U.S. patent application number 14/347589 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-21 for protective insert for an item of headwear.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lee Richard Roberts. Invention is credited to Lee Richard Roberts.
Application Number | 20140230133 14/347589 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45421548 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140230133 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roberts; Lee Richard |
August 21, 2014 |
PROTECTIVE INSERT FOR AN ITEM OF HEADWEAR
Abstract
A protective insert for an item of golfing headwear with
integral rigid peak. The protective insert is configured to protect
a user's head from injury caused by a golf ball.
Inventors: |
Roberts; Lee Richard;
(Surrey, GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Roberts; Lee Richard |
Surrey |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
45421548 |
Appl. No.: |
14/347589 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
October 9, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2012/000767 |
371 Date: |
March 26, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/411 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/12 20130101; A42B
1/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/411 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/12 20060101
A42B003/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 10, 2011 |
GB |
1119391.9 |
Claims
1. A lightweight protective rigid insert with integral rigid peak,
the thickness of the insert ranges from 0.5 mm to 3 mm, tapered
from the thickest point at its top section in use to its rim,
comprising a protective rigid material moulded ideally in a manner
that internally closely follows a head, but externally describes a
cap shape, to protect from brain or surface injury, providing
extended protection over the temporal area, providing extended
protection over the head base of the skull, and also providing
protection to eyes from golf balls descending in flight, with
layers of impact absorbing material lining the inner side of the
insert, with the inclusion of cuts for sizing and comfort, with
holes in the top of the insert to aid ventilation, with the outer
surface of the insert to be smooth and contain no ridges, texture
or raised and lowered parts; the lightweight protective insert
being designed to be inserted in a specifically designed
lightweight air permeable fabric cap having a standard type of
fastening device attached to the cap rear to assist in sizing of
the cap, to be used as an item of golfing headwear for persons
playing golf.
2. An insert with integral rigid peak according to claim 1
including integrated ear protectors.
3. An insert with integral rigid peak according to claim 1
including an aperture or cut out section through which hair may be
arranged.
4. An insert with integral rigid peak according to claim 2
including an aperture or cut out section through which hair may be
arranged.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a protective insert, more
particularly for golf or other ball sports.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The sport of golf is always increasing in popularity in many
cultures, across the world.
[0003] It can be an expensive pastime, requiring a variety of
different components, equipment, and even clothing.
[0004] It can be of importance to particular players of any sport
to be well-equipped in apparatus and correct items.
[0005] In common with all sports, there can be dangers associated,
in particular in golf with regard to balls. In particular these
balls are very hard and can be expected to drop rapidly from above
onto a first golfer who is positioned in a forward situation to the
second golfer hitting the ball.
[0006] The first golfer or user in question may have their head in
a variety of positions with regard to the dropping ball, for
example wherein the user may be hitting a shot or more likely
putting, with their head down.
[0007] They may alternatively be looking at the sky or in some
circumstances wayward shots may be bounced from trees or other
surfaces.
[0008] In any number of head positions a golf ball has potential to
do great damage.
PRIOR ART
[0009] Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed
in an attempt to resolve the problem, including the following:
[0010] United Kingdom patent application GB 2 453 775 (MARTIN)
discloses a baseball type protective cap, comprising: a protective
flexible material to protect the head and providing extended
protection over the temporal areas and the base of the skull; vents
may allow for ventilation and a peak for sun protection.
[0011] Granted United States patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,937,778
(NORTON) discloses a cap comprising a plurality of interconnected
panels adapted to cover a head; a pocket formed at each said panel,
said pockets having an open end; a headband covering said open ends
but allowing access to said pockets; and a protection segment
adapted to protect a user received in each said pocket, each said
protection segment including a protective panel made of a rigid
plastic material and an energy absorbing layer made of foam,
wherein each said protection segment has a longitudinal extent and
a lateral extent, said protection segments being curved in the
longitudinal direction and the lateral direction and not all having
the same radius of curvature in the longitudinal direction and not
all having the same radius of curvature in the lateral direction,
wherein there is a front pair of adjacent protection segments which
are generally of the same configuration, a central pair of opposed
protection segments which are generally of the same configuration
and a back pair of adjacent protection segments which are generally
of the same configuration, said front, central and back pairs being
Of different configurations, and Wherein said back pair of
protection segments have the largest radii of curvature in the
longitudinal direction and said front pair of protection segments
have the smallest radii of curvature in the longitudinal
direction.
[0012] German patent application DE 20 304 931 (NAUMANN) discloses
a cap wherein beneath the outer material of the cap is a middle
layer with the same shape as the outer layer and comprising a
plastic layer having a thickness of 2-4 mm and containing a
star-shaped mesh of length and cross-direction reinforcing parts
with its midpoint at the top of the cap. The plastic material for
the middle layer is sufficiently elastic to be able to absorb the
impact of a golf ball without being compressed so much that the
golf ball hits the head. The middle layer contains at least 11 air
holes measuring 3-6 mm in size in an area of 4.times.3 cm. The
total weight of the middle layer is 100-200 g. An inner layer
comprising a breathable membrane is provided, sweat being
transported via the inner layer to the outer layer. The inner layer
is secured to the bottom edge of the cap, preferably via a hook and
loop fastener band. A tensile band with a clasp preferably made
from lightweight metal is used to alter the size of the cap. The
visor is bonded to the middle layer. The outer material is a water
repellent, breathable textile membrane having the same shape as a
typical cotton golfing cap
[0013] Granted United States patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,096,512 (BLAIR)
discloses a device for insertion into a sports hat or the like
comprising: a hard outer shell; an inner layer composed of an
expanded high-density or foamed material whose lower edges are
tapered, or an Air Management System liner, the device being sized
and shaped for insertion into a typical sports cap such as a
baseball cap or the like with both shells substantially covering
the entire crown of the head.
[0014] Granted United States patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,539,556
(BARKER) discloses an apparel adapted for use in a confined space
as an inconspicuously protective headwear, said apparel comprising:
a streamlined crown adapted for close conformation about a wearer's
scalp, said crown consisting essentially of a soft fabric; a bill,
said bill projecting outward from a portion of the edge of said
crown; a protective element for safekeeping of the wearer's scalp
from blunt trauma, said protective element being substantially
centrally positioned on an interior face of said crown and small in
size relative to said crown such that said protective element
comports with said apparel's inconspicuous quality and facilitates
close conformation of said crown about the wearer's scalp; and
wherein said protective element consists essentially of a thin
sheet of resiliently flexible plastics material.
[0015] In contrast the present invention provides a means of
protecting a user from falling balls striking a plurality of
dangerous impact zones on a user's head, more particularly by
providing a combination of protective parts that allow protection
in a wearable format.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] According to the present invention there is provided a
protective insert with integral rigid peak as defined by appended
claim 1.
[0017] The insert is typically formed of a rigid material such as
acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene (ABS) plastic which is moulded into
a shell that closely follows a typical head shape and has a good
resistance to heat and impacts.
[0018] Furthermore the shell will ideally act to deflect
impacts.
[0019] The insert in preferred embodiments is made entirely of such
a rigid lightweight impact resistant plastic material, but may
include in its manufacture the use of other materials to aid in its
rigidity whilst maintaining its lightweight characteristics, for
example a cellular form, perhaps including a metal skeleton or
structure.
[0020] Further embodiments may have a plurality of layers of
material forming the insert, wherein the layers are capable of
absorbing impacts and disseminating impact forces.
[0021] In some embodiments, according to a second aspect of the
present invention, the insert may include detachable ear
protectors.
[0022] These layers may be able therefore to move in relation to
one another, for example wherein some layers of differing material
may be interposed to help absorption.
[0023] For example there may be layers of plastic, interposed with
foam, wherein the plastic accepts the impact and the foam
disseminates the impact's force.
[0024] The use of a layer or layers of flexible impact absorbing
material and/or rigid impact accepting material lining the inner
surface of the insert acts as a dual means of protection from the
impact of a golf ball in absorbing some of the energy transmitted
from the golf ball through the rigid shell and into the layer or
layers of absorbent material.
[0025] Some embodiments may have portions that may be adjustable to
accommodate variants of shapes. Other embodiments are ideally
available in a variety of sizes and formats to accommodate variant
head shapes.
[0026] The insert in preferred embodiments is capable of providing
extended protection over the head temporal area. In this way it may
be envisaged that the head may be well protected from falling golf
balls, and a wearer or user is provided with protection from a
resultant serious head injury:
[0027] Yet further preferred embodiments are capable of providing
extended protection over the base of the skull also. In this way a
user is protected from falling balls, such as when s/he is looking
down or playing a shot and exposing the base of the skull.
[0028] The peak is furthermore capable of providing protection to
the user's eyes from golf balls descending in flight.
[0029] In preferred embodiments the peak is rigid to accept impacts
but is ideally flexibly mounted or partly flexible, in order that a
ball will simply not bounce off the peak, but the peak will absorb
some impact force and so prevent damage to the user's neck
muscles.
[0030] The insert is ideally designed to be inserted in a
specifically designed cap, made of a washable or maintainable
fabric.
[0031] In some embodiments the insert may be detachable in order
that it may be removed from the cap, whereas in other embodiments
the insert is permanently integrated into the cap.
[0032] In some embodiments the insert may be a skeleton structure
to be included in a cap, potentially including layers of
resiliently deformable material and/or a rigid skeleton. The insert
may include the addition of glass in the ABS plastic to increase
the rigidity and maintain its lightweight characteristic.
[0033] For example said resiliently deformable material may allow
an insert to become accustomed to a user's head shape.
[0034] In summary the preferred embodiments provide a deflective
rigid shell and inner lining with high density impact absorbent
foam which significantly reduces the force of the shell hitting
into the user's head as a golf ball is deflected away from the
user's head.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0035] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the
insert;
[0036] FIG. 2 show a view from above and a view from the front of
the preferred embodiment;
[0037] FIGS. 3 show embodiments of the insert;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0038] In the pictured and preferred embodiment thickness of the
insert ranges from 0.5 mm to 3 mm, tapered from the thickest point
at its top section in use, to its rim. This should act to aid
comfort for the user and allow a more natural look to a cap
including the insert.
[0039] The embodiment thereby provides a lightweight protective
insert with integral rigid peak designed to be inserted in a
specifically designed cap to be worn whilst playing golf, said
insert comprising a protective rigid material moulded in a manner
that internally closely follows a head, but externally describes a
cap shape, to protect from brain or surface injury, by providing
extended protection over the temporal area providing extended
protection over the head base of the skull, and also providing
protection to eyes from golf balls descending in flight.
[0040] The fabric cap into which the insert is typically inserted
is envisaged as designed purely for aesthetic purposes and it is
not intended to act in a safety capacity in relation to an impact
by a golf ball.
[0041] To aid comfort the insert is inserted into a specifically
designed cap made of a lightweight air permeable fabric.
[0042] A layer or layers of flexible impact absorbing material or
resiliently deformable material are also be included to aid in
making the cap comfortable to wear and its sizing to the wearer's
head.
[0043] The cap with the insert is not intended to appear like a
standardly available protective helmet designed to protect the
wearer from types of head injury from the impact a golf ball, in
that such a protective helmet is impractical to be worn whilst
playing golf being a cumbersome and excessive safeguard.
[0044] The internal shape and external shape of a cap containing
the insert are not to be analogous, for example in order that the
inner shape may provide impact resistance well tailored and
dispersed across the user's head, whereas the outer of the cap
containing the insert is primarily of a standard format.
[0045] The insert and specifically designed cap may have an
aperture or cut out section through which hair may be arranged. The
insert may have a skeleton structure that covers a majority of the
user's head but is not contiguous and therefore permits ventilation
and/or lesser weight.
[0046] As in FIG. 1 the pictured embodiment has a plurality of
ventilation holes for the head in use.
[0047] The outer surface of the insert is smooth and contains no
ridges, texture or raised and lowered parts in order to facilitate
effective deflection of the golf ball on impact.
[0048] The rigid peak has a primary function of deflecting the
descending flight of golf balls away from the wearer's eyes and
head and a secondary function of adding rigidity to the sun visor
which forms part of the specifically designed cap. Furthermore the
peak provides shade for users.
[0049] Typically a standard type of fastening device is attached to
the cap rear to assist in sizing of the cap. This is to be used to
adjust the cap size and the movement of the insert. A section of
the insert is movable in relation to the rest, so that the sections
may overlap and/or space apart and allow resizing of the cap to be
homogenous.
[0050] The caps may include sections/cuts cut out at intervals on
the rim of the insert to aid sizing and comfort for the wearer.
[0051] In one of the pictured embodiments, rigid curved extrusions
from the main shell provide impact protection to the user's
ears.
* * * * *