U.S. patent application number 16/614423 was filed with the patent office on 2020-03-26 for cap and band holder thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to CENTER HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY CO.. The applicant listed for this patent is CENTER HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY CO.. Invention is credited to Qianfeng ZHENG, Yongzhu ZHENG, Yuliang ZHENG.
Application Number | 20200093212 16/614423 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59985645 |
Filed Date | 2020-03-26 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200093212 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ZHENG; Yongzhu ; et
al. |
March 26, 2020 |
CAP AND BAND HOLDER THEREOF
Abstract
A band holder is provided. The band holder includes: a holding
unit having a holding unit body; a rotating unit including an arm
pivotally connected to the holding unit body and a fixed hanging
portion disposed at the arm pivotal end, wherein the rotating unit
is rotated and fixed in place relative to the holding unit; and a
spacing adjustment mechanism disposed at the arm and having a
movable hanging portion, the movable hanging portion undergoing
linear displacement in a lengthwise direction of the arm and being
positioned, so as to adjust its distance from the fixed hanging
portion. Therefore, not only is a mask comfortable to wear, but the
human head and ear also perceive no sense of compression.
Inventors: |
ZHENG; Yongzhu; (Taipei
City, TW) ; ZHENG; Qianfeng; (Taipei City, TW)
; ZHENG; Yuliang; (Taipei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CENTER HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY CO. |
TAIPEI CITY |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
CENTER HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY
CO.
TAIPEI CITY
TW
|
Family ID: |
59985645 |
Appl. No.: |
16/614423 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
May 18, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2018/087404 |
371 Date: |
November 18, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/1161 20130101;
A42B 1/24 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/24 20060101
A42B001/24; A41D 13/11 20060101 A41D013/11 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 19, 2017 |
CN |
201710354616.2 |
Claims
1. A band holder, comprising: a holding unit having a holding unit
body; a rotating unit comprising an arm pivotally connected to the
holding unit body and a fixed hanging portion disposed at the arm
pivotal end, wherein the rotating unit is rotated and fixed in
place relative to the holding unit; and a spacing adjustment
mechanism disposed at the arm and having a movable hanging portion,
the movable hanging portion undergoing linear displacement in a
lengthwise direction of the arm and being positioned, so as to
adjust its distance from the fixed hanging portion.
2. The band holder of claim 1, wherein the holding unit further has
an axle portion connected to the holding unit body, and the arm has
a pivotal hole portion which the axle portion is pivotally
connected to.
3. The band holder of claim 2, wherein the holding unit further has
a positioning post connected to an end of the holding unit body,
and the arm has a positioning channel which the positioning post is
fixed to.
4. The band holder of claim 3, wherein an end surface of the
positioning post has a dented hole, and the positioning channel has
therein a raised portion to be positioned in the dented hole.
5. The band holder of claim 4, wherein the rotating unit further
comprises a tightening mechanism which the fixed hanging portion is
disposed on.
6. The band holder of claim 5, wherein the arm has a slot, and the
spacing adjustment mechanism further has a sliding block disposed
in the slot.
7. The band holder of claim 6, wherein the holding unit further has
an upright element extending upward from a side of the holding unit
body and having a rib and a cord holding portion disposed on a
surface of the rib.
8. The band holder of claim 7, wherein the holding unit further has
an earpiece holder removably fitted to the upright element.
9. A cap, comprising: a cap body having at least two openings; and
the band holder of claim 6, wherein the axle portion and the
positioning post are penetratingly disposed in and fixed into the
two openings, respectively.
10. A cap, comprising: a cap body having a cap body coupling
portion; and the band holder of claim 8, wherein the holding unit
has a holding unit body coupling portion which the cap body
coupling portion is fixed to.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to caps and, more
particularly, to a cap and a band holder thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] In recent years, masks, for protective purposes, are
increasingly regarded as an important index of safety and public
health and thus are used in medical services, food hygiene, process
processing, and especially protection against PM2.5, in terms of
practicability and applicability. The aforesaid careers and
environments cause people to often, and even always. wear maskers
for the sake of basic protection.
[0003] With health awareness on the rise and recreational
activities, such as walking, hiking, jogging, and cycling, being
increasingly popular, more and more people engage in exercising and
regular exercising. In 2015, findings of a survey conducted in
Taiwan are as follows: 82.4% of the Taiwanese people engage in
exercising; out of these people, 70% engage in exercising with a
view to keeping fit; and, compared with the same period in the
preceding year, the number of Taiwanese people who engage in
regular exercising had increased by 0.4% to 33%. However, in the
face of increasingly severe air pollution, people staying outdoors
or taking exercise have to wear masks.
[0004] The age structure of the population in Taiwan is
changing--the number of people aged over 65 is increasing--because
of low birth rate and ageing. A population projection report
predicted that Taiwan's older population would increase to 14% in
2017 and thus usher in an era of population ageing. When exposed to
a drastic temperature difference, air pollution or germs, the
elderly are predisposed to infections, dizziness, headaches, and
even strokes. Therefore, it is important for the elderly to be
protected and stay fit and safe.
[0005] Wearing masks is one of the effective means to stay healthy.
Wearing a mask entails fastening a band to the human ears or head.
However, given time, a mask user perceives a sense of tightness and
compression in the human ears or head because of the band fastened
thereto; as a result, the mask user experiences an unpleasant
symptom, such as a headache or dizziness. To relieve the unpleasant
symptom, the mask user needs a band holding device. However, the
conventional band holding device has drawbacks as follows: (1)
although the band holding device alleviates a sense of tightness
imposed by the band on the human ears, it fails to relieve a sense
of compression on the human head which the band is in contact with;
(2) removal of the mask must be accompanied by removal of the band
holding device, and in consequence they are difficult to store but
likely to get lost or smeared; and (3) if the mask user perceives
that the band is too tight or too loose, the mask user will have to
fasten the band to the human ears or head anew and adjust the
tension in the band, leading to difficulty in manipulation and
adjustment of tension.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a
cap and a band holder thereof. The cap comprises a cap body and a
band holder. Therefore, a user wearing a mask neither perceives a
sense of compression otherwise imposed on the human head by the
band holder nor perceives a sense of tightness otherwise imposed on
the human ears by a band, allowing the mask to be comfortable to
wear and compression-free.
[0007] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a
cap and a band holder thereof. Therefore, to temporarily stop
wearing the mask, the user removes and fixes the mask to the cap,
conveniently and quickly, dispensing with the hassle of temporarily
storing the mask not in use.
[0008] Yet another objective of the present disclosure is to
provide a cap and a band holder thereof, so as to enable adjustment
of the included angle between a holding unit and a rotating unit of
the band holder and/or adjustment of the distance between a movable
hanging portion and a fixed hanging portion of the band holder.
Therefore, the band is adjustable in terms of tightness and thus
widely applicable to the human heads of different shapes and
sizes.
[0009] In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the
present disclosure provides a band holder, comprising: a holding
unit having a holding unit body; a rotating unit comprising an arm
pivotally connected to the holding unit body and a fixed hanging
portion disposed at the arm pivotal end, wherein the rotating unit
is rotated and fixed in place relative to the holding unit; and a
spacing adjustment mechanism disposed at the arm and having a
movable hanging portion, the movable hanging portion undergoing
linear displacement in a lengthwise direction of the arm and being
positioned, so as to adjust its distance from the fixed hanging
portion.
[0010] Regarding the band holder, the holding unit further has an
axle portion connected to the holding unit body, and the arm has a
pivotal hole portion which the axle portion is pivotally connected
to.
[0011] Regarding the band holder, the holding unit further has a
positioning post connected to an end of the holding unit body, and
the arm has a positioning channel which the positioning post is
fixed to.
[0012] Regarding the band holder, an end surface of the positioning
post has a dented hole, and the positioning channel has therein a
raised portion to be positioned in the dented hole.
[0013] Regarding the band holder, the rotating unit further
comprises a tightening mechanism which the fixed hanging portion is
disposed on.
[0014] Regarding the band holder, the arm has a slot, and the
spacing adjustment mechanism further has a sliding block disposed
in the slot.
[0015] Regarding the band holder, the holding unit further has an
upright element extending upward from one side of the holding unit
body.
[0016] Regarding the band holder, the upright element has a rib and
a cord holding portion disposed on the surface of the rib.
[0017] A cap comprises: a cap body having at least two openings;
and the band holder, wherein the axle portion and the positioning
post are penetratingly disposed in and fixed into the two openings,
respectively.
[0018] A cap comprises: a cap body having a cap body coupling
portion; and the band holder, wherein the holding unit has a
holding unit body coupling portion which the cap body coupling
portion is fixed to.
[0019] Given the aforesaid technical features of the present
disclosure, the present disclosure further has technical advantages
as follows:
[0020] (1) The cap of the present disclosure is suitable to be worn
by users indoors and outdoors and by users hiking, walking, jogging
and cycling. Even if a user wears a mask and the cap for a long
period of time, a band of the mask will not impose a sense of
tightness on the user's ears, allowing the mask to be comfortable
to wear and compression-free.
[0021] (2) The cap of the present disclosure is suitable to be worn
by children, the young, the middle-aged, and especially the elderly
without causing dizziness or headaches which might otherwise occur
because of the band of the mask worn together with the cap.
[0022] (3) The cap comes in different styles intended for their
respective circumstances and intended to meet their respective
purposes. The cap also matches the band holder which comes in
different colors (for example, pink, yellow, blue and lawngreen) to
meet consumer needs and preferences and increase its added
value.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a band holder of the present
disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view based on FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 3 is an exploded view taken from another angle based on
FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view based on FIG. 3.
[0027] FIG. 5A is a top view of the band holder of the present
disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 5B is a front view of the band holder of the present
disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 5C is a right lateral view of the band holder of the
present disclosure.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a plan view of adjustment of an included angle
ranging from 0 to 90 degrees according to the present
disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the cap according to the first
preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the cap according to the
second preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a plan view of adjustment of an included angle
ranging from 90 to 180 degrees according to the present
disclosure.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the cap according to the
third preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a way of adjusting the band in
FIG. 10.
[0036] FIG. 12 is a plan view of a way of adjusting the band in
FIG. 10.
[0037] FIG. 13 is a plan view of adjusting an included angle so
that it is 90 degrees according to the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the cap according to the
fourth preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the band holder according to
another preferred embodiment with reference to FIG. 14.
[0040] FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the band holder according to
another preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0041] FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the cap according to the
fifth preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0042] Details and technical features of the present disclosure are
described hereunder with reference to accompanying drawings.
However, the accompanying drawings are only intended for reference
and explanations but are not restrictive of the present
disclosure.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 1-FIG. 5C, the present disclosure provides
a band holder 1 which comprises a holding unit 10, a rotating unit
20 and a spacing adjustment mechanism 30.
[0044] The holding unit 10 has a holding unit body 11 which is
slender, an axle portion 13 and a positioning post 15. The axle
portion 13 and the positioning post 15 are connected to two ends of
the holding unit body 11, respectively. The two ends of the holding
unit body 11 each have an arcuate surface to therefore enhance user
safety. A first ring-shaped groove 17 (shown in FIG. 5A) is
disposed on the axial surface of the axle portion 13 and
penetratingly fixed to an opening 53 (shown in FIG. 7) on a cap
body 51 of a cap 5. Likewise, a second ring-shaped groove 19 (shown
in FIG. 5A) is disposed on the cylindrical surface of the
positioning post 15 and penetratingly fixed to another opening 53
on the cap body 51. Therefore, the band holder 1 is fixed to the
cap body 51. A round dented hole 151 is disposed on the end surface
of the positioning post 15.
[0045] The rotating unit 20 comprises an arm 21 pivotally connected
to the holding unit body 11 and a fixed hanging portion 271
disposed at the pivotal end of the arm 21. The rotation,
positioning and adjustment of the rotating unit 20 occurs relative
to the holding unit 10. The arm 21 is slender. A slot 29 is
centrally disposed in the arm 21 and extends in the lengthwise
direction of the arm 21. A pivotal hole portion 23 which the axle
portion 13 is pivotally connected to and a positioning channel 25
which the positioning post 15 is inserted into and fixed to are
disposed at two ends of the arm 21, respectively. A raised portion
251 is disposed in the positioning channel 25 and can be positioned
in the dented hole 151. The rotating unit 20 further comprises a
tightening mechanism 27. The fixed hanging portion 271 is disposed
on the circumferential surface (shown in FIG. 5A) of the tightening
mechanism 27. The tightening mechanism 27 is a thread-tightening
mechanism, a mesh-style ratchet mechanism (one-way checking), or a
combination thereof.
[0046] The spacing adjustment mechanism 30 is disposed on the arm
21, has a movable hanging portion 31, and connects to a sliding
block 33 at one end of the movable hanging portion 31. The sliding
block 33 is slidingly disposed in the slot 29. The movable hanging
portion 31 undergoes linear displacement in the lengthwise
direction of the arm 21 and is positioned, so as to adjust its
distance from the fixed hanging portion 271.
[0047] In addition to being slender, the holding unit body 10 can
be round or elliptical. The holding unit body 11 which is round or
elliptical only needs to have the axle portion 13. The axle portion
13 is pivotally connected to the pivotal hole portion 23 by a means
of fitting (such as snap-engagement) or removed from the pivotal
hole portion 23. Preferably, the band holder 1 is made of plastic
and thus has advantages as follows: incurs low costs, has
satisfactory mechanical properties (high flexibility and high
tensile strength), easy to be pivotally connected, and withstands a
pull from a band 61 of high strength.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 7, the cap 5 provided according to the
first preferred embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: the
cap body 51 which is made of fabric and has at least two openings
53; and the band holder 1. The axle portion 13 and the positioning
post 15 (shown in FIG. 6) are penetratingly disposed in and fixed
into the two openings 53, respectively.
[0049] The steps of a process of mounting the band holder 1 on the
cap 5 are as follows: (a). placing the holding unit 10 on the inner
side of the cap body 51 such that the axle portion 13 and the
positioning post 15 (shown in FIG. 6) are protruded from and fixed
into the two openings 53 of the cap body 51, respectively; and (b).
fitting the pivotal hole portion 23 (as shown in FIG. 6) of the
rotating unit 20 to the axle portion 13 of the holding unit 10.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 7, to wear a mask 6, the user adjusts the
included angle .theta. (as shown in FIG. 6) between the holding
unit 10 and the rotating unit 20 such that the included angle
.theta. ranges from 0 to 90 degrees (preferably, 45 degrees), then
places the mask 6 on the cap 5, and finally attaches the band 61 to
the fixed hanging portion 271 and the movable hanging portion 31.
To temporarily stop wearing the mask 6, the user removes and fixes
the mask 6 to the cap body 51, conveniently and quickly, dispensing
with the hassle of temporarily storing the mask 6 not in use.
[0051] Preferably, the band holder 1 are in the number of two. The
two band holders 1 are disposed on two opposing sides of the cap
body 51, respectively. The mask 6 and the band 61 are attached to
the two band holders 1.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 8, the cap 5 is provided in the second
preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. Technical features
which distinguish this embodiment from the preceding embodiment are
described below. The included angle .theta. of the band holder 1
can be adjusted to be 0 degree (such that the raised portion 251
can be positioned in the dented hole 151). The mask 6 is attached
to the band holder 1 and fixed to the cap body 51. The band holder
1 neither takes up any space on the two sides of the user's ear nor
blocks the user's left and right visual field.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 10, the cap 5 is provided in the third
preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. Technical features
which distinguish this embodiment from the preceding embodiments
are described below. The user adjusts the included angle .theta.
(as shown in FIG. 9) between the holding unit 10 and the rotating
unit 20 to be in the range of 90.about.180 degrees (preferably, the
included angle .theta. is adjusted to be 135 degrees), attaches the
mask 6 to the user's face, and attaches the band 61 to the movable
hanging portion 31 and the fixed hanging portion 271 of the band
holder 1. The human head does not perceive a sense of compression
otherwise imposed by the band holder 1, nor the human ears perceive
a sense of tightness otherwise imposed by the band 61; hence, the
mask 6 is comfortable to wear, and no sense of compression is
perceived by the human head or ears.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the band is adjustable
according to the present disclosure. Technical features which
distinguish this embodiment from the preceding embodiments are
described below. The distance L between the movable hanging portion
31 and the fixed hanging portion 271 is adjusted to be greater than
the width of the ear. Therefore, the mask 6 fits users (for
example, children) with oversized or undersized ears, and the band
61 does not impose a sense of tightness on the ears. Furthermore,
the user can adjust the tightness of the band 61 as needed.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 14, the cap 5 provided in the fourth
preferred embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: the cap
body 51 having a cap body coupling portion 55; and the band holder
1, wherein the holding unit 10 has a holding unit body coupling
portion 40 which the cap body coupling portion 55 is fixed to. The
cap body coupling portion 55 and the holding unit body coupling
portion 40 are fixed together by adhesion, engagement, sewing,
screwing or riveting. Preferably, the cap body coupling portion 55
and the holding unit body coupling portion 40 together constitute a
hook-and-loop fastener, and thus the band holder 1 can be fitted to
or separated from the cap body 51 easily and conveniently. After
wearing the mask 6, the user can adjust the included angle .theta.
between the holding unit 10 and the rotating unit 20 to be 90
degrees (as shown in FIG. 13), so as to attain the same advantages
as described above.
[0056] Referring to FIG. 15, there is shown a schematic view of the
band holder 1 according to another preferred embodiment with
reference to FIG. 14. Technical features which distinguish this
embodiment from the preceding embodiments are described below.
After wearing the mask 6, the user can adjust the included angle
.theta. between the holding unit 10 and the rotating unit 20 to be
in the range of 0.about.90 degrees and adjust the tightness of the
band 61. Therefore, the user controls the tightness of the band 61
by adjusting the included angle .theta. of the band holder 1 and/or
the distance L between the movable hanging portion 31 and the fixed
hanging portion 271, and thus the band 61 is widely applicable to
the human heads of different shapes and sizes.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 16, the band holder 1 is provided in
another preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. Technical
features which distinguish this embodiment from the preceding
embodiment are described below. The holding unit 10 further has an
upright element 12 extending upward from one side of the holding
unit body 11 and an earpiece holder 18 removably fitted to the
upright element 12. The earpiece holder 18 can be adjustably
extended and retracted in its lengthwise direction. The upright
element 12 has a rib 14 and a cord holding portion 16 disposed on
the surface of the rib 14. The cord holding portion 16 is a
positioning groove, an engaging groove, or a hook.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 17, a user carrying an electronic device
(for example, a hearing aid, a Bluetooth enabled device or an MP3
player) but is exercising (or is temporarily not using the
electronic device) can attach an earpiece cord 7 of the electronic
device to the upright element 12 (which engages with the cord
holding portion 16), then fix an earpiece to the earpiece holder 18
to thereby prevent the earpiece from falling off, and adjust the
length of the earpiece holder 18 such that the earpiece corresponds
in position to the ears. Therefore, according to the present
disclosure, the cap 5 and the band holder 1 thereof are coupled to
the mask 6 and a portable electronic device so as to form a
multifunctional, integrated cap which meets user needs for
exercising, protection against air pollution, and dustproofing.
Furthermore, the cap 5 is convenient and comfortable to wear, safe,
and aesthetically attractive.
[0059] The cap 5 of the present disclosure comes in different
styles by purpose, including hygienic caps for use in food
manufacturing, chef caps for use in catering, dustproof caps for
use in mask production, dust-free caps for use in industrial
manufacturing, surgical caps for use by surgeons, nursing caps for
use by nurses, construction safety helmets for use at construction
sites, leisure caps, sun caps, workout caps, sports caps, and
motorcycle helmets. The cap 5 also matches the band holder 1 which
comes in different colors (for example, pink, yellow, blue and
lawngreen) to meet consumer needs and preferences and increase its
added value.
[0060] Users can choose the mask 6 according to circumstances or
workplaces to therefore enhance applicability of the present
disclosure. For instance, users exercising vigorously and thus
suffering from increased respiratory impedance wear sports masks
with low respiratory impedance or ultralow pressure difference. For
instance, users performing CPR wear first aid masks. People wear
N95 masks in places where infections are widespread or a pandemic
occurs. Furthermore, the present disclosure is further applicable
to various three-dimensional masks, such as C-shaped masks, folded
masks, cup-type masks, bowl-shaped masks, and duckbill masks.
[0061] The cap of the present disclosure is suitable to be worn by
users indoors and outdoors and by users hiking, walking, jogging
and cycling. Even if a user wears a mask and the cap for a long
period of time, a band of the mask will not impose a sense of
tightness on the user's ears, allowing the mask to be comfortable
to wear and compression-free. The cap of the present disclosure is
suitable to be worn by children, the young, the middle-aged, and
especially the elderly without causing dizziness or headaches which
might otherwise occur because of the band of the mask worn together
with the cap.
[0062] In conclusion, the present disclosure has advantages over
the prior art as follows: a mask is comfortable to wear, and no
sense of compression is perceived by the human head or ears; the
mask user controls the tightness of the band conveniently; the cap
is widely applicable to the human heads of different shapes and
sizes; and, to temporarily stop wearing the mask, the user removes
and fixes the mask to the cap, conveniently and quickly, dispensing
with the hassle of temporarily storing the mask not in use.
[0063] The present disclosure is disclosed above by preferred
embodiments. However, persons skilled in the art should understand
that the preferred embodiments are illustrative of the present
disclosure only, but shall not be interpreted as restrictive of the
scope of the present disclosure. Hence, all equivalent structural
changes made to the aforesaid embodiments shall fall within the
scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the legal protection
for the present disclosure shall be defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *