GB2389299A

GB2389299A - Non-rigid protective headgear

Info

Publication number: GB2389299A
Application number: GB0217120A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Natalie Faye Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-06-06
Filing date: 2002-07-24
Publication date: 2003-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2022-07-24
Also published as: GB2389299B; GB0217120D0; GB0212868D0

Abstract

Protective headgear has at least one non-rigid impact-absorbing panel 2, 3 fixed to a stretchable cap 7 and may be retained in place by a resilient headband 6 which may include "hook-and-loop" fasteners. The pads 2, 3 may be permanently attached to the cap 7 or may alternatively be detachably retained in one or more pockets formed by placing another cap (not shown) over the cap 7.

Description

23892g9 PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR

Field of the Invention

I his invention relates to protective headgear, and more particularly but not exclusively to protective headgear suitable for use in a sporting context.

Review of the Art knOWII to the Applicant Protective headgear has been in use for many centuries, starting perhaps with metal 'helmets' won, by soldiers in a military context. Also, construction 25 workers have made use of 'hard hats' for many years to protect themselves from injury during the course of their trade. More recently, and since the advent of the motorcycle as a means of transport and sport, 'crash helmets, have been used to protect motorcyclists from injury in the event of crashes. In yet more recent years, in response to the hicrcascd risk from congestion on the roads and more 30 extreme forms of cycling, we have seen the introduction of Cycle helmets',

typically of a lighter construction than motorcycle crash helmets. These cycle

helmets arc also widely used in cycle-haled snorting activities such as BMX, and Mountain Rikhg.

All of these forms of protective headgear share the feature that they arc essentially 5 a rigid shell that covers the vulacrahie part of the hcatl, and are typically held i place by one or more straps that pass under the chill. I he rigidity of such helmets has a consequence that they are tliffcult to store when not in USC; they take up a large amOU'lt of room when stored, for example, in the home, and cannot easily be ptTt iT1 a pocket or bag when not in use out of the home. The rcquircmeTlt for a 10 chinstrap also makes it inconvenient to put the headgear on, and take it off again when not required. In addition, these types of rigid protective headgear do not readily find favour with the increasingly fashion-conscious youth of today who form the very sector of the public that are most likely to engage in the sports such as snowboarding, skate hoarding, skiing, and cycling, that pose an increased risk 15 of head injury. Participants in these types of sporting activity, for example snowboarcling, oRen tend to wear headgear for reasons primarily of fashion, and perhaps warmth, known colloquially as 'beanies'. These soft, head-gripping hats provide little protection to the head in the event of impact or fall. Another form of headgear, traditionally worn in the context of skiing and sledging, is the 'hobble 20 hat'. This again is a soil, head-gripping, hat, that is furnished at the top with a decorative 'hol:,ble', bchg a sptcrically-organised array of fibres, most traditionally made of wool. By virtue of its construction from SUC'TI material, and the loose, single-point attachment of the bobble to the hat, this also provides scant protection to the wearer iT1 the event of jTT1PaCt. Furthermore, this design of hat 25 has lost favour with today's youth, who tend to prober hats without bobbles.

SumTnary of the Invention The present hvcution seeks to overcome the drawbacks of rigid protective 30 headgear and flexible nonprotective headgear by providing a novel form of headgear that is protective, flexible, maintahiabic, easy to put OT1 and take off, and

provides a technical framework within which designers can meet the fashion-led aspirations of the market whilst providing an increased degree of head protection.

In the broadest definition of the invention, there is provided non-rigicl protective 5 headgear comprising one omT'ore impact-absorbing panels affixed to a stretchable cap, such cap providhg means to retain the cap in position during use.

Preferably, the means to retain the cap in position during use is provided without the use of a chinstrap.

In any of the embodiments of the invention, the impact-absorbing panel or panels 10 may be affixed to the said cap in one or more locating pockets, such pocket or pockets being formed by joining said cap to a second such cap substantially around said panel or panels. More preferably the pocket or pockets arc provided with one or more openings to allow removal of said panel or panels.

In any of the embodiments of the invention, the impact-ahsorbing panel or panels 15 may advantageously be affixed directly and permanently in place.

Also, in any embodiment of the invention, the means to retain the cap in position during use may advantageously he provided by an elastic headband affixed to the ci rcum fercnce o f the said cap.

Also, in any embodiment of the invention, the means to retain the cap in position 20 during use may advantageously be provided by a semi-band made of a plastics material with elastic or 'springy' properties, enabling it to grip the wearer's head, said semi-band being affixed to or forming the periphery of the said cap. More advantageously, the said semi-band may be affixed to said cap by locating said semi-hand in a pocket formed along the periphery of said cap. Most

advantageously, said pocket is provided with one or more openings to allow removal of said semi-hand.

Also, he any embodiment of the invention, the means to retain the cap in position during use may lee provided lay a headband of elastic or nonelastic material, 5 adjustable in its circumference by use of touch-anclclose fastening oilcans.

In any embodiment of the invention, a multiplicity of impact-absorhing panels i may be provided, such panels being formed from a plurality of impact-ahsorbing materials. AISO, in any embodiment of the invention, there may he advantageously provided 10 impact-absorbing panels that surround the ear region. More advantageously, there i is provided one or more ribbed impact-absorhing panel or panels that protect the cranial area of the head.

Included within the scope of the invention, is headgear substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

T;igurc I shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the protective panels 20 provided by the invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the protective panels, i showing their position on a head.

25 Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the protective beanie positioned on a heatl, and viewed from the front. I

Figure 4 shows a perspcctivc view of an embodiment of the protective pancis, showing their position on a head.

Figure 5 SilOWS a prospective view of the protective beanie positioned on a hea(l, 5 and viewed from the hack.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

With reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5 the protective beanie comprises a flric cap, 10 shaped and sized so as to be able to cover those areas of the human head 5 prone to injury in a sporting context. The fabric is made of an essentially stretchable material. A modern design of the protective beanie might use material sold under the well known Lycra trade mark, a more traditional embodiment might use i knitted wool. Suitabic fabrics to achieve the essentially form-fitting nature of the 15 beanie will be known to the man skilled in this particular field, and will therefore

not be listed needlessly.

With reference to Figures I and 2, the protective panels generally I are comprised of a number of individual pancis 2 designed to protect the top and the rear of the 20 head, and panels 3 to protect essentially the side of the head. The side panels have ill this embotlirnent a cutout 4 formed to allow the panels to fit around the ear. 'T'he protective panels are made of a substantially deformable, energy ahsorbing material such as foam rubber, polystyrene, or sealed gel or liquid pouches; such materials in themselves are well known in the field of impact

25 protection, and will not be needlessly itemised here. TL is recognised that each I individual protective panel could advantageously he made of impact-absorbing material of differing properLics, to allow differential protection to be afforded to the various T,arts of the head.

30 With reference to Figures 3 and 4: the protective top 2 and side 3 panels may be located on the stretchable fabric cap 7 by a number of means. Figures and 4

show the respective panels 2 and 3 affixed to the cap 7 in, for example, a glued or heat-weldecl manner, which would allow them lo forth part of the essential design of the T,rotectivc beanie. In this emhotliment, there is also provided a headband (, around the whole ol the circumference of the opening of the fabric cap 7, this 5 headband 6 is advantageously made of an elastic material SUCi? as neoprene, or a woven fabric with intrinsically elastic properties in order to grip the head when the hoagie is in use, whilst allowing it to he removed witl? ease. The healba?ld 6 could also equally suitably he made of an elastic or non- elastic material and adjusted in its Ci?-CU?l?ferenCe By use of ea. toucil-and-closc fastening pacts, such as 0 those sold under the well known Velcro trade mark.

Figure 5 shows an 'explocled' perspective view of a further embodiment of the invcntio?1 wherein the protective top panels 2 and side panels 3 are held in position on the fabric cap 7 by means of a second Cabric cap 9. In manufacture, 5 the protective side 3 and top 2 panels may be held in position relative to the fabric cap 7 by joining the inner cap 7 to the outer cap 9 around the periphery of the protective panels, thus forming the series of pockets. 'I he two caps 7 and 9 may advantageously be joined by means of stitching, gluing, heal-welding, or other means of joining fabrics, known to the man skilled in this particular field. It will

20 be evident that the pockets thus formed could be sealed at manufacture, or optionally provided with an opening to allow the top 2 and side 3 protective panels to be removed and replaced, to allow e.g. maintenance or washing of the protective beanie. The embodiment of the invention illustrated i?? Figure 5 also shows an alternative design of the heac. ?hand. In this case a more rigid semi-band 25 is provided. This semi-band 8 is advantageously made of a plastics material with elastic or 'springy' properties, enabling it to grip the wearer's head. This sen?i-band 8 may be affixed to the fabric cap 7 by a number of means incit?ding gluing, heat-welding or stitching, or by means of an additional pocket fcnned betwee?? fabric caps 7 and 9, as described above, such pocket optionally including 30 means to remove the semi-han.? 8.

A<lvantagcous emhodincnts of the invention enable the user to remove and replace one or more of the protective panels for purposes including cleaning, replacement of damaged pancis, or customisation of the hea<lgear for particular needs or desires. It is noted that advantageous emho<:liments of the invention may 5 he particularly non gencler-specific, i.e. referred to by potential users as being 'unisex", and may also be suitable for varying load sizes, i.e. in common parlance: "one size fits all".

Claims

Claims;

1. Non-rigid T,rotectivc headgear comprising one or more impact-ahsorbing panels affixed to a stretchable cap, such cat, providing means to retain the cap in position 5 during use.

2. T he headgear of Claim 1 wherein the means to retain the cap in position during use is provided without the use of a chinstrap.

3. The headgear of Cllaim I or Claim 2 wherein the impact-ahsorhing panel or panels are affixed to the said cap in one or more locating pockets, such pocket or pockets 0 being formed by joining said cap to a second such cap substantially around said panel or panels.

4. The headgear of Claim 3 wherein the pocket or pockets are provided with one or more openings to allow removal of said panel or panels.

5. The headgear of any of (claims I to 3 wherein the impact-alsorbing panel or 15 panels are affiecd directly and permanently in place.

6. I he headgear of any of the preceding Claims wherein the means to retain the cap in position during use is provided by an elastic headbanti affixed to the circmEcrcnce of the said cap.

7. l he headgear of any of (:laims 1 to 5 wherein the means to retain the cap in 20 position during use is provided by a semi-band made of a plastics material with elastic or 'springy' propcrtics, enabling it to grip the wearer's head, said semi hand heing affixed to or conning the periphery of the said cap.

8. Al he headgear of Claim 7 wherein the semi-band is affixed to said cap by locating said semi-band in a pocket formed along the periphery of said cap.

l

9. The headgear of Claim 8 wherein said pocket is provicleci with one or more openings to allow removal of said semi-hand.

10. The headgear of any of Claims I to 5 wherein the means to retain the cap in position ciurbig use is provided by a headband of elastic or nonelastic material, 5 adjustable in its circumference by use of touch-andclose fastening means.

1 1. The headgear of any of the preceding Clain1s wherein a multiplicity of inpact absorbing pancis is prcvidcd, such pancis being formed from a plurality of; impact-absorbing materials.

12. The hcacigear of any of the preceding claims wherein there is providcci impact 10 absorbing pancis that surrounci the ear region.

13. The headgear of Claim 12 wherein there is provided one or more riLhed impact absorbing panel or panels that protect the cranial area of the head.

14. Headgear substantially as described herein with refcrcoce to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.