
of forming metal articles may be used in the present invention and
are well known in the art.
[0035] The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating,
explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention.
Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent
to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from
the scope or spirit of this invention.
[0036] FIGS. 1 to 3 provide various views of one embodiment of one
embodiment of a helmet cap that may be used in the methods of the
present invention. In this embodiment, the helmet cap 10 may be
seen to have a cap piece 12 and a bill 14. As may be seen from the
Figures, the cap piece 12 includes a plurality of apertures 16.
These apertures 16 cover an area greater than about 20% of the
surface area of the cap piece 12. An adjustment band 18 may be used
to adjust the size of the cap to fit different wearers.
Alternatively, the helmet cap may be a fitted cap that is formed in
different sizes. In these embodiments, it is contemplated that
there would be no opening in the back of the cap 10, other than any
apertures located in this region. A chin strap 20 may be used to
help secure the helmet cap to the wearer's head.
[0037] While a front portion 22 of the cap piece 12 is shown to
include apertures, in an alternative embodiment, the front portion
22 may be solid, such that this portion 22 may be printed with
logos or other insignia, such as team logos. In addition, the bill
14 is shown as being solid although, it is to be understood that,
in alternative embodiments, apertures may be located in the bill to
help reduce wind drag caused by the bill, thereby decreasing the
likelihood that a gust of wind would unintentionally remove the cap
from a wearer's head. Lastly, the apertures 16 are shown as being
rectangular in shape, although it is to be understood that, in
alternative embodiments, the apertures 16 may have a different
shape or a plurality of different shapes.
[0038] The methods of the present invention may be used to help
prevent injuries while participating and/or being a spectator at an
outdoor activity. This outdoor activity may be any activity in
which it would be beneficial to offer protection to a wearer's head
while participating and/or being a spectator in the outdoor
activity, while also being more comfortable to wear due to the
increased ventilation offered by the apertures. The outdoor
activity may include, but is not limited to, golf, surfing,
sailing, windsurfing, baseball, canoeing, kayaking, river rafting,
softball, and the like.
[0039] Although the illustrative embodiments of the present
disclosure have been described herein with reference to the
accompanying drawings and examples, it is to be understood that the
disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments, and various
other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one
skilled in the art without departing from the scope of spirit of
the disclosure. All such changes and modifications are intended to
be included within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *