Laminated Helmet

Abstract

The specification discloses a head covering in the form of a helmet of unique construction adapted for wear indoors by persons of either sex during leisure time or while sleeping. The helmet is multi-layered, with an outer layer of lambs wool, long-haired fur or other similar heat insulating material and an inner layer of woven fabric. The helmet is constructed so as to be supported at each side on the bridge of the wearer's ears and in front on the wearer's brow so as to provide an air space between the crown of the wearer's head and the inside of the helmet. The rear portion of the helmet has an essentially inverted V-shaped opening for ventilation of the space above the wearer's head within the helmet by ambient air. The two extremities of the rear portion of the helmet are held snugly to the back of the wearer's neck by an adjustable strap of elastic material connecting them. Additional tie strings sewn to the rear extremities of the helmet serve, when tied, to insure clearance between the rear portion of the helmet and the head of the wearer, notwithstanding variations in the wearer's head size.

Description

This invention relates to a head covering in the form of a helmet adapted especially for indoor wear by persons of either sex during leisure time or while sleeping.

It is believed by some that a warm moist environment is conducive to stimulation of hair growth on the human body. That belief is enhanced by the apparent fact that peoples inhabiting warm humid areas in the world commonly have a more luxuriant growth of hair, especially on their heads, than do people inhabiting temperature or cold areas.

On the premise, therefore, that production of a warm and moist environment for humans occupying temperature or cold areas in the world would be beneficial for growth of hair, it is an object of this invention to provide a helmet uniquely constructed to enable persons so inclined to realize these conditions in a simple inexpensive manner and with little or no inconvenience to themselves.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a helmet of the aforesaid type constructed and designed for use by persons of different head sizes yet contacting the brow and sides of the head in a manner to provide for ventilation of a space between the head of the wearer and the helmet through an opening at the rear of the helmet.

The above objects, and other objects of the invention which will become apparent in the subsequent description thereof, are attained by the embodiments of the invention depicted in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the head of a person wearing the helmet constituting the invention, showing in partial section the manner of application of the helmet to the head of the wearer and details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a front view, partially in section, showing further details of construction and design of the helmet shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view, showing other details of the helmet, particularly the rear ventilation opening; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the head of a person wearing a helmet of modified construction.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of a helmet 10 shown therein is of multi-layered construction comprising an outer covering or layer 11 of thick material such as lambs wool or fur relatively stiff in nature and capable of insulating against radiation of heat from the head of the wearer, and an inner lining 12 of suitable woven fabric, such as rayon or cotton, sewn or otherwise secured along the outline or border to the inside of the layer 11. A modified embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, comprises an outer covering or layer 13 of leather, plastic or closely woven fabric, an intermediate layer 14 of porous material such as foam plastic, foam rubber, hair or vegetable fiber, and a lining 15 of woven fabric such as cotton. Since the two embodiments are otherwise similar in construction and design, it will be understood that further description of the embodiment of FIG. 1 applies also to the embodiment of FIG. 4.

In general, both embodiments of the helmet conform generally to contour of the human head, due allowance being made for some variation in the size of the head. The entire upper portion of the head including the scalp area of hair growth is surrounded. At the front of the helmet is a brow contacting portion which is preferably arched as shown in FIG. 2, the contact line or area on the brow varying in position from 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch above the eyebrows of the wearer. At each side of the head, the helmet outline is substantially a straight line from the brow-contacting portion so as to rest on the bridge of the ears to the head, the ears being completely outside the confines of the helmet. By thus resting on the brow and the ear bridges the helmet is supported so as to provide a ventilation space 16 between the head of the wearer and the inside surface of the helmet. The relative stiffness of the helmet itself serves to retain the crown of the helmet in spaced relation to the head of the wearer. The amount of the space will vary from 1/2 to 1 inch depending on the size and contour of the wearer's head, as well as the amount of hair on the wearer's scalp.

As will be seen in FIG. 3, the back of the helmet extends downwardly to approximately the top of the neck of the wearer, and is provided with an opening 17 which is essentially of inverted V-shape. The two extremities of the helmet on opposite sides of the opening 17 are connected by tensioning means such as an adjustable elastic band 18 which causes the extremity of the helmet to snugly fit the neck of the wearer. In addition to the elastic band 18, each of the rear extremities of the helmet may have sewn thereto a string 19 of suitable material, such as suede, the two strings when drawn together and tied as shown, assisting in retaining the helmet in position on the head so as to maintain clearance between the rear portion of the helmet and the head of the wearer, notwithstanding differences in physical measurements of the wearer.

It will be understood therefore, that the opening 17 at the back of the helmet is held in spaced relation to the back of the head of the wearer, thereby providing for free flow of ambient air into and out of the space 16 between the crown of the head of the wearer and the inside of the helmet. Excessive build-up of heat in the space 16 is thus prevented and an even temperature corresponding substantially to body temperature is maintained, due to containment by the helmet of body heat radiated from the scalp.

In use, the helmet may be worn while the wearer is relaxing indoors, such as when reading or watching television programs. It may also be worn overnight while the wearer is sleeping, provided precaution is taken not to lie so as to block the opening 17.

While I have illustrated and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood the invention may be otherwise variously practiced within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A helmet comprising a relatively stiff crown portion and a rear portion conforming generally to the contour of the human head and consisting of laminate material, the crown portion having a frontal edge adapted to seat low on the brow of the wearer and to arch forwardly away therefrom and having at each side an ear bridge - supported side edge that extends in a substantially straight horizontal line backwardly from the frontal edge, said crown having a vertical height such that the ear bridge-supported side edges are adapted to support the crown portion in an elevated position providing a space within the crown portion above the top of the head of the wearer, the said rear portion having a generally inverted V-opening extending into said crown portion via which ambient air may enter and circulate within the said space within said crown portion while on the head of a wearer, and tensioning means extending across said V-shaped opening and adapted to rest on the back of the neck of the wearer to secure the helmet in position.

2. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said laminate material comprises an outer layer selected from a group of materials consisting of lambs wool, fur and leather and an inner layer of woven fabric.

3. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said laminate material comprises an outer layer of leather, an inner layer of woven fabric and an intermediate layer of foam plastic.