U.S. patent application number 12/220004 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-21 for sweatband and sun protective headgear apparatus.
Invention is credited to John Sutton.
Application Number | 20100011488 12/220004 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41528942 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100011488 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sutton; John |
January 21, 2010 |
Sweatband and sun protective headgear apparatus
Abstract
A headgear (10) has a sweatband (12) has a sheet material (18)
attached thereto for extending over a person's head and down the
back of a person's neck.
Inventors: |
Sutton; John; (Allen Park,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
REISING ETHINGTON P.C.
P O BOX 4390
TROY
MI
48099-4390
US
|
Family ID: |
41528942 |
Appl. No.: |
12/220004 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/412 ; 2/175.1;
2/181; 2/422 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/0187 20210101;
A42C 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/412 ; 2/422;
2/181; 2/175.1 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/00 20060101
A42B003/00; A42B 1/24 20060101 A42B001/24; A42C 5/02 20060101
A42C005/02; A42B 1/00 20060101 A42B001/00 |
Claims
1. A headgear apparatus comprising: a sweatband having a an
internal non-stretchable strip connected to the sweatband sized to
be able to fit about a person's head; and a first sheet extending
rearward from the sweatband having its distal end section extending
over to cover said person's head and to be able to neck drape down
over a neck of said person.
2. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:
said first sheet being made from porous moisture absorbent
material; and said first sheet having its distal end section with a
complementary fastener near left and right sides thereof to draw
the sides of the distal end section together.
3. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising:
said first sheet having a pocket incorporated therein.
4. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:
said sweatband having distal rear ends with complementary fasteners
to adjustably fasten the sweatband about said person's head.
5. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:
said first sheet connected at its front edge thereof to a shade
bill extending forwardly at a front position of said sweatband.
6. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:
said shade bill being integrally formed out of said sweatband being
folded onto itself to form two layers and passing through a clasp
ring at each side of said shade bill.
7. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising:
said first sheet positioned between said layers and sewn to the
shade bill such that said headgear apparatus is reversibly
constructed by flipping said shade bill and sweatband upside
down.
8. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 7 further comprising:
each side of said sheet having a different color or pattern.
9. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a
second sheet of porous see-through mesh material having a side
mounting edge attached to or a side edge in proximity to said first
sheet; and said second sheet movable between a used position
draping about the face of the person or in a stored position lying
against said first sheet; a distal edge of said second sheet having
fastener that engage fastener on an opposite side of said first
sheet.
10. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:
said sweatband having a resilient cushion material positioned
therein to be positioned against a forehead of a person.
11. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:
said sweatband having a first set of helmet fasteners
circumferentially spaced about an outer periphery thereof; and a
soft outer protective helmet having an interior surface shaped to
receive an upper portion of said person's head; and said interior
surface of said helmet having a second set of complementary helmet
fasteners for selective securement to said first set of helmet
fasteners such that said sweatband may be worn with or without said
helmet attached thereto.
12. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising:
said soft outer protective helmet made from resilient foam rod
secured together in the shape of a helmet.
13. A headgear apparatus comprising: a soft outer protective helmet
having an interior surface shaped to receive an upper portion of a
person's head; said interior surface of said helmet having first
fastener device attached thereto; and a sweatband for placement
about said person's head and having at its outer surface a
complementary second fastener device for securement to said first
fastener device on said helmet for selective engagement and
disengagement of the sweatband to the helmet such that said
sweatband may be worn by said person with or without said helmet
attached thereto.
14. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising:
said first and second fastener devices being hook and loop
fasteners.
15. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 14 further comprising:
a sheet of material attached to the sweatband for draping over the
head of a person and to drape down over a neck of said person.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The field of this invention relates to sun shielding
headgear and protective headgear.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] Headgear has long incorporated a front bill or sun visor to
protect the eyes from glare of the sun. Other headgear also has
often incorporated drape material to protect the top of the head
and the back of the neck from the sun. There are also many
protective helmets for use in sports which protect the head against
concussion or bruising.
[0003] What is needed is a headgear device which incorporates a
sweatband and sun protecting drape material. What is also needed is
a headgear apparatus that also has a see-through mesh sheet for
protecting the face from bugs. Furthermore, what is needed is a
sweatband that can mount a protective helmet. What is also needed
is a lightweight protective comfortable helmet.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a headgear
apparatus includes a sweatband having a non-stretchable strip
connected to the sweatband and sized to be able to fit about a
person's head. A first sheet of flexible material has its distal
end section extending rearward from the sweatband to be able to
cover the person's head and able to form a neck drape down over a
neck of the person.
[0005] The sheet is preferably a porous moisture absorbent
material, and preferably a fabric. The sheet preferably has its
distal end section with a complementary fastener near left and
right sides thereof to draw the sides of the distal end section
together. Preferably, the sheet has a pocket incorporated
therein.
[0006] In one embodiment, the sheet is connected at its front edge
thereof to a shade bill extending forwardly at a front portion of
the shade bill. The shade bill is desirably integrally formed out
of the sweatband being folded onto itself to form two layers and
passing through a clasp ring at each side of the shade bill. The
sheet is positioned and sewn to the shade bill in between the two
layers such that the headgear apparatus is reversibly constructed
by flipping the shade bill and sweatband upside down.
[0007] Preferably, each side of the sheet has a different color or
pattern. In one embodiment, the sweatband has distal rear ends with
complementary fasteners to adjustably fasten the sweatband about
the person's head.
[0008] In one embodiment, a second sheet of porous see-through mesh
material has a side mounting edge attached to a side edging the
first sheet. The second sheet is movable between a used position
draping about the face of the person or in a stored position lying
against the first sheet. A distal edge of the second sheet has
fasteners to connect to fasteners at an opposite edge of said first
sheet.
[0009] In one embodiment, a resilient cushion material, preferably
a rod of open cell foam material, is positioned in the sweatband.
In one embodiment, the sweatband has a first set of helmet
fasteners circumferentially spaced about an outer periphery
thereof. A soft outer protective helmet has an interior surface
shaped to receive an upper portion of the person's head. The
interior surface of the helmet has a second set of complementary
helmet fasteners for selective securement to the first set of
helmet fasteners such that that sweatband may be worn with or
without the helmet engaged thereto. In one embodiment, the helmet
is made from rod like cushion elements made from a soft open cell
foam material.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, a headgear
apparatus has a soft outer protective helmet with an interior
surface shaped to receive an upper portion of a person's head. The
interior surface of the helmet has a fastener device attached
thereto. A sweatband for placement about the head of the person has
at its outer surface a complementary fastener device for securement
to the fastener device on the helmet for selective engagement and
disengagement of the sweatband to the helmet such that the
sweatband may be worn by the person with or without the helmet.
Preferably, the fastener device and complementary fastener device
are hook and loop fasteners.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the
invention worn on a person's head;
[0013] FIG. 2 is side perspective view of the headgear shown in
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged partially segmented view
showing the transition portion of the sweatband and the sun visor
section;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
invention with a see-through mesh sheet deployed;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 6-6 shown
in FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 7-7 shown
in FIG. 5;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of third embodiment of the
invention;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 9-9
in FIG. 8;
[0021] FIG. 10 is side elevational and exploded view of a fourth
embodiment with optional loop fasteners circumferentially spaced
about the outer side of the sweatband for attachment to a
protective helmet having complementary hook fasteners adhered to an
inside surface thereof; and
[0022] FIG. 11 is a view of a modified helmet engaged onto the
sweatband.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 1, a headgear apparatus 10 has a
sweatband 12 wrapped and fastened about a person's head 14. The
sweatband 12 has a front bill section 16 to be worn over the eyes
of the person to shield the eyes from the sun. The sweatband 12 is
preferably made from porous and absorbent material for example
terry cloth or an elastic blend with terry cloth. A sheet 18 of
porous and absorbent material, for example cotton fabric, extends
from the bill and can extend over the head 14 and drape down the
person's neck 20.
[0024] As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the sweatband has two
distal ends 22 that each has complementary fasteners 23 and 24 such
as hook and loop fasteners which can adjustably fasten to
comfortably accommodate different sized heads 14. The sheet 18 has
a pocket 26 formed near the rear end oriented to have an upward
facing opening 28. The pocket 26 may have an optional closure flap,
snaps or zipper 29 to retain items therein. A distal side section
30 of the sheet 18 may have a strap 32 with a fastener thereon 34
that can be secured to a complementary fastener 36 or 38 near
opposite each side section 30 to draw the sides 30 together.
[0025] As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the sweatband 12 has a
transition section 42 with a secured ring or clasp member 44 which
transitions the sweatband from an unfolded rear section to the
folded front bill section 16 having two layers, an upper layer 46
and lower layer 48. The bill section 16 is formed by doubling of
the sweatband material and stitching of the two layers 46 and 48
together. The sheet 18 has its front edge 50 also extending between
the two layers 46 and 48 of the sweatband forming the bill 16 such
that a single stitching seam 52 both forms the bill and secures the
sheet 18 to the sweatband. The ring clasps 44 are placed and
secured about the sweatband 12 at the transition section to help
reinforce the formation of the bill and prevent undue stress on the
seam 52.
[0026] The headgear is very adaptable and the sheet 18 can be
rolled up and fastened by strap 32 when not needed over the neck.
Furthermore, the draped sheet 18 may be unfurled to cover the
entire back of the neck as shown in FIG. 1 or if desired be used to
entrap long hair into a ponytail by use of strap 32 fastened to
fastener 36 or 38 as shown in FIG. 4 for drawing the side sections
30 together.
[0027] FIGS. 4-7 show a second embodiment according to the
invention. In this embodiment, the headgear apparatus 10 has the
sweatband 12 extend completely about the head. The interior of the
sweatband as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has a plastic net substrate 17
that resists stretching when the fabric sheet 18 becomes wet. The
plastic is stitched near one edge to the fabric as shown at 19.
Horizontal stitching 21 attach the fastener 23 to the sweatband 12.
Similar construction also attaches fastener 24. The sweatband 12 is
structured such that the fabric sheet 18 is interposed between the
sweatband 12 and the person's forehead such that no stitching abuts
the person's forehead for added comfort as clearly shown in FIG. 7.
Vertically extending stitching 170 is spaced along sweatband 12
such that the sweatband can be adjustably cut down to a smaller
size. The sheet 18 may also have a plurality of spaced seams 180
such that the sheet 18 may be optionally shortened to smaller or
shorter sizes by cutting along adjacent the seam 180. An optional
second sheet 56 made from a see-through mesh type material, for
example mosquito netting, can also be sewn into side edge 152 and
be used to extend around and in front of the person's face 53 to
protect against bugs and insects. The distal edge 153 of the mesh
sheet 56 can have Velco patches 154 to fasten to complementary
Velcro patches 155 near the opposite edge 56 of sheet 18 to retain
the mesh in place. When unused, the mesh 56 can be flipped over to
rest against the back of the distal edge 153 of and adjacent the
first sheet 18 behind the head using the same Velcro patches 154
and 155 to retain the mesh in place.
[0028] A third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this
embodiment, the headgear has an internal protective resilient and
deformable padding member 250 placed in the sweatband section 12 to
protect the forehead from certain high impacts due to head butting
that may occur during sports for example boxing, soccer, basketball
and volleyball. The member 250 may be made from tubular stock of
low density polyurethane or other resilient deformable
material.
[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, two protected double sided
helmets 60 and 160 are shown. The helmet 60 can be a soft shell
helmet which can be made from, for example, a condensed foam rubber
or the same material as padding member 250. The helmet is shaped
with a cavity 70 and inner surface 72 to receive an upper portion
of the person's head 14. The inner surface 72 has a plurality of
hook type fasteners 62 properly positioned to engage a series of
loop type fasteners 64 circumferentially spaced about the outer
side 66 of the sweatband. The helmet may be shaped such that the
rear portion 68 extends low enough to protect the occipital bone 73
of the head 14. The inner surface may also be lined with a rubber
or foam mesh 74 to further cushion the head 14 and provide air
circulation for increased comfort. The front lower edge 75 of the
helmet 60 may rest on top of padded member 250 when fully engaged
to the sweatband 12. The helmet 160 shown in FIG. 11 can be made
from the same tubular material as protective padding member 250 but
contoured, shaped and secured to the illustrated shape.
[0030] As shown, the sweatband 12 may be used with or without the
helmets 60, 160 for increased adaptability. The helmets 60 and 160
can be selectively engaged to the sweatband or detached therefrom
by disengaging the fasteners 62 from fasteners 64. Conventional
straps (not shown) may also be used to connect under the chin.
[0031] As can be visually seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the headgear
10 may be reversible by merely flipping over the sweatband 12.
Furthermore, each side of the sheet 18 may have a different color
or have a different decorative pattern printed thereon or woven
therein to further increase adjustability.
[0032] Other variations and modifications are possible without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as
defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *