U.S. patent application number 12/366478 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-06 for hunters hat with mask.
Invention is credited to Warren D. Nichols, Douglas H. Niedrich.
Application Number | 20090193564 12/366478 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40930190 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090193564 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Niedrich; Douglas H. ; et
al. |
August 6, 2009 |
Hunters Hat with Mask
Abstract
A hat with a built-in flexible facemask mounted on the bottom
front edge of the hat. By raising the hat above the user's head,
the mask falls out of the interior of the hat into a deployed
position in front of the user's face.
Inventors: |
Niedrich; Douglas H.;
(Hailey, ID) ; Nichols; Warren D.; (Bellevue,
ID) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKAS, SHAVER & NIPPER, LLP
P.O. BOX 877
BOISE
ID
83701-0877
US
|
Family ID: |
40930190 |
Appl. No.: |
12/366478 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11626761 |
Jan 24, 2007 |
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12366478 |
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61026382 |
Feb 5, 2008 |
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60766520 |
Jan 24, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/173 ; 2/195.1;
2/206; 2/250 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/004 20130101;
A41D 13/1184 20130101; A41D 2600/108 20130101; A42B 1/0184
20210101; A42B 1/24 20130101; A42B 1/0187 20210101; A42B 1/06
20130101; A42B 1/0188 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/173 ; 2/206;
2/195.1; 2/250 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/18 20060101
A42B001/18; A42B 1/00 20060101 A42B001/00; A41D 27/20 20060101
A41D027/20 |
Claims
1. A clothing device for use by outdoors users, comprising: a hat
body with a bill and a bottom edge, a windowless flexible facemask
configured to allow said user to view through said flexible
facemask, attached to said bottom edge, and configured to hang
freely from said front bottom edge of said hat body, and to be
foldable into said hat body to be worn in a storage configuration,
with said face mask dimensioned to cover the user's entire face and
neck, with said mask configured to fall freely from an interior of
said hat when said hat is lifted into the air from a users
head.
2. The clothing device of claim 1, in which said flexible facemask
further comprises a pair of eyeholes positioned for a user to see
through.
3. The clothing device of claim 1, in which said flexible facemask
further comprises a moldable material adjacent to the bottom edge
of the hat, for forming portions of said facemask into ear scoops
adjacent the user's ears, for aiding the user in hearing.
4. The clothing device of claim 1, in which said flexible facemask
is removable, and may be attached or removed from said hat body by
the user.
5. The clothing device of claim 1, in which said flexible face mask
further includes pockets to hold a microphone and earpieces
positioned within said flexible face mask, said pockets--configured
to be adjacent to the user's ears and mouth when worn.
6. The clothing device of claim 2, which further includes eye flaps
for covering said eyeholes.
7. The clothing device of claim 1 in which said flexible face mask
further includes a mask border made of heavier material than said
face mask, in order to increase the mask's resistance to movement
in the wind.
8. The clothing device of claim 1, which further includes ear
panels to minimize interference with the user's hearing.
9. A clothing device for use by outdoors users, comprising: a hat
body with a bill and a front bottom edge, a windowless flexible
facemask configured to allow said user to view through said
flexible facemask, attached to said front bottom edge, and
configured to hang freely from said front bottom edge of said hat
body, and to be foldable into said hat body to be worn in a storage
configuration, with said facemask dimensioned to cover the user's
entire face and neck, with said mask configured to fall freely from
an interior of said hat when said hat is lifted into the air from a
users head, said windowless flexible facemask further comprises a
pair of eyeholes positioned for a user to see through.
10. The clothing device of claim 8, in which said flexible face
mask further includes pockets to hold a microphone and earpieces
positioned within said flexible face mask, said pockets--configured
to be adjacent to the user's ears and mouth when worn.
11. The clothing device of claim 1, in which said flexible face
mask further comprises a moldable material adjacent to the bottom
edge of the hat, for forming portions of said face mask into ear
scoops adjacent the user's ears, for aiding the user in
hearing.
12. The clothing device of claim 8, which further includes eye
flaps for covering said eyeholes.
13. The clothing device of claim 8, which further includes ear
panels to minimize interference with the user's hearing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority date of provisional
application Ser. No. 61/026,382, filed Feb. 5, 2008. This
application is a continuation-in-part application of application
Ser. No. 11/626,761, filed Jan. 24, 2007, which is pending, and
incorporated herein by this reference, and which claims priority of
provisional application Ser. No. 60/466,520, filed Jan. 24,
2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for
hunting, and more particularly to a hat with an attached face
mask.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Camouflage is an important tool of a hunter. Camouflage
serves to break up the outline of the hunter, and makes it harder
for an animal to see the hunter. One situation in which camouflage
is especially useful is when trying to cover a hunter's face. Not
only are animals able to spot two eyes more readily than other
features in the environment, but a hunter's light colored face can
appear quite contrasting to the surrounding green and brown tones
in the environment. What hunters sometimes do to prevent their
light face from being easily visible to animals, is to put
coloration on their skin in the form of black, green and brown,
camouflage paint. One disadvantage with using camouflage paint is
that it can be uncomfortable on the skin, and it tends to make a
mess out of the hunter's hands and clothes.
[0004] An alternative to camouflage paint on a hunter's face is the
use of a facemask. The facemask has the disadvantage that it can
obscure the hunter's vision when he is traveling and make it hard
to see things at a distance. It also restricts the hunter's
peripheral vision.
[0005] In a typical hunting situation, disguising the face is only
needed when an animal is at close range to the hunter. One
situation is when a hunter is in a hidden position, and an animal
either wanders close to him, or is called close by the hunter
through the use of a call. When the animal comes close to the
hunter, the hunter would need to put on a facemask in order to
disguise the bright appearance of his face. That moment is exactly
the time that a hunter needs to put on a facemask, but it is also
the worst time to put on a facemask because he likely has to put
his weapon down, use both hands to put on the facemask, possibly
take a hat off, then put it back on once the facemask is adjusted,
pick up his weapon, look around and try to find the animal again,
and by that time the animal most likely has seen the hunter's
movement or heard the hunter and is long gone. Additionally the
typical face mask is hot, cumbersome, and bulky, reduces hearing,
and is slow to put on.
[0006] What is needed is a facemask to camouflage a hunter's face
which can be instantly available to the hunter when needed, but
which can be out of the way of the hunter's vision when it is not
needed. Ideally it would allow the hunter to put on a mask covering
over his face merely by lifting the hat into the air, then
replacing the hat on the hunters head.
[0007] Also needed is a facemask which is always ready to be used,
but which can be tucked away inside a hat or removed from the hat
so that the hat may be used when the hunter is driving or doing
other non-hunting activities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention is a clothing device for use by people in the
outdoors. The clothing device includes a hat body, which can be a
billed or baseball type hat. The hat has a bottom edge, to which
the bill or brim is attached. The clothing device also includes a
flexible facemask. The facemask is attached to the front bottom
edge of the hat, on the same side as the bill in the case of a
baseball type hat. The facemask is configured to hang freely from
the bottom edge of the hat body, and to be foldable into the hat
body so that it can be worn in a storage configuration. In this
way, a person may wear the hat with the facemask down when he is in
the field, and tuck the facemask into the interior of the hat when
he wears the hat driving or to town. The facemask is specifically
made so that by merely lifting the hat into the air by the bill of
the hat, the face mask falls out of the hat interior, and is in
place in front of the hunters face. This allows minimal movement
when putting on the mask.
[0009] The facemask's primary role is to serve as a facemask for
hunting. When used by a hunter, the hat can be lifted to allow the
mask to drop when the hunter wants to cover his face. The facemask
is dimensioned so that it covers the user's entire face and most of
the sides of the face and neck.
[0010] The facemask can be of a sheer material which is suitable
for seeing through without the use of eyeholes. However, it can
also be provided with eyeholes and the user can adjust the hat so
that the eyeholes match the location of his eyes by adjusting the
position of the hat on his head. No window material, either clear
or colored is used in the face mash whether it is made with or
without eyeholes, as there is a likelihood of reflection from a
window surface that would defeat the purpose of the camouflage
mask. One optional feature of the facemask is that it can include a
moldable material which can be shaped into a form selected by the
user. The moldable material would be positioned adjacent the front
bottom edge of the hat, along the edges of the facemask. The user
could form the moldable material into ear scoops adjacent the
user's ear. These ear scoops aid in directing sound to the user's
ear and thus increases the user's ability to hear. Panels of a
fabric selected to minimize sound attenuation can be positioned of
over the ears of the user to minimize attenuation of sounds. The
best way known to implement the ear panels is to use a mesh fabric
with larger opening than present in the rest of the facemask.
[0011] The invention can be configured so that the facemask is
removable, and in this form would be attached or removed from the
hat body by the user. One embodiment of the facemask includes
positions for holding headphones in the facemask, so that the
headphones are adjacent to the user's ear. These headphones can be
used to listen to a radio, recorded music on a number of different
types of devices or for wireless communication from one person to
another. Similarly, a microphone may be built in to the facemask
for wireless communication between users. The headphones and
microphone can be separate from the facemask and be attachable to
the facemask by the use of pocket snaps or hook and loop
attachments. A version of the headphone can also include these
devices built into the facemask.
[0012] In those versions of the facemask which include eyeholes,
the eyeholes can be provided with a way to close or cover the
holes. The holes can be covered with a hook and loop closure, snaps
or other devices. The eyeholes can also be covered by flaps of
fabric which can be secured in place over the eyeholes by similar
means. The purpose for covering the eyeholes is to give the user
the option of using the eyeholes for vision, or to not use them and
see through the fabric instead.
[0013] The hat utilized is a type of hat which includes a bill; the
bill would contain a left and right side which join at the bottom
edge of the hat. The facemask also includes a right and left side
of the facemask which also join the bottom edge of the hat. A
preferred configuration of the device is one in which the facemask
covers the hunter's entire face, the sides of his face, and most of
the hunter's neck.
[0014] The facemask preferably includes a mask border which is made
of a heavier material than the facemask. This heavier border is
provided to increase the mask resistance to movement in the
wind.
[0015] In the kit version of the device, a flexible facemask is
provided for removable attachment to the front bottom edge of the
user's hat, and the flexible facemask is configured to hang freely
from the front bottom edge of the hat body. Like the facemask
described above, the facemask of this version is configured to be
foldable into the hat body so that it can be worn with the facemask
out of sight. The facemask is dimensioned to cover the user's
entire face and neck, so that when it is hanging down from the hat
and moved to hang over the user's face, substantially the user's
entire face and neck are blocked from view by the facemask.
Attachment strips are provided for this version of the facemask, so
that the attachment strips may be attached to the hat. Once the
attachment strips are attached to the hat, the facemask may be
attached to the attachment strips. The attachment strips may be
attached to the hat by adhesive means, or by other conventional
means of attachment. The facemask would be attached to the
attachment strips by hook and loop surfaces, or other similar
methods. The facemask is preferred to be in a generally parabolic
shape, with a more or less straight edge opposite the parabolic
curve. The straight edge would be attached to the brim or bottom
edge of the hat.
[0016] The hat and facemask can be made of a fabric which absorbs
odor, such as Scentloc.RTM. or Scentblocker.RTM. fabric, or other
commercially available scent reducing fabric brands. The hat is
preferably made of a stretchable material. Mouth and nose holes are
also optional features of the facemask, and may further include
multiple fabrics so the user may mold the most comfortable shape
around his face and nose.
[0017] The purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the
public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners
in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or
phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the
nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the
application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
[0018] Still other features and advantages of the present invention
will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the
following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of
the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode
contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the
invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects
all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings
and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as
illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view of the hat with mask in the folded
position as well as in the hunting or deployed position.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view of the hat with mask with the hat and
mask in the hunting position.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of the hat showing the device in kit
form with a detachable facemask.
[0022] FIG. 4a is a version of the hat showing closeable eye
holes.
[0023] FIG. 4b is a view of the facemask showing the eye holes
closed.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a side view of a version of the hat and mask which
includes additional devices and pockets.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications
and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments
thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below
in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no
intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed,
but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications,
alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0026] In the following description and in the figures, like
elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of
"or" indicates a non-exclusive alternative without limitation
unless otherwise noted. The use of "including" means "including,
but not limited to," unless otherwise noted.
[0027] Several preferred embodiments are shown in FIGS. 1-5. FIG. 1
shows the hat and mask device of the invention, which is designated
as 10 in the figures. The device includes a hat 12 and a facemask
14. The hat 12 includes in the preferred embodiment a bill 16 and a
lower edge 18. The lower edge 18 includes a front edge 20, with the
bill 16 attached to the front edge 20 of the hat 12 and the
facemask 14 attached to the front edge 20 of the hat 12. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is included a pair of eyeholes 24, but
it is to be understood that eyeholes 24 are not required for this
device to work. There are many sheer fabrics which are available
which can be provided as a facemask 14, through which the user 26
can easily see with very little obstruction to his vision. FIG. 1
shows the hat 12 with the facemask 14 of the invention in a
position in which the bill 16 is over the user's face and the
facemask 14 is folded in the interior of the hat 12, as well as the
deployed position covering the face.
[0028] The hat can be made of a number of different materials,
including cotton, cotton polyester blends, nylon, of other
materials. The face mask can also be made of a number of materials,
including those listed above, as well as Gore-Tex, Lycra, cool max,
Scentloc.RTM. or Scentblocker.RTM. fabrics, or any other fabric
that met the physical needs of the mask. A generally stretchy
material works best, so that a "one size fits all" mask
configuration can be utilized.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows the hat 12 with mask 14 in a deployed or
hunting position. In the hunting position, the facemask 14 is over
the user's face, and the hat bill 16 is over the user's face. The
transition from the hat position to the hunting position shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 is accomplished merely by raising the hat into the
air, so that the facemask 14 falls out of the interior of the hat.
This allows a facemask 14 to cover the user's face, neck and eyes,
to reduce the user's visibility to animals. The facemask 14 can be
made of a number of different fabrics or color patterns, including
various types of camouflage color patterns. Shown in FIG. 1 is a
mask edge 28 which is preferably made of a thicker and heavier
material than the rest of the facemask 14. The mask edge 28 is
provided to add increased weight and stiffness to the facemask 14
and to resist deflection of the facemask 14 by wind. This mask edge
28 can also be formed by rolling up the facemask material, and
sewing it in place. The facemask 14 can include a moldable strip 30
which is a material which can be molded by the user to form either
a flat area continuous with the mask edge 28, or a scoop (not
shown) like region adjacent to the user's ears. When molded into
the form of a scoop-like feature, the moldable strip 30 can be used
to create a shape which reflects sound into the user's ear, and
thus improves hearing for the user. The facemask 14 shown in FIGS.
1 and 2 is preferably of a lightweight material which may easily be
inserted into the hat 12, so that the hat may be worn with the
facemask 14 completely concealed inside the hat 12 and on top of
the user's head.
[0030] FIG. 3 shows a version of the hat 12 with facemask 14 in
which the facemask 14 is attachable and removable from the lower
edge 18 of the hat 12. This version of the invention can be
provided in kit form, with one or more attachment strips 32
provided for attachment adjacent the periphery 18 of the hat. The
attachment strips can be adhesive, or hook and loop. The facemask
14 can have a strip of hook and loop fabric which corresponds to
the attachment strips 32. In this way, the facemask of the
invention can be added to any of the user's hats by use of
attachment strips 32. The facemask 14 can also be attached by the
use of snaps 36. Also shown in FIG. 3 is an ear panel 50 that can
be made of a material specifically selected to minimize sound
attenuation.
[0031] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a version of the hat in which the eye
holes 24 include cover flaps 38. The cover flaps 38 can be fixed in
an open position as shown FIG. 4a, or can be closed to a closed
position as shown in FIG. 4b. Hook and loop fabric patches are one
way to secure the cover flaps in the open or closed position, as
shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The purpose of the cover flaps 38 is to
give the user the option of having a mask with or without eye holes
24.
[0032] FIG. 5 shows a version of the hat 12 and facemask 14
combination of the device in which the hat 12 includes one or more
pockets 42 adjacent to the lower edge 18 of the hat 12. The
facemask 14 can be attached to the hat 12 as has been discussed
above. The facemask 14 can include pockets 42 to hold a microphone
44 and earpieces 46. The earpieces 46 and microphone 44 can also be
built into the fabric of the facemask 14, or can be secured to the
facemask 14 either externally or internally. The pockets 42 can be
utilized for holding such articles as batteries, FM radio, mp3
player, music players of various types, two way radio transmitters
and receiver, or other similar devices.
[0033] The facemask 14 is configured so that it covers the entire
face of the user 26, including the user's ears and front of the
user's neck.
[0034] A strap (not shown) can be attached to the facemask 14 for
adjusting the facemask 14 for fit on the user's face. The strap
would store along the edge of the facemask 14, and when the
facemask 14 is in use in front of the user's face, could be used to
secure the facemask 14 to the users head by extending from one edge
of the facemask 14 to the other edge of the facemask 14, behind the
users head and neck.
[0035] A further feature is a mirror (not shown) which can be
attached to the bill 16 of the hat 12, and can be folded into a
storage position, or folded into a position available for a user to
use the mirror to see objects behind him. The reflective surface
mirror would be facing the rear of the hunter, so would minimize
the chance of reflections being seen by the animal.
[0036] While there is shown and described the present preferred
embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that
this invention is not limited thereto, but may be variously
embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From
the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes
may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *