AU2005100234A4

AU2005100234A4 - Headwear

Info

Publication number: AU2005100234A4
Application number: AU2005100234A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Loader
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-14
Filing date: 2005-03-14
Publication date: 2005-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-14

Description

I

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT, 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR AN INNOVATION

PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: PAUL LOADER Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: PAUL LOADER A J PARK, Level 11, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia

HEADWEAR

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

-2- The invention relates to the field of headwear and cloth coverings that fits on to a head of a person. More particularly, although not solely, the invention relates to a cloth or fabric type headwear that has a rigid visor portion extending from it.

Various forms of headwear and other cloth coverings are known for providing shade to ones head and neck area and for restraining ones hair when performing sport or recreational activity. Headwear styles similar to that described in US5381559 are common where such headwear garments are often secured around the user's head or neck. Most headwear of this nature incorporates a flexible material or fabric covering of square construction. Such head coverings are foldable into a suitable shape for securement around the head or neck by the tying of two ends of the cloth to one another at the back of the user's head or around the front of the user's neck.

A further type of common headwear is that of a normal hat with a forward extending peak or visor (referred to as a baseball cap or sports hat). A sports hat generally comprises a head wearing portion of a generally semi spherical shape so that it adequately captures the form of ones head. Such item further incorporates a visor or bill extending forward in relation to a person's upright orientation to protect facial skin against the sun. In many instances, the semi-spherical portion of such headwear is generally collapsible, yet rigid in nature, forming a sometimes bulky assembly for storing on ones person.

This can be an inconvenience when not in use.

A disadvantage of that described in US5381559 is the use of a forward extending flexible visor portion providing minimal stable support proximal to the wearer's forehead when being worn.

A further disadvantage may be seen in that many "baseball" hats, due to the semi-spherical nature of the head wearing portion, do not provide adequate sun screening of the back of ones neck.

It is therefore an object of the current invention to provide a rigid bill portion for a cloth covering (bandana type) fabric for providing protection to -3the back of ones neck and face, from the sun and other natural elements of the environment.

Accordingly, it is an object of the current invention to provide a headwear for the head of a person, comprising; a visor having a head proximate rim and a head distal rim, wherein engaged to at least part of the head proximate rim there is a flexible sheet material of a size to include a capping zone to cap the head of the person, wherein there extends from said capping zone two lateral opposed tying portions and one longitudinal flap portion intermediate of said opposing flap portions and directed away from said visor, and wherein said longitudinal flap portion intermediate of said opposing tying portions is a substantially quadrilateral shape.

Preferably said flexible sheet material to form said capping zone is of substantially triangular shape.

Preferably the visor is disposed centrally between two apex of said triangular shape along an edge of said flexible sheet.

Preferably said longitudinal flap portion and said opposing flap portions are at least separated, in part, by two incisions, each directed toward the visor and emanating from the junction created between said longitudinal flap portion and said opposing flap portions.

With reference to the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the present dimension described whereby: Figure 1 shows the present invention in a lay-flat condition, Figure 2 shows a further embodiment in accordance with the present invention in a lay flat condition, Figure 3 shows a rear view of the article in accordance with the present invention and a tied and untucked condition, Figure 4 shows a side view of the article in accordance with the present invention in a tied and untucked condition, -4- Figure 5 shows a rear view of the article in accordance with the present invention in a tied and tucked condition, Figure 6 shows a side view of the article in accordance with the present invention in a tied and tucked condition, Figure 7 shows a font view of the article in accordance with the present invention, Figure 8 shows a side view of the article in accordance with the present invention in a tied and tucked condition, Figure 9 shows a font view of the article in accordance with the present invention, A preferred embodiment of the present invention 10 may be shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows the present invention in a lay-flat condition where a generally substantially triangular shaped, flexible sheet material 1 is laid open on a flat surface. Centred along the edge of the longest side of the triangle 12 is a rigid visor portion 2 secured to the fabric by appropriate stitching along the area denoted by 5. Located either side of the rigid visor portion 2 are two flaps or tying portions 3 and 4, formed by the two upper apexes 13 and 14 respectively of the triangle of the flexible sheet material 1.

The lowermost apex of the flexible sheet material 1 forms the rear most portion 9 of the flexible sheet material 1 completing the head covering portion of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a further embodiment of the present invention where the rear most apex of the triangle has been replaced by a square portion 8 exhibiting slits 7. The slits 7 allow the square portion 8 to remain independent of the flap portions 3 and 4 so that the rear square portion 8 remains unaffected by the folding and tying of those portions 3 and 4 when being worn. The effect of the squarer portion 8 allows increased protection to the back of the neck for the wearer as the rear portion 8 may be allowed to rest proximal to the back of the wearers neck affording maximal protection from the sun. The embodiment shown in Figure 2 retains the flap portions 3 and 4 and the rigid visor portion 2 affording maximum protection to the wearers face region.

Both figures 1 and 2 show the placement and general preferred form of the rigid visor or bill 2. The visor or bill of the present invention is to be rigid so that effective shade is provided to the face of the wearer while affording improved stability to the product when being worn. The effect of the increased rigidity of the visor allows the product to maintain a comfortable fit when being worn during sporting or recreational activity.

Construction of the bill may be provided by many means that promote a good degree of rigidity when in a worn condition. The means used in accordance with the present invention is that where a rigid material such as cardboard, plastic or the like forms the core of a construction method utilising suitable fabric or substance either side where the fabric is stitched and reinforced with the cardboard, plastic or core material to define a rigid sandwich thereof. It may be appreciated that many other construction types or a combination of materials may be used to generate the same effect.

Similarly, the attachment means used to connect the visor or peak 6 to the intermediate of the longest side 12 of the triangular shaped fabric portion may be varied. In accordance with the present invention, the rear of the visor bill, the visor is stitched or sewn to portion 5 providing a robust attachment to the fabric 1. It may be appreciated that other attachment means may be applied such as glue and stitching and use of suitable adhesives and the like may also be applied to give an effective connection between the two components.

The product of the present invention may be worn in many different configurations as may will be appreciated. The product in accordance with the present invention facilitates three simple methods for effectively securing the product to the wearer's head.

Firstly, it can be shown in Figures 3 and 4 that flat portions 3 and 4 have been tied allowing the rear apex 9 to remain untucked. Figures 5 and 6 show the rear and side views respectively of the product secured to the wearer's head whereby flat portions 3 and 4 have been tied and restraining the rear portion 9 has been tucked and thus secured accordingly.

A third way of securing the present invention to the wearer's head is shown in Figures 8 and 9 where the triangular fabric region 1 has been folded such that flap portions 3 and 4 may be folded and tied and secured at the rear of the wearer's head in such a manner that leaves the upper sphere of the wearer's head exposed.

It may be appreciated that all three methods of tying the product of the present invention depend upon the user's comfort and depend upon the environmental conditions. The various forms of securing the present invention to the user's head is indicative of the flexibility afforded by incorporation of the rigid bill 2 provide enhanced stability and maintaining an appropriate and comfortable shape for the wearer. It may also be appreciated that other methods of securing the present invention to a wearer's head can be envisioned.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Claims

1. Headwear comprising a visor having a head proximate rim and a head distal rim, wherein engaged to at least part of the head proximate rim there is a flexible sheet material of a size to include a capping zone to cap the head of the person, wherein there extends from said capping zone two lateral opposed tying portions and one longitudinal flap portion intermediate of said opposing flap portions and directed away from said visor, and wherein said longitudinal flap portion intermediate of said opposing tying portions is a substantially quadrilateral shape.

2. A visor of claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet material to form said capping zone is of substantially triangular shape.

3. A visor of any of claims 1 or 2 wherein the visor is disposed centrally between two apex of said triangular shape along an edge of said flexible sheet.

4. A visor of any of claims 1 through 3 wherein said longitudinal flap portion and said opposing flap portions are at least separated, in part, by two incisions, each directed toward the visor and emanating from the junction created between said longitudinal flap portion and said opposing flap portions.