Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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5PROTECTIVE HEAD AND NECRWEAR
ADAPTED TO PROVIDE A WARMI~G OR COOLING FACILITY
F}~D OF r~E INVENTION
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This invention relates to weather protective
combined head and neckwear adapted to receive coollng or
warming means for cooling or warming the wearer's head
and/or neck.
BACKGROUND OF THE IN~ENTION :
- Basic head and neckwear combined to protect the
head and neck from the elements, such as wind, rain, sun -- -~
and the like, are well-known, for instance, by the French
Foreign Legion "Kepi".
Such head and neckwear are generally formed of
suitable materials, such as water-proofed heavy or
lightweight fabrics, so selected dependi~g on the
environmental conditions. ~ However, in certain
circumstances, the wearer may be in such a location, for ;
example, at an open air ballpark stadium, by the side of
a parade, at a fishing site or other sporting event where
such head and neckwear does not provide the necessary
protection over a significant period of time to prevent
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the head, neck or upper body from getting overheated, or
at the very least, to prevent the person from becomin~
uncomfortable. Alternatively, under cold conditions,
particularly in situations of extreme windchill
conditions, localized skin areas may be subject to
frostbite, or at the very least, provide an uncomfortable
f0eling to outdoorsmen such as hunters, hikers, and the
like. This is especially so when the hunter is in a hide
wherein he must remain relatively still.
lQ It would also be useful if a liquid
refreshment, a chocolate bar or other warm temperature
sensitive food stuff could be kept cool in such a manner
that it did not involve a separate coolant container or
tie up the hands of the wearer. Similarly, it would also
be useful for a low temperature article to be held at a
desired temperature above any adverse cold conditions
over a reasonable period of time.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide novel and useful headwear which allows the head
and/or neck of the wearer the opportunity to be cooled or
warmed, as desired, for reasonable periods of time under
adverse conditions.
It is a further object of the present invention
to provide headwear as promised hereinabove which may be
used to keep articles cooled or warmed, as desired,
relative to the ambient conditions.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVEN'rION
Accordingly, the invention provides in one
aspect a head and neckwear article comprising in
combination, a head-covering crown, a visor and a rear
neckpiece, the improvement comprising heat transfer
retaining means for retaining a warming or coolant source
operably adjacent said head or said nec~.
Preferably, the retaining means is a packet,
pouch or the like adapted to hold the warming or coolant
source.
The coolant may be any suitable system, such as
ice, in crushed or cubed form, or any suitable anti- -
freeze mixture. For use in such coolant systems, it is
advisable that the packet either be formed of a water-
proofed material or have an inner lining so formed.
Preferably, more conveniently, the coolant is provided as
a self-contained unit, which is preferably reusable,
replaceable, recyclable or rechargeable. Use of suitably
cooled anti-freeze solutions in such self-contained packs
provides such reusable packets.
Similarly, the pockets of the headgear
hereinabove defined, are preferably adapted to receive
pre-heated warming packs of sufficient mass, temperature ~-
and shape as to provide an efficacious, localized warming
effect to parts of the head and/or neck.
Clearly, the pockets containing the coolant or
warming packs or ingredients may be on the outside or
inside of the crown and/or neckpiece, but are preferably
3~ on the inner side to directly abut parts of the head
and/or nape of the neck, respectively. In an alternative
feature, the pocket may extend around the whole or only
a part o~ the length of the lower periphery of the crown,
- preferably on the inside, so as to, operably, abut the
head of the wearer. Such a pocket extending around the
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brim of the crown would preferably require a sausage - or
rectangular-shaped pack-like self-contained warming or
cooling pack, or, alternatively, a suitably inner lined
pocket adapted to receive the coolant, Per se, directly.
One or more pockets in the crown may be
suitably located to provide the desired heat transfer
effect, either at the front of the crown to provide the
effect on the wearer's brow, at the sides of the crown
for effect at the wearer's temple or at the back of the
crown for effect on the back of the wearer's head.
Preferably, one or more pockets are located on the
neckpiece at an upper part to provide heat transfer at
the nape of the wearer's neck. However, it falls within
the scope of the invention that the heat transfer
retaining means is located at any suitable location on
the crown and/or neckpiece to provide the desired effect.
In a further aspect of the invention, the
neckpi~ae is so shaped and of sufficient length and width
as to provide an article retaining means in a fold of the
neckpiece when the neckpiece is upwardly folded and so ~-
retained. To achieve this result, the neckpiece has
retaining means which cooperate with other retaining
means either on the neckpiece per se, or on the crown.
The retaining means may be of any type suitable to create
an additional pocket, pouch or the like on the neckpiece
to accept the article~s) and to be of sufficient strength
to enable the article(s) to be retained while operably
being carried. Such means, for example, include male and
~ female cooperating dome stud fasteners, zi-pper fasteners,
buttons, and fibre entangling fasteners, such as those
having adhering fabric sold under the trademark "Velcro"~
(Dupont).
Preferably, the fold in the neckpiece should be
so formed as to e.nable the heat transfer retaining means
on the necXpiece to be in close proximity and more
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pre~erably to operably abut the articles operably carried
so as to provide the desired warming or cooling effect on
the article.
The positioning of the retaining means on the
crown and neckpiece may be suitably selected as to
efficacy and appearance. In the case of dome male and
female studs, suitable disposition of the studs around,
for example, the periphery of the neckpiece provides
ready engagement with complementary male or female studs
on either of the neckpiece per se or crown.
Thus, the invention in a further aspect
provides a head and neckwear article as hereinabove
defined wherein said neckpiece has first retaining means,
said crown andjor said neckpiece has second retaining
means adapted to cooperate with said first retaining
means as to form an article retaining section with said
neckpiece, adjacent said pocket in said neckpiece.
Preferably, the neckpiece has said first retaining means
at the lower part thereof and said second retaining means
at an upper part thereof.
Typical articles to be carried in the practice
of the invention comprises, for example, chocolate and
related high energy food stuffs and beverages for hikers,
mountaineers, fishermen and other outdoorsmen in hot
weather. -
The objects and other features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more
apparent from the following detailed description when
! ' ta~en in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGg
In order that the invention may be better
understood, a preferred embodiment will now be described
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by way of example only with reference to the accompanying
drawing, wherein:
FigO 1 represents a perspective view of a
combined head and neckwear article according to the
invention having an open neckpiece; and
Fig. 2 represents a perspective view, in part,
of a combined head and neckwear article according to the
invention with a folded up neckpiece containing an
article.
DESCRIP~ION OF T~E PREFERRBD EM80DI~ENT
Figure 1 shows generally as 10, a head and
neckwear article consisting of crown 12, visor 14 and
neckpiece 16.
Crown 12 and neckpiece 16 may be formed o~ any
suitable synthetic material, cloth, cotton or other
fabric, but is formed of cloth in the embodiment shown.
Crown 12 has side panels 18 having a plurality of
ventilation eyelets 20, and a top 22. Crown 12 has draw-
string adjusting means (not shown) to allow of reasonable
lower circumferential adjustment to permit appropriate
fitting to various head sizes. On the inside of crown 12
at a front position thereof, 24, is a pocket 26 of
approximately the dimensions of the front of crown 12.
Pocket 26 is open at the top and provided with "Velcro'l~
fastening material 28 complementary to another piece
thereof on portion 24, for engagement therewith. Pocket
26 has a waterproofed inner lining (not shown) and so
shaped as to operably receive either a heat transfer pack
(not shown~, such as a warming pack or coolant pack of
crushed or cubed ice.
Neck piece 16, sewn along approximately 2/3rds
of the lower periphery o~ crown 12, is generally
rectangular-shaped and of a length of approximately 30
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centimetres, in the embodiment shown. Neckpiece 16 has
a lower edge 30, edge 32 at its left side and edge 34 at
its right side, as viewed when worn by a person in the
normal manner. Disposed at an upper central part of
neckpiece 16, is a rectangularly shaped pocket 36, so
located as to abut the nape of the neck of the wearer
when worn. In the embodiment shown, pocket 36 is on the
outside surface of neckpiece 16. Pocket 36 has a pair of
dome fastening studs 38 and a water-proofed inner lining
(not shown). With reference also to Fig. 2, adjacent
edges 30, 32 and 34 are a plurality of male and female
dome fastener studs 40, so located as to provide
retention of the lower edge 30 to upper portion of
neckpiece 16 when neckpiece 16 is folded as to form an
article retaining pouch 38, when suitably located male
and female studs cooperate. Fig. 2 shows an article 42
retained within pouch 38, adjacent pocket 36.
Thus, it can be seen that the head and
neckpiece article according to the invention can be used -
to retain a cooling or warming object in pocket 26 of
crown }2, in pocket 36 of neckpiece 16 and pouch 38 of
folded neckpiece 16.
While the invention has been described in ;
detail and with reference to the specific embodiment, it
will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various
changes and modification can be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. ~-
